A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 116

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

Well, let’s begin.

Alice, after finishing a post-breakfast tea time, returned to the bedroom. 

“Hmm…” Alice thought, troubled, “Today’s mock battle… Takeo-sama will probably defend against my sword attack, and then upon finding an opportunity, attack in his usual style, as he did in the battle against the section commander last time…”

After that was the troubling part… “Could he be right?”

…His suggestion. His determination in the real value of a rifle, which everyone overlooked. On top of obtaining a victory against the section commander, he understood the sentiments of others and kept in mind the revitalization of the city and towns. His knowledge of cooking, and the width of beds… He has enough knowledge to be considered a sage.

Once again, she wondered if I had become engaged to a great person. She smiled in satisfaction.

Wait, she was supposed to be thinking about the mock battle…

…

..

.

She was clueless.

All she knew for sure was, “Without question, this so-called mock battle would not result in a clash of swords.” 

With the forceful aid of her “demon eyes”, she would unconsciously use the “physical strengthening” and “weapons strengthening” it provided. She would use it to maximum effect.

Of course, in other words, this was all she could do, and she couldn’t use any other form of magic, anyway. Really, her only strategy was to mow down the opponent, too. She had pretty much done exactly that in front of Takeo-sama during the war games. She hadn’t even observed Takeo-sama’s fighting style very much, herself… She had only heard reports.

The difference in their skills seemed huge… Takeo-sama would come prepared with a counter-strategy against her.

…

..

.

After Alice had finished gathering her thoughts and plans, she threw out all of them. Then, she left to don her deep crimson armor.

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It was nearly noon.

Takeo was sitting seiza-style in a corner of the battlegrounds. 

After visiting the magical items store, he had been firing a rifle at the battlegrounds. He had already taken a few practice shots and reserved the rest of his time for meditation.

Takeo had no real knowledge of Zen, but as a student, he practices sports, so he had meditated often before matches. Takeo’s meditation was a simple act of clearing his mind and not thinking of anything.

“Not thinking of anything,” was a simple enough concept, but it was harder than it sounded, and he often ended up thinking of unnecessary things. As he sat and meditated for the first time in a while, at first, a good amount of idle thoughts kept crossing his mind.

However, he had practiced in the past, and little by little, he managed to think only of his breathing, and now, he was thinking of nothing at all.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

And then, the 6 o’clock bell rang.

“It was going well there, too,” he said, with a grim smile, and stood up. It appeared his legs had tired, and he had some trouble getting up, but he managed, using his rifle as a cane, and checking his clothes.

He checked the belt on his trenchcoat, the knife at his waist, his rifle, his magic ring, his fingerless leather gloves, and then he was finished. Easily done.

“Well, it’s about that time…” Takeo muttered, watching the castle gates.

————————

The battlegrounds had, all of a sudden, been filled with soldiers.

They were standing, sitting, and milling about, waiting for the expected moment.

“Takeo, I’m here.” Harold the cavalry captain had come along with Alice. Alice had left her helmet home.

Takeo was no longer facing the castle gates at this point, but Harold, and he nodded. “…I see that,” he said.

Harold must have been thinking something upon seeing Takeo’s face, but he didn’t say anything further.

Alice stood before Takeo.

“Huh?” she thought. She was standing there, but she looked at Takeo with surprise. Unlike his usual self, it wasn’t clear whether he was smiling in a friendly way at her, or bitterly smiling…

To Alice, he usually appeared smiling as if clearly enjoying himself. She had thought that at this mock battle, too, he would be greeting her with a smile that said, “Alright, now. Shall we?”

And yet… Right now, she couldn’t read the emotions in the Takeo before her. 

His emotions were not apparent in his expression, but his body seemed relaxed, and he looked over with a natural gaze. It wasn’t ferocity he had in his eyes, but… he was watching, intently.

Alice had never seen Takeo like this before. This Takeo scared Alice.

Alice thought, “Had the section commander who had previously fought Takeo-sama felt this way before the battle, too?” She was reminded of the soldiers that had participated in battle thus far.

She was extremely nervous. This would probably be considered dread… She was grimacing, too. It was obvious, even at a glance. Her nervous movements were stiff, too.

“How am I… supposed to fight like this?” Alice wondered, and began to worry.

————————

“Alright… well. Lady Alice. Takeo. You both seem to be ready,” said Harold.

“Yes,” Alice answered, and Takeo nodded.

“The rules are simple,” said Harold, “When I say ‘begin’, the battle starts, and when I say ‘stop’, it ends. Taking a life is strictly prohibited… That’s all. Any questions?”

“I don’t have any,” Alice answered, and Takeo shook his head.

“Then wait at a distance from each other and wait for the signal to start.”

Upon hearing those words, Takeo turned his back to Alice and began walking away. He walked about 15 meters away from her and turned to face Alice.

Harold also put some distance between himself and the two of them.

The anxiety within the battlegrounds rose steadily.

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“Begin!!!”

As soon as the command came, Takeo raised his left hand and conjured a light mist about Alice and the middle of the battleground to put himself out of sight.

Alice, thinking that Takeo would charge through the mist at her, readied her sword with both hands.

As soon as the mist cleared, Alice found and caught sight of Takeo’s figure in astonishment.

Takeo was crouched, with a rifle at the ready.

Then, a shot rang out throughout the battleground.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]