Interstellar Travel Starting from Demonic Inferiority Chapter 19

"A mere Course 2 Student should just stay quietly in the position that suits him."

After dropping this remark, Hattori Hanzo walked out of the room.

He knew full well that continuing to stay in the student council room would only make the atmosphere more irritable, so he might as well head to the simulation room and wait.

Besides, after thinking about it calmly just now, it was impossible for Kudo Mitsunobu to go easy on Shiba Tatsuya just because they knew each other.

Since members of the Ten Master Clans could not lose to non-clan members of the same age, the possibility of Kudo Mitsunobu holding back simply did not exist.

As for losing? That was even more impossible; how could a mere Course 2 Student possibly withstand the next head of the Kudo Family?

The battle would probably end in an instant! By then, the junior Kudo would also deeply realize that Course 2 Students were nothing but trash, and there was absolutely no need to have any expectations for them.

"Tatsuya-kun, how are your preparations coming along?" Kudo Mitsunobu asked, leaning one hand against the table.

"Yes, there are no issues." Shiba Tatsuya lifted the briefcase in his hand.

"It's just that it took a little extra time to accompany my brother to pick up his CAD," Shiba Miyuki explained with a slight bow, clarifying why the two siblings had arrived so late.

"Tatsuya-kun, you saw it too, didn't you? The attitude of Vice President Hattori just now."

"I have no choice but to use my full strength. You should also put in some effort; if you can't even last three minutes..."

"Then the upperclassmen who recommended you will lose face."

Kudo Mitsunobu said in a low, steady voice.

Shiba Tatsuya did not speak, merely nodding quietly.

For him, things had already reached this point; hiding his strength further would be redundant. As for Kudo Mitsunobu's requirement to last three minutes against him—

In Shiba Tatsuya's view, that was entirely unnecessary. Although he acknowledged that Kudo Mitsunobu was indeed a formidable opponent, for someone like himself with the ability to copy, there was no possibility of losing.

"That's good."

Kudo Mitsunobu turned his head to look at Saegusa Mayumi.

"Then, upperclassmen, let's go. Senior Jumonji should be arriving soon as well."

The simulation training room, usually empty, was now packed with First High School students in the corners, all watching the two people standing in the center of the room.

Kudo Mitsunobu held his CAD, [Night], in one hand, watching Shiba Tatsuya, who was taking his own CAD out of a carrying case on the other side.

"Tatsuya-kun, do you always have to carry so many storage devices?"

"My processing power is slightly insufficient, so I have to rely on these." Shiba Tatsuya said as he assembled the [Silver Cluster].

Hattori Hanzo, standing in the corner, snorted at Shiba Tatsuya's words, his own convictions only growing firmer.

"Now, let me explain the rules." The person serving as referee was none other than Jumonji Katsuto, as his magic was well-suited for interrupting combat and protecting others.

"The time limit for the match is three minutes. The use of C-rank or higher offensive magic is prohibited."

"In the taijutsu duel, aiming for vital points is not allowed. Magic may only be activated after I call for the start."

"If you violate the rules, I will declare an immediate loss. Any questions?"

After finishing, Jumonji Katsuto pulled an old-fashioned stopwatch from his pocket, set the time limit, and swept his gaze over the two.

Both nodded simultaneously, indicating they were ready and waiting for Jumonji Katsuto's command.

Shiba Tatsuya held his dual pistols, the muzzles slightly angled backward, his knees bent in a ready stance.

In contrast, Kudo Mitsunobu's posture appeared somewhat lazy; holding his gun in one hand, his overall demeanor was loose and seemingly indifferent.

The people around the arena stopped their discussions, and the massive training room fell into absolute silence.

"Start!"

The moment Jumonji Katsuto's voice fell, both men took action, but with two sharp sounds of air being pierced—

The two seemed to have swapped positions, as if they had shifted through space.

"What is going on with Mitsunobu-kun and Tatsuya-kun? Did they both use acceleration magic in advance? Doesn't that mean they both violated the rules?" Watanabe Mari clearly hadn't grasped the trick behind their movements.

Most of those present shared the same opinion, as their limited perspective constrained them.

Conversely, Saegusa Mayumi and Jumonji Katsuto remained calm and composed.

"What Mitsunobu-kun used should be a technique from the Kudo Family's ancient martial arts, likely called [Flash Time]."

"As for Shiba Tatsuya, although I am not very familiar with him, it should also be a form of taijutsu."

Jumonji Katsuto's gaze never left the battle.

"My brother has been receiving guidance under the ninjutsu practitioner, Kokonoe Yakumo," Shiba Miyuki added with a smile from the side.

Saegusa Mayumi nodded. "So he is under that Master Kokonoe. In that case, it is understandable."

"I knew I shouldn't underestimate you, Tatsuya-kun."

Kudo Mitsunobu withdrew his languid gaze, raised his [Night], and fired a beam of psions straight ahead.

Then, with a single step, he vanished from his original spot.

The next moment, Kudo Mitsunobu appeared behind and to the right of Shiba Tatsuya, his right hand transformed into a palm blade as he struck directly toward Shiba Tatsuya's shoulder.

The psion beam arrived in tandem, aimed precisely at Shiba Tatsuya's right thigh, the two attacks effectively sealing off any path of evasion.

Shiba Tatsuya, of course, would not be defeated by Kudo Mitsunobu so easily.

At the very instant the palm blade and the psion beam were about to strike his body, he pushed off with his left foot.

His figure tilted downward instantly, his left hand bracing against the ground as his entire body hovered in the air in a straight line.

With a twist of his frame, he delivered a heavy, powerful kick directly toward Kudo Mitsunobu's waist.