Rave vs. Jerez Lumberjack, the first semifinal match of the Ichibenzza Challenger Tournament.

　I was observing the two men facing each other from the contestant's table.

　I'm more interested in the rave, but the moment the ...... referee calls for the two of them to be ready, my interest shifts to Jerez.

　The one from Jerez, that thing (...), no way.


''It's Zweihender, isn't it?''
'Right. A two-handed sword. ...... Oh, yeah, I see.

　Raz, who was sitting next to me, perceptively recognizes Heres' weapon.

　A Zweihender, a steel two-handed sword. This is a heavy, long and difficult sword to handle, if not a great sword.

　...... In winter, Jerez would have used a long sword. Why has he changed his weapons so drastically in the last six months? The reason is clear.


　I guess he wanted to counter my "Seven System" with his reach (...).

　It's not a bad strategy. He's very aggressive. He was trying to force me to make the first move with a counter, and that's exactly what he was doing. That's why he was always trying to use his reach to take the lead and disrupt my pace, I suppose.


What's going on, aren't you having fun, Senpai?
'Oh?　Were you laughing?
There you go!　That's a really nice smile.
'...... Jerez was evolving so much. It makes me smile.
Oh, yeah?

　He threw away common sense.

　He threw away the common sense that he had the advantage of being on the back foot.

　He threw away his weapons, his methods of warfare, and his common sense. He threw away everything he had and tried something new from scratch.

　The road to hell that Silvia and Eco went through, Jerez was also going through its own way.

　All of this was to beat me. He wanted to win, he wanted to win, he wanted to win at all costs, and with that single-minded desire, he must have spent half a year in hell.

　Yeah. That's what love is all about, isn't it?


Start.

　Signaling the start of the match.

　Rave still thrust the first move of the Seven System, the Infantry Swordsmanship and Guiama Swordsmanship compound, at the right foot tip of Jerez.

　On the other hand, Jerez was ......


Oh, yeah?

　From the lower stance, he counter-steps sideways in a counter-like manner.

　Yup. Raspberry Bell was right, it's a good move.

　If you aim to counter with a long sword and swing down the 《Silver General Sword Art》, you will fall prey to the Seven System. However, if it was a two-handed sword instead of a long sword, it was a different story. The reach is too different to begin with, so the two-handed sword will reach the target before the Seven System's first move reaches it, and the two-handed sword will be struck back in a daze.

''What a laugh!''

　Seeing the two people closing the gap at once, Raz spoke up.

　I know what you are trying to say. I'm not sure I've ever seen such a thing before. I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not.


　But hey, there's actually a continuation (...) of the story, for one thing.

　Now, what to do, Mr. Rave.

　I don't think Hales, or even Raz, has noticed.

　You know, if you were merely parroting my moves, this would be the end of it.

　But if you're prepared to go beyond that--


!

　The two men are on the verge of colliding.


　Rave suddenly cancelled his skills.

　Then, he spun around twice counterclockwise while moving forward, spinning around twice counterclockwise while moving forward so that his back was in line with the Zweichender that Heres was swinging down, and in an instant, he was behind Heres.


　I knew it was going to be like this: ......!


You're kidding me.

　Raz stands up without a second thought.

　Haha!　It's funny.


　Both big swords and two-handed swords are most afraid of being approached. I mean, attack is not the goal. Proximity is the (・・・・・) purpose.


　There's no purpose to attack in a hurry here. There is no need for you to go out of your way to attack.

　The primary purpose of the two-handed sword change in the Seven System is to take a "favorable position" at the start.


"Oh, man, he's so good.

　Rave, you're awesome.
　Maybe you're a genius.


"Son of a b*tc*!

　An impatient Hales swings the 《Infantry Sword Art》 out wide towards the rave behind him.

　However, due to its weight, its movement is too slow. In addition to that, because it's long, it takes a long time to turn, and you can't attack unless you swing it as hard as you want, so there's no good point at all. The weaknesses of the Zweigenders are still on display.


The End.

　One word, Rave muttered.


　If that were to happen, Rave's Silver General Swordsmanship would be able to arrive in time before Hales's Infantry Sword Art.

