kscans

Chapter 172 - One, Two, Dashed Through

—Seven steps.

Chasing the shadow that fled to my right, I kicked off hard with my right foot, opening my body.

—Eight steps.

She took a half-step back, feigning a retreat. It was probably a fake-out.

I planted my left foot forward, closing the distance.

—Nine steps.

She feigned another retreat for one more step, and then… just as I expected, she charged straight at me.

My right foot, which I had been bringing forward for two consecutive steps, I—just before it touched the ground—slid it wide to the side.

“—!”

Her eyes widened slightly… but still, she tried to slip past my side just as she always had. Toward that small body—

“Got… ya!!”

Unlike before, my hand reacted properly—and finally, it reached her.

I caught her shoulder. I’m sorry, but I had absolutely no room for niceties like that Blonde Samurai, worrying about how it looked or being hesitant to make contact.

Because 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 on reflex!!

“Hee hee… My loss. You’ve finally caught me.”

In this training method where speed wasn’t the main focus, ending it by relying on my agility stat for my arm was frankly not the most elegant finish… but according to my teacher’s judgment, who acknowledged my victory, the game of ‘tag’ was finally conquered—

“—DAAAAAAAARGH!! I loooooost!!”

I didn’t bask in accomplishment, nor did I cheer for my victory—instead, dragged down by the悔しさfilling my body, I collapsed, slamming both hands on the stage floor and shouting my declaration of defeat.

Three days have passed since the fifth day, when I was fired up after seeing my partner’s new outfit.

In other words, today is the eighth day of training—the [Sword Protector] caught the [Sword Saint] in seven days. This is a resounding defeat for me, the [Acrobat].

Man, this is so damn frustrating…!!

Beside me, I could feel Ui-san panicking as I suddenly dropped to my knees, utterly crushed. I apologize, but I’ve already shown her plenty of embarrassing sides, so I’d appreciate it if she could overlook one or two more odd behaviors.

Given that I’ve sworn revenge on that guy, this was a battle I seriously couldn’t afford to lose…!!

“U-um… you mean about Irori-kun, right? It’s not my place to say, but I don’t think you need to be so disheartened.”

When she placed a hand on my shoulder to help me up, I couldn’t very well act petulantly towards my kind teacher.

Still, I must have had a pretty pathetic look on my face. When I obediently lifted my head, our eyes met, and Ui-san let out a wry smile, saying, “Oh my.”

“In terms of time, you were actually faster, Haru-kun. Back then, Irori-kun was at it whether he was sleeping or awake, you see.”

“Is… that so…”

That’s… comforting, but the number of days is still the clear measure here…

So for me, this is a loss.

“I’ll just have to accept that you’re amazing, senpai,” I decided.

“…I think it’s a good thing that you can switch gears so well.”

She may be smiling, but you know, that’s something I’m learning from you. I’m a lucky guy, blessed with a teacher who is a role model in every way.

She isn’t a perfect person, either. She gets carried away and overdoes things, and sometimes she misspeaks and gets flustered.

But each time, she reflects honestly—or rather, with a heart that is completely straightforward—switches gears, and doesn’t dwell on it.

It’s easy to say, but not everyone can do it.

Ui-san is always looking straight ahead—as her student, I have no choice but to follow the example of that small back.

“Well then—let’s ride this momentum and hope for a good result in Lesson Two as well, shall we?”

“Haha… As you wish.”

Her gentle smile, the mark of a spartan teacher, was something I was already used to.

I have to meet her expectations—because I can already feel that the ‘power’ to do so has been built up within me.

◇◆◇◆◇

—Lesson Two. For the past four days, ever since ‘tag’ reached a conclusion, we had been working on the next task in parallel.

Formally, it was just a sparring session… a match. But unlike all the times before when I was just thoroughly beaten, this one had rules.

One, Ui-san would only counter-attack.

Two, my victory condition was to land a single hit on her, even a scratch.

Three, her victory condition was the same as in ‘tag’: to catch me.

In other words, Ui-san would actively try to tag me, but she wouldn’t attack. I was free to run or intercept, but if I chose to intercept, there was a ninety-nine percent chance a lethal counter would come flying back… just like that.

Of course, I could also go on the offensive. But in that case, a barrage of counter-attacks would come my way, and considering my track record, it would likely be simple suicide.

Naturally, if I was taken out by a counter-attack, I lost. Any mutual-kill suicide attacks were invalid.

Attack, and I die.

Defend, and I die.

So in the end, am I just supposed to run around again?

—I left that pathetic version of myself behind a few days ago.

I activated Flip Stroke and Tremble Slide in parallel.

I slid away from the presence that leaped at me from behind. The wind brushed my neck, but I had definitely dodged the approaching fingertips—perfect!!

“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 already gone.

“—Fourth Strike.”

The voice reached my ear from above. The counter-attack was on—so what? No time to flinch!!

