Kanna no Kanna Chapter 43

One of my fav to listen to when I'm translating

『心拍数♯0822-Arrange ver.-』を歌ってみた【ヲタみん】 sung by wotamin. its on youtube

imo, its super relaxing.

100% accuracy and grammatically correct not guaranteed

obligatory text kyun

Commencing the duel against a wild obotchan, escort A and escort B

nani sore? ois.h.i.+ desu ka? tabete ii?

「Now, commencing the duel between Chloe and Kanna against Ruks Abern! Both sides, ready your stance!」

I don't have the leeway to worry about the examiner's gaze at this moment.

I held my big axe with both hands while Chloe, with sword unsheathed, prepares her stance. The other side also finished preparing. I stood in front, while Chloe stands diagonally behind my right side.

The formation our opponent adopted was similar. The two armor stood side by side, holding their s.h.i.+eld forward facing us. Meanwhile, that botchan was at the back holding his two swords, ready and waiting. His stance was wide open, standing straight like that.

……At that moment, I was sorely tempted to freeze his underfoot but I managed to stop myself. In that situation, there's a high chance I'll be discovered. Things will become problematic if various circ.u.mstances come to light in this place. Besides, that trick is actually not suitable for instantaneous use because it consumes too much of my mental strength. If I fail, I'll be defenseless.

Let's do this [fair and square], even if its contrary to my principle.

「Begin!」

The gong of battle has been struck.

I stepped in the moment basan commence the battle. Once I have the two unmoving walls in my range, I unleashed a full power horizontal blow towards one of them. Its a swing with all I have that screams [to h.e.l.l with skills].

The armor to my right -let's call him armor reacted to my charge one beat too late. The handle of my axe alone is as long as my height. The size of the blade goes without saying.

《no idea what type of ax he's using. closest i can think of is great ax or giant ax from diablo 2》

It seems he didn't expect my speed, seeing how ma.s.sive my weapon was. As a result, without being able to brace himself properly, he can only depend on the strength of his upper body to defend. With the sound of a violent clash, armor A couldn't withstand the impact and retreated a few steps. I wanted to drop him to the ground but looks like it wasn't possible.

At the edge of my sight, I saw armor B brandis.h.i.+ng his sword. As expected of adventurers. My speed might have been unexpected but he quickly regained composure after armor A blocked my blow. Normally, I would've created an ice s.h.i.+eld to defend myself, but this time I'll have to refrain to the best of my abilities while only using the big axe. Its not a problem.

Although I was late in noticing armor B using my sight, I was already aware of his action. Immediately after repelling armor A, I continued on to my next action. Turning sideways to evade his sword, I distanced myself out of his range.

Using the momentum from my movement, I make full use of the long reach of my axe and swing it towards armor B. Armor B, unlike his counterpart armor A, firmly holds his ground and managed to endure my blow. But he was not able to completely negate the impact, resulting in him being slightly stiff.

「Now, Chloe!」

I was able to seal the movement of armor A and B for a brief moment. During that time, a black shadow weaved through. Chloe broke past the wall of armor from the gap I made, rus.h.i.+ng toward botchan behind them.

Fast!

The person herself said she wasn't confident in her speed but if you ask me, she's as fast as lightning. If she is truly a dropout, then the Black Wolf Clan are truly terrifying. I can't even begin to imagine the speed of a Black Wolf armed with enough mana.

I can barely see her movement, but how about botchan. Maybe it will end with this? My easygoing wish was dashed by the sound of metal clas.h.i.+ng.

Chloe dashed towards botchan and slash him without hesitation, or at least tried to. Botchan blocked her slash by crossing his swords.

「Did you really think it would end just like that? I believe I told you, my ability is equivalent to a C-rank.」

「kuh, It wasn't a bluff de gozaru ka.」

Grinding her teeth in vexation, Chloe broke out of the sword lock and took a step back. She tried to get out of his range but this time, botchan steps in and starts his counterattack. Chloe calmly deflects his attack. His other sword coming from a different direction was also intercepted.

「As expected from the renowned Black Wolf Clan. Such a beautiful swordsmans.h.i.+p.」

「A compliment from you will not make this one happy even in the slightest de gozaru yo!」

From there, an intense back and forth battle between offense and defense unfolded. Just as he said, Chloe is a brilliant swordswoman. Speed and power aside, her skill is definitely the real deal.

Contrary to his degenerate character, that botchan was able to trade blows with Chloe. Evidently, his arrogance was backed by actual ability.

Though I was providing commentary on their fight, I don't have that much leeway myself.

Rather, I'm being worked to my bone here!

To maintain the current status quo, I had to distract armor A and B as much as possible. In MMORPG term, I'm taking the role of a tank.

Immediately after Chloe broke through the walls of armor, armor A tried to pursue her in order to support botchan. I struck his back with the back end of my axe handle to prevent him from going. At the same time, armor B swung his blade from behind me. I had to release my axe and guard against the blow using my armguard.

While keeping his sword at bay, I launch a body blow towards armor B to create some distance between us. Seizing that chance, I recollected my axe. Exploiting the gap in my defense, armor A thrusts his sword. I was able to avoid it by rolling forward just before I got hit.