　That is clearer than seeing fire.


　Rave's sword attacked the side of Heres' head.


　The victory or defeat has been decided: ......







It's not over: ！！！！

-Oh!



　...... crab, it looked like.


　A moment after Herres shouted, sparks flew.

　Rave's "Silver General Swordsmanship" was received by Jerez with his "Infantry Swordsmanship".

　Immediately after, there was a loud metallic sound with a clang. It was the sound of Herres' Zweigendas falling to the ground (...).



　That bastard ...... did it.


　He threw away his two-handed sword and pulled out a dagger (...) from his inventory!



I've been waiting for this moment!

　Hales used the momentum of the bullet to knock his body sideways and close to the side of the rave, while losing power to the Silver General Sword Art.


　The ...... position was reversed.

　In close combat, long swords are better than two-handed swords, and daggers are better than long swords.


　I had read. Jerez had read that as long as he used his two-handed sword, his opponent would come for close combat.


'You'll do .......'

　Raspberry Belle's muttering says it all.

　It was mesmerizing, that guy.

　He scratched out the most exciting part of this game with aplomb.

　That's right. The glitter of the moment appears in a serious game and fascinates all who see it. It sometimes generates a heat that transcends victory or defeat.



It's sweet.

　Rave's calm muttering made Jerez feel defeated a moment earlier.

'Nah, ni......?


　A kick (...).


　Just a kick, a kick.

　Not even a skill, a single front kick. With just that, the distance between Heres and Rave is separated ...... to the proper distance of the long sword.


A shame.

　A ruthless pronouncement.

　Rave's [Angular Row Sword Art] sharply aimed at Heres.

　Oh, really, it's a shame. The reach is too different. It's extremely difficult to prevent that one.

''d*mn!

　Yes, I suppose so. Hales. You're that kind of guy.

　You're the one who doesn't choose to respond with the Golden General Swordsmanship and tries to stab me with the Silver General Swordsmanship.

　But you know what, if you're the Gold General, you'll end up with a throw, and if you're the Silver General, you'll end up losing your reach.

　Either way, there's no more life left for you: .......


'--That's it!　Winner, rave!




　　* * *



Your son's a very competitive player.
'Oh, well, what a nice compliment. I'm very proud to be praised by a saint.
We've got a lot of ground to cover, don't we?
...... Heh. This is going to be a lot of fun.

　Raspberry Bell vs. Rothman, the second semifinal match of the Ichibenzza Challenger Tournament.

　The two men walked out into the center of the arena and exchanged words, on the surface, with a smile on their faces.


'Isn't she in despair?'
Funny you should say that. What the hell is that?
I can't go back. Monoplaza.
'Ha ...... ha ha!　Hahahahahaha!
What are you laughing at?

　Rothman stops laughing and opens his mouth with a blank expression.

'You've got to be kidding me.

　It was a very natural expression that contained neither frustration nor anger, no emotion.
　The mask of a smile had been removed, and it could be said to be Rothman's original face.

"Scary. That's your true nature, isn't it?
Is this one of your tricks of the trade, black saint?
Jackpot. You can't look at us unless you do this (・・・・・・), right?
Ha. Certainly, sir. ......

　Rothman glanced over to the contestants' seats.

　His gaze had been fixed for six months now.

　To the person who had ended his twenty years in the heavens, the Second First Test Flash Seat.


''Bow to each other!　...... poised!

　Rothman, wavering with his long sword, and Raspberry Belle, still standing on a stick.


　Rothman had intended to play a game with her.

　The provocation was not working. But the funny thing was that he was "going to have a good match".

　Normally, he would be "intending to win overwhelmingly".


'--start!

　The command is given.

　Immediately after ...... Raspberry Belle took out a long sword (...) from her inventory.


''Ho!''

　Rothman looks pleased.

　Not a big sword, but a long sword. That means that Raspberry Bell is serious.

　...... and he was under the illusion.


''It hurts when it hits me!''

　In the next moment, Raspberry Bell activated the Angular Gyroscope Technique - and threw a long sword (...).


''Hmm, that's pretty trivial.

