Volu 2 Chapter 5.2
Swordsman's Transformation, Girl's Budding Part 2
Translator : PolterGlast
In the moonlit garden of the Francilt mansion, Nozomu and na face each other with their weapons at the ready.
"Let's begin."
"......Yes."
Their distance was around ten ters. A distance that could be closed in under two seconds if magic or Qi-jutsu were used.
na's rapier was raised and swung gently in minimal motion. The mont 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 tis as he observed his opponent.
(I see. She said she wasn't going to injure , but if I were to let my guard down, I'd be riddled with holes in an instant.)
In accordance with Nozomu's movents, na also subtly changed the movent of the tip of her rapier.
The two were currently in a state where they were both gauging the other's movents. 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 mont.
The tension was so intense that it seed 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 mont, na 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 sa ti, 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 tallic sound, the trajectory of the thrust was deflected to the side.
However, there was no way that na's offensive would end with a single thrust. The rapier was pulled back and imdiately 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 ti to the barrage of high-speed strikes from the shortest possible distance.
Even if he were to strengthen his body with Qi in the sa way, there would still be an overwhelming difference in the efficiency of Qi between Nozomu, who has [Ability Suppression], and na, 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 sa ti as he deflected it.
He also proceeded to move his body forward in ti with na'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, na dexterously slipped the rapier into the trajectory of Nozomu's slash.
At the sa ti, she jumped backward. She landed softly while carefully parrying Nozomu's slash.
"A good decision by combining offense and defense."
"Phew!"
This ti, Nozomu went on the offensive.
He activated his Qi-jutsu [Flash Step]. Accelerating at once, he attempted to pounce toward na's bosom.
"Sei!"
na, 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 tid 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 na's arm could fully extend, Nozomu's reflection in her vision blurred.
Imdiately after, Nozomu's body, without slowing down at all, dodged na's thrust like a snake.
[Flash Step・Curved Movent]. This is a technique in which Nozomu can freely change the trajectory of his [Flash Step] with his excellent sense of balance and body movent.
At the sa ti that he dodged na's thrust, Nozomu unleashed a cleave using the montum of his [Flash Step・Curved Movent].
However, na, 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 na 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, na was genuinely impressed with Nozomu's skill.
As a swordsman who utilizes Qi, na 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 na a firsthand impression of Nozomu's skill.
"na-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 soone 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 na 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 monts ago had been closed in a straight line, was slightly lifted up. Apparently, she was quite excited.
"Yikes, this person is the sa type as Shishō......."
"Especially when it cos to handling Qi, he is far superior to even . I didn't think it would be this difficult to even parry it......."
With a relaxed smile on her face, na 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 beco unusable.
"In this case, half-hearted Qi-jutsu and strengthening magic will be no match for him."
na 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 . 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 na.
Nozomu continuously dealt with na's barrage of blows while retreating again. However, na also had no intention of repeating the sa 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.
na was trying to catch Nozomu off guard by using obstacles.
(Two more steps, one more step, now!)
"Fuh!"
"Ggh!"
She waited for the right mont 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 na's thrust, leaning over to rest his back against the plants in the flower beds.
"What the-.....!"
na 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 na'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, na landed. In the anti, 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 ti.
"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 ti he trained with his master in the Spasim Forest, and his mouth relaxed involuntarily.
Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out. Each ti, his concentration grew sharper.
In the ear-splitting silence, Nozomu found himself staring at na with a watchful gaze.
(That level of instantaneous power. Could the reason be the lapse of ti and the speed from slow to fast? ......)
na 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 sa way that her muscles relax, she can be as soft as a cloud, and at the sa ti, she can be as tense and explosive as a spring.
(Co to think of it, Shishō once told that I'm a little stiff......)
A heightened sense of concentration and at the sa ti, a sense of excitent 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 na look at him doubtfully.
In the anti, 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 slamd his falling weight down on his heels and stepped forward, at the sa ti tensing his relaxed muscles and Qi all at once.
"Phew!"
What resounded was the sa burst of sound as when na stepped forward.
Nozomu had replicated her [Flash Step] perfectly.
As Nozomu rushed forward as if crawling on the ground, na quickly launched a thrust to knock him down.
