--15 days ago. A large forest near King's Landing.


　The sound of roaring fists snatches your ears and echoes in your head like a blow.

"d*mn it, I'm losing my mind!
Calm down. We're not dead yet. Don't you feel alive?
This is no time for bullshit!　We can't even take care of one of them!

　When Leafy looked up, he saw a huge forest with many huge trees blocking the way.
　A tall gorilla, over four merets tall, probably living in one of those huge trees.

　It sometimes uses the branches and trunks of the giant trees as if they were the ground, and uses the entire space to swing its fists to kill Leafy and Arrows.

"There's nothing I can do about three of them!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Arcadia King Gorilla counts as three, right?
DAMARE!!!!!
They don't like men who can't afford it.
I'm a woman. ！！！！　Arrows, what are the odds?

　I'm not sure what to make of that.

　Arrows holds back his cowboy hat from blowing away in the wind and lifts the corners of his mouth.

Yeah, I got it. "Yeah, there's one. It's about as good as a cold middle-aged couple throwing hot bacon at each other.
"Don't mess with me, if it's there, do it!　Match it!
"Okay, okay, there aren't many people who can fit in, but I'm sure you can. Don't die!
What?

　Arouz, who was dealing with one Arcadia King Gorilla, leaps backwards. Naturally, the gorilla was chasing him head-on, but Arrows was able to fend off the attack.

　Behind him is Leafy.

I'm not sure what to say.

　Just after Leafy screams as he is pinned down by the gorilla that Arrows has pulled, one of the Arcadia King gorillas attacks.

　Just as Leafy screamed, one of the Arcadia King gorillas died.













　--This is the first time I've seen this game.

Two one-on-ones!　That's what's going on here, isn't it? You're going to be drained of energy, make mistakes, and be done with it.
Yeah. That's if we keep going like this.

　Wind-Earth Note's work to keep the Ironworkers from grasping their strength.
　There was no time for Arrows to probe, and the crowd went wild with his wild, wild strikes, with the occasional painful blow.

　The commentator, who was not outside the tournament, told me why he did not show up for the first tournament. Even so, he still showed up, and Izuna invited him to be his best buddy in this tournament.

　Sword fighting is a sport for young people. That's not discrimination, that's not distinction, that's just the plain truth.
　The older you get, the more you decline. Human beings are not strong enough to overcome this decline.

　That is why there are no middle-aged workers who are not moved by the sight of a man who is almost 40 years old and still wielding an iron knife at the forefront of his field.

　They cheer him on, as if they want to show the young fool what they can see.

　And then.

"Pappas!　Go for it!

　The children were inspired by the cheers of one of the girls.
　As soon as they realized that he was close to their father's age, the boys and girls who had come for the pasta were also bonded.

...... It's strange, isn't it?

　It's a good idea to take a look at the web site and see if you can find anything you like.

　The battlefield is still fiercely contested.
　You can't take your eyes off the game, but Futa somehow knew that the equilibrium would not be broken for a while.
　That's probably why a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

　A girl next to him, with her hand still on the magic device, looked up at him.
　In the meantime, Futa's consciousness was at the venue.

...... Until a moment ago, the only people in the room were Wild Hunt or Izuna fans.

　I'm not sure what to say.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

　I'm not sure what kind of will is mixed in with the cheering, Futa said.

It's not just about you, you know.

　The girl next to him muttered.
　It's not just you," the girl next to him muttered, her gaze darting around boringly, as if she hadn't felt any particular emotion.

In the end, it is important to know what kind of person he is.
"...... I see. You're right. The more you know about yourself, the more cute you become.
"Die.

　He sniffs.

　This battlefield of swords is now for the four of us to fight.
　Wind Earth Note had already paid off the handicap of being a first-time competitor, and was gaining popularity as a swordsman.

　And he hadn't even won a battle yet.

I'm not sure what to do.　What do you think is going to happen from here?
"......, I guess.