“Blink Switch…!”

I summoned my [Rotating Revolve Shields], along with the familiar trio of Gusty Rim and Reflect Blowal—and activated Prescient Eye!!

I looked up. The trajectory of the greatsword being swung down from a sideways position was…

“Right… there!!”

Right in front of me, dead center of my forehead. The back of my fist, swung with all my might, overlapped with the crimson prediction line—and clashed with the silver steel blade.

“—Impressive!”

After a leap, she launched a surprise attack from above, followed by a triple-rotation, three-hit combo using an incomprehensible technique called an aerial Shukuchi—the weakness of the Fourth Strike, Amayuki, lies in the lightness of its initial blow.

The Sword Saint, her weapon deflected and her technique interrupted, offered undeniable praise, but this was no time to celebrate!!

Even as her stance broke, her free left hand was closing in—!

Even if it was light, that was only relatively speaking. Even with my defenses hardened, the blow had gouged out a chunk of my HP. I had no room to land another hit and aim for a mutual kill.

When you run out of options, your thoughts become disordered. And for the old me, where disordered thoughts meant delayed body control, this would have undoubtedly been game over—but,

From ‘Outer’ to ‘Inner’.

“—!”

The red blade of my drawn [Rabbit Dagger: Parabellum] tore through the empty space where her left arm had been just a moment before as she reflexively pulled it back.

“First Strike—”

The counter was on. As she landed, a red line flashed 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!!

“—! That’s the spirit!!”

The voice that reached my ears was more buoyant than ever before.

The moment I sensed her excitement, I felt my feet reflexively freeze, and my cheeks twitched. I’d been beaten to a pulp by the Sword Saint in that state so many times, of course I’d be scared—but,

“Hah!!”

A smile escaped my lips at the same time, and that too might be thanks to the Sword Saint’s tutelage… or was I always like this? Maybe I was!!

“I have a question, Sensei!!”

“Hee hee…! Go ahead, I’m listening!”

“Is it okay if I go all… out?!”

“—Of course, bring it on!!”

Amidst the clash of 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 a moment—

To drive a blade into a heart, you don’t need any more time than that.

A faint shattering sound echoed, and the crimson phosphorescence that was once a gem became mana and settled into 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 in ‘Inner,’ I pushed off just as one would with normal status usage.

…As I’ve stated in the past, I don’t think I can output two types of power simultaneously like Ui-san does. I’m convinced that perfectly overlapping and freely controlling Inner and Outer forces from start to finish would be impossible for me, no matter how many years I tried.

But, for just a moment.

Even if I can’t do it simultaneously, for just one fleeting instant—

If it’s just layering ‘Outer’ onto ‘Inner’ from behind…!!

“Rea—…ch heeer!!”

And so, that moment arrived.

I grasped the sensation of having truly shrunk the world.

And then, leaving even my own roar behind.

“—…!!”

I heard a sound by my ear, unable to tell if it was the wind or a breath.

As I raced through a world that had lost all color and shape, my crimson dagger clutched in hand—

“………………………Ha, no good, huh…”

My torso was sliced clean in two. I watched the bright red damage effects spill out, my HP bar now empty…

As I turned back in disappointment—I saw the [Sword Saint] with a smile like a flower in full bloom, a smile I had never seen before.

Her right arm, gripping her greatsword so tightly as if to hold back some emotion—on her upper arm, a not-so-small wound was scattering red… and as I confirmed it, my vision went dark.

After countless repetitions of instant revival in this special safe area—

“Haru-kun!!”

As I heard that voice up close and opened my eyes again, my vision was filled with something pure white.

“Nngh…???”

Oh, it seems I can’t even speak properly.

Why, you ask? Because my entire face is being crushed by something—okay, I got it. From this point on, I will not think about what this is.

Same goes for the two things wrapped around my head and neck. The warmth, the softness, all of it—I will ignore everything, you got that, you bastard (me)?!

“—Wonderful…! Wonderful!! Oh, how embarrassing. I underestimated you again…!!”

I understand, so, um, if you could just calm down for a moment—

“To think you were special in the same way I am, how ridiculous of me…! You too, Haru-kun… you are the same as Sora-chan, an undeniable, natural-born talent…!”

That’s what’s ridiculous, those are words I don’t deserve—I couldn’t even reply carelessly. If I so much as moved my mouth in that spot right now, none other than myself would beat the crap out of me…!!

Was it the backlash from trying a new technique 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.

“Oh, I can’t…! I’m sorry, please forgive me for just a little longer…!”

—And so, it seems this heaven (hell) will continue for a while longer.

If so, I have no choice but to wait until she calms down. Perhaps I’ll just resign myself to it and focus my consciousness deep inside my head, which is currently being assaulted by a fierce headache…

No, seriously… for real… my head is splitting open, save me…………