Only Weapon Master

Despite Gojo Sayaka showing amazing skills, the tournament continued steadily.

[Ah… it’s Japan’s win again… With this, in match 31 of the Round of 64, Japan’s Nakama Tomodachi takes the second point and advances to the Round of 32.]

So far, only Son Ga-yeon and 3 others with Korean nationality have advanced to the Round of 32. That means 27 Japanese competitors have made it to the Round of 32.

We will now begin match 32, the final match of the Round of 64.

[Finally, here comes the real favorite to win this tournament.]

— Is Kang Ara that good?

— You must be new. If you were a regular, you’d never ask that

— She looked pretty though

— Lol with those looks and her skill level, she must be incredibly strong

— But won’t a 1.5 year break be too much of a handicap?

— Just believe, you punks. A-men..!!

I’d been watching the matches, and while I understood that Kang Ara was supposed to be good, the chat grew anxious as Japanese competitors kept winning.

What if…

What if even this player called the Sword Saint of Korea loses…?

[Everyone, just enjoy the match. I know I shouldn’t say this as a commentator, but the opponent won’t even be able to touch Kang Ara’s uniform with their bamboo sword.]

With that confident declaration from commentator Baek Kumdo, the viewers’ concerns gradually subsided.

Round of 64 Match 32 Kang Ara VS Neko Inu begins!

The final match of the Round of 64 began, marking the return of Korea’s Sword Saint.

♦♦♦

Mmm… taking a nap was definitely the right choice.

If I hadn’t slept, I would have been irritated from Son Ga-yeon’s pestering and gone into the match in a bad mood.

Of course, I would have won regardless of my mood, but still.

Maybe I’ll finish this quickly and go get something to eat.

My opponent is in middle stance, but judging by how they’re holding the bamboo sword as if protecting their left waist…

Hmm. Should I try this?

I relaxed my stance and placed my bamboo sword into an imaginary scabbard.

My right hand on the sword’s handle, my left hand on the imaginary scabbard.

I bent forward in an extreme posture, balancing only on my toes, leaning more… more… more…

“….Konoyaro!!” (You bastard!!)

I could feel my opponent charging forward with excited steps, thinking I was just fooling around.

As they stepped forcefully and tried to swing their bamboo sword at my head, my opponent opened their mouth to call their strike.

— Shu. Shu shut hwing

“T..”

However.

‘Kaminari no Kokyu… Ichi no Kata. Hekireki Issen!’

(Thunder Breath… First Form. Lightning Flash!)

After reciting the breathing technique in my mind, I strongly pushed my unnaturally bent toes backward and lunged forward, striking my opponent’s waist forcefully with my bamboo sword that I had drawn from the imaginary scabbard in a low stance.

— Swoosh-—- Thwack!

“Waist!”

And the result was

— Swish. Flutter!

All judges raised white flags.

“Waist. Ippon!”

Though I couldn’t see their expression because of the face guard, they must be dumbfounded about what just happened to them. Plus, this stance may be a bit unconventional, but

‘It looks damn cool…’

“…W… what… what just happened…?”

“This is the Sword Saint…”

“…Eh…? Nani?” (What?)

“It’s amazing!”

The Korean audience and Japanese audience had reactions similar to my opponent.

My opponent returned to their position, and as I was pondering what technique to use for my next point, I recalled the kendo technique called “waterwheel” from VTubing.

Pushing the ground with my heel and jumping, drawing a circle with the sword in mid-air to cut the opponent’s neck.

Yes. Let’s go with that.

My decision was quick.

— Bang! Thwack!

“Head!”

“Head. Ippon!”

The end of match 32 came even quicker.

“Good game.”

“……”

Since I’m not good at Japanese, I greeted them in English, the global language, then walked out of the arena, leaving behind a silent audience.

…Um… well, yes. I apologize. With the conclusion of match 32 of the Round of 64, the Round of 32 matchups have been decided. Starting one hour from now, we will proceed with the matches from the Round of 32 through to the finals. During this time, competitors may rest or have lunch ……(omitted)…….

Even the announcer was at a loss for words after Ara’s comeback match was so awe-inspiring.

It was that shocking.

The match ended so quickly that the pre-match bow between the competitors felt longer than the actual match.

While everyone was still in shock over the Sword Saint’s return,

a red-haired girl, a young-looking couple, and an orangutan who had been mixed in with the Korean audience left the arena.

