Concept: World - Chapter 4: Friendly Exchange Match (1)

In the otherwise empty room, Tia stood before the window with a cup of coffee in hand, watching the sunrise.

She loved the sight of the sun climbing above the horizon.

Looking at that enormous ball of fire—born of the same source as her own Concept—always filled her with an indescribable sense of familiarity.

This was the top floor of Sunblaze City's Central Headquarters.

A private level reserved exclusively for the squad commanders.

There were many rooms here.

Most of them stood completely empty.

Even the few that showed signs of habitation were almost barren, furnished with nothing more than a bed, a wardrobe, a computer, and a handful of office supplies.

For someone whose daily life revolved around training and official duties...

the space was almost wastefully large.

Returning to her desk, Tia intended to use the brief period before morning training to deal with some paperwork.

Instead...

an unusual email caught her attention.

"...Pandora and Koro?"

As she read its contents...

her brow slowly furrowed.

The message was signed by Pandora.

It appeared to have been initiated by them.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Tia let out a quiet sigh.

A troublesome morning already.

I'll call a commanders' meeting as soon as Oenone returns from Flash Stride City.

She glanced out the window once more.

The weight resting upon her shoulders seemed just a little heavier than before.

"...I wish I could've gone to that concert with them too..."

The next morning, Ethel returned to the room next door to finish unpacking the mountain of merchandise.

This time, the equally early-rising Yinbing finally joined him.

As for Oenone...

she was still fast asleep, snoring peacefully in bed.

Ignoring the occasional rumble coming from across the room, the two of them spent nearly an hour packing everything neatly into their suitcases.

"Finally..."

"It's done."

Leaning against the wall, Ethel let out a relieved sigh.

Fortunately, Yinbing had actually helped today.

Had he been left on his own, it probably would've taken more than twice as long.

"This is for you."

Yinbing tossed him a small object.

Catching it, Ethel discovered a chibi Kotoha keychain.

Beside the tiny figure hung a large clock.

Across its face was a smiling autograph.

"It's a limited-edition signed charm."

"A souvenir for your first concert."

"I couldn't let you go home empty-handed."

"Thanks."

"I'll treasure it."

"Looks like the captain isn't waking up anytime soon."

"I'm going to change."

"Meet me downstairs in half an hour."

"Where are we going?"

"Flash Stride City's headquarters."

Walking to the door, Yinbing opened it for him.

Back in his own room...

Ethel looked down at the little charm in his hand.

A quiet smile spread across his face.

He really would treasure it.

The streets of Flash Stride City were lined with posters of Kotoha.

The citizens' admiration for her was every bit as fervent as Sunblaze City's devotion to Tia.

The two walked toward headquarters while eating pancakes for breakfast.

"So..."

"What are we going there for?"

After swallowing the last bite and crumpling the wrapper into a ball, Ethel finally asked.

"To mingle."

Yinbing shrugged.

"It's not every day you get to meet Concept Users you've never seen before."

"So..."

"Basically sparring matches?"

"Pretty much."

"But nobody's allowed to draw blood."

"We're guests here."

"If someone suddenly loses a fighter and it affects a Demon subjugation..."

"...that'd be a disaster."

"How many squads does Flash Stride City have?"

"Three."

"Same as us."

"Their personnel are pretty similar too."

"We'll mostly be seeing the First and Third Squads these next two days."

"The Second Squad should still be on standby."

"Do you know everyone?"

"Not necessarily."

"It was my first time meeting Naiji too."

"But I imagine there'll still be quite a few familiar faces."

Ethel chose not to ask about anyone's Concepts.

He already knew Yinbing wouldn't tell him.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the same unassuming building they had visited the previous day.

It looked just as inconspicuous as before...

though considerably busier.

"Good morning."

"We're from Sunblaze City."

"This way."

After glancing at Yinbing, one of the staff members immediately set down what he was doing and led them inside.

Flash Stride City's headquarters proved to be just as cramped as its exterior suggested.

After weaving through several narrow corridors...

their guide opened a back door.

Behind the building lay a surprisingly spacious training ground.

Passing numerous members in the middle of practice, they eventually arrived at an open area where several people were already waiting.

White lines painted on the ground marked out an arena in the center.

"Morning, you two."

"Where's Oenone?"

The most eye-catching among them was a tall man with straw-colored hair.

His smile was brighter than the summer sun.

"Still asleep."

"So..."

"What's on today's schedule, Lord Flash Planet?"

"You can just call me Hermes."

