kscans

Chapter 749 - Two Paths for the Walking Sword

A single sound.

That was the only piece of information his ears alone could capture, not his eyes, not his skin. The moment he heard the cool, clear chime, like that of a wind chime, it was probably all over.

Irori was simply standing there.

But her form was gone from before him; her presence was already behind him. He looked to his right, but the azure katana was no longer in his hand. His white katana on the left was gone as well.

His blades were back in their sheaths. Their default non-combat positions.

That meant, without a doubt—he had been killed and had respawned as a player, without even being able to perceive that he'd been cut.

"………I'm beaten."

The words that escaped his lips perfectly described his state of mind and the situation.

It wasn't because he hadn't seen it.

It was because, even without seeing, he understood. That was why he had no choice but to raise the white flag, finding it all too much to bear.

The momentary duel was over, and the space was filled with silence. Feeling as though it would be improper to make a sound, he slowly turned around, careful not to even let the rustle of his clothes be heard.

What met his eyes was the [Sword Saint] sheathing her blade, her long, shining hair scattered around her, cloaked in a mystical phosphorescence. It was a sight he couldn't help but find more beautiful than anything else.

The swordsman, however, gritted his teeth not in fascination, but in 'frustration'—

"Sensei."

His masculine pride taking precedence, he swallowed everything and called to her in a calm voice.

"Yes."

Still, when she turned around, she was, after all, so breathtakingly beautiful.

"……………………It was magnificent. I surrender."

Literally, in every sense of the word.

Irori humbly accepted his defeat in the 'present' and offered his praise and respect. In response, she… for some reason, she too wore a smile that seemed tinged with a hint of regret.

"…, …────"

Her sword now gone, the slender fingers of her small hand pointed.

The moment he saw the faint but definite red phosphorescence—a damage effect—on her left shoulder, his breath caught in his throat for a multitude of reasons, an unavoidable reaction.

"Irori-kun."

"………Yes."

His name was called, and he somehow managed to restart his virtual lungs and respond with words. That was all he could manage; he had no composure left to try and keep his voice from cracking.

His 'Sensei' looked upon her 'student,' her gray eyes filled with a host of emotions.

"That was magnificent. …This is troubling. I had intended to put on a one-sided display."

She smiled softly and said something that was, truly, troubling.

Because that… that meant, without a doubt—even if it had been unconscious, even if it had been a reflex, it was a fact.

His own 'blade,' which had met her attack, had truly reached her supreme form.

It meant that he had, even if just slightly, surpassed the predictions of none other than her… the [Sword Saint].

"…No, I am still far from ready. To be honest, I couldn't follow your movements at all. That must have been nothing more than a lucky hit."

"Oh? Do you think I am someone who would be struck by a 'lucky hit'?"

Therefore…

"It's just a figure of speech. At the very least, I cannot convince myself."

"…Fufu. In that respect, you may not be so similar after all."

Therefore…

"Unlike him, who can see everything as a 'game,' my 'sword' has been my life since I was a child. I may enjoy it, but I have no intention of compromising."

"You are so serious… That is a point I have always respected about you."

Therefore, for now, please.

"──You've grown so strong, almost unrecognizably so. And more than anything, you seem so serene."

Don't be so gentle with me.

The wish could never be put into words, and thus could never be heard. She walked closer, stood on her toes, and reached out to brush Irori's hair aside and stroke his forehead.

It was her habit when she wanted to make proper eye contact with someone she was close to. A troubling habit he had experienced a handful of times before, one that had thrown his heart into turmoil each time.

He didn't run, didn't stop her… He had accepted it willingly.

His past heart made a sound.

It stirred, and made him remember.

I was… truly in love with this person.

"…Irori-kun."

"Yes."

A voice that did not blur reached his muddled heart. The voice of the woman who should have been in the heavens, the one who from the far-off virtual world had given him warmth once more.

"Could you close your eyes for just a moment?"

"Yes."

He didn't ask her intention, didn't question the meaning. He closed his eyes without hesitation.

He didn't care if he was laughed at for being blindly devoted. It was thanks to her that Irori had this passionate life now, so if she desired something of him, he would not doubt it.

And so, five seconds, ten seconds passed.

"──You may open your eyes now."

Given permission, he opened his eyes as told.

"…………──────"

Before him stood the person of his first love, holding a single 'katana'.

"…, ……Sensei."

"I had been struggling for quite some time over when to give this to you."

"Sensei."

"Now is the perfect moment. Now that you have undoubtedly surpassed my expectations, and proven it with your sword… and so…"

"Sense—"

"──No, you will accept it."

He knew. He knew the meaning and weight of her feelings behind the act of 'gifting a sword to another.' That was why he had tried to layer his words of apology.

But she brushed them aside head-on.

"Irori-kun. You are my precious student."

