“Mr. Al…and Lord Luke?!”
“Huh, who are you?”
“Well, that figures…”
Zack wasn’t surprised that Luke didn’t remember him at all.
(……I’m just a pebble on the roadside. It’s only natural he wouldn’t remember me. ──But still, it’s kind of sad…)
“Um, Mr. Al…? What’s going on here?”
Zack had brought Canis and Felis, whom he had met by chance in the capital and accompanied to Gilbadia, to introduce them to the best blacksmith in town.
However, Zack judged that calming the situation was the priority now.
“Zack, huh…? Tell this numbskull to sell me a sword already.”
“Uh, uh…”
(Ah, Mr. Al is angry…I don’t like this…)
Zack could keenly sense the clear anger in Alfred’s soft, gentle voice. Realizing the situation was spiraling far beyond his expectations, Zack felt a twinge of stomach pain.
“……Don’t do anything rash.”
“……Got it.”
While Zack was racking his brain, Canis whispered something to Felis. No one heard their voices.
“I don’t care if you’re the lord’s son! My swords aren’t just for display! If you want something for admiration, go somewhere else!”
“……Conversing with such a foolish person is rather unpleasant.”
“Wh-What did you say, you bastard?!”
“Aaaaah! Please wait, Lord Luke! I beg you! Just a little! Could you please spare me a moment?!”
“So who the hell are you?”
“I’m the adventurer Zack! We had a sparring session a few years ago!”
“…………”
“You don’t remember me, do you? Don’t worry! I knew it! “
Zack raised his voice in an attempt to smooth over the situation. His desperation was clear from his gestures and body language.
Luke felt a mixture of disgust and an inability to hate the man who had suddenly appeared and was behaving so frantically.
“Lord Luke, do you remember when I requested help from adventurers during our training?”
“……Yes”
“This man, Zack, also sparred with you at that time.”
“Zack……No, I don’t recall.”
Alfred whispered something, but the memory did not return. It seemed that people deemed unimportant were completely erased from Luke’s mind. Still, the fact that Luke was willing to wait a little longer was a testament to Zack’s accomplishments.
“……I won’t wait long.”
“Thank you very much!”
Zack bowed deeply and headed to the blacksmith named Darkin who was at the center of the commotion.
Luke then noticed two people wearing turbans in the room.
And then…
“Ah, how unusual. ──Is that a beastman?”
“………!”
He realized they were not fully human, as his sharp magic detection ability confirmed they had no magical power. This caused Canis and Felis’ expressions to briefly stiffen, but Canis quickly acted.
“Y-Yes, that’s right~”
Canis removed his turban, revealing his characteristic [ears] – dog-like, drooping ears.
He then promptly removed Felis’ turban as well.
“Ugh”
Felis’ ears were cat-like.
Seemingly unintentionally having their turbans removed, she hastily covered her ears with her hands.
“We’re siblings. In this country, beastmen tend to have a hard time living, so we usually hide like this to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
“………..”
Canis wore a forced smile, while Felis remained silent.
“Hmm, then why did you come to this country?”
“……Huh?”
Luke’s piercing gaze bore into Canis and Felis, exerting an oppressive pressure, as if gripping their hearts.
“There’s also the Empire nearby. Why did you come to the Kingdom?”
“Th-That’s because…”
It would be easy to brush it off with some vague excuse. But doing so would instantly expose them, a conviction they almost had.
Thus, they were at a loss for words, and the time that stretched on felt heavy.
“──Excuse me, could I interrupt for a moment?”
At that moment, Zack returned.
“What, have you settled the matter?”
“Yes, um…the blacksmith here, his name is Darkin, seems to have had a misunderstanding.”
“What do you mean? Explain.”
“Uh, well, you see, you are a nobleman, and…”
“……Just talk normally.”
“……Sorry. He didn’t expect someone like Lord Luke to actually practice swordplay, so he thought you just wanted to buy a sword for display. And, um…”
“What, say it clearly.”
“I did try to explain it to Mr. Darkin, the boss, but he’s really stubborn, you see. He said he won’t believe it until he sees it with his own eyes…”
“……Huh?”
“Eeek!”
Sensing the intense aura of rage emanating from Luke, Zack let out a small cry.
“You want me, the great me, to prove my worth to this insignificant existence below a horse’s droppings? ──What do you think you’re doing?”
“Aaaah, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
Along with the lament of “Why am I in this situation?”, Zack’s stomach pain intensified further.
However,
“…No, ……I should……do this, I suppose.”
“…Huh?”
Luke’s expression was one of anguish.
(As an adventurer, I shouldn’t get so angry about this…)
He exhaled, releasing the fury swirling within.
“You, Zack. Make me a promise.”
“Uh, what kind of promise?”
