Chapter 443

443 Bear-san, Watches The Battle.

The battle between Shinobu and the man began on a deserted street.

Shinobu rushed in. At the same time, she throws a kunai. The man dodged the kunai by shifting his body slightly to the side. In that short movement, Shinobu closed the distance to the man and swung her short katana(小刀) in her left hand at him. The man dodged easily and swung his katana(刀) at Shinobu.

Shinobu dodged by shifting her weight to her left and moved to the man’s left before attacking him.

Obviously, she was going to attack from the eye-patched side of the man. Shinobu attacked while moving to the left side of the man.

[Do you perhaps think you can attack me from my blind spot?] Jubei

[Weaknesses should be exploited.] Shinobu

[I thought you said you don’t fight cowardly?] Jubei

[It’s called a tactic.] Shinobu

Swinging a short katana and a katana at each other while conversing. Their katanas cut the air.

Shinobu, who has a shorter reach, is at a disadvantage, but she uses his blind spot and fast movements to make the fight even. The man is dodging Shinobu’s short katana even in his blindside.

The two sides continue to attack and defend.

It’s amazing.

They dodged each other by a paper-thin margin as if they both knew what attack was coming.

The man dodges Shinobu’s short katana and swings his katana in a wide horizontal slash. Shinobu jumps backwards to dodge.

[Fu ~u] Jubei

The man exhaled and smiled happily.

[As expected of that man’s daughter, you’re very strong.] Jubei

He said that, but the man seemed to be relaxed. I can’t see any room on Shinobu’s side.

Even with half a vision, the man seemed to have the advantage in close combat.

[Do you not use magic because you think I’m not worth it?] Shinobu

[If I use it in a place like this, it will be a nuisance to everyone around me. Besides, you’re not using it either.] Jubei

Wooden houses lined up on either side.

She said her opponent uses wind magic, but I wonder if Shinobu can use magic.

But this is not the same battle of warriors and samurai in my former world. In this world, there is a magic that surpasses the skill of handling weapons. With magic alone, one can even surpass swordsmanship.

However, since magic requires imagery, that momentary thought is a weakness. Technology imbibed in the body is faster than the activation of magic.

It is difficult to use magic in a close combat situation. That’s why wizards use it in the rear.

Besides, if her opponent started using magic without paying attention to the surroundings, Shinobu would be at a disadvantage.

But then, if Shinobu couldn’t use magic, she would still be at a disadvantage. Even if she could use it, she wouldn’t be able to use strong magic because of her surroundings.

[That’s not the case.] Shinobu

The wind swirled around Shinobu’s right hand that held a short katana.

[I’ll just use it in a way that doesn’t bother others.] Shinobu

With a quick movement, Shinobu closed the gap between her and the man. Again, from the left side of the man’s blind spot.

Shinobu swung her short katana sideways.

At that distance, the short katana cannot reach. But a blade of wind shot out from the short katana. But even that wind attack was cut off by the man with his katana. Shinobu stepped in further to close the distance pulled back her swinging arm and swung it straight at the man. The man flicked it with his katana.

The momentum of being flipped threw Shinobu off balance. The man’s leg kick hit her.

Shinobu got kicked away and fell far backwards.

[Shinobu!] Yuna

[I’m okay.] Shinobu

Apparently, she jumped backwards to break away.

The man was more aware of his surroundings than Shinobu because his leg was outstretched. That’s how much room he has.

I still don’t know what the man’s true intentions were in killing Shinobu’s father, but I’m pretty sure that Shinobu was going to lose this fight.

Should I take over?

[He’s strong.] Shinobu

Shinobu exhaled a small breath and regulated her breathing.

[Shall I take over?] Yuna

Looking at Shinobu now, you can see that she has no intention of backing down. But I asked just in case.

[It’s okay. I want Yuna to watch us fight and learn the moves of that man.] Shinobu

Does that mean she wants me to observe their fight, analyze how that man fights, and prepare for battle?

That would mean she doesn’t think she can win.

[But if you’re really in trouble, call out to me.] Yuna

Without confirming or denying my words, Shinobu smiled. Then she gripped her short katana in her hand and ran towards the man.

Shinobu used magic to attack, but the man dodged. Shinobu increased the number of her attacks. I’d like to think here we go, but the man still didn’t use magic. He also raised his cheeks every once in a while and seemed to be smiling.

Shinobu’s movements became even faster.

She’s cornering the man. Gradually, Shinobu’s speed surpassed the man’s.

Shinobu’s wind blade and short katana attacked the man.

He’s cornered.

As I was thinking of that, the man’s katana increased in speed and repelled Shinobu’s attack. Shinobu’s attack stopped, and the man stepped back significantly to get some distance.

[You’re stronger than I thought. It looks like I’m going to have to get a little serious about this.] Jubei

[So, you’re using magic now?] Shinobu

[No, I’ll just do this.] Jubei

The man then put his hand over his left eye and removed the eye patch. A closed eye appeared from under the eye patch. I wondered if there was a scar, but there was none. Then, the closed left eye opened.

