Volume 2
Chapter 5.2
Swordsman's
Transformation, Girl's Budding Part 2
Translator : PolterGlast
In the moonlit garden
of the Francilt mansion, Nozomu and Mena face each other with their weapons at
the ready.
"Let's
begin."
"......Yes."
Their distance was
around ten meters. A distance that could be closed in under two seconds if
magic or Qi-jutsu were used.
Mena's rapier was
raised and swung gently in minimal motion. The moment they crossed swords,
Nozomu was struck by a sensation that sent a shiver down his spine.
(Iris did say she is
quite skilled, but this is-......)
The fighting spirit
emanating from the tip of the rapier pointed at him made Nozomu change his
stance several times as he observed his opponent.
(I see. She said she
wasn't going to injure me, but if I were to let my guard down, I'd be riddled
with holes in an instant.)
In accordance with
Nozomu's movements, Mena also subtly changed the movement of the tip of her
rapier.
The two were currently
in a state where they were both gauging the other's movements. There was no
fierce exchange of blows, but that was why it was necessary to maintain a high
level of concentration so as to be ready to move at any moment.
The tension was so
intense that it seemed as if they were on edge. Somia, who was watching over
them, was also absorbed by their swordsmanship.
Somia, hit by the
numbing atmosphere, involuntarily let out a gulping sound. The next moment,
Mena moved.
In an instant, she let
the Qi run through her entire body, and then, *Bang!*. In one swift motion, she
leaped toward Nozomu accompanied by a bursting sound. The speed was second only
to Shino's among those Nozomu had seen so far.
"~!"
Nozomu reflexively
moved to intercept the rapier that was being thrust at him.
He strengthened his
whole body with Qi, and at the same time, he poured his Qi into his weapon to
create an ultra-thin blade. Tilting his katana slightly, he inserted it into
the trajectory of the incoming rapier.
*Screech* With a
shrill metallic sound, the trajectory of the thrust was deflected to the side.
However, there was no
way that Mena's offensive would end with a single thrust. The rapier was pulled
back and immediately launched into a barrage of blows that struck Nozomu like a
rainstorm.
"Guh......"
Nozomu was instantly
pushed back by a barrage of thrusts. He kept deflecting the thrusts by stepping
backward and using his feet to lessen the pressure, but he was unable to
respond in time to the barrage of high-speed strikes from the shortest possible
distance.
Even if he were to
strengthen his body with Qi in the same way, there would still be an
overwhelming difference in the efficiency of Qi between Nozomu, who has
[Ability Suppression], and Mena, who is an expert with a rapier.
(Fast. If this goes on
I will get swallowed ....... If so, then-!)
Nozomu narrowed his
timing to one of the countless thrusts and stepped forward at the same time as
he deflected it.
He also proceeded to
move his body forward in time with Mena's action of drawing back the rapier,
and then he folded his arms and twisted his hips.
A cleaving slash to
the torso, both evasive and offensive.
However, Mena
dexterously slipped the rapier into the trajectory of Nozomu's slash.
At the same time, she
jumped backward. She landed softly while carefully parrying Nozomu's slash.
"A good decision
by combining offense and defense."
"Phew!"
This time, Nozomu went
on the offensive.
He activated his
Qi-jutsu [Flash Step]. Accelerating at once, he attempted to pounce toward
Mena's bosom.
"Sei!"
Mena, seeing Nozomu
activating [Flash Step], moved to intercept.
She stepped forward
with her right foot and, taking full advantage of her rapier and the length of
her arm, she timed her attack perfectly, matching the speed of the onrushing
Nozomu at the zenith of the timing when the tip of the blade would be at its
most accelerated.
However, before Mena's
arm could fully extend, Nozomu's reflection in her vision blurred.
Immediately after,
Nozomu's body, without slowing down at all, dodged Mena's thrust like a snake.
[Flash Step・Curved Movement]. This is a technique in which Nozomu
can freely change the trajectory of his [Flash Step] with his excellent sense
of balance and body movement.
At the same time that
he dodged Mena's thrust, Nozomu unleashed a cleave using the momentum of his
[Flash Step・Curved Movement].
However, Mena, too,
managed to avoid this attack. She pulled back her left leg opposite of the
right leg she had stepped into, brought her elbow back, and interrupted
Nozomu's slash with her rapier, which was imbued with her Qi.
*Clang!* With a
high-pitched sound, Nozomu and Mena clashed and moved away from each other.
"What a wonderful
body control. I didn't expect you to be able to change course at will without
slowing down your [Flash Step] speed......"
While twirling her
maid's dress, Mena was genuinely impressed with Nozomu's skill.
