Chapter 70

"Your Highness! I hear you're going to participate in the school's martial arts tournament!"

"Yeah! It seems I have to or it'll be bad!"

*Clang! Scrape! Clang! Scrape!*

Today, I'm practicing swordsmanship with Schwartz. I use a jutte, though.

"To face a spear with a sword, you need to be at least three times as skilled, you know that, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"To face a sword with a jutte, you also need to be at least three times as skilled."

"I know that!"

"Hmm... If you know that and still want to participate, I won't say anything more."

Schwartz sighs and shrugs.

"Then, as a token from me, I'll teach you the ultimate jutte technique."

"Sounds cool. What is it?"

"It's called 'Blade Break.'"

---

The final school event of the second semester, the martial arts tournament. There are some not-so-good rumors about it. Like how upperclassmen pressure underclassmen, and upper nobles pressure lower nobles.

The school is half noble families and half knight families. If a knight beats a noble, or a lower knight beats a higher knight, it's a problem. It's unfair for students who have the skill but have to lose. They're just the children of knights and nobles, after all.

This time, for some reason, the targets of the game are also participating, not just the muscle-brain character. They're all hyped up about presenting their victory to the heroine. Last year, the winner of the school martial arts tournament got to kiss the Miss School. This year's Miss School is the heroine.

But I don't want the tournament to be a place where they compete for the heroine, so maybe I should step in.

Ah, by the way, Harthis isn't participating. He's not good at sports and isn't interested in the heroine.

"Is there a way to participate without being recognized as a prince...?"

"In the game, Sir Shin, you wore cool armor and participated."

"But then everyone would focus on me, like when I was the goalkeeper."

Cerea tilts her head and puts a finger to her chin.

"In the game, everyone takes it seriously because they see it as a good opportunity to match skills with the prince. Especially the targets competing for the heroine, they try their best to show off."

"How much do I hate being recognized... I want to hide my face."

"Hmm, in my country, if you want to hide your face, you'd be a ninja. Black traditional clothing with chain armor, and just enough protection like gloves and leg wraps."

She draws it smoothly.

"That sounds cool. A ninja. What weapon would I use?"

"A ninja sword. A black-coated, single-edged straight sword."

"That's fine, but can I use a jutte instead?"

"I think that's perfect. It fits!"

The jutte I've been learning from Schwart as a self-defense tool, separate from swordsmanship, isn't just a metal rod. It has an L-shaped metal protrusion that I hook onto my belt and carry in my pants.

With this, you can stop a sword, twist it up, and take it away, or hit, or pin and twist the arm or neck. It's a defensive tool and a weapon for capturing sword-wielding opponents.

In a tournament where most opponents use swords, it feels like the perfect weapon.

"Also, your speech should end with 'de gozaru,' and you should refer to yourself as 'sessha.' Don't forget!"

What's that? Do I really have to follow that? Cerea looks really excited...

So, I secretly arranged with the sports committee to register under the name "Ninjaman (laughs)." I had them make the costume as Cerea designed, and on the day of the event, I headed to the venue in black gloves, leg wraps, and chain armor.

Looking at the tournament bracket, all my opponents are the ones competing for the heroine. They seem to be vying to present their victory to her. The game's influence is strong. Even students from other grades are participating...

"Both participants, take your positions!"

Following the referee's instructions, I step into the ring.

First round. The muscle-brain character, Pical Baljean, son of a baron. His weapon is a whip.

Ouch... You're participating too...

But a whip as a weapon? Is there even a competition whip?

"Isn't there no distinction between a real and a competition whip?"

"The real one has beautiful thorns like a rose. You'll be cut to pieces?"

*Swish! Crack! Whirl!*

He swings the whip gracefully. It's a scary weapon because you can't judge the reach. The girls in the audience cheer. It's so cool!

But the scary part about a whip is that it can come from unexpected places. Showing it off so much before the match is pretty dumb...

"Begin!"

With long-range weapons like this, if you get close, it's over. I quickly close the distance!

Of course, Pical tries to hit me with the whip.

*Whirl! Whirl! Whirl!* It wraps around my body three times!

"Hahaha! Now you're mine!"

It's on purpose. Better than getting hit. Now you're right in front of me.

I've been trained in dance since childhood, not just martial arts. If you spin in the opposite direction of the wrap with a three-turn spin, the whip comes off easily. Using the momentum, I sweep his feet. I often use sweeps because non-grapplers don't expect them and get caught easily. I roll Pical over and bind his hands behind his back with the whip.

"What will you do now?"

"Ha! I'll never surrender!"

What a hassle... I drag him out of the ring with the whip.

"Even without surrendering, a ring-out is a loss. Too bad."

---

Second round, the cool character, Fried Black, son of a duke. His weapon is a rapier, a fencing-style sword used for thrusting, common in duels.

"...Isn't thrusting forbidden in the competition?"

"There's no reason to forbid thrusting for a rapier user. The tip is covered, so it's a practice foil. Don't worry about injuries."

There's a wooden tip on the end.

"Then how will the match be decided?"

"If the tip touches your body, it's considered a hit, and I win."

"That's a pretty loose victory condition..."

"If you have complaints, you can forfeit. Admit defeat and leave."

"You're unexpectedly underhanded. But that's fine. I need some handicap to make it interesting."

"Begin!"

A quick thrust!

But I grab the grip from above with a left step-in, use the jutte to force him to kneel, and kick the handle to make him drop it. I then jump up, catch the falling foil, and tap the cool character's chest with the wooden tip.

"Didn't we agree that a touch means a loss?"

"That's my weapon! It's invalid!"