He laughed.

"More or less the same as last year."

"But first..."

"We should probably introduce everyone for the new faces."

He rested a hand on the shoulder of the man standing beside him.

"This is my vice-captain, Herty."

The introduction was obviously meant for Ethel.

"Morning, Yinbing."

"And nice to meet you, little brother."

"I'm Herty Spite, vice-captain of Flash Stride City's First Squad."

The black man possessed an extraordinarily muscular build.

His bulging biceps were impossible to miss.

As they shook hands, Ethel could feel the thick calluses covering Herty's palms.

"Hello."

"I'm Naiji."

"Nice seeing you again."

"And over here..."

Hermes gestured toward another man standing apart from the group.

"The Third Squad."

"Our captain, Etta."

His steel-gray hair jutted outward like the spines of a hedgehog.

A long overcoat concealed the lower half of his face behind its raised collar.

Dark sunglasses hid his eyes...

yet Ethel could still sense an unmistakably hostile gaze.

Unlike everyone else, Etta made no attempt to shake hands or even nod.

Instead, he spoke with open contempt.

"The Third Squad?"

He himself was captain of Flash Stride City's Third Squad.

Yet his tone dripped with disdain toward the two visitors who also belonged to a Third Squad.

Ethel and Yinbing politely nodded.

Yinbing, however...

was visibly irritated.

"Etta."

"I'd advise you not to underestimate Yinbing."

Turning toward them, the older man beside Etta smiled politely.

"I'm Rogui."

"Vice-captain of the Third Squad."

His perfectly groomed goatee immediately reminded Ethel of Tier.

Judging by his bearing...

he was almost certainly far more experienced than his own captain.

He spoke to Etta less as a subordinate...

and more like a senior correcting an immature junior.

Unfortunately...

Etta paid him little attention.

The atmosphere instantly became awkward.

Fortunately, the Third Squad's final member cheerfully stepped in before the silence could linger.

"Hii~~!"

"I'm the Third Squad's Lost One!"

"My name's Molly!"

"My favorite food is honey!"

"Nice to meet you all!"

"Alright."

Hermes clapped his hands once.

"Your turn."

Before standing, he quietly whispered something into Yinbing's ear.

Ethel couldn't hear what it was.

But Yinbing's expression immediately sharpened.

Even so...

her voice remained perfectly calm.

"I'm Yinbing."

"Vice-captain of Sunblaze City's Third Squad."

"Some of you already know me."

"As for those we're meeting for the first time..."

"I look forward to working with you."

She deliberately emphasized every single word of the final sentence.

Etta merely scoffed.

He clearly had no intention of taking her seriously.

Afraid Yinbing might actually lunge at him, Ethel hurriedly stepped in.

"Hello, everyone."

"I'm Ethel."

"A member of Sunblaze City's Third Squad."

"Excellent."

Hermes smiled as he looked around the group.

"That concludes the introductions."

"I'm sure everyone already knows why we're here."

"A friendly exchange match between the Concept Users of Flash Stride City and Sunblaze City."

"If there aren't any questions..."

"...let's begin."

"Naiji."

"If you would."

"Yes, Captain."

Completely ignoring the tension hanging thickly in the air...

Hermes officially declared the start of the matches.

After taking Ethel's and Yinbing's measurements, Naiji returned carrying two black uniforms.

"These are training uniforms."

"As long as you land solid hits on your opponent, you'll earn points."

"The winner is decided by whoever has the higher score at the end."

"If possible, try not to aim for the head."

He glanced at Ethel's waist.

"Your weapon is a dagger, right?"

As the two changed into their uniforms, Naiji explained the rules while extending his hand.

"I'll need your weapon."

"You did remember to bring it, didn't you?"

Yinbing asked casually.

"...Isn't it a little late to ask that now?"

"Good point."

Naiji accepted Ethel's dagger and Yinbing's boots before wrapping both in black cloth.

Just as he was about to step away like everyone else...

Hermes stopped him.

"Naiji."

"You're first."

Turning toward the visitors, he smiled.

"Who'll be representing Sunblaze City?"

Yinbing patted Ethel on the shoulder.

"Good luck."

"The rest of you, wait in the room behind us."

"Huh?"

"Aren't we all supposed to participate?"

"Just do it."

"I'll explain later."

The Flash Stride City Concept Users reluctantly headed into the small room behind the arena.

Watching Yinbing and Etta disappear into the same room...

Ethel couldn't help wondering whether leaving the two of them alone together was really a good idea.