[Can you see with it, by any chance?] Shinobu

[Yes, I can see you clearly.] Jubei

[Were you just mocking me?] Shinobu

[No, I was simply holding myself back. But I only took it off out of respect for your strength.] Jubei

That meant that he was not only handicapping himself by not using magic but also handicapping himself by not using one of his eyes.

The man opened both of his eyes and held up his katana. Shinobu shot a small wind blade and ran towards the man. The man’s movements become faster. He easily dodged Shinobu’s attacks. Shinobu threw another kunai at him. The man flicked it with his katana and then flashed his katana again.

The man, who now has two functioning eyes, no longer had a blind spot, and Shinobu could no longer fight to her advantage.

Shinobu can’t handle him anymore, and the number of times she received his attack with her short katana increased. The man was clearly superior in terms of the weight of the attack, the power of the attack, and the speed of the attack.

Shinobu still kept her distance and fought back with her wind magic, but it didn’t hit the man, probably because she was suppressing its power out of concern for her surroundings.

Her legs seemed to be moving even slower. Shinobu was moving around, but the man was just fending off Shinobu’s attacks, so he’s moving his body less than Shinobu.

[Ku~] Shinobu

=====

Shinobu’s movements were getting dull, and she couldn’t attack nor go backwards.

[You seem to have reached your limit. I’ll end it now.] Jubei

The man sat down and held his katana out as if thrusting it.

Wait, that’s!??

[Shinobu! Run!] Yuna

At the moment I shouted, the man stepped forward. The distance between me and Shinobu was suddenly narrowed.

Too fast.

Shinobu jumped backwards, throwing some kunai. The man flicked off the kunai with a thrust. I thought the attack would stop there, but it did not. The man pulled back his arm and thrust his katana out again.

Shinobu blocked it with her short katana. Even so, the man’s momentum did not stop. He pulled his arm further and thrust his katana out.

Three-step thrust? ( 三段突き？)

The man’s katana struck Shinobu, causing her body to tumble to the ground.

[Shinobu!] Yuna

When I tried to run to her, Shinobu’s body moved. She supported her body from the ground as she tried to get up with her trembling arms.

[I, I’m okay.] Shinobu

Shinobu stood up, a bit dizzy, and holding her stomach.

[Are you sure you’re okay?] Yuna

Shinobu flipped the clothes on her stomach area.

Chainmail? ( 鎖かたびら？)

[It’s made of mithril. I also jumped backwards and somehow avoided a direct hit.] Shinobu

I felt relieved.

Oh, good. I thought she had been stabbed.

[Did you dodge that thrust? Well then, do you still want to fight?] Jubei

[Of course.] Shinobu

[Then I’ll make sure it’ll go through next time.] Jubei

The man moved to a thrusting stance as if to do a follow-up. Shinobu held up her short katana with her weak hand. At the same time, I made my move.

=====

The man stepped forward from his thrusting stance. The distance between him and Shinobu closed in an instant. I stepped in between the two of them and flicked the man’s katana with my Swaying Bear knife.

I flicked it hard. I won’t let him do the three-step thrust.

I stood in front of Shinobu as if to protect her, and the man jumped back.

[Yuna?] Shinobu

[It’s time to switch.] Yuna

I don’t know why the man killed Shinobu’s father. We don’t even know what kind of man he is.

Maybe he’s just a battle junkie.

Maybe Shinobu’s father was the same.

Maybe they fought because they wanted to fight each other. Maybe that’s why her father died. Whatever the reason, there is one thing I do know.

[I don’t want to see Shinobu get killed, so you’ll have to switch places with me. I’ll deal with him from this point on.] Yuna

I said to Shinobu, who looked like she’s in pain.

If I defeat this man, everything will be revealed, and this bewildering feeling will be cleared up.

[……Yuna, he’s strong.] Shinobu

[I’ve been watching your fight, so I understand that.] Yuna

In addition to his strength, he has a trump card, magic.

Even though Shinobu had a magic restriction on him, she still couldn’t defeat him even with her magic.

On top of that, her opponent fought while giving her a handicap.

[Take it easy, Shinobu. Get some rest.] Yuna

I let Shinobu move to the back, then I confronted the man. The man waited, not attacking, while Shinobu and I were talking.

[I’m sorry, but I’ll be your opponent from here on out. Don’t let my appearance catch you off guard.] Yuna

[No, I won’t. Not with the speed in which you come between us, the skill with which you parried my thrusts accurately. Above all, a girl who can walk in front of my katana without fear is no ordinary girl.] Jubei

Apparently, it’s unlikely that he’ll be fooled by the appearance of a bear. He doesn’t seem to cut corners.

I was both disappointed and happy.

[If so, don’t wear that eye patch nor preserve your magic, and I’ll let you taste the full experience.] Yuna

I point my Swaying Bear knife at the man and declare.

[Then I won’t go easy on you, either. Also, I don’t care if you die.] Jubei

The man held up his katana.

[I’m not going to die, but if I win, you’ll have to tell me everything.] Yuna

[It’s all right. If you can beat me, I’ll tell you everything.] Jubei

[We had a deal then.] Yuna

I also held up my Swaying Bear knife.