Chapter 129
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Speak with the Sword. -2-
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"Draw your sword right now. And swing it at the instructor."
Shing—
At Roman's words, Chloe reflexively drew her longsword, struggling like she was trying to shake off the overwhelming pressure bearing down on her.
"Hah!"
The crude longsword's scabbard hit the ground, and at the same moment, she stepped forward, stomping the floor hard enough to crack it, thrusting straight ahead.
Peeeng!
She combined the stomp and thrust in a single breath.
A textbook sword technique that instantly closed the distance, unhesitatingly aiming for the opponent's face.
But the opponent's agility made the tip of her longsword slice through empty air.
It was the expected result, so she didn't panic.
Now, following the swordsmanship ingrained in her body—to the point where she could swing it even half-asleep—she swung again.
Clang—! Ch clang!
"Kuh! Hngh..."
In between, Roman snapped his wrist with short bursts, tossing attacks that made Chloe's palms, barely gripping her sword, ache as if they might tear open any second.
The attacks Roman threw during lessons carried destructive power and speed that Chloe could only barely block if she focused completely.
Conversely, the moment her concentration slipped, even defense became impossible, draining her mental and physical energy like a full sprint.
…
The exchange of blows lasted about three minutes. Short if short, but excruciatingly long when pouring in full effort.
Roman hadn't broken a sweat or moved from his spot, but Chloe's ash-gray bangs were soaked, and her hands, drained of strength from enduring the onslaught, trembled uncontrollably.
"Hoo—! Haa..."
Chloe's mouth exhaled dry, acrid breaths devoid of moisture.
She didn't want to show her exhaustion, but her breathing refused to steady.
"Good. That's enough for now."
Thud!
Roman drove his longsword into the ground, abruptly halting the exchange.
He tapped the upward-facing pommel with his finger, then posed a question to Chloe.
"Cadet, have you ever deeply pondered what it means that visualizing mana allows one to wield aura?"
"...?"
Wary that relaxing her stance might restart the assault, she maintained her defensive posture.
Chloe mulled over the intent behind Roman's question, but couldn't grasp the core of his words.
"I think the explanation that aura is merely the process of understanding the framework of that mysterious energy called mana falls short."
"I-Instructor... I'm sorry, but... haa—! I don't quite... understand what you're getting at..."
Roman scratched his chin at Chloe's words, breathless and confused, then backtracked to the fundamentals.
"Mana, for those of us who wield weapons, becomes aura, but for mages, it turns into flames... or even a simple rock. Is that correct?"
"Y-Yes... that's right..."
Finally offering a positive response to the obvious statement, Chloe nodded.
"To put it simply, mana is the energy that manifests will. So, those who can wield aura have drawn one step closer to understanding mana and its essence compared to before, making the power to manifest their will naturally stronger. Do you follow so far?"
Chloe nodded to his step-by-step explanation.
Woooong—
The familiar mana movement Chloe had felt in the study that night when darkness fell over the mansion enveloped them, creating a hushed space.
Roman spoke to her in a gentler tone than before.
"Chloe. When it comes to the sword, shed Eclair's shadow."
"...!"
"I've sensed something off for a while, but I was slow to notice. You're using the heightened senses and mana manipulation developed from wielding aura to imitate Eclair... Your skill has improved, so the mimicry is better than before, but that's exactly why it feels even more mismatched and awkward."
Like wearing ill-fitting shoes and clothes that don't suit you. But the prolonged habit had ingrained itself enough across her body that it barely raised suspicions in others.
Manifesting visualized mana as aura signifies a major advancement in manifesting will through mana.
If one harbors a true intent to imitate someone, that too manifests more strongly than before aura.
Had Roman not witnessed Eclair's swordsmanship in Limno, he might have sensed Chloe's issue today but not pinpointed it exactly.
Struck at her core, Chloe stammered, lips trembling, then dropped her head.
"I... I..."
"I... I..."
What I want to emulate in my sister—is it her swordsmanship? No. Not just the sword, but everything.
The formidable strength that charged into the front lines at a younger age than me, earning military honors. The steel will and mentality bearing the family's expectations and burdens.
In a noble society where ability and talent matter most, her compassionate heart that truly loved and embraced her hopelessly stubborn little sister who rejected marriage to become a knight.
Chloe knew she could never head to those brutal front lines teeming with rough, savage people and ankle-deep blood, even if she had her sister's strength.
She harbored not a shred of jealousy toward her exceptionally talented sibling.
Her heart was filled only with pure respect and admiration for her sister... even knowing she could never become her.
To avoid shaming the name of Eclair Dreitna's sister, she followed in her tiny, distant shadow.
'As expected... someone like me...'
