The Crisis World XX

Chap. 52: Something In The Sword

After the crazy bet made by the Red Flame and Black Rain strongholds had been agreed upon by Oita-san. The one who bears the biggest burden here is me, because if I lose then Black Rain will disappear. Damnit.

"You're ready, right?" ask Cecilia.

"Of course!"

Of course not, stupid. I don't know his strength yet, nor do I know what his attack pattern is. How can I tell you that I'm ready.

"Prepare!"

Ryuzaki raised his hand and prepared to start this match. Hayashi's gaze was also very focused towards me. I could also feel a strong aura around him. I pulled out the sweat from my forehead. My nervousness has reached its peak.

Before Ryuzaki dropped his hand, there was the sound of a child suddenly commanding me out of nowhere.

"Hey, you! Protect your right arm!"

"Eh?" Cecilia and I gave the same response to the voice we just heard.

"Start!"

Swuush…

Hayashi quickly sped up. The speed of his lesion made a very strong gust of wind that made people outside the arena have to protect their eyes.

While I was still confused by the voice I heard earlier, immediately followed him without a second thought.

Triiin…

The sound of the two swords clashing echoed within the room. Making the audience who saw from outside the arena aware of what was going on. I managed to hold back the slash of his sword that was aiming for my right arm.

"… !!! Can you hold it?" ask Hayashi.

"Y-Yes that's how it is."

From the look on her face, it seemed like she was very surprised that I managed to hold her back. Let him not be, I just don't believe that I can hold him back. While we were fighting, I launched my kick towards Hayashi's stomach. But he could still dodge it and jump away backwards.

Without me noticing, Ryuzaki squinted his eyes. It seems like he was also surprised by my reflexes to fend off Hayashi's attack just now.

Hayashi was silent for a moment. He tried to think of the most appropriate answer to this incident. But he could think of no other reason than 'it was just a coincidence'. He was convinced that his speed had exceeded the speed of a bullet. Hayashi returned in the position of the attacking horses. He threw away all of his raining feelings and prepared to go back to attack.

"It must have been a coincidence" he murmured.

While I was still shocked and confused by what happened just now.

"Hey Cecilia, did you hear that just now?"

"I heard. But where did it come from?"

"I'm here, you know."

The voice sounded again. Then I looked at the source of the sound. The sound came from the sword I am holding now.

"This sword is talking?"

"Ah. You finally realized it. But for now, I advise you to protect your heart."

"Huh?"

I immediately realized that I was in the middle of the match and then re-directed my focus towards Hayashi who had shot towards me at an even faster speed.

Swuush…

But I was again able to withstand Hayashi's attack intending to stab right into my heart.

"After this he will aim for your left arm, then your right abdomen. Ah.. He wants to go after your head, you can avoid that one."

Triyingg…

All the guesses are right. I can actually resist and dodge all of Hayashi's attacks. Nor was it detached because of Herlin who trained my body so hard before this. I don't know why I have such a strong feeling that I'm going to win this match. A small smile formed on the corner of my lips.

While Herlin and Kurobane-senpai were shocked by what was happening above the arena. Not just the two of them, almost everyone in the room was shocked.

"D-He was great." said Kurobane-senpai.

"I didn't expect it."

"Eh? Didn't you believe him?"

"I really believe him. But this exceeded my expectations, he hasn't even been hurt at all. Why is she so strong?" herlin.

Kurobane-senpai fell silent at Herlin's response. The person he thought would only be a burden to him if he joined later, turned out to be even more formidable than he had expected.

"Well, there's nothing I need to worry about" Oita-san muttered with a relieved smile on her face.

Triying…

During the match, I just kept dodging and fending off Hayashi's attacks without replying. I haven't had a chance to strike him back.

Hayashi then changed the horses. He slashed his sword several times forward and created a sharp gust of wind that could hurt me if it hit him.

Swuush…

I'm trying to avoid it. But the small width of the arena as well as its wide range of attacks made me choose to protect important parts like my eyes and head. While others look large incision marks and make torn in the pants, clothes, and others. Even the sword sheath that encircled my body was also severed due to his attack. Shit, this is endless.

"Oi, sword!"

"Hn?"

"Are there no loopholes that I can exploit from this person?"

"So far I haven't found him. But do you want to know how he can make a gap? You could get hurt, you know."

"It's okay! Just say it! The cecilia! Help me with the cure."

"Send me!" cecilia.

"Then this gust of wind strikes and then when it approaches it, point your left hand to the right abdomen and then bang your head hard forward."

"All right."

I then followed what he instructed and lunged at this sharp gust of wind. After I got closer, this gust of wind stopped and he tried to stab me in the stomach.

