MV – Chapter 152: The Duel and the Minor Villain

The dojo was indeed just around the corner. It felt as though it was prepared. With the faint scent of fresh whitewood lingering as if it had been built solely for today.

Even though it was a brand-new dojo, there were no trainees around, and it is weird Toko easily got permission from the receptionist.

“This is obviously a trap.” (Lanpeach)

[If it’s not a trap, then what is it?] (Libra)

[Right…?] (Lanpeach)

Even the usually carefree Libra agreed this duel was a trap. Yet, the strange part is that it didn’t seem like an obvious trap.

“Do your best, Lan! I’ll pray for your victory. No, I believe that you’ll win, even if you’re up against the Yoroizuka family!” (Chihiro)

Chihiro squeezed Lanpeach’s hand tightly with a determined look, resembling the very picture of a brave heroine. He was really happy about her cheering for him, but…

“Hey, Chihiro. Don’t you think this seamless setup for a duel and the dojo itself is suspicious?” (Lanpeach)

Chihiro, though weak in strength, was a girl who had survived the slums with her wit and charm. She wasn’t someone who would blindly play the role of an oblivious heroine amidst such an obvious trap.

Lanpeach squinted, tense, realizing he needed to take this seriously. Some unseen scheme was at play. Lanpeach observed Toko and the others, trying to piece together what was happening.

“Shukou-san, I said this is a duel, but it is just a formality. You know the difference between appearances and reality. I need to demonstrate my strength as the next head of the Yoroizuka family. It would be disgraceful if the Yoroizuka family backed down in front of all those people in the store from before.” (Toko)

Toko spoke with a casual shrug while stepping on the dojo floor, his face bearing a hint of irony. Under normal circumstances, one might believe his words.

“Weren’t you about to back off at first? It looked like you suddenly changed your mind.” (Lanpeach)

Not to mention, he changed his mind when one of the three followers spoke. That scene felt off in a lot of areas….

(There was no sign of mental magic. There’s a faint chance it is hypnosis, but…Chihiro’s behavior is odd too.)

Even though this duel is unnatural beyond belief, it didn’t seem to faze Chihiro, which left him puzzled. He was puzzled about it, so he had no way of being cautious about it.

So, he decided to search for what is happening here, even if it is just a small scrap. His minor villain intuition warned him this is dangerous. A feeling akin to entering a monster’s lair and being the first to die.

“Do your best, Toko! You won’t lose if you just show your usual strength!”

“Stay calm, and you’ll win easily.”

“Find an opening. I won’t forgive you if you lose to a mere guy like that.”

Toko was suspicious, but Lanpeach looked at the 3 heroine girls cheerfully rooting for Toko behind him, and averted his gaze soon after. He had to focus on the duel right now.

“We don’t have weapons, so we won’t do much damage, but there’s always a chance of accidents. Please be careful.” (Toko)

Toko said, loosening his limbs and speaking nonchalantly, clearly confident in his strength.

“Yeah, let’s be careful not to hurt each other. Careful not to, okay?” (Lanpeach)

An exchange of casual words before the match. Lanpeach, the only one eyeing the situation suspiciously might seem like he was scheming something, but it is just your imagination.

Both of them faced each other in the center of the dojo, taking stances, each confident in their martial arts.

“Let the duel begin. The loser will yield the shopping rights. Now…”

A trivial stake, yet a serious match. The most responsible-looking of the three took on the role of referee and raised her hand.

Everyone aside from Lanpeach watched with bated breath, and the referee dropped her hand with the attention on the two.

“Begin!”

Toko charged forward the moment the signal was given to get the initiative.

“Behold the power of the Immortal Thunder God!”

Electricity coursed through Toko’s body, sparking as he dashed forward. He was right in front of Lanpeach in the blink of an eye.

[Lightning Flash Strike]

A strike literally as fast as lightning approached, its speed surprising Lanpeach as he widened his eyes, and a look of confidence crept onto Toko’s face…

Yet Lanpeach caught Toko’s fist in his palm. Although shocked, Toko didn’t give up and twisted his body, unleashing a flurry of Lightning Flash Strikes.

Toko’s fists left afterimages, aimed to pummel Lanpeach, but Lanpeach intercepted each blow with his palms.

“Wa?!”

The two moved so fast that the afterimages overlapped, each block of the punches echoing through the dojo.