♦♦♦

Meanwhile, in the Japanese waiting room.

“”……””

They were silent. Before match 32 began, they had been confidently saying that they already had 27 qualifiers and would soon have the 28th, but when the results turned out differently than expected, their mouths shut tight.

While they didn’t know much about Kang Ara, Neko Inu was a skilled competitor who had reached the semifinals in the World Championship.

Because of this, they had quickly concluded that Neko Inu would win and had already turned their attention away from the monitor, chatting about what Korean food they should try during the upcoming lunch break.

— Thwack!

“Waist. Ippon!”

At the sound of a hit that seemed as loud as being struck with a bat and the announcement of a point scored, everyone’s eyes turned to the waiting room monitor. They were shocked to see all judges raising white flags.

Those who had been waiting for lunch with their face guards off, assuming Neko Inu would surely advance, started focusing on the match. Even Gojo Sayaka, called Japan’s next-generation Sword Saint, was no exception.

Everyone watched the second round with extreme concentration, holding their breath.

Kang Ara, who started in upper stance, suddenly jumped and swung her bamboo sword downward toward Neko Inu’s head in a motion resembling a waterwheel.

— Whack!

“Head. Ippon!”

And just like that, the match ended in an instant.

The Japanese waiting room became filled with silence due to the incredible skill displayed by this unknown Korean kendoka.

“”……””

Gojo Sayaka’s pupils trembled as she watched Ara’s strange kendo techniques.

Despite being called a genius with exceptional talent herself…

If asked whether she could end a match against Neko Inu that quickly…

‘…No…nononono…impossible, impossible, impossible…’

The back of her uniform was getting soaked with cold sweat.

While Sayaka appeared cold and rational on the outside, as if devoid of emotion, inside she was a fragile and pure girl.

‘…M…monster…’

You see what you know. That’s why even Sayaka, a genius herself, could recognize Ara’s genius. Ara’s genius was so immense that it made Sayaka’s own genius feel small in comparison, which is why the only word that came to her mind was “monster.”

— Click.

The door to the Japanese waiting room opened, and Neko Inu walked in with dazed steps.

All the competitors looked at her, unsure whether to console her or what to do, when Neko Inu spoke.

“Sayaka.”

Looking straight at Sayaka.

“…Aitsu. Tsuyoi. Dakara.. Yudanshinaide.”

(…That one. Strong. So.. don’t let your guard down.)

This could be interpreted as suggesting she might have won if she hadn’t let her guard down, but judging by Neko Inu’s trembling voice, that was definitely not the case.

Rather.

It was a self-reproaching voice about facing a huge wall and feeling her spirit breaking.

Though Sayaka didn’t think she could beat Kang Ara at all… still.

“… Hai! Watashi..Neko-san no fukushu.. yarimasu.”

(…Yes! I will.. avenge you, Neko-san.)

She began to burn with determination for the sake of the kind senior who had taught her so much.

♦♦♦

“Kyaa~ Ara!! What are you really~”

Ah. Shit…

When I entered the waiting room, contrary to my expectation that she would have gone to lunch, Son Ga-yeon was sitting there waiting to greet me.

“Um. Aren’t you going to lunch, unni?”

“Me? Well. If it’s okay, can I eat with you, Ara!?”

No? Are you fucking crazy? Want me to choke while eating?

But as they say, life never flows in the direction you want it to.

“Oh my! I was wondering who Ara resembled, and it’s her mother~ You’re very beautiful. May I ask your age…? What? 45? No way~ Anyone would think you’re in your late 20s! When I first saw Ara’s parents, I immediately thought of speeding ticket………….”

“Hoho. Oh, Ga-yeon~”

After my match ended, my parents, Reina, and the dojo master who had left the silent audience early came straight to the waiting room to find me.

“But, is it okay for me to be here? Hehe”

“Come on~ I was worried about our Ara not being sociable. It’s nice to have a close unni~”

In an instant, Son Ga-yeon and my parents became friendly and decided to have lunch together.

The good thing, I suppose, is that Son Ga-yeon and my mom, Mrs. Kim Soon-ok, get along well?

Thanks to my mom tanking against Son Ga-yeon’s too much talking, I was able to eat my meal in peace.

— Munch munch

“Here~ Ara, try this too~”

— Munch munch

“Kyaa~ So cute heheh”

“-Gulp. Reina, aren’t you eating?”