As a swordsman who
utilizes Qi, Mena herself has a certain amount of confidence in her techniques,
including the [Flash Step], but even so, she knew that the technique that
Nozomu had just demonstrated was of a very high level of difficulty.
Above all, the fact
that he was able to perform such advanced techniques naturally and without
delay gave Mena a firsthand impression of Nozomu's skill.
"Mena-san! Just
now, you went straight for my forehead, didn't you!? If I couldn't dodge it,
I'd be dead, you know!"
"I don't think
this level would be enough for a person who fought and survived against someone
equivalent to an S rank though. Right at this point, I am certain that
Nozomu-sama's ability had definitely reached A-rank."
What happened to the
talk about not injuring each other? Nozomu protested, shouting from the pit of
his stomach, but Mena assured him with a nonchalant look on her face that it
would be all right because he could surely dodge it.
If one were to look
closely, one would see that her mouth, which until a few moments ago had been
closed in a straight line, was slightly lifted up. Apparently, she was quite
excited.
"Yikes, this
person is the same type as Shishō......."
"Especially when
it comes to handling Qi, he is far superior to even me. I didn't think it would
be this difficult to even parry it......."
With a relaxed smile
on her face, Mena raised the rapier in her hand. If one were to look closely,
one would see two scars carved into the belly of the blade. They were inflicted
by Nozomu's Qi-blade, [Phantom・Coat].
The cuts were so deep
into the core of the blade that her rapier had already become unusable.
"In this case,
half-hearted Qi-jutsu and strengthening magic will be no match for him."
Mena tossed the rapier
with the broken blade and spun around, flipping her skirt and pulling out a
second rapier. The first rapier fell to the ground and broke with a sound like
shattering glass.
"...... I was
wondering, where do you keep it?"
"It's a maid's
trick. Please don't mind me. However, I only have this one spare. Let's end it
with the next one."
The sound of
explosions echoed through the Francilt mansion. Once again, Nozomu was hit by a
barrage of thrusts from Mena.
Nozomu continuously
dealt with Mena's barrage of blows while retreating again. However, Mena also
had no intention of repeating the same thing.
(How about this?)
She deliberately
repositioned her barrage from the previous one and guided Nozomu's retreat.
What lay ahead was a row of flowerbeds in the Francilt mansion.
Young plants as tall
as a man's waist were planted in brick planters resembling a wall.
Mena was trying to
catch Nozomu off guard by using obstacles.
(Two more steps, one
more step, now!)
"Fuh!"
"Ggh!"
She waited for the
right moment for the retreating Nozomu to make contact with the planter, and
unleashed an all-out thrust.
However, Nozomu, on
the contrary, leaned back and repelled Mena's thrust, leaning over to rest his
back against the plants in the flower beds.
"What
the-.....!"
Mena was taken aback
by Nozomu's unexpected evasive maneuver, but she still managed to give chase.
While jumping over the
flowerbed, she swung her rapier filled with Qi at Nozomu's back as she landed
on the ground.
Nozomu, however, moved
his katana to his back and blocked Mena's attack. Nozomu's ability to evade
danger is frighteningly high, as was the case with his previous evasion.
"Does this man
have eyes in the back of his head?......"
With a certain amount
of admiration and dismay, Mena landed. In the meantime, Nozomu pulled away with
[Flash Step], and the two separated from each other.
The two of them
exchanged stares at each other for the third time.
"Phew......"
Nozomu once again
exhaled heavily and regulated his breathing.
Heat surged through
his entire body accompanied by a tingling sense of tension. The sensation of
his consciousness being sharpened to the utmost limit reminded him of the time
he trained with his master in the Spasim Forest, and his mouth relaxed involuntarily.
Breathe in, breathe
out, breathe in, breathe out. Each time, his concentration grew sharper.
In the ear-splitting
silence, Nozomu found himself staring at Mena with a watchful gaze.
(That level of
instantaneous power. Could the reason be the lapse of time and the speed from
slow to fast? ......)
Mena is indeed an
exceptional swordsman, but the secret of her strength is her instantaneous
reaction.
From a complete stop,
she moved forward, shifted her center of gravity, and then thrust. Everything
happened frighteningly fast. The secret is her near-perfect power-switching.
In order for muscles
to tense and exert force, they must undergo a process of relaxation. She is
very good at this process.
She is also very
delicate in the way she moves her Qi throughout her body. In the same way that
her muscles relax, she can be as soft as a cloud, and at the same time, she can
be as tense and explosive as a spring.
(Come to think of it,
Shishō once told me that I'm a little stiff......)
A heightened sense of
concentration and at the same time, a sense of excitement welled up inside him.
Nozomu relaxed his stance and lowered the tip of his katana.
(Let's give it a
try......)
The way Nozomu
suddenly released his stance made Mena look at him doubtfully.
