I confront Vergil at the outdoor training ground behind the guild.

The training ground is a bit like a small square.

Its size is smaller than the courtyard of Rose’s mansion, roughly the size of a small park.

There’s not much here except for some worn-out metal armor, perhaps targets for magical training, propped up on armor stands.

Vergil’s weapon is a sword.

I wonder if it could be classified as an 『Odachi』 in terms of specific sword categories?

*Odachi: A large katana

This thing, which is slightly over a meter long, contrasts with the usual delicate image of a sword, seeming rough and filled with a sense of heaviness.

But when Vergil holds it, it looks like an average-sized katana.

Typically, Dragonutes are tall with excellent physiques.

Vergil is no exception, boasting a colossal frame that easily exceeds three meters.

He is wrapped in equipment that looks like a judogi.

—Samurai

Such an impression comes to mind.

Vergil, a Western-looking man with dragon scales on some parts of his skin, doesn’t make the word “Samurai” feel out of place.

It might be influenced by his equipped sword and judogi, but above all, it’s probably due to the warrior’s aura that he radiates, hardened by many battles.

Guild Staff: “Then, let the match between Grandmaster ‘Vergil’ and Challenger ‘Arata’ begin!”

Arata: “…What are you doing, Aya-san?”

Upon hearing a familiar voice, I look at the referee, and for some reason, Aya-san is standing there.

She’s wearing the guild uniform, a style like the blouse I often saw in the town of Loine.

Guild Staff => Aya: “Oh, isn’t this Arata-san who skipped our date without giving me proper notification?”

Arata: “That’s a bad way to put it. I regret what happened then, but I had my circumstances.”

The gallery of adventurers is noisy.

Obviously, they are reacting to the word “date” that Aya-san let slip.

Well, given her looks, which would generally be deemed 『cute』, it’s not surprising if she’s popular among the adventurers.

Vergil: “Do you know each other?”

Arata: “Uh, yeah.”

Vergil: “I see… well, let’s get started.”

Vergil places his hand on the sword at his waist.

In an instant, I have the illusion that the atmosphere has become hundreds of times more intense.

It seems like some of the people in the gallery have collapsed.

Were they of low level, unable to maintain consciousness under Vergil’s pressure?

Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of worrying about them.

The level of Vergil as an NPC, according to my memory, is 【720】.

Although STR was his most outstanding stat, it’s not like the other values like VIT and MD were low.

And what’s problematic in combat with him is the racial trait of the dragon newt.

Dragon newt, who have penalties concerning magic, cannot raise their MP status above zero, and are completely unable to use magic.

In exchange, their ST is incredibly high, and their race-specific ability “Dragonization” provides effects such as significant stat boosts and the ability to fly.

There are three things where I have the upper hand over Vergil.

The fact that I know his combat style.

I have experience in person-to-person combat.

And—

Vergil: “Ho… An excellent weapon.”

Arata: “You can allow a handicap of this level, right?”

Vergil: “Of course. To begin with, there should be no such thing as fairness or cowardice in a battle.”

The difference in weapon specs.

The sword I take out from my inventory is the one I received in the 『The Cannibal’s Den』for training with Rose.

I never thought I would use it before training.

—Sharp Sword 【Kurikara】

Kurikara is the name of a dragon.

That dragon is considered an incarnation of the immovable king.

The 『Sharp Sword 【Kurikara】』 is a weapon modeled after the sword of the immovable king.

Vergil’s sword, if converted into a weapon rank, would be equivalent to rank 10.

However, it has no special abilities whatsoever.

In contrast, the 『Sharp Sword 【Kurikara】』 comes with special abilities like 『Knockback Nullification』.

Furthermore, I equip the 『Dragon King’s Gauntlet』, which I also received in the 『The Cannibal’s Den』, from my inventory.

It is arm equipment with effects like  『Ability Enhancement』 and 『Ability Cooldown Reduction』.

Cheating?

I’m not in a position to say such nonsense right now.

Rather, it’s probably just the right handicap for Vergil.

When comparing my stats with his, there is at least a six-fold difference in STR alone.

The 『Sharp Sword 【Kurikara】』 and the 『Dragon King’s Gauntlet』.

The required stats to equip these two are 【STR: 1000】, 【VIT: 1000】 and 【MD: 1500】.

In addition, to duel with Vergil, I have leveled up several skills.

This has consumed almost all the skill points added by both the Stampede award and the ones I filled in while accompanying Rose in training yesterday.

Even so, my stats are still far inferior to Vergil’s.

I don’t have the luxury of hesitating to use my inventory in public.

If I bring out all the power I have at this point, I can hold my own against Vergil.

Vergil: “It’s been a while since I’ve had such an exhilarating match.”

Arata: “It’ll be even more fun once we start, right?”

Vergil: “You say pleasant things.”

Vergil wears a ferocious grin.

His smile is contagious, and I find my cheeks involuntarily loosening.

Vergil: “Vergil Spada, the Grandmaster of the Promaris Kingdom Adventurer’s Guild! — I will accept your challenge strike with this body‼”

Arata: “B-Rank Adventurer Arata—will face you.”