The Iaijutsu-Obsessed Transfer Student
The world is full of pathetic swordsmen. Every last one of them can't perform a proper iaijutsu.
It was a thought I'd harbored for a long time.
"Hoo…."
I wiped the sweat trickling down my neck. After classes ended, I made it a habit to head to the training hall every day.
Not doing so meant losing stats, after all.
"Hm."
The training hall was usually empty. Aside from the few regulars, only Yui-seol and I stuck around late.
I couldn't really blame the other students. Orbis Academy had too many temptations for them to resist—high-end PC bangs, karaoke rooms, bowling alleys, you name it.
Even the guys who used to train late started hanging out once they made friends. Maybe the second- and third-year halls were different?
Well, there's that saying: play hard while you're a freshman.
But today, surprisingly, there was one more student lingering late: Natasha Korpe.
"An excellent warm-up. But when do you plan on training your iaijutsu?"
Natasha tilted her head as she spoke.
"?"
"I want to see your iaijutsu…."
Her face flushed red in an instant.
"Ugh, it's a bit embarrassing…. I want to see your iaijutsu."
She said it like she was shy. I couldn't fathom why it'd be embarrassing.
But whatever, it wasn't a big deal to show her.
"Sure?"
Just as I was about to demonstrate my iaijutsu,
"Hold up."
Yui-seol walked over.
"If you're just gonna watch, why even come to the training hall?"
She sounded genuinely baffled. But Natasha glanced at the spear in Yui-seol's hands, turned away with a smirk.
"What, you're a spear user?"
"What?"
"Right now, this gentleman and I are having a very advanced conversation. Why don't you go fish with that thing over there?"
Yui-seol's eyes widened. She was totally thrown off.
"Wh-what?"
"I don't have any obligation to explain myself twice to a spear user."
"You little—!"
Yui-seol couldn't hold back her rage anymore.
"Hey, pick up a weapon."
She leveled her spear at Natasha, face twisted in fury.
"Only spear users like you need to pick up weapons. A true swordsman ends it the moment he draws."
Natasha looked at her like she was some inferior being using outdated tech. If I had to compare, it was like a modern person staring at a primitive hunter with a stone axe.
"Wanna see if your mouth's as good as your skills?"
Yui-seol had mellowed out lately, but that instant fury brought back her old self. She gripped her spear with both hands.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down. Let's move to a wider space. You get that much, right?"
"You're dead."
A duel had suddenly kicked off. With interpersonal combat training tomorrow, you could call it pre-study.
"Spear user, it won't do to see me as some ordinary, dumb swordsman."
Natasha smiled as she said it.
"I'm a true 'swordsman.' Probably the second true swordsman you've ever laid eyes on."
"This bitch… keeps spewing nonsense."
Pa-bat!
Yui-seol charged, swinging her spear wildly with both hands.
The distance closed in a flash.
Whiiik!
Yui-seol swung her spear… and stopped. Right before stabbing Natasha, she halted.
"Hey? You messing around?"
It was a fair question. Natasha hadn't even taken a stance. At the same time, Natasha's expression darkened—like she was looking at a primitive again.
"As expected of a spear user. Slow on the uptake."
"What?"
Shiiiiiik—!!!
A slash came flying. Yui-seol's eyes flashed red as she leaned back, dodging it.
"!!!"
Natasha was in the exact same posture as before. She must've unleashed a slash…!
-Fast.
Tyrbing murmured telepathically. He was right—it was so fast her stillness was an illusion from the iaijutsu.
What absurd speed. Definitely beyond your average student. That's what made transferring into Orbis possible.
Yui-seol quickly backpedaled. She was confident in close quarters thanks to her Ma-an, but Natasha's speed was dangerous.
But that was a mistake.
Sriing.
Natasha's sword slid out just 3 cm from its sheath…
Shiiiiiik!!!
A razor-sharp slash shot out.
Click.