In the meantime,
Nozomu's entire body continued to relax.
Blood flowed through
his fingertips and toes. His shoulders naturally drooped and his neck hung
down. The katana held in his right hand was only caught by his pinky finger.
Not only that, the Qi
that had been circulating throughout his body gradually loosened.
His Qi, which had been
tense and stiff, loosened up, and blood flowed through his entire body. Then
Nozomu relaxed his legs and feet.
His legs collapsed
under gravity and his body fell. Then he slammed his falling weight down on his
heels and stepped forward, at the same time tensing his relaxed muscles and Qi
all at once.
"Phew!"
What resounded was the
same burst of sound as when Mena stepped forward.
Nozomu had replicated
her [Flash Step] perfectly.
As Nozomu rushed
forward as if crawling on the ground, Mena quickly launched a thrust to knock
him down.
The next moment, a
loud metallic sound echoed.
"~!"
This was followed by a
shock to Mena's arm, and her outstretched arm was pushed back.
Upon closer look,
Nozomu raised his katana, held the ridge up with his left arm and forehead
pressed against it for support, and then used it to block the tip of Mena's
rapier.
(Wha! Is he insane?)
There was only a tiny
spot he could use to receive Mena's thrust with it. If he were to miss by even
a mere tip of a fingernail, he would surely die.
Nozomu, who read the
trajectory of Mena's thrust perfectly while charging at high speed and caught
it flawlessly, gave Mena a shudder. It was not an action that even a master
could easily perform, nor would one even think of doing it in the first place.
She looked down at
Nozomu to see if he was crazy, but he was looking up at her with unwavering
eyes.
(No, he acted with the
certainty that he could do it!)
If one were to look
closely, one would see that Nozomu's blade has dug into the tip of Mena's
rapier and rendered it partially pinned.
Furthermore, at this
point, Mena's upper body was lifted off the ground due to her arm being pushed
back.
(Oh shoot, I hit a
dead end!)
Originally, with
Nozomu under [Ability Suppression], the scales should have tipped in favor of
Mena in a contest of strength. In reality, however, Mena was pushed back by
Nozomu and hit a dead end.
The reason for this
was their respective stances and awareness just prior to the confrontation.
Nozomu charged forward
to scoop her up from the ground, and Mena launched a thrust in the form of a
downward strike. At first glance, Mena's stance seemed to be more advantageous,
but in fact, her center of gravity was higher than Nozomu's, and she was in a
more unstable position than he was.
On the other hand,
Nozomu was able to fully receive Mena's thrust while securing a foothold on the
ground, a foothold that would never budge.
Moreover, between Nozomu,
who acted with conviction, and Mena, who was shaken by his unexpected action.
The difference in mentality between the two sides was also a major factor in
tilting the scales in favor of Nozomu, who was at a great disadvantage due to
his [Ability Suppression].
As a result, Nozomu's
charge, combined with the counter-force of the thrust, pushed back her arm,
which was supposed to be strengthened with Qi.
(Did you take all of
this into account?!)
When Mena realized
this fact, her shudder turned to awe.
"Haaa!"
Nozomu screamed,
convinced that Mena's body could no longer be moved. Nozomu twisted his katana,
snapping the tip of the rapier, and released an upward slash.
Mena, not willing to
give up, slammed her Qi into her legs with all her might and leaped backward,
narrowly escaping Nozomu's slash. She just barely avoided Nozomu's slash, but
her retreat without thinking about the consequences left a huge gap for Nozomu
to exploit.
He returned the tip of
the katana he had slashed upward and then sheathed his katana to the scabbard.
He slammed his Qi into the blade and extremely compressed it. He lowered his
waist in time with Mena's landing, and then drew forth his katana.
[Qi-jutsu・Phantom]
The released
ultra-thin blade flew at high speed toward Mena's landing spot.
"Kuh!"
While twisting her
body in mid-air, Mena pointed the rapier with a shattered tip at the ground.
While floating in the air and in an inverted position, a powerful blade of Qi
extended from the tip of the rapier.
The Qi blade thrust
into the ground temporarily stopped Mena's fall.
And then, Nozomu's
[Phantom]completely severed Mena's rapier by half right in the middle.
Mena, who had dodged
Nozomu's [Phantom] by a hair's breadth, flipped herself up in the air again and
landed on the ground.
"Well done. You
completely got me in the end."
Mena smiled as she
placed the thin rapier, which had been cut in half, into the scabbard she had
pulled out of nowhere.
Nozomu, on the other
hand, did not seem to be perturbed by the superb technique he had just
demonstrated, and he tucked away his katana while letting out a sigh.
"No, Mena-san,
you were going easy on me, weren't you?"