　It was a technique he saw once against a second. It also looked like a small, yawning move to Rothman, who had been counteracting Second for the past six months, and it looked exactly like a small, yawning move.

　Rothman lightly flicked with the Incense Car Sword Art to close the gap.

''Let's go next!''

　Then, Raspberry Bell took out the second long sword and threw it again.

　Next, he threw the third and fourth, this one with the Silver General Sword Art, and the fifth one with the Incense Car Sword Art.

　At the end of the day, the sixth and seventh throws with the Infantry Sword Technique missed their aim by a fraction of a second and flew past Rothman.


''I wonder if it's ....... Are you making fun of me?''

　Rossman, who responded dangerously, uttered irritably.

'Oops, here and here,'

　Raspberry Belle, on the other hand, moved only three steps to the left and nodded dutifully.

　What is 'here'?


''The end (...) or...''


　Raspberry Belle took out from her inventory, as I thought, a large sword.

　Then he prepared the 《Flying Car Sword Art》 and closed the gap between him and Rothman at once.


''Well, what's the end of it?''

　Rothman chooses to respond with the Golden General Swordsmanship while pulling it to the edge.

　It was the sixth countermeasure for the Seven System move that Kasakari had found. Rothman had also focused on this, and had made countermeasures in the past six months.


''Great sword, don't lick it.

'......?　What?


　The meaning of the word was not instantly understood by Rothman, ...... a deadly situation, and only then did it occur to him.


　Raspberry Bell threw that great sword as well (...).


　At the same time as the motion of swinging and swinging down, the great sword swung its blade half-turned like a guillotine and attacked Rothman.


　--Not in time.

　The 《Gold General Sword Technique》 is not in time: ......!


'Nonsense!'

　Rothman immediately cancelled his skills and twisted his body desperately trying to evade, but he felt that even that wasn't going to be enough in time, and as soon as he could, he brought his long sword out in front of his body in defense.

　Bakin!　And then there was a loud sound, and Rothman was blown far backwards.



''?!!!!''


　Immediately afterwards ...... the entire audience was taken aback by the degree.


　Then they learned the meaning of Raspberry Bell's muttered "here".

　The seven long swords she threw early on, the seven long swords. They were evenly spaced like a signpost to Rossman's blown-up destination.


''What?!''

　Landing, at the same time, Rothman steps on the long sword and loses his balance.

　Down (...) - there was no way that Raspberry Bell could have missed that opening.

　He closes the gap with all his might to chase, takes out the long sword from his inventory and swings out the 《Silver General Sword Art》 like a golf.


''Guhaha!''

　He was blown up again and landed on a long sword.

　Again, down.

　And again, he was chased down.

　And again, he goes down.
　And again, he was chased down.

　And again, he goes down.
　And again, they went after him.

　Again, and again, and again, and again, .......


'...... egregious.'

　A second in the contestant's seat muttered with a half-smile.

　If a specific item is placed on the landing spot, it is a down decision. This is a "frame-up" technique that makes full use of that characteristic.

　The Second couldn't help but laugh.

　Raspberry Belle had successfully performed a frame-up technique against the former Isshuenza in this battle of Isshuenza.

　However, Second could not help but laugh in disgust, but at the same time, he stood up now and said, "Great! I also wanted to praise and applaud him.

　This frame-up technique, although simple in its mechanics, is far too difficult to perform against a real human being.

　The only person who could pull it off so brilliantly was Raspberry Bell.

It was a kind of vividness that even impressed me, "I didn't know it could be done so beautifully.


　That's right, she had no intention of having a "hot game" from the start.

　The invitation to have a hot game was a total lie. The reason she was trying to draw attention to herself with a lame provocation was to induce Rossman to play a hot game. And if he is aware of the hot game, Rothman will head straight for the Raspberry Bell without any poorly executed tricks.

　If Rothman moved even slightly laterally, it was all par for the course. It was truly a setting that was like threading a needle through a hole. However, it was Raspberry Bell's off-the-board tactics that still made it work.

　After all, everything was carefully calculated.


''--Out of the field!　That's enough!　Winner, Raspberry Bell!