Labyrinth and Puppet (5)
This puppet is still alive?
Does that mean I unleashed Battōjutsu on two people? Or since its mind and body are separate, does that count as just one person at 0.5 each?
"Pregnant women count as 1.5, so they split right away... nice and clean."
"Pregnant women? What on earth are you talking about, Ian?"
I'd gotten so lost in this profound Battōjutsu math problem that my inner thoughts had slipped out without me realizing.
Of course, a non-Battōjutsu practitioner like her couldn't possibly understand my dilemma, so I brushed it off vaguely.
"No, it's nothing. But... what do we do with this now?"
The doll on the floor... no, since it was still alive, should I call it a body instead?
If it were just a lifeless machine, I could handle it however, but with life still clinging to it, I hesitated to treat it roughly.
"Since it's still alive, should we send it to the temple for now?"
"...Even the temple would struggle to repair a body this damaged. If it were up to me, I'd want to grant this one peace right away, but..."
Ending its suffering out of pity might mean losing vital information.
Marina swallowed hard, steeling herself, then spoke with resolute eyes.
"I'm sorry to him, but he'll have to stay like this a bit longer. It will honor his memory too."
"Understood. Then the academy head will take charge of this... doll? Body?"
Two tasks remained. First, track down info on him using the name Ganryu he'd revealed. Second, find whoever leaked my information.
"I'll investigate the name Ganryu. Just to ask—did it ring any bells for you, Ian?"
"...There's an island by that name among those belonging to the nation of Hinomoto, I think."
"Hinomoto... got it. And the remaining issue is the possible spy still lurking in the academy."
The academy grounds were protected by a barrier that blocked external detection or primitive magic.
Of course, if the enemy mage outclassed Marina, they might have breached it—but that didn't rule out a spy entirely.
"He didn't know I use a reverse blade sword. So at least it's not someone close to me."
"Your rumors have spread beyond the grounds, so we can't narrow suspects to just students. Tricky."
"Wait, it's spread that far?"
And yet no students came to learn Battōjutsu from me? Looked like changing its reputation would take a long time.
"We'll tighten security and surveillance on residents for this."
"Yes. But can I investigate this katana? There's a place I want to take it."
"A place you want to entrust it to?"
The master swordsmith Otar Goldsmith might glean something from it.
Marina, a mage who knew of Otar, nodded with an impressed look.
"He might indeed know something. Impressive that you have ties to such a figure, Ian."
"It's only natural for the swordsman of the supreme sword art to have an excellent smith."
After exiting the labyrinth, Marina turned back just before parting.
"I don't know why, but from what we've heard, the enemy's target seems to be you, Ian. Be extra careful from now on."
She offered bodyguards if I wanted, but I knew the level of academy-hired ones without asking, so I declined.
"They probably won't strike again the same day they failed, but head back cautiously anyway."
"Yes. I'll stop by somewhere quick and head straight back."
Grabbing the katana Ganryu had wielded, I headed right to Otar's forge.
Hardi Palstein was still there, not having left yet—the one who'd helped sharpen Wolf Fang (Nanga) beside him.
"Hmph... I get the situation. We'll look into it ourselves and send word by letter if we find anything."
"An academy attack? Things are getting interesting. Should've enrolled myself."
"This is 'interesting' to you?!"
Leaving Hardi rubbing her head after a smack from Otar, I returned to the dorms as dusk fell.
I wonder if the cafeteria’s still open. As I walked thinking that, I spotted a twin-roll hairstyle pacing anxiously at the dorm entrance.
Jessica?
Rushing over to the fidgeting Jessica, she spotted me and yelled with teary eyes.
"Wh-where have you been?! You weren't at the temple, didn't come back to the dorms, so I was waiting here the whole time...!! Th-that...!"
"Worried about me?"
"N-no, not that...!! Ugh...!!"
She could've just admitted she was worried, but Jessica ruffled her hair wildly, denying it.
"Jessica, what are you doing?! Mess that up and your twin rolls will come undone!!"
"Who cares about that...!!"
"Won't you die if they unravel? They're your main body, right?"
"I won't die!! No one dies from their hair coming undone!!"
Having shouted so hard her throat hurt, Jessica rubbed it.
Then she approached, spotted the blood on my uniform, and spoke worriedly.
"Y-you're really okay, right? N-nothing happened after I left, did it?!"
"Nothing..."
I started to say it was fine, but seeing her trembling eyes from anxiety sparked my mischievous side.
"...After you left, Jessica, so much happened. I'm exhausted for real."
"S-see?! Something did happen!! Then hurry inside and rest—what are you doing out here?!"