From Nozomu's point of
view, he assumed that Mena was not using her full strength yet.
Indeed, she had only
used Qi-jutsu to strengthen her body, [Flash Step] that produced tremendous
acceleration, and [Coat], which is to imbue her weapon with Qi. It was easy to
imagine that she had a number of other cards in her hand.
"It's rude to say
that I am holding back. It is true that there are some techniques that I have
not used, but at least I did not hold myself back. I have been serious from the
very beginning."
"...... Well, you
did seriously aim at my forehead."
"I believed I
would have lost if I had not been serious."
"So that's why
you were serious, huh?"
"Yes. I have told
you many times, so please believe me."
While brushing off
Nozomu's glare with a cool smile, Mena headed toward Somia.
"Somiriana-ojōsama,
it's over."
"Fue~!
Ah......."
Somia, who had been
stunned by the exchange of so many advanced techniques, came to her senses when
Mena called out to her.
"How was
it?"
"Well, umm,
...... Mena."
"Yes?"
"It was too
amazing to be a reference~!"
Mena lightly agreed
with the teary-eyed Somia, saying, " I guess so", and turned around
to face Nozomu.
"Thank you very
much, Nozomu-sama. It's been a while since I've had such a great
exercise."
Nozomu had the
impression that this maid also had a lot of loose screws, as she was able to
lightly call it a good exercise despite having engaged in such an intense
swordfight.
However, Nozomu was
even more surprised to learn that he could stand up against this swordsman
without releasing his [Ability Suppression].
At that moment, a
dignified voice echoed through the garden of the Francilt mansion.
"Somia, I'm
home."
"Ane-sama, you're
back!"
Irisdina, who had
returned, received Somia, who jumped onto her.
"Welcome back,
Irisdina-ojōsama. How was the request from the guild?"
"It was a pack
led by Garm, as I expected. The size of the pack was quite big though."
"If it was such a
big pack, then the power of its leader must be- ......"
In response to
Irisdina's words, Nozomu couldn't help but let out a muffled voice.
Since Nozomu himself
had been involved in the request she had received, he was curious about the
results of the subjugation.
"Yeah, it was
quite something. From the reports compiled from all the parties, the total
number of Direwolves led by Garm exceeded a hundred, and among them, there were
several magic stone bearers. If we hadn't teamed up with Shina-kun and the
others, we might have been in a dangerous situation."
"Eh?"
Nozomu's eyes widen at
the sudden mention of Shina's name.
His heart thumped from
surprise, and his whole body involuntarily tensed up.
His mind recalled the
circumstances he had heard about in Torgrein's laboratory.
Seeing him like this,
Irisdina looked at him questioningly.
"Nozomu, is
something wrong?"
"N-, no, it's
nothing. I've never heard of or seen such a big pack before. Was anyone
injured? ......"
"No, fortunately,
no one was injured."
"I see ......
thank goodness."
No one was hurt. Upon
hearing Irisdiena's words, Nozomu relaxed his shoulders. Seeing him like this,
Irisdina smiled.
"Were you worried
about me?"
"Well, yeah
......."
"Fufu~, thank
you."
Irisdina's smile
bloomed like a flower. Nozomu's face turned red involuntarily at the innocent,
sincere smile.
"So, ojōsama,
what happened to Garm, the leader of the pack?"
Mena urged Irisdina to
resume the conversation.
"He was a
formidable foe, but we managed to inflict a fatal wound on him. It was unlikely
that he would survive."
"If so, that
means that the vicinity of Arcazam has been secured, right? That's the most
important matter."
While brushing off
Mena's stereotypical compliments, Irisdina spotted the maid who was her
father's confidant. Her gaze seemed to be somewhat reproachful of her.
"More
importantly, Mena, you seemed to be enjoying yourself."
"Yes, for the
first time in a long time, I was able to enjoy a good sparring match. Were you
watching us?"
"Yeah, from the
very beginning. You did treat the benefactor of the Francilt family very well,
huh?"
"This is a formal
request I made to Nozomu-sama, so- ......"
"Wasn't the request
supposed to be about escorting Somia-chan?"
"That's just a
pretext."
"A pretext, huh?
......"
"A pretext? So I
was used as a pretext?"
Nozomu looked up to
the sky, surprised at the maid's claim that Somia's escort request was just a
pretext.
Irisdina, too, was
pressing her temples with her fingers as if trying to suppress a headache.
"My apologies,
Nozomu. My family has caused you trouble. You had a hard time dealing with
Mena, didn't you?"
"Ah, well, I
don't mind. I'm used to dealing with unreasonable people......"
He smiled and waved
his hand lightly at Irisdina, who bowed her head in a truly apologetic manner.
