4. Mystery Girl 2(1)
This is the last chapter from the new recruit’s perspective. The next chapter will return to Solfort’s perspective.
—-
(Well then, I’ll just go easy on her. After all—)
—When it came to swordsmanship, he had a fair amount of confidence.
Nudd was undefeated at the officer’s academy. Swordsmanship, spearmanship, and horsemanship were his specialties. His evaluation at the academy was “physical abilities and sharp movements exceeding the standard.” Apparently, while he completely lacked the business talent he desired, he had an aptitude for the martial arts. He was recognized to the extent that his instructor at the time gave him the stamp of approval, saying, “You should aim for a military career.” Combined with his excellent academic performance, he was at the top of his class.
Therefore, he didn’t think he would lose in a one-on-one match.
(Well… if it’s a mock battle, that is.)
If it were a real battle, not a mock one, he wasn’t confident. He didn’t even want to think about crossing real swords with someone.
Another exception was—if Nudd’s opponent was a “genuine article,” loved by the heavens. Those monsters with an extraordinary amount of Od in their bodies. They, who would eventually be called heroes, clearly transcended the realm of humans. He wouldn’t stand a chance against such beings.
Therefore, with a bit of modesty, he evaluated himself as “an excellent military officer candidate, within the realm of humans.” However, Nudd had more than just a superficial pride in his “not-to-be-dismissed abilities.”
—He was the strongest among his squad.
Of course, compared to the conscripted commoners. There was no way he would lose to a little girl.
“A mock battle as a warm-up, huh?”
“I thought it was a reasonable suggestion. The wooden dummies haven’t arrived yet. I thought a mock battle would be the most effective training method.”
“Your honorifics are amusing.”
“My apologies, senpai.”
“…Well, alright. Babysitting was getting boring.”
The fort’s backyard was unexpectedly spacious. The factor that emphasized this feeling was its bleakness—”despite being called a garden, there were only a few scattered trees and plants.” Originally, it should have felt closed in. The fort walls surrounded three sides of the backyard, and Fort Balaboa towered over the remaining side. Combined with the hard, ocher ground, it felt more like a plaza.
And here he was, alone with the little girl again.
In fort life, everyone was constantly starved for entertainment. There was no way they would leave such an interesting spectacle alone.
He should have been surrounded by curious onlookers, starting with his colleagues.
(It was really annoying, though.)
However, even though they peeked in once, they quickly retreated back inside the fort. Apparently, they had finished deploying on the back fort wall and were now busy strengthening the defenses near the main gate. Thanks to that, this place was free from the hustle and bustle and curious gazes. It was nothing short of a stroke of luck.
Looking up, the slightly slanted sunlight was dazzling.
Standing in its shadow was a single little girl.
Her pure white clothes fluttered as if purifying the filth.
“What are the victory conditions… senpai?”
“Simply, when the opponent admits defeat. If we make it ‘first hit wins,’ it would look like I’m bullying you, and with those short legs, getting a hit would be impossible, right? Also… let’s not use magic as a means of attack.”
“Understood.”
Leaving the obediently nodding little girl aside, Nudd turned his back. And when he reached the designated position, he held his wooden sword.
(It’s ridiculous, but it’s my duty as a senior. Well, it’s tedious, but I can let off some steam, and I can also see this girl’s abilities, so it’s killing two birds with one stone… It’s hot here, too.)
As usual during training, Nudd was lightly dressed. Simple clothing would alleviate the sweltering heat somewhat. Although the backyard was shaded and cool, the daytime heat still made him sweat. He realized the hardship of living in an environment far from the sea and surrounded by mountains, unlike his hometown.
Life in a basin with poor ventilation didn’t suit him. Nudd had lived in the Imperial Capital for a long time, and the sea breeze was ingrained in his nostrils. He was thoroughly disgusted by this clinging heat.
Looking ahead, the little girl was in the designated position.
(Kids have it easy. She looks completely fine.)
Annoyingly, she was twirling her wooden sword with practiced ease. She seemed to be checking her form. She herself had said plainly, “Swinging a sword is my hobby.” She seemed to lack the characteristic pride and confidence of a strong person.
He wanted to tease her about being insecure about her swordsmanship.
(Or maybe she’s really just playing around.)
