Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Avatar (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Don't hold the sword like that, I told you."
Thwack!
The wooden sword struck Roel directly on the head.
"Ow."
"Don't act like it hurts."
The culprit was none other than Sera.
As Sera said, her cry had been loud, but the spot that got hit didn't actually hurt.
Lately, her body had started to toughen up quite a bit.
According to the Demon, it was because the mana in her body was seeping into her muscles.
"Got it..."
Grumbling, she gripped the sword again.
Roel was currently receiving instruction from Sera.
"Alright, again."
"Yes!"
With an energetic response, she assumed her stance.
One deep breath. Once ready, she began demonstrating the swordsmanship taught by her family.
The sound of slicing through the air echoed across the training grounds several times.
She swung the sword, immediately preparing the next strike without pause, and unleashed it.
The Griffith family's swordsmanship was fiercely aggressive.
Once she seized the momentum, it was the type that didn't stop its relentless assault until the opponent died.
Thus, no openings were allowed during an attack.
Sera watched the swordsmanship and thought.
'Something's off.'
The overall movements looked fairly convincing.
She could clearly see the intent behind each action, so it couldn't be dismissed outright.
However, the 'Griffith-style swordsmanship' Roel was using was riddled with openings, the complete opposite of its intended purpose.
It wasn't Roel's problem.
The issue lay in how it was being taught.
"That's enough, stop."
Roel halted and approached Sera.
"Is there a problem after all?"
Eyes filled with anxiety. Sera bowed her head deeply at the sight.
She knew this was 'normal Roel' right now. She knew... but...
Teach her?
...Me?
This was a headache.
If she overstepped and said too much, only to have 'that Roel' pop out, she'd undoubtedly make a fool of herself.
"Yeah, there is."
Still, she had to say what needed saying.
After all, they were on the same team now, and they had to grow together.
"About your family's swordsmanship—it's incomplete, right?"
Roel's shoulders twitched.
It was an insight so sharp it was almost frightening.
To figure that out just from watching a few movements.
"...Yeah."
The Griffith family's swordsmanship was currently in a lost state.
Back when the family still had some reputation left, someone had sold off the original book containing it.
The copies they'd made somehow burned up, leaving only 'imitations' reliant on memory.
"I guess it's tough like this, huh?"
"Yeah, it is."
It was a cold assessment—and the truth.
Lessons from Professor Cigarette focused on mana control, so this was the first time her swordsmanship was being evaluated.
She knew it herself, deep down.
Hearing it from someone else just hit harder.
Roel grew a little despondent.
There was no way to recover the family swordsmanship now.
So what should she learn?
"But there's something a bit strange."
"Strange?"
"Some of the movements feel... unnatural, I guess."
Sera hesitated over her words.
It wasn't about sparing Roel's feelings. She just didn't know how to put it.
"It feels like only parts of it are complete."
"Huh?"
It was truly bizarre.
She could understand it being sloppy overall—after all, that's what she'd been taught.
But some parts were correct?
"Did your family properly restore just those sections?"
"No, I think you misunderstand. 'Complete' doesn't mean that."
An imitation was just an imitation.
Even if a portion was authentic, the rest being fake meant no movement—even simple ones—could connect into completion.
Contradictions would arise.
"Think of a flawed textbook where only one page holds the truth."
"Ah, I get it."
It felt like a mostly botched swordsmanship with perfect techniques awkwardly tacked on.
How on earth had she learned it to end up this grotesque?
"Any guesses?"
"Even if you ask, I..."
Roel trailed off.
Something had come to mind.
It was so absurd she hesitated to say it, but as a student receiving instruction, she couldn't hide it.
"...I saw it in a dream?"
"Yeah, I think I saw it once in a dream before."
The other her who appeared in her nightmares.
Roel suspected that figure was the Demon.
No—she was certain.
"So that's why those parts were perfect?"
"Just a guess."
As Roel felt proud for finding an answer,
Sera plunged into even greater confusion.
'No way. Even so, perfecting it after seeing it once? That doesn't make sense.'
From Roel's story, she'd already guessed the dream entity was 'scary Roel.'
She could somewhat tell that version's swordsmanship was the real deal.
But seeing it once and instantly correcting the flaws? That was a whole different realm.
"..."
If Sera saw a perfect demonstration of Evans swordsmanship,
could she replicate it on the spot?
'No chance.'
Her head throbbed.
Same body. Two personalities. Vastly different skills.
She doubted it was even possible in reality.
This was beyond what Sera could comprehend.
"...For now, let's correct your stance. I'll help with what I know."
"Thanks."
"If you're thankful, do well on the exam."
Sera grumbled as she began helping with stance corrections.
Interfering with the swordsmanship itself was tricky.
It was odd, but she had learned something, so meddling might make it worse.
For now, basics would have to do.
"Whoa, hold on."
"What now? We've rested plenty while talking."
"No, it's Laila..."
Laila wasn't joining the conversation, but she was in the training grounds too.
Roel remembered her training her blessing in the corner.
Sera turned to look at Laila.
"...What are you doing?"
Laila was staring blankly at the wall.
"Something's there."
"What are you talking about?"
"Exactly what I said. Something's coming this way."
Laila's senses were sharp.
