Rival (1)
Rival (1)
"The world really has come a long way."
While we waited to depart, the Sword Saint looked at the airship and offered that sentiment.
"Back in my younger days, the thought that humans would ever fly through the sky never even crossed my mind."
Had the Sword Saint not spent more of his youth clashing swords than facing guns?
Several decades ago, swordsmen who could project sword aura had much freer rein. Guns and cannons existed back then too, and firearms already used cartridge cases, but the concept of mass production had only just begun to take hold, so the price of ammunition was far higher. Consequently, most military forces preferred single-shot firearms. That was also why cumbersome mechanisms like a 'magazine cut-off device' were deliberately built into guns at the time.
The story changed in an age of modern warfare where fighters flew through the sky and steam engine tanks and machine guns were deployed. Still, I supposed it was fortunate that the northern warlords couldn't operate those latest weapons.
"Even if that is the case, it does not mean the Sword Saint's magnificent swordsmanship has lost any of its luster."
"......."
At the flattery coming from beside him, the Sword Saint turned his gaze. The person there was, naturally, Jaden.
Jaden had been glancing our way for a while now, as if hoping Alice or I would introduce him to the Sword Saint. But I, for my part, wasn't speaking to Jaden, and Alice, for her part, was in a foul mood.
She must have been sulking over the fact that before I called her 'sister,' I had addressed Jaden as 'brother' first.
I wanted to point out that it was a trivial thing to make such a fuss over, but I had no idea how Alice might explode if I did, so I decided to simply keep quiet.
Instead, I only used Jaden as the target for her to vent on.
"I am Jaden Fangriffon, Commander of the Gryphon Knights."
"Then you are an imperial prince as well."
The Sword Saint glanced in my direction and spoke.
"Unintentionally, it seems I have taken both of your younger sisters as my disciples."
At those words, Jaden's mouth fell slightly open. The look Jaden was giving me was so intensely awkward that I quietly averted my eyes.
"I-Is that so?"
Expectation flickered across Jaden's face as he spoke. Since the Sword Saint had already accepted two of the emperor's children as disciples, Jaden seemed to think there might be a chance he would be taken on as well.
"Seeing a grown elder brother like this, it seems that skill runs in the family."
Then he looked at Alice again, and at me. The look in his eyes when he regarded Alice and when he regarded me was different.
He must have sensed something when he saw me training earlier. He probably hadn't witnessed Jaden's skill firsthand yet, but...... if he had seen through my movements as a 'trick,' he would naturally be curious about Jaden's ability as well.
By the Sword Saint's standards, that would serve as a clue to the puzzle. Solving riddles in that way was...... in many respects, very much like the Sword Saint.
"Hm."
The Sword Saint made that sound, as if momentarily lost in thought, then—
"Commander of a knight order, is it."
—said, with a grin spreading across his lips.
"I should like to verify sometime how well the imperial knight orders have maintained their swordsmanship."
At those words, a huge exclamation mark practically appeared above Jaden’s head. In the game, it certainly would have.
"I would be honored to welcome you at any time!"
...... Hm.
And I thought, watching the two of them.
Once I extracted all the information I needed, I would have to rewind time back to the beginning.
If those two ended up finding common ground, far more troublesome things seemed likely to happen than my having called Jaden 'brother.'
*
After all the supplies had been unloaded, the transport ship was faster than when it had been carrying cargo. The difference wasn't dramatic, but as was typical of an airship that never stopped midway and remained unaffected by the condition or shape of the road, we were able to reach the imperial capital more quickly than by steam car or train.
Then again, since a typical steam locomotive ran at roughly 100 km/h, an empty transport ship was far quicker even in absolute speed alone.
There was no grand welcoming ceremony when I departed nor when I arrived. Although I was an imperial princess, I moved around far too often for such ceremonies to be prepared every time. The same was true for Alice, the 'only blood-related' genuine imperial princess as far as the public knew.
However,
"...... What is all that noisy fuss about?"
The Sword Saint asked that while looking out the window of the slowly descending transport ship.
There, knights in white uniforms stood lined up in rows.
Were there around twenty of them? Some looked relatively young, others older. Though all of them seemed young compared to the Sword Saint.
And behind those knights, enlisted soldiers in standard military uniforms stood waiting in orderly ranks and files.
"Is it because there are two imperial princesses present?"
"No."
