episode_0065

000

“Really. Lady Aruru is too kind, it’s her weakness.”

Kneeling, and adjusting her sword, the second-ranked member of the swordsmanship department, `Cecilia`, opened her mouth as if dissatisfied.

Round glasses, and a neat uniform.

And not flashy makeup, and neatly braided and styled hair.

As Cleon said, she was a model student type of female student.

“Calm down, Cecile. Lady Aruru didn’t have anyone to compete with, even within the department, so it seemed like incomplete combustion continued.”

Trying to soothe Cecile, the one who spoke was a male student of the swordsmanship department, in the same grade as her and her friend, his name is `Leil`.

In stark contrast to the neat-looking Cecile, with his silver hair, and seems to favor slightly flashy decorations, such as chains or silver accessories, they catch the eye.

He gives off a sense of elegance somewhere in his conduct, and it seems he is a scion of a noble family.

He is also a student who manages the rules of the swordsmanship department, along with Cecile.

To put it in terms of position, it would be something like `assistant to the second-ranked member`.

He assists the strict Cecile even for the students of the same department.

If Cecile is a whip, he is a carrot.

The commonality is that both of them are fans of Aruru.

And when it comes to swordsmanship, they have reached a considerable level compared to the students of the same department.

However, even if those two people charge at Aruru at once.

It’s almost impossible for them to win `one round` against her.

A huge wall of skill stood between Aruru and the other students.

“Hmph. The man brought by Raila Flamewatch has no chance against Lady Aruru. And he’s also from the unethical school of sacred studies, right?”

“Ugh… I do have a friend from the sacred studies school, but, it’s not that bad of a place?”

Recalling his cheerful friend with blue hair, Leil gave a wry smile.

Of course, since half of the stories are related to sex.

For `Leil`, who is in that age group, there is no denying that it is a little difficult.

But, Cecilia still frowned as if dissatisfied and sighed.

“Then, do you think Lady Aruru should be friendly with that man? She might be engaged soon!”

“Well, that’s up to her. At least I think she has a better eye for people than I do?”

“Of course. She is from the bloodline of a hero who has protected the world for three generations. She cannot be compared to our `family of retainers`.”

Both Cecilia and Leil are the children of a long-established noble family of the kingdom.

Compared to Aruru’s birth family, `Tromeya`, their status was far too low.

In particular, the families of the two of them begin education from an early age to assist the hero produced by `Tromeya`.

It is a family that has been linked as another `Trinity` that is different from what the Holy Guardian Church advocates.

“Then let’s trust Lady Aruru. Okay, this side is all done.”

“Just wait a moment, please. I’m almost done too.”

When Leil finished adjusting his tools first and got up from his seat.

Cecilia frantically moves her hands to finish her share.

Unlike her neat appearance, she is not good at fine work, but Cecilia is bold and courageous.

And, in contrast to Cecile, Leil, who is good with his hands and specializes in fine work, but lacks a little bit of action.

The two of them believed without a doubt that they would continue to be together on `Aruru’s` path as a hero, as they have done until now.

Bang-!!

A loud sound, enough to blow away the thoughts of those two, resounded in the practice room.

“What was that sound-”

Kang! Carddideuk…! Kung!

As the sound resounded again, Cecile was startled and got up.

The sound came from the place where Aruru and Cleon were facing each other with swords.

At some point, the onlookers formed a circle and were holding their breath, watching the two’s duel.

What they were using, at Aruru’s request, was their own real swords.

It was a duel between the glass holy sword and the crimson famous sword.

Cecile and Leil passed through the students.

Somehow, they peeked inside from outside the boundary of the defensive barrier that the two of them had unfolded.

It was enough to blow away any common sense of the duel they had known until now.

It was a desperate, beautiful, and fierce sword dance.

The two people’s swords, which collided on the ground, could not withstand the impact and bounced back at the same time.

Aruru’s sword – the glass holy sword, `Arondight`, was shattered as if it were being broken by the red sword, which was not worthy of being called a holy sword.

This was the 42nd time.

