For a moment, Wellin was speechless and stunned, but he quickly laughed off Mavis's words.
Indeed, he was surprised that she had managed to evade his recent series of attacks. However, for eight months prior, he had been training with Mavis for years. Wellin was fully aware of Mavis's abilities and potential. While she was certainly quite skilled for a young woman, she was by no means a prodigy who could surpass him in just a few months.
Even if he hadn't held back, it wasn't a life-or-death battle on the battlefield. Moreover, his opponent was his beloved sister, Mavis. Unconsciously, he must have reduced the power and speed of his attacks. Mavis had either overestimated her own strength and gotten carried away, or she was trying to provoke him with a bluff. Wellin made this judgment.
"If you overestimate your own strength, I can't let you go free. At this level, you'll lose your life soon. I'll show you that..."
With that, Wellin launched another attack. This time, he suppressed the power but unleashed a truly all-out, three consecutive strikes.
Clang, Clang!
"What..."
Not only Wellin, but everyone in the waiting area—the baron, Ewan, the knights, and the audience—all gaped and held their breath.
A perfect block. All three strikes were blocked. Or perhaps, since she had provoked and lured him, it was a "lure block."
The audience erupted in cheers.
Wellin was handsome and quite dashing, but for some reason, most of the young women and girls in the audience were cheering for Mavis.
"Unbelievable..."
Even though he had experienced it himself, Wellin couldn't believe it.
If he believed it, his common sense and confidence would shatter.
He couldn't admit it, no matter what. The idea that he had been surpassed by his sister...
"This time, I'll take the initiative."
With that, Mavis switched her sword to her left hand and held it in a reverse grip.
"Secret Technique! Urban Mud Splash!"
She dug the tip of her sword into the ground, sending a spray of dirt toward her opponent's face to startle him. Then, she launched her second attack, taking advantage of the opening. This was a special technique, Urban Splash, that could only be used in urban areas, not in forests or grasslands with obstacles like fallen trees. Holding the sword in a reverse grip allowed her to naturally dig the tip into the ground and then swing it at the enemy in one fluid motion. Of course, the name was given by Mile, who had read shonen manga.
"Ugh!"
The tip of the sword grazed him, but as the best swordsman in the region, Wellin managed to evade both the first and second strikes.
"I won't fall for such a cheap trick!"
However, he seemed quite shaken.
"To avoid the Urban Splash, a technique known to be the hero's specialty, as expected, my older brother.
But how about this technique, which was developed to ensure the defeat of any high-level monster in the hunting grounds?"
With that, Mavis unleashed another special move.
"The Promised Sword of the Hunting Grounds!"
"Whoa!"
Though he managed to block it with his sword, Wellin was taken aback by the strength of the strike, which was much greater than he had expected.
Mavis, a noblewoman, was supposed to have a sword that was sharp but not very powerful. However, the power of this strike...
But he couldn't show his surprise. It would only encourage her. He had to maintain a calm demeanor.
"Hmph, is that all? Are your special moves all used up?"
Wellin feigned calmness, but Mavis also maintained a calm expression after using her special move.
"Older brother, please don't underestimate me.
Do you think I needed special training just to learn a move like that?"
"What?"
"True Rapid Sword! 1.4 times faster!"
"Whoa!"
Mavis shifted from a single strike to a series of rapid attacks and then to a chaotic barrage.
She had no more special moves. The two she had used were all she had.
Or perhaps, this "True Rapid Sword" could be considered her true special move.
The training Mavis had undergone for the past six months at the academy, and even after that, was now paying off.
Even with the increased reaction speed and temporary strength enhancement provided by nanomachines, if the body couldn't keep up, it would result in muscle tears or fractures. However, through hard work and training, Mavis had developed a body that could withstand the intense strain, even if only for a few minutes.
Wellin, while suspecting that Mavis might be bluffing, had to be on guard against any special moves she might use, which significantly reduced his offensive power. The two moves she had used earlier were barely manageable even when he was fully prepared. If she had tried a big move and then used a third special move during the opening, it would have been disastrous.
Moreover, Mavis's attack speed was abnormally fast. Wellin was struggling to keep up with her rapid strikes and couldn't counterattack. Like his father earlier, Wellin was gradually becoming more anxious.
Wellin couldn't use magic, while Mavis, though unaware of it, was using body-enhancing magic. Her fatigue was being broken down, and her endurance had increased. However, as a male who had trained for many more years, Wellin's basic physical abilities were far superior. As he gradually became fatigued and his combat power declined, Mavis's limit would suddenly arrive. Mavis had been warned by Mile, who had received a warning from the nanomachines, that this limit was approaching.
In fact, Mavis was even more anxious than Wellin, though she didn't show it.
When her limit arrived, everything would be over. And it was drawing near.
With no other options, Mavis decided to use her last attack, one she had hoped to avoid.
A decisive attack against her older brother, conceived by Pauline and guaranteed by Reina and Mile. If this didn't work, everything would be over.
Betting her future on it, Mavis launched her final attack.
"I hate you, older brother! Don't ever speak to me again!"
"Eh..."
Wellin stood there, stunned and then enveloped in despair.
Smack!
Mavis's strike landed on the motionless Wellin.
"Eh..."
The audience was stunned.
"What the hell...!"
He protested.
The baron, Wellin, and Ewan all loudly protested.
However, with so many witnesses present, there was nothing they could do.
A noble, especially a knight, couldn't casually break a promise in front of commoners.
Moreover, with Tilly, representing the Guild's capital branch, and Santos, representing the king, supporting Mavis, there was no way out.
The Austin family, hanging their heads in defeat, left the arena with their subordinates.
As Mile watched the Austin family leave, he turned to see Pauline standing there with a dark expression.
"Hey, Pauline, is something wrong?"
In response to Mile's question, Pauline shouted in frustration.
"If only I had more time, I could have bet on this match and made a fortune...
Oh, if only I could go back to yesterday! If only I could go back to yesterday!"
At that moment, a gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of flowers to Mile's nose.
It was similar to the scent of lavender from Earth.
Mile snapped his fingers.
"Oh, 'The Girl Who Bets Money'!"
The sample book (presentation copy) has arrived.
ISBN 978-4-8030-0922-4
Published by Earth Star Entertainment (Earth Star Novels)
Distributed by Taibundo
Scheduled for release on May 14th
Thank you very much. (^^ゞ
For information on bundled editions and bookstore special bonuses, please see the activity report. (^^)/