The trick in using a forward roll is to stand up immediately after doing it.

「tch, its as hard as it looks.」

My shoulder hurts a bit after performing that body blow. Rather than that armor, it was me who suffered damage. Still, that mithril alloy is truly lightweight. Even with a full plate armor, those guys are so agile as if they are only wearing light armor. If I hadn't undergone mock combat training with Real and Agatt, they would've brought me down right after the duel began.

Fully utilizing my weight-ignoring axe and my excellent presence sensing ability, I was barely able to draw their attention.

(Its not like I can't win though)

In case of fighting multiple opponents, my principle is not to fight head-on.

This battle was only called a duel in name. After it starts, its just an all-out head-on fight. The [makeover] those armors underwent, was certainly unexpected. If if wasn't for those mithril alloy full plate, my initial charge would've resulted in enormous damage.

Presently, they're practically spotless…

I don't think any normal person, in their temper would spend 100 gold coins just for a duel. I can't even estimate how much defensive power that mithril alloy has.

If this battle happens outdoor with no witnesses, I can use the [anything goes] strategy. But wis.h.i.+ng for the impossible here is fruitless huh.

Their only exposed part was the head but I'm kinda reluctant to aim there. Even if an excellent healer is on standby, healing a broken neck sounds difficult, at best. Besides, with my ma.s.sive axe, its more than likely they will die instantly if I land a clean hit.

Getting a bit off tangent here. Wearing helmets results in extremely limited view in exchange for defense. Therefore, its not unusual to have only the head exposed while wearing full plate armor.

Armor A and B are now currently focusing entirely on me.

Did they conclude that I'm a threat they can't leave unattended? Its a convenient situation but at the same time, problematic. Earning their [hate] is good and all but now this is turning into a head-on battle I described earlier.

Armor B swings his sword in a large arc. Its a powerful attack backed by his arm strength and centrifugal force but he's displaying a big opening there. I had no problem avoiding his attack but armor A started his flurry of sharp blows immediately after, leaving me little room to evade. Though I did manage to evade, I was a.s.sailed by a powerful impact. It was armor B using his s.h.i.+eld to reciprocate my body blow. By a hair's breadth, I managed to prevent a direct hit using the flat of my axe but I was blown away by the impact.

Armor A doggedly pursue me who had fallen to the ground and started slas.h.i.+ng at me with no mercy. After frantically rolling to side to escape, I stood up but armor B's next strike was already swooping onto me.

After both armor decided to focus on me, the intensity of their attack increased sharply. I guess they originally fight as a pair. Their coordination is nothing to be scoffed at. I'm steadily being driven to a corner here.

「Ugh.」

An unprotected part of my arm got grazed as I failed to ward off an attack completely. Stifling the urge to scream in pain, I continued fending off the a.s.sault by keeping out of their range as much as possible.

There are gaps here and there in our battle but the neither of the armor showed any sign of wanting to provide backup to botchan.

If this continues, I'll definitely get crushed.

Taking a sneak peek at Chloe, I saw her being evenly matched with botchan. Against Chloe's masterful sword handling, botchan responded with flurry of attacks with his two swords. Both sides are totally focused on each other, with no sign of them being aware of what's happening on my side. In other words, no chance of immediate backup from Chloe. And by the looks of it, her side won't reach conclusion anytime soon.

………Can't help it, its time to loosen my handicap for a bit.

In the first place, placing a shackle on myself against stronger opponents is without a doubt, an uphill battle. The risk of being scrutinized will increase but I give up at this point.

This is no more than a duel, but dragging botchan down from his high horse ranks high in my priority list. He's that sort of person who tends to get carried away and will be very troublesome afterwards. Its important to settle this matter right here and now to avoid any unnecessary conflict in the future.

If you win normally, you're likely to get a connection, be it good or bad but by getting a mental dominance over your opponent, it'll be very different story.

《super notsure. did my best: 勝ったら勝ったで因縁も付けられそうだが、精神的な優位がとれるだけでも大分違う。i guess he's trying to do his [carefully precisely thoroughly] routine here》

That was the main reason I accepted this duel. If the other party was a run of the mill delinquent, I'd immediately reject any challenge to a duel.

Now then, to what extent should I release my [restraint].

While keeping the armors in my view, I turn my consciousness towards my weapon. Naturally, I ended up focusing on the gemstone embedded in the center of my axe handle. The axe was generated using this gemstone as a core, that was the [setting]. In other words, its not a magic tool that creates a ma.s.sive axe. Its a magic tool capable of producing ice which coalesced into an axe. Conclusion, this magic tool produces weapon made out of ice.

(All right, background story completed.)

Now that I'm done figuring out my setting, let's execute it at once.

(A large axe is basically a brute force type of weapon. If so, what should I create this time?)

With the image of a weapon I had in mind, I concentrate on the axe made from Spirit Art. Thereupon, the blade part of the axe started transforming while making a cracking sound. The transformation process astounded not only the two armors but also our two witnesses, basan and the examiner, as well as the female staff-c.u.m-healer. All of them without exception became wide-eyed.

