HTACS 75

Chapter 75

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All of Ayla’s special training was conducted based on the ‘Peep Punch Mark 1.’

She had heard in advance how much the prototype weighed and what its output was, and she designed the training course thoroughly around that.

For reference, Ayla overestimated this ‘Peep Punch Mark 1’—according to her, it was a truly romantic weapon.

When asked what part was romantic,

“Firing! Cartridge! Coolness confirmed!”

Thank you for the concise summary.

Anyway, aside from overestimating this ‘Cartridge-Type Battle Gauntlet Prototype,’ Ayla provided truly solid and composed training.

“The three things I’ll teach Peep-peep are just three: footwork, deflection, and a power-loaded striking technique.”

“Y-yes!”

“There’s no teaching that says Trista-style self-defense can’t be taught to outsiders. It’s actually quite free. We’re a magical bloodline, not a martial arts bloodline. But we have an absolute lack of time.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“Because of time, I can’t teach you many techniques. So—basic footwork to close or widen distance. Deflection to deflect greatsword attacks at least once. And finally, a power-loaded striking technique to precisely land a blow on your opponent’s opening.”

“Y-yes…”

And Ayla taught only these three things thoroughly.

“Then shall we begin?”

“…U-uh?”

With that, she began magically swinging a greatsword made of black crystal through the air.

“What’s wrong? If you don’t dodge, you’ll get hit and fly!”

“Eeeek?!”

It was a truly terrifying attack.

The black crystal sword, created to match Gale Strike’s height and greatsword reach, charged at Mille-feuille with a fearsome momentum, dissipating just before contact.

“Eeek…”

“This is to teach you not to take your eyes off your opponent’s attack, even if you get hit. Now, let’s keep going!”

At first, it was unconditional evasion. Then, charging.

Once she could move her feet somewhat against the onslaught, the next was deflection.

“The Strike-style greatsword technique is quite famous, and because of past Strike family students, its sword forms are registered in Zefflin’s library. But you mustn’t think that’s all there is. They’ll have a hidden ace.”

“Y-yes!”

“That’s why you must absolutely master a deflection that can deflect your opponent’s sword in any situation.”

After that, Mille-feuille flew around.

*BANG! BANG!*—when she failed to deflect, she’d get hit by the greatsword’s flat and go flying.

Of course, Ayla healed her somehow with top-grade recovery potions ordered from the Trista family.

Anyway, once she could deflect at least once, Ayla taught her the final one.

“Lastly, the power-loaded striking technique. Peep-peep. All wild creatures have natural enemies. Do you know that?”

“Pardon? Y-yes…”

“And Peep-peep’s natural enemy is Gale Strike. Long tradition and history. Perfect technique. Trained body. Decent stats.”

“Yes, that’s right, Senior.”

“But all creatures struggle to avoid being eaten by their natural enemies! If they didn’t, they’d have gone extinct!”

“Th-that’s right!”

“Of course! So this one blow is preparing that counter!”

“Wow. Senior, you really know everything.”

“Hehe…”

Ayla giggled as she said that.

It’s so Ayla-like—being all cool one moment and then suddenly doing that.

Hmm. But Mille-feuille has a point too.

Knowing about extinction and natural enemies shows quite a breadth of knowledge.

That’s not exactly common knowledge in this world.

“How do you know about things like that, Ayla?”

At my question, Ayla smiled brightly and answered.

“Preparing a blow against a natural enemy! That’s truly a rebellious stance that doesn’t bow to the system! I studied that part intensively!”

“…Aha.”

“…Aha.”

That explains it.

“Peep-peep now needs to make it clear with just one blow that she’s not prey. And that will be a properly driven Peep Punch!”

“…Y-yes!”

After saying that, Ayla corrected Mille-feuille’s form and left her final advice.

“By the way, Peep-peep?”

“Yes, Senior.”

“Fighting against a natural enemy is essentially the same as staking your life on a mad gamble. You should think of it as one-use.”

“……”

“Only use the Peep Punch up to one shot. Okay? No second shot.”