The next mont, a loud tallic sound echoed.
"~!"
This was followed by a shock to na'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 na's rapier.
(Wha! Is he insane?)
There was only a tiny spot he could use to receive na's thrust with it. If he were to miss by even a re tip of a fingernail, he would surely die.
Nozomu, who read the trajectory of na's thrust perfectly while charging at high speed and caught it flawlessly, gave na 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 na's rapier and rendered it partially pinned.
Furthermore, at this point, na'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 na in a contest of strength. In reality, however, na 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 na launched a thrust in the form of a downward strike. At first glance, na's stance seed 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 na's thrust while securing a foothold on the ground, a foothold that would never budge.
Moreover, between Nozomu, who acted with conviction, and na, who was shaken by his unexpected action. The difference in ntality 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 na realized this fact, her shudder turned to awe.
"Haaa!"
Nozomu scread, convinced that na's body could no longer be moved. Nozomu twisted his katana, snapping the tip of the rapier, and released an upward slash.
na, not willing to give up, slamd 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 slamd his Qi into the blade and extrely compressed it. He lowered his waist in ti with na's landing, and then drew forth his katana.
[Qi-jutsu・Phantom]
The released ultra-thin blade flew at high speed toward na's landing spot.
"Kuh!"
While twisting her body in mid-air, na 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 na's fall.
And then, Nozomu's [Phantom]completely severed na's rapier by half right in the middle.
na, 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 in the end."
na 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, na-san, you were going easy on , weren't you?"
From Nozomu's point of view, he assud that na was not using her full strength yet.
Indeed, she had only used Qi-jutsu to strengthen her body, [Flash Step] that produced trendous 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 so 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 tis, so please believe ."
While brushing off Nozomu's glare with a cool smile, na headed toward Somia.
"Somiriana-ojōsama, it's over."
"Fue~! Ah......."
Somia, who had been stunned by the exchange of so many advanced techniques, ca to her senses when na called out to her.
"How was it?"
"Well, umm, ...... na."
"Yes?"
"It was too amazing to be a reference~!"
na 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 mont, a dignified voice echoed through the garden of the Francilt mansion.
"Somia, I'm ho."
"Ane-sama, you're back!"
Irisdina, who had returned, received Somia, who jumped onto her.
"Welco 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 sothing. 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 tead up with Shina-kun and the others, we might have been in a dangerous situation."
"Eh?"
Nozomu's eyes widen at the sudden ntion of Shina's na.
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 sothing 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 ?"
"Well, yeah ......."
"Fufu~, thank you."
Irisdina's smile blood 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?"
na urged Irisdina to resu 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 ans that the vicinity of Arcazam has been secured, right? That's the most important matter."
While brushing off na's stereotypical complints, Irisdina spotted the maid who was her father's confidant. Her gaze seed to be sowhat reproachful of her.
"More importantly, na, you seed to be enjoying yourself."
"Yes, for the first ti in a long ti, 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 ti dealing with na, 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, na's behavior was more or less dismaying, but still not as bad as Shino's punishnt.
Being thrown out into the Spasim forest at night, or being made to scream in agony by impossible-to-perceive deadly techniques.......
The punishnt 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 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 beca unbearable as na looked seriously disappointed and dejected.
"na, 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 na reluctantly return to the mansion.
"I'm terribly sorry. As you can see, na 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 sowhat 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, beca 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 environnt 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 ti.
He and na had only spent a short ti together, but the ti they spent dodging the fierce exchanges reminded Nozomu of how comforting it was to be in that environnt. It was a fiercely intense training, but not all of it was painful.
It was a fact that he ca to realize only because he had lost his master and realized his own escapism.
At the sa ti, however, this fact also forced Nozomu to confront the outco 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 sothing 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 soone related to my family, you will not be treated impolitely in the Forsina Kingdom."
A nobleman's emblem. It ant 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 bewildernt ca over his face at the sudden ntion 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 so 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 Arkl 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 Holand. The Kingdom of Forsina is rather tolerant when it cos 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 nurous aristocrats, exchanged words with them, and observed their behavior.
In fact, Solminati Academy is the highest academic institution on the Arkl 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 advancent.
