Dragon Era 642: Decisive Defeat

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「Fight me, you stupid monkey!」
「...I don’t mind.」

As yet another wooden spear was shoved at him today, Yutaka nodded without protest.
Light Blue picking a fight over trifles and challenging him had become more frequent by the day; lately it had practically become a daily routine.

As usual they moved to the schoolyard, and Light Blue smoothly extended a long wooden branch as if drawing it out from her palm. She didn’t cap it with petal blades like the first time they fought; she probably wasn’t intending to cause serious injury.

Well, even if it had blades, he had no intention of getting hurt—or of hurting her.

「Here I go!」

At the very instant of her declaration, a lightning‑fast thrust shot toward Yutaka. Without the warning—if it were a forest ambush—even Yutaka would likely have trouble dodging it. Sensing an elf hidden in the woods isn’t easy even for the Sword Clan.

But sent straight on like that, he slipped it with only a slight tilt of his head. As he did, he stepped in. The difference in reach between a spear and bare hands is considerable; to get into a range where he could attack, he had to weather a few more strikes.

The spear snapped back and a flurry of needle‑fast jabs followed. Parrying them, Yutaka went, “Oh,” inwardly.

In their usual bouts, Light Blue’s spear would branch to widen its attack area around now, but it stayed straight—and that actually made it more troublesome.

He couldn’t recall which match it was when Light Blue stopped the circus‑act style of wielding multiple spears like their first fight. Against beasts that might work, but against Yutaka she’d realized that precisely handling a single spear was more effective.

And even the spearhead had finally been unified into one. It’s true that extending branches to hook or bending the shaft to stab from behind is hard to dodge—but being hard to dodge also means it’s easy to grab.

Once he grabbed it, a spear made from a wooden branch was easy to snap. Even without breaking it, he could yank Light Blue’s body in, or let go the instant she resisted the pull to throw her off balance.

But when it’s just one straight stick, that won’t work. Seizing the simple spear tip that’s driven in sharply and then withdrawn is an extreme challenge. The unshowy yet sturdy style resembled the Sword Clan’s art, and Yutaka couldn’t help but smile.

That said, she was still inexperienced. With each thrust Yutaka closed the distance by a step and, after snapping the spear near the base, lightly set his hand on her head. That was the signal the bout was over.

Aim for her chest and it would be a repeat of last time. Punching a woman’s belly would be problematic. The lower body was out of the question. So Yutaka chose the head. A living creature’s head concentrates weak points; wherever you strike, you can neutralize them.

「Looks like I win again today, Light Blue.」
「Grrr...!」

When Yutaka said it, Light Blue let out a frustrated growl like a wild beast. Growling was fine, but unless she admitted defeat he couldn’t move his hand. The Sword Clan are trained to never let their guard down under any circumstances; Yutaka knew well that the very moment you think you’ve won is the most dangerous.

「H-how long are you gonna keep petting my head?!」

However she took that, she snapped at him in irritation.

「What is this!? Do you like me or something?!」

Maybe it was a sore‑loser’s jab.

「Yeah. I like you.」

But Yutaka answered before he could think. Same village, same schoolmates, both being taught by Sensei. A skilled warrior and a quick study. There was no reason not to like her.

「Wha—」

But when Light Blue’s face flushed crimson in an instant, he thought, Damn.
Yutaka might be plain‑spoken, but he had basic social sense. Saying he liked her while patting her head was begging to be misunderstood.

Even so, Light Blue still wouldn’t declare defeat. He couldn’t let go.

「S-suddenly, what are you even saying! T-to say you l-like me, what a stupid joke...」

Wait, that’s a misunderstanding, he started to say—and then it hit him.

「No, it’s not a joke. I like you, Light Blue.」

Come to think of it, it wasn’t a misunderstanding at all.
Light Blue was strong and, elf that she was, unbelievably beautiful. There was no reason not to fall for her. Her boobs were soft, too.

「I... I mean, it’s not like I hate you, or anything... um... I might... l-like you... too...」

Light Blue took Yutaka’s hand and pressed it to her cheek as if to hide her face. Yutaka thought, Oh no.

「...I lose.」

In this state, if she counterattacked, Yutaka wouldn’t be able to chase and stop it. He probably wouldn’t be able to, for the rest of his life.

「Huh? Did you say something?」
「...I asked if I could hug you.」
「D-don’t go out of your way to ask something like that!」

If he hugged Light Blue—cheeks flushed, barking as if angry—then all of her would be within his reach. He could drive a single thrust into her heart or slit her throat at will; she wouldn’t be able to resist at all.

Even so, Yutaka thought, he was fine with that.