Chapter 204: Too Big to Refuse (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 204: Too Big to Refuse (5)
News spread that the Holy Kingdom’s delegation had arrived at the Academy.
Naturally, I spent my time running away to avoid bumping into them.
Perhaps the Holy Kingdom was too preoccupied with Violet and Delmoa, because aside from those two, the rest of the Academy students were going about their lives as usual.
“The Emperor is coming to the Academy?”
“Why?”
“They say it’s because of the Holy Kingdom’s delegation.”
“Well, I guess that’s a big enough reason for him to show up.”
“But why meet here instead of the Imperial Palace?”
“How should I know?”
To those who didn't know the truth about the Second Saintess, it was incomprehensible why the Imperial Family and the Holy Kingdom were meeting at the Academy.
“Since when has anything around here made sense?”
“Finals are right around the corner. Worry about your exams. My first semester was already ruined because of that Adam Smith guy; if I blow it again, I’ll have to take remedial classes over the break.”
“Ah, I almost forgot!”
To them, the upcoming exams were far more important.
Everyone was spending their time as they always did, either studying or training.
However, I was different.
“……”
“……”
Following the request of Uncle Aeryun and Boradori, I had to keep Daisy occupied.
“You’re the one who called me here. Why aren't you saying anything?”
Of the two of us, who had been locked in a staring contest for quite a while, Daisy was the first to give in.
She let out a deep sigh and asked why I had summoned her.
Since I couldn't tell her the truth, I came up with a plausible excuse.
“This sword is mine now.”
“…I know that.”
It sounded like a line from someone who had stolen a car rather than a sword, but it served as a decent pretext.
“Exams are coming up, and I’ve taken away your greatest weapon.”
“Then will you give it back?”
“No, I can’t do that.”
“…Then what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to teach you.”
“The sword?”
“Yes.”
It’s a bit awkward to say this myself, but I’m actually quite talented in this area.
In the first place, the Defeat Sword was a style practically designed for instruction. In fact, many retired instructors, including those at the Royal Academy, dedicated themselves to teaching it.
And I was a genius of the Defeat Sword, a fact even the Commander acknowledged.
Though, because my opponent happened to be a nonsensical monster like Ellen, it became less about the 'Defeat Sword' and more about just 'Defeat.'
I figured that by using that talent, I could help Daisy achieve a decent boost in skill—even if it couldn't quite fill the void left by the magic sword.
“Well, fine then.”
Though she looked a bit skeptical, Daisy didn't seem to be in a bad mood as she readily agreed to learn from me.
“But how are you going to teach me?”
“First, we need to spar.”
“Hmm…”
Daisy nodded, and as we arrived at the training ground together, all eyes turned toward us.
“Why are those two together?”
“They’re a couple, so isn't it obvious?”
“But they’ve never really hung out together before.”
“Are they fighting?”
“Did Adam cheat or something?”
“The guy’s a two-timer anyway.”
“I just wish he’d drop dead.”
I heard some rather ominous whispers, but I brushed them off as usual.
I took my position and faced Daisy, who held her sword ready.
Her stance… it was far too well-formed for someone who had been at it for less than a year.
She had been overshadowed by her magic sword, but the talent of a RoFan heroine was truly nothing to scoff at.
“Then…”
She didn't say she was coming.
True to the nature of the Swordsmanship Department, she showed me through action rather than words.
“Hmm.”
Surprisingly, there was no trickery.
I parried her honest, straightforward strike.
“……?”
The sword vibrated from a blow that was heavier than expected.
To be honest, I was a little taken aback.
Since she used a magic sword, I assumed she relied on overwhelming mana to pressure her opponents.
But now that I thought about it, I realized that until the magic sword absorbed mana, she had to hold her own with her pure physical strength.
However, that was all.
She was stronger than expected, but she wasn't at a level that transcended common sense like Ellen.
Of course, considering how long she’d been learning the sword, it was astonishing, but in her current state without the magic sword, there were plenty of students who could beat her.
That’s why.
“Let’s start by learning some techniques, shall we?”
I began to teach Daisy the art of finesse.
“Is it something like… a way to make the opponent let their guard down?”
“No.”
“Then, maybe throwing sand in their eyes…”
“Do you want me to throw some at you?”
“No…”
I had a rough idea of what her perception of me was, but I was being serious this time.
“First of all, the method for learning the Leon-style sword is very simple.”
“Is there some kind of secret technique?”
“Of course.”
This was Leon, the kingdom of knights, the kingdom of the sword.
How could there not be a secret to learning the sword?
“It’s not something like ‘if you don’t know, you gotta get hit,’ is it?”
Daisy let out a small chuckle and raised her sword.
However, her face gradually stiffened as she saw my expression.
“…Wait, it’s not, right?”
“……”
“S-Stop joking around!”
“To think the kingdom’s top secret has been leaked…”
“Y-You’re serious?!”
Daisy’s eyes went wide, but it was already too late.
Now that the secret was out…
“I can’t just leave you be…”
“Just leave me alone!”
I had no choice but to begin the time-honored tradition of Leon-style training.
Daisy was a more rewarding student than I had anticipated.
If I taught her one thing, she understood ten.
And if I tried to hit her once, she would struggle so hard that she’d end up getting hit ten times instead.
“It hurts…”
Normally, the training would have ended long ago due to the risk of injury.
But even while wearing a tearful expression, she would heal her own wounds.
It was practically a perpetual motion machine; we could keep the training going indefinitely.
