Toshio Tanaka vs The Father

For twenty years, Juan had run the frontier's only outpost tavern, handling rowdy mercenaries, deserters, and local ruffians.

He can tell with just a glance if someone is a warrior or not. Yet, this pale traveler in the dark business trousers possessed absolutely no stance, no muscle, and no weapon.

"You're a brave merchant, Sir Taro, but a fool," Juan said, "You can still change your mind, pick a weapon."

"Are you scared?" Toshio Tanaka replied smoothly, his unblinking eyes fixed entirely on Juan.

Juan felt a wave of anger. Challenging a warrior in a spar with no weapon was a huge insult. 

Down in the thick grass, beneath the tree, Luck looked up. His face pale with sudden panic. "Mr. Taro, stop! A real sword will slice through your clothes in a single slash! You don't have to do this for me!"

Lily and Kara were equally paralyzed. Lily’s fingers tightly clutched her apron, her heart hammering against her ribs as she watched her big brother stand defenseless.

Even Kara was ready to jump in between them. They all saw Juan's immovable swordsmanship.

"The rules are still the same, correct?" Toshio asked flatly, ignoring the panic around him. He casually reached up and adjusted his wire-rimmed spectacles.

"If I make you taste the dirt, I win the spar." Toshio was being as disrespectful as possible.

Juan let out a low, dangerous snarl, shifting his weight forward into a perfect, low-set forward stance. "Sure, why not? Let's see if your tongue matches your strength, merchant!"

*THUD*

The dirt exploded beneath Juan’s heavy feet. Moving with the unyielding, terrifying force of a runaway car, the big innkeeper charged straight across the arena.

His iron broadsword executing a heavy diagonal downward slash meant to completely shatter Toshio's defense in a single breath.

I'll use the flat side of the sword! Even angry Juan wasn't about to kill Toshio. He tilted his wrist so the broad metal part would hit him instead of the sharp edge.

Toshio didn't flinch. He didn't even step back.

During his university days back in Tokyo, long before he ever wore a Salaryman suit and entered the accounting department, Toshio had been a competitive gold medalist in Aikido. It was a discipline built entirely upon a simple thinking. Do not fight the force, just redirect.

As the cold iron blade sliced through the air inches from his face, Toshio stepped deep into the blind spot of Juan’s lead foot. His movements were smooth, mechanical, and perfectly calculated.

He didn't grab the sharp steel. Instead, using his bare palms, Toshio cleanly grabbed Juan's extended right forearm and shoulder right at the absolute peak of the downward momentum. Blending his own center of gravity with the massive kinetic energy Juan had generated during the charge, Toshio executed a swift spiraling pivot.

*SWOOSH*

Juan's own weight and speed beat him. With a confused gasp, Juan’s massive body flipped cleanly through the air, his iron sword flying from his grip as his back slammed violently flat into the dirt with a thunderous 

*CRASH*

The clearing fell into an absolute silence.

Toshio Tanaka stood perfectly upright on his exact starting spot, undoing his sleeves.

He quietly looked down at the massive man gasping for air in the dirt, and then, he calmly extended his right hand down to help him up.

Juan lay flat on his back for a moment, staring blankly up at the blue sky. He looked at Toshio’s face blocking the sun.

"What... what the heck was that?" Juan breathed heavily, reluctantly grabbing Toshio's hand as he hauled his massive weight back onto his feet.

"That didn't feel like magic. Good heavens!" Juan was surprised instead of furious.

Glad you are a warrior at heart like your son. Toshio thought as hoping Juan would get angry after being defeated.

"Nothing magical," Toshio murmured deadpan, pulling his hand back into his pocket. "Simply a force manipulation technique I learned during my early days. It uses the force of the opponent."

Juan picked up his fallen broadsword, shaking the dirt off the handle as he looked at the salaryman with a new layer of respect.

"If you can spin a giant like me, what need do people have of swords? Master Taro."

"You are mistaken," Toshio corrected.

"This isn't something that can defeat just anyone. The only reason I won because you charged at me with anger. Not to mention your sword edge wasn't even facing me."

Juan let out a exhausted laugh, the defensive walls around his heart finally crumbling.

"Still... a win is a win. I gave my word that Luck can prove himself in the tournament."

"Dad...!" Luck’s voice cracked with an overwhelming surge of happiness.

He stood up from the grass, his face beaming with a massive smile as he pulled the crumpled flyer from Lily's hand.

He stopped midway.

"What happened?" Lily took the flyer from his hands. She had not read the entrance fees part. It was 300 copper coins.

"It's a lot isn't it?" Juan said, knowing exactly what made Luck silent.

"What is happening?" Toshio was confused so he came closer. Reading the flyer from Lily's hands.

"300 copper coins? isn't that enough for staying at the inn for 3 months." He said while smiling.

"It is," Juan came closer too, patting Luck's head. "Did you know it used to be free? But the nobles hated anyone can win so they changed it." Juan explained.

Everyone stood there in sad state. Tanaka won but what's the point? They could never gather that much money.

Lily looked at her brother with puppy eyes. 

"We have the funds, though." Toshio said with no emotions.

WHATTT!?

Toshio took out his coin pouch. Sir David and Granny Geko had gathered a lot of coins for them.

"You need 3 right? take 4. Let's buy you some equipment too." Toshio handed Luck four silver coins. One silver coin was 100 copper coins. And Toshio still had more than ten silver coins left.

I was saving these for after the curse is lifted. No point if we can't reach there safely.

"HOW!" Juan and Luck were shocked.

"I can't accept this." Luck raised his hand to give it back. Even though he needed the coins, he was honorable. Juan felt proud.

Stubborn just like my older brother.

"I'm not giving them to you for free. I trust you will win. This is advance payment for the trip." Toshio said as Lily was trying to hug him. Even Kara was cheering. In their eyes Toshio's respect skyrocketed.

"Goodness, you sure have great luck son." Juan nodded to accept the money. The Father and Son were same.

"By the way, father. How do you know so much about the Rising Star Tournament?" Luck asked what everyone was feeling.

"Ah I never told you I guess," Juan tried to avoid eye contact.

"I met your mother in that Tournament 30 years ago." Juan blushed remembering his past.

"Also she is the reason they started charging the fees, she was first and last person with no noble background to win."

Juan shocked everyone has he walked towards the door.

Author's Note : Apologies for the late chapter, I'll post more frequently now. The next few arcs are one of my favorites. Thank for the support. Keep it up! We are almost 30% of the story.
I promise to deliver a great experience of a Heroic Tale with some Corporate trivia. Ah and some Lily humor with Raw Nero Action!