　As if to switch it up, Pasta held out his hand to the grimoire.



　Futa, who had been deeply moved, shook his head.
　For now, I'm just going to do what I do best as a commentator.
　And his instincts tell him that either way, the end is near.

The fight is, of course, a grinding contest. And just because you're on the offensive doesn't mean you'll always have the advantage.
"You're going to use your energy anyway. Whether you're on the defensive or on the offensive.
That's how it is.

　It's a war of attrition unless it's settled.
　In that sense, Leafy and Arrows, with their defensive talents, are excellent warriors who can fight against superior opponents.

　I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I've seen it before.

The odds are as I said at the beginning. But we all know that--they're going to try something soon.

　Something that happens in a tag team match.
　Something happens in a tag-team match that you can't see with your own eyes.
　That's why Futa narrowed his eyes, hoping for a miracle.

　It's not for him to know.
　It was probably the right way to enjoy sword fighting.




"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

　The waves were too rough for a man to ride.

　One, two, three, four.
　There was no room for error in the wielding of the iron knife, but as soon as it touched the undertow, the opposite would be reaped.
　There were now three shattered swords. There is only one spare, and it is in a difficult situation.
　But even with that, Arrows' eyes were not rotten.

　He would have laughed at the idea of being a hexenbiest hunter if he gave up at this level of disadvantage.
　But how many people in this world can smile like that?

　In sword fighting, miracles don't happen very often. The difference in ability clearly dominates the battlefield, and an absolute barrier that cannot be overturned by the slightest bit of luck is there to break the hearts of the weak who try to climb up.

When you're hunting hexenbiests, a lot of things are different.
I can't...

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.
　I'm not sure if you've heard of this, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

The fact that the opponent is human, the fact that there are rules, and most of all, this frenzy. All of them are different from my field, but still!
But still, some things never change, do they?
Yeah, that's right!　It's the most joyous, the most essential thing we have!
That's why your eyes will never die.
So your eyes will never die.

　With a thud, he swats away the twin swords. Like pushing open a heavy iron door with both hands, you forcefully do it. One of the swords snapped. But that's okay.

　Stepping over the wreckage of the swords scattered at his feet, Arrows pulls out his last sword.

Let's go!
I hope not!

　A fierce clash of fighting spirits.
　The Ironworker catches Arrows' sword strike and uses the momentum to deliver a thrust.
　The flash of the sword, which was different from Lilac's piercing one and was as painful as a heavy, sharp fist, was avoided by Arrows by half deflecting his body.


"This paper-thin thing is huge.
"What?
"Minimizing wasted movement. That small accumulation is the proof of a strong man. Just by watching how you stand, you can tell that you're used to fighting strong opponents.
"Oh!


　In the event you're not aware of such praise, Arrows is just honestly trying to fend off Wind's ironwork and its stormy waves.

　The rear is slowly falling.
　Arrows gritted his teeth and continued to endure Wind's fury.

　It was Wind who thought it was strange.
　This is a war of attrition. If anything, Wind would prefer this situation.

　But he was facing a Hexenbiest Hunter.
　And Wind did not underestimate the fighting swordsman, Arrows, who had made it to the end of the preliminary round.

　That's why he feels something.
　And the dare he just made.

　But the twin swords of Arrows in front of him, there is no reserve left.

　Victory is at hand.
　If only one more sword is broken, then victory is assured.

　No matter how good Arrows was as a swordsman, he would not be able to take on Wind if he was down to one of his less powerful defensive daggers.

　That's what I was thinking when I stepped in.
　He didn't want a stalemate.
　Of course, between the armor and the sword, the armor would have the advantage in terms of endurance, but what about the armor and Wind?

　But what if it was Arrows and Wind? If they were able to survive, our strength would be in danger.
　That was also a big decision.


　And Arrows was aware of all these thoughts.


"Whoa!
Now!


