Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Sword Empress (3)
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Practicing what I'd learned that morning, lunchtime rolled around before I knew it.
"Expecting great things again?"
The Sword Empress's back, chuckling as she walked away, didn't inspire much confidence.
In wuxia novels, they always have disciples start with chores as a cliché.
I never thought it'd apply here too.
I headed into the kitchen and started prepping ingredients this way and that.
There was plenty besides the fish from breakfast—meat, eggs, and all sorts of other stuff.
She wasn't great at cooking, but the ingredients were oddly abundant.
Maybe hunting for food was her hobby, just like she said fishing was.
I shrugged it off and kept cooking when the kitchen door creaked open slightly.
"Oppa."
"Ah, you're up?"
"Yeah."
She'd just woken up, her cute looks a bit dimmed by sleep.
I stopped cooking and went over to Ariel.
I smoothed her messy hair and straightened her clothes, and she leaned into me trustingly.
"No maids here to fuss over you, so you gotta handle it yourself."
"Yeah...... Can't oppa do it?"
"I could, I guess."
No, hadn't she outgrown needing her big brother's hands by now?
I couldn't keep touching her body forever.
It wouldn't look right to others. And it felt off to me too.
"Let's use this chance to practice. Got it?"
"Yeah."
I sat her in a nearby chair and resumed cooking.
"......"
My sister, who usually just spaced out, was actually reacting for once.
Sniff sniff—
The rising aroma from the food must have caught her attention.
"Oppa, what's this?"
"It's called braised pork. Wanna try some?"
"Can I?"
"Sure, one piece won't hurt."
Ariel toddled over excitedly, eyes sparkling.
I picked up a piece with chopsticks and held it out; she opened her mouth like a baby bird.
My little sister really is the cutest.
Cute, yes, but...
'She still looks so young.'
I thought at ten she'd be a bit more grown-up.
But her actions were still so innocent.
"Nom."
It was piping hot straight from the pot, but she didn't mind.
Ariel chewed it slowly and said,
"Tasty."
"Right? Alright, let's eat. Time for lunch."
"Yeah."
Ariel showed no real attachment even after leaving the Leonhart estate.
She seemed like she could thrive anywhere she was dropped.
Maybe the concept of place didn't mean much to her.
"You're here."
The Sword Empress waited with a relaxed expression.
A cup of green tea steamed in front of her.
"Your little sister's up too. Sleep well?"
"Yeah."
Of course, my sister didn't bother with polite speech.
The Sword Empress didn't seem to mind and gestured for us to sit.
I set down the food I'd prepared.
Both she and Ariel nodded eagerly, eyes glued to the table.
I could understand the Sword Empress—she'd tried it at breakfast—but Ariel this excited was rare.
Back at the estate, she always ate like it was a grim necessity.
I never imagined she'd focus on food like this, someone who'd seemed allergic to gourmet pleasures her whole life.
"Well then, dig in."
At the Sword Empress's words, we all grabbed our chopsticks.
"......"
While the Sword Empress and I ate quietly, Ariel paused with her chopsticks.
Ah.
Come to think of it, as an imperial girl, she might not know how.
I was about to explain when she suddenly nodded and started using them naturally.
Perfectly natural, too.
'Is that thanks to the hidden world too?'
Ariel had said she got various info from the hidden world.
But chopstick skills? Who knew.
......Was the hidden world actually full of good guys?
"Tasty."
Ariel's eyes sparkled as she kept eating without pause.
She was devouring it heartily for once—instead of her usual picky nibbles.
"Must be nice having a brother who cooks this well. Did you know?"
"Huh? No, first I heard of it."
"Oh my. And he never cooked for you once with skills like this? That's too much."
"Yeah."
Yeah, my foot. You little rascal.
Would the eldest son of a ducal family even cook?
"But that's weird. You ate oppas cooking before me?"
"Hee hee hee. Of course. Our sleepyhead little sis missed breakfast, didn't she?"
"......No way."
Ariel shot me a betrayed look.
Hey, why am I the bad guy here? You were the one who slept in.
But her next words revealed her true feelings.
"I should've been the first to eat oppas cooking. Someone else got it first... I'm upset......"
She said she was upset, but her chopsticks didn't slow down.