It was my first time altering an existing object made with Spirit Art. I'm glad that went well. The end result was a large blade protruding horizontally from one side of the long handle, with a characteristic curvature towards the wielder at the end.

A [scythe], simply put.

A representative of fantasy weapon, in a sense.

From a villain's perspective, that is.

I'm not making it just for fun, ya know. I have my reasons making it into this shape.

The spirit had done a wonderful job here. A scythe definitely have a different value for balance and center of gravity compared to the axe but both of them feels the same in my hand. Neither armor A nor B could conceal their surprise after seeing my weapon transforming in front of their eyes. I grasp this chance immediately.

As retaliation for the defensive battle I've been through, I launch my counterattack without hesitation. They immediately return to their senses but it was more than enough if this strike connects. I swing it down towards armor A after raising the scythe above my head. Armor A couldn't avoid it so he used his s.h.i.+eld to block the [handle].

ーーーGan~!

However, the [blade] part of my scythe struck his back.

There exist a curved sword called [shotel]. Its a tricky weapon with a blade shaped like a crescent arc. The curved tip bypa.s.ses the opponent's s.h.i.+eld to attack them directly.

The scythe in my hand has the same nature. If you simply defend only against the handle, you will be surprised by the sickle blade.

ーーーIf the large axe is a brute force type of weapon, then the scythe the type of weapon that excels in surprise attack from blind spot.

Brute force vs Surprise attack.

Its not even remotely close to the term [fair and square], if I can say so myself.

Even if the armor is covered from neck to toe with mithril alloy plate armor, an attack from outside his cognizance would surely throw him into momentary confusion. Armor A's eyes are unfocused after receiving an unexpected impact from behind. Armor B promptly move to cover his gap. While evading armor B's attack, I positioned my scythe behind armor A's feet to act as a hook.

「doryaa~!」

I pulled the scythe will all the strength I can muster. Thereupon, armor A was completely hooked and flas.h.i.+ly fell down on his back. Thanks to his armor, he was uninjured. But during his fall, he frantically flail around with his sword still in his hand. Armor B who was being vigilant towards me, jumps aside in a fl.u.s.ter once he saw that scene.

Falling down will induce these reflexive action no matter what kind of armor you wear. As far as I'm concerned, its nothing but convenient. Quickly approaching armor A, I swing down my scythe and stopped it right on top of his forehead. Armor A tried to stand up immediately after he fell down but he was stopped by an ice blade which was dangerously close to piercing his head.

「Basan!」

Armor B tried to slash me after seeing his partner pinned down by my scythe but faster than that, I called out to one the umpire of this duel.

「All hands, STOP!」

ーーーーkiin~!

Her loud voice shook the whole room, attracting the attention of everyone else inside. No, not all. The examiner, who was also sub-umpire for this duel and armor B was crossing sword. Armor B's sword, on the verge of reaching me, was blocked by the examiner.

When did the examiner arrived and drew his sword?

Rather than being glad armor B's attack got blocked, I was more surprised by the movement of the examiner. I once heard that masters of the sword can cross a few meter with but a single step. I never thought I'd be able to see it up close.

Basan looked at the fallen armor and towards me who was still in the same position. And finally, when she turned her gaze towards armor B, she nodded.

「The man lying over there will be considered incapacitated. Until the duel is over, he will observe alongside me.」

Botchan, who was only concentrating on Chloe up until now, was shocked by basan's decision.

「Wh-What are you saying! That man can still move! He's not even the slightest bit injured.」

「If this was a real battlefield, his head would've been pierced.」

「Then you shouldn't have interrupted the duel! Isn't it a matter of course to kill an unprepared enemy in the battlefield. 」

Botchan's complaining now turns towards me. I was almost slashed by armor B after all. This time, it was the examiner who replied.

「Unfortunately, Kannkun was not being negligent, not even in the slightest. As proof, he pointed his blade towards the fallen man and immediately called out to Lydeal-sama. Without him calling out, I don't even have the slightest intention to intrude. I conclude the fallen man as incapacitated.」

「The sub-umpire and I holds the same decision. That's why I stopped the duel. And since the umpire and sub-umpire are in agreement, I will not accept any objection.」

「Th-Then what about that man's weapon! He changed weapon during a duel!」

Now he's complaining about my weapon transforming in the middle of dueling.

「The youngster's weapon is not an ice axe, its a magical tool that produces ice. If there are any objection regarding that, they should be voiced out before the duel started. You are making no sense, voicing out [unacceptable] at this point of time.」

Botchan's case was completely rejected by the two judges.

Ignoring botchan who still wanted to say something, basan ordered the duel to recommence.

kabaddikabaddikabaddikabaddikabaddiyamazakikabaddikabaddikabaddikabaddikabaddikabaddi

tln; kanna refers to escort a & b as adventurers, escort, wall of armor, i just use armor for all of them, to preserve kanna's laid back comentary

tln; i remember reading flat of blade but never for an axe, is it correct?