From Nozomu's point of
view, Mena's behavior was more or less dismaying, but still not as bad as
Shino's punishment.
Being thrown out into
the Spasim forest at night, or being made to scream in agony by
impossible-to-perceive deadly techniques.......
The punishment he once
received from his master resurfaced in his mind, and a dry laugh escaped from
Nozomu's mouth.
"In that case, Nozomu-sama,
would you like to join me in a regular sparring match from now on?"
"No, thank
you."
"Is that so?
That's very unfortunate."
As for whether or not
he wanted to do it voluntarily, just because he was used to it, that was
another story.
On the other hand,
Irisdina's headache finally became unbearable as Mena looked seriously
disappointed and dejected.
"Mena, you are
done here, so go back to the mansion. I will personally attend to him."
"What are you
talking about, ojōsama? So far, what we did was just a regular request. I will
now thank him for being a benefactor to you-......."
"G-o-b-a-c-k-t-o-t-h-e-m-a-n-s-i-o-n!"
Irisdina's strong
voice made Mena reluctantly return to the mansion.
"I'm terribly
sorry. As you can see, Mena has a tendency to fool around with whoever she
likes."
"Looks like it.
I'm not sure how to say it, but she's quite- ......"
Nozomu barely
swallowed the remark that she was a somewhat eccentric maid.
Irisdina, on the other
hand, turned her head down with a truly apologetic expression on her face, so
much so that Nozomu, who was watching her, became worried.
"It's true that I
don't mind it. You see, it was a little nostalgic, and I even enjoyed
it......"
"Is that ......
what you were talking about before, about your training with your master?"
Nozomu nodded his head
slightly in response to Irisdina's words.
Certainly, Nozomu
began to devote himself to katana-jutsu as a form of escapism. But the
environment in which he was able to put his true heart and soul into it was
definitely a relief to Nozomu, who was on the verge of breaking down at that
time.
He and Mena had only
spent a short time together, but the time they spent dodging the fierce
exchanges reminded Nozomu of how comforting it was to be in that environment.
It was a fiercely intense training, but not all of it was painful.
It was a fact that he
came to realize only because he had lost his master and realized his own
escapism.
At the same time,
however, this fact also forced Nozomu to confront the outcome of what he had
turned away from, and brought up regrets and self-loathing once again.
The anguish that
swirled in his head caused the smile on his face to distort slightly.
"Nozomu, I have a
few things I need to talk to you about, is that okay?"
"Hm? What is
it?"
"I know it's a
bit late, but I have something for you- ......."
Irisdina then took out
a strangely shaped silver emblem.
It was engraved with
an elegant hawk with outstretched wings in a design reminiscent of a shield,
with a gold border.
The hawk had a sword
in its beak and was holding apples and wheat in its claws, clearly indicating
that it was a special item.
"What is
this?"
"It is the emblem
of my household. It is not very useful in Arcazam, but if you have this, as
someone related to my family, you will not be treated impolitely in the Forsina
Kingdom."
A nobleman's emblem.
It meant a lot that a nobleman would hand over his own emblem. It was a sign
that the Francilt family recognized Nozomu as an important person.
Nozomu's eyes widened
and a look of bewilderment came over his face at the sudden mention of this.
"I want to thank
you for what you did for us. I'd like you to accept it."
"Well, umm ......
are you sure? I'm a commoner, you know?"
Nobles and commoners.
The difference in status varies from country to country, but at the very least,
if a commoner lives a normal life, he or she would never have a chance to be
related to or be approached by a nobleman. In some countries, there is even a
possibility of being treated with disrespect.
Nozomu and Irisdina. A
commoner and a high-ranking aristocrat. The reason they are able to talk like
this is because they live in Arcazam, a very special city on Arkmel continent.
"But you are the
benefactor of our family. Besides, you don't have to worry about your status.
Even in our country, there was a woman of outstanding talent who went from
being a commoner to being the heiress of a great family."
Irisdina's Homeland.
The Kingdom of Forsina is rather tolerant when it comes to the status hierarchy
of nobles and commoners.
"Besides, you are
much more capable than the average aristocrat once you enter the Solminati
Academy and make it to the third grade."
This implication was
based on the fact that she has been in frequent interaction with numerous
aristocrats, exchanged words with them, and observed their behavior.
In fact, Solminati
Academy is the highest academic institution on the Arkmel Continent. In order
to open its doors to many children, the difficulty level of admission is kept
to a certain extent, but there are very strict quotas for advancement.
Of course, there are
educational institutions in the Kingdom of Forsina as well, but basically,
schools in the royal capital referred to the noble schools.
And because it is
called an aristocratic school, it is easy to enter and advance to a certain
level if one is of high status.