That was why her brother's words not to imitate her sister hit like thunder.
Caught clumsily mimicking, shame and humiliation sealed her words, forcing her to confront harsh reality once more.
No matter how she tried, she could never become someone like her sister.
"I-I'm sorry..."
Her voice was thick with moisture, on the verge of tears, but her brother responded as if he couldn't comprehend.
"Why apologize? I'm not scolding you for following in Eclair's footsteps."
His words locked the uncontrollable faucet of her tears. Lifting her head, she saw him scratching his chin with a slightly perplexed expression.
"Maybe my word choice was too extreme, leading to a misunderstanding."
"No, that's not..."
Shedding his instructor demeanor, her brother called her by name—not cadet—and smiled with a smile like her sister's.
"Chloe. Do you like Eclair that much?"
"...Yes..."
Affirming the obvious felt childish, bringing shame, but she couldn't deny it.
"It's good to emulate someone you respect, but you don't need to copy everything."
"..."
"Especially not how you handle your weapon. Do you remember what I said during outdoor class...? I mentioned the phrase 'speak with the sword.'"
"I remember..."
How could she forget the day she awakened her aura and opened her heart to her sister? More vivid than days ago without incident.
"The emotion and feel your sword currently imparts to your opponent... it's like doing an impression of Eclair aimed at them. Your skill isn't bad, but breaking through to the next level will be tough. Physical ability or mana might widen the gap, but still."
"...Is it because... my talent is lacking?"
The deep-seated self-loathing buried in Chloe's heart surged up her throat.
Regretting her words laced with negativity toward her innocent brother, she looked up to apologize—only for him to raise a large palm, silencing her.
"Some do turn imitation into strength. But those types are generally... not just stubborn, but brazen beyond rough edges. This isn't about sword talent; it requires innate temperament."
Her brother explained at length, carefully to avoid hurting her, but the conclusion was clear.
Yet accepting it wasn't easy. Only lame excuses for her imitation trailed on.
"Compared to my sister, I'm lacking in everything... so I wanted to become even a little better..."
"Chloe."
"Yes...?"
"Forget becoming like someone else—you don't need to."
"What do you think makes a 'better' person?"
"That's..."
She'd said she wanted to be better, but had no clear standard.
As silence stretched without an answer, her brother asked again.
"Does sheer martial prowess define human worth? If a man with dense mana who can cleave rocks in one strike exists, is he inherently more valuable and better than a powerless girl working at a bakery?"
"No. Of course not."
Even in this harsh world, she knew better—no need to think. Chloe denied it swiftly, and her brother smiled in satisfaction.
"Good! Answering that without hesitation in this era is truly impressive."
"..."
Not grasping what was so praiseworthy, Chloe stayed silent without thanks. Roman chuckled and chattered on.
"I get the impatience from lack of immediate results, but. What Eclair truly deserves emulating isn't just her sword—it's secondary to her abundance of virtues."
Chloe nodded vigorously in fervent agreement at his final words.
Grateful her brother recognized her sister's true merits beyond strength and looks, and glad for a kindred spirit.
"Good. Since you know and understand that, let's talk once more."
"Yes...?"
"The basics of swordsmanship you've learned so far are like the pillars and foundation of a building. Undeniably crucial. But what most strongly expresses the building's character? The exterior you see before entering and the interior once inside."
Chloe leaned in at the free, unique metaphor unlike any from the family's many knights.
"Think of it this way: each time you swing your sword infused with your thoughts, you're stacking a brick imbued with your unique trait. It might be square or triangular—who knows. But imitating someone makes those bricks varied shapes. If you're lucky or brazen enough to ignore it, they might stack somehow—but."
Stack square bricks neatly, insert a star or round one midway, and balance crumbles naturally.
Back to the precisely built section. Ultimately, diligently stack your individuality via orthodox methods.
- Keep wielding Dreitna's basic swordsmanship, and beyond defense, your own sword will emerge.
Her brother's explanation overlapped with her sister's advice.
Various thoughts raced through her mind, clearing refreshingly.
Reestablishing what she'd learned revealed a narrow but clear path.
"Chloe. That's a great expression."
Her reverie ended with his voice; her mind felt clearer.
"...Brother. Could I swing the sword one more time?"
"Of course."
At once, the mana enveloping them dispersed.
Riding that familiarity, one incident surfaced, and Chloe's mouth flew open.
"Ah...! Um, and...!"
"Hm?"
"Next time, I'd like to treat you to a meal. There's something I want to tell you, Brother..."
Pulling the longsword from the ground, her brother grinned broadly.
"Anytime."
…
In the second bout that followed, Chloe depleted all her energy and stamina. After practical class ended, Seria and Rike had to support her to barely make it back to the classroom.