"I don't have any objections..."
Kiryu Setsuna wore a gentle smile on his face, agreeing to Mutou Judai's suggestion that seemed like a challenge.
If Soryuin Shion hadn't previously seen the expression Kiryu Setsuna had unconsciously revealed when fighting Okami Sakura, she would probably believe now that Kiryu Setsuna was a good-natured gentleman.
But actually, after seeing his previous expression, no matter how weak or gentlemanly he appeared normally, you wouldn't think he was a normal person.
—This was Kiryu Setsuna.
Although he agreed, his gaze still turned to Soryuin Shion.
After all, this matter probably couldn't be decided by his agreement alone...
And indeed that was the case.
"Mutou Judai..."
Soryuin Shion walked up to Mutou Judai, glanced at Akemi, then asked Mutou Judai with some confusion.
"Aren't you Totsuki's representative fighter?"
"I'm not... but if you insist on seeing it that way, you can consider me Totsuki's representative fighter."
Hearing Mutou Judai give such an answer, Soryuin Shion sighed.
"So you've come to help our Korakuen... did Akemi promise you some benefits?"
Hearing Soryuin Shion ask this, Mutou Judai smiled.
"Actually, personally, I simply don't like Toyo Electric... their plan targeting your Korakuen is their most important plan right now, so I studied it and thought it would be quite nice to disrupt Toyo Electric's plan, so I came."
"Actually, it's helping Totsuki... but if you don't trust such a reason, then I'll help you fight one match, and you can give me a little money, just as a token."
Hearing Mutou Judai say this, Soryuin Shion slowly frowned.
"Toyo Electric indeed also intends to target Totsuki... I see, then I understand."
Soryuin Shion caught on.
Totsuki was indeed facing pressure from Toyo Electric now. Although Totsuki was the leading enterprise among chefs in this country, it was definitely insufficient compared to an established enterprise like Toyo Electric.
Korakuen Girls' Academy—actually, her situation was worse than Totsuki's.
After all, she didn't have Totsuki's status as a leading enterprise in an industry, and couldn't even be said to have the power to fight Toyo Electric. At most, she was just a slightly troublesome opponent for Toyo Electric.
That's why Toyo Electric would target her side while confronting Totsuki...
If Kiryu Setsuna fought, based on her judgment, that Tenrō-ken probably wouldn't be a match for the monster Kiryu Setsuna.
But if Mutou Judai fought...
—That would represent Korakuen and Totsuki joining forces.
If they won this Kengan, and Korakuen and Totsuki joined forces, combining Totsuki's wealth as a restaurant leader with Korakuen's various connections...
There might not be no possibility of fighting Toyo Electric!
I see.
Did Totsuki think of even this point...
If that was the case...
Honestly, Soryuin Shion was already looking forward to joining forces with Totsuki against Toyo Electric. Although losing this Kengan wouldn't matter much to Korakuen, if they lost, for Totsuki it wouldn't just be about face—Toyo Electric would probably treat Totsuki as a soft persimmon to squeeze afterward.
In that case, the pressure after forming an alliance might increase...
"I don't have any particular objections, but I still hope to win this Kengan if possible—so Mutou Judai, although I've heard your name and that you defeated a super rookie and a fighter sent by Toyo Electric, if you had come before I saw Kiryu Setsuna, I would definitely have agreed to let you fight..."
While saying this, Soryuin Shion stepped aside, gesturing for Mutou Judai to enter the fighting stage.
"But now... would you mind proving yourself? Of course, due to the rudeness of this behavior, I will definitely provide compensation that satisfies you afterward. I'm truly very sorry."
Soryuin Shion was completely treating Mutou Judai as a representative sent by Totsuki.
Seeing Soryuin Shion lower her attitude so much, Mutou Judai's initially somewhat uncomfortable feelings now relaxed.
So...
He looked toward Kiryu Setsuna on the fighting stage.
"I don't mind—but... well, Kiryu Setsuna, right? Do you need to rest for a bit?"
"I don't mind."
Kiryu Setsuna smiled harmlessly.