Therefore, the quality
of the students of Solminati Academy will be superior to those of the other
schools.
"Is that so?
......"
"Yeah, it's not
just about power. You fought for us when that vampire attacked us that time,
didn't you?"
"Such a thing is
only natural ......"
"That's not natural.
Actually, there is no need for you to fight at that time. No normal human being
would put themselves in danger. Even if they had a secret technique."
Nozomu was taken aback
by the strong tone of Irisdina's voice.
"You were
hesitating. I don't know why you were hesitating, but perhaps the release of
[Ability Suppression] puts more strain on your body than I thought. Something
that could even kill you if used inappropriately......"
"......Why do you
think so?"
"The time you
fought Rugato after releasing your [Ability Suppression] was less than a few
minutes. And yet, you were asleep for a long time after that. It's crazy to
think you could do that much enhancement without any kind of burden."
"......"
In fact, it is said
that one does not exercise all of one's full capabilities in one's daily life.
It is a safety
mechanism that living beings have. An innate subconscious limiter. Something
that is said to be in one's body is innately present, preventing one from
exerting excessive force and hurting oneself.
(if one could remove
it at will, it would be astounding, combined with one's normally suppressed
power)
"Furthermore, as
far as I can tell from your earlier fight against Mena, your preparedness, or
rather, your sensibility in battle is extraordinary. Your ability to discern
between life and death is outstanding. I would even say that you are too
exceptional."
But what made Irisdina
shudder even more was the fighting sensibility that Nozomu possessed.
Since Mena was her
sword master, Irisdina knew firsthand the sharpness of her fencing.
A thrust so powerful
that it could easily pierce even a large boulder if it were seriously
strengthened. In the face of this, Nozomu chose to move forward without
hesitation, and instead of deflecting the tip of the thrusting rapier with the
blade of his katana, he blocked it head-on.
It was a feat of
astonishing physical control and courage.
And his courage made
Irisdina aware of the dangers posed by Nozomu's secret technique of releasing
his [Ability Suppression].
"Perhaps you are
also removing the subconscious safety mechanisms of the living being along with
the release of the [Ability Suppression]?"
"....... I don't
know. I've only released it a few times myself."
"I see. ......
But it's such a technique that even someone of your caliber could hesitate to
use it. I understand that it is a trump card that even the best of men can't
easily control."
That was why Irisdina
could trust him. He really put his life on the line to fight for her.
"You used such a
dangerous technique for Somia, risking your life for her. So you should have
confidence in yourself. You are more than you think you are."
Her straightforward
words forced Nozomu to involuntarily avert his eyes.
The heat and sweet
pain seeped out from deep within his chest, naturally making his eyelids hot
and tears begin to well up. It was the same joyful heat as when Shino once said
"Welcome home" to him.
The heat was almost
overflowing, and Nozomu couldn't help but sniffle.
"Nozomu
......"
"S-, sorry. I
couldn't stop myself......"
Irisdina was at a loss
for words when she caught a glimpse of the loneliness that Nozomu had been
enduring.
However, she had one
more thing she needed to tell him.
"T-, there is one
more thing I wanted to talk to you about. It's about Lisa-kun."
Nozomu's eyes widened
at the sudden mention of Lisa's name. The heat of joy he had felt earlier
suddenly turned into a feeling of suffocation.
Irisdina felt a tug on
her back as Nozomu's expression suddenly began to harden, but she continued to
speak.
"Actually, we
talked a little bit. About what happened between you and her."
A subject that was
immediately rejected when she brought it up before. It was Nozomu's deepest and
bare scar. Naturally, Irisdina understood that it was not a scar that she
should carelessly touch.
But she felt she
should tell him about it. She thought it would be for his sake.
"As it turns out,
she's not lying. Lisa-kun is serious and recognizes that you have betrayed
her."
"I am not-!"
"I know. You're
not lying either."
"...... What does
that mean?"
"I don't know.
But ......."
Irisdina looked up at
the night sky once, paused for a moment, and then turned her gaze back to
Nozomu, who had a puzzled look on his face.
"Is there
anything that we missed? Like, what was happening at that time ......"
"At that time?
......"
"I mean before
you, and Lisa-kun broke up."
Hearing Irisdina's
rational words, Nozomu somehow managed to suppress the heat that welled up
inside him.
A memory that made him
want to turn away. Nozomu looked back to that painful past and answered in a
voice that sounded as if it were squeezed out of him.
"......
Certainly, at that time, I was seeing Lisa less and less. Because I was so
desperate to keep training. So if you were to ask me......."
"I see .......
But this discrepancy suggests one thing. Someone with malicious intent was at
work here."
"What the heck,
just who- ......"
"I don't
know......"
