Sendai Yuusha wa Inkyou Shitai Chapter 157

Hey there guys. Here's another chapter of Sendai Yuusha. I told you that I'd be taking things slow with it. Hopefully with this, I won't be taking multiple month long breaks. I hope……

Well anyway, enjoy.

Clear and Serene

「……」
Kuon was frantically thinking.
「Fuーhaha!! My victory shall not waverー!!」
For a way to win against this troublesome opponent that was clad in a full-bodied, completely golden armor.

(To be honest, as long as I don't do a way of fighting where I go in myself to attack, there are no factors that would cause me to lose. ……But, with that, there is also no way for me to win.)
Making a calm analysis, Kuon came to this conclusion.
And then, that was the correct conclusion.
Things similar to "even if the weapon or armor is good, if the user is second-rate, then it is just a useless possessions" are often heard, but in regards to this armor of supreme ruling metal, that wasn't the case.
That which was made of supreme ruling metal, making it the highest peak as arms, even if a baby wore it, they would be worthy of being the strongest.

A technique that Kuon could use to breakthrough that supreme ruling metal and give damage to her opponent, as of right now, there was none.
Although she had learned 『Zantetsu』 from Yuu who she had respected as her teacher, she didn't feel that she was able to have a grasp of it.
(Or rather, what kind of principle is behind that technique.)
While pouting her lips, Kuon muttered that in her mind.
Even among the numerous techniques in this Reinbulk, it was a technique that ignored one or two of the laws of physics, 『Zantetsu』.
If it were a skill that could simply tear apart even hard objects, then she could still understand it. However, that technique could cut down the target to be cut while being able to freely choose what wouldn't be cut. As a matter of fact, even for Kuon, even though she should have been cut into two from the top of her head to her inside leg with a sword, the only thing that was cut was her fundoshi. She didn't even know what to say about it anymore.
(『Zantetsu』……After Yashiro-aniki taught me that move, he didn't say anything about it anymore……Whether it be the stance, the way to move my body, nothing, he taught me none of that.)

Despite being my teacher, what negligence! is something that Kuon didn't think at all.
(Only once, he cut me and only told me about it……In that case, there was probably a meaning to that one time.)
Kuon remembered.
The swordsmanship that should be called divine skill that Yuu exhibited in the Great Nordyord Labyrinth.
(It wasn't fast, nor did he put strength into it. Going along with the opening, he only swung it as if following his sword)
With that, Yuu cut Kuon's fundoshi and showed her.
(But, when he used it against the Leviathan, he swung with all of his strength. Power and speed, neither of them were required.)

(Then, what is……I don't get it……I don't feel like I can use it……As I am now, something, something absolute is lacking. ……『Zantetsu』 is impossible. No matter how I think about it, the image of me using it won't come to mind.)

In that case,

(Can I not win? ……Am I, going to lose against this, this incomprehensible guy?)
She couldn't see a way to win. ……But,
When compared to 『Zantetsu』, the figure of her own victory could be seen in her mind.

(Think, deeply, widely, the method to win, a method to win even if I can't use 『Zantetsu』, think!!）
Kuon submerged herself in that sea of thoughts.

「Oh?」
The one to first notice that unusual phenomenon, no, that change in atmosphere was Yuu.
Releasing the hand that grabbed the katana's handle, Kuon took a stance empty-handed.
Both of her eyes became narrow, and her breathing became smaller. As if she felt at ease, she changed into that sort of atmosphere.
「What's wrong, Yuu.」
「Tre-san, looking at Kuon, you don't notice anything?」
「Notice? Nnー……This is.」
When Tre observed her after being asked back by Yuu, it seemed that Tre also noticed that change.
「What is it -jya, what is it -jya, only understanding things just between you two! Say it in an easy to understand way for me too -jya!」
「You, have you really lived just as long as Bachan? ……Take a good look at Kuon.」
While lightly hitting the head of Paimon, who was making a fuss like a child, he urged her to look.
「Mu?……She's planted to the ground as if she's frozen up, isn't she?」
「Yeah. Right now, she has tremendous concentration.」
「Concentration?……Why would she stop if she's concentrating -jya?」
「It's because that concentration is put into her thoughts.」
「Her thoughts huh. ……Just what in the world is she thinking about -jya?」
「Who knows, even I don't know. She's probably thinking about a method to somehow win or something though……」
Yuu became self-aware that the ends of his own mouth were lifted up.

「By some chance……we might see something interesting.」
That mutter, was a small mutter that no one could hear.