It hadn't shown because she'd only slept lately, but she'd reacted most strongly to the demons they encountered in the dungeon.
Tension began to build in an instant.
No way another incident was happening...
Boom!
The door burst open violently right then.
All three gripped their swords and went on alert.
"...Professor?"
Fortunately, it was a familiar face.
"You're here after all. Assemble at the main building immediately. It's a Dungeon Break."
Dungeon Break.
The phenomenon where monsters inside a dungeon spill out into the outside world.
Normally, dungeon monsters blindly guarded their treasures, so this was rare.
"Are we all going to subjugate them together?"
"Sorry if you were hoping so, but this break is from a 'High-Grade Dungeon.' No place for cadets."
Professor Cigarette's expression was gravely serious as she said this.
"Anyway, head to the main building as fast as you can. The faculty will handle the monsters."
Without waiting for a reply, Cigarette vanished.
Probably heading to the scene.
"At least that's a relief. As long as we stay inside the Academy, we'll be safe."
"Training's on hold. Let's go."
Laila still looked uneasy, but there was nothing else to do.
The three left the training grounds together.
The very next moment.
"Everyone, get down!!"
Laila shouted.
There was no time for questions.
Her voice was so urgent that Roel and Sera instinctively ducked.
Crunch!
The wall split horizontally almost simultaneously.
It looked less like a clean slash and more like it had been brutally torn apart. If Laila hadn't warned them, it would have hit right at neck level.
"Wh-what is this..."
A beast-like growl came from beyond the wall.
"Don't just stand there gawking!"
Sera grabbed the two and started running.
This wasn't the time to conserve mana or blessings.
She didn't need to see its face to know: whatever was behind that wall was leagues beyond the demons from the dungeon.
Sera ran at the fastest speed she could muster.
She felt her leg muscles overheating, but it didn't matter.
Survival trumped everything.
"Fleeing without looking back was a wise choice."
Even with that resolve, the demon caught up in an instant.
All she could see was a beastly face.
Snow-white fur, and a massive axe.
The axe swung.
At terrifying speed, aiming for Sera's waist.
She pictured her body being cleaved in two.
Crunch!
If not for the three layers of steel shields Laila had created, it surely would have happened.
Leaving the mangled shields behind, the three bodies flew like cannonballs.
She had no idea how high or far they soared.
Should she be grateful no walls obstructed their trajectory? After tumbling across the floor for a while, Roel barely managed to stand.
"S-Sera..."
There had been shields, but Sera had taken the brunt of the attack.
Sera lay collapsed on the ground, vomiting blood, unable to rise.
Roel frantically checked her condition. Fortunately, she was still breathing.
"..."
So what?
Did it change anything?
"Kuhahaha! I never imagined 'Sitla's' plan would work this well. Using the orcs outside as bait to lure out Cigarette—brilliant!"
Roel looked up at the demon standing before her.
Eyes that viewed humans as prey. Those vertically slit pupils sent chills down her spine.
"Hm? Still alive? You humans are somewhat useful after all."
Sera was unconscious.
Laila had twisted her ankle during the roll and couldn't stand properly.
Among the three, only Roel was unscathed.
She had to protect them alone.
'...How?'
Roel was the weakest of them.
For some reason, the Demon wasn't responding now either.
She couldn't win.
This time, she would definitely die.
"Roel, take Sera and run."
Laila dragged her sprained ankle forward.
"Human, are you not afraid of this body?"
Weapons began materializing around Laila one by one.
Sword, spear, dagger, shield, greatsword.
Laila gripped the greatsword.
"...Go, quick. Get the professor. I'll buy time till then."
Roel knew it was a lie.
She could plainly see Laila's intent to sacrifice herself to save them.
That's why her feet wouldn't move.
She couldn't abandon her friend.
"Roel, what are you—!"
"I know what you're going to say."
Roel stood side by side with Laila.
"But you know it too, Laila. The professor isn't coming. We can't call her."
About two minutes had passed since facing the demon.
A short time, but if it were Professor Cigarette, she would have arrived by now.
"What did you do to the Academy?"
"Sharp senses for a human."
It was impossible for a demon of this caliber to infiltrate without Professor Cigarette noticing.
Likely, that 'Sitla' the demon mentioned had pulled some trick.
"So, since you can't escape, you'll face me?"
Scraaaape...
The demon dragged its axe across the floor.
A smile of delight. Incomprehensible malice prickled her skin.
"Laila, mind making me a sword?"
"...Sure."
Laila created another sword and brought it to Roel.
Roel gripped it and pointed it at the demon.
Fight and die. Flee and die.
Then she would inflict at least a wound, tire it out even a little.
For when the professor returned.
"Ugh, gonna puke..."
"Sera?!"
Sera staggered to her feet, trembling legs carrying her to Roel's side.
"What're you staring at? This much is par for a hero candidate."
At her words, Laila forced a smile and created a sword for Sera too.
Now all three faced the demon side by side.
"Kuhuhu, fun. This is fun!"
The demon spun its massive axe and assumed a battle stance.
"I'd love to play with you all thoroughly, but the goal is to kill as many cadets as possible. I'll finish you three in one go."
She had already faced fear.
How to overcome it—she would learn now.
Even if today was her last.