The number of possible
culprits was limited. Nozomu was speechless at these unsaid words.
At the same time,
something in the depths of his heart began to flare up. His pupils dilated and
his breathing became erratic. A greasy sweat broke out on his forehead, his
vision wavered, and he involuntarily took a step backward, a symptom akin to
vertigo.
It was the most
sinister darkness he had ever faced in his life, a darkness that he had kept
hidden from the world.
"I know it might
be tactless of me to tell you this, but I felt I had to."
Silence fell between
them.
"Just please
remember this."
"You are an
irreplaceable benefactor to me. No matter what anyone says, I will believe
you."
"......"
"That's it. Good
night, then. See you tomorrow. ......"
After saying goodbye
to Irisdina, Nozomu also started his way home. His steps were heavy, as if he
were dragging a load of iron.
◆
"I couldn't tell
him ......"
After returning to the
mansion, Irisdina stayed in her room and looked out the window.
The main gate where
Nozomu had left was reflected in her eyes. Her gaze, as if following the
remnants of his departing figure, was tinged with loneliness and hesitation.
"Looks like you
are troubled."
"Mena
......"
Irisdina sighed as
Mena appeared like a shadow.
"Why don't you have
a cup of tea and calm down?"
"Yeah."
Irisdina was led into
the salon, urged on by her childhood caretaker and sword master.
Sitting in a soft
chair, she exhaled worriedly as she sipped a cup of tea that Mena had brewed.
"He is a good
person. He's clumsy and still has his doubts, but I'm sure he'll figure out
what he needs to do."
"That's very high
praise coming from you."
"Yes, he and I
are both swordsmen and when we cross blades, we could understand each other
very well."
The sound of the
steaming tea being poured into the cups again echoed quietly in the salon.
Irisdina was somehow
not amused by Mena's calm demeanor.
"...... that's
not all you wanted to say, was it?"
"Yes, I did a lot
of research before coming to this mansion. It was very helpful to find someone
who was more cooperative than I expected."
After saying so, Mena
took out a bundle of papers from her bosom. Irisdina, who has known her for so
many years, couldn't help but wonder where she had stored it, but she would
probably just be ignored if she asked her about it.
Irisdina waved her
hand as if to encourage her to talk, and then sipped the freshly brewed tea.
"He doesn't seem
to be highly regarded at the school, and from what I have discovered, his
homeroom teacher up until last year was a very picky one. No wonder many
students aren't growing."
Mena looked somewhat
coldly at the data of Kaskell, who had been Nozomu's homeroom teacher until
last year.
"Kaskell-sensei
is an aristocrat from the Cremazzone Empire. Compared to our country, the
nobles in that country have a strong sense of entitlement."
The Cremazzone Empire
is a country founded by a Dragonslayer, and its royal family is the descendant
of the Dragonslayer.
Perhaps because of
this, they tended to look down on the commoners and below, while at the same
time honoring their noble lineage.
The most obvious
example is the slave trade. In some areas, not only demi-humans, who are often
the target of discrimination, but also their own citizens are sometimes used as
slaves, and the empire itself is even actively engaged in this practice.
"However, his
current homeroom teacher seems to be quite open-minded and flexible in her
thinking. Though she doesn't have a lot of experience yet......"
Returning the bundle
of papers in her hand to her bosom, Mena once again recalled the figure of
Nozomu Bountis.
He has the air of an
ordinary young man who is somewhat timid, but from the moment he draws his
katana, he also begins to radiate a swordsmanship that sends shivers down her
spine.
In particular, his
skill is truly extraordinary. Even in the eyes of Mena, one of the leading
swordsmen in the kingdom of Forsina, it has reached an unparalleled level.
"He has a
distorted body, technique, and mind. In a way, it seems he was broken, but
something must have happened."
"I've heard that
his Master was a big part of his life."
"Master, huh
......"
"Is something on
your mind?"
"Yes, about
Nozomu-sama's katana-jutsu, most likely it is the Mikagura-style."
"Mikagura-style
...... as I recall, it's from the Far East."
"Yes, it's the
main school of katana-justu in the Far East. I believe it is a branch of the
original Mikagura-style."
An island nation in
the Far East, Amanosumeragi. Due to the fierce ocean currents that restrict
diplomatic relations, the country has little contact with the continent of
Arkmel.
However, its national
power is so great that it cannot be ignored. When a major power in the eastern
part of the continent invaded the country in the past, it single-handedly
repelled an army consisting of several hundred thousand soldiers.
It also has its own
Qi-jutsu and magic system, and it is said that if cooperation from this country
could be obtained, research in various fields would advance for several
decades.
"And several
decades ago, before I was born, one of the daughters of that family had left
the country. "
Mena has served the
Francilt family for many years. She has knowledge not only of the continent but
also of the Amenosumeragi.
