Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan - volume 11

  Illustrations

  Chapter 5: 《Worst One》 VS《Crimson Wild Lion》!?

  Sirius Vermillion was worried.

  Stella, his beloved daughter who had returned from Japan after a long time.

  Her eyes that were looking at him… were rather cold.

  Scornful-looking eyes.

  Like eyes looking at trash.

  He was also ignored. She reluctantly answered even when he persistently talked to her.

  When are you going to grow up!? You’re the father of the bride! That was what Stella said to him.

  Why did something like this happen?

  The reason was evident.

  Everything was…. Because of that brat.

  Kurogane Ikki…!

  That Japanese kidnapped the pure Stella at the study abroad destination.

  Stella was being deceived by him.

  So, Sirius took actions to protect Stella.

  He wanted Ikki on the wanted list and sent the army after him using his authority as a King.

  But all of them were vain attempts.

  He managed to placate Dandalion who was sent as an assassin.

  Thanks to that, his dignity as a father ended up falling to the ground.

  They were completely pathetic. They weren’t reliable.

  In that case――Sirius thought.

  I’m not going to rely on anyone anymore!

  But on myself only.

  With my power, I’ll earn the trust of my Stella, of my beloved Stella!

  For the sake of that――

  – That’s right, a match, an《Illusionary Form》sham battle! A single match!

  Sirius shouted, facing Ikki on the training ring in the courtyard of the castle.

  He would fight Ikki directly and win.

  Overwhelmingly.

  That was the “comeback plan” that Sirius had thought of.

  He was convinced of it.

  When he pictured the image of himself having a complete victory over this Japanese, then Stella would also remember.

  That her father was the coolest guy in this world.

  On the other hand, Ikki, who was summoned to the courtyard with these words of Sirius, showed puzzlement.

  – E-err, why are we having a match all of a sudden…?

  – I certainly admitted that if you bring victory to Vermillion in the war I would let you marry Stella, but that doesn’t mean I have recognized your true strength! We’re going to make that clear here! If you defeat me, you’ll be recognized as a representative of Vermillion! But if you lose, you’ll return to Japan in silence!

  But Ikki, before the challenge of Sirius, showed hesitation.

  – E-eeeh…!? I mean, while it’s true that you have trained, to raise the sword against the imperial family of a country is…

  However, two women pressed the back of Ikki.

  – It’s fine, Ikki-san. Don’t pay attention to it〜.

  – Since the person in question is telling you to do it, there’s no need to hold back.

  Those were Astraea Vermillion, the wife of Sirius and their daughter Stella Vermillion.

  Sirius looked at the figure of them with disgusted feelings.

  Since the strategy using the army failed because Dandalion and the imperial guards gave poor results, the attitude of his beloved wife Astraea and Stella became somewhat cold. She just wanted to get along with Ikki, and not to talk to him. She didn’t take a bath with him yesterday.

  (Not just Stella, even my wife is being deceived…! Unforgivable, Kurogane Ikki!)

  But, that was until today.

  If he were to knock him down, then he would be able to restore all his dignity as her father and the love of his wife.

  『Kyaa, papa is superb as always〜!』

  『I looove my strong father! *Kiss*!』

  It was decided that those would be their feelings.

  So,

  (It’s time to do it…!)

  – Well now! Come up to the ring immediately! The signal has sounded, it’s now or never!

  Sirius demanded Ikki to go up the ring.

  After the small hesitation of Ikki towards this,

  – … Understood. I’ll go all out.

  He stood in front of Sirius.

  Thus, the stage was ready.

  – Burst into flames, 《Ifrit》!!

  – Come. 《Intetsu》.

  The two Blazers faced each other with the manifestation of their souls.

  To mediate that, Stella played the role of the referee.

  Stella confirmed that both parties had their Devices at the ready and,

  – Are you ready? Then… LET’S GO AHEAD!!!!*

  TN: Caps written in English by the author.

  The battle started.

  – Funnuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

  The one that moved first was Sirius who also had the nickname of《Crimson Wild Lion》.

  He brought forth a flame with the magic powers of his whole body and let it cover the blade of his Device《Ifrit》.

  The temperature of that was really――over 3000ºC!

  A flame slash that cut even the iron.

  Sirius raised the axe to throw it at the enemy who disturbed the harmony of his family――

  -What?

  He lost sight of the enemy from his field of vision in an instant. Simultaneously with that,

  – *Ack*.

  He fell down on the spot.

  As if he had collapsed from the knees.

  – The match is over! It’s Ikki’s victory!

  『Eh, really…? Isn’t King-sama too weak?』

  『Only 5 seconds have passed, but… what? For real?』

  『I mean, what happened just now?』

  – …!? , , , !?!?

  The maids gathered to see what kind of silly thing their King was doing in the courtyard this time around while Sirius himself was confused with this excessively abrupt ending.

  Because he didn’t understand what was done to him.

