Chapter 172 - One, Two, Dashed Through
—Seven steps.
The shadow fled to my right. I followed, kicking off hard with my right foot and opening my body.
—Eight steps.
She took a half-step back, feigning a retreat. It was probably a fake-out.
I stepped forward with my left foot, closing the distance.
—Nine steps.
She feigned another step back, and then... just as I predicted, she charged straight at me.
My right foot, which had been coming down for a second forward step, was—just before it touched the ground—slid far to the side.
"Tch—"
Her eyes widened slightly... but even then, she tried to slip past my side just like before. Toward that small body—
"Got... you!"
Unlike last time, my hand reacted perfectly—and finally, it reached her.
I caught her shoulder. I'm sorry, but I didn't have the luxury of worrying about being gentle or how it would look, like a certain blonde samurai might.
I mean, at the very last second, she showed a sign of footwork I'd never seen before! Of course my hand was going to go full AGI instinctively!!
"Fufu... It is my loss. You have finally caught me."
This training method wasn't about raw speed, so closing the gap by relying on my agility stat wasn't exactly a smart finish... but just as she said, my teacher acknowledged my victory. The game of 'tag' was finally cleared—
"—DAAAAAAAH!! I LOOOOOST!!!"
I didn't bask in accomplishment, nor did I cry out in victory. Dragged down by the regret filling my body, I collapsed, planting both hands on the stage floor and shouting my declaration of defeat.
After seeing my partner's new outfit, my motivation had skyrocketed. It's been three days since that fifth day of training.
In other words, today is the eighth day of training. I, the [Acrobat], had suffered a bitter defeat to the [Sword Protector], who had caught the [Sword Saint] in seven days.
Damn it, this is so unbelievably frustrating...!!
Beside me, I could feel Ui-san fidgeting as I suddenly dropped to my knees, utterly crushed. I apologize, but I've already shown her enough embarrassing behavior that I hope she can overlook one or two more oddities.
Given that I've sworn revenge on that guy, this was a battle I seriously couldn't afford to lose...!!
"Um... You are talking about Irori-kun, are you not? It is not my place to say, but I do not think you need to be so disheartened."
When she put a hand on my shoulder to help me up, I couldn't bring myself to act unseemly toward my kind teacher.
Still, I must have looked pretty dejected. When I obediently lifted my head, our eyes met, and Ui-san gave me a wry smile. "Oh, my."
"In terms of time, you were actually faster, Haru-kun. Back then, Irori-kun was at it from morning till night, you could say."
"Is... that so..."
That's... comforting, but the number of days is still the clearest metric...
So, in my book, this is still a loss.
"My senpai's amazing, as expected... I'll just have to accept it."
"...Being able to switch gears so readily is a good thing, I believe."
You're smiling, but you know, that's something I'm trying to learn from you, too. I'm a lucky man, blessed with a teacher who's a role model in every way.
She's not a perfect person, either. She gets carried away sometimes, and she panics when she misspeaks.
But each time, she sincerely—or rather, with a heart that is completely straightforward—reflects, switches gears, and doesn't dwell on it.
It's easy to say, but not something everyone can do.
Ui-san is always looking forward—as her student, I have no choice but to follow the example of that small back.
"Well then—with this momentum, let us hope for a good result in Lesson Two as well."
"Haha... As you wish."
Her gentle smile and spartan training—I'm used to it by now.
I have to meet her expectations—because I can already feel that the 'power' to do so has been building up inside me.
◇◆◇◆◇
—Lesson Two. Since the 'tag' game reached its conclusion four days ago, this was the next task we had already been working on in parallel.
Formally, it was just a spar... a match, in other words. But unlike all the times before when I was thoroughly beaten, this one had rules.
One, Ui-san would only counter-attack.
Two, my win condition was to land a single blow on her, even a scratch.
Three, her win condition was the same as in tag: to catch me.
In short, Ui-san would actively try to tag me, but she wouldn't attack first. I was free to run or intercept, but if I intercepted, a counter with a ninety-nine percent chance of being lethal would come flying my way.
Of course, I could also go on the offensive. But in that case, a barrage of counters would come back at me, which, considering my past experiences, had a high probability of being simple suicide.
It goes without saying that if I was taken out by a counter, it was my loss. Any kamikaze attack aiming for a mutual kill was null and void.
Death if I attack.
Death if I defend.
So in the end, am I back to just running around?
—I left that pathetic guy behind a few days ago.
[Flip Stroke], and then [Tremble Slide], activated in parallel.
I leaped backwards, sliding to gain distance from the presence that had jumped behind me. The wind grazed my neck, but I had definitely dodged the approaching fingertips—perfect!!
"[Parabellum Bullet]!!"
As I turned, a line of crimson daggers I summoned along the path of my right hand shot out all at once... but by then, the gray shadow was nowhere to be seen.
"—Fourth Strike."
The voice that whispered in my ear came from above. The counter was established—but so what? I don't have time to be scared!!
"[Blink Switch]...!"
I summoned the [Spinning Revolve Shield], deploying my usual three-piece set of [Gusty Rim] and [Reflect Blower]—and activated [Eyes Oculus]!!
The greatsword, swung down from a horizontal position above me, its trajectory was...
"Here... DAAAH!!"
Right in front of me, dead center of my forehead. My backhand, swung with all my might, overlapped with the crimson prediction line—and clashed with the silver steel blade.
"Tch... Magnificent!"
