Chapter 129 - Chapter 128: The Game with Ozendorwa
(How did it come to this...?)
Mika let out a huge sigh while looking at the Fifth Knights Order members watching from behind, the gallery.
This was the ground within the Fifth Knights Order's premises.
The place where Mika had been brought by Ozendorwa was just outside the duty station.
Looking up at the duty station building, he could confirm the figure of a knight looking down from a window.
The knights of the Fifth Knights Order had gathered to watch, thinking Ozendorwa was going to do something.
They kept increasing in number, and even though hundreds had already gathered, it seemed like more would keep coming.
(Do knights' orders actually have nothing to do...? They're openly slacking off, and no one is telling them to stop.)
Rather, it felt like they were gathering by calling out to one another.
"See that red flag over there?"
Ozendorwa spoke to Mika, who was looking at the gallery with a weary expression.
In the direction Ozendorwa pointed, a single red flag stuck into the ground could be seen.
The distance was about thirty meters.
Like a flag used for beach flags, the flag was at a low position.
"Take that flag and come back here. That's all. The one who crosses this line line first wins. It's a simple game, isn't it?"
Ozendorwa pointed to the line drawn at his feet.
A white line, like lime, was drawn at his feet.
Following Ozendorwa's hand signal, the two of them lined up along the line.
"...There's only one flag, though?"
"Yes, that's right."
Ozendorwa answered Mika's question as if it were nothing.
So, we're fighting to snatch a single flag.
Ozendorwa called out to a knight who was nearby.
It seemed he was going to make him the referee.
"............Is Physical Enhancement allowed or not?"
"Do whatever you like."
It seemed it didn't matter either way.
(Hmm... what should I do?)
Mika glanced up at Ozendorwa standing beside him.
While some knights can use Physical Enhancement, they don't have as much mana as mages.
So, if they fought using Physical Enhancement, the outcome would be decided immediately.
If Ozendorwa tried to match Mika's enhancement, even if he won with his base physical ability, he would need to enhance himself significantly.
In that case, he would collapse from mana exhaustion immediately.
Mika would win.
(Well, winning like that is fine too, I suppose.)
Mika turned around.
There, the hundreds of Fifth Knights Order members, the gallery.
It was completely enemy territory, an away game.
(If I win too easily, I might get beaten up.)
This was quite a troublesome situation.
Even if that happened, escaping would be possible, but after trying to deal with one stalker, I might end up making the entire Fifth Knights Order my enemy.
"I know you're curious, but it's just a game. Regardless of the outcome, I promise to have Shesbarno withdraw."
Ozendorwa said this to Mika, who was worried about the gallery.
"I was simply interested in how much you would do. But there were various entanglements. We had no other way but to confirm directly from you like this."
"Couldn't the Knights Order have inquired at the Magic Academy?"
"That's right."
Ozendorwa gave a bitter smile.
So he must have spread a net through the Adventurer's Guild and made contact with Shesbarno.
"............Next time, please send a pretty lady. You should understand the feeling of being chased by such a dusty old man."
"But you know each other, right?"
"How many months ago do you think it was? I had forgotten."
"I see. I apologize for that."
Ozendorwa apologized while smiling.
"Well, shall we start soon? Hey, give the signal."
At Ozendorwa's command, the knight acting as referee stood beside Mika and the others.
Then, he raised his right hand high.
"Ready... set... go!"
With the shout, he swung his hand down.
However, neither Mika nor Ozendorwa moved a single step.
The gallery murmured slightly at the two of them.
Silently, the two of them just stood side by side.
Ozendorwa opened his mouth.
"............Aren't you going to take it?"
"You should go first. Please, I'll yield."
Take the flag and return.
And there is only one flag.
Then, the optimal solution is to snatch it when the person who brought it back returns.
It's a simple matter.
"Hehehe... I see."
Ozendorwa muttered as if amused.
"Even in this situation, your head is working properly. Truly, I can't believe it."
Saying that, Ozendorwa ordered the referee to go get the flag.
He's completely being used as a runner.
Poor guy.
"The courage to boldly charge into the duty station alone. Even with so many knights gathered, he isn't shaken at all. Even with a game suddenly thrown at him, he's thinking properly."
Speaking of which, Mika is actually quite nervous.
But right now, he wasn't nervous at all, one could say.
