Chapter 149: Blind Date (1)

After that, I comforted Wolffang, who was pouting after being trampled by Jinta, and returned her to sword form to rest in her scabbard.

Back in sword form, Wolffang’s blade was badly damaged. The fact that it wasn’t healing well showed just how severe her injuries were.

“I don’t know what happened between you two, but this was a bit much.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Ah, I’m not just blaming you.”

There must have been a good reason for Jinta, who had only recently become human, to use such extreme violence.

Moreover, the fact that Wolffang didn’t say anything even after being beaten to the point of damaging her blade suggested that she was more likely at fault.

“I just wish you’d be a bit more lenient, since you’re Wolffang’s senior and big sister.”

“I’m the big sister… As you say, Master, I should be more forgiving of my foolish and immature little sister.”

Of course, it’s not just Jinta who needs to be careful. Wolffang should also refrain from making discriminatory comments like “defective sword” and show respect to Jinta.

I might tolerate racism, but I can’t stand discrimination between katanas just because their blades are slightly different, or using derogatory terms like “defective sword”.

“Wolffang, don’t use words like ‘defective sword’ again. Got it?”

[Nngh… O-okay, I got it.]

As Wolffang groaned her response, Jinta narrowed her eyes, seemingly displeased about something.

“…I’ve been thinking, our little doggy here dares to speak informally to Master?”

“Huh? It’s fine. She’s been like that since we first met, it’d be awkward if she suddenly started being formal now. You don’t need to be so formal with me either, Jinta.”

I meant it sincerely, feeling more comfortable with informal speech, but Jinta refused, waving her hands in protest.

“Anyway, can you tell me about your ability? I saw you fight, but I don’t know exactly what it is…”

While the power was impressive, that alone wasn’t enough to understand precisely what her ability was.

“I suppose it would be difficult to understand my ability just from watching me fight. My ability is…”

An ability that converts friction into kinetic energy and acceleration, becoming faster and stronger the greater the friction.

When those words came out of Jinta’s mouth, I tilted my head, not understanding what she meant.

“Huh? What do you mean? Isn’t that just how it normally works?”

“…Pardon?”

It’s common sense that the friction generated when drawing a sword from its scabbard is converted into kinetic energy and acceleration.

Claiming this as her ability was like an egg claiming its ability was to break when dropped from a height.

‘Maybe it’s not such an impressive ability, or perhaps it has a serious drawback that she’s trying to hide by misspeaking?’

As I was lost in thought about Jinta’s statement, Jessica, who had been quietly watching from behind, spoke up.

“What nonsense are you spouting? Friction should normally slow things down, right?”

“Liberal arts wife, stay quiet. Anyway, Jinta.”

“Ah, yes, Master…”

Jinta fidgeted nervously, wringing her hands, as if caught lying about her ability.

To reassure her, I spoke in a gentler voice than usual.

“If you’re hesitant to talk about it because it’s not such a powerful ability, don’t worry. I didn’t choose you as my swords based on your abilities alone. I won’t abandon you even if your ability isn’t that great.”

Perhaps reassured by my words, Jinta smiled brightly and finally revealed her true ability.

“…Yes!! Actually, my ability slightly increases speed and power when drawing the sword!!”

She then confidently proclaimed that she had several other abilities, including instantly returning the drawn sword to its scabbard to shorten sheathing time, and repairing broken blades like Wolffang.

Jessica, who had been quietly listening to Jinta, frowned and said:

“Wait a minute!! That’s different from what you said before!! You said you could convert friction into kinetic energy…”

“That was a slip of the tongue. And as Master said, it’s common sense that friction is converted into kinetic energy.”

“No, what…! Haah…”

Jinta had just stated an obvious fact, but Jessica sighed deeply and turned away as if she couldn’t communicate with her.

Anyway, the ability to instantly return the sword to its scabbard for quick resheathing…

That’s truly an ability optimized for Baldo, perfect for a reverse-edged sword!!

“Jinta, I’ve never been prouder of you being my sword than at this moment.”

“Yes!!”

Jinta beamed and threw herself into my arms, which I warmly accepted without hesitation.

As we were reaffirming our bond that went beyond master and sword, Elaine, who had been silently watching the fight, stepped forward.

