It seems the time has come for Kanata and Shion’s match.
The afternoon curriculum consists of actual combat practice in the indoor training ground located underground. Here, the students are divided into two groups, naturally the Bean Sprout Team and the Weed Team. I chat with Danny while moving, and I realize this is the first time I’ve properly spoken with someone from a different unit.
“It’s amazing that you haven’t even been in the army for three months. There’s a limit to how fast someone can get promoted.”
“I’m surprised myself. It’s all thanks to the Commander’s iron fist.”
“I finally made it here after two years, and now Kanata, who’s been here just over two months, is on par with me. We’re the same age, though.”
“I’m starting to feel a bit sorry. The Commander is going a bit too far, isn’t he?”
“The army is fine as long as strong people get promoted regardless of their career. You don’t need to worry about it.”
“Speaking of which, you were at the party yesterday, so Danny, you must be from a prominent family, right? Why are you in the Weed Team?”
Danny flicked his calluses-covered fingers and sneered.
“My father runs a widespread distribution business. But I’m the incompetent third son, not suited for business. My only talent is fighting, so shouldn’t I make use of it?”
“You’re still young. There’s nothing sweeter than a life spent basking in your parents’ protection, swimming in lukewarm water.”
Coming from me, who spent half his life as a shut-in in his previous world, I’m sure I’m right?
“It’s completely unconvincing coming from a member of the Asura Unit.”
While we were talking, we arrived at the underground training ground. Waiting for us was a gruff-looking military instructor.
“You’ve arrived, you rookies. Unlike the Bean Sprout Team, you seem to have decent faces, which is good. I am Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Striger, your combat instructor. Let’s see what you can do right away. I’ll explain the rules. Two of you enter the white circle. Fight however you like, punching or grappling, it’s simple, isn’t it?”
The rules are rough. It’s good they aren’t elegant.
“For now, let’s say no eye-gouging or groin shots. But in actual combat, don’t hesitate to aim for them—in fact, aim for them actively. If you think you’re in danger, surrender or tap out to avoid serious injury. Also, if you step outside the white double line of the circle, you lose. That’s all, now fight!”
As the military instructor gave the order, the students entered the white circles and began to battle. The Weed Team, consisting of those with actual combat experience, put on quite a show. Their styles varied; among the strikers alone, there were boxer styles, kicker styles, and many others.
I turn to the Woman of Absolute Zero, who is standing next to me with her arms crossed, watching.
“Sergeant Major Ignatiev, what do you say? Should we get it over with quickly, or go last?”
“Shion is fine. Everyone seems to be looking forward to the main event, so let’s go last.”
“Understood.”
After about twenty intense matches, only the two of us remained. Every match was a good one, and luckily, no one sustained serious injuries. Everyone knew their stuff.
The military instructor stroked his stubble with a coarse beard that grew thickly on his chipped jaw.
“So, the two with a history are left. It’s happening as tradition dictates.”
“Instructor, what is this tradition?”
“Combat training is structured so that the best fighters face off in the final main event. Kenrou, six years ago, I had a tough time with your superior officer, didn’t I?”
“You fought Marika-san!”
“Indeed. We had a bet that if I won, she’d be my woman. She crippled my jaw with a single kick. Look, my jaw is neatly split in two, isn’t it?”
“I believe that jawline is congenital…”
“Gahaha, perhaps. Now, let me see. The battle between Kenrou, who Marika of the Scarlet Eye boasted would raise a true wolf with, and the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Ignatiev, known as the Czar of Sniping!”
The daughter of the Czar of Sniping, huh. Shion’s father must have been a renowned soldier as well. Shion is already inside the circle, doing a light warm-up. Should I go? The rules are as I expected, and I hope things go according to plan.
Shion and I face each other, maintaining distance within the circle.
“Begin!”
At Lieutenant Colonel Striger’s voice, we take our stances. I bring my right fist up beside my right ear, extending my slightly bent left arm forward. Shion raises one leg and crosses her open-palmed arms in front of her chest. A defensive stance… Is she telling me to attack? Alright, I’ll play along!
I close the distance with a few steps and, as a greeting, throw a low kick at her pivot foot. Shion lightly jumps to evade and, twisting in mid-air, throws a roundhouse kick, which I block with a cross-arm block. I thought I blocked it perfectly, but unlike in the classroom sparring, we’re both clad in Psyche-Barriers, and the power is on a different level. Although the barrier didn’t break, I couldn’t completely absorb the impact and was forced to retreat. That’s a heavy kick. She’s a heavy-weight Bio-Metal, wasn’t she? In martial arts, the heavier one generally has the advantage. No use complaining, though. The iron rule of combat is to win by superiority. My advantage is speed.
