Chapter 63 - The Vice-Captain's Iron Fist
The party room buzzed with excitement at McDallian's proposal. So they want me to fight more, huh?
Even if I did it for the reward, being a spectacle once was enough. No way I’m doing it again.
"Everyone, please wait!"
Thank goodness, my only ally, Siegrune, barked again. She really is a great Vice-Commander.
"To demand more from the president, who has already fulfilled her promise, is rude. However, if many of you, including Don McDallian, are dissatisfied, I offer to take up my sword and challenge anyone here."
Siegrune declared this and scanned the room, her eyes meeting Balgar Clad's.
So, even if I don't, it still ends up being a fight?
"Hey, Siegrune—"
"You are the Vice-Commander of the Kikyo Society, are you not? This will be the last time. Is everyone agreeable? Who will be my opponent?"
Balgar Clad seemed a bit hesitant but must have seen the logic in Siegrune's words and accepted the proposal. The bosses must have thought it was a chance to show off their best fighters, as they started clamoring to be chosen.
Well, this is a good opportunity to demonstrate our Vice-Commander's strength. Special fighters probably won’t participate in such trivial entertainment.
"...That leering man over there, you. You seem particularly interested in me. I'll make a special exception and be your opponent."
While the bosses were arguing, Siegrune had already picked her opponent. She must have really disliked him, judging by her abrupt and confrontational tone. She usually speaks more politely, so being suddenly addressed this way, the chosen one might feel insulted and get furious.
But, I felt a sense of relief. In a room filled with the Five Great Families and their leaders, it was refreshing to hear such a bold challenge.
"Boss, is that okay?"
He seemed to be one of McDallian's subordinates. When he brandished his weapon to show his readiness, his boss gave a casual nod of approval.
Amid the excited murmurs, I heard several mentions of the combat unit leader. He must be a formidable fighter.
Only the representative and their deputy or a proxy can attend the general meeting. This combat unit leader is probably here as McDallian's guard, filling in for the deputy.
This can be seen as Siegrune aggressively picking a fight in the guise of entertainment.
His opponent is the combat unit leader of the McDallian Family, a long-standing rival. This should be an interesting match.
I smirked, and Siegrune mirrored my expression. Yeah, no worries.
Siegrune strode down the corridor, heading for the courtyard, her back to us. The McDallian Family’s combat unit leader followed, his stance subtly aggressive. Siegrune ignored him completely.
A bit later, the two appeared in the courtyard. The crowd, eager for the second match, waited impatiently. To their credit, no one tried to ambush them.
Hmm, maybe it was a psychological ploy. Cheeky guy.
The moment they faced each other in the center of the courtyard, the fight began without any signal or conversation.
Siegrune wielded her usual longsword, but she kept her Physical Enhancement Magic at a moderate level, just like me.
The combat unit leader, on the other hand, used a slender blade and was clearly using a high level of Physical Enhancement Magic. He wasn’t at full strength yet, but he was clearly a formidable opponent. Of course, he was far from matching the Grand Master of the Anastasia Union.
At first, they seemed to be testing each other, avoiding direct attacks and clashing their weapons in a probing manner.
"Kikyo Society, you and the president both have extremely weak Physical Enhancement Magic. Yet, you wield power on par with your opponents. What’s your secret?"
"Did you really think I'd tell you? Good women have their secrets. Just shut up."
"Good women... You have a surprisingly nice personality."
Siegrune deftly evaded the Grand Master’s attempts to engage in casual conversation, while I casually brushed off her sister's persistent questions.
As the fight continued, Siegrune gradually increased her speed. Things were getting interesting.
I had complete faith in Siegrune’s victory. And it would be a decisive one.
Siegrune is a born commander. She excels at observing the battlefield and giving precise orders, striking at the critical moments.
This is a rare talent, and I consider the Kikyo Society very lucky to have her as Vice-Commander.
Naturally, her personal combat skills are also formidable. Not only is she skilled with swords and spears, but she also excels in magic.
Siegrune’s magic affinity is Purification Magic, which is typically seen as a mundane and combat-ineffective type. But it’s far from it.
Purification Magic, in simple terms, cleans things. Even without the affinity, anyone can use basic seventh-tier spells. I use them regularly.
But with the affinity, it becomes something else entirely.
For example, Siegrune maintains Purification Magic at all times during combat, enveloping herself in an invisible barrier. This barrier repels anything she deems ‘unclean’—sweat, blood, mud, and more. It’s quite impressive.
She can even cleanse psychological and mental impurities, like fear, anger, and pain. This gives her a significant advantage in combat, allowing her to remain calm and collected.
I think this is far more powerful than just being able to cast strong attack spells.
"That Vice-Commander of yours, hiding in your shadow, is quite capable, isn’t she?"
"Your deputy, huh? She must be quite skilled."
"It’s an honor to be praised by the Grand Master and her sister of the prestigious Anastasia Union. She is my Vice-Commander, Siegrune. Remember her name well."
The fight’s pace was about to reach its limit.
The combat unit leader’s Physical Enhancement Magic was probably at its maximum, and his desperation was evident.
But Siegrune remained calm, maintaining her initial level of magic and keeping up with the high-speed combat without breaking a sweat. The combat unit leader must have been feeling quite demoralized.
His frustration was palpable.
His Physical Enhancement Magic far surpassed hers, yet she kept up with his increasing speed, nullifying his techniques and overpowering him.
He must be terrified. An indomitable opponent with no weakness to exploit. He couldn’t help but feel the overwhelming gap in skill.
Siegrune’s approach was deliberate. She let her opponent exhaust himself before delivering a crushing victory. Given the McDallian Family’s hostility towards the Kikyo Society, she showed no mercy.
