Chapter 36: The Hidden Martial Talent

The Third-Year Martial Artist

Horyama Misako, a third-year student in Byzantium Academy’s Combat Department.

Recognized for her abilities as the daughter of a prestigious judo dojo, she had secured admission to the Empire’s greatest academy.

Her father often told her—

—”Misako, when you get older, you’ll be like me. Just by looking at someone, you’ll see their martial potential.”

—”That doesn’t make sense. Isn’t it just because you’re old?”

—”Hah. Just wait until you’re my age, brat.”

As a child, she thought it was nonsense.

How could someone determine another’s talent in martial arts just by looking at them?

But today—Horyama Misako was certain.

That boy… undoubtedly had “martial talent.”

“The notebook is nice, but… isn’t the academy logo just hand-drawn?”

“Huh? Is it that obvious?”

“A little… I think the person who drew it might not be very good at art. Maybe it’s better to leave the logo off—”

That scrawny boy, chatting so casually with Michelle Fontatz.

Thin, small, and frail-looking.

He didn’t seem capable of handling a fight—running a full lap around the track would probably be a struggle for him.

And yet—

‘Why… why do I feel like I can’t win?’

She couldn’t take her eyes off Sion.

If she fought seriously, she could throw him down instantly.

Even with one hand behind her back, she was confident she could do it effortlessly.

And yet—

Why was it that the future she saw wasn’t one where she won?

Why was it that all she could picture was Sion countering and defeating her?

…Misako didn’t understand.

“Oh… I’m sorry. I didn’t know—Ack!”

“Enough, just get in the ring already!”

Step by step—

Sion climbed onto the mat.

Suppressing her thoughts, Misako gave a confident smile.

For now, her priority was promoting the club to new recruits.

“Nice to meet you, kid.”

“N-Nice to meet you…?”

“Are you here to participate in the event?”

“Uh… yes?”

“Then let me explain.”

Misako explained the rules of judo to him.

Judging by his reaction, he barely understood any of it.

It made sense—he clearly wasn’t someone who had trained in combat.

Not that it mattered.

Today was just a club fair, after all.

There was no need to use advanced techniques.

Seeing that he had finished reading the rules, she handed him a uniform.

“Alright. Here’s your gi.”

“Wait a second.”

“Hm? What is it?”

Sion didn’t take the uniform.

Was he backing out?

As Misako wondered about it—

Sion said something completely unexpected.

“Could you show me a match against Michelle-senpai instead? I’ll pay an extra silver coin.”

“Oh? And why’s that?”

“If I watch just once, I think I’ll be able to win.”

“…!”

Not twice. Not three times.

Just once.

He only needed to see it once before he could win.

What an utterly arrogant statement.

It was an insult to judo itself.

As a martial artist, she could not simply let it slide.

And yet—

“Michelle, step in.”

“Huh? Captain, but—”

“That confidence is amusing. And he’s paying an extra silver coin, so why not?”

“Tch. I was hoping to avoid breaking a sweat today…”

Misako handed Michelle a judo uniform.

She didn’t say a single word to Sion.

There was no need to reprimand him.

Instead—

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

‘I’m curious. Does he have the skills to match that confidence, or is it just empty bravado?’

With one hand tucked behind her back, Misako faced Michelle Fontatz.

Another club member stepped up to act as the referee.

“Match, begin!”

“Hup!”

“Haaah!”

With a lightning-fast movement—

[Skill Identified: Thigh Reap (Harai Goshi)]
[Martial Art: Judo]
[Attribute: None]
[Circle Level: 2]
[Description: A technique used to throw or sweep an opponent off their feet.]
[You have identified a combat skill that matches your current Circle level!]
[A new skill has been added to your Combat Archive.]
[You can now use Thigh Reap.]

A new skill registered in Sion’s system.

Misako had just thrown Michelle in an instant.

The match had barely begun—

And Michelle was already on the mat.

“Half-point!”

The referee signaled a score for Misako.

If she scored another half-point, the match would be over.

This had all happened in under ten seconds.

“Ugh… Hey! Misako, take it easy!”

“Ah, sorry. I got carried away.”

“Oww… That hurt.”

Misako helped Michelle up.

Truthfully, if they fought seriously, Michelle wouldn’t stand a chance against Misako.

Michelle was from the Magic Department—she had only learned judo as a hobby in the club for three years.

Meanwhile, Misako had trained in judo since birth.

The reason they had chosen to showcase matches during the club fair was to make judo seem exciting.

To create a tense match that would attract new members.

“Alright, let’s start again.”

“Tch… I’m going all out this time!”

“Good. That makes it more interesting.”

“Don’t underestimate me—ugh!”

Michelle fought with everything she had.

For someone from the Magic Department, she was quite skilled in judo.

She knew the basics—breakfalls, chokes, locks, holds, and throws.

