After her match, Okita Souji hurried back to where she was training Ikki Kurogane.
The arena was equipped with private showers, allowing competitors to take a comfortable, hot shower after their matches, to clean up and relax from the strain of battle.
But Souji hadn't bothered with any of that. Her reason was simple:
"I still need to train Ikki, so even if I cleaned up now, I'd just get dirty again."
After all, her match had ended in an instant. She left looking exactly as she had when she arrived.
The dust covering her now was only from her previous training sessions with Ikki.
As she passed by a full-length mirror, she paused to glance at her slightly disheveled appearance.
After a moment, a faint smile played on her lips.
"…Honestly, he always says he lacks talent, but his natural talent in the way of the sword… even I find it terrifying."
It was like a bottomless pit—no matter how much she poured in, he absorbed it all.
Progress that showed no signs of plateauing was the most fearsome kind.
"This isn't good…"
Suddenly, Souji raised a hand in front of her face, trying to cover her mouth, which had begun to curl into a smirk.
"Without realizing it, I'm starting to look forward to this… and that's dangerous."
If she didn't rein herself in, she might not be able to hold back from…
"Killing Ikki."
Hurrying down the path from the arena to where Ikki was, Souji suddenly remembered something.
"Today is Senpai's match too, isn't it?"
For a moment, she found herself torn.
Should she go and cheer on her upperclassman? Maybe it would boost Ayase's spirits to have a friend there supporting her.
After mulling it over, she eventually decided to continue on to Ikki.
"I'm sure Senpai will win her match. I'll cheer her on next time."
Souji already knew who Ayase's opponent was and didn't think they would pose much of a challenge. Although Ayase was only D-rank, as a third-year student nearing graduation, she was still a strong candidate to compete in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival. Souji was confident in her.
She had already won her match, Ayase would likely secure hers, and both Stella and Shizuku, an A-rank knight and a B-rank knight respectively, should have no trouble breezing through their first rounds.
That left Ikki Kurogane, the main concern.
Despite his F-rank mana, Ikki's combat skills were no joke. He had even bested Stella, the highly anticipated A-rank knight, in their first duel.
In terms of opponents he'd struggle with at this academy, there weren't many.
And most of those would be familiar faces—Stella, Shizuku, and Souji herself among them.
However, Ikki's first-round match had landed him an opponent who countered him perfectly in terms of abilities and had been a constant thorn in his side—Kirihara Shizuya.
Souji was almost certain that someone had meddled in the matchup, though she had no solid proof.
Politics—their minds were so filthy.
If she'd been using a rational Servant's spirit foundation, like Sherlock Holmes, she could probably uncover decisive evidence quickly. But as it stood, she was just a swordswoman. All she could do was draw her sword and defeat her enemies.
Not that it mattered. If questions arose, she'd respond with strength.
If she encountered any fog or haze, she'd cut through it with her blade.
If monsters stood in her way, she'd slice through them.
If doubts or insults were cast her way, she'd carve them apart.
A swordswoman had only three duties: draw the sword, advance, and strike.
Everything else? Slash it aside!
When Souji arrived back at their training spot, she found Ikki and Shizuku both looking thoroughly drained.
It was understandable—Ikki had been subjected to days of grueling sparring, being injured, healed, and injured again in an unrelenting cycle. Anyone would be worn out.
For Ikki to be merely fatigued spoke to his rock-solid resolve; others with weaker wills would have long since begged for mercy.
As for Shizuku, she had been expending energy repeatedly healing Ikki's wounds.
Healing was a delicate task that demanded intense focus, which had drained Shizuku's stamina. However, all that practice had sharpened her mana control even further—an improvement that likely outstripped her usual mana manipulation lessons.
"Why are you back so soon?"
From afar, Shizuku had spotted Souji approaching, and her face instantly soured.
"Couldn't you have taken your time? Given Onii-sama a bit more rest?"
"Don't be so harsh, Shizuku," Ikki replied, still as courteous and polite as ever. "Souji's the one who hasn't had any rest. She must have rushed straight here after her match."
Then he looked up at Souji, asking, "How did your match go?"
"My opponent was an idiot," Souji replied bluntly. "He just kept blabbering on even though we were in the middle of a battlefield. I saw too many openings, so to save time, I just cut him everywhere but his vital points."
"Ahaha…"
Both Ikki and Shizuku could only manage an awkward laugh at Souji's rather disturbing response.
After these training sessions, they'd gained a new understanding of Souji.
Fortunately, she was still the same Souji they knew most of the time—except when she held a sword. In those moments, she turned frighteningly dangerous.
Ikki's ultimate technique, Ittou Shura, meant "to become an Asura"—a relentless, wrathful being to overcome foes with superior talent.
Yet, after witnessing Souji in battle, Ikki felt she was even more fitting of the title "Asura."
In fact, Ikki had privately concluded that the mysterious figure who slaughtered all the criminals in the mall that day was none other than Souji.
Only her style, stripped of flair and focused purely on the most efficient "killing" techniques, could achieve something so chilling.
But with that realization came an inevitable question that lingered in both Ikki and Shizuku's minds.
"Souji… just who are you?"
Looking at Souji, who had once again donned her usual, carefree smile, both Ikki and Shizuku found themselves filled with curiosity and wonder.
But they each decided not to ask.
Everyone has a past they would rather leave unspoken, and Ikki and Shizuku understood that all too well.
Since they already considered Souji a friend, they wouldn't pry.
They'd wait until Souji was ready to share her story—or until the right moment to ask finally came.
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check! Remember this is a fan translation!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]