Thanks to oxpecker Reina who kept putting food into my mouth with her chopsticks instead of eating her own meal, it was comfortable, but… hmm…

“Heheh. Reina is fine! Ara must be tired from the match. Here, have this too, ah~”

Well. If she says so, then it must be fine. Nom nom

“Ara! Why did you use that Japanese-scented kendo technique! This master is very disappointed. It looks exactly like the technique I saw in anime when I was 20…! Why don’t you show your original technique!! This master wants to see your Ara-style K swordsmanship…….”

“Um. I just wanted to try it ou-“

As I was about to tell the master that I just wanted to try it out.

“Oh! That’s right, Ara, the kendo technique you used was different from when we fought 2 years ago~ What you used this time wasn’t bad, but I preferred the technique you used before …….”

Son Ga-yeon jumped into the conversation.

“So Son Ga-yeon also knows about that technique …….”

“Of course~ I thought you were going to strike upward from the left, but as if my eyes were playing tricks on me, your bamboo sword was already at my waist…….”

Watching them praise my kendo technique while leaving me out of the conversation, I truly think they’re a match made in heaven.

Might they end up dating? Kuku

“Ara. Don’t those two seem to go well together?”

“Nom nom. I think so too.”

If my married mom sees it that way, then it must be so.

The rest and lunch period will end in 10 minutes. Spectators, please take your seats quietly before the matches begin ……. Players for match 1, please prepare in advance…….

Hmm. It’s already that time.

“Hoho. We’ll clean up the remaining food, so Ga-yeon, please go ahead~ You’re in the first match of the Round of 32.”

“Thank you! Mother. Hehe! Come on, Ara, let’s go!”

What? I don’t want to… sigh. Really, if there’s such a thing as a maniac’s eyes, it would be Ga-yeon unni’s right now.

I headed to the waiting room with the too-much-talker Son Ga-yeon, seeing off my parents, Reina, and the dojo master.

‘Since it’s the first match anyway, I’ll take a nap when she goes to compete. Whoever made the matchups, I really want to kiss them.’

I was so grateful to whoever arranged for me and Son Ga-yeon to be on opposite sides of the bracket that I could kiss them even if they were male.

“Heya~ Ara’s mother was really beautiful. And such a nice personality too. Ara, you’re so lucky …(blah blah)…….”

Oh, by the way.

Damn, I don’t know who put this woman with me, but I really want to cut their throat. She talks so fucking much..

♦♦♦

Seoul ■■ Gymnasium VIP Spectator Seats.

“Achoo!”

“Chairman, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I guess as I get older, my body gets cold quickly when sitting in the air conditioning, haha.”

Sitting there were the Association Chairman who had placed Son Ga-yeon in the bracket, and his secretary, waiting for the first match of the Round of 32.

In fact, Kim Seok-do, the Association Chairman whom Ara had just cursed, was the one who made it possible for Kang Ara to participate in this tournament despite her 1.5-year disappearance.

He recalled how many people had opposed her participation in this tournament.

She shouldn’t compete after taking a 1.5-year break. She probably quit kendo because she was in a slump and afraid her skills would deteriorate.

What about Jin●● (relative) instead? He’s been in good form lately.

There were too many sewage-like people denying Kang Ara’s qualification to participate for various reasons.

To them, Kim Seok-do had said:

‘If that child doesn’t win, I will step down from this position.’

He had staked his position to allow Ara to participate.

As soon as he made that statement, the trash who had questioned Ara’s eligibility instantly raised the corners of their mouths and reluctantly agreed.

But he believed in that child’s (Ara’s) skills.

Her talent was extraordinary, enough to win even with a shorter bamboo sword than her opponent’s, and if he fought her at his prime when he had won the world championship, he knew he wouldn’t stand a chance against her unless she gave him a handicap.

“Tsk tsk… After this tournament, I need to clean house a bit.”

“Yes, sir.”

And after watching Match 32 of the Round of 64, he smiled broadly.

In fact, she had returned even stronger.

Though her form was a bit strange, it didn’t matter as long as she dominated her opponent.

“Aren’t you curious to see the face of the Japanese Association Chairman when the tournament ends? Since Kang Ara will win anyway, why bother with this Round of 32, tsk..”

“I’m truly looking forward to it… hahaha”

Kim Seok-do laughed like a mastermind as he waited only for Kang Ara’s matches.