Craassh…

The palm of my left hand was pierced deep enough that it did not penetrate into the stomach. I clasped the sword iron stuck in my left hand which made him unable to move anywhere except by taking off his sword.

"Ap—"

"Supreme!"

Duuukk…

The head-to-head lacing I did made our eyebrows both bleed. Hayashi staggered and the grip on her sword weakened. I quickly pulled Hayashi's sword which was still stuck in my palm away and slashed his upper right arm.

Craassh…

That part is the most appropriate to target. For not risking his life but seizing his fighting ability for now. Hayashi was then kneeled while holding onto her injured right arm.

I then pulled out the sword Hayashi stuck in my hand and then looked towards the back of the arena. The wall behind me was heavily damaged and nearly collapsed as a result of the attack from Hayashi.

Then I looked towards Ryuzaki. He put on a flat face. Even though he managed to cover his expression, but he couldn't cover up the fact that we won the bet.

Ryuzaki raised his hand and shouted loudly. "The winner of this match, Iraya-kun!"

After confirming my victory, I then spoke to my sword. Without him I would have lost the game.

"Hey, sword! We need to talk later, but thanks for the help. Without you I might have lost the game."

"Hn? No problem, then I want to sleep first."

"And of course thank you Cecilia, even if you're a bitch but I wouldn't be able to do it without you."

"Are you really thanking me?" said flat.

After I finished speaking, I walked over to the others. I want to show off my victory to Herlin. Let's see how he expresses later.

"Hehe...how?!"

"Nn, good job. You managed to save this organization, Iraya-kun," Oita-san said.

Oita-san nudged Herlin's hand so that she would do what she was supposed to do. Herlin who was aware of Oita-san's intention then opened her mouth.

"Ah, Miss, you did well. I don't know why you're this strong. But good work."

"Yep! Nice work!" ishikawa-san.

Mm.. somehow their congratulations feel bland. But let it be, the most important thing is the integrity of this organization.

After celebrating my victory for a while, we all simultaneously looked towards Kurobane-senpai which made her feel awkward.

"A-What's wrong?"

"…"

We all just kept quiet. I don't have to explain anything anymore. I just have to wait for the answer. Kurobane-senpai who realized that the answer was awaited by all of us, finally made a decision.

"Well, I'll join. But I will put my own safety above all else. Did you all hear that?"

Hearing his reply, all of us except Herlin smiled in satisfaction. The members of Black Rain had increased again and of course his strength had grown even greater.

"This way we can do more dangerous missions" Ishikawa-san said.

"Yes, there is at least one person that we can make a collision if our enemy is too strong" said Herlin.

"You guys…"

"Oi! You heard what I just said, right? Oh!"

"They're just kidding."

Laughter was heard in our group. As if to be a welcome to the arrival of a new member of Black Rain.

While Ryuzaki approached Hayashi who was still kneeling while holding his wound. He then reached out his hand to help Hayashi stand up.

"Hn?"

"Even in the last moments, he braved the attack I created and sacrificed his left hand to make a gap."

"Well…"

Hayashi received a helping hand from Ryuzaki and then stood up. The two of them looked towards Iraya who was joking with the others.

"… Maybe he's really special" Ryuzaki murmured.

**

After getting some treatment and bandages from the medical Red Flame members, I was finally able to go home with quite a lot of bandages wrapped around my body.

It was a tiring day for me, let alone having my clothes torn and barely being able to use anymore. Well, even though they also offered me pretty much the same clothes. And they will also prepare the scabbard so that I can easily carry my new sword. Of course I accept all of that with pleasure.

When the night was very late, we finally arrived in front of Himawari Orphanage and after that I would walk all the way home. Before I went home, I had a conversation with Herlin.

"Hey, Iraya."

"Hn?"

"Are you okay about that? Won't you be scolded later?"

Herlin looked at the bandages on my left head and hand. She thought that my mother would be worried if I came home with so many injuries.

"Yes, just calm down! I'll find a reason for this later. Hehe.." I could only put up a fake laugh that just disappeared.

"so yeah. Oh yeah, I'm grateful to you too."

"For what?"

"I do trust you, but in my heart I still have doubts about your current strength. But after looking at the match earlier, it seemed like I could dispel that doubt."

"Ah, that, huh? That was really brutal. Maybe because my determination to win back then was very high, so I could get stronger. Hehe…"

I actually wanted to tell you that the sword I was wearing could talk and help me. But then later.

"And so…"

"And so…?" ask Herlin.

"… I don't want to lose my house again" I murmured.

After losing my mother, I won't let my second home—Black Rain crumble. Whatever happens.

"Hmm? What did you just say?" my mumble just now was too small for Herlin to hear.

