Chapter 78 |
A rather heavy silence hovered over the outdoor training ground.
"The Lester family?"
"That's the traitor family."
"Well, One Flash is a famous secret technique but..."
Murmurs spread among the children, thrown into confusion by Yuridia's mention of the traitor family. Although not one of the major nobles, the family she belonged to, the Count of Rownter, was currently making a name for itself. There was no need to bring up something unfavorable and become the subject of gossip. Yet, she brought up a topic ripe for criticism.
'It's because of me.'
The old Yuridia would not have asked such a question.
A foolish question.
So bad that it was acceptable to criticize it as such.
The One Flash I had demonstrated in the duel arena.
She must have been curious about it, given its overwhelming power to defeat Daike in a single blow.
"..."
What was strange was Teron's silence.
With such a juicy topic up for grabs, his silence was unusual.
Suddenly, the voices of the children around him reached my ears.
"Lord Teron? Should I step in?"
"No, I'll handle it."
"How dare they speak of a family that insulted the empire!"
Luna started to tremble with rage, on the verge of exploding.
I lightly grabbed her hand to calm her down.
"Shut up and stay still. Why make a fuss over nothing?"
Teron's sharp voice.
The children belonging to Teron's faction fell silent.
Looking to see if he was trying to incur a debt from me, he didn't even glance my way.
'What's this? Just consideration?'
I was thinking that Teron might actually be a decent person when Teacher Lérang adjusted his glasses and mused aloud.
"The Lester family, yes... There was such a family. I have stayed with them to receive teachings. I've crossed swords with the head of the family."
"Then...!"
"But it's impossible. Though I learned, I couldn't use it."
"Why not?"
Teacher Lérang approached the wooden dummy.
"I mentioned before, didn't I? Each family's swordsmanship trains different parts of the body."
He poked the dummy with his sword.
Feet, calves, thighs, abdomen, chest, arms, wrists.
"There were too many muscles to train."
"Then training should solve that, right?"
"Correct. Training is the key. Yuridia, how much do you know about One Flash?"
"Well..."
It's based on the art of drawing and sheathing the sword.
A flash that swallows light as it flies.
"Other than that... I don't know much."
"Hmm, have you seen One Flash, Yuridia?"
"Yes? Ah... um... Yes, I happened to see it. When I was young."
Yuridia's clumsy lie.
But it seemed sufficient to deceive Lérang, who was unaware of the specifics.
He nodded.
"You were lucky. Yes, the Lester family's swordsmanship is all based on the drawing art."
Teacher Lérang immediately asked another question.
"What do you think is the principle of the drawing art?"
"Um... Using the strength of the arms to swing?"
Teacher Lérang let out a small laugh.
"Many people are mistaken about that. Well, if it were a common drawing art, that might be the case... But the Lester family's drawing art is special."
"Special?"
"Yes. Shall we see what it's actually like?"
Teacher Lérang assumed a stance.
A stance for drawing art, bending slightly more at the waist.
It's the preparatory stance for One Flash.
"Luna."
"Yeah, I'm watching."
"You shouldn't watch. It causes problems in developing insight..."
"Shut up."
I immediately fell silent. I'm a good kid who listens well.
'Just as planned.'
Refusing direct teaching under the pretext of developing insight.
Pretending to dissuade at least once prevents issues with the alibi later.
"Let's start from the feet."
And so it began. Lérang's one-on-one tutorial on One Flash.
"One foot is firmly planted on the ground, while the bent posture slightly lifts the other foot. Then..."
Twisting the foot while kicking off the ground.
The force travels up from the calf, to the thigh, then to the waist, abdomen, chest, and finally to the arm.
"And then, once more, the ankle and the wrist... Argh!"
The first secret technique of the Lester family lineage.
One Flash.
Crack!
Three wooden dummies' waists snapped, sending them airborne.
They were cut. Even though the sword didn't physically touch them.
"Wow, what's that!"
"Is that One Flash? It's my first time seeing it!"
"Crazy! I'm going to practice that starting today!"
Teacher Lérang picked up his glasses that had fallen to the ground and blew on them.
"No, everyone. This is not One Flash."
"What?"
"If this were One Flash, the Lester family wouldn't have become famous. Right, Yuridia?"
Teacher Lérang seemed quite upset.
The children tilted their heads, not understanding the situation.
To them, the One Flash demonstrated by Lérang appeared to be an incredibly impressive technique.
'But those who truly know One Flash would have a completely different reaction.'
Teron, with his eyes narrowed.
And Yuridia, making a face as if she saw something she shouldn't have.
Her mouth slowly opened.
"Yes. It's quite different."
"Are you disappointed in me?"
"No. I thought it was amazing."
Glancing over.
Yuridia looked my way.
This is what it means to be popular.
"The technique of One Flash compresses the air by slicing it in a straight line, again and again."
Cutting through the air in front and doing it over again until it reaches the target.
"The problem is that this compression process is extremely short. How much air can be cut and compressed within that time is crucial."
"..."
"In summary, the speed at which the sword is drawn is most important."
Luna began to take notes frantically.
If only she studied like this all the time, how pleased her parents would be.
It was a moment of realization.
