Chapter 35: Sacred Knuckle

Haga Reiko does not have any grand background.

She had not been training since long ago like Leas, nor was there a dramatic reason such as her parents being killed by a Diabolic or Monster Villain.

If one were to force a point of difference from others — it would be her admiration for champions of justice, perhaps.

She was childish enough to watch the programs often shown on Sunday mornings and think "I want to become a being like that," yet adult enough to sigh and resign herself with "That’s impossible."

But several months ago — the impossible became possible.

While fleeing in confusion from a suddenly appearing Monster Villain, the transformation heroine of justice who rescued Reiko — Sacred Saber.

Captivated by her fighting style — and resonating with the magical power she released, Reiko obtained the right to fight evil.

Yes, the right.

It is by no means an obligation; just because you have power doesn’t mean you have to fight — Leas told her that.

(Ah, but—)

There was fear.

No matter how much one admires the champions of justice in stories, who would actually want to fight monsters?

But.

In these hands there was a means to protect someone, and yet abandoning that and becoming the one protected — felt terribly sinful.

And more than anything — because the expression of the dignified and beautiful senior, the heroine of justice who had always protected them until now, looked so painful.

Thinking that such a person was now continuing to fight all alone — Reiko could not abandon the right.

——Therefore, today as well.

Haga Reiko — Sacred Knuckle — fights.

"Let’s go—"

She threw her smartphone into the air and caught the spinning, falling object right in front of her.

A completely unnecessary unnecessary movement — yet for her it was a necessary ritual.

Heroic actions like when masked heroes or magical girls transform; by going through that she settles her "resolve." It is the resolve to fight, and the resolve to protect everyone as a transformation heroine of justice.

"——Sacred Change!"

In an instant, her body was enveloped in light.

The blazer she had been wearing until a moment ago disintegrated, and the silhouette of her body became exposed.

Bands of light overflowing from her chest wrapped around her body and generated a costume resembling spats and a cheongsam.

While boldly stretching her legs from the slits that went up to around her waist, Reiko stretched her limbs into an X shape.

Light gathered. On her limbs, on her chest.

Gauntlets on both hands, greaves on both legs, and armor centered on the chest of the cheongsam.

She tied the red ribbon that fluttered down softly into her palm like a headband — and while her hair color transformed into gold and grew, it became a ponytail.

——The one standing here is no longer Haga Reiko.

She is the transformation heroine of justice, Sacred Knuckle.

"Man, every time I think it, when the uniform and smartphone get decomposed and disappear it makes me anxious."

She laughed while looking at her right hand that had been gripping the smartphone before transforming.

When she first decided to become a Sacred and tried transforming as a test, she had been very flustered.

"...Ah, yeah, I see... that must be tough..."

——Hm?

Reiko tilted her head.

When she acts carefree like this after transforming, she is usually warned "Tighten your focus, Knuckle."

What’s wrong? she thought as she turned around — and saw it.

The figure of the warrior of justice Sacred Saber hiding behind the water tank on the rooftop, only showing her face.

"...What are you doing?"

Is this that thing? Playing the big sister of the protagonist from a retro masterpiece baseball manga?

Before she could tease like that, the shrunk champion of justice muttered "...No, well..." and began speaking in fits and starts.

"...Even in this form, I wonder if the skirt will be flipped..."

"Ah..."

I see, that is certainly a problem.

Going around and looking at Saber hiding her body with the water tank — more specifically, looking at the skirt.

It is a long skirt with a spreading hem. More like a dress a young lady would wear than a swordsman’s attire, but she had previously said it does not hinder footwork.

It is probably something like the hakama in kendo. Because the long skirt hides the legs, it becomes harder for the opponent to read the initial movement. Of course, that is no reason to make it a fluttering skirt, so that part is probably Leas’s own preference.

Though — no matter how long the length, if asked whether it can resist the strong wind that has been howling since this morning, it is questionable.

"Well, regarding that, both before and after transforming I wear spats so it’s no problem. Or rather senpai, wouldn’t it be better to go put on show panties or something even now?"

"No... this form reflects my spirit and is optimized for easy movement. If I needlessly wear clothes from this world, my movements could become dull."

