Mock Fight

I decided to accept the mock fight.

I could have refused or left it to Niku, but it would be a good test of how the Cloth Golem performs with an A-Rank adventurer's movements incorporated.

Niku and Ichika have their own fighting styles, so they only use it for power assistance.

So we came to the inn's backyard. Naturally, Niku was with me. Being alone with someone of unknown identity would obviously be bad.

"I'm ready anytime!"

"Alright, here I go. Go easy on me though, I'm a mage and a rear guard."

I faced off against Setsuna. Instead of a sword, I had mock fight gloves on. Since the movements were based on Misha, a pugilist, I couldn't use a sword. Well, Misha herself could probably use one, but she hadn't shown me how.

But magic was a different story. I chanted [Water] and floated a ball of water in the air.

"It'd be dangerous if I used fire."

"It's a mock fight, so you don't have to hold back though."

Setsuna bounced around as a warm-up. Her large chest also bounced up and down. Fun to watch, but doesn't that hurt?

"Alright, here I come."

"Okay, I'll take your first shot."

Setsuna raised her fists. I moved forward together with the water ball.

From here, I left my body to the Cloth Golem. All I had to do was use magic to throw her off. I did have to endure some pain though.

I threw a sharp punch, the kind that'd give me muscle soreness from just one swing, but Setsuna deflected it with the back of her hand, redirecting it away. The water ball was punched through and burst by her other hand.

"Aha, weren't you supposed to be a mage?"

"It was going to end up in close combat anyway, right? Saves the trouble."

The conventional Cloth Golem couldn't reproduce most of A-Rank adventurer Misha's martial arts. At best, it could slowly imitate her already-slowed movements.

But right now, I was reproducing about 50% of Misha's ability. This was thanks to the newly developed orichalcum-infused joint supports.

"Ahaha, not bad, Village Chief-san!"

"I'm pushing myself quite a bit here though."

Whoosh. Setsuna's fist shot past my face. My neck snapped to the side to dodge, but my head shook from the whiplash, and that itself dealt damage. Ugeeh.

If I push too hard, my body's going to fall apart. Better to just go limp and endure the sudden movements rather than try to cast spells.

Setsuna's attacks flowed smoothly. Low kick, roundhouse kick, backfist, headbutt, grab, elbow strike, jab, backfist, then a hammerfist. No time to breathe. Without Misha's footwork and defensive movements, I'd have taken a hit immediately and been knocked out.

Since I was dodging with minimal movements, the shaking damage was relatively light, I think… ow, a sudden sway-back really makes my head spin.

I got a bit of room. Time to chant [Water]… Ugh, I keep getting interrupted. I don't actually need to chant, but I really don't want to show off chantless casting. Faking the chant isn't an option against Setsuna either since she might catch on.

I managed to stutter through the whole incantation and produced a water ball, but…

"Ho."

It was easily knocked down.

This is bad, I'm out of options. Ah, my head's getting fuzzy. Need oxygen.

Crap. My vision's going black. Guhah. I just want to pass out and sleep right here.

"H-hah, c-can we call it here?"

"Ehh? But it's just getting fun."

"I've hit my limi… whoa!"

I slipped and fell. Landed on my butt and my breath caught.

"Kuh…"

"Got you…!?"

As Setsuna swung her fist down to finish me, I grabbed the front of her gym clothes and threw her with a tomoe nage.

THUD! The surprise move landed beautifully, clean enough to call "Ippon!"

… Come to think of it, there were moves like that too… guhh.

"Nkyu. Not bad, Village Chief-san. That really looked like you actually fell."

"… Y-yeah. It was a fluke… Well then, let's stop here."

"I lost, huh. That's the first time I've lost in this village."

"That was more like a draw. No, I'm the one who lost. I can't even move anymore."

I was already gasping for breath, while Setsuna was still full of energy. Plus, she seemed to still be hiding a trump card. After all, she hadn't even used any skills.

If this had continued, I definitely would have died from oxygen deprivation. I need to put some kind of limiter on the Cloth Golem…

Besides, I was so desperate that even though I'd planned to lose at a reasonable point, I couldn't pull it off. Damn. I have no choice but to insist that I lost.

"Well, you said you had B-Rank level strength, and that's absolutely right. I give up, I give up."

"No no, Village Chief-san who scored a clean throw on me is the strong one!"

"No no no, as you can see, I can't even move anymore. I've completely lost."