Still, hearing that made me feel a little guilty.
She's my sister—maybe I should've fed her first.
With that light banter, lunch wrapped up.
After lunch came sparring.
I stood straight, facing the Sword Empress.
We each held a sword.
Practice blades with non-lethal edges, the kind only seen in our family.
"Didn't expect these. They're expensive and hard to get."
"No loss if I already have them. Thought I'd use them if I ever got a disciple."
"Makes sense. So, what are you teaching me?"
"Harmony of swordsmanship and magic. Your path goes beyond just wielding aura. It's a unique style handling two incompatible powers at once. Best learned through the body."
"Sounds like you're planning to hit me."
"Oh, think what you like."
The Sword Empress assumed her stance.
Recognizing the signal to attack, I kicked off immediately.
Whoosh!
The blade slid toward her neck flawlessly.
Impeccable form.
Swordplay without aura, swordplay with aura.
No wasted motion from my long years of training.
Clang!
Her sword blocked it.
Scraaaape...
Our blades locked, eyes meeting.
"Impressive. I can see how hard you've trained. Hard to believe at your age."
"Thank you."
"But—still soft."
Clang!
She pushed me back with force on her blade.
Standoff resumed.
A question nagged at me here.
'What is it.'
What did she want to teach me?
She'd said harmony of sword and magic.
But this spar felt like any other.
"You still don't grasp what a magic swordsman is. You know to infuse magic into your sword, but not elsewhere."
"Isn't that obvious? I'm no mage."
"No."
She denied it.
Different from what I thought.
"If that's truly your path— you must wield sword and magic simultaneously. Left-hand sword, right-hand magic. Something like that."
"......??"
"Not getting it? Fine. Come at me again. I'll show you."
I'll figure it out by trying.
I launched off at her words.
The same strike toward her neck.
But then—
"......!"
She blocked with her sword as before—while moving one hand to conjure magic.
Cold gathered between us.
Ice shards formed, stabbing toward me.
"Whoa!"
Just before they hit, she pulled back and explained.
"You think infusing magic into the sword makes you a magic swordsman. But I wield them separately. The difference is bigger than you think."
"Ugh...... But using both at once is hard for me."
I had reason to say that.
My reward perk was 'Magic Infusion' from the start.
Infusing magic into the sword, not casting it separately.
And separate casting wasn't what I wanted anyway.
She smiled deeply at my rebuttal.
"That's why I checked your body."
"Pardon?"
"Something you don't know yet. Realize it, and you'll grow more. That's what I'm here for. Shall we spar a bit more? I'll explain at dinner."
I didn't get exactly what she meant.
But she'd teach me properly, so I assumed my stance.
Dinner was on me again.
Only my third time cooking, and it already felt routine.
I could even brush off the expectant looks from the Sword Empress and Ariel.
It satisfied them, I guess.
For the record, Ariel polished off lunch and dinner clean.
Rare for her—she left food behind daily at the estate.
When I asked why now, she said,
—Because it's oppas cooking.
A simple, solid answer.
'Hmm.'
I'm happy. Really happy, but...
......Was I starting to see a future living with my sister for real? Kinda weird?
Anyway.
After dinner, the Sword Empress led me to an open veranda.
She had me sit and ordered,
"Take off your top."
"Not that again?"
"What 'that'? I've never touched you with lewd intent."
Not convincing at all.
I stripped as told anyway.
Ariel, who'd followed from afar, was glaring, but behaving.
"Oho. Ohoho."
The Sword Empress admired my torso.
Then pressed her body close to mine.
"Eek."
"Don't freak out. It's necessary."
Then stop moving your fingers like you're savoring the feel.
And don't breathe hot sighs on my shoulder!
After a while, satisfied, she began explaining.
"There's a reason you think sword infusion is your best. Your body was made that way."
"Huh? From birth?"
"No. Precisely, the hidden world only permeated or allowed that mechanism in your body. So you assume that's your limit."
"......??"
What was this?
The hidden world—always so intriguing.
Her words implied it affected my body too.
"That's where we differ. I trained my internals to wield sword and magic at once."
"Possible?"
"Took trial and error. Learned a lot about the hidden world too. Point is, I'm optimal for taking you further."
I see.
Thanks to Father's foresight, then.