"Ahh, so that’s why the spats I’m used to wearing are reflected in the costume."

While nodding, she gazed at the embarrassed Saber.

At the weak appearance that differed from usual, Knuckle went yosh and strongly slapped her own cheeks.

She had become a champion of justice because she obtained the power to save people in trouble, so even if the one she is saving is the same champion of justice there should be no problem.

And more than anything, it is a pinch for the senior she is always taken care of by. If she doesn’t work hard at a time like this, what kind of champion of justice is she? She would be scolded by masked heroes and cure-cure transformation heroines.

"Then this time I’ll work hard. Fortunately, even if my skirt is flipped there’s no problem at all."

She lifted the skirt of the cheongsam-style dress and put on a confident smile.

As you can see, underneath are spats. There is no problem. ...If there were boys here they would probably stare thinking "This is also...," but at least the two of them concluded there was no problem.

"...Understood. Sorry, but I’ll leave the vanguard to you."

"Leave it to me~! Or rather, wouldn’t it be fine for senpai to just keep hiding here? The opponent is someone whose only ability is flipping skirts with wind."

"Knuckle, remember Atel Octo. Do you think he is a weakling who can only violate women?"

"...Ah, I see."

Swinging tentacles like whips, sliding across the ground while expelling lotion, and hindering the enemy’s movements with adhesive liquid.

Even though all of those are not their original uses, he skillfully manipulated them and fought Monster Villains and combatants.

The same thing might be said of the being that is generating this wind.

No, in the first place—

"There is also the possibility that the wind itself that has been blowing since this morning is an application of the ability. I will borrow your strength, but do not let your guard down, Knuckle."

"...Nn, understood."

She took a deep breath to regulate her breathing and closed her eyes.

What was projected on the back of her eyelids was the school attack incident from the other day.

If Atel Octo had not appeared at that time, what would have become of them?

Would they have been miserably killed, or not even allowed to die and been humiliated, or would they themselves have been unharmed yet caused many of the people they must protect to die?

Either way, she thinks the day called today would surely not have arrived.

That is exactly why she must put spirit into it.

(Heroes help each other. Then I have to properly help too.)

That said, if she forces herself and becomes a burden it would put the cart before the horse.

Therefore, she calms her heart — and challenges.

"Let’s go, senpai, please follow me—!"

"Yes, understood!"

She leaped high into the sky and flew while stretching a trail of light.

In the schoolyard Atel Octo was already standing. Standing opposite him was — Niekawa Kazuki. The person Knuckle had guessed was the cause of this phenomenon.

(So we’re thinking the same thing!)

She stood stan next to Atel Octo.

A little apart, Saber also did the same.

"——You’re late, champions of justice Sacred."

"I flew over as soon as I read the article, so I’d like you to look the other way a bit, Vigilante-san."

I see.

While confirming the figure of him — Atel Octo — who put a smile on his mouth as if finding something amusing.

As always, an abnormal appearance. The thin tentacles covering his entire body constantly wriggled, and the wet schlick, schlorp sounds of the mucus-covered tentacles rubbing against each other continuously rang out.

Only the slightly exposed mouth and the brilliantly shining crimson eyes proved that the base was human.

If one thought about it normally, it was the form of a monster that should be subjugated.

An opponent one should not be able to trust or rely on.

But — Sacred Knuckle, Haga Reiko, trusted Atel Octo.

(Whether you received the power of light and became a hero, or resisted the power of darkness and aspired to the path of a hero, that’s the only difference between Atel-san and me.)

And more than anything — because it made her purely happy that he said he wanted to help senpai.

"So, what do we do? I’m already ready anytime."

Therefore, talk familiarly like this and smile.

Sacred Knuckle has not produced any particularly large achievements, but even so, just by being a Sacred she is trusted to a certain degree.

If she becomes friendly with such a person, if she can appeal that the Sacred trust him, the number of people who trust him will probably increase.

"Wait wait, Knuckle. No matter how ready you are, if the opponent doesn’t come there’s nothing we can do."

"——Wait, is that man over there not the cause?"

Toward Saber who leaked a suspicious voice, Atel Octo nodded.

"Yeah, the one making the wind blow around the school is someone else."