That’s something people with normal sanity won’t do.”
So we don’t have normal sanity, huh. “But I love idiots like you two. Now then, let’s begin.”
Carlamaine draws her sword out from the sheath. Kiba also gets ready to draw his sword out. “The match between [Knights]. I have been waiting for this. Personally I would like to fight in an intense sword fight.”
Kiba’s aggressive words. Oh my, Kiba is making a really lively smile! “Well said! Rias Gremory’s [Knight]!”
Carlamaine starts to slash as if she is dancing. GIN! The swords hit each other making sparks! They both have god speed because they are [Knights]! They started their battle! Exchanges of swords that I can’t follow with my eyes. They both keep on appearing and disappearing due to their high speed! So what am I supposed to do? ......Hmm, I will be killing the tension if I help Kiba. No matter how you look at it, this is a one on one fight. Hmm, maybe I should give him cheers like, “Go Kiba!” or “You can do it Kiba”. “You seem bored.”
“—!”
When I look at the direction where the voice came from, there is a woman wearing a mask that just covers half of her face. I’m certain this woman is a [Rook]. Then another person came while complaining. “Geez, this only seems like a mud fight since both of them only thinks about swords, swords and swords. Carlamaine was making a bitter face when the [Pawns] were being sacrificed, so does she hate the battle strategy planned by her Master who happens to be her [King]? Furthermore, when I thought I found a cute boy, he also happens to be a sword freak so I can’t stand this.”
There is also a beautiful girl who is wearing a dress like the ones worn by western princesses. I think she is Raiser’s [Bishop]. She has a drill shaped hairstyle on both sides. She seems like a real princess. Wow! I’m surrounded by the Devils that are in charge of this place! The [Bishop] princess looks at me with weird eyes. W-What is it? “Hmm. So this boy is the [Pawn] that Rias Gremory adores? Does that person have bad taste in looking at gentleman?”
She then starts to say rude things. Ku! She has a bad tongue even though she has a cute face! I take my distance from where I was standing and make a fighting stance against the two. “Boosted Gear standby!”
[Boost!!] The Sacred Gear power up starts. I have to leave the [Knight] to Kiba, and take care of these two! But the [Bishop] girl just sighs. “I’m not going to be your opponent. Isabella, why don’t you be his opponent?”
The masked woman who is called Isabella nods obediently. The girl wearing a dress moves away from us after she got a confirmation from Isabella, and is looking at us from a distance. Eh!? The drill-roll haired girl isn’t fighting!? “I was planning to in the first place. Now then, let’s fight since we are both bored.”
“Ah, yeah. That’s okay, but isn’t that [Bishop] going to fight?”
It’s my question to her. That’s because this is supposed to be an important fight, right? Even I don’t know how to react if she decides to withdraw from a fight like this……
Hearing that question, Isabella-san the mask woman, put her hand on her forehead and make a troubled face. “Ah, don’t worry about her. That girl is special. She will be mostly observing for this fight as well.”
“W-What the hell is that! ?”
Words slips out from my mouth. Seriously, can’t you make a better excuse than “watching”!? This is supposed to be an important battle! “She is—. No, that person is Ravel Phoenix. Raiser-sama’s little sister. She became Raiser-sama’s servant by using a special method, but she is Raiser-sama’s actual sister.”
…………Huh? That beautiful girl? That bird guy’s? Huh? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!! The bird bastard’s sister waves her hand with a smile at me as if she realised that I’m in shock to find the truth. …………Hey, is that even allowed? He put his sister in his group and made her participate in the battle!? “According to Raiser-sama, “Having your sister in your harem has a significant meaning. You know the significant view of having your close relatives? You know how there are people who look up to and also get jealous about it? Well, I’m not into little sisters, so I have her in my group as fashion.”.”
……So that bird guy is really a perv and also a dumb-ass! But I think I know the feeling of having your little sister in your harem! Little sisters are good! I also wanted one! No, that’s not it! Fine then! So that girl is his sister, and she won't fight me huh! “Now, here I come! Rias Gremory’s [Pawn]!”
SWIFT! When I thought that the [Rook] Isabella came forward, a really sharp punch passes through my cheek! Uwah! Lucky I dodged the attack by instinct! “I see. So you can dodge a punch like this. Sorry. I was looking down on you a bit. I’ll put one gear, no, I will increase by two gears then!”
Isabella makes a suspicious move while moving her body. But—. SWISH! SWISH! She starts to attack from unpredictable angles and places! Wow! When I thought that I dodged her attack which she did by bending her arm, it came back again like a whip! Is this one of those flicker jabs you see in boxing!? It will definitely hurt if I get hit by it! I can’t attack unless I have my Boosted Gear to a certain degree! For now I have to dodge! I dodge the attacks like mad and then—
KICK! “……Gah!”
I suddenly feel an intense pain in my stomach. A kick. I was kicked! I was too focused on her punches so I didn’t pay attention to her legs……! I became unbalanced, and more punches came at my face! Lots of her flicker jabs hits my face. It hurts! This is seriously bad! [Boost!!] Ku! I’m sure that was my fifth boost! This will be enough if my opponent is a [Pawn], but this isn’t enough to defeat a [Rook]! In terms of piece value, [Rook] is the next highest after [Queen]! I won’t be able to take her down with half-assed attacks! I cross my arms to guard against her punches. Her punches are heavy even with my guard on! I will retire right away if I continue to receive these hits! I step back when she withdrew her fist! The enemy’s attack stops. But she is still moving. I won’t know when she will attack again. I’m glad that I sparred with Kiba and Koneko-chan. That proved to be very useful. That’s because it gave me the sense to know when the opponent will stop attacking. Buchou also told me how to run so I was able to dodge the attacks just now. Then the [Rook] Isabella smiles. “I was taking you lightly. To tell you the truth, I thought I got you when my kick hit you…… Looks like Rias Gremory has been training you well. Especially your stamina is magnificent.”
Stamina……? Did I do something amazing? “In a serious battle, the most important thing is the stamina. Even idiots can fight. But you need stamina to continue for a few minutes. Battles consume lots of stamina and concentration. Just dodging the attack requires quite an amount of effort. So being able to do it till now means that you have been training your body a lot.”
—! My heart becomes full. The bitter training.