#866 The Supreme Tea Ceremony Tournament

What on earth is going on in this fantasy world?

One thing’s for certain: the art of the traditional tea ceremony hasn’t been conveyed properly here.

The founder of this otherworldly tea ceremony, an elf named Aileron, has attempted to recreate our tea ceremony based on snippets of information she overheard from me.

But how could she possibly get it right?

Especially since I, her source of information, barely know a thing about tea ceremonies.

I’ve just been piecing together fragments of half-remembered conversations like a jumbled puzzle.

If she managed to accurately recreate the tea ceremony based on that, it would be more impressive. 

That would require almost superhuman intuition.

So... what exactly is Aileron’s trial-and-error version of the otherworldly tea ceremony?

“Tea ceremony is... martial arts!”

We’ve gone off in a completely different direction right from the start.

Aileron seems to have decided that the Japanese tea ceremony is a cousin of martial arts like kendo or judo.

“While ingesting tea, you train both body and mind. Furthermore, the awakening effect of tea elevates the spirit, leading to even more intense physical exertion. The ultimate martial art... that is the tea ceremony!!!”

Wrong.

It’s not supposed to be that intense.

“Each participant, with a full cup of tea in hand, battles...! Any careless movement that spills the tea results in disqualification! Anyone who wastes even a drop doesn’t deserve to master the tea ceremony!”

“Isn’t that in itself a disrespect to tea?”

“With both hands occupied, the main form of attack becomes kicking! A fighting style that primarily uses kicks, a true seeker’s martial art, that’s the tea ceremony!”

Aileron declares this with clear conviction.

In her view, the tea ceremony has been reborn as a martial art.

“I will spread this tea ceremony worldwide, making it the new standard! I’ve already organized tournaments in various regions, attracting more and more tea ceremony enthusiasts...!”

“Hm...?”

Suddenly, a bunch of burly guys start gathering around...!

The air seems to be getting denser, hotter, and more humid!

“Today marks the culmination! Tea ceremony practitioners from all over the world have come to compete for supremacy...! This event is called... the Supreme Tea Ceremony Tournament!!!”

The Supreme Tea Ceremony Tournament!!!

Is that the name for today’s event, smelling somewhat like a rip-off?!

A martial art under the guise of tea ceremony, where they fight and fight and fight...! 

Until the last one stands!

I’m getting heartburn just thinking about it, right after the President Fight arc...!

“Rule One of the tea ceremony match! Combatants must hold a cup of poured tea and fight! Spill even a drop, and you’re disqualified! You must respect the tea to be a true practitioner!”

Isn’t that very act a desecration of tea?

“Rule Two! The prepared tea must be enjoyed tastefully; thus, the match lasts only until the tea cools! No, you must conclude the fight before it cools and savor the tea! That’s proper etiquette!”

“Why not just gulp it down and skip the fight?!”

The victor savors the tea triumphantly, while the loser drinks their bitter tea in defeat.

In this way, they continue to seek even tastier tea.

That’s the tea ceremony!

...Is that really how it’s supposed to work?

“One year passes, then two, since I started promoting this...! The number of people wanting to master this tea ceremony is steadily growing. The Supreme Tea Ceremony Tournament will bring them together, marking a significant milestone. Everyone! Give it your all to determine the strongest tea ceremony practitioner today! Ready, go!”

“YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!”

With a roar that would never be heard in a traditional tea house, the tea ceremony commences.

Given that they have to fight while holding tea, their main offensive moves are naturally kicks.

Kicking is what dominates this arena.

The tea ceremony turned out to be a martial art focused on kicking!

...Like hell it is!

“Ultimate Technique, Fierce Leg Slash Formation!”

“Thirty-Two Verse Rocket Launcher!”

“Low Kick! Low Kick! Low Kick! Low Kick!!!”

“Eiffel Kick!!!”

The competitors embellish the matches with a variety of leg techniques.

But it’s not just about kicking wildly; the matches have unique elements inherent to the tea ceremony that influence the outcome.

For example...

“Hoooooooooooo...!”

One of the participants is shaking his hands, making a rustling sound.

That’s the sound of stirring green tea.

Responding to the rustling sound, his spirit overflows, and his aura bursts forth. 

Then, he gulps down the tea that ramps up his special move gauge to MAX, and his own spirit also reaches MAX!!!

The special move unleashed from a state of complete readiness is...!

“Swallow Phoenix Kick!!!”

This is a unique fighting style for tea masters, drawing energy from tea itself.

It’s perfectly acceptable to brew tea mid-battle.

After all, what kind of tea ceremony contest would it be if you didn’t enjoy the tea?

However, the match ends once the tea in the bowl is finished, so pacing your tea consumption is crucial. 

Naturally, asking for seconds would be inappropriate.

In each match, how one savors the tea poured defines the true worth of a tea master!

In this fierce competition, one participant stands out - it’s her.

Aileron.

As the founder of this otherworldly tea ceremony, her movements set her apart from other tea masters.

“Kuoooooooooh...!!!”

Aileron, stirring her tea whisk as if powering up her cosmos, moves faster than any other participant.

So fast, her hands are a blur.

“What incredible speed...! Is this the founder of the otherworldly tea ceremony?!”

She takes a sip of the intensely brewed tea, consuming it in one go.

“Foooooooah! Behold, our guardian deity, the war god Beleasaresssssssss!!!”

Aileron then unleashes her tea cosmos, soaring high and executing her ultimate secret technique.

“Elven Style Ura Tea Ceremony Secret Arts! Elven Fierce Kick Punch!!!”

Is it a punch or a kick?

Anyway, her secret technique sends her opponent flying, who finishes their tea mid-air before being knocked out.

In this otherworldly tea ceremony, it’s a disgrace to be defeated without finishing your tea.

Aileron watches her opponent’s downfall, then drains the last drop from her cup... and the match is over.

“Winner, Master Aileron!!!”

“A-As expected of the tea ceremony’s founder!”

“Now, that’s real skill!!!”

“Is Master Aileron destined to be the champion again?!”

The applause for the victor is generous.

Aileron’s position as the unbeatable champion seems well-established.

But, well...

There hasn’t been much actual tea ceremony in the true sense, has there?

How did this otherworldly tea ceremony turn out like this?

I should have been the one to pass it on.

But without proper training or firsthand knowledge, I couldn’t convey the real tea ceremony...

...Was it fated to turn out this way?

This otherworldly tea ceremony is the result of Aileron’s desires and passion.

With that, any ideology can spread infinitely.

Isn’t Aileron the embodiment of that?

Still, it seems the correct way of the tea ceremony hasn’t been transmitted to this otherworld.

“Ahem, this Supreme Tea Ceremony Tournament... It’s going quite well.”

After the first match, Aileron comments, almost like a mic performance.

But what’s the format of this tournament?

A knockout competition?

You’re supposed to fight to determine the winner, right?

“Let’s introduce a guest player to spice things up! He will surely bring a whirlwind to this Supreme Tea Ceremony Tournament!”

Huh, such a person exists?

Who could it be?

I wonder...

“His name is... the Saint!!”

It is me, after all!

There’s no use trying to escape this reality!!!

I should never have carelessly come to observe.

Me, joining the Supreme Tea Ceremony Tournament?!