Volume 4, Chapter 29 – Dojo Challenge, Again

“I challenge you!”

As the sun began to dip on the final day of April, we arrived at the Itten Style dojo, with Chris-san leading the way.

“Hmph, you!”

“I wish to see the instructor of the Itten Style. It came to light that when I carried out the dojo challenge last month, you losers lied to us. I’ve come to have you settle that debt.”

“W-What!? The instructor would never lie!”

“He claimed not to know the Mieshiro Family of Fuzan. However, I hear the Mieshiro Family is actually a branch of the Mitsurugi Family! Furthermore, we have come to retrieve Kirinagi, the blade belonging to our friend.”

“What!? In that case, you lot must be the terrorists who shook the nation, the ones Suikyou-sama saw in her Future Vision! Everyone, they are great sinners! To arms! To arms!”

The man acting as the dojo gatekeeper let out a loud shout, and disciples—or so they seemed—carrying katanas began to emerge one after another.

“Fiene-sama, I hear this place isn’t just a dojo, but also serves as a guard station.”

Chris-san answered as if anticipating my question.

Oh, I see. That explains why there are so many armed people.

Wait… does that mean they launched a dojo challenge against a guard station? How extreme!

“Now, Fiene-sama, we’re breaking through. Everyone, follow me!”

With Chris-san at the front, we forced our way through the gates.

As expected of the new-and-improved Chris-san.

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She didn’t let a single one of the swordsmen—or perhaps samurai, since they use katanas—who also served as the kingdom’s guards get close to her.

There seemed to be a considerable gap in skill; she precisely sliced their limbs, rendering them combat-incapable without killing them.

Since Souji-san cut down anyone who came our way, I had nothing particular to do and simply watched the scene unfold.

Eh? You’re telling me to work? That’s a bit much to ask of someone like me with zero talent for the sword.

Ah, of course, I’m staying ready to cast a Barrier at any moment!

◇ ◇ ◇

After Chris-san effortlessly neutralized about fifty people, we stormed into the dojo building.

There, a massive man stood blocking our path.

“Hmph, if it isn’t Yoshiteru-dono.”

“Kukuku. To think a Holy Knight of the White Moon Kingdom would commit such lawlessness. It seems that in a country unable to receive the protection of Suikyou-sama, there are only fools.”

“…Where did you put Kirinagi?”

Even when provoked, Chris-san responded calmly. In the past, I think she would have reacted, but she really has grown quite a bit.

“Hmph. If you want to know, try to pry it out of me by force. I am not the man I was a month ago. With this power awakened thanks to Suikyou-sama, I shall cut you down!”

As he said that, the man named Yoshiteru began giving off a dangerous aura.

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Something black began to waver and drift toward him, and then it was sucked directly into his body.

“Gwaaaaaaaah!”

Yoshiteru let out a roar, and his body began to grow larger and larger!

“W-What is this!?”

Chris-san cried out in surprise.

Even as she spoke, Yoshiteru continued to expand, eventually transforming into a giant ogre standing at least two and a half meters tall.

“Impossible! This technique is…!”

Souji-san exclaimed in shock.

“That’s right! This is the Spirit Descent Technique, which was said to be usable only by the women of the Mieshiro Family. Thanks to Suikyou-sama, I have been granted the ability to use this art!”

Yoshiteru spoke with a triumphant expression, as if he had already secured his victory, looking down on us.

“Now, allow me to settle the score from last time!”

With that, Yoshiteru kicked off the ground and lunged toward Chris-san in an instant.

Clang!

Chris-san caught Yoshiteru’s blade with her Holy Sword.

She wasn’t knocked back, but she was clearly losing the contest of strength.

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Her face was twisted in a desperate strain.

“Come now, come now, what’s this? Is this all you’ve got?”

“Kuh…!”

Because it had become a simple contest of raw power, Chris-san seemed to be suffering.

“Chris-san! I’ll provide support—”

“I shall not allow it!”

A white-haired old man swiftly intervened between us and Chris-san.

He looked slightly younger than Tessai-san, but with those agile movements, he was clearly no ordinary person.

“What? Kan’ei-dono? Why is your left leg—!?”

“Eh? Do you know him?”

I turned back toward Souji-san.

“That man is Mitsurugi Kan’ei. He is the instructor of this Itten Style. However, he lost his left leg nearly ten years ago, and since then, his body should have been unable to walk on its own.”

What? To be able to heal a wound from that long ago! Even with Healing Magic, a wound that has already “healed” (scarred over) isn’t supposed to be easily fixed. It seems there really is an incredible Healer in this country.

“Kukuku. Suikyou-sama healed me. There is nothing Suikyou-sama cannot do!”

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Oops, Suikyou-sama again. Suikyou-sama seems truly capable, but is it really possible to heal a loss of limb from nearly ten years ago?

Regardless of whether it’s Healing Magic or not, the essence of Healing Magic is to restore something to its “correct state.”

Therefore, if you heal without regeneration and too much time passes, the missing state becomes the “correct state.”

Because of that, restoring it to the state before the injury should be no ordinary feat. I’m not even sure if I could do it.

Could a human really obtain such power without cheating like I do?

And all by offering a single sacrifice every now and then?

Sickness, poverty, crop failure, conflict between people, and even a leg lost long ago—all can be restored.

It’s almost like a divine miracle itself.

Speaking of gods, there’s that bald old guy.

But would that old guy do something so grand?

The old guy I met seemed like a small-fry in every way, just a low-level lackey with no power or ability.

No, before even discussing whether he would or wouldn’t, he simply didn’t look like he had that kind of power.

Then, what on earth is this?

My train of thought was cut short by Kan’ei’s words.