#30 – Wind Rose
The tournament held in the imperial capital.
It had a long history that went back about four hundred years ago.
In a way, the history of humanity was the history of fighting.
Before the birth of the current empire. When the holy empire ruled most of the continent. At that time, power was hope for those who trembled in fear from the threat of the monsters.
And then times changed.
Monsters were no longer a threat to humans, countries expanded, and civilisation developed rapidly.
But even if times were different—this world continued to want Heroes.
In other words, this tournament was a battle to choose the next Hero.
That was why there was so much passion surrounding it.
Not only that, but people were saying that the excitement was so much stronger compared to previous years.
And the reason was clear.
Yesterday. There was a message from the tournament committee, announcing that after the general division, there would be an exhibition match.
With—Jin Raido, the Sword Saint.
Being able to witness a legend. It was little wonder that spectators were excited.
However…
(Calling me? Old man.)
I looked up at the sky and sighed.
It felt like a message. If I could not win something like this–then I did not have the right to stand in front of him.
“Still…what a surprise.”
In the Erbenu Multi-purpose Arena.
I had reunited with a certain person.
“Hah… My first fight is you… I have the worst luck…”
Groaned the woman with green hair as she held her head.
“Ms. Emily.”
“Hah… I have no choice…”
Yes. The Wind Rose. A-rank Hunter, Emily Stilnoir.
I had not even known that she was competing. But now that I thought about it, I had heard that she did well last year, though, nothing about winning.
‘…Now, the 1st battle is about to begin. Both fighters have drawn much attention!’
‘Yes, I would say there is not a single Hunter among us who does not know her name. She is without a doubt, one of the likely candidates for this year’s champion.’
‘Beauty, strength, and looks after her juniors. Many Hunters look up to her as an older sister.’
“Hey, announcer! Who you calling an older sister! Come out, whoever you are!”
‘….It was not me…’
‘Cough. And then we have Mr. Yukito…’
‘Ah, the man who dominated in the preliminaries at Viskinel, without getting a single scratch.’
‘He broke the record for shortest fight. A real dark horse! Where has he been all of this time?’
…There had been no commentary during the student battles, so I had some hope that it would be the same now…
Ms. Emily smiled but I could see that she was still annoyed.
She wielded dual swords. And not only that.
Numerous knives were attached to her armor. Too many to be considered backup weapons, too visible to be a secret.
She sighed as she unsheathed her twin blades—and when she looked up, her expression was completely different.
Cold as ice.
Vicious as a beast.
I couldn’t help but smile.
To be honest, I had been worried.
What if it was like the preliminaries? And I had to fight a lot of people with no potential?
But that was clearly not the case.
Suddenly, everything was quiet.
Everyone seemed to feel it. These two would show a ‘real’ fight.
‘Now then, let the 1st battle begin!’
The gong echoed.
I was the first to move.
One step back.
And then in front of me was torn away, as if cracked open.
She had unleashed a wind that seemed to crush the very air.
However, the referee had not stopped it, which suggested it was not a magic art that she had prepared before the fight.
In other words, she had built it up and finished it in an instant. The speed was incredible.
And she wasn’t even a magic arts master. She was a warrior.
And then the knives came flying.
Each knife had a different trajectory, moving out in every direction before coming in as if to envelope me.
Not only that, but she was now charging with twin blades in hand. Her eyes were like those of a bird of prey.
(The Wind Rose, eh…?)
Not in a straight line, but occasionally changing trajectory.
Indeed, she looked like a rose petal dancing in the wind.
Too short.