Free Isekai Reproduction Life with an Endangered Demi-Human Onee-san in the Forest of Certain Death ~My Mental Stat Is Pathetically Weak, But After Transferring, I’ll Live for Myself This Time~ - Chapter 107: Mock Battle ①

Chapter 107: Mock Battle ①

At the guild’s training grounds, we had combat practice. While casually handling the young adventurers, Freckles—Pamela—spit on me. Bestelta snapped, going a bit yandereta. She ground Pamela’s face into the dirt like sandpaper. Razu-san’s mediation (or extortion) settled things, but everyone was horrified.

“Now that the stage is set, let’s have a mock battle. Kei, Purple Lady, you’re up!”

The adventurers murmur. Turk, still holding a healing Pamela, glares. Kid doesn’t learn.

So we’re really doing this. What’s Razu-san scheming?

“Kei, what’s that beastman saying?”

Bestelta tilts her head, all innocent.

Ugh, the gap from her rampage is too much. She lives in her own world. Well, duh.

“His name’s Razu. Forgot to mention, he asked us to do a mock battle. Says we should show our strength early.”

“Hmm? Not a bad idea. I’m in, Kei. Let’s do it!”

Bestelta grins fiercely, eyes sparkling. Yeah, when she’s like this, there’s no stopping her. If this wasn’t a mock battle, I’d spar with her all night.

“Time for a clash of heavyweights. Star of Demi-Humans, step up!”

The crowd’s buzz and stares hit harder than before. “Heavyweights” is a bit much.

(A demi-human? No way, right? Demi-humans are female-only and holed up in the Forest of Certain Death.)

(They’re just showing off, aren’t they?)

(Maybe… but they crushed Turk and Pamela in seconds. They’ve got skills.)

(Crushed? That was beyond brutal.)

Rumors fly. Our party name sure stands out, for better or worse.

“Both sides, ready!”

Bestelta and I face off in the training ground’s center.

“No killing, obviously. You’re diving the dungeon after, so go easy. Start on my signal.”

I relay to Bestelta, who nods with a smirk. Right, we’ve got a dungeon dive later. Busy day.

“Fufu… fighting Kei like this is a first.”

“We’ve sparred before, haven’t we?”

Back in the forest, she’d train me during downtime.

“That was practice, not a fight. This is a real win-or-lose battle, in front of everyone. Exciting, isn’t it? Never felt this in the forest.”

Bestelta’s aura leaks through her rider suit, thick and wild. Keep that leak to yourself, please.

“I’m not dreaming of beating you. But I’ve been thinking I need to get stronger.”

I’ve got… some strategy.

“Oh? This’ll be fun.”

Her eyes glow gold, purple lightning sparking. Crap, she’s onto me.

I ready a large iron training axe, blunted, of course. A wooden sword’s a toothpick against Bestelta—she’d shrug off blades with her fur. I got the biggest one they had, still half Francesca’s size. I warned them I’d probably break it.

“An iron axe for training? That’ll hurt!”

“That purple beastman’s insane. I sparred her and didn’t even see what hit me.”

“That guy looks scrawny but he’s got power.”

The crowd’s whispers turn to open chatter.

“Tch, ‘Star of Demi-Humans’? Lame name.”

“Eh, makes for good gossip.”

More adventurers gather. Our party name’s still a hit-or-miss.

“Fufu…”

We face off, waiting for Razu-san’s signal.

Bestelta smirks, arms crossed, oozing confidence. Damn, she’s got every right to be. I’ll get thrashed, but tonight, I’ll thrash her back—pan-pan, nuko-nuko, guchu-guchu. Can’t night come sooner?

“Alright, both sides…”

Razu-san raises his hand, then drops it.

Now!

『Dense Fog!』

Thick mist clings to Bestelta’s face.

“Mph.”

I catch a flicker of surprise through the fog. Can’t miss this chance.

“Renkan-ko: Second Layer!”

I channel demi-human power, wrapping it around my body.

Surging strength. Muscles contract. I spring forward like a coiled spring!

“Sei!”

I aim for Bestelta’s stomach. Limbs are easier to dodge, so I go for the core. It’s tougher, but I need to land a hit to start.

…Iin…

The axe stops mid-swing. The fog melts, revealing Bestelta’s smug grin.

“No way.”

“Fufufu…”

My full-force strike? Stopped by her pinky and ring finger.

Like plucking a flower.

Yet it’s like my axe is caught in a vise—immovable.

“Dirty move!”

“Breaking the rules outright!”

“Calling themselves demi-humans—cheaters!”

“Why’d the axe’s momentum die?”

The adventurers yap. Try fighting her yourselves! She’s a kaiju in human form. This isn’t cheating—it’s the bare minimum to even compete.

“I’m thrilled, Kei. You’re coming at me for real…”

Bestelta smiles gently, leaning so close our faces nearly touch. My spine tingles. This is her domain—close-range combat. Cross-range.

Paki… paki…

What’s that sound? She’s snapping the axe from the tip like a twig.

Paki, paki.

Each snap brings a wave of irrational violence.

“No way!”

I try to pull back, but she grips the dwindling handle, twisting it—gii, giii, iin.

Her scent wafts over.

“I’ll match that spirit.”

Za.

She raises her right leg.

Oh, crap.

“Bestelta Kick!”

What’s that name?!

GOOO!

The kick lands, emptying my lungs. The world blurs forward at insane speed.

“Guhha!”

A jolt hits my back. My spine should be shattered. What happened?

“You blocked with the handle at the last second. Good job.”

Through flickering vision, Bestelta poses with her leg raised, cool as hell. A finishing stance? She’s never trained martial arts—pure instinct?

I must’ve been kicked into the wall. The gap’s this big? I’m screwed.

“Thanks… ugh. But ‘Bestelta Kick’ isn’t exactly praise-worthy.”

I taunt out of frustration. Her fight with Sandria had cooler moves.

“…What? It’s a cool name…”

She pouts. Wanna lick that pout.

『Dense Fog!』

Gyuuun.

No time to waste her sulking. Mist clouds her face again. Golden combo, go!

“Just kidding.”

Her cheerful voice cuts through. An elbow looms—counter. She baited me.

“Just kidding…!”

I saw it coming. I slide under at the last second, spinning to—

『Dense Fog!』

I swipe the axe’s remains while obscuring her vision.

“Already saw that one.”

She dodges lightly, tripping me.

Fwa.

My body floats for a split second.

(Can’t dodge—)

“Bestelta Punch!”

A purple fist buries into my solar plexus.

“Ga… ha!”

“Followed by Bestelta Elbow!”

A terrifyingly solid elbow follows. No joke—this’ll crush bones. Is she forgetting to hold back?

『Guh, Dense Fog!』

“Mph.”

I whip up mist, nudging her aim slightly.

“Kh.”

I block with the axe’s scraps, but I’m sent tumbling, the axe now iron dust.

Blood tastes in my mouth.

Overwhelming. This isn’t a power gap—it’s a paper plane versus a fighter jet.

“Looks like it’s over. Good work, Kei. That was fun.”

Bestelta offers a hand. Haa, wanna lick it.

“Could you go easier on me?”

“Haha, but you attacked well! The Thousand Mist combo’s tricky.”

How many fogs was that? Four? Can I keep going?

“You handled it pretty easily.”

“I can sense your presence. My senses are sharp.”

Senses, huh? Then…

“Let’s mess with those fancy senses.”