Middle-Aged Man Isekai Summoning - Chapter 5

 Fighting the Hero

Yuno quietly stepped into the ring. Then, facing toward me, she began to speak about her magic.

"To make the fight fair, I'll tell you about my magic."

As she spoke, faint light shimmered around her.

"I can summon seven special swords."

In the next instant, space warped, and a sword materialized in Yuno's hands. The sword transformed one after another.

• 1st Sword — Volcano: A broadsword with a burning, crimson-blade of fire. The undulating blade scattered sparks with every swing.
• 2nd Sword — Hurricane: A slender sword shaped like wind. Possessing a swirling wind pattern, swinging it kicked up strong gales that cut through the air.
• 3rd Sword — Landslide: A massive sword heavy as rock. Sharp rock protrusions lined the blade, giving it enough power to shatter the earth with a single blow.
• 4th Sword — Flood: A wavy blue blade. Flexible as water, swinging it created water currents that released flowing slashes.
• 5th Sword — Blizzard: A slender sword formed from ice crystals. It emitted a freezing chill with every strike.
• 6th Sword — Heatwave: A curved sword shimmering like a heat haze. The blade glowed red-hot, creating hot winds along its arc.
• 7th Sword — Earthquake: A thick sword marked with fissure-like patterns. The blade vibrated constantly.

(...Wait? Why are these translated into scary disaster names?)

Frowning, I stared at the swords.

"They translated as disaster names for me... Did I hear that wrong?"

"Nope, you heard right," Yuno replied calmly. "These are swords that govern disasters. If I pour my real mana into them, they can cause large-scale disasters."

"...Yuno, what were you called in your original world?"

Asking with a bad feeling, Yuno gave a bitter smile and shrugged her shoulders.

"Hero of Disaster, Hero of Calamity... or 'Man-made Disaster'."

"Hey, hey..."

I held my head in my hands.

(Is that even a Hero? That sounds more like a Demon Lord! Isn't that clearly a title people feared?)

Noticing my hesitation, Yuno chuckled lightly and reassured me:

"Come on, don't worry. I usually keep a triple seal on them, so a disaster won't happen. At most, it'll just blow away a single house!"

(No, that's still incredibly dangerous! That doesn't reassure me at all!?)

Though panicking internally, I put on a cool front and pretended to think.

"How much can you hold back?"

Yuno looked slightly caught off guard, then let out a amused chuckle.

"Heh heh, I like your honesty. Let's see~♪ I'll try to hold back to just blowing you away."

"Ah, please do!"

The moment I answered immediately, the surrounding air felt like it froze.

"...Why is the old guy acting so bossy?" Maya muttered in disbelief from the side.

"By the way, since we're at it, want to place a bet?" Yuno proposed with a mischievous grin.

"Sure. What are we betting?"

"If I win, Dai, you'll strip naked and apologize to us for being rude. If I lose, I'll do whatever you ask."

"...The reward if I win is pretty generous, are you sure about that?"

"Well, there's that much of a skill gap between us," Yuno declared nonchalantly as she drew her 2nd sword and took a light stance. Glaring at me with a smirk, she said, "Then... shall we begin?"

With that signal, the match started.

"...Ah, but it's already over."

"Eh?"

Clap!

The moment I threw a certain object, smoke erupted right in front of Yuno's eyes.

"Ugh!? My throat hurts! It burns!"

Tear spray. A non-lethal weapon that causes an immediate burning sensation and intense pain upon contact with skin, eyes, nose, or throat, leading to coughing and uncontrollable tears. I tried making it myself as an experiment, and somehow managed it. Yuno writhed in pain on the spot, unable to move.

Confirming the smoke had cleared, I walked up to Yuno slowly.

"Yuno, that's match."

"Cough, cough...! Just like earlier, isn't that cowardly?! That's not your own power!"

"No, no, I made this with my magic, you know? Can you make something like this?"

"Huuuh?!"

(I wondered if I could craft minerals or materials if Earth attribute lets me generate stone. Turns out, vividly imagining the object and structure makes it possible. Though it consumes an insane amount of concentration and mana, so if you asked me to do it again, I couldn't...)

"At any rate, it's my victory!"

"Ghh... Fine, I admit it. I can't make that."