(Well, it is just a game, but the main reason is probably 'this is troublesome'.)
You get nervous because you try to do well or don't want to fail.
There was no reason to be nervous about a game that left nothing but 'this is troublesome' as a reaction.
Then, the referee who had been ordered to get the flag returned.
"Let's change the rules a little."
Saying that, Ozendorwa stepped forward while taking the flag.
"You are over there."
Ozendorwa tossed the flag to Mika and pointed to the spot past where he had crossed.
With this, Mika would stand on the opposite side of the line, with Ozendorwa in between.
"If you cross the line holding that flag, you win. I will obstruct you. Simple, isn't it?"
The distance between Mika and the line was about twelve or thirteen meters.
Ozendorwa stood in the middle, apparently intending to obstruct Mika.
(I'm not confident in soccer or basketball, but isn't it just about getting past Ozendorwa with the flag? Is it really this easy?)
If I had to carry a ball without using hands or feet, it would be difficult, but I'm holding a flag.
And then, I just have to get past Ozendorwa.
"Is physical contact allowed?"
In sports, it is common that you cannot make contact with the opponent's body.
Avoiding all contact can be difficult depending on the sport.
"............? I don't know what you mean, but grab me, hit me, do whatever you like."
"Huh?"
Hit me?
(That means... he's going to come at me too, right?)
It seemed to be a more violent contest than imagined.
Damn, seriously why is this happening...
For now, Mika decided to go normally without using Physical Enhancement.
Since Shesbarno said he would withdraw regardless of the result, the original objective has already been achieved.
Now, it's just a matter of playing along with Ozendorwa appropriately.
"Well then, I'm going."
"Whenever you like."
Mika jumped lightly up and down, loosening his body.
Ozendorwa didn't take a stance, he just stood there.
The so-called, just standing around.
(Is he underestimating me? Or is he that confident?)
I heard the story about him being a master swordsman from Gaeras.
Then, he might be quite confident.
Mika wrapped the flag's cloth around the stick tightly and gripped it hard with his right hand.
Doing so, he ran at full speed towards Ozendorwa.
Even then, Ozendorwa remained just standing there.
Mika charged in as if to body-check him, shifting his center of gravity quickly to the left just before colliding.
And he slipped past Ozendorwa's side.
He was able to pass him so easily it was anticlimactic.
(Whoa, was that showing off?)
Mika ran towards the line and glanced back, seeing Ozendorwa holding the red stick in one hand with his back to Mika, waving it around.
"Eh!?"
Mika looked at his right hand in surprise, and the flag he was supposed to be holding was gone.
(Why!? When did it happen!?)
Mika slammed on the brakes with a squeal, stopped, and stared blankly at his right hand.
He had been gripping the flag tightly.
No matter what, he should have noticed if it was snatched.
(Magic trick? ...No way. Then what is it?)
If Ozendorwa had just taken the flag, there was a possibility he had been hiding it, but the flag was gone from Mika's hand.
It had been snatched.
Before he knew it.
Ozendorwa tossed the flag to Mika with a poyi sound.
Then, he pointed to the original position again.
It seemed to be a restart.
"It's just a game, but you should take it a bit more seriously. No matter what game it is, you can only enjoy it if you take it seriously; if you slack off, it becomes boring. Isn't that how it is?"
At Ozendorwa's words, Mika reflected deeply.
(............I was the one underestimating him. He's the commander of the Knights Order? Besides, the proposal came from their side. Of course he's confident!)
Without knowing the opponent's strength, I let my guard down.
Mika's habit of letting his guard down remained unchanged.
Mika returned to his original position while thinking.
(I don't even know what was done to me. Then, what I should do next is—)
Reveal the trick.
Figure out what Ozendorwa did.
If I can't see the opponent's hand, I can't play my hand either.
Since it doesn't seem to be a one-round match, next time I will be thoroughly on guard and figure out his hand.
"Well then, I'm going."
"Yes, come."
Mika started walking towards Ozendorwa.
However, this time he held the flag stick firmly with both hands, hugging it against his stomach.
Moreover, when he got close to Ozendorwa, he turned his back to hide the flag, showing thoroughness.
Only his head faced forward, using his whole body to block Ozendorwa.
"I see. You're going to come like that."