  However,

  (This guy…!)

  Sirius raised his face and noticed.

  The fact that Ikki was standing to his left.

  (No way, he saw through me…!?)

  ――It was that “no way”.

  In fact, the left eye of Sirius could hardly see due to the wound he suffered in an incident 30 years ago.

  He wasn’t told about it by the members of the family, but Ikki was able to see through him with fine eye movement and slipped into the blind spot of Sirius by reaching top speed the very moment he moved thanks to the defensive body movement of《Wings Abreast》.

  It was impossible for Sirius, who was burdened with such eyesight handicap, to catch hold of his movement.

  He didn’t think that it was a foul.

  Sirius was also a warrior.

  It was a natural tactic in a fight to go for the opponent’s weaknesses.

  Rather, Sirius trembled.

  Because of Ikki’s defensive body movement and discerning eyes.

  …Judging from appearances, he looked no more than an ordinary, slender and feeble man and yet, what a master he was.

  He wasn’t at a place that could be reached with common training.

  And, simultaneously with that understanding. He did a reckless action as if trying to fly towards the sun with waxy wings to defeat such a man; to try regain his dignity as a father.

  – Jeez. Why is papa so childish?

  -There’s no way he will complain now, right? Otou-sama. Since Ikki won, recognize him as a representative of Vermillion.

  – … fu, fufufu… fuhahaha, fuuhahahahaha! W-well, it would be shameful for a young man to make a serious effort from the beginning, but this win is a sort of handicap! 3! 3 matches!! I forgot to tell you! I’m sorryyy! Nahahahahah!

  Sirius was also not a man that would be discouraged with all that.

  He stood up while laughing then overturned the match shamelessly.

  「Haa〜〜〜〜」 , Stella breathed a very deep sigh to such figure of a father, but Sirius wasn’t disheartened.

  It was great if he were to win.

  It was great if he was the winner in the end.

  If that happened, then his daughter would definitely see him in a more positive light.

  The process was a trivial thing.

  And, the path was already in sight.

  – U-umm, what will be the next match about?

  – So you heard me well! Next is… arm wrestling!!

  – Arm wrestling? Umm… does that have any relationship with the qualifications of a representative…?

  – Of course it has! Strength is power! The technique that made you slip into me the moment my sight was surpassed is a big deal, but it’s not like I trust in a cheap brat like you or anything like that! If a man is strong, then his arms have to be equally strong! Here we go――

  Sirius put an elbow on a drum prepared by an elder maid who read the situation while he was talking,

  – Show me. Your physical strength!

  Yeah, he invited Ikki.

  The young maids gave their honest opinions.

  『Wow, King-sama is so cunning!』

  『The difference in their physiques is around two times, but there is no way he can win…』

  (Kukuku, that’s right…! There’s no way he can win…!)

  Sirius chuckled to himself with the voices of the maids.

  Certainly, the opponent was a master.

&nb
sp; It wouldn’t be a match if they competed properly with swords.

  But, when looking at that slender and small body.

  When it came to the thickness of their arms, the difference was more than double.

  It didn’t matter how much he tried to boast of his sword techniques and his excellent moves, he was a Japanese after all.

  There was no way he can rival me, the one with a physical of a hunting race.

  This can be my win. I can’t lose.

  If I win, both Stella and Astraea will come to their senses.

  A strong man is cool after all!

  – Hey, what’s the matter!? Are you scared!?

  To this provocation of Sirius,

  – … understood. I’ll do it with all my strength.

  Ikki also put his elbow on the drum and grabbed the hand of Sirius.

  – You sure have the guts. Stella. Give the signal.

  Stella reluctantly accepted the request of Sirius with「… sure」,

  – Alright then, are you both ready? Ready… go!

  She gave the signal. At that moment──

  – Seiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

  Sirius roared.

  The roar shook the atmosphere like a lion, just like his nickname.

  A manifestation of a loud, fighting spirit shout.

  A strong torque was produced from the log-like arm in response to that motivation.

  A force enough to smash every single bone.

  The arm of Ikki, against this,

  (W-what…?)

  *Twitch*, he wasn’t moving at all.

  There was no inclination. It didn’t matter how much strength he put into it, it was a very small amount which looked like nothing.

  It was completely──

  (Like… steel…!)

  Even when Sirius made the veins in the temple of his forehead to be exhilarated and put his strength into it while his face became bright red, the arm of Ikki didn’t even move in the slightest. And while it didn’t move in the slightest──

  – Oh, oh, oh…!?

  He slowly defeated the arms of Sirius that went against him without hesitation like a machine──and with a thump, the back of the hand of Sirius was pressed against the drum.

  – It’s done. It’s Ikki’s victory.

  Stella announced the outcome with a voice that understood that completely.

  『Amazing! He won without danger even though there was such a physical difference!?』

  – Woow. Ikki-san is also a strong man despite not having a large build〜.