"Her name is
Shino Mikagura. One of the greatest swordsmen to ever live in the Far
East."
"Do you think
she's his Master?"
"I think it's
very likely. The Mikagura style is characterized by a Qi blade that can easily
cut through steel and outstanding body control. And also, Nozomu-sama's weapon.
It is probably a [Mumei]."
"[Mumei]?"
"Yes. A special
katana made by a certain blacksmith in the Far East. It is said that it is a
special weapon, like a kaleidoscope, which can obtain various characteristics,
depending on the bearer."
"Do you think Nozomu's
katana also has some special power?"
"I don't know,
nothing special when I crossed swords with him. Is it unawakened or
maybe-....... Miss, what did he look like when he released his [Ability
Suppression]?"
"...... I don't
know. It was just so overwhelming."
Yes, overwhelming.
That is the only way to describe it. Nozomu, when his [Ability Suppression] was
lifted, was so different from Irisdina's point of view.
The vast amount of Qi
overflowed. The torrent of power that could not possibly be contained within a
person's body was so great that it seemed as if he himself might explode from
the inside.
(The release of
[Ability Suppression]. It seems like there is more to it than that......)
Suddenly, turning her
eyes to the side, she saw Arcazam in the dark night. The direction in which she
looked. Houses lined up in a row. Beyond them was the boys' dormitory where
Nozomu resided.
The distance, so far
away that it was almost impossible to see. The darkness and obstacles seemed to
remind her of the gap between her and Nozomu, and naturally, Irisdina's
expression clouded over.
"This is the
first time I've ever seen you make such a face, Miss?"
"Is that so?
There are times when things bother me too though."
To Mena who said so,
Irisdina sipped from her cup again without saying a word.
As a matter of fact,
Irisdina herself was not sure of her own feelings toward Nozomu.
It was certain that
she felt indebted to him, and there was no doubt that she had a favorable
impression of him. However, behind this feeling, there was a sense of
frustration.
"No, this is the
first time. For the young lady to be so distressed about the opposite
sex."
While Irisdina was in
agony, Mena was looking down at her with a smile on her mouth.
At the implied look
that says she understood, Irisdina's mouth twisted into a pout.
"Even when you
broke off your relationship with your fiancée, with whom you had the most
interaction, the young lady did not show that kind of expression."
It was a long time
ago, but Irisdina had a fiancée.
It was when she was
very young, but they got along well, she remembered.
However, that
engagement was broken off when Irisdina decided to become the next head of the
Francilt family. Their engagement was based on the premise that Irisdina would
marry into the family.
"It is true that
we were not meant to be, is it not?"
"Yes. That
gentleman did not approve of the way the current young lady is."
That fiancée said to
Irisdina, "It is impossible for a woman to be the head of a
household".
In the Kingdom of Forsina,
there is no prohibition against a woman being the head of a family. However, it
was still a male-dominated aristocratic society.
Few women were active
among men, and most of their children married into other families.
Some of them even
blatantly despise women who are active in society.
Irisdina, in
particular, is the next head of a very prestigious noble family in the Kingdom
of Forsina. Although she put up a good-sounding argument, there were still
those who looked at her with disdain from the back of the crowd, more so than
other children.
At some point, her
former fiancée was also among them.
That was why Irisdina
came here to Arcazam. In the meritocratic Solminati Academy, she could place
herself in an environment where she could objectively demonstrate her power.
.......
Irisdina has a
somewhat melancholy expression on her face. On the other hand, seeing her like
this, the smile on Mena's face grew even deeper.
"But, if it's
here ....... in Arcazam, there is no need for you to worry about it."
In the meantime, Mena
was watching the troubled Irisdina with warm eyes.
It was because she
knew Irisdina in her country that there was a color in her eyes that showed she
was pleased with her change.
"This is a
wonderful thing. It may be painful, but those feelings should be
cherished."
"It's not what
Mena thinks. Besides, he has- ...... no, it's nothing."
Mena kept speaking to
Irisdina, who was unusually hesitant.
"My Lady, an
aristocrat is not an aristocrat because he or she is a nobility. It is those
who understand and accept their position, and continue to improve themselves to
be so, who should be called aristocrats. There is no higher or lower status in
that."
"What are you
trying to say?"
"I think you
already know, young lady. Have you not already told Nozomu-sama what my best
friend's origin is and what position he is in now?"
Before Mena, who
tilted her head and smiled at her, Irisdina stood up from her seat.
"I'm going to
bed."
"Yes. Good
night."
Irisdina went back to
her room, leaving Mena bowing reverently with a meaningful smile on her face.
The tingle in her
chest had calmed, though only slightly.
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