I circle Shion, drawing a circle within the ring. Shion moves to face me, keeping a long reach with her kicks to fend me off. I maneuver through her feints, dive into her guard, and launch a rapid barrage of punches, only to be deflected by her open palm. She’s dangerous, as she tries to grab me while deflecting. …She’s going for a grab, after all. Shion has the power advantage. If it comes down to grappling or submission holds, I have no chance. My only option is to win with stand-up fighting.
We continued this exchange for several minutes. Deeming it unproductive, Shion lowered her stance, spreading her arms wide. So, she’s going for a tackle. This World has Combat Sambo, which Vokka showed me a few times. Her tackle is probably faster than Vokka’s. I need to “receive” her tackle well.
I glance at the boundary line. This spot is good. Come on! Shion gradually closes the distance, lowers her posture further, and then, after a beat, launches a high-speed tackle. I try to dodge to the side, but she catches me with her outstretched arms and throws me onto my back. As I fall, I sweep her legs, but she lightly jumps over it. She then straddles me as I lie on my back and takes the mount position.
Looking down at me from the mount position, Shion says with a composed tone, “You’ve made me work for it, but this is the end. Surrender before you get hurt. My punches are heavy and painful… What’s so funny?” Shion seems unnerved by me laughing while she has me in mount. Well, I can’t help but laugh, can I? Things are going exactly as planned. I’m feeling victorious without even winning. I shouldn’t get careless… Behold, my Wolf Eye!
Shion’s face contorts in pain as our eyes meet. With the close proximity and her lapse in concentration, I wanted her to take the mount position so I could unleash my Wolf Eye! Shion’s posture, which had been firmly holding me, crumbles! Now’s my chance! I gather all my strength, using my body like a spring, and heave Shion’s body upwards with my abdomen. Then, using the technique of a Tomoe Nage, I throw her airborne body and immediately stand up. Shion, thrown and writhing in pain from the Wolf Eye, falls to the floor without being able to take a proper roll. However, she gets up, shaking her head from side to side. “…You possess an Evil Eye ability. I was careless. But the match isn’t over yet…”
“Match over! That’s enough!” Lieutenant Colonel Striger’s voice echoes through the training ground.
Shion protests to Lieutenant Colonel Striger. “Wait, Instructor! I haven’t surrendered yet!”
Lieutenant Colonel Striger points to the floor. “Sergeant Major Ignatiev, look at where you are standing.” Shion is standing outside the double line of the circle. This is only natural since I threw her there. “You lose due to line-out. No complaints, I presume.” Shion bites her lower lip hard, then slams her fist onto the floor with all her might. A tremendous “Gogon” sound vibrates through the air of the training ground. Scary. If I had taken a punch like that from mount, I would have ended up in the medical pot. Shion glares at me with the eyes of a predator from her kneeling position. Please stop looking at me like that, it’s scary. “…Standing-up fighting was a feint… You intentionally took the tackle, and the leg sweep as you fell, all so you could get me into mount… You were aiming for a line-out win with your Evil Eye from the start!”
“…I merely said I would settle it within the time allotted for combat practice. I never said I would settle it *only* with martial arts,” I retort. I checked the rules for official military combat while eating lunch, and there was a clause for winning by line-out. It’s the same way Tenshinhan won against Goku in the Tenkaichi Budokai – I didn’t just own both the regular and collector’s editions for nothing.
“Losing like this… I can’t accept it! To lose to anyone other than Papa!” Anyone other than Papa… Is she a daddy’s girl! Don’t be so childish. Around me, everyone is stronger, and I’m on a losing streak comparable to Canadianman’s!
“However you take it, it doesn’t matter. I won. I did hold back, but you might have sustained brain damage, so you should go to the infirmary.” It’s not just you who’s depressed. I’m also dejected because I know I would have lost if we had fought a straight martial arts match!
“Rookies, that was quite a show. Next is shooting practice, don’t be late. Dismissed!” As Lieutenant Colonel Striger’s voice rang out, the students shuffled out of the training ground. I was about to leave too, but… Shion hasn’t gotten up from her kneeling position. …She’s a handful. Am I destined to be troubled by women wherever I go? I started to turn towards Shion, but Lieutenant Colonel Striger grabbed my arm. “Leave her be. Savoring defeat is also necessary.” “But she might have brain damage. It would be better for her to go to the infirmary as soon as possible…” “You held back, didn’t you? Don’t worry, I’ll take her to the infirmary later. For someone who has never lost, their first defeat is particularly hard to bear… I know the feeling myself. All the confidence I had built up was shattered by a single kick.” Lieutenant Colonel Striger said with a bittersweet expression. He’s right. Interfering too much won’t do her any good. I turn my back on the dejected Shion and head towards the exit of the training ground. “Losing to anyone other than Papa,” huh. So, for Shion, Papa is a source of pride. The rumors aren’t reliable; it seems she’s not just some crazy woman who shot her father. But if such rumors circulate, there must be a reason. …Another woman with a past. There are too many women with pasts around me. Merry Christmas ♪ May you have a wonderful day.
