Chapter 62 - Kannon Batting
I returned to the parking lot to fetch my spear, only to find the air thick with a subtle tension. A group of tough-looking guys had surrounded our members from a distance, their expressions ominous.
But our people seemed oblivious to their surroundings.
"Valeria! It's dangerous to mount the Bloomstar Galaxy! Look, you're losing your balance!"
"You'll get scolded by Yukari-san!"
"Hey, stop playing with the jeep like that!"
"Ha-ha! Look at this strength!"
Siegrune and I approached, smiling wryly, and everyone immediately noticed us, greeting us with cheerful smiles.
"Onee-sama!"
Valeria was with her new friends, Roberta and Violante, and she seemed more energetic than usual. It was heartwarming.
"Good work, everyone! How was the general meeting?"
"Did you knock a few of them out right away?"
"The President and Vice-Commander? They'd collapse just from a glare!"
The young members, brimming with energy, kept praising us with their unusual enthusiasm.
"Honestly, you guys are so carefree!"
Shelby sighed, shaking her head with a wry smile.
The high spirits were nice, but everyone wasn't really oblivious to the surrounding situation. They were deliberately ignoring it. To some, it might seem like they were asking for a fight, but I think more than half of them were just teasing.
Even so, it was clear that the ones surrounding us were in the wrong for glaring at the girls from such a distance.
"Don't get too carried away."
To prevent any trouble, I gently warned them and fetched my spear from the jeep.
"Was there any problem?"
"Vice-Commander, no problems!"
"If there were, we'd take care of it right away!"
"Don't let your guard down. If anything happens, call for backup from the Headquarters immediately."
Siegrune, as always, kept the enthusiastic young members in line.
With my spear in hand, I turned to everyone and warned them to avoid provoking the surroundings. There might be some hotheads among them, and it was best to avoid causing a fight for no good reason, especially in someone else's courtyard.
After a short break, it was time to go. Before leaving, we each drank a vial of the potion that enhances Physical Enhancement Magic, which would last for half a day. I didn't know what kind of opponent I'd face in the entertainment, but this would be a valuable opportunity for an experiment.
I didn't think Siegrune needed to drink it, but apparently, it was a precaution. Considering the unpredictable events that might happen, there was no harm in taking it.
"I'll be off, then. It might take some time, so take turns to eat, everyone."
"This place is in your hands."
I entrusted the area to Angelina and Shelby.
Siegrune and I returned to the building and were led to a room upstairs, not the hall we were in earlier. The room was a lavish ballroom with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, giving off a grand and luxurious vibe. The mansion of a very wealthy person, indeed, and I couldn't help but be impressed.
"It must have cost a fortune."
"Yeah, the interior is the epitome of luxury."
Of course, it wasn't just the lighting. From the plush carpet to the furnishings, everything was of the highest quality, far beyond my comprehension.
A band played softly on a stage at the back, adding to the festive atmosphere. The servers, both men and women, wore revealing outfits as they bustled about, delivering dishes and drinks. The elegant setting was marred by the servers' attire, but it was the host's taste, so there was nothing to be done about it.
There were only a few of the bosses present, and the number was still low. I didn't want to attract attention, so I moved to a corner.
Standing by the large window, I looked outside. The room faced a courtyard with diverse landscaping, including large trees and hedges, a stream, and a bridge. It was like a miniature garden, quite interesting.
What caught my attention was the empty space in the center, which seemed to be a designated stage. I could guess its intended use.
Siegrune and I chatted idly about the fish we saw in the courtyard, and it seemed the time had come.
"Everyone is here, I believe?"
Balgar Clad appeared, instructing the servers to distribute glasses and checking if everyone was present.
We were given new glasses, and all the guests had gathered. It was about to begin.
"First, I would like to thank everyone for gathering on this fine day."
He spoke confidently, as if he had been a representative all along. Despite his youthful appearance, his speech was dignified.
Since I wasn't particularly interested, Siegrune and I moved to a table with a main dish and started sampling the food. We could listen to the speech while doing so, and the older men were already eating, so there was no problem.
I had to fight in the entertainment later, but I needed to eat to have energy for the fight. Besides, the meat dishes looked particularly delicious.
