Volume 8
Chapter 16
"Phew..."
While the female
contingent was enveloped in a strange atmosphere, Nozomu, in front of his
fallen opponent, maintained his zashin.
His ki consumption and stamina were fine. Although there were some
inconsiderate gazes from the surroundings, when it came to battle, he didn't
mind at all. He felt like he could go on for several more bouts. While
continuing to maintain his zashin,
Nozomu paid attention to his surroundings. While feeling the multiple gazes and
the heat of the mock battle on his skin, he was searching for a presence that
was clearly different from the human presences he had felt until now. The
presence of the wind that blew through the training ground, the scent of the
earth that faintly tickled his nostrils from the illuminated ground, and among
them, the presence of the spirits he had felt that night. Because he had to be
able to sense the power of the spirits and control that power as soon as possible.
Contrary to his heart, the presence of the crucial spirits was, as always,
vague, and he could not sense their existence well. That fact stimulated
Nozomu's impatience. Of course, the fact that a mere human had become able to
sense the spirits was in itself a miraculous progress, but...
"Shh!"
The next moment, from
behind Nozomu, along with a strong fighting spirit, a fist was thrust. Nozomu
reflexively swung his sword, and while parrying the thrust-in fist, he took a
distance from the opponent who had launched a surprise attack.
"Kevin..."
What was there was his
silver wolf tribe schoolmate. Without even trying to hide his dangerous
hostility, he readied his fists and glared at Nozomu.
"I'm your next
opponent. Get ready."
Kevin put his left
side forward and took a stance. As if prompted, Nozomu also raised his sword in
a seigan stance. Nozomu's body and
mind, which had been in a standby state, instantly switched to a battle-ready
state. The moment Nozomu took his stance, Kevin was already moving quickly.
"Tsuah!"
He instantly closed
the distance and flashed his fist. His target was the center of his center
line, the solar plexus. To the thrust-in fist, Nozomu silently slid his sword
along it. With a grating sound, the ki that had been on Kevin's gauntlet
scattered. Nozomu and Kevin crossed paths as if to switch their positions, and
once again turned around to face each other.
"Tch..."
Kevin couldn't help
but click his tongue. Upon closer inspection, a small scratch was on the
gauntlet he had just thrust. It was proof that Nozomu's ki blade had broken
through Kevin's ki. Although Kevin Ardinal was a hot-blooded and proud
beastman, his A-rank ability was not just for show. The martial arts he had
acquired, his combat experience, and above all, his instincts as a silver wolf
tribe member were continuously sounding a warning against the Nozomu he was
facing. More than anything, he had seen with his own eyes the whole of the mock
battle that Nozomu and Jihad had had in their joint class. Now, at this stage,
he had no intention of underestimating Nozomu Bountis. But more than that, what
was dominating his heart was the feeling that he just didn't like the man in
front of him.
"I don't
like him. I really don't like him..."
Kevin turned his own
angry feelings into fighting spirit and slammed it into the opponent before
him. He circulated his ki throughout his entire body, heightening it to the point
where each and every muscle was creaking. Perhaps having also sensed Kevin's
fighting spirit, Nozomu's eyes narrowed. In an instant, Kevin's body was
released like an arrow. He turned himself into a single fang and dashed
straight at Nozomu. On the other hand, Nozomu also raised his sword to
intercept Kevin. He poured even more ki than before into the blade of his mock
sword, activated Flash Step, and was about to swing it down to match Kevin's
charge.
"That's
enough!"
However, the fang and
the blade did not clash. The signal for the end of class echoed through the
training ground. Nozomu's blade had been stopped just before it would have cut
through Kevin's shoulder and torso, and Kevin's fist had been stopped just
before it would have struck Nozomu's left chest.
"..."
"..."
Nozomu and Kevin. The
two, who had exchanged glances at close range for a few seconds, both moved
away from each other and began to walk away with their backs to each other.
"...Next
time."
While turning his
back, Kevin declared to Nozomu.
"The next time we
fight, I will definitely crush you."
A clear, albeit
one-sided, declaration of war. While receiving Kevin's declaration on his back,
Nozomu continued to walk. Although Kevin's declaration also bothered him, it
was immediately painted over by the impatience that was smoldering in his
chest.
"I still
don't feel like I can use it well at all..."
What was occupying
Nozomu's mind was, as expected, the matter of the bomb hidden within him. While
moving to the edge of the training ground and sheathing his mock sword and
returning his beloved katana to his waist, Nozomu swallowed the soliloquy that
had been on the verge of escaping his throat. His ki control was not a problem
at all. His physical condition was also good, perhaps thanks to his day off
from his training with Zonne. The sharpness of his sword skills was also not
bad. However, the sense of impatience in the depths of his chest would, as
expected, not go away. When he raised his face, the students who had finished
their class were leaving the training ground one by one. The visitors who had
been watching from the surroundings were also noisily beginning to head for their
next destination. At that moment, Nozomu was suddenly called out to.