Iaijutsu executed in a blink. Yui-seol had no choice but to backpedal again and evade.
"Heh."
Natasha laughed at the sight.
"Run all you want, 'weakling.'"
"Bullshit."
"Anyone who doesn't use iaijutsu is a weakling."
She spread her arms wide, declaring it like gospel.
"The supreme sword art, iaijutsu…! You who don't use it are monkeys, you monkey bastards!!!"
Natasha breathed heavily, cheeks flushed.
"I hate monkeys. That's my honest conviction."
She's looking down on everything but iaijutsu…!!!
"You bi—"
Shiiiiiik!
A surprise iaijutsu mid-sentence. But this time, three slashes.
Illusion sword…
Sword styles fall into five main categories:
Strong, Fast, Illusion, Soft, Energy.
These also represent innate sword talents. If Ian Korpe was Strong, Natasha Korpe was Illusion.
Illusion Sword lived up to its name—illusions and transformations were key. It deceived all five senses, making it impossible to tell real blade from fake.
Shiiik! Shiiik! Shiiik!
But her opponent was Yui-seol. She instantly discerned the real slash amid the fakes and batted it away. Her eyes glowed red.
"Lucky."
Natasha murmured lowly. Not a taunt—she genuinely thought so.
No way a spear user without iaijutsu could read her Illusion Sword.
Yui-seol, having parried, began channeling mana within her.
Woooong!
She took a javelin stance.
And hurled the spear with all her might!
Kuuuung!!!
The spear cleaved the air.
"Ah, fuck, seriously…."
Tak!
But it stopped right at Natasha's nose… then flew back to Yui-seol's hand.
"Why the fuck won't this bitch block?!"
Yui-seol yelled. Natasha grimaced.
"Are you seriously asking because you don't know?"
Yui-seol nearly died of rage on the spot. It wasn't like she couldn't react—she just stood there staring blankly.
Didn't even block or dodge. From their brief clash, Yui-seol had a rough gauge of Natasha's skill.
"You trying to just take it and die?"
"A weakling's attack? I can just tank it. If it were iaijutsu, maybe I'd bother…."
"Fuck!"
Yui-seol screamed in utter fury. But Natasha's gaze had already shifted away.
"I can tell at a glance. Your iaijutsu must be magnificent. Show it to me now."
"Hey! I'm right here?!"
That's when Tyrbing shouted like he'd realized something.
-Use iaijutsu right now…!
Even without him saying it, I'd planned to. Skipping even one daily swing made a huge difference.
I gripped my sword, staring into empty air.
"…."
Natasha swallowed hard. She couldn't contain her excitement.
Grandpa's man has to be him…!
Sriing.
——!
With the sound of air parting.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!!!!!
An iaijutsu roared like it could cleave the world, right before Natasha's eyes.
And in that moment, a 'nonexistent memory' bloomed in her mind.
A sunny day with a cool, gentle breeze. Natasha wore a blue cloth dress, swaying on a swing. Her skirt fluttered with each motion, her hair dancing in the wind. Swish, swish.
She gazed at a man slowly approaching from the golden wheat field, smiling like she owned the world.
And….
Sriing.
Kwaaaang!!!!
The mandatory iaijutsu between swordsmen, etched even in ancient murals.
"Time hasn't dulled your iaijutsu at all."
The man sheathed his sword and spoke.
"Same to you."
Whooo.
The breeze blew again, caressing the wheat and the couple's hair.
"…."
"…."
They embraced fiercely.
Like lovers reunited after 17 years apart, she burst into sobs.
Why so late?
I've been waiting.
And she cried out,
"Honey!"
It was summer.
"Th-this weirdo!"
Yui-seol stammered, staring at Natasha. No wonder—she'd collapsed on the spot, bawling her eyes out.
So heartbreakingly, it made you question if humans could even cry like that.
Natasha lifted her head carefully and said,
"Please marry me."