“Pardon?”

“……Any more than that and your shoulders will hurt a lot. Promise me.”

Ayla’s advice was truly sincere, and Mille-feuille nodded.

“Yes. I won’t use it twice.”

—

Gale Strike didn’t fall from the first blow.

As expected of the grade second-ranked—he lives up to his title. You could say it’s fitting for the second-best among Zefflin’s 40,000 freshmen.

The gauntlet on both hands.

Combining the titles of the seniors Mille-feuille respected, she named it the ‘Cartridge-Type Peep Punch Mark 1.’

Wolfram said it could send even a Stamina 16 stat flying in one hit—but thinking about it carefully, that’s ‘can send flying,’ not ‘can win.’

“Raaah, AAAAAH!!”

Gale Strike’s counterattack after getting up was fierce and powerful.

‘…It’s not easy.’

‘But I can do it.’

Feeling these conflicting emotions, Mille-feuille lightly shifted her body.

Using Trista-style footwork and perfect distance management, she evaded attacks by a paper-thin margin.

“Stay still and take it! Damn you!!”

“……”

Thankfully.

The first blow she landed in his opening.

It seemed the shock to his head had taken effect.

It was more powerful than expected, but his attacks became much sloppier in return.

*Whoosh. Swish. Clang. Slide.*

The greatsword swung, she dodged lightly, closed in, and threw a straight punch.

“Guh! It won’t work twice!”

“……”

*Clang—!*

The greatsword and gauntlet clashed.

But the sound that came wasn’t an explosion—it was the screech of metal.

Mille-feuille hadn’t used the ‘Peep Punch’ at this chance.

She had few opportunities.

And with the vulnerability of ‘reloading,’ she had to attack slowly.

“Grah, AAAAAH!”

But she couldn’t just wait for opportunities forever.

She had bitten the chocolate ball in her mouth right after the duel began—resulting in a ‘Half-Berserk’ state.

She had to finish this within the next ten minutes.

“Raaah, AAAAAAAH!!”

*BOOOOM!! CLANG—!*

Gale’s attacks were now approaching frenzy. He began indiscriminately destroying the arena.

Honestly. It was frightening. It felt like a storm was raging before her eyes.

The greatsword that a fear-soaked Gale Strike swung with mana was literally like a typhoon, thoroughly blocking Mille-feuille’s entry.

“Come in! Try to get in!”

Gale, thinking he had regained the offensive, grinned viciously.

Once again, Mille-feuille before him appeared weak.

“Just because you got a good weapon, you think I’ll fall?! Huh?!”

He was right. Only ten minutes remained, and all she could use was one shot with her left hand.

So she admitted it.

“You’re right.”

“…Huh?”

For the first time in this battle, Mille-feuille spoke.

The faces of the seniors watching her from the second floor behind her floated in her mind.

Black Crystal. The eldest daughter of Trista.

Knight of Faith. A senior she could respect.

Abyssal Dagger. Someone scary but kind and gentle.

Great Lohengrin. Her beloved one.

At first it was just admiration, but someday she wanted to be up on that second floor with them.

She wanted to be by his side.

‘Admiration alone isn’t enough to catch up. I have to prove myself.’

If she faltered before someone like this, she couldn’t even stand beside them.

“So, I’m going to attack.”

“Hah, hahaha! Fool!”

Just as she said, Mille-feuille charged straight in, and the greatsword came down to meet her.

100% hit. No way to dodge.

If this landed, defeat was certain.

And just before the sword touched her—

the engine in her left hand roared.

*KABOOOOM!*

Her clenched left fist struck the flat of the greatsword.

A jolt of pain shot through her left arm.

Hitting a person would hurt less—the greatsword left her arm numb.

She understood why Senior Ayla told her not to use it twice.

Using it twice would really ‘hurt.’

She had to keep her promise not to do it.

But Gale’s sword was pushed aside, his body was wide open, and now was the chance to land a decisive blow.

So.

“Then this isn’t twice, is it?”