  – …!?

  The maids and Astraea that came to watch the unexpected complete victory of Ikki gave a round of applause. Sirius stared at the palm of the hand where a remembrance of overwhelming power that couldn’t be opposed with an “I can’t believe it” face remained there.

  A thin arm that had no more than half of the thickness of his own arm.

  How did he produce so much strength from that?

  Sirius couldn’t understand it at all.

  Stella told Sirius.

  – The difference in physique doesn’t mean anything to Ikki. Because Ikki puts his whole body under complete control with the concentration ability『Using up all of himself in one minute』

  – His body under complete control…?

  – Yes. I thought that Otou-sama would certainly be aware of it since he is a warrior, but humans aren’t able to use up their specs fully. Because the survival instincts that people are naturally gifted with suppress without fail their strength so they don’t end up destroying themselves. … But Ikki is different. The concentration ability that reached even the utmost limits of Ikki can destroy the restraints* with his own will. Properly speaking, he can freely draw out the strength that one shouldn’t set one’s hands on. ──The meaning of “all one’s strength” for Ikki is different from us. For us, “all one’s strength” are words that inspire us, but for Ikki, “all one’s strength” is… literally everything.

  *TN: Word used there was hoop (of a barrel). Meaning that it was in order to contain his strength.

  – ――!

  Sirius became speechless due to Stella’s words.

  A limiter based on survival instincts.

  Humans were able to use only about half of their strength, stamina and magic powers because of this limiter.

  Sirius, who was also a warrior, naturally understood so.

  The only time this limiter went off was when one was in the verge of a real danger of life.

  The concentration ability at the verge of death, commonly called adrenaline rush.

  For only that moment, the humans could unconsciously destroy this limiter.

  But… the boy in front of his eyes used it freely, at his own will.

  (How──)

  How much did he persecute himself to be able to reach such a state?

  – … Otou-sama knew this too, right? That Ikki is amazing. I mean, Ikki has defeated me twice in the first place. There’s no way for Otou-sama to match Ikki when he has never won against me.

  – …

  Sirius realized, it was certainly as Stella said.

  He even felt respect as a warrior.

  But…!

  – I’m not going to lose again――――――!!!!

  – Huu!? Didn’t you just say to the best of 3!? Ikki won twice so it’s his victory no!?

  – You’re wrong! The third round gives 10 points so I can reverse it!!

  – Hey, umm… grow up already…!

  『King-sama doesn’t know when to give up…』

  『That’s so unappealing〜』

  『I agree, I can’t bear to look at him anymore』

  – Shut up! I don’t care what you say, I still haven’t lost! The word defeat doesn’t exist for a young man while his heart isn’t brokeeeeeeeeen!!!!

  He turned white eyes to Stella and the maids as if this had nothing to do with them.

  The boy in front of him was probably a warrior worthy of respect, but it didn’t matter.

  Because this man was trying to steal his beloved daughter.

  The crystallization of love that was born in the relationship between Astraea and him.

  The treasure that had been carefully, carefully raised since childhood.

  Then, he suddenly appeared from the side to snatch her――

  I don’t like that.

  I don’t like that, I don’t like that. I don’t like that, not even a little anymore.

  Just thinking about it made him dizzy. He felt like crying.

  ――He knew he was being selfish.

  He knew very, very well it was an egoist thing.

  However, he didn’t feel like enduring such a painful feeling that was like tearing off his body.

  So──

  (I’ll be a hindrance till the end of my life…!)

  – Kurogane Ikki! This time I’ll defeat you in a marathoooooon!!

  Sirius refused to back down three times without worrying about his reputation.

  Ikki asked without complaining not even once.

  – I don’t mind about it, but where are we going to run?

  Towards that, Sirius answered.

  – If you go south along the main road that goes around the imperial capital, there’s a『Bonnie’s House』main store along the road! The one that goes there and return here first will be the winner!

  – Bo-Bonnie? What’s that?

  Ikki inclined his head to the side in doubt to the words he hadn’t heard before.

  Astraea supplemented to him.

  – 『Bonnie’s House』is a sweet brand of Vermillion. We’re also very indebted to them for treating the state guests that came to Vermillion. The chocolates are especially popular and they opened a department store in Japan.

  – Oh, it’s a sweet shop.

  It was no wonder that Ikki who wasn’t good at sweets didn’t know about it.

  – The main store has chocolate taiyaki* that are only sold there.

  – T-taiyaki?

  *TN: fish-shaped pancake filled with bean jam.

  – You don’t know them? Those adorable shaped things are popular all over the world now.

  – Anyway, just buy a taiyaki as a proof that you ran there. Do you have money?

  – Ah, yes. I have some money──

  – That’s great! Alright, let’s go! See you later!

  Sirius instantly ran towards the main gate of the castle as he pleased without waiting for Ikki’s preparation.

  – Y-you serious!? Why is he so childish!?