Cleon didn’t rush towards Aruru, whose hands were empty, and quickly created a distance.

Aruru’s holy sword, `Arondight`, is very sharp and light, but it is easily destroyed by impact, as it looks.

But, that is exactly the characteristic of Arondight.

When it is broken, and the magical power is injected into the scattered fragments, the fragments take shape as another Arondight.

Earlier, the blood flowing from her severed arm had not stopped because they hadn’t grasped this beforehand.

“This is, the true power of the awakened holy sword.”

Cleon couldn’t help but compare its power, remembering Albertine’s Caliburn.

Looking around, dozens, maybe hundreds of Arondights stuck in the ground were surrounding him.

Those are all genuine, and each one is a holy sword.

Therefore, what is maintaining all of those is the magical power that `Aruru` possesses.

Aruru, who was bleeding from her right thigh and was in a fighting stance, opened her eyes wide and turned up the corners of her mouth.

She felt joy at the existence of her first rival, and holding the newly created Arondight, she was staring at Cleon.

Her opponent is a swordsman. Moreover, he doesn’t have a magic sword.

But Cleon wasn’t using magic except for body strengthening, as he was trying to accommodate Aruru.

The next moment, Aruru threw the blue transparent glass shards she was holding at Cleon.

Then, the flying glass shards transformed into a holy sword in mid-air and were twisted in an impossible trajectory and flew towards Cleon.

This is another tricky point of Arondight.

It is possible to control its movements through magic even when it has been released from her hand.

Cleon quickly returned his sword to its scabbard and unleashed a high-speed iaido accelerated through magic.

`Shadow Binding`

The technique of Rubera, manifested through the inscription, smashed the holy sword that was simultaneously striking the vital point.

“That technique is really amazing…! I was defeated by that technique earlier and got my leg cut, but I still can’t follow it with my eyes!”

Aruru accelerated the torrent of magical power flowing through her body with a voice of joy.

Cleon, from that appearance, somehow overlaps it with Talcheck.

Appearance, personality, and the swordsmanship she uses, they were all different.

Pure competitive spirit towards a strong person, and a desire for strength.

That much was similar between Aruru and Talcheck.

And that is the greatest driving force that makes the strong person strong.

A see-saw battle.

They have shown most of the techniques that they can show each other.

Both of them, they are avoiding entering each other’s range.

Cleon’s sword freely switched between the swordsmanship he learned from Talcheck and Rubera’s assassination sword.

The trajectory of the attack cannot be read, and each one is heavy, even though it is an endlessly regenerating Arondight.

If he misjudged the power control and showed an opening, the match could end just like that.

In comparison, Aruru’s swordsmanship was light and beautiful, as if dancing.

Even if she doesn’t use the power of the holy sword, the fast sword, which is swung faster than the sound of the wind while running through the battlefield.

It is only a little slower than the highest speed iaido Cleon can unleash.

If she thought a blue flash passed by, that place had already been cut cleanly.

“…Even with Lady Aruru…”

Cecilia, as if she couldn’t believe the scene, covered her mouth and looked at it.

Leil, too, knowing that the scene before his eyes was far beyond their level, and feeling something, he clenched his fist tightly and did not want to take his eyes off the two of them.

“Hoo….”

Cleon exhaled loudly and returned his sword to its scabbard once again.

If he attacked without entering the range, the opponent would have the advantage.

The only long-range attack method he has is one of Talcheck’s secret techniques.

Aruru felt Cleon’s eyes shining with that glint and looking at her.

A tingling sensation wrapped around her hands and legs.

It felt as though a black-eyed grim reaper was jumping out from behind Cleon and looking at her.

`Killing intent…! Mr. Cleon, you are truly…!`

Aruru feels an overwhelming sense of elation at the sight of her opponent.

And if she raises her sword towards the sky.

Nearly a hundred Arondights, stuck in the ground, rose into the sky with the control of magic.

“Go! Arondight!”

With Aruru’s loud voice, the Arondights that were dancing in the air simultaneously poured down on Cleon.

If Cleon couldn’t handle this, it was clear that his body would turn into a hedgehog.