"First, I'll show how to rewire your internal circuits. Follow my mana flow closely. You'll do it solo later."
"Yes."
"Oh, and don't panic? Might feel weird. No screaming or twisting, or circuits tangle. You know what happens then, right?"
"Yes."
I could imagine the mess.
If it felt that off, shouldn't she, the caster, be careful—
"Guh?!"
"Told you, no screaming."
I-It went in!
Her finger pierced my spine.
And rummaged inside.
Like manipulating a program on a computer.
"Don't panic. Not really piercing. Half in your mana circuits, half in your soul. No wound, no blood."
"Ugh. Still...... feels too weird."
"Yeah, me too at first. Just endure."
Sure enough, as she said, I felt changes.
Like switching train tracks.
My internal mana circuits shifting—but
'No, this feels seriously off.'
Someone else's finger stirring your insides—get it?
And not even physically, but touching your soul.
"Eek......"
"Stay strong. Almost done."
I steadied my dizzy mind and focused.
Right. Necessary.
Crimson Blood Cult. Blood Demon.
I endured by repeating those words endlessly.
Today's lesson ended.
—Hee hee hee. We'll repeat this daily. No running away?
She patted my shoulder— or was it groping?—as she said that.
I bid her goodnight as she returned to her room.
Redressed, and headed back with Ariel.
"Oppa."
"Yeah? What is it, sis?"
Ariel, who'd watched me and the Sword Empress from afar, seemed antsy.
Not boredom, obviously.
She wanted to do something about that woman touching me but couldn't.
So when I was finally free, she rushed over and grabbed my hand.
"Oppa, you okay? Wanna run?"
"Nah, I'm fine."
"But you looked really worn out."
"Well, yeah, unfamiliar sensation."
Definitely uncomfortable experiencing something new like that.
But no matter.
All necessary, as I said.
For Ariel's sake too, I had to push through.
"Not thinking of going back?"
"Nope. You wanna go? I can handle solo."
"No."
Ariel shook her head.
Like she wanted to stay by my side no matter what.
"I'll stay with oppa."
The day waned.
First day of lessons from the Sword Empress.
Some ups and downs, but the path to growth was visible.
Days like this lay ahead.
And.
In some region of Aonia, far from Sword Empress Manor.
A lone girl walked the midnight mountains.
Her black hair swayed, tied tightly back.
She wore a loose kimono.
Oddly, the chest was open, covered only by bandages.
And.
Drip— drip—
She gripped a sword in one hand.
Blood droplets fell from its tip.
"Seriously. Who knew someone would see while my eyepatch was off."
The girl—Kurotsuki Yoru—muttered languidly.
Her face was hidden by a black eyepatch, like when she'd met Kline before.
The reason was clear.
Not something to show others.
She'd just removed it briefly, and a passerby saw.
Now that man lay slain by her blade.
"......"
Unavoidable.
All who saw her eyes felt disgust.
Some even tried blackmailing her with her beauty.
This guy was one.
So she killed him.
She thought it justified, but her chest still ached.
"How long do I have to live like this?"
Getting tiresome.
The eyepatch life.
Hiding her eyes from others.
......Even her late mother, crying in dreams sometimes.
"Sigh."
She'd wandered this distant land, but nowhere accepted her.
Not the Empire. Not Phried.
All screamed and fled upon seeing her eyes.
Ah.
Come to think of it, one person was different.
'I wonder how Mr. Kline is doing.'
The one boy who hadn't recoiled at the sight of her.
Though maybe because she kept the patch on.
Still, who knows. He might not mind her bare eyes.
"Wonder how he is."
Sometimes she missed those days.
Four years ago, first meeting Kline.
That brief memory was a treasure etched deep in her heart.
And that precious recall brought one fact to mind.
"Come to think, where is Mr. Kline?"
The candy she'd given him then.
He'd trusted and eaten it, unaware.
She was grateful—and guilty.
Because that candy...... tracked his location.
"......Huh?"
So she hadn't known.
Checking the candy's position anew as the memory surfaced.
Yoru realized.
'He's here.'
Right here. Kline Leonhart existed in Aonia.
She felt his heartbeat.
The moment she sensed it.
"......Shall I go?"
Yoru moved as if entranced.
Toward Kline.