　There was no eye contact.



　I found myself behind him.



"It's probably true that Ms. Wind was pushing you. It's also true that you were overpowered and had to move back. If there's any doubt, it's that I was unprepared. Victory is at hand. I can't blame Mr. Wind for this.


"This is...



"To set a trap, you can't just ...... lie your way out of it. Man and beast alike ...... are sensitive to such things. That's why.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

The hexenbiest hunter uses his head to plant the poison in the truth.

　Arrows had been pushed.
　There were two one-on-ones going on.

　And from the beginning, Leafy and Arrows had been fighting back to back.

　It was true that if he was pushed, he would get closer to Leafy.
　It was also true that if they didn't, they would be caught in the middle.

　For Wind, and for Izuna, "pushing" would only be an advantage.

　But that's only if Arrows and Leafy have no plan.
　Without even looking at each other, they responded to each other with just a single call.

　That moment. The result.

　Izuna Sienzan and Wind Earthnote are in the middle of swinging their weapons at each other.


"Oops.
"Oops!


　"Oops!" "Whoops!" A cheer erupts.
　It's no wonder, since this shot was a move that no one expected, as it was aimed at getting Izuna and Wind to fight each other.

　Was it a part of the plan from the beginning, or was it a result of the trust that they had built up over time that allowed them to breathe together perfectly?

　Only the two Wild Hunters can say for sure.

　If there is one thing that can be said for sure, it is that in this moment, the Wild Hunt has surpassed the Wilderness Storm Blade.

"No hard feelings, Wind!

　But...


　But...


　But there was no way that Izuna Sienzan would be broken by this one trick.

　With a flash of his hammer axe, he knocked away Wind's knife just before he swung down.

　With a dull thud of a heavy weapon colliding with a heavy weapon, Wind's body recoiled.

No, that's a good move. Mr. Wind was in a swinging position. If he had swung down fully, he would have lost his balance, which would have been bad, and even if he had been able to stop it, it would have given him time to stiffen up.
And even if you could have stopped it, it would have given you time to stiffen up.
"That's why I swung away with the hatchet. That's why I "swatted" it away with the hammer axe. There's no way I could get within striking distance of that huge axe, even as a finishing blow.

　Wind, who regained his balance as a result of being swept away and pushed back by the iron knife, and Izuna Sienzan, who was in a posture to pay off the hammer axe.

　The wind pressure was so strong that it blew away the shattered cobblestones.
　It was the blade of a storm raging in the wilderness.

　It would have been foolish to run into that storm, so Izuna fired off a flash of reckoning.

　--Yes, I was thinking.




　A petal flew in the air.





　--I was happy.

　It brought back memories of training day in and day out.
　Before and after I came to King's Landing. If there's one thing that's changed in me since I came here... It's my mind, my body. And skills.

　They say children grow up fast.
　Leafy Lean Glide suddenly thought about the reason why he was able to spend so much time with an opponent who was completely unstoppable six months ago.

　An insurmountable barrier. Indeed, it would be.
　The first time his heart was broken in the first tournament. I'd be lying if I said it hadn't been traumatic.

　But I bounced back and held on.
　I lost in the first round of the tournament, the same result as Izuna, which is not even funny.
　On the one hand, she was a candidate for the best bout in the first round. On the other hand, the guy I fought lost in the second round.

　I know there's no point in comparing the two.
　What I'm trying to say isn't about those superficial results.

　Just one thing.

　For Leafy Lean Glide, in a way.
　In a way, Leafy Lean Glide has a lot more to overcome than Futa Pomodoro.

　It's a wall so high that I gave up trying to climb it that day.

　But now, without a doubt.

I'm on that wall!


　I'm sticking my sword in it and I'm trying to climb up!