A fierce battle that didn’t care about each other’s lives.

Just before the torrent of the holy sword swallowed Cleon.

At that fleeting moment.

Chop!

The red famous sword was drawn, screaming with a strange metallic sound, and was swung with a single slash.

The sword attack, swung from the ground to the sky.

With one swing that doesn’t shake.

Cho-!

With that sound, it bisected the ground, the barrier, and all the holy swords rushing towards him on the spot.

And, the impact of that sword strike flew through space and rushed towards Aruru.

“Lady Aruru!”

Seeing that, Cecilia called her name, and seeing Aruru, who didn’t avoid it, opened her eyes wide.

If we think it resounded throughout the entire practice room.

The Arondights in the air, which were still remaining, became her shield and wall and protected her.

Kwajijijik!

A shattering sound, as if a steel plate was being crushed, exploded in succession, tearing the ears.

The sword strike, cleaving through the air, destroyed the swarm of holy swords and advanced forward.

And, just one.

It stopped in front of the last Arondight protecting Aruru’s face.

The cleanly cut defensive barrier eventually failed to maintain its shape and disappeared.

“…That’s as far as it goes.”

As if in response to Cleon’s words, the two of them simultaneously returned their swords to their waists.

The students, who were in a daze, looked around, and the devastated appearance of the practice room from the battle came into view.

The floor was in such a mess that it could no longer be used for the duel.

At some point, Aruru’s hair, which was usually tied up, had come undone, and it was long, straight hair.

She looked down at her hands.

She sacrificed Arondight again and again to withstand Cleon’s tremendous power.

The skin of her hands was torn, and blood was flowing.

The sweat flowing all over her body instead woke up her hair neatly.

How long has it been since she has matched swords to death?

Even though she put the sword back in so neatly that she surprised herself.

The heat of the struggle, which was burning her body, was not leaving her body.

The pumping of her heart, sending blood throughout her body, was not calming down at all.

Her legs, which felt like she was walking on the edge of a blade, were trembling a little from excitement.

At that moment, Cleon somehow stepped on a place that was still intact and approached her.

When a large hand was extended, Aruru looked at it blankly without a word.

Even if she waited, Aruru didn’t reach out her hand, so Cleon put his intentions into words.

“…The duel is over, so a handshake… Wait, your hand is injured.”

Cleon, who saw Aruru’s hand injuries at that moment, borrowed Kuon’s recovery magic and grabbed her hand.

The next moment.

Whoosh! And Cleon’s body was pulled in.

Aruru covered Cleon’s lips.

She couldn’t react to Aruru’s sudden behavior, and she opened her mouth.

They exchanged sticky saliva and tongues.

Aruru’s canine tooth pierced Cleon’s upper lip, and a bitter blood flowed out.

“Just, just, just a moment, Lady Aruru!”

As if she didn’t care about the female student’s voice, which was making a fuss next to her.

Aruru, who was exploring Cleon’s lips with burning eyes,

“Ca, calm down…! Aruru Tromeya!”

When Cleon forcibly separated her,

She came to her senses with a start as if she had realized what she had done.

“… …”

Aruru, as if surprised by her own actions, opened her eyes wide.

The surroundings were filled with awkward, heavy silence.

The sharp gaze from all sides pierced Cleon.

“Did you get strange from the excitement of the battle?”

When Cleon told her, while treating the wounds on his body.

Aruru, only then, put her finger on her mouth.

She raised the corners of her mouth and smiled.

“I guess so. This is the first time I’ve had an experience like this, so my body seems to have been mistaken. Mr. Cleon.”

“A mistake…?”

The tone and attitude had regained the relaxed look from earlier.

Aruru’s eyes, looking at him, were staring at him with a focus that didn’t waver at all.

It was even felt like a sense of fear.

“Yes. I mistook the pounding of my heart for love for you. My instincts moved first, rather than my reason.”

It was a story that Cleon couldn’t understand well.

He heard that humans’ instincts for procreation awaken when they are in danger of their lives.