“I’ll show my sword skills. But, listen. I have a feeling that somehow, trouble will arise from this.”
“Huh?”
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It was merely an instinctual hunch based on his past experiences. But he couldn’t shake the unpleasant premonition that his actions would inevitably lead to unexpected complications.
“Anyway, I’ll show my sword skills. And if any trouble arises because of that, you’ll handle it. Understood, Zack?”
“Uh, yeah…I understand.”
Though Zack didn’t fully comprehend what Luke was saying, he agreed for now.
“The courtyard is where you can test your skills.”
With that, Darkin started walking, his back telling them to follow.
Luke was again angered by the man’s rude attitude, but he restrained himself, reminding himself to act as an adventurer. His expression betrayed no sign of it, but even Alfred shared Luke’s anger, as his loyalty to his master made him resent being treated so lightly.
Everyone in the area began to move. Canis and Felis also followed in silence.
” ……This is it “
There were several bundles of straw laid out. As Darkin said, this was likely the place where they tested the new swords.
Then, Luke quietly approached the bundles of straw and touched them a few times with his hand.
” This should be easy enough…”
He drew out the sword he usually used, which had no sharp edge. In other words, it was a replica.
He had brought this familiar bladeless sword with the intention of having a real sword made based on it.
” Hey, that sword has no blade–“
” –Just shut up and watch.”
” Whaaat?!”
” Now, now, let’s just watch this, Mr. Darkin.”
Luke tested the feel of the drawn sword, took the correct stance. Slightly lowering his hips, he stepped forward with his left foot, the sword positioned to his right side – the stance of the Eight Phases.
He sharpened his focus. The air had changed.
(……This is it)
Zack remembered. The true [monster].
But when Luke took his stance, everyone in the area understood that his skill was no mere pretense.
Darkin, being a blacksmith with some knowledge of swords, understood this as well.
(I was the one looking at him with prejudice because he was a nobleman…)
No longer doubting Luke’s true abilities, Darkin could not stop himself – he wanted to see what would happen next.
An irresistible desire to witness the events to come had taken hold of him. But Luke’s mind was now beyond such distractions. His terrifyingly sharp focus had generated an intense concentration. And then,
” ──── “
Only Alfred, Canis, and Felis were able to fully capture the trajectory of his strike. Alfred, from his years of training, and Canis and Felis, due to their exceptional physical abilities. Zack caught a glimpse, but it was not precise.
Darkin could not see anything at all, but he felt that something had happened.
Thud, the top half of the straw bundle was severed.
” ──Wow! “
The exclamation came from Zack.
The fallen straw bundle had split into three due to the impact.
In other words – a triple strike.
The single stroke that Zack had seen was in reality swung three times.
This momentary silence was understood by all present.
” Th-This is incredible!!”
The soul-stirring cry came from Alfred.
Suddenly dropping to both knees and raising his hands to the sky, he expressed his awe.
” Lord Luke! To this extent… to this extent…!”
” ……Huh?”
As Luke looked on, bewildered by Alfred’s transformation, the situation escalated further.
” Hey, what’s going–Ugh.”
” Uuuuu…Uooooooon!!”
Inexplicably, Darkin had started crying, which Luke witnessed with a sense of impending trouble.
Therefore, he shouted:
” Zack!! Do something about this situation!!”
” Eeeeeeh?!”
Zack had also been captivated by Luke’s sword, but the pain in his stomach from confronting this chaotic situation had brought him back to reality.
3
…Indeed.
A strange light had converged on the sword, and the bladeless imitation of a sword unleashed a strike as sharp, or perhaps even sharper, than a real sword.
What was this power, clearly different from magic?
It felt as if there was some important setting that I was forgetting…
Recently, I’ve been consciously training my sword with this power in mind. I’m convinced that this is the key to reaching even greater heights.
Indeed, my sword has become faster and sharper. But it’s not enough yet. My sword is capable of more. Heh, swords truly are fascinating.
” Um… Lord Luke, if you don’t mind, Mr. Darkin has something he’d like to say…”
” –I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry! I was, uh, I was, you know, just prejudiced against nobles, and I, uh, waaah!”
” …”
Just as Zack came over, Darkin came rushing out from behind him, wailing and pressing his head to the ground. …How unpleasant.
” Ah, I’m sorry! Mr. Darkin is a bit old-fashioned, you know… But could you please hear him out? I’m with him on this too!”
” …”
Sensing that my mood was souring, Zack quickly bowed his head. …I don’t understand it, but I don’t dislike this man Zack. In fact, I’d even say I quite like him.
For some reason, I feel an odd sense of affinity for this insignificant man, even though we’ve only just met. Or was it that we had fought before? I can’t quite recall.
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