"You're going to run right into it!　No, that's right, that's what I'm thinking.
'Big brother, you're not cool!
"Maybe so!　If you only take this moment, it is a bad idea to rush into it. It's a good metaphor.
"Oh, good metaphor: .......
"But what if you already know the boat is going to sink?　But what if you know it's going to sink? What if you know you're in the middle of the ocean and there's no rescue?　If you run into a storm and you have no choice but to aim for the eye of the storm, then the moment you swing your hatchet is the eye of the game!

　The cheers that erupted from the crowd were probably due in part to the heat of the commentary.
　The heat of Futa's clenched fist. Considering his character, this might be another bad move.
　In this tag team match, where the audience is looking on with pure eyes, the spirit of honest enjoyment of fighting swords may be what creates a sense of unity with the audience.



"This is nothing short of growth!
"My brother's growth is also amazing!

　Pasta was curious about the game, but she was more interested in her brother's sense of words.
　It's probably because I've been standing next to him listening to his choice of words. Unlike the time when I was studying in the dark when I heard "witty words," now I have a role model next to me.

　Even if he is "unemployed".
　Maybe that's a sign that his talent is not limited.


　And so it is for the fighter.



　For Leafy, who had found a way to survive, this moment was like his last breath.

　He drew his sword and ran with only one thought in his mind.

　To win.

　This is why he is a "fighter".


"Ahhhhhh!
Aah!

　Izuna noticed too.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　At the same time as his eyes widened, his sword flashed. The flash was a sharp blow that could cut off even a single cherry blossom petal.



　If there is one talent that Leafy Lean Glide possesses, it must be her tremendous strength.
　I'd have to say it's her tremendous concentration.

　The fact that he was able to keep training alone until the pasta came is a big reason for that.
　Unlike some barbarians, it was not a shame that I was playing at night. Rather, it is because of each of these disciplines and the striving toward one's own destination that needs to be refined.

　There was a time when I had to fight off the huge wall of Izuna Sienzan with my sword. And most importantly, that she was able to single-handedly carry on with the Sakurahana Itto Ryu, a sword that respects defense and endurance.


　That's why Leafy was only looking at Izuna.
　Wind reacts. It was the instincts of the "assassin" who had beaten those rash swordsmen to the side that told him he could catch them now.

　But there was no way that the Hexenbiest Hunter didn't know what kind of temperament his partner, Leafy, had.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

　Shattering blade. I lost one of my two swords.
　Now there's nothing left to do.

　But I intervened. Arrows leaps in between Wind and Leafy with his body and earns one Secon.

Go, go, go!　Leafy!


　The boat plunged into the storm.
　The sinking boat rode out all the waves that blocked its way.

　The rower simply leaps and reaches for the harbor at the end of the storm.

"Ohh, ohh, ohh, ohh!



Sakura Hana Itto Ryu--


　The sword flashes.
　You can't swing a hammer axe with your bosom.
　You can't intercept a sword with your fist.

　You can't wield a hammer axe in your pocket.




Yeah, you're right.




　One day.
　There was a height I desperately reached for.
　Just like Leafy's eyes now, I was struggling to get over the wall.

　I remembered what he said to me at that time.


　I remembered what he told me at that time. He said that while I was making efforts, he was also making efforts.


　I felt that I had been on the side of the chase, and I realized for the first time that I was being chased.

　So I smiled.




"Leafy. You're a great guy.




　He swung his sword.



　The commentators leaning forward.

　The audience screaming.

　Arrows making a last-ditch effort to believe.

　Wind clenching his teeth, trying to catch him before he catches himself.


　And then...





　And Izuna, ducking by the skin of his teeth.





I've given up on speed. That's not what I'm good at. But you can't win with that.

　He says, half-turning his body.
　And at the moment the sword passed through.

　I'm not going to be able to do that.

I'm still in the process of growing up.


　The fist stops in front of him.
　The fist stops right in front of him, and then he's popped on the head.


"Come on up. I'm not waiting.



　The referee's arm goes up.





　The winner--Arashiwata Arano.