"A knight loses when their weapon is taken. But since it's a student match, I'll be lenient. Will you surrender, or should I thrust at you dozens of times with this foil?"

"...Fine, I'll let you win this time. Don't expect mercy next time."

What is he saying?

If he later regrets it and wants to hit me, that's his problem.

But this might haunt him for life, which isn't bad. Being cool is tough.

---

Semi-final, Jack Schreiter, son of a viscount.

Of course, Jack would show up. He's in the swordsmanship club.

His weapon is a wooden sword. In a knight or national tournament, swords would be iron with blunted edges, but this is a student tournament, so only wooden swords are allowed.

"What are you doing, Shin?"

Ouch... I'm exposed. It was bound to happen with our long history.

"I've always wanted to have a serious match with you. Don't hold back, okay?"

A match with my best friend! It's awkward, but it can't be helped.

"Begin!"

Body! Diagonal! Overhead slash! Basic moves, but fast!

He can chain them! I block with the jutte, but he's strong! I'm at a disadvantage in a power match! When I try to grab the sword, he pulls it away. Damn, he knows how to fight a jutte!

If it drags on, I'll be more and more at a disadvantage, so I might have to be a bit underhanded...

I block, twist, and hook the wooden sword, then quickly move in and hit Jack's chin with my left hand!

"Ugh!"

I wrap my arm around his neck, sweep his legs, and press the jutte to his throat!

"...Damn, I'm done for."

Phew, that was close.

Actually, you can't really hook a sword with a jutte; it slides. This only works with a wooden sword, so it's a bit underhanded.

I help him up and shake his hand.

"Still the same fighting style, huh?"

"Sorry, de gozaru."

"Next time, use a real sword..."

"If it were a real sword, I would have lost, de gozaru."

"Right. Ouch... I said not to hold back, but..."

I give a slight bow to Silfa, who was watching nervously from the sidelines.

Sorry, Silfa.

---

Final match. Powell Hargan, son of the Royal Guard Captain. The muscle-brain character.

His weapon is, of course, a two-handed longsword, but it's a wooden one.

"Both participants, take your positions!"

Following the referee's instructions, we face each other.

"Idiot! Bow!"

What's he yelling about now...

"Why should I bow to you, de gozaru?"

"You're the son of a lower knight! I'm the son of the Royal Guard Captain, your superior."

"Why do you think I'm the son of a lower knight, de gozaru?"

"That weapon is for patrol, not for a true knight."

Ah, I see. Recently, juttes have been given to patrol guards, so it might be seen as a weapon for lower-class people.

Lower knights don't have the authority to execute criminals. Nobles and higher knights can just cut them down with their swords, so they don't use juttes.

"Thinking you're superior is your own delusion, de gozaru. Unlike nobles, knighthood isn't hereditary. Whether you'll become a knight in the future is uncertain. In other words, you're not important at all, de gozaru."

The audience laughs.

A guy using his father's power to pressure others. That's him.

Using power is normal for nobles, but not in the school setting.

"You... You'll regret this! Your mask is disrespectful! Take it off!"

"Other participants wear helmets, de gozaru. It's not a big deal now."

"You're hiding your name too!"

"I'm shy, de gozaru."

"Participants in this tournament are prepared to face shame if they lose. Using a fake name and a mask to avoid shame is cowardly."

"If you want to see my face, win and then remove my mask, de gozaru."

"I will. But I'll remove it from your neck."

He throws the wooden sword and draws his real one.

Why does he carry a real sword? He always does.

Of course, carrying a sword is forbidden in school. He's openly breaking the rules using his father's power.

"Let's have a real sword match. If you want to use a wooden sword, take off your hood now."

What a cheat. He thinks I'll be scared because he can use a real sword while I can't be cut.

The referee tries to stop it, but I wave it off.

"The jutte is designed to subdue armed criminals. Come at me, de gozaru."

"You—!"

Enraged, Powell swings without waiting for the start signal.

I pull out a hidden jutte, spin it in my left hand, and grip the end, not the handle. I lock the two juttes together and block the sword, then twist and—

*Snap!* I break the sword like cutting wire with pliers!

The ultimate jutte technique, "Blade Break"!

No matter how famous the sword, a tempered real sword usually breaks with this. I then sweep his legs and drop him headfirst onto the ring. The impact from his head hitting the ring with my full weight knocks him out.

Even when falling, there's a right way to do it. He hasn't improved at all. Is he stupid?

"Winner, Ninjama—n!"

The committee president announces, and the audience cheers!

The muscle-brain character being carried away on a stretcher looks pathetic...

Cerea comes up with the trophy.

"Huh? Why Cerea? Wasn't the heroine supposed to do it?"

"All the targets lost and ran away. They didn't want to kiss an unknown guy. So I volunteered."

What a mess...

"Congratulations, Sir Shin."

She hands me the trophy, then pulls me close and kisses me through the mask.

The audience gasps.

"No! This is bad, Cerea! The prince's fiancée kissing an unknown man is a huge scandal! There will be big trouble later!"

"Then take off your hood."

She smiles innocently.

Ah, what a hassle...

"I can't participate next year, can I..."

I untie the hood and take it off.

The audience goes silent...

"I just wanted to show off my prince."

I pull Cerea close and wave to the audience.

*Roar!* The audience cheers!

The prince participating incognito and winning. What a mess.

I don't think I'll be called a cheat because I hid my face. I think many participants couldn't give their all against someone of higher status. This time, everyone could fight me seriously.

No need to hold back. Even a prince can fight fairly. I hope this sets a precedent that using one's parent's status to fight is shameful.

Next: "70. Sliding Prostration"