Vol 1 Chapter 22: NEO Rei (Vol 1: The Delinquent High School Girl’s Servant Survived and Advanced to the Second Year)

After hearing Rurei’s motive, Miyayuri looked uncharacteristically troubled.

“…So you’re saying that because of me, you punks are imitating this dangerous crap?”

“Sorry—well, to be precise, it’s more like I’d been thinking the same thing as you for a while. But then you went ahead and formed ‘Rei’ first, and I got inspired by that.”

So it seems that not only do you resemble Miyayuri in looks, but even in your way of thinking.

“If that’s the case, maybe you don’t have the right to blame me, but why on earth are you targeting not only biker gangs but even plain delinquents?”

“Because we don’t even know if the culprit who ran over Takeru-kun is still with a biker gang. That’s why we’re also going after delinquents.”

“That’s reckless… If you’re picking on every delinquent, no matter how many allies you have, it won’t be enough. I don’t know how strong you are, but just three of you? That’s suicide.”

“Aah-shi and the others reckon that even with only three of us, we can handle up to thirteen opponents at once. In most cases, we’ll be fine. And if there are more, we just run.”

Thirteen opponents? What on earth is that number based on?

“What do you mean ‘can handle up to thirteen’? Don’t just spout nonsense!”

“It’s not nonsense. Kamiko and I passed the first‐degree karate test by sparring against five opponents, and Hozumi passed the second‐degree Nippon Kempo test by defeating three opponents.”

In a certain famous full-contact karate organization, female candidates for a first degree must spar one-on-one with a total of five opponents and win all five. And in one Nippon Kempo organization, the practical test for the second degree requires defeating three opponents under match rules.

So that adds up to being able to handle up to thirteen opponents.

“Well, in my case, that number was achieved while wearing heavy protective gear for Nippon Kempo. In reality, I could probably handle about five at a time, too.”

Hozumi, who seems to have the lowest count among us, added that—and it doesn’t seem like an exaggeration.

Moreover, aside from the gear, the fatigue incurred under full-contact karate rules versus Nippon Kempo—as a form of MMA—would probably differ even when facing the same number of opponents.

“Right—Hozumi is the strongest among us, so in reality we could take down even more, but we’ve conservatively set our limit at thirteen.”

“Where’s the ‘conservative’ part in that? Even if you’re talking about five-on-one, it’s all based on one-on-one bouts!”

“If we coordinate to avoid being taken from behind and choose our battleground so we aren’t surrounded, it can work out surprisingly well. After all, we took down everyone here.”

Indeed, the ten men lying unconscious in Nanamori—and the fact that Rurei and the others don’t appear seriously injured—suggest that they wouldn’t lose even against more than thirteen opponents.

“Alright, I admit you’re strong. But if you keep this up, sooner or later you’re going to get out of hand.”

“Isn’t that the same for you, Miyayuri-chan?”

“In my case, I can’t forgive biker gangs as a whole, but that doesn’t mean I hate all delinquents or see them as my enemies.”

“Th-that’s why, with such a half-hearted mindset, you won’t be able to avenge Takeru-kun!”

“Um, sorry to interrupt, but may I say something?”

The conversation was going in circles, so I stepped in.

“Ah! Aren’t you that Tsuyokawa kid from the other day? And that uniform—could it be that you’re in the same class as me? Sorry, I totally thought you were a middle schooler!”

Can I cry now?

Suppressing the urge to say that, I stated the truth.