Mille-feuille ‘interlocked the gauntlets on both hands’ and activated the right arm’s engine.

“Wh… what?”

*KABOOOOM!!*

And her interlocked fists crashed into Gale’s solar plexus.

*Crunch! Crack! Thud! Thud! BOOM…*

A sound that shouldn’t come from a human body rang out, and a man without wings flew through the air.

An entirely different level of power from the first blow—a properly executed ‘Two-Handed Strike.’

Gale flew through the air like a bird seeking freedom, crashed into the floor, and couldn’t stop his momentum—rolling seven and a half times before slamming into the arena wall.

“Hoo.”

Mille-feuille felt a wave of exhaustion and took a deep breath.

The Half-Berserk duration ended, and the feedback hit.

If Gale got up now, she’d have no choice but to forfeit…

But Gale lay collapsed on the spot, foaming at the mouth, and only then did Mille-feuille rotate her wrist to eject the magic stone, awkwardly smiling.

“If I hit with both hands like this, it’s not twice, right?”

Gale, already unconscious with his eyes rolled back, couldn’t answer.

—

**【Winner! Mille-feuille von Sabre!】**

“WAAAAAAAAAAAH!!”

It was decided.

Mille-feuille’s victory, Gale’s defeat.

The first-year seats erupted in thunderous noise that shook the venue, and even the relatively quiet second floor was infected by the excitement.

The first to speak among us was Ayla.

“Peep-peep really… I told her not to use it twice—I’ll have to give her a lecture later.”

Rather than celebrating the victory, she worried about her junior’s body first—I found myself smiling lightly at that.

“She used both hands, so isn’t that 1.5 times?”

“…Hmm, well, that’s true. But I told her to be careful…”

At my words, Ayla made an awkward expression.

“It was a splendid match. Mille-feuille will probably be next year’s ace of the Knight Department.”

“Hmm. Rudika thinks so too.”

Nephti and Rudika clapped lightly, purely celebrating the victory.

And Eve…

“Hmm. I’m torn.”

“About what?”

“The student council scouts capable first-year students first, on a large scale. Originally, it would have been… Coolpis? Or maybe that Zale? But now…”

How do you remember someone’s name as ‘Zale’?

“So?”

“Hmm. Now I’m thinking of recruiting that girl instead.”

Just as Eve recruited Kelterus in the original, the student council takes great interest in high-performing first-years.

They don’t want to lose them to Maestro or Yggdrasil, and top students usually have popularity as well, so they serve as solid vanguards for the student council.

…Ah. For reference, Wolfram didn’t do that.

The scouting targets were either Eve or Nephti, and since both were kids who lived by ‘justice,’ the setting was probably that they wouldn’t fit with corruption, I think?

“Mille-feuille for the student council?”

“She’s a desirable talent. Since she defeated the top and second-ranked, she’ll probably be the next top student… Should I prepare the appointment letter or not… Hmm.”

Eve brought her index finger to her chin and fell deep in thought. Anyone else might call it cute, but I just found it repulsive.

But it’s strange.

“Wasn’t your policy not to recruit people with stats that are too low?”

“Sometimes there are talents like that.”

“What changed your mind? Wasn’t your theory that first impressions come from publicly displayed stats?”

“It’s nothing special. Someone made me doubt the numbers called stats.”

Was there someone like that?

Who?

“I see. I don’t know who it is, but they must have opened your eyes.”

“Yes. I really hate to admit it, though.”

“Hmm. Is that so.”

“Are you really clueless? Or are you pretending not to know?”

“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“……Tch. Anyway, I just started thinking that stats aren’t everything.”

Wait, without Kelterus, she’s thinking like this?

What exactly has changed from where?

As I was flustered by a story development I didn’t know, Eve brushed herself off and stood up.

“Well, I’ll think about the top student appointment letter and student council recruitment slowly. Right now, I know what I need to prepare immediately.”

“…What?”

“The title permit.”

“?”

“Listen carefully. Everyone’s shouting it, right?”

