Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 352 - 265: Technique "Slash"_2

Chapter 352: Chapter 265: Technique "Slash"_2

"Men!"

How fast is the victory or defeat in Sword Dao, a second? Half a second? Anyway, an outsider definitely can’t see it clearly.

However, all the students in the dojo are skilled and have practiced Sword Dao for several years, and they can tell at a glance that Senior Sister Tachibana Youko’s starting speed is faster than her opponent’s.

How could she lose?

A Sword Dao competition is essentially about who strikes first; whoever is faster, whoever reacts faster, has the advantage.

If it were converted into data, Tachibana Youko’s starting speed would be 10, while Uesugi Sakura’s starting speed would be 5.

That’s a whole beat slower!

By the time the opponent strikes your face, that’s when you start?

How could she lose?

Anyway, the onlooking students were already indifferent to understanding the strength of this arrogant junior.

But,

With a "Bang!" just as the sound of wooden swords clashing echoed, Tachibana Youko quickly abandoned her offensive, switched to defense, and retreated a few steps, causing a noise as her bare feet hit the floorboards. Once she regained her stance, she gripped the sword handle tightly with both hands.

At this moment, several people in the hall frowned, a few wondered, and some were puzzled — what does this action mean?

She didn’t take the opportunity, Senior Sister Tachibana must be going easy on him.

Bin Yuehui, standing at the front as the referee, also couldn’t figure out the situation because it was too fast, much too fast.

Uesugi Sakura stood motionless with his sword, his voice coming through the helmet’s visor: "Your reaction is pretty quick."

The venue fell silent for a moment; it was clear he was speaking to Senior Sister Tachibana, but who exactly reacted slowly?

And why did Senior Sister Tachibana retreat when she was about to secure a point?

"Kirilow."

Tachibana Youko’s expression inside the helmet was serious, "Looks like I really underestimated you."

"Kirilow?" Bin Yuehui turned his head, fixing his gaze on Uesugi Sakura, subconsciously about to inquire but thought better of it and kept silent.

To understand the technique [Kirilow], one must first grasp the concept of [Maai] in Sword Dao.

[Maai] refers to the effective striking distance.

Especially clear when viewed from the side.

’Maai is very close, a strike can be made.’

’Maai is so close, why not attack?’

’Maai is too far; attacking will give the opponent a chance to counter-attack.’

It’s like playing a game, where players are keenly aware of the differing attack ranges between a marksman and a fighter, understanding their role, when, and at what distance to strike.

[Kirilow] requires an acute control over the back-and-forth [Maai] distance.

This concerns the [Maai] distance; but [Maai] also involves a certain sense.

This sense of control can also be explained through gaming:

A low-health enemy is escaping with his teammates, 600 health, can you kill him?

If you can’t grasp the ’sense’, failing to quickly kill the enemy amidst his teammates, their teammates will retaliate with a series of skills, leading to your own demise.

And the ’sense’ requires you to quickly scan equipment, enemy equipment, levels, skill levels, skill damage — a series of variables.

Then, relying on this ’sense’, tally up the numbers in total, calculating that you can certainly kill the opponent with a set of skills and then escape.

Make a decision in a second and advance!

— That’s the control of distance and sense in [Maai].

In the moment Tachibana Youko swung her sword, as Uesugi Sakura slowly met her strike, just before swords clashed.

He used [Kirilow] through his mastering of [Maai] control.

It is a technique where "when the opponent’s sword cuts down, my side also cuts down, pushing the opponent’s sword aside and hitting them."

A secret technique of the One Cut Style.

The students in the dojo know this technique, but rarely see anyone use it, especially in short, rapid exchanges where it’s even harder to recognize.

Bin Yuehui, standing very close as the referee, couldn’t identify it due to the swift change in situation.

However, Tachibana Youko, as the person involved, clearly perceived Uesugi Sakura’s [Kirilow], and just from this move alone, she knew he was indeed remarkable.

"How did you learn it?"

Uesugi Sakura replied with a smile, "Are you trying to ask me for advice?"

As the senior sister among the dojo students, Tachibana Youko certainly had her pride. While she admitted she couldn’t perform [Kirilow] herself, just one move wasn’t enough for her to part with her pride and acknowledge Uesugi Sakura’s status as Vice Master.

"It’s quite impressive," Tachibana Youko ignored the renewed clamor in the hall, as everyone evidently heard the secret technique "Kirilow" emerging from the senior sister’s mouth, "but you must first defeat me to convince everyone of your status as Vice Master."

Uesugi Sakura replied helplessly, "I’m just here to instruct a class on behalf of my cheap master and for the fifty thousand yen class fee. I have no intention of being the Vice Master."

"Since you’re our Master’s disciple, you are also our senior; regardless, we should seek your guidance!"

Upon finishing, Tachibana Youko’s expression turned serious, and with a strong step forward, she forcefully pounded on the Dragon Bone Wood floor.

Uesugi Sakura maintained his middle stance unchanged, swinging his sword in swift succession to counter, with the sound of wooden swords echoing in the air, causing the students of the dojo to momentarily quiet down, patiently watching the brief exchanged sequence of strikes.

"Bang!"

The wooden swords clashed, halting in mid-air.

With both hands exerting force on the wooden sword, Uesugi Sakura could clearly see, through the opponent’s helmet, beads of sweat on Tachibana Youko’s forehead.

"Why aren’t you attacking?" Tachibana Youko asked, pressing down her wooden sword.

The voice sounded a bit fatigued, perhaps from having trained too long earlier?

Uesugi Sakura didn’t believe someone who commanded respect for her strength as the senior sister had such weak stamina.

"Defense is harder than offense, don’t you know?" he replied, his tone still relaxed and calm.

"Hmph, passive attitude in a Sword Dao match will get you declared as lost!!"

Tachibana Youko didn’t like his confidence. She forcefully exerted strength with her hands, using a woman’s strength to gradually counter Uesugi Sakura’s wooden sword.

Uesugi Sakura took a step back to widen the distance, defending against several strikes as the opponent attempted to press the attack.

"Men!!" Tachibana Youko shouted at the top of her voice, executing a vertical slash. After having her attacks defended several times, she understood his capability, but couldn’t swallow her earlier pride and wanted to give it her all for a chance to win.

In Uesugi Sakura’s eyes, her actions were abundantly clear, as he preemptively sidestepped, maneuvering behind her and resuming a Sword Dao stance.

His quick footwork and nimble movements made the students realize that he indeed possessed skill.

Whether he knew [Kirilow] remained uncertain, but it seemed Tachibana Youko couldn’t do anything to him.

The previously furious man felt extremely stifled but didn’t open his mouth to speak.

Seeing her vertical slash miss, Tachibana Youko quickly turned, placing her wooden sword above her head in defense.

However, her usual experience seemed erroneous; the opponent did not attack her face as expected but instead assumed an upper stance to the side.

Tachibana Youko, hoping against hope, convinced herself the opponent had made a mistake, thinking she wasn’t at a disadvantage, and gathered herself to look carefully forward.

Suddenly, she widened her eyes inside the helmet, recognizing this stance:

"Jigen Style!?"