Chapter 14 Reckless And Foolhardy Heroic
Atami Shou was, according to the rumors around him, a 'weirdo.'
It's fine to be a masked hero who defeats monsters.
It's also great to be a giant hero who fights off kaijuu.
A classic hero who wears armor and wields a sword to defeat evil monsters is something special too.
He had a burning desire as vast as the ocean. He continued to dream of grand and naive dreams like a child. However, he was not a man who would just dream.
Atami Shou did not slack off in his efforts.
The path of a hero starts with one step.
He ran 10 kilometers every day.
He did 100 push-ups, sit-ups, back exercises, and squats each.
He did this almost every day while keeping up with his studies.
Of course, his self-improvement didn't just stop at building basic strength.
A true hero needs special techniques.
So, to gain those skills and train even more, he practiced various martial arts, knocking on the doors of many dojos, including karate, judo, kendo, and aikido.
But, to be honest, he was just an average person.
While geniuses could learn the basics in an hour and smart students in a day, it took him ten days to learn them.
However, his spirit was extraordinary.
He thought, "If I can do ten days' worth of training in one day," and he pushed himself to practice so much that even geniuses and smart students would run away.
He was overwhelmingly focused on physical strength. It was honestly a bit crazy.
On top of that, he was so caught up in training that his test scores were terrible. No surprise there.
But, if one had to say something,
if talent lies in effort, determination, and spirit,
then he was undoubtedly a genius at hard work.
Although he never achieved the results (special techniques) that Atami Shou desired, he developed a keen 'eye' for reading his opponent's movements and mastered the basics of various martial arts.
"Ha!"
"Take this, boy!"
In fact, the best proof of this is that he was able to match the sword of the seasoned knight Shidou by just a hair's breadth.
Effort does not lie. The reckless actions of a boy who did not just dream became the force that barely held his recklessness together.
"...Stubborn."
"Haah, huff... That's my line..."
But reality is harsh.
Effort does not lie. This also applies to Shidou, who had honed his skills as a knight.
The level of training in a peaceful Japan is different from that in a world where death is close. The experience is different. They may have the same determination, but they are not on the same level.
Shidou remained unscathed, even as Hiiro was covered in cuts and bruises, barely hanging on.
The difference in strength between the two was clear.
(What is this man?)
That's why Shidou found it so puzzling.
The man in front of him would not fall.
No matter how many times he struck. No matter how many times he thrust.
(There's no way he doesn't understand the difference between us. He can't be so crazy that he doesn't realize how far apart we are.)
With every hit, Hiiro took damage, and with every thrust, he spat blood, yet he still wouldn't fall.
His steps were unsteady. His hands were numb.
He was a wounded warrior, barely holding on.
Yet, his eyes showed no sign of giving up; they were straight and focused.
(But this man's eyes... He doesn't doubt his victory at all. His confidence is almost blind... No, it's a certainty. Then there must be a chance of winning that matches that confidence.)
"Ha!!"
"Ugh...!"
Shidou didn't understand.
There was no way to find a chance of winning from this situation.
Yet, even after taking another hit, Hiiro Merifar's eyes showed no change.
Yes, they didn't change. From the moment they faced each other and crossed swords,
it seemed like his eyes were always searching for a chance that Shidou couldn't see.
(What are you aiming for, Hiiro Merifar?)
People fear what they cannot see.
In the many battles they fought, the knight who had lost one light in his eyes found Hiiro's unusual stubbornness eerie.
(Or was it just reckless bravery?)
People make assumptions about what they cannot see.
They think someone's kindness is just self-preservation, or someone's malice is just consideration.
Even Shidou, who is so opposed to corruption and scheming that he is called a "clean official," cannot escape the laws of the heart that everyone possesses.
(...Hiiro Merifar, I respect your spirit, but it is no different from foolishness. A knight with nothing but reckless bravery has nothing to protect.)
However, Shidou's argument, calling it foolishness and labeling it as reckless bravery, while misguided, was not entirely wrong.
After all, he could never have predicted that Hiiro Merifar, who refused to bend, was relying on the belief that "if you're the protagonist, enduring will lead to an awakening event and victory."
"...Enough."
"Huh?"
Shidou decided the conclusion.
"Your unyielding spirit to the end is admirable. But, unknowing reckless bravery is just a sword that leads to self-destruction. Instead of reckless bravery, refine your wisdom... and someday, aim to be a knight again."
"Wh──What... do you mean, you think you've won...? The battle's just getting started...!"
"No. This ends here."
It was not out of disdain. In fact, Shidou thought that strength of heart was regrettable.
That's exactly why he had to guide him.
It was his role as the chief examiner in the entrance trial.
"──Swift."
"Eh?"
In a single breath, he circled behind. A full sprint, faster than before, even faster than Shura.
Still, Hiiro didn't lose track of him, but with his body covered in wounds, he couldn't respond properly. The speed was beyond anything before, too fast, too fierce.
"Strike──!"
So his unguarded neck was cut down.
Not flesh. It was a strike that severed intent.
A respectful blow aimed at the one who was reckless.
"...Ah."
Hiiro's body swayed, collapsing like a puppet whose strings had been cut, the strength drained from his back.
With his unblocked eye, he watched his own fall.
It was reckless. It was foolish.
But the will that sparked it was undoubtedly the strongest of anyone.
Now, he would learn from his defeat, understanding his own danger.
He believed that this would eventually become his strength, and that one day he would rise again with enough power.
"...Ugh, gi, gii..."
But even so.
A fool does not break so easily, because they are a fool.
"Aaaaaaaaahh!!"
With his fallen leg, he stepped down onto the ground.
With the other leg on the verge of breaking, he took another step.
Gripping the hilt that almost slipped away, he slashed with reckless abandon.
"──!"
But even then, it didn't reach.
His intent was withstood by an extreme will, and the wild counterattack didn't reach Shidou.
What it did reach was the evidence of pain.
Hiiro, struck in the neck, coughed up blood──and it stained Shidou's hand, turning it bright red.
That was all.
"What... What is this... impossible. You're still... you won't fall?!"
"Huh? Still... you say...?"
If that were all,
It would have ended as nothing but reckless bravery.
But it didn't end.
"As long as I'm here..."
The man who never gave up, with a will akin to madness, standing at the edge of the cliff,
He did not end there.
"Until I beat you... it's not over!!"
With Shidou in stunned disbelief, Hiiro took his final step.
With every ounce of strength he could muster, from his toes to the top of his head, he launched a desperate slash.
"──────."
Shidou reflexively blocked with an upper horizontal guard, knocking only the sword away...
And then,
With his last remaining strength, Hiiro finally collapsed to the ground, never landing a single strike.
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