Once again, it was time for martial arts class.
While it was necessary to cut corners with other classes, I did not dislike this class. The reason for this was due to the fact that there was a chance to practice the 「Shijima Style」, which meant I could polish my skills.
Of course, I also had to take Alma’s watchful gaze into consideration. That said, martial arts class was probably the class I had to focus the most on.
However, it is a little different today.
「Jou-chan can now teach things, huh? I guess this happens once you live for a long time.」
「My body still isn’t at its maximum potential. Also, I have to keep the 「Shijima Style」alive.
….And recently, I have found someone who I want to be the successor of the style.」
In addition to teaching the students, Alma watches my movements──
And a rival who knew all my moves from my previous life, Chester Prime, was also watching my movements.
….This shitty old man. Why the hell is a person from the underworld coming to the academy with an innocent look.
The 「Martial Arts」society in the underground was different from the one Alma knew. And the boss just came to the peaceful academy for some reason.
This ‘boss’ was Chester, who took every opportunity to brawl with me with the pretense of “Sparring”. Adding this tidbit in, he would be able to see through my skills better than Alma.
──This is going to be difficult. This sort of feeling rose up within me.
If covering up my skills in front of my daughter was hard, then covering them up in front of Chester, who I had always competed with, was something I had no confidence in. I broke out into a cold sweat.
「Hey, what’s the matter, why the pale face? Is Oji-san scared?」
Shido, who was next to me, saw my pale face and made fun of me while laughing.
This was no joke. Though I wasn’t exactly afraid of death──surely, to the current me, Chester’s existence was something to be afraid of.
「Well everyone, please give me your attention. Today, Mr. Chester Prime, who was the rival of my mentor, has come to visit us. I’m sure most of you don’t know who he is, but he is more skilled than I am. In particular, he is much better than me when it comes to ‘striking’ techniques. He will be specially instructing you guys today. Relax and receive his guidance!」
Sounds of buzzing rise up. (TL: When a lot of people start talking at once…)
That’s how it is. In fact, there was probably no one among the students that even knew the name ‘Chester Prime’.
….Well, I already knew, but me aside──the lot who, without ever standing on the world above the underground, think about nothing else but how to defeat other people, not knowing about them it’s natural.
Alma introduced the nameless man by saying 「He’s stronger than me」and most people thought of it as a joke, as ‘Alma’ was synonymous with the word ‘strongest’ to the elves. (TL: Like when they say ‘Alma’, the elves instinctively think ‘strongest’)
All the things said were truth, and not jokes.
Chester places emphasis on attack, and thus, his 「Primo Style」specializes in the power of striking the opponent.
The 「Shijima Style」focused on safety and placed emphasis on countering, something that now torments me in this lifetime. (TL: ‘本来であればカウンターを重視した護りの構えであるシジマ流からすれば相性がいいはずのそれは、生前の私をひどく苦しめたものだ。’)
With Alma not even at my level, it would be hard to be a match──getting a win would be like visiting Cloud Nine.
「So, today, we will review the first basic movements we learned. After reviewing it, we will carry out practice battles.」
The unexpected situation I had speculated had happened, and 「Martial Arts」class begins.