“Alright, again.”
“A-Again? You’re doing it again?”
As I approached the healed Daisy, she raised her sword with a look of extreme wariness.
If she had just laid down and refused to move, I would have had to stop.
But since her body took the stance despite her words, I could comfortably continue the training.
“It’s already been three hours!”
She shouted with a miserable face, but her sword told a different story.
Only an hour ago, Daisy’s strikes had been mostly linear, but now her blade curved fluidly, flying toward my neck.
“That one was good. But if you aim directly for a vital spot, it actually makes it easier to counter.”
People unaccustomed to real combat tend to shrink back when a blow flies toward a vital point.
But those who are experienced in battle reach a point where they reflexively defend their vitals, so while she had improved, it was still predictable.
With Daisy’s current skill level, which was still lacking, it was actually easier to block.
“Eek!”
Daisy grit her teeth and swung her sword, but a blade that had been suddenly diverted couldn't possibly carry any weight.
Just as I was about to lightly parry her sword away—
“Huh?”
Daisy dropped her sword and swung her fist instead.
“I have to land at least one hit!”
It was a decent bit of improvisation.
If I had truly let my guard down, that clean punch might have actually landed.
Unfortunately, ever since the start of the second semester, I had frequently dealt with Bell’s much faster punches, so Daisy’s was very easy to handle.
“That was a good punch.”
“You blocked that too?!”
She looked like the most wronged person in the world, but reality was cold.
“Ow!”
I tapped her on the head with the flat of my blade, and Daisy slumped down with a pained expression.
“It hurts…”
Sitting there, Daisy looked up at me with teary eyes.
Then she just laid flat on the ground and started to protest.
“I’m not doing it. I can’t! We’re done for today!”
It seemed she hadn't entirely given up, perhaps frustrated that she couldn't land a single blow.
The fact that she naturally added the words ‘for today’ was telling.
She was quite a likable student.
“Fair enough.”
The next day, and the day after that, I called her out and gave her a thrashing.
And I did it…
“Eek!”
By the narrowest of margins.
“H-How did that miss?!”
I provoked her by making her experience the constant frustration of missing by just a hair’s breadth.
“Eeeeeek!”
Daisy did not give up, striving to bridge that final gap.
Three days passed like that.
“You tricked me, didn't you?”
True to her status as a RoFan heroine, the quick-witted Daisy realized she had been played.
“No way.”
I tried to deny it, but Daisy glared at me with a scowl.
“There’s no way! My skills have clearly improved! But I’m still missing by the same tiny margin!”
I replied shamelessly, without changing my expression.
“There’s no way someone’s skills could improve in just three days.”
“Uh… I-Is that so?”
It wasn't.
Normally, skills don't improve in three days.
But our RoFan heroine’s skills were growing by leaps and bounds every single day.
“The students here at the Academy have basically been holding swords for ten years.”
“T-That’s true, right?”
“So, for a person to change in just three days…”
Daisy’s eyes darted around as she muttered.
“E-Ellen managed it…”
Well, yeah. That guy hit Sword Master level while still a student and has now become a person who wouldn't even feel a tickle unless it’s from the Sword Emperor or a High Elf.
“If everyone were like Ellen, every single student in the Swordsmanship Department would be a Sword Master.”
“I see… Did you really think I’d fall for that?!”
Daisy, who had been nodding dejectedly, suddenly narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
“I’ve already cross-referenced! I got confirmation from other swordsmanship students, the TAs, and even Asran and Bell!”
That was an unexpected variable. I had worked her until she didn't have the strength to lift a finger.
It seemed her recovery speed using Divine Power far exceeded my expectations.
“Tsk.”
“I knew it!”
When I clicked my tongue, Daisy puffed out her cheeks like a blowfish to show her discontent.
“If that’s how it’s going to be, I’m going to use everything I’ve got!”
Perhaps resentful of all the hits she’d taken, Daisy buffed herself with Divine Power and raised her sword.
Then, she began to draw out mana.
“Magic?”
“I was originally in the Magic Department! I’m still more comfortable with magic than the sword!”
It broke my heart to see her using her sword as a staff to cast magic.
I had tried to raise her as a fine swordsman, but the moment she hit a wall, she turned to magic.
“Huh?”
Fortunately, as the one in charge of Daisy’s lessons, I was a true teacher.
Even if a student strayed into the heretical path of magic, I had the ability to set them straight.
“W-Wait a minute! Foul! This is a foul, isn't it?!”
Who was I?
I was a mage recognized by the Leon Tower Master, a High Elf, the Dragonkin, and even a Lich and an ancient hero of the Empire.
Therefore, I could teach with the sword when it was the sword.
And with magic when it was magic.
I was, quite literally, the perfect teacher for Daisy.
“I-In that case, give me back my magic sword! I’ll fight you fair and square with the magic sword!”
To think she’d talk about ‘fair and square’ while holding that cheating magic sword.
“You have no conscience.”
“And whose fault is that?!”
As I chased after the fleeing Daisy with my flaming sword at full power—
“…What are you two doing?”
The one who blocked my path was…
“Violet!”
Had she escaped from hell?
Or rather, since she had escaped from the Holy Kingdom’s people, should I call it heaven?
Anyway, the escaped Violet spoke to us with a look of utter disbelief.
“The work is finally done, but!”
Seeing her bright expression, it seemed things had ended well.
“It’s a total mess!”
…I guess not.