"Excuse me. You
are Nozomu Bountis, right?"
At the low,
intimidating voice, Nozomu raised his gaze, and in front of him was a large man
who seemed to be a noble. Was his age in his forties? Contrary to the fine
wrinkles on his cheeks, his muscular physique and sharp gaze were emitting an
imposing air that would make an ordinary person tremble in spite of themselves.
It was one of the most influential figures in the country of Forsina, Egurodo
Fabran. However, for Nozomu, he was a complete stranger. The other party was
clearly a noble. At the suspicious person who had suddenly appeared, Nozomu
became wary.
"And you
are?"
"Hmm, you do not
know me? I am..."
Before Egurodo could
say his name, a person cut in between the two. It was the young lady with long,
white hair, Irisdina. She, who had cut in to face Egurodo, was directing a wary
gaze at him.
"Iris?"
"It has been a
while, Lord Egurodo. What is your business here today?"
"It has been a
while, Irisdina Francilt. Unfortunately, my business is not with you. It is
with the swordsman over there."
At the word
"Egurodo" that had come from Irisdina's mouth, Nozomu finally
realized the identity of the noble in front of him.
"Egurodo
is..."
"Egurodo Fabran,
a noble of the country of Forsina. I am in what you might call a political
rivalry with the Francilt over there."
At Egurodo's provocative
line, Nozomu tensed up.
"...What is your
business?"
"I will ask you
directly, what will you do with that power?"
At the sudden
question, Nozomu could not answer immediately. Just what did this noble know
about him, and to what extent? A sudden visit, and an intimidating, peremptory
tone. Furthermore, the ambiguous words "that power" were dropping
Nozomu's thoughts into a deep suspicion.
"...What do you
mean?"
For the time being,
Nozomu decided to dodge the question with a vague reply. Because he thought
that there was no need to answer a meaningful question from a person he didn't
even know. On the other hand, Egurodo was sending a glaring gaze at Nozomu. At
the gaze, as if it were trying to forcibly expose the depths of his own eyes,
Nozomu frowned. Although Egurodo had been staring at Nozomu for a while, he
eventually let out a deep sigh, as if disappointed.
"To answer a
question with a question, huh... It seems you are not as much of a man as I had
thought."
"What do you
mean?"
"It means that
you are not a man I can have expectations of."
At the words that were
like he was being cut down, the wrinkles on Nozomu's forehead deepened even
further. To be suddenly approached, and to be asked a rude question in a
peremptory tone, it was natural for him to feel displeasure.
"Lord Egurodo,
those are rather rude words for a first meeting. This is Arcazam, and on top of
that, it is the middle of the opening festival. In front of the eyes of other
countries, for a person who would lose even the bare minimum of
courtesy..."
As if to speak on
Nozomu's behalf, Irisdina stated her complaint. On the other hand, Egurodo, who
had been hit with the complaint, dismissed it before Irisdina's words had even
finished.
"Silence, a woman
would not understand a man's pride. No matter when, what can a man who is asked
his own meaning and cannot answer with his chest puffed out do?"
Egurodo's gaze was
already directed not at Nozomu, but at Irisdina. As if to say that he was no
longer worth paying attention to.
"You too,
Irisdina. You should stop shouldering your house with those slender arms. You
will only be toyed with and will destroy yourself. Be quiet, and as a young
lady..."
"Lord Egurodo, I
am already the next head of the Francilt family. And I have already decided on
my path. I have no intention of turning back now."
Even in front of the
intimidating Egurodo, Irisdina did not change. With a dignified posture, she
declared that she would proceed down her own path without hesitation.
"Hmph, you
fool... Either way, I can't have any expectations of a man with no core. No
matter how excellent his talent or disposition, he will probably not be able to
achieve greatness. To be infatuated with such a man, you and your friends are
not much..."
"You're saying
some rather selfish things..."
That was precisely why
Nozomu could not stand Egurodo's words, which were demeaning them. Before he
knew it, Nozomu had stepped in front of Irisdina and was glaring at Egurodo
again.
"...What did you
say?"
"Is it necessary
to honestly answer the question of someone who suddenly comes up and starts a
fight?"
A rough tone that was
unlike the usual Nozomu. To put it bluntly, he was pissed. An extremely rude
way of speaking to a noble. Furthermore, it was now the opening festival, and
there were also the eyes of the dignitaries of other countries, but that was
precisely why it was a problem not to say anything, despite having been treated
with such rude words and actions. This was Arcazam, where the power of various
countries did not reach. While making the excuse in a corner of his mind that
this much rudeness was no big deal, Nozomu returned the gaze of Egurodo, which
had become even more intimidating.