As I enjoyed the various dishes, the speech finally came to an end.
"We have several forms of entertainment prepared, so please enjoy. And the Kikyo Society's Nijo Ophas is over here. Everyone is looking forward to it."
Ah, it's time to prepare.
"Siegrune, do as you please. I'll come by later."
"It's a rare opportunity; I'll watch from a good spot."
"Is that so? I don't plan to make it too exciting, though."
I intended to finish it quickly, but I was curious about the opponent.
It would be nice if I could have a bit of fun.
Exiting the lavish room, I headed to the courtyard I had seen from the window. I advanced to the designated center and stood there with my spear in hand.
"Hmm, just as I thought."
The empty space in the courtyard, which I had observed from above, was indeed a stage for the entertainment.
The opponent was the sister of the Grand Master of the Anastasia Union. I wondered what kind of person she was. She was taking her time, being late.
I passed the time by twirling my spear, and finally, a woman appeared.
The sister, carrying a halberd-like long weapon, was a lion beast-person like the Grand Master. However, she wasn't particularly tall, and her build was similar to mine, maybe even a bit smaller. She had a ladylike aura, unlike the wild type.
Even at first glance, her level of Physical Enhancement Magic was impressive, befitting a member of a highly combative organization.
Looking up to the upper room, the bosses were watching from a higher vantage point. It was a bit annoying.
Balgar Clad, the Grand Master, and Siegrune were watching us. The Grand Master, in particular, seemed slightly worried. As a leader of a major organization and a renowned warrior, he must be protective of his sister. Still, it was odd that he had proposed the fight in the first place.
Well, I certainly wouldn't kill her. There was no need to worry.
"So, you're my opponent. You're quite late, you know."
"I'm sorry, I was called suddenly. I hurried as much as I could."
She was polite, even in her speech. She was indeed the sister of the notorious Grand Master of the Anastasia Union. She must come from a wealthy background, and perhaps she was in a ladylike position.
A lady who practiced martial arts. I wondered why the Grand Master wanted her to fight me.
"Suddenly? But you agreed to fight me."
"Because you're incredibly strong, aren't you? I couldn't pass up such an opportunity."
Interesting. She reminded me of the martial artists in our organization. She seemed to have a strong spirit, which could make the fight more enjoyable.
"Alright. The audience is waiting, so let's begin."
"Yes, but if that's the extent of your Physical Enhancement Magic, you might be disappointed."
The enhancement from the potion was subtly different from Physical Enhancement Magic, making it difficult to gauge the level of enhancement without careful observation.
The sister was judging my enhancement based on the slight use of Physical Enhancement Magic for camouflage.
"Really? Well, enough talk. Come at me."
"Then, let's not hold back."
The sister assumed a stance with her halberd and quickly closed the distance to attack.
"Yaa!"
She launched a series of textbook attacks, striking high, mid, and low with sharp precision. Her attacks were quite sharp.
I had intended to finish it quickly, but her character intrigued me.
Alright, let's observe first. I'll gauge her abilities.
Without using magic or dodging, I blocked all her attacks with my spear, occasionally inserting a probing strike.
"Ha! Fu! Sei!"
She continued her relentless barrage.
Hmm, she fights beautifully. Her technique is orthodox and straightforward.
Her movements were quick, precise, and decisive. She never swung wildly and always planned her next move. Her offensive and defensive balance was excellent.
She would likely perform well in a sports competition.
"Ku, you! You're quite skilled! Your defense is solid! Ha!"
But she wasn't suited for real combat.
Her strength was lacking. Her attacks were light, and her defense focused on dodging or deflecting. She relied heavily on Physical Enhancement Magic, a typical weakness.
To be honest, her training was insufficient. Her technique was high, and her level of Physical Enhancement Magic was on par with our Combat Unit, but that was all.
Of course, by our standards. She would still be considered quite strong in general. However, if she aimed higher, her foundation was lacking. The Grand Master should understand this.
I glanced at him, wondering what he was thinking. He watched his sister's fight with a warm expression, and I understood.
This was probably a teaching moment.
