kscans

Chapter 403 - An Unbeatable Opponent

I finished my rounds of greetings and requests to the artisans, logged out at last, and closed my eyes thinking, "Now I can finally rest." When I opened them, it was night.

I'd set an alarm so I didn't oversleep, but it was a serious time warp. I don't even remember when I drifted off; it was practically like passing out.

Well, it was obvious my mental fatigue was significant. Even if that great and mysterious technology, the Outer Brain, shoulders most of the burden, it's not like the 'mind over matter' principle doesn't apply to the brain.

Even after a few hours of napping, the exhaustion and sleepiness lingered. As expected, Sora-san showed no signs of reappearing in the virtual world, so after I finish my last errand, I'll go back to sleep too.

An errand I can't skip, an important one—yes, today is Saturday.

"—Fufu, it seems I have a companion for staying up late again."

"I did my best. Please look forward to it."

While tending to [Samidorizuki] with practiced hands, my master listened to my victory report, a soft, gentle smile on her face.

As for me, I was trying to maintain a poker face, but inwardly I was cringing with embarrassment. Every time I report something to Ui-san, I inexplicably adopt this 'storytelling tone meant to build hype.' I wonder why I do that.

It's like a kid telling their parents about a field trip. It's embarrassing.

"So, um… about that, I already mentioned it, but…"

What I was trying to bring up again was the matter of [Samidorizuki], currently in her hands.

I don't regret entrusting the sword to Irori to help him, and I was sure Ui-san would forgive me without even having to ask.

However, while I don't regret it, I do regret it. In the end, no matter how much I tried to act cool, I myself didn't want to part with it, in any form.

I feel a self-imposed guilt for letting go, even temporarily, of the sword I received as a 'proof.' Therefore, the apology I was about to offer was for my own satisfaction—and therefore,

"If it's about the sword, how you use it is for you to decide, Haru-kun."

—she cuts through such unnecessary things with a single stroke.

"If you need my opinion, I would say I am nothing but delighted that it was able to help not only you, Haru-kun, but Irori-kun as well… That is all."

Anticipating my every move, my master, whose kindness is as fundamental as her ruthlessness, does not allow for any pampered negativity. The smile she offered was as serene as ever.

"…Haha, how embarrassing."

Truly, in so many ways.

When I talk with Ui-san, I am reminded every single time that I am still just a novice—and yet,

—the fact that even that feels comforting is the dangerous thing about her.

"Fufu… —There, it is done."

"Thank you very much."

The maintenance was complete, and the jade blade was returned to me, its brilliance renewed.

What Ui-san uses to maintain [Samidorizuki] is a set of tools I recognize from somewhere as 'Japanese sword maintenance equipment,' involving things like oil and powder.

I still don't even know the proper names for each of them, but my master herself has forbidden me from 'studying' them, so it can't be helped.

My line of thinking was, as the owner and her disciple, shouldn't I be able to maintain the sword myself…? To that, the great [Sword Saint] said this:

—It would leave me with nothing to do, so no.

That's what I'm talking about, Master.

"Haru-kun."

"Yes?"

"Thank you, as well. Knowing that you cherish the gift I gave you… makes me very happy, too."

"That's really what I'm talking about, Master."

"…Yes?"

I foresaw a future where she would tilt her head in confusion, so I averted my gaze to avoid the direct hit from a move that would cause instant death from sheer cuteness.

"I don't quite understand, but… —Now then, Haru-kun, would you be so kind as to show me?"

"…Show you what?"

"Fufu."

"…"

Man, the pressure.

"Although I did not participate in the battle myself, I believe that as a master, I have both the duty and the right to witness my disciple's 'growth.'"

"Eh… You're going to pull the master-privilege card here?"

"I am. If necessary, I will again—"

"Okay, I get it…! I get it, so please put the wooden sword down…!"

I was going to show her sooner or later anyway, and I had no intention of refusing. It was simply a matter of my not being prepared yet, which would only increase my embarrassment—but if I must,

"Hah… It's a pretty big change, so you'd better prepare yourself too—[Trance]."

I activated the skill that, in this virtual world, only a hundred and ten people currently possess.

The effect was instantaneous. A magic circle unfolded around my avatar, bathing me in its glow. My entire body was enveloped in white light, and then… with a crack, like an eggshell breaking.

As the light scattered with a faint sound, my Trance body was revealed.

According to the girls, hair in this form isn't as heavy as it would be in real life, even when grown long… Still, there's enough of a difference from my main avatar for it to feel strange.

The long side-tail, reaching all the way to my waist, sways with every movement, and my attention keeps getting drawn to it. I wonder if I'll ever get used to this.

—Putting that aside,

"Well… this is quite a surprise."

"I'm sure it is…"

Even the great [Sword Saint] probably never dreamed that her disciple would transform into a girl (a beautiful, white-haired, blue-eyed one at that).

Her gray eyes, which were blinking rapidly, were opened wider and rounder than I'd ever seen them.

Blink, blink, her wide eyes… stared, and stared, and stared at 'me,' a sight I'd rather not be scrutinized so intensely.

"…So, um, well, I'm a little tired today, so I think I'll be turning in early—"

"Haru-kun."

"Yes."

I had a bad feeling—so I tried to make a quick exit, but my words were cut off. Now, Ui-san rarely ever interrupts people unless it's something truly important.

Which means that for her, something 'truly important' is happening right now, and as her disciple, I can't just ignore my master's crisis.

In other words, I can't defy her.

"I must confess, I've had a dream."

"A dream?"

"Yes—a dream I hoped to fulfill if I ever had a female disciple."

"…W-well, that's unfortunate, or rather, you see, since I'm a guy, I'm afraid I can't be of much help…"

"I believe I once told you that the things I want to do for you are the same things my grandfather used to do for me…"

"…"

This is bad. She's in full Sword Saint mode.

She's smiling so sweetly, but she's not listening to a word I'm saying…!

"There was a time when I was a child that I grew my hair out."

"…Yes."

"My grandfather would often have me sit on his lap and comb it for me."

"I see…"

"Haru-kun."

"Yes."

"Given our heights, having you sit on my lap would be difficult, so please, come over here."

She patted the cushion she had repositioned at the edge of the veranda, urging me to sit with a gesture that brooked no argument. The little master herself was kneeling behind it, looking fully prepared, but I hadn't yet agreed to her request—

"Haru-cha—"

"I'm sorry, I get it, just please spare me from that."

The difference in our strength was hopeless. The match was decided in an instant.

On a Saturday, during a peaceful time between master and disciple. As my master, who had produced a comb from somewhere, did as she pleased… our usual quiet night continued on, peacefully.

Except, of course, for the complex feelings of one of the participants.