Nova Valtelemon Combatant
A Cubero.
B. Renko.
C Second First Test.
D Davidoff.

(A vs. B) vs. Nova Valtelemon Fighting Goddess



　The first semi-final match of the tournament to determine the challenger, Cubero versus Renko.

　The arena was filled with a different kind of tension.

　Facing each other in the center of the arena, the two men were of the same family, so to speak.

　Ostensibly, though, they are both seen as fellow Second First Testers.

　Those in the know know. That Cubero was the young head of the Great Righteous Bandit R6. That Renko is the daughter of Reemsma, the master of the Great Bandit R6. And now she is the leader of the new righteous R6.

　In other words, a showdown between the old and new. Because it was a match between two righteous bandits, there was a funny tension.


''Cubero. You, aren't you hot in those clothes?
'Young lady, as a righteous bandit, you must always dress neatly. You will not be able to show those below you by wearing such revealing clothing.
Hmm. As usual, you're a preacher, aren't you?
You're the one with the ears of an old master.
...... My dad, R6, has nothing to do with it. I'm the leader of the new R6. The way the bandits are supposed to work has changed. Don't force your old ways of being a righteous bandit on me.
Oh, I see. Old-fashioned, huh?

　In the hot sun, Cubero is dressed in his butler's uniform. In contrast, Renko is dressed in a T-shirt and hot pants.

''--Rei each other!　Ready!

　Both men take their positions as ordered by the referee.


"I'll let you do it my way.

　Renko took out the Mithril Knuckle Duster from his inventory and said so as he attached it to his fist.

　Cubero lets out a single sigh, removes his white gloves, places them in his inventory, and holds them lightly in front of his chest in a raw fist.


'Hey, aren't you going to equip me with anything?　I don't know if I can do that.

Miss.


　Interrupting Renko's lickety-split words, Cubero said in a quiet voice.


'Don't be so chic,'

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


　He was spoiled.

　The daughter of his master Reemsma. To Cubero, his relatives were also his relatives, someone he had always looked after like a sister, like a daughter.

　But that's because Renko was a katagi (...).

　For the new righteous bandit R6...... Cubero, it's a snarky make-believe (・・・・・).


　I have to teach him a lesson here, Cubero decided.

　A real, righteous way of life.



'--Begin!

　As soon as the signal to start the match sounded, they sprinted to each other and closed the distance.

　Renko, who was confident in his AGI, suddenly realized. He realized that Cubero was also quite quick.

　He was conceited. As for [Body Technique], he said that he had a day's worth of skills that he was taught by Raspberry Bell.

　But now, the conditions were almost equal. They both raised all of their [Body Technique] skills to the ninth level, and the only other skills that differed were [Sword Technique] and [Transformation]. However, no other skills can be used during the battle for the rank of God, and the main thing that increases with 【Swordplay】 is STR... If you only look at AGI, there is not much difference between the two of them.

　It wasn't that Renko hadn't done anything in the past six months, but ...... still, he hadn't done anything in particular either. Renko was sitting on a higher skill rank than the original, making excuses to himself that he was busy with R6 activities. It was because he was the most ahead of his peers, and that's why he was so careless.

　If one were to ask who was stronger in fights, Cubero, who had done countless opponents' fights in his life so far and had been working unflaggingly for the past six months, or Renko, who was stronger than the original but hadn't done anything in particular, everyone would choose the former.


''

　The moment the distance is closed and he enters the interval, Cubero stops and activates the Silver General Body Technique.

　A powerful single attack skill. In other words, a strong punch. Just like that, it was supposed to be a simple attack. But ...... Renko, for some reason, cowered (・・・・).


　It looked very scary. Very frightened of Cubero.


　The person he had thought of as a slightly nagging, caring man under his father's thumb, and who was now holding a fist up to him with a cold face - that was nothing but fear to Renko.

　It wasn't until he came here that he realized how frightening this man, Cubero, was.


　...... too different. The number of places I've gone under. It was painfully obvious to me.

　Those of us who have gone through the shoulds next to death, over and over again, just clenching our fists can be so powerful (...).


...... Ah.

　Renko's initial move was clearly delayed.

　He hurriedly prepared the 《Infantry Body Technique》, but it was already too late.



''Huh!

　Gong--, there was a dull sound of a fist hitting the skull.

　Wavering, Renko, who lost his stance to Cubero's 《Silver General Body Technique》, took three steps back.


''I'm not enthusiastic.

　Immediately after, Cubero begins to prepare for the 《Long Horse Body Technique》.

　An accelerated attack to the front, i.e. a dash punch skill. It could be said to be perfect as a chase.

　If he ate this, there would be no room for one more. After a moment's hesitation, Renko prepared the 《King General Body Technique》. It was a short-range range attack plus defense skill.



''That's why I'm telling you. You coward!

!


　Cubero's blackmail.

　This was the first time Renko had seen Cubero shouting at him.

　But this is the true nature of Cubero. It is the face of a young head speaking to those below him.


'Ugh ......!'

　Instantly, Renko's crossed arms explode with a gut-wrenching dash punch from Cubero's "Dragon Horse Body Art".

　Between the Golden General and the Dragon Horse, the Dragon Horse is more powerful than the Golden General, not to mention, the Dragon Horse is more powerful. And moreover, the Golden General did not have any special effects like counter skills. It was clear that he would simply be defeated by firepower.


　Yes, it was just as Cubero had said.

　Cowardly - in other words, reluctant.


　All skills in [Body Technique] are both offensive and defensive at the same time. There are only two ways to receive an opponent's attack. Either duck or bump. If you want to win with the latter, you have to force your way through.