"Well, focusing on the drawing speed might cause the angle to skew, preventing it from flying in the desired direction."
It was when Teacher Lérang was rotating his wrist.
Yuridia raised her hand again.
"Why did you give up?"
"...You're poking at a sore spot quite nonchalantly today, Yuridia."
Lérang's glasses shone.
After glaring at her for a moment, Lérang pushed up his glasses.
"To learn One Flash, I would have to give up all other family swordsmanship."
"Why?"
"Because the muscles you can develop are limited. Only muscles required for explosive power were needed to be trained."
There are many other attractive sword techniques besides the Lester family's.
So, he gave it up.
That's what Teacher Lérang was saying.
"If... there is someone who can use the real One Flash."
An incredible hard worker, a maverick, and.
"A genius surpassing me."
Ding-.
The bell rang.
Signaling the end of the morning classes.
Lérang began to tidy up, glaring at Yuridia.
"It's time. I will assign a demerit point to Yuridia for bringing up the Lester family and instilling fear in the other students."
"Yes."
"Then, everyone, I'll see you next time."
Lérang left the classroom.
The chatter about One Flash and the Lester family continued among the students.
Normally, Luna would have stormed out of the classroom.
But now, she was burying her head in her notes.
Muttering to herself, undoubtedly memorizing and visualizing the movements in her mind.
"Keke."
I laughed, covering my mouth with my hand.
Who would have thought I'd find an opportunity to help Luna grow here?
Today seems like it's going to be a good day.
* * *
"Phew."
"Have you arrived?"
"Yes, were you looking for me?"
The rat bowed slightly and spoke.
"Yes, a student named Zero mentioned the password. I knew you were busy, but since you said to categorize it as urgent..."
"Well done. I'll take care of the rest."
"Yes!"
The rat melted into the darkness.
Caron surveyed his surroundings.
The academy, which he returned to after ten days, was unchanged.
"No, I absolutely have to go out this weekend?"
"I love you!"
"Teachers, liberate the students from homework!"
A friend suggesting to go out.
Lovers whispering their love.
Students campaigning for homework liberation.
It was peaceful, unlike the place he had been moments ago.
"Please, save me! I only followed because I was scared!"
"No, it's not true! That guy was in charge of kidnappings! He blended in with the villagers and then handed them over to us!"
"Hehehehe! I can see them! I can see my intestines!"
A place where blood and flesh were rampant, and where a sorcerer's intestines were displayed.
It was so different from there.
Ignoring the occasional ringing in his ears, he moved towards where that guy was.
'Zero, such an arrogant brat.'
Not just his tone, but Caron hadn't expected him to have superior information than a rat.
It would have been a coincidence if it was just a few times.
But this time, he had been a great help.
That was an undeniable fact.
'Tsk, I guess I'll have to give a reward.'
It was rare for Caron to give out rewards.
Not just because of his nature, but often the information brought as valuable was already known to him.
Hahaha!
Hohoho!
The academy was filled with the laughter of children.
It was utterly peaceful.
'Phew... demons should avoid this place.'
Huh?
It was when he was heading towards the male dormitory.
Voices of children chatting on a bench on the walking path reached him.
"...so ...Luna said..."
Luna?
Caron thought it was strange.
Luna was practically an outcast at the academy.
Yet her name was being mentioned?
'...It's probably something bad.'
Swoosh-.
He hid in the shadow of a tree to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Caron knew who they were.
They belonged to Yuridia's faction.
"So, that happened at the training ground the day before yesterday."
"She climbed on top? Oh my, that's hot."
"Oh my! Oh my! They say a woman in love is hopeless. Looks like that's true!"
...?
Caron thought he had heard wrong.
He knew Luna only climbed on people when beating them up.
But no matter how much he thought about it, it was the same.
It was clear that someone had started a romance.
With Luna.
"Hmph."
Caron couldn't help but smile without realizing it.
Living as if only seeking revenge, and now she starts dating?
It was good news. It meant she wanted to live like a person.
'Maybe she'll let go of her revenge.'
The enemy realizes they're up against a powerful force beyond their control and decides to be with someone they love.
It wasn't a bad ending.
It was when Caron was about to leave.
"Hihi, you haven't heard about what happened yesterday, have you?"
"Yesterday? What happened yesterday?"
"Ah, this is such premium information I didn't want to say, but can't help it. Gather around for a moment. It's a bit of a sensitive topic."
Three girls huddled together.
Caron also sneakily joined in.
Then he could hear them.
"Ah, guess what... there was an interrogation at the training ground?"
"Interrogation? What did Luna do?"
"No, I mean, you know. That kind of play."
"Ah, that? So, you mean..."
"Yes. They say Luna was all tied up in ropes?"
"Oh my! Oh my! How scandalous!"
Giggles-.
Despite their words, the three girls burst into laughter.
Caron frowned.
Dating was fine. But it seemed she had met some scoundrel, which was concerning.
'How could they do such things in just a few days? Kids these days...'
Listening further would be prying into personal matters.
It was when Caron was about to leave.
"So why does she like Zero?"
"Really, though. Is that kind of face her type?"
Click- clack-.
Strange sounds echoed from Caron's body.
As if harboring a demon within.
--TL Notes--
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