『Zantetsu』.
The summit of sword techniques that only two people were able to reach. A Divine Skill that neither Leonhart nor Sylvia who knew about the move, and not even the 『Witch of Time』 Norn were able to get a grasp of it, and had yet to have anyone comprehend it.
The thing needed the most to use 『Zantetsu』 was the power of concentration.
Abandoning all thoughts, and devoting all nerves into only the act of cutting would be the first step to reaching its gates.
That power of concentration would make the flow of time feel slow when compared to the speed of thoughts.

Kuon was in a situation where she had stuck half of one leg into that state of mind.
The information of her surroundings were cut off, the colors from her view were fading, and the sounds were feeling distant.
That was a state of mind that could be called clear and serene (meikyou shisui).
If one could reach this much concentration, then they could be said to have broken through to the first stage of using 『Zantetsu』.

Incidentally, another name existed for 『Zantetsu』.
Another name given by that 『Witch of Time』 for that technique that cuts down the laws of physics and has nothing that it cannot cut as long as it is something with substance.
「Something interesting……『Tenshou Jigen Zan (Heaven Illuminating Dimension Slash)』[1]……?」
「Bufuuh!?」
Yuu had a coughing fit at the words that Lililuri had whispered.
「Li, Lililuri!? Y, you heard me!? Rather, where did you hear that name!!」
「I heard it, from Obachan.」
「Guh……That loli baba……」
Heaven Illuminating Dimension Slash. As you probably already know, it was something named during the heyday of Yuu's chuunibyou days.
Even that which sounded extremely cool in those days, if given time, will degrade into something that gives chills.
「What is with that super cool sounding name! Isn't that totally badass!?」
Paimon suddenly broke.
「You, you're character is breaking, oi!」
「That thing just now sounded good, so hurry up and tell me about it -no jya!! Eh, eh, Tenshou Jigen Zan!? What is Tenshou?」
「In Yuu's world, Tenshou (天照) is written as 『Illuminating the Heavens』, but with those same characters, it can also be read as Amaterasu.」
「Isn't that just super cool!? Tenshou Jigen Zan! Amaterasu! H, hey, hey, Master, could you add some cool sounding ruby characters[2] to my moves as well -ka nou?」
Paimon looked at Yuu while fidgeting and wriggling her body, and Yuu felt like hitting her on the head.

*Pon*
Gently placing her small white hand on his shoulder, Lililuri gazed at Yuu with a look filled with love, and
「It's fine, I also think it's cool.」
gave a thumbs up. It was a good smiling face, and it looked like she was considerably pleased with the naming.
「F, for the first time, I feel like I want to take it out on my past self.」
If only I had a blue tanuki that came from the 22nd century too, is what Yuu muttered.

Even if she stopped moving and was submerged to her shoulders in her sea of thoughts, there was no guarantee that the opponent she was fighting would wait for her.
「Fuーhaha!! Stamping Count Attack!!」
There was no way Count Montelugi, who had reinforced his body with Orichalcum equipment, would wait either.
『Montelugi the Third, attacks, attack, attacks!! From strikes, to charges, to presses, there are a diverse and varied number of moves unleashed from his giant shield!』
That attack where he placed his weight on his weapon and took a stance where he leaned on the shield assailed the concentrating Kuon!
*Susu……*
But however, Kuon avoided that pressing attack just by moving her body a little bit.
『However, Participant Kuon Heleott, she dodges, dodges, and dodges!! With the minimum amount of movements, she evades Montelugi the Third's attacks! There's no telling which one will catch hold of victory!!』

「Mumu! Tell then, how about this! Count, Shield Bash!」
Having flopped right next to Kuon, when Count Montelugi stood up, he once again sent out a strike through his shield.
But, once again, Kuon smoothly dodged that attack.
As if she were a tree leaf that fluttered about in the air that had a fist unleashed at it, she smoothly evaded him.
「Mumumu!! H, how impudenttt!!」
As expected, Count Montelugi would also accumulate anger from being avoided this easily.
The attacks increased in fierceness.

「……」
But even so, Kuon continued her thoughts.
While continuing her thoughts, she evaded Count Montelugi's attacks.
Within her deep thoughts, her body moved on reflex.
That was the indication of her deep thinking as well as the indication that the special training of controlling all of her body's muscles that she learned from Yuu was linked to her body.

And then――

「……I've got it.」
*Niyari* Kuon showed an animal-like smile.

Translator's Notes:
[1] Original: 天照次元斬, Read as:てんしょうじげんざん
[2] Ruby characters are small hiragana or katakana readings of kanji usually above or to the side of the kanji.

Chapter end