Start——!
The moment the word was given, the man charged. He swung his sword from the get-go.
The blade that cut through space.
He approached aggressively, swaggering. I didn't rashly mix my sword with his. I just 'inserted' my sword into his sword path.
Thud—
I deflected it, slipped away, and maintained distance.
"...Oh?"
The man, who had paused for a moment, chuckled.
"You're a Fencer, huh? Keeping distance, how cute."
Is cute his catchphrase?
Anyway, his words are correct.
The swordsmanship I learned from YouTV—so [Active Knight A] is a 'Fencer'.
A Fencer is a swordsman who strikes and retreats based on a sharp sense of distance and agile footwork. It's a term derived from fencing, and if compared to boxing, it's similar to an out-boxer.
"Ridiculous."
He muttered and stomped heavily on the ground. It was a tremendous first step with a wide stride.
I saw his charge with my eyes, and my body reacted first. My right hand swung the sword. But the target of the attack was not the sword. It was the 'space' he was approaching.
Chang——!
A fairly loud resonance.
The opponent, who had retreated a few steps, touched the blade with a stiff face for a moment.
"...You. Did you just copy me?"
He asked. I didn't answer.
Earlier, he tried to control the space rather than the person, and I briefly followed his method.
It was a natural manifestation of 'Look-See-Do'.
"I'm asking."
However, I can't let him be on guard. To him, I have to appear as a normal infant.
The tension of this duel must not gradually escalate. It must maintain a static line and then suddenly surge.
That moment of inflection should be my victory and his defeat.
"What was that just now. Try it again."
He jabbed his sword. Just like flicking his arm.
"I said try it again."
His nagging tone and face.
There is appropriate complacency and curiosity in him.
"If you don't, I'll come."
He held his sword with a broad smile. He took a big step forward.
Once more, the initial rush of the first step.
Now.
"...Huh."
A small intake of breath.
I called forth Perion from the 「Notepad」, a mere mental image of "opening a file" sufficed.
Just like opening a note filled with the desired content, I invited the desired memory into my body.
–.
Amidst the short circuit, Perion's energy radiated, intertwining with mana. It surged from my core to every corner of my body.
A novel magical substance that amplified every aspect of a human being. It first targeted the central nervous system, honing the senses to an extreme degree, then extended to the limbs, boosting the muscle strength to a formidable level.
Whooosh....
Just like that, my senses became so acute that even the texture of the wind could be discerned.
Time seemed to crawl.
The acceleration of thought, the deceleration of the world.
Rustle-rustle....
The sound of an opponent's footsteps trampling the pavement.
A cloud of dust rising in their wake.
...Zzzt!
I could see his steps, which were fleeting moments ago.
I didn't just 'see' it, I mirrored it.
It was the same initial step as my opponent.
"!"
I leapt, and his eyes widened. Seizing his moment of panic, I swung my sword. He raised his sword in response. The tip of my blade carried a hint of wind.
Whooooosh....
My sword slashed downward from above, his from below.
Two identical trajectories, just reversed in direction.
Clang....
I released my grip on the sword.
The blade, freed from my grasp, hovered in the air. My opponent's eyes were fixated on it.
However, I never intended to fight him with a sword in the first place.
–!
I took a second step, diving into my opponent's arms. With a mental flip of a switch, I transitioned this battle to hand-to-hand combat and grappling.
Grrr-!
I seized his right arm and hoisted him up. His elongated body soared, as if uprooted.
Uh....
A dazed grunt escaped his mouth as he spun through the air.
BANG–!
I slammed him onto the pavement.
Ssssssss....
The dust spread like a fog. I could clearly see the particles scattering across the stage.
However, there was no time to waste.
The sequence of movements must be smooth and swift.
So before he could regain his footing, before the dust could settle, before his guard was back up....
Wham!
I yanked my arm back.
A spray of saliva splashed from his mouth.
It was more than a mere dislocation. It should have been a joint-shattering impact.
But it was odd.
My opponent didn't even scream.
"...Urgh!"
Instead, he exclaimed, lifting his leg and delivering a powerful blow to my head.
"Thud!"
My skull rattled from the impact. After a momentary stagger, he was back on his feet. Ten paces away, he was staring at me, clutching his shoulder.
"Wow… my arm's dislocated."
He stated, moving his body in a demonstrative manner, his right arm writhing like a soft-bodied creature.
"Dislocated, really dislocated. Wow, see?"