I wasn't the type to fight beautifully, but a stronger opponent than her, in a safe environment, to gain experience.
Once I understood his intentions, my motivation waned.
"Sei! Don't you have the leisure to look around? Where is your focus? Ha, ha... Are you not attacking? Fighting defensively is boring! Yaa!"
Hmm, she's out of breath already. Her stamina is lacking.
Alright, let's finish this. I'll do it in a way that's not exactly pretty.
To reset the fight, I blocked her halberd strike with a powerful deflection, creating some distance.
With the distance, I shifted to a half-profile stance, lowering my hips slightly.
I held the lower part of my spear with both hands, assuming a stance as if I were praying, with the spear in front of my chest.
This was the stance for a batter's box, treating my spear as a bat.
"What is that?"
She seemed confused by this unusual stance.
Of course, she would be. No one would assume such a stance in combat.
I remained still, waiting for her to make her move.
"What are you waiting for? Come at me like before."
I encouraged her, who hesitated.
"Fine, I don't care!"
"Just do your best."
I didn't understand her hesitation, but it seemed she had decided to attack.
"Suuu-fuuu-"
She took a deep breath and slowly raised her halberd to a thrusting position. It was a thrusting stance.
Just as her breath caught, she lunged with a different kind of attack, unlike her previous ones!
It was fast and powerful, a good strike.
Regardless of the attack, my goal remained the same.
Her strike aimed for my center, around my navel, which was my sweet spot.
I made a slight adjustment in my position, closed my guard, and swung the spear with a full-body rotation.
"Got it!"
I caught the halberd's thrust with the core of my spear and sent it back, along with her.
I would have killed her if I had gone all out, so I held back.
"Gy, kya-!"
She flew in an arc and crashed into a hedge.
Her halberd snapped, and the arm holding it was likely broken.
Well, she's the Grand Master's sister and a lady. I should at least provide some aftercare.
Approaching her, who was buried in the hedge, she seemed to be conscious. She had some spirit.
"What is this ridiculous strength? Your Physical Enhancement Magic isn't that impressive!"
She could still talk back, which was a good sign.
Her toughness was probably a trait of the lion beast-persons.
She seemed energetic, but her right arm was indeed broken. I took a recovery potion from my pocket and threw it to her.
"Use this. It's a recovery potion. It should heal minor injuries quickly."
"No, I don't need to thank you!"
A tsundere. She drank the potion quickly and tested her arm.
"You were really strong. I don't even understand why I lost."
"You're still inexperienced. Physical Enhancement Magic is important, but it's not everything."
"Yes, I learned a lot. By the way, you didn't use your full strength, did you?"
"Of course not. I'll show you a bit of my Physical Enhancement Magic."
It was a service for an honest opponent. I activated Physical Enhancement Magic normally.
Even this was far from my full strength, but she could gauge the difference.
"A, a, was that your full strength?"
"Not at all. Even in this state, we wouldn't have a real fight, would we?"
"...I'm disappointed, but you're right. You didn't even use your Physical Enhancement Magic and still won."
She was a genuinely honest and well-mannered girl.
I hadn't used the potion, but there was no need to reveal that.
Well, that's it for me.
I heard applause and looked up. Many, including Balgar Clad, were clapping with approval. The Grand Master gave me a slight nod, almost imperceptible.
Only the McDallians and their companions remained expressionless, which was a bit eerie.
After helping the sister up and returning to the party room, I received many compliments.
The tough-looking men crowding around me were a bit annoying.
"Nijo Ophas, that was splendid. Your reputation is well-deserved. The Grand Master's sister also did well."
The sister was quite capable. With more experience, she might become a threat to us.
The impromptu batting was fun, and if I could earn a high reward for such a fight, it was a good deal.
Phew, my part is over. I planned to eat and drink leisurely and leave when the time was right.
However, there are always people who don't read the room and ruin the mood.
"I say, that was a one-sided victory, wasn't it? I can't help but want to see more. Isn't that unrefined?"
It was McDallian. He seemed dissatisfied.
"I believe the others share the same opinion. Don't you agree, Don Clad?"
Balgar Clad looked amused as he watched me.
Honestly, I couldn't deal with their whims any longer.