NOVEL NEXT Chapter 63
Chapter 63. The Roaring Lion and the Smiling Sword Incarnate
Four days have passed since I decided to enter the World Tournament. Yes, only four days. The tournament is less than a week away. Seriously, what am I going to do? I don’t even know who the Absolute Ones participating are.
“Fuuu~”
Let’s switch gears.
Today, thanks to Sairenji-san’s ability, we’re heading to America, where the tournament will be held. Is that method even legal for crossing borders? Well, maybe the Special Countermeasures Unit gets a pass. After all, there’s no time to deal with procedures when responding to emergencies across countries.
Anyway, that’s why Sairenji-san and Hattori-san are here at Yanagi House.
The destination itself doesn’t really matter, but there’s a reason I invited them to my home.
It’s because my family declared they’d be coming along.
I tried to resist with all my might, but I was utterly defeated. My dad, the witch, and the tyrant trio are thrilled about the trip (even Louis is coming). By the way, when I asked Ao about skipping school,
[Huh? What are you talking about, big bro? It’s summer vacation during that time… Oh, wait, sorry. You don’t have something like that as a corporate drone, do you? Don’t worry about it!]
She gave me a pitying look, so I whacked her on the head.
And now, Hattori-san is hilariously flustered in front of my mother.
“H-Hattori Suzuna here! Nice to meet you!”
“Oh my, such a cute girl! So, do you have someone you like? Come on, tell me, dear.”
“Ah, w-wah!”
Mom’s relentless questioning is making her panic, her eyes darting everywhere.
My mom’s the type to be pushy even with strangers, so this always happens at first.
Sairenji-san is desperately trying to blend into the background to avoid the same fate, but it’s only a matter of time before she’s caught.
Still, “cute girl”, huh? Pfft, not at her age—
Grab.
My mom seamlessly grabs my head and locks me in an iron claw.
“If you keep thinking nonsense, your head’s going to be pulp, you know?”
“I’m sowwy!”
Hearing my apology (plea for life), she seems satisfied and tosses me aside like trash.
Ow… What a scary “sister”.
Now Hattori-san and Sairenji-san are cowering in fear in the corner.
I rub my aching head while gathering my packed belongings.
A few days’ worth of clothes, some electronics like my smartphone, and snacks should do it.
No need to worry about language, either.
I’ve mastered English! …Well, that’s a lie, but Hattori-san gave me a ring that auto-translates languages. It’s amazing, not just converting others’ words into something I can understand, but also transforming my own words for others.
Right now, both Ao and I are wearing them.
Apparently, everyone else in the group is already proficient in English. I expected it from Dad and Mom, but even Hattori-san? She’s just a year younger than me—how’s the gap this wide?
“Nyaa~”
“…Louis, are you comforting me? By the way, are you a boy or a girl?”
I try to check by picking Louis up, but he smacks me with a cat punch.
Looks like cats have privacy too. Guess I’ll drop it.
“Alright, time to take off!”
Using me as a shield against Mom, Sairenji-san calls out.
“Ready whenever you are!”
Mom nods, holding a travel catalog.
“It’s been a while since our last family trip!”
Ao, completely in vacation mode, ignoring her poor brother.
“Alright! Got the camera ready! I’ll capture Hayato’s finest moments!”
The one family member thinking about me, though his family rank is dead last.
“Myaa, myaa!”
Of course, we haven’t forgotten about Louis.
I hold the grumpy cat in my arms, fully prepared.
“Everyone, form a circle and hold hands,” Sairenji-san instructs.
Following her directions, we all join hands.
Since I’m holding Louis, someone grabs my shoulder instead. Sairenji-san’s on my left, Hattori-san’s on my right.
Two girls holding my hands… This isn’t bad.
“Teleport.”
With slight apprehension, we teleport to America.
3rd Person POV
A restaurant in America.
Inside, a red-haired man devours a mountain of food, leaving the other patrons stunned.
“Hey, how many plates is he on now?”
“Stopped counting after eight. But more importantly, that red hair…”
“Yeah, no doubt about it. Don’t know why he’s at a regular restaurant, but the media’s been going nuts about him entering the World Tournament. Not surprising he’s in America.”
“So that’s him… one of the Absolute Ones, Abel Leon…”
The red-haired man—Leon—finishes his last plate, grinning.
“They’ve arrived…”
He has no proof.
But his instincts tell him.
Someone worthy of reaching him is here.
Leon’s reason for entering the tournament?
He sensed something fun brewing.
Battles between Absolute Ones alter landscapes, so real fights rarely happen.
Plus, participating in events often turns them into staged spectacles, so he usually avoids them.
But this time was different.
It wouldn’t be a staged fight. If he let his guard down, he might even lose.
“Can’t wait to see who shows up! Hopefully, I get to fight them before that guy. It’d be boring if they lost midway.”
That guy refers to the other Absolute One competing in the tournament.
“Well, if it comes to that, we’ll just have our showdown… That wouldn’t be so bad either. Let’s see who’s stronger now.”
Grinning wider, Leon leaves the restaurant and heads out to hunt monsters, unable to contain his excitement.
That day, every monster in the region fell to the fiercest lion.
3rd Person POV
A penthouse in a British tower.
On the balcony of the top floor, a blond-haired, blue-eyed man sips wine while gazing at the city below.
The wind tousles his hair as he smirks and drains his glass.
“Something interesting seems to be happening.”
From behind, a red-haired woman calls out.
“Jack, what’s so amusing?”
She is one of his wives and a skilled ability user.
“It’s the World Tournament.”
“Maybe a ninth Absolute One will emerge.”
“Unlikely. Absolute Ones like you don’t just appear out of nowhere.”
“Agreed.”
Says another woman, this one blonde, clinging to the redhead.
She’s another wife—a former spy who was supposed to seduce Jack but ended up falling for him instead.
“Arisa, stop clinging to me! You startled me!”
“Sorry, sorry! But your body just begs for hugs!”
“Ugh, what does that even mean?”
A man with multiple wives. A situation so absurd that if Hayato saw it, he’d cry blood.
But Jack has a way of making the impossible possible.
“Time to head to America. Are you all coming?”
“Of course. Someone needs to keep you in check.”
“Me too! Can’t wait to see you in action, but don’t overdo it, okay? Your opponents have feelings too!”
Jack chuckles at their words, nodding lightly.
“…This is going to be fun.”
The person whispers to the night.
His name is Jack Grant.
One of the eight Absolute Ones in the world and the second Absolute One entering the World Tournament.
His ability transforms based on his opponent, making his battles dazzlingly beautiful.
His moniker?
—The Sword Saint.