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Chapter 56: Counter Sense

When Shinku’s victory was announced, the venue erupted with roaring cheers and shouts.

「Damn… If I saw that attack for the first time, I might have taken some damage too.」

「I know right! Shinku-neesan is amazing!!」

「Nn. Shinku is strong.」

『This is a battle between S ranks!! We are witnessing something unbelievable!!』

Thanks to the special barrier introduced this year with large magic tools, the contestants can literally fight with all their might.

Instead of last year’s stopping before landing a fatal hit and holding back magic attacks, this year you can go all-out.

It’s something that will undoubtedly excite those who witness the matches.

From the point of view of the contestants, there is room for emotions such as fear, timidity, dread and such to creep into their hearts. But even that is good news for us.

「The next opponent is an A rank, huh. Seems to be a pure magic user.」

Dodaido was carried out of the ring, and as soon as he woke up, he relayed information to the next contestant in line. They really don’t seem to be looking down on us at all.

Besides, even though it was a temporary death, I couldn’t help but admire Dodaido’s grit in suppressing that fear and immediately relaying information to his comrades.

Next to enter the ring was Mimosa, a female veteran mage.

Mimosa deployed Flame Ball at the same time as the match started.

As if she was trying to finish the match at once, a fairly large fireball formed in front of Mimosa’s wand.

The moment the magic was launched, an iron wall appeared in front of the Flameball. It was Iron Wall activated by Shinku.

Mimosa was caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the iron wall and was unable to cancel her flameball magic. Resulting in……

――BLAST!!

The Flameball hit the Iron Wall and exploded. Naturally, Mimosa, who was the closest to it, took a lot of damage and was sent flying. Shinku rushed in with a follow-up attack and knocked Mimosa unconscious.

『The winner is [Star Supremacy] Shinkuuuuuu! ! ! 』

「That was a splendid magic counter. When did she learn that?」

「The day before yesterday…Shinku asked me what is something that a mage hates the most. I didn’t think she could pull it off immediately.」Kinu.

「What kind of counter sense does she have? The timing of the transformation into a shield in the first match was also perfect, wasn’t it?」Aun.

「That’s right! I can’t even count how many times I got hit by the counter at the guild training grounds yesterday! Of course, she has a good sense, but the amount of effort she puts in is nothing to scoff at.」Drake.

「Indeed. She is going to keep growing from here onwards. I can’t let myself get overtaken by her!」

In the third and fourth battles that followed, Shinku won safely with her overwhelming offense, defense and superb counter-attacks.

The last person to enter the ring was Mick, a magic swordsman who wields a magic water sword.

He spoke to Shinku when he came to the middle of the ring.

「Shinku-san, you’ve completely beaten all of our members up to this point…

But that just means I simply need to defeat all of you!」

「You are excellent at making jokes.

……In the unlikely event that you were able to defeat me, there are two more people of the same rank as me. And there are two more who are overwhelmingly stronger than I am.

Though, being defeated by me means less suffering, you know?」

「Is that true? Those two, who have never fought in this tournament, are overwhelmingly stronger than the three of you…?」

Wow… Mick’s feelings for victory were whittled away in a single conversation.

Did she learn that too? … No, it feels like she’s doing it naturally.

『Next, Vanguard Shinku vs. General Mick, let the match begin!!』

The gong rang to start the match.

Mick moved sideways and formed four water balls at the same time, accurately shooting them at Shinku.

However, Shinku shot down Mick’s magic with her own Water Ball and Iron Bullet, and defended the water balls that she couldn’t shoot down with her shield.

In that gap, Mick rushed towards Shinku while circulating mana through the magic sword. In response, Shinku calmly held up her shield.

Their weapons collided and an explosive sound resounded.

『Contestant Mick! What a splendid battle worthy of a general! In addition to high-power close-range attacks, even contestant Shinku couldn’t counter the water magic attacks!!』

Immediately after that.

「Earth Bind.」

Mick’s body stiffened unnaturally when Shinku activated an earth-attribute capture magic.

During that time when he was stiffened, Shinku transformed her shield into a giant ax and fired a horizontal sweep, slashing Mick from his side to the center of his trunk, completely destroying his physical strength and ending the fight.

『EEEEEHHHHH!? I don’t even know what happened! However, contestant Mick’s torso has been cut open!

It seemed like Mick stiffen for a moment… Was it magic!?

No, more importantly… Mick is not even moving!!

With contestant Shinku eliminating all 5 players, it is Star Supremacy’s victoryyyyyyyy!!!』