"Ah, no, no! We have to take care of our home. Don't let anyone take it or destroy it!"

"Nn, let's keep our house together."

"Together."

Unwittingly by the two of them, Kurobane-senpai who had finished eavesdropping on Herlin and Iraya immediately left the place.

**

Tap.. Tap…

"I'm home."

I entered the house, it was dark because the lights inside had not been lit at all. The leftover dishes from yesterday were also not washed, still scattered on the table and dishwasher rack.

I left it all and walked straight to the bathroom. My body is too tired to clean it.

After taking a shower, I immediately walked into the room and laid myself down on the bed. I can still feel the pain all over my body from the match earlier. I raised my left hand on the bandage up.

"I've healed your head, you can let go of the bandages now. But your left hand is still healing" Cecilia said.

I opened the bandage that was on my head and placed it carelessly on the floor.

"Thank you, Cecilia."

In silence, I thought of one thing. Then I sat down and called Cecilia.

"Nee... Cecilia, can you come out of my body for a moment?"

"Hm? What do you want?"

"There's something I want to talk about."

"Can't it be like this?"

Shiiinn…

Accompanied by the noise, a dazzling light appeared filled this room and before long subsided and a figure of Spirit with long green hair—Cecilia appeared.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"If a Spirit like you needs a host to survive. That means the voice…"

"…!! Don't-don't…!"

We both looked up at the sword I was laying on the wall. I then approached the sword and tried to speak to him.

"Hey, sword! Did you hear me?"

"Hn? Hoam... Did you call me?" The sword responded to me.

It seems like he really slept from earlier.

"Can you get out of there for a second? There's something I want to talk to you about."

"Hn.. alright."

Shiiinn…

"Hhoaaamm... Did you call me?"

From inside the sword, came a little girl with a stature of about 13-14 years. With long wavy grey hair knee-length. No doubt, he is a spirit.

"You're Spirit? But you live inside the sword? How did you get to live there?"

"Ah... You know my kind? Hello yes, man. And I don't seem to be the only Spirit here," The spirit looked at Cecilia.

"Yes that's it. But before that I had a lot of questions for you."

The little spirit jumped onto the mattress with its face facing the mattress. He wiggled his legs like he was playing. His behavior showed that this Spirit was still like a child.

"Please~" he replied in a small voice as it faced the mattress.

"So how do you live in that sword? Doesn't Spirit require the nutrients of living things to survive?"

"I absorbed the iron found in the sword metal. Oh yeah, I like to absorb carbon too."

"Carbon?"

"Nn, in the human body for example, most of their bodies contain protein and carbohydrates. Others such as vitamins, minerals, phosphorus, and the like. Carbon and iron are very few. Then I look for things that contain a lot of iron and carbon. One of my favorites is iron.

There are actually other carbon-containing objects such as gems or pencils. But iron is my favorite, especially the iron on the sword blade. They were used to kill and thrust into the bodies of enemies. The traces of blood left on the blade of the sword were my favorite because it contained a lot of iron. So in conclusion, I stayed on the sword because I was looking for food that I liked."

The spirit told me a long story while walking around my room and checking out what was on my desk. The same curiosity as that possessed by a child.

"Is there anything like that?" I asked Cecilia.

"I don't know either." Cecilia could only shake her head because she had only heard such a thing for the first time.

"Just like Spirit-chan, from now on you will stay with me, right?"

"Yes that's it. Besides, now you're the owner of the sword, so I don't want to be with you."

"Do you have a name? Usually a Spirit like you doesn't have a name, right?"

"Name? Looks like I already have it if I don't remember it wrong." The spirit touched his chin with his index finger to help him remember something.

"really?"

"Yes, when I lived in one of the swords before this, the crowd called me Masamune."

"Masamune's? It is one of the famous Katana in Japan. You ever live in it?"

"Yes, long enough anyway. The person who used it was so great, that I was able to get a lot of food thanks to it. So I avenged his services by making his sword durable and durable. But it's been a long time, I'm tired of using that name too. So you can give me another name."

"That's it! All right, I'll try!"

"It turns out you like this stuff, right?" cecilia flat said.

If from what looks gray hair color, he is also a Spirit who lives on the sword, he likes iron…

"Tetsu?"

"Tetsu?" Cecilia and Spirit were responding together.

"Mrs! From now on your name is Tetsu!"

"Tetsu.. Tetsu! From now on call me Tetsu!" said cheerful.

"Well..is that the best name you have in mind? My name is Cecilia. Hello, Tetsu."

"Mrs! Greetings to you too, Cecilia!"

That way, I have two Spirits staying one home with me. Actually I still have a lot of questions in my head, but I'll leave it for now.

Seriate

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#Info

Tetsu, which means iron in Japanese