"Hmph, what can a
man who is protected by a woman..."
"I don't care
what you say about me. But if you insult them any further..."
"Oh, what will
you do...!"
The next moment, a
dense killing intent enveloped the training ground. At the same time, countless
silver flashes ran through Egurodo's eyes. At the silver flashes, which were
running as if to bisect his neck and four limbs in an instant, and furthermore,
to cut his torso into four pieces with a straight downward cut and a horizontal
sweep, Egurodo swallowed his words.
"..."
After freezing for a
few seconds, Egurodo confirmed his own neck, where the silver flashes had run.
Egurodo's neck was firmly attached to his torso, and there was not a shred of a
cut. The katana of the facing Nozomu was still in its scabbard, and his hand
was not even on it. The silver flashes that Egurodo had seen were the sword ki
that Nozomu had released along with his killing intent. An imaginary sword
flash that had been released with the clear intention of "I will cut you
there." The overly dense sword ki was such that it had made not only the
facing Egurodo but also Irisdina and the others, who had been watching the
course of events from the side, and the dignitaries of various countries, see
that imaginary sword flash.
"N-Nozomu..."
Irisdina, who had been
hit by Nozomu's strong sword ki, let out a voice in spite of herself. The
facing Egurodo narrowed his hard eyes and curled his lips.
"...I see, so
you're not a cowardly rabbit, but a dog that wags its tail for its master. Then
you should at least make sure that you are not abandoned by your owner. The
Francilts are not as pure and innocent as you think."
Perhaps he had no more
business, as Egurodo turned on his heel and began to leave the training ground.
When Egurodo's figure had disappeared into the shadow of the school building,
the tense atmosphere that had been enveloping the training ground finally
relaxed. The students and dignitaries, who had been released from the tension
that could make one's body shrink, were hurriedly leaving the training ground
while furtively peeking at Nozomu and the others.
"Nozomu. Are you
alrigh..."
"I'm sorry, Iris.
I messed up."
"No, it's fine. I
knew that the Fabran family would make contact at this time, during the opening
festival. And besides, that person's attitude is the same, anytime,
anywhere."
That's why it's a
waste to worry about it. While adding those words, Irisdina smiled. From the
fact that she did not seem to be particularly concerned, Nozomu also judged
that that noble's confrontational attitude was not something that had just
begun. However, a slight shadow was cast on Nozomu's expression.
"No
core."
Those words, which he
had been told by Victor in the same way, were aching in the depths of Nozomu's
chest like a splinter.
***
Egurodo, who had left
the training ground and had returned to the Solminati Academy building, and
behind him, Egurodo's trusted subordinate, Mekuria, was following.
"Mekuria..."
"So, how was he?
The dragonslayer in question..."
"Even if he was a
dragonslayer as you said, in his current state, he would be neither poison nor
medicine. But..."
What came to mind was
the sword ki that had been released at the end. Even for Egurodo, who had faced
numerous warriors, nobles, and royalty, it was a killing intent so dense that
he had never seen it before, and if that had been directed at an ordinary
person, it was such that they might have died from the illusion of "being
cut" alone. Although he had not shown it on his face due to his natural
bravery, his pride as a noble, and above all, his pride as a man, to be honest,
Egurodo had also felt a cold sweat on his forehead. At the same time, he also
thought this. It was not a bad thing.
"It seems you
have given the other party a clearly bad impression..."
"Hah, in our
country, which has the Dizard Empire to the north and the Cremazzone Empire to
the south, a single dragonslayer is not enough. And in the current situation,
it is more convenient for him to be with the Francilt family."
In reality, the
situation of the country of Forsina was quite severe. That country had a
national situation where it was sandwiched between a powerful country of
different species to the north and a military power to the south, and if the
country of Forsina were to take in a dragonslayer, there was a possibility that
the Cremazzone Empire, which had a dragonslayer at the origin of its founding,
would find fault. Also, although there had been no diplomatic relations with
the Dizard Empire to the north, there was talk of establishing limited
diplomatic relations recently, and the situation both at home and abroad was a
little tense. If a bomb such as a dragonslayer were to explode in this state,
the one who would be hit the hardest by its blast would be the house that had
the closest relationship with that dragonslayer, in other words, the Francilt
family.
"I'll have that
weathercock pull the chestnuts out of the fire."
"Is that all
right?"
"You're
persistent."
After admonishing his
adjutant, Egurodo began to walk, ignoring the adjutant who was standing by. He
walked as if to shake off this odious academy from his sight.
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