"You were blocking the way. Anyway, just kidding—don't take it so seriously."
Realizing she'd been teased like always, Jessica flushed red.
"Y-you... joking at a time like this...!!"
"Don't be so serious. I nearly died, but I pulled through somehow."
"Eek...!"
Her face clouded with anxiety again at "nearly died."
With emotions so plainly written on her face, how could I resist teasing her?
"...You're really okay, right?"
"Yeah. But you came looking just to say that?"
"I... since you nearly died because of me, I wanted to at least say thanks..."
I had taken a hit shielding her, sure—but against that opponent, I'd have eaten one eventually anyway.
"No big deal, don't sweat it. Even if we'd won clean, it wasn't the type you beat unscathed. If you're really sorry, train Battōjutsu with me from now on..."
"No, I hate that."
Her guilty demeanor vanished like a lie as she flatly refused.
"Not that... anything else you want? Like money..."
Asking for money as thanks for help—such a quintessentially twin-roll lady response left me speechless.
"Nah, money's a bit much..."
Everything Jessica could offer, I could get anytime if I wanted—nothing came to mind.
As I stared blankly, Jessica grew antsy, her lips quivering.
Finally, after some thought, I pointed at her hair.
"Then... can I touch your hair?"
"Wh-what?! My... hair...?!"
"Yeah, always kinda wanted to try it once."
Blushing, Jessica stroked her coiled twin rolls, then spoke.
"Th-that's... not great here... somewhere with fewer people..."
"For real? Was half-joking... Wanna head to my room?"
"Y-your room?! N-no!! Not there, I mean..."
Figuring it'd take forever with her dithering, I grabbed her hand and dragged her to a quiet alley.
"Eek...! S-say something before grabbing my hand..."
"Next time. So... can I?"
".........Yes."
Jessica closed her eyes and tilted her face forward. I slowly reached for her twin rolls.
"Eek...!"
Did I pull too hard? Despite hair having no nerves, her brow furrowed slightly.
"Sorry, did it hurt?"
"N-no, it's fine. Just... touch more, quick..."
"Okay..."
Savoring the coiled texture, my hands crept upward.
The higher they went, the redder her face grew—like a ripe apple—making me oddly embarrassed too.
"Haa..."
Digging deeper past the outer layers, her hot breath grazed my neck.
Finally reaching her scalp, her breathing grew ragged.
I'd felt it from the start, but why did a different gender make a human body feel so utterly distinct?
Silky hair like fine satin, marshmallow-soft skin, breath somehow sweet—immersed in it all, I asked Jessica.
"Um... can I touch your side hair too? It's near your face, so... asking first..."
"I-it's... fine..."
With permission, I gently stroked the strands near her cheek.
Glossy locks brushed my knuckles against her baby-soft rose-petal cheek now and then.
Feeling her rising body heat with each touch, I lavished her side hair, then regretfully pulled away.
"Haa... haa..."
Her eyes shook more than at the dorm entrance as she gazed at me.
That look made me nervous; as I moved to leave—
"Eek...!"
Jessica pinched my jacket sleeve between thumb and forefinger, looking up.
"...Isn't... more okay?"
Her eyes, like embers, fixed on me again—somehow, words failed.
Not knowing what to say, I just nodded and slowly reached for her hair again.
******
"Watching made me so anxious."
The first words upon regaining my senses were a complaint from a cold-faced girl.
Her expression unmoving like a mask, but her words stabbed with thorns sharper than any rose.
"If he'd died then, how would you take responsibility?"
"...If he was the type to die from that, even the captain wouldn't complain."
I sat up to look down at her this time, but she floated up, refusing to yield the height advantage.
"PhD... you've got a childish side, surprisingly."
"Just matching eye level for easy talk. So, how was his skill?"
"Knew it the instant our blades met. His mind's gone, but his swordsmanship has surpassed Sword Master."
Wrong direction, sure—but that honed Battōjutsu had reached a realm effort alone couldn't touch.
His technique already elite; now just temper the body and boost aura reserves.
Then he'd rival me or the captain in no time.
"Not versed in swordplay myself, but if you—who's beyond Sword Master—say so, it's true. The boss seemed satisfied too."
Hard to picture that old stump satisfied, even hearing it.
"Good to know. But can't we upgrade the puppets more? Everything's fine, but their aura output's too weak..."
"Materials are the issue—not something tweaking fixes. Besides, no need for puppets anytime soon."
"No need? So we're sitting this out for a bit?"
"Yes. Signs of an event to grow him are already brewing—no need for us."
"Event?"
"Yes. Word of a disturbance at the tomb of Ray von Pier—the possessor from 200 years ago. It'll reach his ears soon enough."