Nudd’s theory was that “strong people have a unique atmosphere.” He recalled the numerous defeats he had suffered at the officer’s academy. The monsters of talent always had a faint trace of confidence on their lips. Even those who modestly hid it showed glimpses of it in their behavior. They possessed an annoying amount of pride, confidence, and arrogance.
—As if to say, we were born as special people, and we will live as special people.
He couldn’t completely deny that idea.
Even Nudd had that pride to some extent. It was only natural, since he was aware that he was superior to ordinary people.
(But I can’t sense that from her. There’s a different kind of strange atmosphere… Is it my imagination?)
It was probably due to her strange way of speaking and behavior.
Thinking back now, he was embarrassed that he had been intimidated by a little girl. On the other hand, Nudd was confident in his swordsmanship.
Therefore, the mock battle was a perfect opportunity. It was a good chance to teach the impertinent junior about hierarchy.
“Alright, let’s begin—!”
He braced himself and stepped forward.
Basically, his tactic was a quick attack. He didn’t like to wait and see what the opponent would do. He preferred to quickly close in on the enemy and deliver a decisive blow while they were disoriented. That was the most satisfying. Nudd didn’t like probing for weaknesses. Perhaps that was the reason his father hadn’t chosen him as his successor.
He closed the distance with large strides and faced the small little girl.
However, there was too much of a height difference between them.
His specialty, “closing in on the enemy,” couldn’t be used.
(Well, I can’t be childish.)
Then, he could settle it quickly with a head-on fight.
He would aim for the head or throat. Or perhaps the right wrist. He had to make her drop her weapon and create an opportunity for surrender. It was also the role of a senior to show a beginner when to withdraw.
Therefore, to clearly demonstrate defeat—.
“Haa…!”
He focused on her head and swung his wooden sword without mercy.
He felt a pang of conscience. It was a little girl, after all.
Of course, he intended to stop just before contact. However, even if he accidentally hit her with too much force, it would be acceptable. There was much to be learned from pain. He could make that little girl learn hierarchy through her body.
He swung down an educational blow towards her unguarded head.
“!”
A dull sensation resonated in his arm.
He instantly understood—his decisive blow had been deflected.
Nudd’s eyes widened, and he instinctively retreated.
There was no pursuit from Sol. She simply gazed calmly at him as he hurriedly retreated. Motionless, she held her wooden sword aloft with one hand. Even the recoil from deflecting his blow seemed minimal. This, contrary to her small stature, spoke volumes about her Od capacity.
However, it wasn’t an unforeseen situation.
Nudd glared at the little girl while keeping a certain distance.
(…I knew it. I’m relieved. It seems our superiors aren’t so crazy as to treat a mere little girl as an Imperial soldier. It seems that girl isn’t so weak that she can’t do anything against a direct attack. Well, it wouldn’t be any fun if she was.)
However, being parried by a wooden sword was unexpected. The little girl had been unresponsive until just before. Nudd cleared his throat and wiped away the sweat that had formed.
(A reflexive defense? Well, she seems to have some skill.)
—It’s nothing, I can easily win.
He caught his breath and waited for the right moment to strike. He was prepared for a counterattack at any time.
He relaxed his shoulders and assumed the ideal posture.
(Don’t panic, don’t panic.)
Nudd, telling himself this, was weak to tension. After all, mock battles were the main focus at the officer’s academy, which assessed abilities. Because he hadn’t experienced much tension, he had been able to graduate at the top of his class and was dispatched to Fort Balaboa as a promising candidate. If not for that, he was confident in his superior skills, a cut above the other new recruits.
Nudd took a proper stance and observed his opponent’s movements. She didn’t show any openings. She didn’t move, like a statue.
She met his gaze, but the standoff continued. The battle was at a stalemate. Tension filled the already silent area.
Then, a gust of wind blew, caressing his cheek.
The clamor of the Imperial soldiers reached his eardrums, carried by the wind.
This was going nowhere. He had to make a move.
“…[A Single Fragment of Earth].”
Nudd chanted a single phrase. He wove magic power and activated a simple spell.
Simply put, magic was the act of causing some phenomenon by consuming magic power.
There were two types of magic power that could be consumed at this time. Od, the magic power that circulated within the body, and Mana, the magic power that filled the atmosphere.
However, Od was directly linked to life force, in addition to affecting physical abilities. Depleting it was literally suicidal, so generally, Mana was consumed.
But Mana couldn’t be used as a source of magic as it was.
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