"…"

"I was inadequate and could not bestow my techniques upon you. That is why we could not become 'master' or 'disciple'—but, because it is now, I shall say it."

Two souls, together, who had found their own clear skies.

"And what of it?"

She, who had truly cast aside her hesitation, kicked the wounds of both of them into the distance.

"You were necessary for me to reach this point. And I believe I was necessary for you to reach yours. It is too late to say this now, but still…"

She held the sword, boldly.

"The 'name' of our relationship is a trivial matter—you too are an irreplaceable person to me."

In the heart and words she offered, there was not a trace of hesitation.

To her 'student,' who was being beaten down in a daze, the [Sword Saint], who was no longer content with being 'supreme' and had begun to advance, showed a smile so refreshing it was almost exasperating.

She was right there before him, looking at Irori.

"That's why, you see."

"…"

"So… please, just let me give you this one gift."

"…"

"Of course, it's not as if I would do this for just anyone, you know?"

"…"

"This is, well──"

"…, ………"

"It's a small reward, for a student who has worked so hard."

He couldn't stop his knees from buckling.

Because of that, he made the blunder of being supported by his 'Sensei,' who couldn't possibly have missed it. And then, unable to bear it, his eyes grew wet—whether it was the fault of the virtual world's exaggerated expressions or not—another blunder, being seen like this by a woman.

"Please, wait, just a moment, will you?"

"………Yes, as long as you need."

While supported by her small yet immensely powerful body. As a consolation to his past self, he apologized to his present self for the sin of indulging in her kindness and warmth.

True to his word, after a brief moment,

The swordsman stood on his own two feet, took a step back—and dropped to one knee. As he did, he noticed her letting out a small smile, as if she had remembered something.

"I shall humbly accept it."

"…Thank you."

He received a definite weight in his outstretched hands.

He was gifted a single uchigatana. The blade was roughly two shaku long, a traditionally crafted piece similar to Irori's own Anima, [Frostblade Shirosou].

The tsuba was adorned with a pattern of ice petals, the handle wrap a shade of vermilion. Swaying from the pommel was a braided cord decoration common to the 'katana' she crafted, this one navy blue. Catching her eye for permission, he drew the blade from its scabbard, revealing—

"I've always thought…"

"…"

A crimson red, like flames.

"That red would suit you, Irori-kun, not just the white and azure that evoke ice."

It likely wasn't just its appearance. The 'heat' he felt on his skin from just slightly unsheathing the blade indicated that this sword was no mere weapon of steel.

For him, who wielded ice… as expected, he held no doubts.

"………Its 'name' is?"

To Irori's question, she answered quietly.

"[Crimson Moon]—will you… try it?"

She said it, asked it, and so Irori could only nod. He stood and placed the sword next to the `Anima` at his waist… The moment he set [Crimson Moon] beside it,

A storm of ice, as if to tear his body apart, erupted.

Its target was Irori. That is, the master himself, who had committed the impropriety. The temperamental soul-fragment, bearing the name 'Magia,' roared in anger, refusing to allow a half-measure to be placed beside it.

And yet, no one was perturbed.

"………It was just as I expected."

"Actually, I was a little nervous, you know?"

Just as when he had borrowed the jade blade from his 'junior,' the azure katana, which had calmed its tantrum in an instant with a thought of 'if this is the case, it cannot be helped,' now fell silent, scattering a white frost.

In other words, something he had given up on as impossible had been achieved…

"Now I can look the part at all times, without even using my power."

"Truly… I am beyond grateful."

He could now graduate from being a two-sword style user who couldn't carry two swords, a nonsensical state of being.

And more than that,

"──Please continue to strive forward."

He was about to speak, but was stopped, and thought. No matter how hard he tried to convey it, his emotions were too great to be expressed in words.

"For those like us… that is the most important thing, is it not?"

"………You were right."

That for them, who had managed to reach this point, that was surely for the best.

"Well then…──Well then. I have one more person waiting for me today, so."

This was enough talk.

This was a good place to leave things, having confirmed their hearts.

He bowed deeply once more, raised his head, and they exchanged natural expressions.

"Thank you for your time so late at night… Good night."

"…Yes, good night."

They exchanged the farewells they had spoken many times in the past.

He turned on his heel, with no hesitation in leaving her presence.

And, just for today. Only for today.

"──Ui-san."

He stopped, turned back, and called her name without hesitation.

Called not as [Sword Saint] or 'Sensei' but by her name for the first time, she was so surprised she couldn't even process it, showing a completely blank expression that was beyond rare. To her, he said,

"I was in love with you. And from now on, you will unchangingly be my 'guide'."

It was an undeniable first.

Leaving behind a one-sided confession that needed no 'answer' and sought no 'response'… and in a manner befitting a 'student' of the [Sword Saint], with a truly selfish and willful act,

The [Sword Protector] who had gained wings became [Peerless] and flew boldly from the gate.