"What's going on? The boss is fighting the new kid?"
"Yeah, first time seeing such arrogance here, challenging the boss right away. The last one like that has been dead for three years."
"I heard he took down the two gate guards alone. He shouldn't be weak if he won a two-on-one fight."
"Wen Xiao and Liu Shui? Those two are so weak, I could beat them too."
The group murmured in low voices while Natsubi Raku had already taken his stance, placing his backpack on the ground.
Inside was a brand new cursed long sword. His previous one was already sharpened and only used for sparring with Maki.
"Kid, I admire your courage. Ten seconds, if you can last ten seconds against me, you win! Considering the size difference, I won't bully you."
Ito Shuichi glanced at the blue backpack on the ground and curiously asked, "What's in there?"
"A sword."
Natsubi Raku didn't bother to hide it; after all, it's legal for a jujutsu sorcerer to carry cursed tools.
"Interesting."
Ito Shuichi squatted down, muscles bulging, excitement clear on his face, "Well then... let's start!"
"Alright."
Natsubi Raku took a deep breath, clenching his fists. He decided not to use cursed energy to enhance his body this time. He wanted to see how strong he was compared to Zenin Maki in pure physical combat.
Murata Shoichi, holding a stopwatch, shouted:
"Begin!"
"Whoosh—"
Ito Shuichi charged like a human tank, closing the five-meter distance in an instant. His fist, as big as a sandbag, smashed forward.
So fast!
Natsubi Raku crossed his arms to guard his chest. The impact revealed the vast difference in their strengths; it felt like his bones were about to break.
This won't work, I can't withstand it!
Scarlet cursed energy enveloped his body momentarily, then dissipated. In an instant, the massive force sent him flying.
"Thud!!"
Natsubi Raku flew five meters back, crashing into a tree. The loud noise startled Otsuchi Miku, who had been sleeping.
She looked out the window in confusion, wondering why there was so much commotion when it was usually so quiet in the morning.
Dressed in red pajamas, she got up slowly, peering through the glass. The guards, usually stationed at intervals, were gathered together, and Captain Ito looked extremely pleased, raising his arms in triumph.
What happened?
Is that... Natsubi Raku?
Otsuchi Miku's pupils dilated, seeing Natsubi Raku, covered in dust, approaching the captain with a fighting stance.
"It still hurts."
Natsubi Raku shook his hands and said, "It's not over. Only two seconds have passed; there are eight seconds left."
He endured it?
Murata Shoichi, who had stopped the stopwatch when Natsubi Raku hit the tree, couldn't believe it. Usually, a hit like that would break bones and knock someone out, but this didn't seem logical!
"Your... hands are fine?"
Ito Shuichi scratched his head, unable to comprehend the situation. Natsubi Raku's arms seemed too fragile, despite the evident training.
"Of course. Do I need to get an X-ray to prove it?"
Natsubi Raku shook his hands, clenched his fists, and continued, "Don't dawdle, there are eight seconds left. If I win, teach me all your skills!"
"Tch!"
Ito Shuichi snorted, setting his stance again, and coldly said, "So you're after my skills. No wonder you dared to challenge me. Fine, if you survive these eight seconds, I'll teach you, little maniac."
"Gulp—"
Murata Shoichi swallowed hard, thinking: 'This is bad. Ito is serious now. This kid came straight for the boss's lifelong skills!'
"Start... now."
The stopwatch clicked again.
Ito Shuichi moved, but this time with deadly intent. His skills, honed through life-and-death experiences, wouldn't be given away easily!
Even if he couldn't kill in this country, he'd break this kid's arms to teach him a lesson!
He's faster!
Seeing Ito Shuichi's face close in, Natsubi Raku's expression hardened. Enhanced by cursed energy, his reactions were quicker.
The fierce punch came again, but this time, Natsubi Raku intercepted it, blocking at its weakest point.
Then, gripping Ito Shuichi's right fist, he tried to pull him off balance to buy time.
So strong!
Ito Shuichi immediately stabilized himself with a wide stance, using his left hand to grab Natsubi Raku's neck.
All this happened in a split second, showcasing their reflexes.
Murata Shoichi watched in astonishment, counting softly:
"4."
"5."
"6."
"No way, this kid is holding his own against the captain?"
The surrounding murmurs didn't interrupt his counting.
"7."
"Hey, hey, hey, what a joke! The size difference is huge, yet the captain's punches are blocked?"
"8."
"No way, only a scratch on his hand after all this time?"
"9."
What's with this kid? Why is he so strong?
Ito Shuichi, having lost track of time, was getting anxious. Despite the prolonged fight, he had only managed to scratch Natsubi Raku.
"10, time's up! Natsubi Raku wins!"
Murata Shoichi stopped the stopwatch, shouting. Both combatants halted.
The onlookers wore expressions of disbelief. The difference in their weight classes was over eighty pounds; how did they fight evenly?
"Oh, look at their faces, seems like Natsubi Raku won!"
Otsuchi Miku, having watched the whole fight, smiled in satisfaction. As expected, he was strong, perhaps stronger than the captain. With him around, she felt safer, considering her father was distracted by the succession battle.
Having the captain as a personal bodyguard felt awkward due to his age and demeanor. But Natsubi Raku, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy with a tragic past, felt more appropriate.
Plus, teasing such an innocent boy seemed fun.