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 ti, didn't you?"
"Such a thing is only natural ......"
"That's not natural. Actually, there is no need for you to fight at that ti. 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. Sothing that could even kill you if used inappropriately......"
"......Why do you think so?"
"The ti you fought Rugato after releasing your [Ability Suppression] was less than a few minutes. And yet, you were asleep for a long ti after that. It's crazy to think you could do that much enhancent 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 chanism that living beings have. An innate subconscious limiter. Sothing 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 na, 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 na 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 chanisms of the living being along with the release of the [Ability Suppression]?"
"....... I don't know. I've only released it a few tis myself."
"I see. ...... But it's such a technique that even soone of your caliber could hesitate to use it. I understand that it is a trump card that even the best of n 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 sa joyful heat as when Shino once said "Welco ho" 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 ntion of Lisa's na. 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 imdiately 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 an?"
"I don't know. But ......."
Irisdina looked up at the night sky once, paused for a mont, 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 ti ......"
"At that ti? ......"
"I an before you, and Lisa-kun broke up."
Hearing Irisdina's rational words, Nozomu sohow managed to suppress the heat that welled up inside him.
A mory 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 ti, I was seeing Lisa less and less. Because I was so desperate to keep training. So if you were to ask ......."
"I see ....... But this discrepancy suggests one thing. Soone 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 sa ti, sothing in the depths of his heart began to flare up. His pupils dilated and his breathing beca 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 to tell you this, but I felt I had to."
Silence fell between them.
"Just please rember this."
"You are an irreplaceable benefactor to . 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 ho. 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."
"na ......"
Irisdina sighed as na 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 na 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 swordsn 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 sohow not amused by na's calm deanor.
"...... 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 soone who was more cooperative than I expected."
After saying so, na 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 horoom teacher up until last year was a very picky one. No wonder many students aren't growing."
na looked sowhat coldly at the data of Kaskell, who had been Nozomu's horoom 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 entitlent."
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 sa ti honoring their noble lineage.
The most obvious example is the slave trade. In so areas, not only demi-humans, who are often the target of discrimination, but also their own citizens are sotis used as slaves, and the empire itself is even actively engaged in this practice.
"However, his current horoom 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, na once again recalled the figure of Nozomu Bountis.
He has the air of an ordinary young man who is sowhat timid, but from the mont 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 na, one of the leading swordsn 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 sothing must have happened."
"I've heard that his Master was a big part of his life."
"Master, huh ......"
"Is sothing 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, Amanosuragi. Due to the fierce ocean currents that restrict diplomatic relations, the country has little contact with the continent of Arkl.
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. "
na has served the Francilt family for many years. She has knowledge not only of the continent but also of the Anosuragi.
"Her na is Shino Mikagura. One of the greatest swordsn 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 [Mui]."
"[Mui]?"
"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 so 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 seed 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 seed to remind her of the gap between her and Nozomu, and naturally, Irisdina's expression clouded over.
"This is the first ti I've ever seen you make such a face, Miss?"
"Is that so? There are tis when things bother too though."
To na 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 ti. For the young lady to be so distressed about the opposite sex."
While Irisdina was in agony, na 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 ti ago, but Irisdina had a fiancée.
It was when she was very young, but they got along well, she rembered.
However, that engagent was broken off when Irisdina decided to beco the next head of the Francilt family. Their engagent was based on the premise that Irisdina would marry into the family.
"It is true that we were not ant 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 won were active among n, and most of their children married into other families.
So of them even blatantly despise won 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 argunt, there were still those who looked at her with disdain from the back of the crowd, more so than other children.
At so point, her forr fiancée was also among them.
That was why Irisdina ca here to Arcazam. In the ritocratic Solminati Academy, she could place herself in an environnt where she could objectively demonstrate her power. .......
Irisdina has a sowhat lancholy expression on her face. On the other hand, seeing her like this, the smile on na's face grew even deeper.
"But, if it's here ....... in Arcazam, there is no need for you to worry about it."
In the anti, na 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 na thinks. Besides, he has- ...... no, it's nothing."
na 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 na, 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 na bowing reverently with a aningful smile on her face.
The tingle in her chest had cald, though only slightly.
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