But it should be ending soon. Despite his shortcomings, the combat unit leader is still a formidable fighter. He must have a few tricks up his sleeve. However, he’s unlikely to use them in front of such a crowd. If he has no options, he’ll probably choose to lose gracefully.
How will she end it? It’s up to Siegrune. She was quite angry, so she might give him a harsh lesson but won’t kill him.
As a spectacle, it was more intense and impressive than my fight with the sister.
"Truly, the combat unit leader of the McDallian Family is impressive! What a magnificent battle!"
"And the Vice-Commander of the Kikyo Society, matching him blow for blow, is no less impressive. It’s a shame she’s a woman."
The bosses were thoroughly entertained by the swift and skillful exchanges. Only a few in the room, like Cloud Cutter and the Grand Master, and her sister who had been briefed, understood the true disparity in their abilities.
During the fight, Siegrune slightly increased her Physical Enhancement Magic, probably to show the decisive difference.
Siegrune dominated in speed, technique, and power, turning the match into a one-sided affair.
The combat unit leader’s frustration peaked, and he tried to create some distance. But Siegrune wouldn’t let him. He struggled to find an opening.
Then, the combat unit leader resorted to a desperate move.
"Foolish."
"What do you mean?"
I understood the implications of the siblings’ murmurs and acted immediately.
A dry metallic sound echoed in the air.
The knife I had thrown from my pocket intercepted the one he had thrown. It was coated with poison, but I didn’t miss.
Only Cloud Cutter and the Grand Master would have understood this split-second exchange. But it doesn’t really matter.
The poisoned knife was aimed at me, but it could have endangered others too. It was a reckless move. Even if Siegrune had given him an opening, he made a grave mistake. I made it seem like nothing happened, and I hope he’s grateful.
Siegrune, who had seen the situation, was furious.
For the first time in the fight, she showed raw emotion, abandoning her Purification Magic and charging at the combat unit leader with incredible speed, abandoning her sword and striking with her fists.
"What!?"
"Oh!"
Was it the shock of her discarding her sword or her speed that surprised them? Both, probably.
Siegrune’s emotional, unfiltered attack was a break from her usual style. She had disabled her Purification Magic for this. What was she thinking?
Rush, rush, rush!
The combat unit leader, now a human punching bag, couldn’t even fall. Siegrune’s punches, unaffected by the Mithril armor, rained down on his upper body.
The final blow to his chin ended the assault. He slowly collapsed, a dramatic and memorable scene.
The party room fell silent.
The bosses, recovering from the shock, began to react.
"What the hell just happened!?"
"Amazing! So amazing!"
"For a woman to fight like that, it’s incredible!"
"I’m in love."
"Wow!"
"Ha! What a show!"
"Remarkable! Truly remarkable!"
Siegrune’s performance had left a significant impact on the bosses.
It seemed that she had overshadowed my own appearance.
This would show that the Kikyo Society is not just a one-woman show. A good outcome.
"The Kikyo Society, both the president and the Vice-Commander, are truly formidable. I might have underestimated you."
"Exactly. Who are you, really?"
The impressed Grand Master and his sister. But they still don’t understand.
"Just so you know, my Vice-Commander wasn’t even at full strength. You should be able to tell, right?"
"Yes, her sword is her true specialty. That was just a performance."
Even without the magic potion, the skill gap was obvious. A serious Siegrune wouldn’t need a sword to win.
Against a fighter of the Five Great Families, such dominance is rare. How many others could match her?
"That’s not all. The Kikyo Society isn’t just the president and the Vice-Commander."
"What do you mean?"
"Surely, you don’t mean to say there are more fighters like you and her?"
It’s understandable. The Kikyo Society governs a small territory, so being underestimated is inevitable. But we’re more underestimated than I thought.
"Siegrune wasn’t even at full strength. Neither was I."
This time, I want the Anastasia Union to understand.
"But, that level of combat is something any member of our Combat Unit can handle. Any of them."
Literally, any member of our Combat Unit can do it. Of course, the new recruits would need to give it their all, but they would still win decisively. That’s how well-trained our Combat Unit is.
Watching today’s match, I’m confident. We are strong. Too strong.
But today’s opponent was weak. I won’t be complacent. The Grand Master and Cloud Cutter, standing next to me, are probably stronger than our Combat Unit. Their existence alone prevents any complacency.
As the Anastasia Union siblings pondered my words, Siegrune returned to the party room.
The bosses, already hyped up, cheered even louder for the victor.
Siegrune’s polite and composed demeanor as she dealt with the bosses boosted her popularity. She’s a cool and capable knight, and if there were more women here, the reaction would have been even more enthusiastic.
"Good work, Siegrune."
"The greetings were more tiring than the fight."
"But you handled it well."
"I was once a Blue Knight. I know a thing or two about social graces."
Of course, that’s right. No wonder she was so composed.
"By the way, Siegrune. Using your fists on Mithril armor, even I wouldn’t do that. And you disabled your Purification Magic, didn’t you?"
"I got carried away. But in such situations, it’s better to let your emotions out, as I’ve learned in the Kikyo Society."
Siegrune’s smirk confirmed that she’s fully adapted to our ways.
"Well, for a moderate beating, striking is more effective than cutting. I couldn’t shatter the armor like Yukari-dono, but it was a good experience."
Her approach was a hit. With this, we might even get a better reward.
The Anastasia Union siblings were deep in thought, the bosses still hyped up, and the McDallian Family’s contingent looked unhappy.
The party continued, with more drinks and food being served, and new entertainers brought in by Balgar Clad.
Siegrune and I, having completed our task, decided to enjoy the festivities. The inauguration party was a roaring success, aside from a few derailed plans.