　Such a natural thing, Renko should have known that. However, she was a coward. She was scared of Cubero. Hence, she threw out a reluctant move, a defensive move with the 《Gold General Body Technique》, which was solely for the purpose of defense.


''d*mn it!

　Renko blew backwards, stumbling backwards and falling on his ass.

　...... not winning as much as he wanted. Howling in frustration, Renko howled in frustration and strained to get up, thrusting his fists into the ground.

　There is no way that Cubero would miss such a big opening.


''......ssh.''

　He approached with a clunk of his leather shoes and stood in front of him with plenty of room to spare.

　A sound like a scream was forced to be swallowed deep in Renko's throat as he looked up at Cubero.


''


　Immediately after that, Cubero's "Infantry Body Art" slammed into Renko's cheek while he was down.

　It was a punch like a hammer, as if he was swinging down.


''Ka, hush!''

　The chase was 《Knakugyo Body Technique》. The kick of an all-round range attack caught Renko in the abdomen while he was lying down.

　With a direct hit from the weighted kick, Renko could not even breathe.


　It's no longer one-sided. The game is as good as won.

　However, Cubero is not going to relax his hand at all.

　If this is a real battle.
　If this is a real battle, there is no such thing as a battle between two righteous men.



The righteousness of the righteousness is the evildoer who kills the evildoer. You are prepared to turn your back on the Heavenly Father and end your life; you are prepared to kill others without moving a single expression; you are prepared to stand up to the end of your life no matter how many times you receive a fist.

............ Oh, there's ...... right? ......


　To the cubero looking down at him, Renko said that while showing his teeth.

　A light-hearted retort. After a beat, Cubero opened his mouth.


'Then stand up and show me. Now, here and now.'
...... .......
'You can't get up, can you?　You're afraid of me, aren't you?　It's useless to stand up, you would think so, wouldn't you?　Oh, ...... I know.


　Renko couldn't stand up.

　She had more confidence in her willpower and guts than most people, but she couldn't stand up.


　Cubero knew the reason for this better than anyone else.


''It's light. You are light, you have no conviction, you answer immediately to your resolve. Your fists, which you unleash without having to carry anything on your back, are light. The only time you stand is when you have to stand up, and that is light.
You only stand when you can stand: ......
'Don't throw out that it's useless to get up because you're going to lose anyway. It's worth it to stand up even if you know it's useless. That's determination. Preparedness isn't something you can just talk about. It's something you show with your actions.


　I know this because I was once on the same path.

　Living as a righteous bandit is hard.

　It's not too late. Renko can still live a straightforward life.


'Excuse me ....... But only the young lady can decide how to live.
!
'You can imitate a righteous bandit, Mr. Second said, but ...... I still disagree with you. All bandits should not be righteous. The young lady must not be an evil person.
That's why you're here.
'This is my last chance, and I thought so. I would like to ask you to swear to the young lady here, in this public eye, that you will I will live as a katagi.
"Cubero, you can go to .......
Come on, girl: ......!


　Cubero completed the preparation of the 《Flying Body Technique》 and asked Renko while he was down.

　A punch skill that was powerful enough to accumulate. While Renko was thinking of a response, it built up to the maximum.



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

　Renko suddenly remembers.

　Second had pushed him to start out as the new R6.

　He had said this. 'Do whatever you want. If you think it's fun, it's the right thing to do." - he said.


...... hmm.

　I snickered.


　It was a simple puzzle.

　Once I put the pieces that Second and Cubero had scattered around, the correct answer was obvious.


'You guys really are .......

　How meddlesome, how caring these men are, ...... Renko smiled unconsciously.


　All along, he had a feeling that he shouldn't be doing this.
　I had a feeling that something was missing.

　Now.
　That has to change.

　Right now. Right here, right now.
　The two of them, or no, everyone else, had given me that opportunity.


'Guh, ugh, ugh - ......

　I clenched my teeth and strained my legs.

　I felt intense pain all over my body, but what did it matter?

　I face Cubero, look him firmly in the eye and say.


'You're a bad guy?　Who said that bandits are bad guys?　You have no right to be called a bad person. I'm going to do what I want to do: ......!
Are you saying, miss, that righteous men are not evil?
No, no. I do it my way, my way, to make sure. That's what we do. We make sure the righteous are the bad guys.
Sweet. You'll regret it.
You're a pussy. Admit it: ...... my, my form as a bandit.
...... Would you really like to go back to Katagi?

　At Cubero's last question, Renko chuckled and opened his mouth, "Huh.


'f*ck you,'


　I offer a clear answer.

　Then, he managed to support his wobbly body with his two legs and uttered a single word, while starting to prepare for the 《Katsura Ma Body Technique》.


''I don't like being told what to do--''


　Cubero turns over quietly and meditates.


　A mere second passes between them. His mouth curved as if he had laughed once, and then, by the time he looked up, he was in the form of a demon.


''Ha!
Phew!


　Renko's jumping kick by 《Katsura Ma Body Technique》 and Cubero's fist of 《Flying Body Technique》, which was accumulated to the maximum, clashed with each other.

　A roar sounded as if the rocks collided with each other at tremendous speed, and with the impact, a cloud of dust flew up.



''...... splendid!''


　When the dust cloud clears, there it is.

　Renko collapsing to the ground, and Cubero smiling.



''--That's it!　Winner, Cubero!


　Even though I gave him such a scary experience.

　Until the very end, Renko remained a righteous bandit, Renko's way.

　He stood up on his own feet and spoke his own words.

　If you can do that, then you don't have to worry about anything else.


'Well done, young lady. ......!

　Once more, Cubero muttered to himself as he chewed, then took a handkerchief from his inventory and wiped the sweat from his face.