A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 118

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

Takeo held his left hand up in Alice’s direction, and activated, “Fire x15, Gatling startup,” and showered Alice with fire.

Alice appeared surprised, but she quickly took up position to protect her face.

As soon as Takeo finished firing, he moved to lessen the distance between them, but Alice, while strengthening her body, advanced with her sword at the ready.

This time, Alice swung from overhead.

Takeo activated, “Shield x15, in front of the rifle,” and blocked Alice’s sword. He succeeded in blocking it, but… the shield crackled under stress.

…It was at its absolute limit…

Thinking things weren’t going well, Alice shifted the sword to the left, and sidestepped to put her strength to her left. 

Suddenly, Takeo rolled backward vigorously and retreated from the situation. Alice’s sword, which Takeo so suddenly escaped from under, hit the ground, hard.

Slam! The wooden sword echoed loudly as it easily left a crater in the ground.

Takeo retreated even further and looked to take note of Alice. He then discarded the rifle on the ground and took up his knife from his waist in an underhanded grip.

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Alice had swung at him with vigor, confident that this time around, she would blast him away, but she couldn’t break through to his rifle. On top of that, Takeo hadn’t gritted his teeth, and it was clear that his defense had increased. As long as he had his strategy of defending with his shielding, she wouldn’t be able to put any pressure on Takeo…

This was bad… Alice had no viable method of attack. Since she had no way to attack him, Alice simply watched Takeo.

Then, Takeo switched his weapon from the rifle to a knife.

…Should she just fight the way she did against the platoon leaders, last time?

He’d defend with shielding and use a countering magic on her wide open flank. Could she really dodge a counter?… She was worried.

Suddenly, Takeo charged directly at her.

Alice swung overhead, but Takeo raised his left hand to block the sword and bent the trajectory of the attack rightward.

“Here it comes!” she thought, and at the same time, Takeo’s right hand holding the knife went for her abdomen.

If this touches me, I’ll be hit with electricity! thought Alice, and she jumped away to her right with all her might.

Alice and Takeo separated once again and fixed their gazes on one another.

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“This is bad…” Takeo thought, in earnest. He was able to defend against her wooden sword, but his knife was too slow, and couldn’t hit Alice. Alice’s attacks weren’t able to hit Takeo, but she wasn’t taking any of his attacks, either.

I’m hitting her with my all, too. 

Takeo was at a loss with their differences in innate skill. This wouldn’t be settled any time soon, at this rate. All he could do was repeat the same thing over and over… That was a dangerous thing to do.

There must be something he could do… Takeo was thinking… Suddenly, a flash of insight came to him.

…That was about 20 years ago when it was pulled off when you think about it…

He had the knowledge and had even seen it on video. The issue was whether his body could move that way…[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

For now, maybe he should just try the same attack two more times… Takeo charged Alice head-on.

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As Alice watched at Takeo, she wondered at his actions. Why would he repeat the same ineffective attack 3 times… No less, with the same timing.

The counter he delivered after defending the sword… Ultimately, it was too slow.

The first time, she dodged it desperately. The second time, she dodged it without difficulty. The third time, she had dodged it easily. This next time, she could probably advance to attacking back.

Was it possible that he was waiting for her to attack back? This crossed her mind, but for him to actually do it…

Swing the sword with my right hand, and before the counter even comes, hit him with my left hand with minimal movement… That seemed about all she could manage.

Alice concentrated on visualization of her next move.

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Takeo, while watching Alice, was sighing on the inside.

3 times… From seeing my attack just 3 times, she can react like that, already…

The first time, she had dodged it desperately, the second time, she put her whole body into retreating, and the third time, it was just easy footwork for her.

There are naturals, after all… More than unfair, it’s just plain frustrating. I’m just an ordinary person… Against a natural, if I continue to do the same thing over and over, or drag out the fight, it won’t end well for me… With that kind of dodging, the next time I try it, there’s a good chance she’ll attack back or something.

…I guess I should set a trap… I’d be making a bet with risk…

Takeo concentrated on visualization of his next move.

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“To think it would be this intense,” Grandpa Elvis muttered.

“Takeo-sama is… something else, isn’t he?” Smith muttered. Grandpa Elvis and Frederick nodded lightly, and the 4 others nodded with vigor.

“Yes, well… he said she couldn’t be of much use in war, but… in a one-on-one fight, I guess he rivals Alice in skill… What do you think, Frederick?” said Grandpa Elvis.

“Takeo-sama’s ranged attacks seem to have no effect on her, it’s true. If he could use them, the fight wouldn’t have gone this way, surely. As the boss says, in a one-on-one fight, he seems to be in a good match-up with Lady Alice,” said Frederick.

“What? Is there something I’m not seeing?” Smith asked after hearing Frederick’s words.

“I would have to ask Takeo-sama about this later on, but it seems to me that he is just barely able to defend against Lady Alice’s sword attacks,” Frederick said.

“What!?” All 5 people besides Grandpa Elvis said, in shock.

“So you do see it that way, as I suspected,” said Grandpa Elvis.

“Yes. He resorted to attacking the flank after defending against the sword very quickly. Since it was so quick, I thought that perhaps it was because he couldn’t overpower his opponent, and had to resort to attacking the abdomen. I’m sure that Takeo-sama has the knowledge to see that he was too quick, but the fact that he didn’t fix that part of his attack is a clear sign that he did it because he had to. Not only that, but…” said Frederick.

“Yes. Alice’s skill,” said Grandpa Elvis.

“Yes. I, too, was surprised to see that she completely grasped how to handle the attack after 3 times. Takeo attacked in the same way, with the same timing 3 times… To repeat an attack like that in this situation shows that Takeo-sama was also doubtful of her abilities… And, what’s more, that third dodging maneuver… Her ease was frightening. I think that Lady Alice will attack back, now,” said Frederick.

“Yes. I’m sure Takeo is thinking the same thing,” said Grandpa Elvis.

“Yes. And so, there’s a possibility that Takeo-sama would come back with a risky challenge,” said Frederick.

“…You’re right, Frederick.”

“Yes. We’ve prepared with people who can use “Care” with Harold, and Commander David is probably thinking the same thing.”

“Yes.”

“Grandpa and Frederick, what will you do if Takeo is hurt?” asked Smith.

“That’s not quite the question you should be asking. If Takeo-sama’s challenge goes wrong, it will result in grievous injury… He may even come close to death,” said Frederick.

“What!? It’ll be that bad?”

“I can’t tell you what Takeo-sama is about to do, but to combat Lady Alice right now, he would have to risk a great deal to even stand up to her.”

“Hmm, yes. Alice will be the next to attack, so… the current balance will be disrupted he simply defends against the sword, right now… If, that is…” said Grandpa Elvis.

“…Why… Why go that far…” said Smith, baffled and unable to understand Takeo’s frame of mind.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]