Is this the type of behavior as well?

“…Anyway. Calm down a bit. Because I also have a story I want to tell you.”

“Huh? Ah… right. Yeah. That’s good. Then let’s meet again in 30 minutes. You can use the swordsmanship department’s shower room.”

She said that and turned around, heading to the women’s shower room.

As Aruru walked away, as the swordsmanship department students around her were about to step forward with uneasy steps.

“Here! Instructor Cleon. I will guide you to the shower room.”

Leil, who quickly stepped forward.

The other students hesitated at Leil’s actions.

In the meantime, Leil led Cleon to the shower room.

Cecilia’s gaze, biting her thumb at the back, was still scary.

001

The corridor of the swordsmanship department building.

Cleon and Leil were walking at a slight distance in an awkward silence.

Of course, it was a good thing that he saved him.

Thanks to Aruru’s strange behavior earlier, he also couldn’t get a grasp on what to say to the students.

“Don’t be so nervous, Instructor Cleon. Ah, I’m Leil. Cecilia – with that model student, you first met, and I’m the second-ranked member of the swordsmanship department.”

Leil, glancing at Cleon, spoke with a smile at the corners of his mouth.

Cleon, seeing Leil, nodded his head awkwardly.

“Aruru is…”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen her act like that. Even though we’ve known each other for over 10 years.”

As if he knew what question Cleon was about to ask.

Leil lightly answers his question.

“…Is that so.”

Then Cleon didn’t try to press her any further and remained silent.

Leil also had a hard time enduring that awkward silence, so he continued to open his mouth.

“Don’t worry. It was her that was strange just now, not Instructor Cleon. You can ignore the other guys in the department.”

Cleon somehow nodded.

“Rather than that. What is the sacred studies school like? It’s probably a lot different from the swordsmanship department, right?”

Cleon, in response to Leil’s story for changing the subject, thought for a moment.

“No, the atmosphere is… I don’t think it’s different. Of course, what they do is as different as the sky and the earth.”

“Hoho.”

As if Cleon’s answer was unexpected, Leil made a sound.

“The students of any department, should I say they are greedy for learning, or should I say they are energetic?”

“Energetic? As befits the sacred studies school?”

“It’s not a joke.”

“Haha, I know.”

In the end, Cleon also gave a smile as if swept away by Leil’s atmosphere.

“I have a friend in the sacred studies school. He’s a bit of a strange guy, but he’s sincere and, above all, he cares about others.”

“Perhaps, Demis?”

Leil, in response to Cleon’s answer, looked back at Cleon as if surprised.

“How did you know?”

“Because I’ve received a lot of help from him as well.”

“If so, please be friendly with him. I heard that he is worried that he doesn’t make friends well because his presence is small.”

Leil also, with a smile similar to what Demis showed, asked Cleon.

Cleon, listening to his request, was nodding his head.

“And. Similarly. I ask you to take care of Lady Aruru as well.”

“…Her?”

Leil gives a smile, which is a little different from earlier, as if he is lonely.

“She has been educated as a hero since she was a child, following her father and grandfather. Innate physique and trained skills. And thanks to the power of the holy sword, until now, students of the swordsmanship department, instructors, and everyone else, she has never been given the most important thing for a swordsman… a `sense of tension`.”

Cleon listened silently to Leil’s long, ongoing words.

“You were her first `rival`.”

“…Is that so.”

“You should understand. How much the existence of such a being means to a martial artist.”

Cleon nodded his head, understanding greatly.

What she felt towards him was like a flame ignited in the fighting spirit of her heart, which had been empty for a long time.

At some point, the two of them stopped in front of the swordsmanship department’s shower room.

“I’ll bring the towels to the changing room.”

Cleon, looking at Leil, who was walking down the hallway, for a moment and then to make sure he’s not late for their appointment.

He was quickly washing his body.

002

The place where the two of them met again was a small, open-air tea shop with parasols and chairs outside the swordsmanship department building.

If he left the building without meeting the other students, with Leil’s consideration and went to the tea shop he was told about.

Aruru was already there and waiting.