Ozendorwa muttered as if amused.
Mika, with his back to Ozendorwa, came to a distance of about two meters and made a large circle as if drawing a circle.
Since there was nothing he could do if his hand couldn't reach, Ozendorwa approached Mika.
Mika also didn't avoid it, since he couldn't figure out Ozendorwa's hand without making contact.
When Ozendorwa stood behind Mika, he placed his hand on Mika's head with a pon.
The next moment, Mika rolled onto the ground.
"Huh?"
And the flag had been snatched.
Ozendorwa pointed at Mika with the flag stick and made a gesture to stand up with a kui kui sound.
(What? What was done to me?)
I had no idea at all.
He placed his hand on my head.
That much I understood.
But the next moment, before I knew it, I was rolling on the ground.
(He didn't push my head, didn't pull my clothes, didn't trip my feet.)
More importantly, even with such vigilance, I didn't notice the flag being snatched.
(Is this guy a monster too...?)
It wasn't a matter of simple strength, something else.
(This might be useless even with Physical Enhancement...)
If I could surpass him in explosive power, it would be fine, but if I'm not careful, I might not win even then.
Well, I can say "do whatever you like" if that's the case.
Mika started to feel a bit excited.
It's rare to encounter something so incomprehensible.
Even though it's happening to me, I don't know what's being done to me.
Mika took the flag from Ozendorwa and ran back to the original position.
"Next time, I'm going~."
"Yes."
This time, Mika boldly held the flag with both hands and thrust his hands forward.
As if to say, "Try it in front of my eyes."
Seeing such Mika, Ozendorwa gave a bitter smile.
"You don't seem to be in the mood to fight anymore."
"That's not true. Rather, I'm starting to get fired up."
While talking, Mika walked straight towards Ozendorwa with his hands thrust out.
However, Ozendorwa simply grabbed the flag.
"Hey, that's cheating!"
"What's cheating?"
It seems he won't do it if it's this blatant.
"Tch... I wish you would have let me win."
Ozendorwa let go of the flag and waved his hand as if shooing it away.
"The contest is whether you cross the line line or not."
Saying that, Ozendorwa pointed to the line behind him.
"Just as you want to find out my hand, I want to find out yours. Asking me to expose my hand unilaterally isn't fair."
Does this mean if Mika attacks with all his might, Ozendorwa will respond with all his might?
Mika grinned.
"If I go all out, will you go all out?"
"Well, I don't know. If there's a need to go all out, I'll go all out. That's all."
In other words, whether to go all out depends on Mika.
(Alright, I'll make you go all out.)
Mika quietly ignited his fighting spirit.
From then on, Mika challenged Ozendorwa for over an hour.
First, without Physical Enhancement.
But no matter what, he couldn't get past Ozendorwa.
Not only that, it was clear that Ozendorwa wasn't using his full power.
So, after informing Ozendorwa, Mika decided to use Physical Enhancement.
First, double enhancement.
Even then, the result didn't change at all.
Seeing that double wasn't enough, Mika quickly gave up and increased the enhancement to triple.
But even then, he couldn't get past Ozendorwa.
However, only then did Ozendorwa finally stop just standing around.
He lowered his waist slightly and raised his arms lightly, ready to respond to any of Mika's moves.
The amazement of the Fifth Knights Order members, the gallery, at that time was indescribable.
"The commander actually took a stance!?"
"Against such a child!?"
Ignoring the murmuring gallery, Mika challenged Ozendorwa many times.
He continued challenging with triple enhancement, but still couldn't get past Ozendorwa.
And finally, he tried challenging by increasing it to quadruple...
"Guh... it hurts..."
Holding his aching side, Mika accepted the flag offered by Ozendorwa.
Even while grimacing in pain, the corner of his mouth rose.
"Finally, you made a move."
When Mika said that, Ozendorwa grimaced.
When Mika used triple Physical Enhancement, he finally understood what Ozendorwa was doing.
What Ozendorwa was doing was empty and solid.
And breathing.
Thinking of empty and solid brings to mind feints, but what Ozendorwa was doing wasn't that.
It was the technique of pickpockets.
Like bumping into someone to snatch their wallet, or staining their clothes with ice cream and stealing their belongings in that gap.
Breathing was the same.
Basically, he was attacking from outside Mika's consciousness.