"Then I'll claim my reward!"

When I looked over Yuno's body with a gaze like I was scanning her up and down, she covered herself, blushed slightly, and spoke shyly:

"I... I'm still inexperienced... Could you please be gentle?"

(Ooh, good to know! Wait, I haven't even said anything yet!?)

"Old guy, you're the worst!"

"Dai-dono, you were so cool until just now! You're terrible!"

The female group condemned me all at once. No, wait, wait, I didn't say a word about demanding her body!?

"Yuno, I'm not demanding your body."

"I-I'm sorry, I misunderstood..." Yuno looked down apologetically.

(Geez, don't say things that cause weird misunderstandings.)

Sighing lightly, I continued:

"My command is: from now on, let's eat lunch together."

"...That's all?" Yuno looked up in surprise. Beside her, the other girls widened their eyes in shock as well.

"And that goes for the rest of you too!"

" " " " EHH?!" " " "

Everyone shouted in unison.

(Well, of course. They probably didn't expect a command like that.)

"We know way too little about each other. Everyone's individual abilities are amazing, but because we lack coordination, we end up getting in each other's way. That's why, to get to know each other, we're going to talk while eating together."

A brief silence fell over everyone. But soon, Yuno smiled softly and gave a happy nod.

"In my previous world, people distanced themselves from me because of this power. So I didn't have the courage to get close to anyone more than necessary. But Dai, at least with you, it seems fine."

Looking at me directly with a relieved expression, she said:

"Once again, my name is Yuno Abel. I look forward to working with you."

"I'm Dai. Nice to meet you."

We exchanged a firm handshake and stepped down from the ring. Just then, Maya spoke up discontentedly:

"I'm the type who prefers eating alone, though..."

"No can do. Maya, you lost too."

"Then let's go another round!" Maya offered a provocative smile, but I shook my head instantly.

"No way. If we go again, I'll lose. I'm quitting while I'm ahead."

"Coward!"

Just as Maya shrugged in frustration, Iris dropped a sudden bombshell.

"Haven't fought."

(Iris is saying something weird? Let's ask just in case!)

"Who do you want to fight, Iris?"

Iris pointed her finger.

"Dai."

(Are you serious! Give me a break! My stamina and energy are at their limit! I have to persuade her out of this!)

"I'm tired, so let's do it another time, okay?"

"Want to fight now..." Iris declared quietly while staring straight at me.

"I agree with having meals together, but do you have an objection, Iris-chan?" Sharon asked curiously, to which Iris replied in a small voice:

"Meals are fine..."

"Then why...?" I asked nervously.

"Just... want to try fighting..."

(Damn it! What kind of warrior battle-tribe are you from?! And we had just wrapped things up so nicely!)

Seeing me flustered, Maya smirked and provoked me:

"Can't even grant a child's request?"

"Ghh... No, but still..."

As I hesitated, Iris looked up at me with pure eyes.

"No?"

(Iris-chan, that's cheating!)

Unable to resist the power in those eyes, I gave up and slouched my shoulders.

"...Fine, let me at it."

"Mm!" Iris nodded happily, but my mind was in turmoil.

Unlike the combat trio, Iris wasn't a muscle-brained fighter. So I thought I could convince her verbally without fighting, which was why I made zero preparations. More accurately, I hadn't expected to fight a young child in the first place.

(...Alright, I'll just fight half-heartedly and lose quickly!)

Holding my spear loosely, I provoked her lightly:

"Alright, come at me! Uncle here will be your opponent!"

However, ignoring my words, Iris quietly whispered:

"Everyone, come."

In the next moment, five dog-like... no, wolf-like beasts suddenly materialized.

"Eh? Wait, hold on! That's unfair!"

Ignoring my protest, Iris calmly commanded:

"Go!"

"No way!"

Before I could even scream, the five beasts pounced on me at once. Though they avoided vital spots, bite marks were etched all over my body.

It was my complete defeat.

Fortunately, Sharon healed me, but I was genuinely worried if those would turn into lifelong scars.

From the next day on, we all started eating meals together. However, for some reason, as her "reward for beating me," Iris demanded to sit on my lap while eating.

(Well, she's cute, so I guess it's fine.)

And like that, I became able to converse with everyone naturally.

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