But her outfit was different from yesterday’s uniform or the active wear she was wearing during the duel earlier.

It was a white, long-length dress befitting her status.

Wearing a wide-brimmed hat that noble ladies would wear.

The sight of her waiting quietly for Cleon and enjoying the tea in her glass.

It looked like a completely different person from the girl, who had been fighting fiercely like a beast earlier.

And lost her reason and stole his lips.

“I’m sorry. Did I keep you waiting?”

“No. I just came too.”

Cleon sat down in front of her with a light greeting.

Then, Aruru smiled as if something was interesting.

“That moment. It’s like a scene from a romance novel.”

“…Sorry, I don’t read that kind of thing much.”

“It’s a line that always appears in the scene of a couple on a date.”

Date. Seeing her face, he inevitably remembers the kiss earlier.

But Aruru’s expression was completely different from before.

Was he the only one who was conscious? Cleon somehow brings up the conversation.

Of course, what he wants to talk about is agreement to the use of the `Stone Weapon`.

When he explained the details to her, Aruru looked as if she was thinking something deeply.

Perhaps, it’s about whether to agree or refuse.

Cleon waited for her answer, thinking like that.

A little later. Aruru opened her mouth again.

“It’s not difficult to agree. However, if something happens as a result of agreeing. You will be responsible for it.”

Cleon nodded at Aruru’s words.

The object to be used is a national treasure-class relic.

Naturally, the issue of responsibility had to be heavy.

“If you need some compensation, tell me. I’ll try to prepare it, if I can on this side.”

Cleon, whose life as an `adventurer` was long, fundamentally consisting of the cycle of request and compensation.

He speaks to Aruru just like that.

Then Aruru looked at Cleon’s face for a moment and blinked her eyes two or three times.

“… …”

“…What’s wrong?”

Cleon, who felt doubtful of Aruru’s behavior, spoke.

Aruru grabbed Cleon’s hand with a thump!

Cleon, the scene from earlier came to his mind again, became startled.

“That’s right! There’s something I want you to do!”

“…Please be gentle.”

003

“Ugh.”

Kuon dropped the plate she was holding, making a sound she had never heard before.

Raila and Sasha were still in class.

Cleon had parted ways with Aruru and returned home first.

While Kuon and he were finishing lunch, and while she was doing the dishes in the kitchen, they were talking about what had happened today.

Kuon, who was talking with him about the conversation, lost her strength from her hand at the shocking story he had said.

Fortunately, the plate didn’t break.

“How much do the nobles like arranged marriages?”

“Ha, but still. Isn’t it a bit too much to ask Cleon to pretend to be my boyfriend? And right in front of my parents.”

Kuon, as she spoke in a trembling voice, Cleon responded that it was okay.

“Well. If I act for about a day, I’ll agree to use the `Stone Weapon` as a top student.”

What Aruru asked Cleon to do.

It was that, Aruru’s parents had asked her many times to return to her family to get engaged to a noble child.

But in the end, Aruru didn’t come back. Therefore, her parents, who had reached the limit of their patience.

They will visit the academy.

From what he heard, Aruru seemed to have said that she already has a boyfriend to reject the engagement.

Cleon thought that it was a common worry and lie that a noble girl of that age would do.

“To greet your parents… It feels like it’s real.”

Cleon, looking at her for a moment, sighed lightly at Kuon’s words.

“It’s not real at all, so it’s okay. Aruru will think of another way, after this time.”

For a moment, silence fell between the two of them.

“…Then. By the way. Will you come visit my hometown later? Cleon.”

“…To your hometown?”

Cleon asked her back at the sudden words.

Kuon answered, blushing.

“Yeah. I want to introduce you… to my mother. Cleon.”

Her mother, who had prioritized Albertine to her, upholding her family’s love.

She wanted to show her that Cleon was with her now.

“…Okay. I understand.”

“Really? A promise?”

“Yeah. A promise.”

They hooked pinky fingers.

Seeing Kuon exhale, as if she was relieved.

Cleon was wondering who he should talk to next as the next top student.