“…You’ve got a new sword, right?”

“…That’s right.”

Elaine’s eyes, as she stepped forward and suddenly said this, were burning with a aura I’d never seen in her before.

We both knew what she was going to say next without her having to say it.

I silently spread out, placing my hand on Jinta’s hilt, while Elaine drew her swords one by one, spreading them around her.

One sword remained in Elaine’s hand, while three others floated around her, ready to strike at me at any moment.

“Can someone give us a signal?”

“W-what’s going on here?! Why are you suddenly fighting after just a few words…?”

Jessica looked bewildered, but to me, this seemed right.

Two swordsmen who had wanted to cross blades but couldn’t due to some issue were finally able to do so – what more needed to be said?

To use an analogy, it’s like a couple who couldn’t have sex because they didn’t have a condom. Once the condom issue is resolved, they wouldn’t postpone it to another day, would they?

“Stop saying such vulgar things!!”

“Anyway, this is what we met for in the first place, so there’s no need to waste time. Let’s fight right away.”

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

Elaine nodded in agreement, leaving Jessica as the only one who found this situation strange.

Finally giving up, Jessica slowly raised her hand to give the signal, but hesitated as she realized that lowering her hand would start the matchmaking duel between Elaine and me.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to do it?”

“Ah, I know…”

Jessica’s raised hand fell slowly, as if time itself had slowed down, and so began the duel that was our matchmaking.

As Elaine and I tensed up, watching each other cautiously, unable to make the first move…

“Miss Elaine!! You can do it!!”

Hearing an unbelievable voice from the side, I turned my head to see Jessica cheering loudly for Elaine, not me.

“Jessica, what are you doing? You should be cheering for me, not Elaine.”

“Hmph!! If you win, I’ll just have one more rival. Do you think I’m crazy enough to cheer for you? Go, Miss Elaine!!!”

“I can’t believe this…”

Come on, no matter what, how could she cheer for the opponent instead of her husband in a fight?

If I weren’t currently facing off against Elaine, I would have rushed over and given her a spanking hot enough to set her bottom on fire.

‘This isn’t the time to be thinking about this…’

While I was distracted by Jessica, Elaine hadn’t let her guard down for a moment and kept staring at me.

She wasn’t just staring; she was closely examining Jinta at my waist and my limbs, seemingly gauging the range of my Baldo technique.

Her expression suggested she wasn’t just measuring the sword’s length, but also considering how far I could extend my arm and how much I could step in.

Her seemingly blank expression made it hard to read her emotions, making it difficult to approach her easily.

‘Plus, those flying swords…’

How on earth were they floating?

I could sense some energy manipulation from the swords, but using energy manipulation to float swords for attacks isn’t really a good choice.

Even against a formidable opponent, given that energy manipulation weakens the further it gets from the body, the range would be limited to medium-close range at best.

There’s a possibility she might concentrate the energy and shoot it like an arrow, but considering the inability to retrieve it afterward, it wouldn’t be very efficient.

‘I’ll wait and see how the situation unfolds–!!’

While I was lost in such idle thoughts, the floating swords suddenly lunged at me all at once.

Each sword moved with such skill that it seemed like it was being wielded by an experienced warrior, making it hard to believe they were being remotely controlled by energy manipulation.

With Elaine joining in, I felt like I was facing four opponents simultaneously.

Moreover, these swords weren’t being swung randomly, but in coordinated attacks like those of skilled knights, leaving me barely able to dodge.

If this continued, I’d eventually get cut.

Although Elaine was using several times more energy than me and thus exhausting herself faster, I’d be cut before her stamina ran out.

‘I’ve never used this before, but…’

Believing it would work based on the power Jinta had shown earlier, I drew her downward with all my might.

Boom!! With a tremendous sound, a cloud of dust, and the shock of the recoil, my body soared high into the air, breaking through the encirclement of swords.

I thought I’d escaped, but through the dust cloud, I saw Elaine’s sword aiming for my neck.

To avoid the pursuing sword, I drew Jinta several more times, rising so high that the great sword stuck in the hill looked like a tiny dot.

However…

‘…Haven’t I gone up too high?’

The oxygen is thin up here…

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