How dare you walk out on me like that, honey?

　The semi-finals of the tournament to determine the challenger, against Kisenshou.

　My opponent - Dee Mix.

　In the center of the arena, I face her head on, and I proudly say to her, "Dee Mix.

'Our line. How can you expose your face to the public after being beaten so badly by my second Ichibanza?
...... That guy has nothing to do with it. I have a vendetta against you.

　It's working (・・・・・). I could clearly feel it.

　Lord Second-dono gave me several surprise tactics, the basics of fighting against people. This includes "off-the-board tactics".

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for and what you're looking for. It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of it," said Second-dono, "because I don't know anyone who is as good at off-the-board tactics as he is. I agree, but in Winfiled's case, he is probably better at off-board tactics than most people. No, in this case, he's twice as good as a genie.

　Anyway. I learned from Winfiled how to rub salt into Dee's heart wound. The procedure is to mention the Second Lord's name at the opening, and when he rejects you, you can go to ...... and say: "Just to me?

'Is it only against me?　That is not true. I'm with the Second Lord. You have made an enemy of Issa the Flash. That's why you won't be able to do anything underhanded in this matchup. The Second Lord is watching you. And His Majesty Mein is also watching. You can't get rid of them. You can't tell me how many times you've been in this situation. You'll be suspended indefinitely. In addition, you may think that you are forgiven for getting down on your knees, but you are mistaken. Lord Second-dono is not yet forgiven--

Shut up!　Shut up!　Don't call that man's name!

　Dee exclaimed in a tantrum and covered her ears. If you look closely, your body is trembling slightly.

　...... Hey, hey, don't you think it's working too well?

　Ummm, my heart hurts a bit. You dared me to say something like, "I can't do any cowardly acts," and now I'm going to use a cowardly act-threshold surprise strategy.

"Both of you, move into position.

　He moved into position as the referees instructed.
　Dee scratched the back of her head, shaggy long emerald-green hair with a look she couldn't afford.
　Okay, the off-board tactic would be considered a success.


''-- Begin!

　Command.
　Immediately after, I ran out to close the distance to Dee--



Ahahahaha!


　Dee opened her mouth wide and laughed and held her bow at the ready.

　Instant recovery. Sheesh, it was an act: ......!

d*mn!

　We ducked the infantry archery flying in one after another by sprinting sideways.

"Look, look, look, look!　You're just going to run away?

　...... No, it doesn't seem to be an act. There is something wrong with Dee. I don't know if it's a mental reason, but he's in a pretty big hurry to attack.


　So long.

　Let's get it out of there as soon as possible. Surprise tactics, part one: ......!


"Eat this!　"Demon killer!"

　I approached Dee while avoiding the Infantry Archery, and when the distance was about 8 meters, I prepared the Angular Archery.

''It's going to hit me!

　Naturally, there was no way to duck from Dee's infantry archery.

　This is the essence of the "Demon Slayer". If Dee was using powerful skills such as the Silver General Archery or the Flying Wheel Archery, the damage and impact would be too severe for her to use the Angular Bow technique. However, if it was an 《Infantry Bow Technique》.


''Guh!

　It hurts a little bit, nothing wrong with that!


No.

　Dee says a short word and begins to move to duck my "Angular Archery".

　But alas. My aim is not you, but .......


''Kyah!

　At his feet...

　The "Angular Bowing" is a powerful penetrating attack. By "firing it almost parallel to the ground", the arrow shaves the ground, creating a smoke screen-like effect.

"What is this?

　Dee is enveloped in a smokescreen, obscuring her vision.

　This moment is an opportunity. The next move will be the deciding factor in killing the demon.

　Normally, it makes sense to keep your distance from an opponent wrapped in a smoke screen and attack to your advantage. But the Oni-killer is different.


''Take it!''

　I dared to shove into the smokescreen.
　I catch Dee's figure and follow him further into the smokescreen.


　Then, I jump out to a short distance where we rub ourselves together - I activate the Golden General Archery!

What ......!

　The Golden General Archery is a close-range skill with a ranged attack and a knockback effect. Its ranged attack makes it a surefire hit!


Ugh, geez.

　Dee was blown away and fell on her ass to the ground.

　Too big an opening. Surprise attack method number one, the "Demon Slayer", was a huge success!

Stop!

　I fired the Silver General Archery at Dee, who was still on the ground.


　I'm going to decide on this--and I'm going to decide on this. Yes, I got greedy.

　Because there were only three surprise tactics I could remember. One in the semi-finals, one in the final, and one in the final round. Ideally, this is how it should be. Hence, I want to save the other two as much as possible. That's what Second-dono had told me repeatedly. I'm not going to be able to get it right," he said.


　...... Why didn't I shoot the "Infantry Archery" with its short preparation time?

　In hindsight, it's too late.


''Bah!''

　This is what happens when you get greedy. You've learned a lot.

　Dee avoided my Silver General Archery just in time to avoid my Silver General Archery, and then he regained his stance in the nick of time.


　Oh, it sucks.
　This is ...... back to square one, right?


"You're not going to be able to do anything about it!

　Dee's sharp 《Infantry Archery》 attacks.

