kscans

Chapter 685 - The Third Magic Sword

"—Sooo? How've you been lately, Nia-chan? You've been getting a lot of attention because of your big brother and you're back in the rankings, so you must be busy, right?"

"Uh, well, so-so…"

"Don't overdo it! You can just brush off what the world thinks. Let the un-cute boys from the East stand in the line of fire, and we girls can take it easy, take it easy!"

"Wh-What, who are you talking ab—"

"Oh, by the way, I was holding back because I thought you must be super busy, but since we've met, I've got a few requests I'd like to ask of you, if that's okay?"

"Seriously, you never let me talk, as usual…!!!"

"They get along so well."

"You call this getting along…!"

From the usual red-and-blue pair, one color has changed to red-and-indigo.

As I watched Nia, who was being completely overwhelmed by the little one who had taken over her lap, I let out a carefree comment, only to be met with a glare and a voice that screamed, "Hurry up and help me."

Even with those eyes, there's not much I can do. Their connection seems to predate my involvement, and this is pretty much how it goes every time they meet.

Ri-na isn't so bad, but Mi-na basically latches onto Nia with the energy of someone who's found their soulmate. It's a mystery whether she sees a big-sister figure in her, but she goes into full-on close-friend mode, clinging to her in a way that's different from Sora, who tends to act like the younger one.

And Nia-chan, who tends to be assertive herself, gets flustered when others come on strong. It was the same with Nonomi-chan-san, also known as 'Colorful Beauty,' who moved from third to fourth seat this term. She's a weak creature who just lets it happen.

I can tell she's troubled, but I can also tell she's not exactly hating it. Apparently, Nia also considers them friends, so it's probably fine to leave them be.

By the way, their relationship apparently started as craftsman and customer.

She said she tailored their outfits without her usual personal 'quirks,' so it's no wonder I didn't notice until she told me. The school-uniform-like outfits of Mi-na and Ri-na are none other than the work of the [Milmarinus].

—Well, leaving the affectionate pair next to me aside.

I pushed myself up from the wall and crossed the training room, which was filled with a chilly air, towards the center. Waiting for me were Ri-na, who was diligently helping with data collection as she had last time, and my partner, who was attended by her new magic sword.

"So… it doesn't seem as difficult to handle as the flame sword (Flam), does it?"

"Yeah. It's well-behaved and reserved."

"Um, I don't think it's reserved at all…"

One deadpan expression and one wry smile came back in response to my question.

After a few months together, I've started to be able to read Ri-na just a little. That was probably her idea of a joke. The third magic sword—the ice sword (Glacis), which is packed with all sorts of features—is anything but reserved.

Ah, well, I guess its 'simple firepower' is reserved compared to the other two. Anyway,

"It's well-behaved… yes. It's lighter than not just the 'flame' but also the 'sand.'"

And as if to prove her words, the sword flew around its master…—though it was a sword, it had no hilt or guard, just a blade of transparent, snowy white.

In a word, it was a palm-sized, sharp snowflake.

Unlike the flame sword (Flam), which was limited to nine blades when she first acquired it at the Second Tier, Sora-san, who could freely control hundreds from the very beginning, still looked completely at ease even after more than ten minutes of testing.

Lighter, meaning the control load for each one is extremely low.

"What's the max you think you can summon?"

"The max… Hmm, well…………… Around five thousand, maybe…?"

"Bwah."

And so I asked out of curiosity, and the answer was so ridiculous that a strange laugh escaped me. Sora immediately started waving her hands in a panic.

"W-Well, that's just to summon them, you know? I might be able to just shoot them all out at once, but I definitely can't control them properly!"

"…You can just shoot them all out at once, huh?"

"Maybe…!"

Sora-san, who also reacted to Ri-na's mutter, was trying hard to appeal to her humanity, but for someone who's been commanding a thousand blades for a long time, it's a bit too late. Give it up, my dear partner.

"A-Anyway…! It doesn't seem like it'll be as much trouble as the flame, but I need to practice to be able to use this ice one properly too…! Haru, you have to help me, okay?"

Sora-san tends to get embarrassed and try to change the subject whenever I talk about her as if she's on 'this side' of things, even though I don't mean to tease her.

I get it, so stop swinging those hundred-odd ice swords around. The room temperature is dropping.

—Well, to begin with. In addition to the ice sword (Glacis), her [Cradle of Sword-Craft] has reached the Third Tier, an odd-numbered tier, and gained new capabilities, so a review of its operation is essential.

Therefore, I had intended to help from the start.

…However, if there was one concern.

"As a practice partner playing the role of a virtual enemy, I wonder how long my mental state will hold up, knowing I'm guaranteed to be beaten to a pulp over and over…"

"…About two days?"

"You think it'll even last two days?"

"Do your best."

"I-I wouldn't… beat you to a pulp…!!!"

Haha, don't be ridiculous.

As expected, my partner, who has obtained a magic sword that inherited the properties of Mi-na and Ri-na's 'ice,' just like the 'flame,' has now become a perfect counter to me. Standing before her, no matter how much I struggle, my spirit will inevitably be meticulously broken.

Alright, let's set a tentative mental endurance goal of two days.

And while I'm at it, let's train hard, as if I'm tempering my spirit.