One-Hit Kill

Right at the start of the Goodwill Event, I found myself facing off against Tura Enizi—the so-called Motif Samurai who was considered one of the strongest characters even in the Original Story.

The students of Duran Swordsmanship and Magic School were in a total uproar. A massive crowd had already swarmed the area. We were standing in the center of the courtyard, and while the scenery was new, I wasn’t the same man I used to be, either.

I couldn’t exactly keep my mouth shut after being called a ruffian in front of everyone.

“Don’t you dare lose, Weiss,” Sierra warned.

“It’s a given that you’ll have room to spare, isn’t it?” Teacher Milk added airily.

“Just cut her down already,” Eva snapped.

And knowing them, defeat probably equals death. My death. I didn't think I'd face a mortal crisis before I even laid eyes on the Demon King.

Sierra aside, Teacher Milk was genuinely terrifying when disappointed. And Eva? Depending on her mood, she might actually "purge" me for staining the honor of Noblesse.

No... shake it off. Focus.

Tura was only a first-year, but she was a master of a rare and lethal style of swordsmanship. In the Original Story, Michael and his cronies were nothing more than mid-level obstacles—speed bumps that didn't affect the main plot. But Tura was different. There was a high chance she was even stronger than my meta-knowledge suggested.

Besides, I was here as a Nobless Representative. Even if this wasn't a sanctioned match, I couldn't afford to look pathetic.

In other words, I have to win. Overwhelmingly.

“I’ll win. Definitely,” I told Teacher Milk and the others before stepping forward.

The Duran students were well aware of Eva and Sierra’s reputations. However, despite her heroics during the Calamity, most of them likely had no idea who Teacher Milk was. For my master's sake, I needed to put on a proper show of strength.

Tura Enizi untied the white headband from her forehead and used it to bind her sleeves with practiced, efficient movements. After a moment of mental focus, she glared at me.

Hmph. She’s certainly raring to go.

“Tura is fighting that Weiss guy?!”

“No way. Who’s going to win?”

“Tura can’t lose. I mean, if she were to lose... it would be to someone like that Eva girl, right?”

She was a third-year, the same age as Eva. Even if Eva hadn't officially competed, Duran’s victory in the previous tournament was largely credited to Tura’s presence.

“Weiss Fancent. The rumors about you are polarized,” Tura said, her voice sharp. “But that surging mana—that Darkness—practically screams that you are a ruffian. Prove your righteousness with your blade!”

I wasn’t entirely sure why she was so angry, but it seemed my infamy was still trailing behind me like a bad smell. Still, if the rumors were "polarized," it meant things were slowly turning around. I just needed to spread my new reputation a bit further.

“Righteousness has nothing to do with it,” I countered. “I simply have no intention of losing.”

We were using wooden training swords. The first one to land a clean, effective strike would be the winner. Between two swordsmen, a match like this wouldn't take long.

“Weiss, use this.” Michael tossed a wooden sword my way.

He gave me a look that felt heavy with meaning. I couldn't tell if he was rooting for me or waiting for me to fail.

Unlike Noblesse, Duran didn't have specific training uniforms. We took our stances a few paces apart. I held my sword ready, while Tura rested her hand on her hilt, preparing to draw. I could feel the mana surging within her; she was ready.

There was no need for a starting bell. No one in the crowd uttered a sound. A heavy, suffocating silence filled the courtyard.

In the next instant, Tura completely—suppressed her mana.

It reminded me of Cecil.

An overwhelming wave of killing intent assailed my entire body. I immediately activated Flash《Time Lapse》. Unlike my usual efficient usage, I poured more than half of my total mana into the spell.

For a fraction of a second, Tura moved.

In my accelerated world, everything slowed to a crawl. Even then, Tura moved with frightening speed. Her right hand blurred as she drew the blade from her waist. The moment the sword cleared the sheath, I felt a burst of incredible mana.

She either has a technique like Sierra’s High-Speed Movement Magic infused into the sheath, or she just finished a silent chant.

In the Original Story, her style was simple and direct.

Iai.

The entire concept was based on an instantaneous strike. Using Iaijutsu and Battoujutsu to end a fight with a One-Hit Kill was her specialty. The secret behind her speed was never revealed in the game, but I was finally seeing the mystery solved.

It was a speed from another dimension. A hybrid of swordplay and magic that transcended human limits.

Fascinating.

I’d been swinging my sword every single day since I was reincarnated into this world. Because of that effort, I knew exactly how much blood and sweat it took to reach this level of precision. In that fleeting second, I felt a genuine spark of respect for her.

But I wasn't about to hand over the win.

Tura didn't charge; she stayed planted, swinging her blade in a horizontal arc. We were dozens of meters apart. Normally, such a move would be a waste of effort.

However, this was the Shockwave Swordsmanship that Teacher Milk specialized in. She was slicing the air itself, imprinting an attribute onto the vacuum and firing it like a projectile.

“—Haaah!”

The tip of her sword glowed with a dull silver light as it tore through the atmosphere, accompanied by the faint shimmer of a magic circle. The sound and the mana density told me everything: that strike had enough power to cleave a man's torso in two.

She’s either the type who never holds back, or she sensed my mana and figured this wouldn't kill me. Either way, her resolve is the real deal.