Eve’s expression said I was pathetic.

I visualized my inner anger and raised my middle finger, but I also focused on the noise from the audience.

And soon, I could hear a single word pouring onto the stage.

**【Iron Fist! Iron Fist! Iron Fist! Iron Fist!】**

**【Iron Fist! The first-year’s Iron Fist! The underdog’s hero!】**

**【I’ll follow you for life! Iron Fist! Our pride! Our glory! Iroooon Fiiist!】**

“Come to think of it, the senior who used the alias Iron Fist graduated last year, didn’t they? The next Iron Fist will be her.”

“Mille-feuille’s alias is Iron Fist?”

“It’s cool, isn’t it? Don’t you think she’ll like it?”

“……Hmm.”

It is kinda cool.

But whether she’ll like it is a separate matter, isn’t it?

“I did some bothersome thing as a duel notary, and thanks to that, I found a good talent. I’ll have to ask her later if she’s genuinely interested in joining the student council.”

Eve hummed lightly as she headed toward the first floor, and as if passing her by, Mille-feuille came up to the second floor.

“Senioooor…!”

“Hmm.”

Though exhausted, she beamed as she hurried toward me.

“S-Senior! I won!”

“Hmm. I saw. It was a good match.”

“Hehe… And Senior Ayla. I’m sorry, I…”

“U-um, well, it wasn’t twice. Since you hit with both hands interlocked, that’s… 1.5 times, I’ll count it!”

“Y-yes! …A-and.”

And Ayla hugged Mille-feuille, who was taller than her, and patted her back.

“The real fight must have been scary, but you worked hard.”

“Ah, th-thank you. …Truly. Thank you, Senior.”

“Hehe. Don’t mention it.”

After comforting Peep-peep for a while, we soon began chatting.

And eventually, the topic even turned to my family-register mate who wasn’t present.

“Come to think of it, I passed by the Student Council President, and she smiled at me and went down!”

“Hmm. She said it was a good match that overcame stats.”

“Wow… The President herself…”

“So she said she’s giving you a title.”

“……A title, for me?”

“Hmm.”

A title is one of the great honors a Zefflin student can hold.

Among a hundred thousand students, only a handful hold titles, and especially no first-years—you could search with your eyes wide open and find none.

Nephti was also a title candidate, and she only received the title ‘Knight of Faith’ after entering the Knight Department.

“W-what… What’s my title?”

“A title befitting you.”

“A title befitting me…!”

Mille-feuille’s face flushed as she looked at me, and I looked at the gauntlet as I answered.

“Iron Fist.”

“…………Pardon?”

“Iron Fist. That will likely be your title starting tomorrow.”

“…Uh, hmm.”

“Congratulations. Title Holder.”

“U-uh… ……The title is, Iron Fist?”

“Hmm. That’s right.”

“Senior.”

“Hm?”

“I’m returning this gauntlet.”

“………?”

“I don’t think Iron Fist fits me. What even is Iron Fist? Peep-peep or Pink Chick is much better.”

Is that so?

Isn’t it cool?

“The student council’s decision can’t be overturned.”

“Hiiing…”

“Why? Iron Fist is cool! Iron Fist junior Mille-feuille!”

“Hmm. Rudika thinks it’s cool too!”

“D-don’t…”

“We’re both title holders now, right? Iron Fist! Junior Mille-feuille!”

“Hmm! Rudika also has the title Abyssal Dagger! Iron Fist Mille-feuille!”

“…U-ughhh…”

“I think it’s cool too! As much as Black Crystal!”

“Waaaaah…”

Leaving the title holders to exchange pleasantries, I rose from my seat and looked down at the first floor.

There was no particular reason—I’m not a title holder myself, so it felt awkward to join in, and I needed somewhere to look.

But there, I met eyes with an unexpected person.

Even with a floor between us, her red hair was clearly visible.

Tall stature. Handsome features. A longsword at her waist.

“Kelterus.”

The protagonist of this Zefflin was alone, looking up at us.