With a smirk on his face, he flaunted his dangling arm to the entire mercenary group.
There was no response.
Just silence.
Neither our side nor theirs had fully grasped the sequence and conclusion of the brief battle.
"Ah, I can't believe this. My arm's broken"
Regardless.
I can't move now. My vision keeps swirling. It's definitely a concussion.
A kick to the jaw. That single blow had me TKO'd.
"How about it?"
Suddenly, my adversary asked the bald deputy captain. The deputy captain silently shook his head.
"…Really?"
He cleared his throat, his expression tightening slightly.
"Sorry. I wanted to pass you."
His dislocated arm remained the same, but the atmosphere he exuded had changed.
The attitude of dealing with a child was completely gone. The gun had already been exposed.
"He said no. So, I can't."
He grinned, eyebrows arching.
"But I'll remember you. Shion Ascal."
A faint blue mana emerged from his feet.
"Good job."
That was the end.
The man seemed to bounce a step off the ground, then drove his shoulder straight into my chest.
"-Ugh!"
In an instant
I fainted from that simple body blow.
* * *
…After the short event ended.
The highway leading to the capital, Edsilla.
The truck carrying the Blue Claw Mercenaries was quietly running.
"When Libra's Master built the orphanage, it was a 10 million Ren property."
The mission ordered by Derek was easily a success. The disguise was not discovered. The orphanage was to be closed, and Derek's commercial district would be built in its place.
"It was 10 million for 100 years. But in 10 years, the land price has increased 30 times. Just the land value is at least 300 million Ren. I wonder what's happening to the country."
The vice-captain in the driver's seat glanced sideways, grumbling about the land price for no reason.
A man with a cast on his arm. The guy, who still seemed a bit out of it, didn't seem to be listening at all.
"Is your arm okay?"
The vice-captain asked. The man—Kigen—only raised his eyebrows without saying a word.
According to the detailed examination, the completely crushed shoulder bone fragments were tangled with the muscles and needed intensive magical treatment.
Even for the vice-captain, this was ridiculous.
It was Kigen, not anyone else.
"…Anyway, vice-captain, did you get any information on him?"
"Ordinary. Ascal. His ancestors, grandparents, and great-grandparents are all from a house loyal to Libra. Do you know what his future dream is?"
The deputy captain chuckled, a smirk playing on his lips. Kigen glanced his way, curiosity piqued.
"What is it?"
"A knight of Libra. Seems he wants to devote his whole life to Libra."
Kigen couldn't help but snort at that.
"Pfft. That's the problem with orphans. They think they're inherently good because they're raised and nurtured."
He rolled down the passenger side window. A cool breeze swirled in.
"Libra's lucky to have picked up a great sword from the orphanage."
At that remark, the deputy captain raised an eyebrow.
"I wonder. Not sure if they even know what a great sword he is. Rather, that butler Henry, was singing your praises, Kigen. Said your acting was top-notch."
"…Acting."
Kigen pulled a cigarette from his pocket, a look of disdain crossing his face as he placed it between his lips.
"Figures. They can read books and manage accounts, but they're too blind to see the real world."
He exhaled a cloud of smoke out the car window.
"Anyway… I'll remember the name."
The deputy captain gave a silent laugh.
It had been a while since Kigen had been like this. It reminded him of their university days when Kigen was driven by competitiveness.
"Why are you so fixated on being caught off guard?"
Off guard.
Psychological warfare was a key part of any battlefield. But Kigen wasn't thinking of such subtleties.
"No. That guy, he's got a knack for observing and mimicking."
"…Observing and mimicking?"
"Yeah. Pure talent. An innate ability you can't buy. His body just moves on its own.."
The first move that guy made when he drew his sword and charged.
It was unmistakably Kigen's.
"There are a few people born with such a gift. It's called 'Look-See-Do'… but I think he's more than that."
Mimicking movements is one thing, but to properly channel power into them is another.
Kigen chuckled, continuing his train of thought.
"That fool Henry seems to have missed it even with his eyes wide open, but I'm not sure about the other one."
The other one? The deputy captain echoed, puzzled.
"Do you mean Zia? The youngest one isn't interested in the succession race. She won't see a penny of the inheritance."
"Hmm… Yeah, that's probably true. I'm just curious."
Kigen leaned back in his seat, gazing out the window.
"Anyway, with that kind of talent, we'll likely cross paths again soon."
The night sky was high above them. The stars embedded within it poured down in a breathtaking display.