An overhead surprise attack after a jump, followed by a triple spin combo using an incomprehensible technique like an aerial `Shukuchi`—the weakness of the Fourth Strike, Heavenly Snow, lies in the lightness of its first blow.
Indeed, a clear compliment came from the Sword Saint, whose weapon was deflected and technique interrupted. But this is no time to be celebrating!!
Even though her stance was broken, her free left hand was closing in on me—!
Even if it was 'light,' that was only in comparison. Even with my defenses hardened, the blow had still chipped away at my HP. I had no leeway to land another hit for a mutual kill.
When you have no leeway, your thoughts become disordered. And for the me of the past, disordered thoughts meant a delay in body control, a situation that would have undoubtedly been game over—but...
From 'Outer' to 'Inner'.
"Tch...!"
The crimson blade of a drawn [Parabellum Bullet] sliced through the air where her left arm, pulled back at the last second, had just been.
"First Strike—"
The counter was established. The moment she landed, a red line raced across my still-active predictive vision—
From 'Inner' to 'Outer'.
"[Ignition]!!"
Escape from the kill zone, and then—re-engage!!
I can't win if I don't attack. She desires a 'victory' from me!!
"Tch...! That is the spirit!!"
The voice that reached my ears was more excited than ever before.
The moment I sensed her exhilaration, I felt my legs instinctively try to freeze up, and my cheeks twitched. I've been beaten to a pulp by the Sword Saint in that state so many times, of course I'd be scared—but...
"Hah!!"
At the same time, a smile spread across my face. Maybe that, too, was a lesson from the Sword Saint... or maybe that part was me from the start? Yeah, probably!!
"I have a question, Sensei!!"
"Fufu...! Go ahead, I am listening!"
"Is it... okay... if I go all-out?!"
"—Of course it is. Come at me!!"
In the midst of the clashing swords that seemed ready to shatter, our exchanged shouts deepened the smiles on both our faces. Ah, she really is—the teacher of that [Sword Protector]!!
I took a large step back. From 'Outer' to 'Inner'. I stopped for just an instant—
You do not need any more time than that to drive a blade into a heart.
A faint shattering sound echoed, and the crimson phosphorescence that became mana from the fragments lodged itself in my avatar.
Now, see it, lay the path, and follow it.
—The one step that can reach the [Sword Saint]!!
"[Ignition]!!"
Keeping my base output on 'Inner', I pushed off with the 'normal' status operation that was likely intended.
...As I declared in the past, I don't think I can output two types of power at once like Ui-san can. I'm certain I could never perfectly overlap 'Outer' and 'Inner' from start to finish, no matter how many years I tried.
But, for just an instant.
Even if 'simultaneous' is impossible, for just one fleeting moment—
If it's just a matter of adding 'Outer' on top of 'Inner' afterward...!!
"Rea...—CH!!"
And then came that fleeting moment.
I grasped the sensation of having truly shrunk the world.
And so, leaving even my own roar behind.
"—...!!"
Without knowing if the sound I heard by my ear was the wind or a breath.
I raced through a world that had lost its color and shape, clutching a crimson dagger—
"...Haha, no good... huh..."
My torso was sliced horizontally. I watched the crimson damage effects spill out and my HP bar empty...
Disappointed, I turned back—and saw the [Sword Saint] with a smile more brilliant than any I'd seen before, like a flower in full bloom.
Her right arm, gripping the greatsword tightly as if to suppress some emotion—on its shoulder, a not-so-small wound was scattering red... and as I confirmed it, my vision went dark.
After an instant revival in the special safe area, something I'd done countless times—
"Haru-kun!!"
As I heard that voice up close and opened my eyes again, my vision was filled with something white.
"Nngh...?"
Oh, it seems I can't even speak properly.
Why? Because my entire face is being crushed by... something. —Okay, I get it. From this point on, I will not think about what 'this' is.
The same goes for the two things wrapped around my head and neck. I will ignore the warmth, the softness, all of it. Got it, you (me)?!
"—Wonderful...! It is wonderful!! Ah, how embarrassing. I have underestimated you once again...!!"
I understand, so please, if you would just calm your heart for now—
"To think you are special in the same way I am is an outrageous notion...! Haru-kun... you, like Sora-chan, are without a doubt a vessel of heaven-sent talent...!"
That is the outrageous notion, those words are too much for me—not that I could carelessly reply. If I so much as moved my mouth in there right now, I'd have to beat myself up...!!
Perhaps it was the backlash from pulling off a new move for the first time. Unable to move a muscle from the neck down, I was at the mercy of the Sword Saint, who was in a state that could only be described as ecstatic.
"Ah, really...! I am sorry, but please forgive me for just a little longer...!"
—And so, it seems this heaven (hell) will continue for a while longer.
Well, if she needs time to calm down, it can't be helped. I suppose I'll just have to give up and turn my consciousness inward, toward the back of my head where a fierce headache is currently raging...
No, really... seriously... I'm not kidding, my head feels like it's going to split open, help me...
If he commits any indecency, I (the author) will personally beat up this protagonist (him), so please rest assured.
Sora-san and Nia-chan are only interacting freely as a partner & friend, so they are not involved in this matter.
Also! And! Sometime! I ranked 5th in the genre for the year!!
Truly, truly, thank you for all the high ratings, it's nothing but encouragement! From here on, I will strive to improve even more while continuing to enjoy writing as I always have!
First, toward the climax of the second arc...! ...Toward... how many chapters will this take...?
A bug where the author's story won't stop overflowing.