If she had trained at Misako’s dojo, she would’ve been considered an advanced beginner.

Thud!

“Full-point!”

At one minute and thirty-six seconds into the match—

Michelle attempted a poorly executed outer sleeve throw.

Misako countered immediately—

A swift foot sweep disrupted Michelle’s balance, sending her crashing onto her back.

It was a clean victory.

“Good match, Michelle.”

“…Damn it, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to sweat today.”

Michelle wiped the sweat from her forehead and removed her judo uniform.

Steam rose from her body as the cool air met her skin.

Meanwhile, Misako hadn’t even broken a sweat.

‘Come at me, boy.’

Misako’s fighting spirit burned as she looked at Sion.

She handed her uniform to the referee, who then passed it to Sion.

Just as Sion was halfway through putting it on—

Michelle suddenly shouted.

“Ah! Wait! That’s the one I wore—”

“Huh?”

“…Never mind, forget it.”

She quickly turned her head away, pretending nothing had happened.

Her ears, peeking out from behind her hair, were burning red.

Was she bothered by the lingering scent of sweat?

…Or was it something else about him that was making her flustered?

Sion clumsily put on the uniform.

The referee helped fix his outfit and tied his belt for him.

Judging by the way he struggled with the belt, it was obvious—

This was his first time doing judo.

Even so—

There was no way she could lose to someone experiencing judo for the first time.

Misako tightened the ribbon on her ponytail and took a deep breath.

Finally, she stood face-to-face with Sion on the mat.

“Boy, what’s your name?”

“Huh? Oh… It’s Sion.”

“A good name. My name is Horyama Misako. Call me Misako.”

“Ah, yes. You’re from the East…?”

“That’s right, I am.”

Snap!

She got into position.

Her right hand tucked behind her back, her left hand extended forward in an intimidating stance.

Her stance was low, her feet light, ready to shift between offense and defense at any moment.

Sion, on the other hand, just stared at her blankly.

“Begin!”

At the referee’s call, she advanced immediately.

‘…Did I read him wrong?’

Only now, as she approached, did he begin moving his arms and legs in a panic.

His center of gravity was too high.

His arms and legs moved separately, uncoordinated.

A dozen ways to win flashed through her mind.

Sweep his leg, grab and throw him, counter with her waist—

Any method would do.

‘I’ll start with a simple Thigh Reap.’

Thigh Reap.

A judo technique where the opponent is pulled forward, shifting their weight—

And then their thigh is swept away with a kicking motion, slamming them into the ground.

It was a high-difficulty move, but also one of judo’s signature techniques—

Fast, powerful, and spectacular.

‘If I pull him in like this—!?’

Pak!

Misako grabbed Sion’s sleeve and yanked him forward.

Sion was helplessly dragged in.

She glanced at his face, expecting to see panic.

‘So I was wrong after all.’

There was no way he could respond properly.

She had wasted her thoughts earlier worrying about his potential.

She would take him down in one clean move, give him the participation prize, and move on.

That was her plan.

She smoothly lifted her leg—

And then—

There was nothing.

“…?!”

She looked down at Sion’s thigh.

He had already moved out of the way—

As if he had predicted her kick.

Because her kick had missed, her balance was thrown off completely.

Sion immediately grabbed her collar and sleeve.

This attack—

‘Thigh Reversal…?’

Thigh Reversal.

A counter move that dodged an opponent’s Thigh Reap—

And used their own momentum to reverse the throw against them.

By the time she realized it—

Her body was already halfway in the air.

‘Damn it!’

Gritting her teeth, she tried to escape Sion’s grasp and break her fall.

Bang!

A crisp impact echoed through the training mat.

Misako successfully landed a breakfall—

But—

Her entire back had hit the ground.

“Full-point!”

The referee’s voice rang out.

The match had lasted less than a minute—

And it was over in a single decisive throw.

Misako stared up at Sion in a daze.

‘This… this can’t be.’

Throughout the entire club fair, no one had managed to even score a half-point against her.

Even the most physically imposing Combat Department students had fallen to her throws.

Yet this delicate, frail-looking Magic Department boy—

Had taken her down in an instant.

“Are you okay? Can you stand?”

Snap.

Sion extended his hand toward her.

His palm had no calluses—completely untrained in martial arts.

Yet he had thrown her.

Misako grinned.

She took his hand and pulled herself up.

“Alright. You’re good. Let’s go again!”

Bang!

She pounded her fists together, fire burning in her eyes.

Was this what her father had called “martial talent”?

For the first time in a long while, her competitive spirit flared up.

Just as she was grinning with excitement—

“No, I’m exhausted. That was fun, though. You can give me the money later.”

Bow.

Before she even realized—

Sion had already taken off his uniform, bowed politely—

And walked away from the booth at a brisk pace.

“…Huh?”

Misako remained frozen, fists still raised.

…Wasn’t he supposed to fight her again?