After a brief warm-up...

Ethel and Naiji stepped into the white circle.

As referee, Hermes explained the rules one final time.

"Your injuries won't appear as actual wounds."

"Instead, the uniforms will record the impact and convert it into points."

The monitor behind him lit up.

"If you block with sufficient force, you can reduce or even prevent point loss."

"And whenever a Concept is activated..."

"...its name will be displayed on the screen."

"We fight until I call a stop."

"If either of you launches an attack with genuine killing intent..."

"...I'll intervene immediately."

"And you'll lose the match."

He raised one hand.

"Take your positions."

Ethel gripped his blunted dagger and studied his opponent.

Naiji was completely unarmed.

Seeing his empty hands, Ethel immediately suspected that, much like Yinbing...

Naiji's Concept probably revolved around his hands.

Watch his hands.

That's the priority.

His strategy was set.

"Begin!"

The instant Ethel activated Mind's Eye, he seized the initiative.

His dagger flashed forward.

Perhaps Naiji hadn't expected such an aggressive opening.

Before long...

the pace of the battle was entirely under Ethel's control.

The dagger danced relentlessly.

Unable to evade every strike, Naiji absorbed hit after hit, momentarily thrown into disarray.

Even while pressing the attack...

Ethel never stopped watching Naiji's hands.

Every attempted counterattack was calmly avoided.

Sweat rolled down Naiji's face as he desperately searched for a solution.

Then...

his eyes flicked toward the display screen.

The Concept name shown there immediately told him everything he needed.

Leaping backward, he landed lightly on one foot.

Ethel saw it clearly.

The next move would be a rapid series of kicks.

Not nearly as many as Yinbing's relentless punches...

and Ethel had dodged every one of those before.

Without hesitation...

he closed the distance.

Smack!

A remarkably crisp sound echoed across the training ground.

Almost instinctively...

Ethel looked upward.

Naiji had simply slapped his own palms together.

The movement had been incredibly slight...

yet it produced an unnaturally loud report.

Ethel had already confirmed through Mind's Eye that no crimson attack lines originated from Naiji's hands.

No attack was coming from there.

Yet...

his gaze refused to leave those hands.

"Ugh!"

Five consecutive kicks slammed directly into Ethel's torso.

He was launched backward.

Most of the impact was absorbed by the training uniform...

but the force still sent him skidding across the ground.

In an instant...

hunter and prey traded places.

Still trying to understand what had happened, Ethel was forced onto the defensive.

Focus.

The crimson trajectories appeared once more before his eyes.

Simple.

A straightforward sequence of kicks.

He could dodge them.

Smack!

The same sharp sound.

The same involuntary glance.

The same devastating result.

Only then did Ethel realize where the real problem lay.

But by then...

it was already too late.

Dozens of kicks landed cleanly in rapid succession.

His score plummeted.

"Stop!"

Hermes announced.

"The winner..."

"Naiji."

Naiji offered him a hand.

Ethel accepted it and climbed back to his feet.

Even at the very end...

he had never seen a single crimson line emerge from Naiji's hands.

Because...

they had never attacked.

"Concept: Slap."

"It forcibly redirects my attention..."

"...doesn't it?"

"Exactly."

Naiji nodded.

"It's an ability that catches first-time opponents completely off guard."

Hermes walked into the arena, casually ruffling Naiji's hair before turning toward Ethel.

"Concept: Heart is an exceptional ability."

"It's perfect for seizing the initiative and overwhelming your opponent before they have a chance to recover."

"Nine times out of ten..."

"...that strategy works."

"Unfortunately..."

"...today happened to be the tenth."

"But your reactions during the fight were impressive."

"That deserves praise."

During the second barrage of kicks...

even while his attention was still being dragged toward Naiji's clap...

Ethel had forced himself to remain focused just long enough to hurl his dagger at Naiji's supporting leg.

Hermes had been genuinely surprised.

Very few people managed to launch any kind of counterattack the second time Concept: Slap was used against them.

Under normal combat conditions...

that throw likely would have interrupted Naiji's offense entirely...

allowing Ethel to seize back the momentum.

"It seems Sunblaze City's newest talent isn't someone to underestimate."

Hermes smiled warmly.

"I look forward to the day when both of you become shining pillars of your respective cities."

Naiji raised a fist.

Ethel immediately understood.

Smiling, he bumped his own fist against it.

A silent gesture of respect...

between two warriors who recognized each other's strength.

ns216.73.216.184da2

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