The Samurai at the Martial Arts Contest

This sounds perfect!

What does? Lemme see, lemme see... "Come all ye Powerful! Unigan Hastilude"?

A Hastilude, in Unigan! What better way to prove the value of my years of martial training?!

If you win the combat prelims, you get to go through to the finals in the Royal City.

Aye, and that will mean warriors of great renown will be there!

Friend Aldo! I shall participate in this tournament! I shall win and carry the glory back to my hometown.

It looks like this hastilude is a team competition. You fight in pairs: team leader and vice, err, leader...

Team leader, is it? I see, like a captain. Then I shall be the captain, and you, friend Aldo, you shall be my lieutenant!

Huh? Not again! Why me?!

Why? Because I can tell that you are a fine swordsman!

Wow, to have a blademistress like Azami say that to me! I hope I'm not blushing!

Okay, Azami. I will be your lieutenant.

My thanks, Aldo. And where are they holding the preliminary rounds?

In the Moonlight Forest, apparently. Wait, the Moonlight Forest?!

Why would they hold the prelims in the Moonlight Forest?

What is troubling you, friend Aldo?

Err, no, it's nothing really. The prelims are being held in the Moonlight Forest. Let's get ready and then head out.

Welcome, noble warriors! You must be 'ere for the Unigan Hastilude, am I right? The rules are just as written on the poster. 'hoo's your captain and 'hoo's the lieutenant?

I am the captain. And Aldo here is my lieutenant.

Well that's all good 'n' proper, ain't it. And what's yer team name?

Team name? I, err...

Aldo, do you have any good ideas for a team name?

Hmm, well, what about Team Azami & Aldo, or something simple like that?

Wha, ?!

Eh? What do you mean, Azami?!

N-No, it is nothing! I am fine with that... That is, I mean it is a fine name for a team!

Umm, okay? Let's go with that then.

Okay, I'm putting you down as Team Azami & Aldo. Very, cozy, I must say. The prelims consist of three knockout rounds. Let me know when yer good 'n' ready.

Okay, it looks like yer good 'n' ready at last. Let's start the first round then, shall we? These 'ere are yer opponents!

Eh?! We're fighting monsters?!

Look, if you can't manage this 'ere small fry, you ain't got no right to call yourself contenders!

It appears they have underestimated us, friend Aldo, setting us such opponents. There is nothing for it but to dispatch them without delay.

Yeah! You're right!

That's the spirit! Round one, and yer off!

All right! We did it, Azami!

There is no sport in this! Give us an opponent with a bit more spunk!

Turns out you ain't all mouth and no trousers, eh? This'll be fun then! You just let me know when yer good and ready for round two.

Right then, let me introduce yer next opponents.

Hmm, more monsters, it would appear.

How did you get a hold of this many monsters? It must have been dangerous.

Nah, these lads've been tamed all good 'n' proper like. They ain't no threat to me.

What do you mean by that?

Aldo! Pay attention to the enemy before you.

Here we go, friend Aldo! Guard my back!

Well, blow me down! You made proper short work of that lot. The third and final round is something a bit special. The fighting square is just through 'ere. Follow me.

Hold up, Azami.

What troubles you, friend Aldo?

Those last monsters were an entirely different prospect from the first ones we faced. They're not the sort of monster to be easily tamed. Something's off here.

Mayhap he has great confidence in his monster-taming...

Or it is some kind of ruse...

If nothing is amiss, then good. If there is... I shall simply slash away his shallow conspiracy!

Right, you two ready for the final round?

Is it more monsters?

Nah...

It's me!

A-A beast?! What's going on?!

You can always be sure that a hastilude will attract the toughest of the tough. They come 'ere, and I capture, brainwash and turn 'em into our foot soldiers.

So the whole Unigan Hastilude thing was just a trap?!

You two 'ave got some skills between you. You'll make a nice little addition to the rank 'n' file!

...... Ha, ha ha ha!

Puny 'umans, the fear's gone and addled yer brains!

What nonsense you speak, you wretch! I was laughing at your foolishness.

Brainwash me? My sides are splitting with laughter! I wield the sword of fealty! I wield it for my master alone! I would sooner slit my belly from rib to rib than become your tool!

What's this gobbledegook you're speaking?!

That is the way of the samurai! It is beyond the understanding of a brutish beast such as yourself!

You shut yer trap, little girl! Yer talking claptrap! Now I'm gonna beat you until you beg me to stop!

Grargh! 'ow's it possible for a puny 'uman to 'ave so much power?

Take that, foul beast! That should teach you to underestimate us humans.

I am sorry, friend Aldo. You have been caught up in this bother because of my selfishness.

What are you apologizing for? Thanks to you, we foiled another of the beasts' plans. If anything, I should be thanking you.

S-Stop it with the flattery. It was nothing more than a lucky break.

Ha ha, all's well that ends well, right? By the way, was that true, what you were saying? About slitting your belly open or something.

Of course. Samurai risk their lives to walk the way of the warrior. If one strays from this path, then this ritual is the natural conclusion.

Natural?! Sounds a bit extreme to me!

These clothes that I wear are both my battle dress and my death robes. I have been prepared from the moment I put my hands through the sleeves.

I see. But you're not going to go slitting anything while I'm around. If things get rough, we, no, I'll protect you and that samurai soul of yours!

Aldo!

Azami, what's the matter? Your face is bright red...

N-No, it's nothing! I am counting on you, Aldo!