"No no no no, the moment you scored that ippon, it was my loss!"

And so, while both lying on the ground, we somehow entered a deflationary spiral of trying to yield victory to the other.

… In this battle, the winner loses!

"Ah, how about we call it a draw then?"

"… Fine, let's settle on that."

"It's a draw then! … Well, I still think I'm the one who lost though!"

"What are you talking about, I'm the one who lost! … Let's stop. We'll just keep repeating this meaningless battle."

"Ahaha."

In the end, we agreed on a compromise. It was officially a draw.

"Good work. As expected of you, Goshujin-sama."

"Village Chief-san, you're strong, but your stamina is seriously lacking. Are you injured somewhere?"

"Hahaha…"

Niku helped me up while handing me a cup of water. I moved my exhausted arm to take it and drank… Pwah, delicious.

At the very least, I confirmed that Misha's martial arts are quite usable. And it seems I didn't get killed, either.

I had transformed into 'myself' just in case I got killed, so I was prepared, but I'm glad that turned out to be unnecessary. I really don't want to test out dying if I can help it.

By the way, even when transformed into myself, ability restrictions still apply. Physical abilities are unchanged, but I can't even use my specialty [Create Golem]. Transforming into other people probably wouldn't let me use most of their abilities either.

"Hey, Kuro-senpai. Wanna mock fight? I lost to Village Chief-san, so I'm all fired up～!"

"… I accept. I won't lose this time."

I said it was a draw, I retorted silently.

Niku faced Setsuna, holding a wooden mock-fight knife in each hand.

And then a high-level mock fight began.

Slash, parry, strike, dodge, kick, block, grab, twist, throw, spin. Their positions kept switching back and forth. The moment I thought one was on the right, she'd be on the left, then suddenly leaping upward. Just watching made my head spin.

… I haven't made the orichalcum-infused joint supports for Niku yet though…

I made my supports by recovering the orichalcum I'd used at [White Beach], but for Niku's, I'll need to break down the orichalcum sword I got from Father first.

(I finished the research and development during the Dungeon Battle preparation period, so I was able to make mine right away.)

Huh, was I moving like that earlier too? Seriously? No wonder I got so dizzy. It's way faster than spinning at full speed on a teacup ride.

"Hah! Hyah!"

"Kuh, but…!"

At that moment, just as Niku slashed with her wooden knife, Setsuna's fist snapped the blade with a crack.

"Guess it's my win?"

"Kuh, not yet."

Niku hurled the broken knife at Setsuna while simultaneously readying her remaining knife and dashing low along the ground. As they passed each other, there was a dull thud of something hard hitting flesh. The thrown broken knife dropped to the ground at Setsuna's feet.

What happened…?

"U-guh…"

"Too bad. So close, Kuroinu-chan."

Niku crouched down, pressing her hands to her head.

Apparently, Niku had tried to slash at Setsuna's shin while passing by, but instead got kneed in the head. That looks painful.

"I lost…"

"Want another go? I'm good for as many rounds as you want. I love strong kids, you're always welcome!"

"Um…"

Niku glanced at me. I gently placed my hand on Niku's head… Ah, I can't use [Healing] either. [Super Transformation]'s restrictions are pretty strict.

"Well, I'm heading back to my room. Do what you want."

"… Then I'll come with you."

"Alright. Well then, Setsuna, let's call it here for today. Give Kuro some more practice next time."

"Muu, too bad. I'll let you off today, but I'll definitely beat you next time, Village Chief-san!"

"Ahh, you can just say you won. Anyway, I'm tired so I'm going to bed. Good night."

"That's no good! Let's have a proper match to decide it, okay? Good night～!"

I waved to Setsuna and returned to my room.

I released [Super Transformation] and used [Healing] on both Niku and myself. Ahhh, I'm alive again.

Anyway, Setsuna is genuinely strong. I don't know how strong Nayuta is, but she has extensive knowledge of alchemy.

… I'd like to keep these sisters as allies. But since they're not unreasonable existences like the Hero or Rin, I think I could manage if they turned on us. Probably.

I'll think about what to do while I sleep. I'm already exhausted today, Patrasche.

Should I ask to use the Divine Comforter… No, let's not. I'm a kid who can show restraint. It's not like I want to use fatigue and muscle soreness as an excuse to keep sleeping. And it's definitely not because I felt a slight chill down my spine just now.