“Impressive. Looks like the head of the Shukou family is quite skilled to keep up with my speed.” (Toko)

“You’re well-trained yourself. Watching for openings, timing your attacks with my breaths and blinks; you’ve honed your skills well.” (Lanpeach)

“Thank you! But how long can you keep up with my speed?” (Toko)

Toko mixed kicks into his attacks with a bold smile. Backhand strikes aimed at Lanpeach’s temple, skilled kicks aiming behind his knee. He also used calculated feints and deliberate openings. Toko exhibited martial arts of the highest caliber among humans.

Their afterimages scattered throughout the dojo as the intensity increased.

“Go, Lan!” (Chihiro)

“Get him, Toko!”

Neither gave an inch against the backdrop of cheering girls as they showcased their skills. 

The fight only lasted a few minutes, but to them, it felt like an hour and it still went on.

However, Toko’s face gradually twisted with frustration as the endless combat wore on.

“I-Impossible! How are you keeping up with my speed?! I’ve never encountered anyone who could!” (Toko)

“You are probably at the pinnacle for a human. I’ll give you that. You’re strong. I am impressed that you could train to that extent.” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach complimented the flustered Toko with an air of confidence. His expression of superiority didn’t look at all like a man who obtained power without difficulties. As expected of a minor villain.

There’s no doubt Toko’s punches with enhanced speed made him nearly unmatched among humans…

—Unfortunately for him, Lanpeach had surpassed humanity, and even demons. Such speed posed no challenge.

When Toko threw a punch, Lanpeach stopped it with his palm, holding Toko in place. Toko struggled, but his fist remained locked, as if a rock had suddenly manifested around his fist.

“Kuh! Such strength even without spirit armor…!” (Toko)

Toko attempted to kick Lanpeach in the ribs, but Lanpeach blocked it with his knee, then rotated his grip.

[Air Throw]

Toko flew across the dojo like popcorn, landing with a thud and rolling on the floor. 

Lanpeach showed his overwhelming strength with a single move. Toko’s face contorted in disbelief as he stood up.

“I-I can’t believe it… To think someone of this skill existed. Just how much training would lead to such mastery?!” (Toko)

“Hm, dedicated practice brings one to this trifling level.” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach answered straight on without any shame. This so-called training of Lanpeach was merely selecting skills, which Lanpeach was now calling the results of tough training.

“Kuh! So there are still people this strong out there.” (Toko)

Toko showed defeat in his face after losing to an opponent that had no equipment and had no intention of using magic. 

He’s quite a perceptive young man, Lanpeach thought, quietly raising his evaluation of Toko. But it was because of this quality that he found Toko’s actions strange.

He looked around and saw Chihiro’s eyes gleaming with relief, reassured by Lanpeach’s overwhelming strength.

Then he wondered if Toko’s trio of harem companions might have frustrated expressions and glanced over at them…

(Hm? What’s this?) (Lanpeach)

“Aah, come on, Toko, it’s too soon to admit defeat!”

“Yeah, you still have a chance to win.”

“I think it is wrong to admit defeat so easily as a warrior.”

They grumbled, faces twisted in frustration, delivering lines that fit the harem gang perfectly. You could say that’s just as predicted, but…

[Soldier, this is bad! The place where you’re standing!] (Libra)

[The place I’m standing?] (Lanpeach)

Hearing Libra’s urgent warning, he scanned his surroundings and understood its meaning.

Lanpeach was at the center of the newly built dojo. Toko, who had been thrown by the Air Throw, was standing at the edge, as were Chihiro and the trio; all by the walls.

In other words, only Lanpeach stood in the center of the dojo. He realized why Libra was panicking.

A magical circle, drawn with intricate geometric patterns on the floor, began to glow, illuminating Lanpeach.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Is this a trap? How could it be set up so naturally?!” (Lanpeach)

Toko showed no signs of acting, nor did the trio behave suspiciously. Yet, Lanpeach was perfectly positioned in the center of the magic circle, without any intentional guidance, as if led there by fate.

[It’s a teleportation trap, Soldier!] (Libra)

[I see, they aimed for a moment when I was defenseless, without any equipme—!] (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach was enveloped in light before he could finish, his surroundings shifting as he saw Toko’s surprised reaction.

◇

Lanpeach found himself in pitch darkness, a place where he couldn’t see anything. The ground felt rough like soil.

[I figured it was a trap, but a teleportation trap? I suppose it’s good I didn’t end up inside a wall.] (Lanpeach)

[I can’t pinpoint the coordinates here, Soldier. This could be a bit troublesome.] (Libra)

It was just him and Libra, both on high alert…

“I apologize for the forceful invitation, Hunter.”

A gentle voice of a young girl echoed from somewhere.

“Hunter, I was the one who invited you here. What do you say -would you stop being a Hunter and join our side? Join Harkein.”

The inviting words continued.

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