The invisible blade of compressed air screamed toward me at the speed of a gale. But I could see it. Evading would have been easy, but I chose to charge straight through it.

I raised my wooden sword overhead and—shattered the magic formula mid-air.

To the audience, it probably looked like I had simply run through a gust of wind. I lunged forward, closing the distance to Tura in a heartbeat, ready to cut her down.

...Well, maybe not cut her down. She’d mocked me by calling me a ruffian, though.

You should at least be prepared for a little pain.

I deactivated Flash《Time Lapse》, the sudden release of mana jarring my senses, and delivered a sharp blow to Tura’s defenseless head.

Simultaneously, time resumed its natural flow.

“Once again, I have cut something pointle—wha?!”

“Later.”

Thwack!

The sound of wood hitting a skull protected by defensive mana echoed dully. Tura crumpled, clutching her head. As she fell, her hakama shifted, offering a glimpse of her... well, jiggles.

Wait. This girl... she isn't wearing anything under there. That’s... also just like the Original Story.

But the match was over. That was her ultimate move. Any further fighting would just be redundant.

Good grief. She really went all out, didn't she?

Then, I noticed how quiet the courtyard had become. A moment later—

“““WHAAAAAAAT?!”””

“Tura lost?! In one hit?!”

“Wait, how did that guy even move?!”

“...That’s Weiss?!”

Hmph. Glad to see you’re all paying attention now.

“Ugh... I... I lost... Me...?” Tura groaned, swaying as she forced herself to stand while still holding her head. A massive bump was already forming on her cranium. It was a tragic sight for a maiden’s head, honestly. I felt a little guilty.

“...How... How did you stop my secret technique...?”

“What? You want to keep—”

“I was wrong!” Tura suddenly shouted. “I apologize!”

“Huh?”

Without warning, she bowed her head with everything she had. Stop! Don't! I can see the jiggles!

“...That strike just now... it wasn't the attack of a ruffian,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “Moreover, you didn't even try to dodge. You faced my blade head-on and shattered it. That is the true spirit of a warrior. You are a man among men!”

“Oh. Uh, glad you understand.”

It was awkward to be praised so suddenly, but at least she was reasonable. I seemed to recall she was a fairly upright person in the Original Story too. Come to think of it, I felt like I was forgetting something important about her character.

What was it?

Ah, whatever.

“Weiss Fancent! Please, make me your wife!”

“...Excuse me?”

“Until today, I have never met a man stronger than myself. But after seeing those refined movements, that power... I want you to be my partner!”

Right. I remember now.

She had a specific character trait: she fell head-over-heels for any man stronger than her. Much like a newborn chick imprinting on its mother, she was written to offer her lifelong devotion to the first man to ever defeat her.

I’d seen the plot change at Noblesse before, but I’d never seen a character’s fundamental personality rewrite itself like this.

Wait, does this mean...?

“Weiss Fancent! Let us bear children and preserve our lineage—”

“Wait just a minute!” Sierra shouted, jumping between us. “What are you talking about?! You’re making Vai uncomfortable!”

“Wh-What is this? Woman! Why are you interfering?!” Tura demanded.

Sierra stood her ground, shielding me. I was grateful, really, but we were attracting a lot of attention. And for some reason, Sierra looked genuinely pissed.

“Vai is my precious junior! And you lost, so just stay quiet!”

“It is because I lost! I have fallen for Weiss Fancent’s strength! I intend to pursue a relationship with him!”

“Too bad! Vai is only here for the Goodwill Event! Besides, back at Noblesse, he already has a fianc—”

“Then I shall go to Noblesse as well!”

“...Huh? You—you can't just do that!”

“I can. I have received invitations from Noblesse in the past.”

“I-Is that so?! Well... it doesn't matter! It’s impossible! I won't give Vai to you!”

“This is a matter between Weiss Fancent and me!”

“Wh—! Fine, then fight me!”

“Very well, woman! I shall not hold back!”

“You think you can actually beat me?!”

It was turning into a mess, but I’d fulfilled my duty. Apparently, we were scheduled to see the training rooms and classrooms next. I figured I’d just start heading that way.

“That wasn't bad, Weiss,” Teacher Milk said, walking up to me.

“...Eh?”

“What? Why that face?”

“No, I’m just... surprised.”

Getting praised so suddenly makes my heart skip a beat. I guess those years of hellish training are just hard-wired into my system.

“That technique isn't something one can dodge on the first try. Your skills have improved,” she noted.

“I mean, it only worked because it looked slow to me.”

“That is part of your ability. And that final strike... that was the result of your unremitting effort.”

“...Thank you very much.”

Getting an honest compliment felt good. Eva didn't say anything, but she gave me a small nod and a look that said, Good work.

In all honesty, Tura’s slash had been incredible. The way she surged mana between the sheath and the blade to accelerate it reminded me of Lilith’s High-Speed Ejection.

Which means I can probably learn to do the same thing. Interesting.

I remembered that in the Original Story, Allen was supposed to fight Tura. She was supposed to fall for him and then chase him all the way back to Nobless Academy. But that was supposed to happen much later in the timeline.

Well, I’m sure it won’t come to that here.