　I thought three weeks ago, but she was still strong. Even though her character was the worst, she was still a contestant in the Onion Piercing General Battle. There is only one thing to say about her, she is the current General Demon Punisher's number one disciple.

''Kukaku......!''

　I tried my best to visit him again while he was still close enough to see the 《Gold General Archery》 while he was still close enough to see me, but he wouldn't let me get even a step closer this time, probably because he was wary of the demon slayer just now.

　It's just as Second-dono said. The surprise battle technique is still a technique that only works against first-time opponents, right?


''............''


　A moment's hesitation.

　To get it out or not to get it out.



　...... haha. What am I confused about, I don't know. Dee is the only one I can't afford to lose to. I need to win. Well, you should get it out of there. Don't you think?


　Surprise attack strategy, part two - the incense car rocket.


Aha!　You're going to run away with your tail between your legs?

　Ignoring Dee who was provoking me, I ran as fast as I could to get the maximum distance.

　If I got this far away, I could avoid Dee's 《Infantry Archery》 by walking after seeing the arrows with my own eyes.


''Eat the Incense Car Rocket!''

　I learned from the Second Lord that it's polite to mention the name of that method of warfare if you're planning a surprise attack. Therefore, I'll do it honestly.

　But I'm not sure about the naming sense. I don't know what kind of a rocket it is, but it's a bit tacky, especially when you consider the word "rocket". I'd come up with a better-looking name, though. It's pretty good, isn't it?

　Well, no matter how uncool the name is, ...... its power is tremendous.


'......?　What's that?　Ryoma......!

　Along with confusion and caution, Dee loosened his hand on the 【Infantry Archery】. Okay, the Demon Slayer from earlier is working in the right direction.

　I prepared the 《Long Horse Archery》 with Dee in the distance ...... and launched it at zero distance towards my (...) feet.

　Bago-o-on!　and a shock and roar that shook the ground resounded in the arena.

　Soaring clouds of dust. And in front of me was a hole that could be completely hidden if I crouched down.

　I jumped into the hole without missing a beat and prepared my "Incense Carriage Archery" in a flowing manner.


　...... After that. After that, it's just a series of blows.

　From the hole, I stand on the ground and aim at Dee Mix.

　That is. Ignoring the ground, I shoot (・・・・・・・) ......!


What are you doing?


　The arrows of the [Incense Car Archery], which pierced through the soil, completed the path (...) and reached Dee with a number of shots.


　Such an outrage!　You'd think, right?　I thought so too. That's why it works as a method of surprise warfare. As long as you know it, there are many ways to avoid it. In other words, it's a shitty battle method with many gaps. But those who don't know it, don't understand it on the spur of the moment and underestimate it. They are confused. They fall for it spectacularly. I was like that. So did she. That's all I'm saying.


'Lies!'

　A piercing arrow suddenly appears from the ground diagonally below Dee's front. It's a complete surprise attack. I'm sure the only person who can duck is someone who knew in advance that an arrow would come from there.


It's not a good idea to duck.

　There were two incense car rockets stuck in her. Enough. I'm lucky.

　I jumped out of the hole and fired 《Infantry Archery》 in rapid succession of arrows.

　Dee is unable to move as much as she would like due to the arrows piercing her abdomen and waist.


　I shoot. Shoot. Shoot.

　Shoot....again and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again.




"--You are in a battle!　The winner, Sylvia Virginia!


　And I won.

..................

　Did I win?

　...... You're lying, right?


　Then, finally, my ears began to catch the noise around me.

　A cracking ovation. All this applause and cheers were directed at me.


'............ or you've won,'


　We won. Winner. We won: ......!

　I won!　We've got a winner, Mr. Second.




　　* * *



'You are the forerunners of Ernte. I feel very sorry for you.
Why?　Why all this?　You're supposed to be blind: ......!
"Some things are seen because they are blind.
Ugh, ......!

　Onion Piercing General match, semifinals of a tournament to determine the challenger.

　Alfred vs. Jay Mix.


　It hadn't been five minutes since the game began, but the result was now clear.

'You should stop studying under that man immediately. It's not good for you and your sisters.
That's none of your business!
Can't we talk about ....... Then I'll cut off the root of the problem.
Yikes!

　A crushing victory.
　To say so would be an understatement, a one-sided victory.

　When Alfred was declared the winner by the judges, the crowd suddenly erupted in excitement.

　However, the expression on the winner's own face remained cold and stern.
　Alfred left the arena with his squire leading him away from the arena.


　As they watched him, the woman who would be his next opponent and the man who would be his mentor talked to each other.


'You've been studied, Jay. Lord Alfred had it all locked down.

Yeah. But you wouldn't have been studied. You're a new face.

Hmm. Well, I guess it's worth the surprise.

He's got this impatient look on his face, like he can't lose, but ...... makes me feel a little sorry for that guy.

You've been talking to Jay about things. I think there's something deeper going on here. I'll ask him about it before the next game.

Yeah. By the way, I only have one stock left, okay?

I'll give it my all. I'd be happy with just one win in my first outing.

'Well, I think you've done a great job in three weeks, seriously.

Well, that's unusual. You see, Eco? Lord Second-dono was kind enough to give me a compliment.

Don't mess with me. It's not a bad surprise. Congratulations on your win, Sylvia.

...... ummm!