Volume 9 - CH 7

[Ice Blade]

Walking inside, we arrived at a large hall-like area.

Yurika looked around the ruins with interest.

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“We will have a one-off duel, no hard feelings alright.”

“Sure. No blade, no weapon. Fighting through our power alone right.”

“Yeah.”

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I accepted Yurika’s condition.

I can’t use my pendant.

After that, Yurika follows up with one more thing.

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“You’re fine with me using my Gift?”

“Yeah. Feel free.”

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I don’t know what kind of Gift Yurika has.

But I have [Anti Gift].

Since it can nullify the power of all Gifts, it’s my ultimate weapon.

With my agreement, the duel begins and Yurika starts to move.

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Yurika’s leg movement was so swift and I lost sight of her.

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“HAH!”

“!?”

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Yurika strikes at me from behind and I roll to the floor to dodge.

She’s fast.

I’ll probably get struck down immediately If I let my guard down…..

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“I like you, Yoru. That’s why I don’t want you to get involved with the Gift Hunters……”

“I like you too, Yurika. ………..but, I have my mission.”

“Hmph. It seems your circumstances are similar to mine huh.”

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Yurika brushes up her hair.

Using that chance, I get up.

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“I knew that Yoru and I belong to the same kind. ……….I expected that it might come to this someday.”

“……..”

“I didn’t think that it would be so soon though.”

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Yurika takes a distance from me.

I can feel that she also has a mission of her own.

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“The one who told you that I was with the Gift Hunters was Master right?”

“Yeah.”

“……..eh? Could it be that Master is indirectly telling me to fight Yoru as a part of my training!?”

“No, I don’t think so…….”

“Ahh, Master is so thoughtful!”

“……….”

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She’s really acting the same as usual huh…….?

Also, I don’t think Akechi had any particular intention when he told me about her.

It’s a pain so I guess I can play along and treat it as training from Akechi though.

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“I never thought a day would come where I would direct this kind of Gift at another person again…….[Ice Blade].”

“Ha!?”

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Three blades made of ice flew at me.

I stick out my right hand to defend.

Right before it hit, the 3 ice blades vanished.

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“I see, a power to vanquish Gifts! so that’s Yoru’s Gift huh!”

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Perhaps to make sure of that, Yurika threw another ice blade at my neck.

However, just before it touches my neck, the ice shatters and disappears.

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“So it’s in a state of constant activation regardless of Yoru’s reaction time huh.”

“ Kera Kera Kera I have no plan to lose when it comes to a battle of Gifts you know!”

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I pounced at Yurika and brought down a hand chop on her but she avoided it by taking half a step back.

I tried to follow up with a kick but Yurika prevented the blow by lifting her leg up to guard.

With that exchange over, we both took some distance away from each other.

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“Hehe, it seems we are on par with each other huh.”

“No, I’ve already won, Yoru. Look up.”

“Wha…..!?”

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Ah….., it’s over…….

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Before I could react, a rain of rubble fell toward my head.

Unable to avoid it myself, Yurika was the one who saved me.

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“It’s my win.”

“…….how did you…….?”

“When you closed in, I destroy the roof and the pillars with my [Ice Blade]. Your power can certainly negate my Gift but it doesn’t seem like it can’t protect you from anything else huh.”

“……..”

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She realized the weakness of my Gift with just a single exchange.

It was my complete defeat…..

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“Master managed to win against me without using his Gift. Yoru, if I have to be blunt, I think you’re being over-reliant on your Gift.”

“Ugh…….”

“You’re just like me before I met Master. A person who never entertains the idea that they stand the chance to lose is undoubtedly weak. I think Master only got that strong because he’s a coward who always expects that he might lose.”

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Yurika lectures me about strength.

And Akechi repelled Yurika without even using his Gift……?

It doesn’t make any sense.

Even though he possesses such a powerful Gift, why didn’t he use it……?

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Akechi is always by Takeru’s side.

But after being completely defeated by Yurika, I fully understand how far away an existence he truly is……

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“No hard feelings right.”

“……..yeah, I’m sorry, Yurika.”

“Don’t worry about it…… But, I will at least give you a hint.”

“A hint…..?”

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With Yurika’s help, I stood up.

When I look into her eyes, she quietly whispers something to me.

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“Watch out for a teacher called Takiguchi.”

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Takiguchi?

He’s a popular teacher who’s famous for his kind and gentle attitude toward his students.

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“His second name is [Gift Revenger].”

“Wha……!?”

“Honestly, I don’t want Yoru to involve yourself with the Gift Hunters any more than this……..but that would be asking for the impossible huh…….”

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Yurika turned back and left the ruins.

Alone, I stared blankly at the mountain of rubble.

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“[Gift Revenger]…… that guy is…..! IT’S HIM!?”

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I tightly grip the pendant that was entrusted to me.

The pendant acts like a memento of its original owner who was murdered by the [Gift Revenger]…….

The target of the revenge I must exact.

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“But, not yet……I’m still far too weak…….”

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If I’m no match for Yurika or Akechi who’s supposed to be even stronger than her, I can not do this yet.

Damn it……, just what should I do…….

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“Takeru……, help me…….”

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After muttering the name of my beloved person, I weep.

I want someone to tell me how to break this ridiculous chain of sadness.

Anyone is fine, tell me what I should do…..

Overwhelmed by everything, I collapsed down on the spot……

Author Note: Friendships between women can also be deepened through a fistfight.

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Yurika’s Gift is [Ice Blade] an ability that can shoot out blades of ice.

This does not necessarily limit her ability to shoot out blades alone as she can transform the ice projectiles at will.

Rather than freezing, the concept of throwing is the main domain of this Gift.

It’s a Gift specialized for fighting.

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Incidentally, without Gifts and when weapons are allowed, Yoru is the stronger one.

She’s a high-spec girl who can even conduct torture after all.

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With the heroines’ battles so far this chart can be made.

Sakuya > Yurika > Yoru > Emi > Sakuya

Literally incomprehensible to be honest.

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For references please see.

Sakuya > Yurika: V8C19

Yurika > Yoru: V9C7

Yoru > Emi: V5C50

Emi > Sakuya: V4C5, V5C37

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The power scaling might be unexpectedly balanced here.