Hearing him say this, Mutou Judai said no more, casually took off his coat, then leaped onto the stage.
"In that case, excuse me."
Mutou Judai had no grudge against Kiryu Setsuna, and this wasn't Kengan but a sparring match.
So Mutou Judai didn't intend to test Soru and Sonic Punch—instead, the moment he jumped onto the stage, he placed a curse on Kiryu Setsuna!
After all, this match just needed to be won, it wasn't Kengan, and he might have to get along with the opponent for a few days afterward. If he fought too harshly, it might be awkward to interact later.
Mutou Judai chose the curse with this mindset.
Mainly worried about hurting their relationship!
He chose the non-fatal option.
Then seeing it was complete loss of consciousness—a serious symptom simply called coma—Mutou Judai smiled.
This was good.
With this, he could go easier.
That's what Mutou Judai thought, while Kiryu Setsuna adjusted his condition slightly the moment Mutou Judai entered the stage.
Kiryu Setsuna was normally quite normal as a person.
Gentlemanly toward others, gentle, with the typical appearance of a light novel male protagonist—only when it involved his god, when it involved Tokita Ohma and that enemy he hated most in this life, Tokita Niko, would he become that crazy.
So...
When facing a strong enemy, he would add a non-existent memory, then see Tokita Niko's shadow in you and try to kill you.
Of course, if you hugged Ohma in front of him and gave a classic DIO performance—"Ohma's whatever isn't yours, Kiryu Setsuna, it's mine, Dio!"—he would probably rush up to fight you desperately.
He might even develop into him and Ohma both trying to kill you!
But without such situations, not involving Ohma, Kiryu Setsuna was very normal.
He would fight normally.
Below the stage, Soryuin Shion, Soryuin Akemi, and Okami Sakura—these three were watching.
Among these three, only Soryuin Akemi thought Mutou Judai would win.
Okami Sakura and Soryuin Shion had just witnessed Kiryu Setsuna's strength, so both thought Kiryu Setsuna would win.
Soryuin Shion thought Kiryu Setsuna was a monster that surpassed Mutou Judai.
Okami Sakura thought that since Kiryu Setsuna had defeated her so easily, he definitely couldn't be defeated by just anyone.
Then...
—The match begins!
With such an announcement, a huge roaring sound rang out on the stage.
Bang!
The hard stage was instantly shattered by Mutou Judai's step, then Kiryu Setsuna's pupils contracted. When he came to his senses, Mutou Judai's fist had already landed on his face.
Then...
Well, there was no then.
Kiryu Setsuna...
—He lost consciousness!
Mutou Judai used Soru as his force method, giving Kiryu Setsuna a punch at a speed no one could see clearly, then—the match was over!
This...
Watching Mutou Judai walk down with a smile and a peaceful expression, you could tell just by looking that this guy hadn't even finished warming up against an opponent like Kiryu Setsuna, hadn't even gotten serious... Soryuin Shion wasn't exaggerating—she really widened her eyes and opened her mouth.
She completely couldn't believe what she was seeing was real!
Now she probably understood what Okuya Ken had felt before...
When Himuro Ryo was knocked out by Mutou Judai with one punch, his shock was definitely no less than her current state...
Mutou Judai... was this guy really human?
That's what Soryuin Shion thought, while Okami Sakura walked up to Mutou Judai. While Mutou Judai was somewhat puzzled, with her right hand in a cast and bandages after being treated, she bowed deeply to Mutou Judai.
When she was defeated by Kiryu Setsuna earlier, although she knew Kiryu Setsuna was stronger than her, she didn't have any particular thoughts.
Because that wasn't the kind of strength she wanted—absolute strength! The strongest on earth!
But Mutou Judai's strength, like an adult fighting a child, truly shocked her.
So...
"Although this request is very rude and lacks sincerity, Mutou Judai—no, Master Mutou—I am a fighter who began training with the goal of being the strongest on earth, Okami Sakura from the Okami Dojo. I will agree to anything you ask. Please accept me as your disciple!"
...