Normally, if someone trips your foot, anyone would notice.
But if you direct their consciousness to something else and keep their awareness from noticing the trip, you can make them fall without them realizing it.
............It seems so.
(There's no way someone can do such a stupid thing!? I'd notice something like that!)
At first, Mika thought so too.
But there was no other way to think about it.
Even if you concentrate your consciousness, there are moments when concentration wavers due to breathing timing, etc., which is something heard in martial arts stories.
The techniques Ozendorwa is using are likely the result of refining and sublimating such skills.
Mika adjusted his breathing and returned to his original position.
(He's finally gotten a bit serious, it seems.)
Mika noticed what Ozendorwa was doing, and on top of that, increased the enhancement to quadruple and chose a means to break through forcibly.
The result was a strike to the side.
Until now, it was a light "empty" like placing a hand on Mika's head, just directing consciousness.
But that wouldn't create a gap in consciousness sufficient for Mika with quadruple enhancement.
By actually delivering a strike, he managed to create a gap in consciousness.
Mika looked up at the sky and calmed his heart.
He had finally drawn out Ozendorwa's seriousness.
And he already knew the breakthrough point.
Then, all that was left was to do it.
"Ozendorwa-san."
Mika spoke to Ozendorwa.
"Let's make this the last one."
At Mika's words, Ozendorwa nodded silently.
His face was already serious.
"This time, I'll go with five times."
When Mika said that, Ozendorwa was surprised for a moment, but quickly became serious.
And from Ozendorwa, a pressure greater than before reached Mika.
"Good job, young lady!"
"Go for it!"
"Knock the commander flat!"
The Fifth Knights Order members, the gallery, were inexplicably cheering for Mika on all fronts.
Is the cohesion of the Fifth Knights Order okay?
(Oh, just now Ozendorwa-san checked that knight who said 'knock him flat' with his eyes.)
That knight must be waiting for a ghostly torture later.
Mika stared straight at Ozendorwa.
"I'm going."
"Come."
Quietly answering, Mika understood that Ozendorwa, who was taking a stance, was coming to stop him with all his might.
Mika started running towards Ozendorwa.
With Mika's enhancement increased to five times, a distance of a few meters was a distance reachable in one step.
He deliberately divided it into two steps, making the third step in front of Ozendorwa's eyes.
The flag was gripped in his right hand, not hidden at all.
As Mika approached, Ozendorwa came to punch Mika's face.
(You said you were serious, but isn't that too ruthless?)
Considering the height difference, the face is probably the easiest to punch, but the nerve to do so casually against a child is quite something.
Moreover, this attack to the face was "empty".
The aim was always the flag held in the right hand.
Mika swatted away the hand aiming for his face with his left hand, and at the same time changed the direction of his own body.
Flowing his left hand to the right, his body to the left.
Turning his back to Ozendorwa.
Ozendorwa, utilizing Mika's tilted center of gravity, lightly cut at his left leg, which was the axis.
But then, Mika lifted that left leg off the ground himself.
As if stumbling.
And in mid-air, he forcibly rotated his body orientation half a turn and went prone, forcing his right foot to land.
Mika could tell Ozendorwa was surprised.
Ozendorwa's leg that came to cut Mika's foot missed, and his posture wasn't fully restored yet.
Mika was in a posture as if he had almost fallen, but both hands and his right foot were on the ground.
(Alright!)
Mika put power into his right foot and broke past Ozendorwa's side in an instant.
Doga!
"Guh!?"
But it wasn't that easy.
Ozendorwa's leg, which should have missed, kicked up Mika's right side.
There was a sensation of ribs creaking.
Without enhancement, this was definitely a broken bone course.
Ozendorwa was ruthless to the end.
(Isn't this a game!?)
He wanted to complain, but it was mutual.
Mika grabbed Ozendorwa's kicking ankle with his left hand and went to break his knee from the side with his right elbow.
Goki!
A dull sound rang out, and Ozendorwa grimaced.
And this time, Mika left Ozendorwa behind and crossed the line line.
On his right hand, the flag was still there.
Mika won.
"Yaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh......"
Mika jumped up and down many times right there, showing his joy with his whole body.
However, he didn't notice for a while that the hundreds of Fifth Knights Order members, the gallery, were stunned into silence, with no one able to say a word.