LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 259.1
Chapter 259.1. Tachibana
Hana observes the men. This was Yukihana-san’s teaching. To estimate how strong an enemy might be based on their demeanor—how they stand, how they ready themselves, how they walk, and more. I learned many things.
Though I’m still inexperienced, I can more or less guess the strength of these men and…
“It’s all just appearances, huh~”
Deciding they weren’t all that strong, Hana coldly assessed the men. The real concern would be if they were armed, but they likely weren’t; nothing at their waists, and no bulges under their arms.
Here stood a warrior trained by Yukihana-san’s elite methods. Despite appearances, a masterful female warrior was present.
Hearing the girl’s muttering, the men got angry and launched punches without mercy. As I watched, I noted their punches had a fair amount of force; they must be used to street brawls. I stepped forward smoothly, tilting my head slightly as the fist just barely grazed past.
With a light tap on the outstretched elbow, I closed the distance and swept the leg providing their balance. The man, much taller and broader than me, stumbled and fell due to what appeared to be a light attack.
“Haah!”
“Guh!”
With a loud crash, the man landed on his back, and I kicked his solar plexus without mercy to finish him off. Yukihana-san’s teachings stressed the need to ensure the enemy was truly down.
“You little brat!”
“This one too!”
The remaining men, who had been sneering while watching the girl get attacked, were enraged at the sight of their comrade being taken down and rushed in.
“Haah!”
I leaned slightly forward, catching the punch of the second man with both hands and deflecting it smoothly. I then moved forward, entering his space and using my weight to body-check him.
A thud echoed as he hit the floor, and the force of his fall caused him to collide with the third man attempting to strike me. Both rolled across the ground.
“Y-You brat!”
“What just happened?”
They got up unsteadily and glared, struggling to comprehend what had just transpired due to the swift movements.
With my fists raised in front of my chest, I prepared myself.
“These villains…!”
Passing by me, Yoko-san thrust her scabbard into the solar plexus of the men trying to rise again. They doubled over, groaning, and collapsed.
“Such wicked acts cannot be tolerated in the presence of Sword Saint Oda Yoko!”
With a dignified stance and firm voice, Yoko-san issued a warning. Since she had held back, none of the three lost consciousness, but they were moaning and looked at us with fear.
Others around us watched as well, mainly at Yoko-san, who was undeniably impressive.
“Always aiming for points, aren’t you?”
Karin approached with a sharp-eyed expression. Seeing the defeated men scramble away from the cat and fox folk in combat outfits, the three men fled on hands and knees.
“Disgraceful types. I can’t let things like that slide. Next time, I’ll catch them myself!”
“You sure love to announce ‘Sword Saint Oda Yoko’s name around,” Karin said with a sigh. The murmuring crowd began whispering about the Sword Saint. I couldn’t help but smile wryly.
The men had run off, and things calmed down, but seeing the long line again made me sigh. More importantly, I turned my thoughts back to the children from the ruined streets who had been kicked.
“You’re strong! That was amazing—are you skilled in something special?”
The boy named Tachibana approached, eyes wide with admiration after watching me defeat the men. I felt a bit embarrassed. It was better to keep my stats—over a thousand—a secret.
“Well, I’ve trained a bit,” I replied, scratching my head and turning to the children behind him.
“Are you alright?”
They were younger than me—two boys and one girl. Despite the crowded Adventurers’ Guild, it was still cold without heating.
Dressed in thin, tattered clothes that looked more like summer wear, with holes and grime, the children nodded quietly.
…They were afraid. My attire, though for agriculture, was new and warm winter wear. Compared to those in the ruined streets, I probably looked wealthy. It was a bittersweet realization.
Extending a hand, I smiled.
“How about we take a break?”
I gently led them to an inner room, a privilege of golden-ranked adventurers.
Most of the guild staff were from the Amatsugahara Corporation’s branch, so they recognized me, allowing me to get a private room easily. It was a simple place, built quickly, with folding tables and chairs arranged around a long table. The room was sparse but warmed by an air conditioner.
I gestured for the children to sit and smiled warmly.
“Go ahead and eat~”
Roasted bread rolls, boiled potatoes, corn, smoked meat, and sautéed cabbage lay on the table. I had asked the staff to prepare the light meal while securing the room. It’s a convenient service available to golden adventurers.
“Can we…really?”
The tallest boy hesitantly asked, while the others gazed at the food hungrily.
“Of course! I—”
“Eat freely; this is on me, Sword Saint Oda Yoko.”
Yoko-san interrupted, stealing my line and winking at me. I stayed silent, trusting there was a reason.
“Thank you!”
“It’s warm!”
“It’s so good!”
All three grabbed food eagerly, enjoying the warm bread, meat, and corn, their expressions brightening as they ate.