Alice and I shook our heads simultaneously. Looking at Alice's expression, she seemed to have an inkling of what was going on. Probably the same thing I was thinking.
"...... It appears Jaden has stirred something up."
Although the Northern Region and the imperial capital were quite far apart, telephone lines connected them.
A single message announcing that the Sword Saint was on his way would have been more than enough to prepare a welcome like this.
"Hah."
The Sword Saint gave a hollow, incredulous laugh, then looked at me and said,
"You see this? This is precisely why I hid away in the mountains."
This welcoming ceremony was likely less an official event and more something the people at this air force base and the knights stationed in the imperial capital had arranged on their own. They'd gathered insofar as it didn't interfere with their duties.
I guessed there were many who had wanted to come but couldn't.
"......."
As the airship drew closer to the ground, the faces of the gathered knights and soldiers became clearer. Looking closely, not everyone gathered was an enlisted soldier. There were also quite a few wearing dark-colored officers' uniforms, a clear contrast to the enlisted men's attire.
And among those in officers' uniforms, I spotted one familiar face.
It was Jennifer.
Wearing a military uniform strikingly similar in design to the academy uniform I had on, Jennifer stood upright, looking up toward us.
To put the expression on her face simply, it was the look of someone 'barely suppressing an outburst of laughter.'
Seeing a disciple who was thoroughly delighted at the prospect of teasing her own master, a deep furrow formed between the Sword Saint's brows.
*
"the imperial capital is always bustling, whenever you come."
"Hasn't it been nearly ten years since your last visit?"
"It seems even more bustling thanks to you, Jennifer."
Jennifer, who had been in the imperial capital for academy-related business, had rushed straight over and joined the welcoming ceremony the moment she heard her master was coming.
And even while escorting the Sword Saint to the room where he would be staying, she stuck right by his side, relentlessly teasing her teacher.
"Was it not you, Master, who personally came to such a bustling place?"
"......."
Whether because he had no retort for that remark or because he knew that saying more would only cause her to needle him further, the Sword Saint gave no further answer.
"Where is the place I'll be staying?"
Instead, he directed the question at me.
"...... The imperial palace."
The Sword Saint's expression grew even more colorful at my answer, so I hurriedly added,
"For the time being, you will stay there temporarily. I will arrange a residence for you outside the palace soon."
"Oh my, is there any place finer for you to stay than the imperial palace, Master? After you achieved such great merits in the last war—"
The Sword Saint's hand blade flew straight at her, but Jennifer lightly dodged to the side.
"My plan to come and stay here quietly has been utterly ruined."
After staring blankly at his own hand that had cut through empty air, the Sword Saint let out a deep sigh.
...... Hm, should I apologize?
But honestly speaking, the biggest reason the situation had turned out this way was Jaden.
The root cause might have been me, but regardless, things escalating this far was all Jaden's fault. If he hadn't gotten excited and spread word to the imperial capital, at least the Sword Saint wouldn't have had reason to be this annoyed!
"Very well, then."
The Sword Saint spoke in a voice that had abruptly grown calm.
"Since I will be staying near my disciples anyway, I shall do my utmost to teach you to the best of my ability."
"......."
Both his voice and his expression were far more peaceful than when he had been scowling earlier—but it seemed angrier than any other expression I had ever seen on him.
The fact that he looked angrier than I had ever seen the Sword Saint before was surely only my imagination, right?
Beside me, acting on instinct, Jennifer let out a quiet whistle.
"You girls are in serious trouble."
"......."
"When Master is in that state, he means it. Be grateful, Sylvia. This might be your chance to explosively improve your swordsmanship."
...... And my body would probably end up tattered, as if caught in the blast.
"Ah, well, then I actually have business at my family's territory—"
"What nonsense is that?"
Even I, who normally sensed nothing, had felt something, so Leo, who had been honing his sword aura from the start, seemed to have felt a far more distinct threat to his life.
But naturally enough, the Sword Saint showed no sign of simply letting Leo go.
"Does it make sense for you alone to be absent while the other disciples are receiving instruction? What happened to your plan to stay in the same cabin as me for the rest of the vacation and hone your skills?"
Then the Sword Saint looked at Alice and me with a benevolent smile and said,
"Surely there is at least one more spare room in the imperial palace? Is it not the imperial palace, after all?"
"......."
Hm.
It seemed this man was completely serious.