“He’s not waking up, is he, Neil?”
“He’s not waking up.”
It had been a full day since the training.
According to Lyall, he should be waking up any time now.
We’ve been preparing meals for Neil every time, just in case he wakes up.
So far, all of it has ended up in Lyall’s stomach.
We were also inevitably confined to the room.
“Katia?”
“Yes? Fina?”
“I’m bored.”
“Yes?”
“I’m bored. Of nursing him.”
…She got bored? I don’t think that’s the issue here.
“Then, I’ll keep watch, so Fina, you should—”
“Let’s wake him up.”
“Huh? Um, is it okay to force him awake?”
“I don’t know. But I’m going to wake him up.”
He’s been sleeping for a whole day, so he should probably drink some water at least.
Neil seems to be in a deep sleep, not moving a muscle.
He’s lying straight on his back, with perfect sleeping posture.
“First, here goes.”
Fina pinched Neil’s nostrils shut. Her touch held no hesitation or reservation.
“Nga… Suuu… Mmm…”
Neil made a slightly pained face, then switched to breathing through his mouth. No effect. He’s not waking up.
“Next—”
This time, she started pinching and stretching his cheeks. With quite a bit of force, enough to make her fingertips turn white.
“Hmm. It’s tough, it doesn’t stretch… Katia’s is so soft and stretchy.”
“It hurth, Fina.”
Neil frowned in pain, but still showed no signs of waking up. I also got caught up in this mess for no reason. After that, Fina slapped his cheeks and called out loudly, but there was no reaction.
“Hmm. In that case, it’s time for the last resort! Katia, stand there.”
“?”
“A little closer, right next to Neil.”
Fina instructed me to stand right next to the bed. What on earth is she planning?
“Whoops, my foot slipped!”
“Uwah!”
I took a well-weighted tackle to the back. I couldn’t hold it and lost my balance, putting my hands on the bed where Neil was sleeping.
“…Ah.”
I thought I had skillfully avoided falling on top of Neil and placed my hands down. However, the most prominent part of my upper body landed on Neil’s face—. After freezing for two or three seconds, I slowly raised my body.
“What are you doing! What are you doing!? Fina!”
“I-I thought he might wake up.”
“There’s no way he’d wake up from that!”
After all the things we tried, he didn’t wake up, so with something like this—
“What was that blissful feeling just now!? A dream? Reality!? I felt my soul screaming to wake up!”
As if betraying my thoughts, a high-pitched voice echoed from behind. He woke up!? …No way?
“S-See! He woke up, so it’s all good, right!?”
… Does Fina really think she has the right to say that now? Even in a prank, there’s a line you shouldn’t cross. What just happened was…
“…”
“H-Hey, why are you silent, Katia! S-Say something.”
It’s over. Until I return this body to that girl, I have no intention of letting a man touch it carelessly. Even if it’s Neil, with whom I have a relatively close relationship.
“W-W-What’s going on here?”
“Neil, don’t you think there are some things you’re better off not knowing?”
“K-Katia?”
I responded to the awakened Neil with just one sentence, and turned back to Fina.
“…”
“Y-You’re scary, Katia… When you’re expressionless, your eyes are sharp and intimidating… Hiii!”
Three days after Neil woke up.
Today is the unveiling of Neil’s results, and Lyall and I are scheduled to have a match.
Lyall set it up for the same day, and he seems to have a lot of confidence in Neil’s results.
Two of the three days were spent on Neil’s physical recovery, and yesterday was the final day of training.
Right now, Lyall and Neil are standing facing each other.
The location is the largest training hall in the dojo.
“Alright, bring it on!”
Lyall grinned, baring his teeth. He’s equipped with iron gauntlets that he didn’t wear during the mock battles with the disciples. I’m pretty sure he was barehanded back then.
“Yes, I’ll give it my all!”
Neil held the Damascus greatsword in a low stance.
Watching them are a large number of disciples.
And, I don’t know where they heard about it, but many town residents have also come to watch.
The dojo is spacious, but it’s a bit cramped now with so many spectators.
Even though they’re surrounded by spectators, the two in the center look like they always do.
I envy their thick skin.
As for me, well. I really don’t want to have a match in this situation.
“Fina, can I really go back—”
“No.”
“…”
Instant answer, huh. It seems she noticed that I’ve been restless for a while. W-Well, I was just saying, you know?
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, a familiar figure entered the edge of my vision.
“What’s wrong? Katia.”
“No, I thought I saw Nanashi just now…”
“Eh, where, where?”
I thought I saw someone who looked like Nanashi in the crowd. If that person is involved, then the number of spectators makes sense.
“Maybe it was my imagination? I’m not sure.”
“That guy’s so faint. Even if he were really here, I don’t think you’d find him now.”
“I guess so.”
Well, it can’t be helped. More importantly, it’s Neil’s turn now.
At that moment, the sound of a powerful foot stomping on the floor echoed through the dojo.
The dojo fell silent.
Neil’s body accelerates towards Lyall.
—Oh, he’s fast!
It’s completely different from before.
The aura that was roughly and randomly released before is now moving Neil’s body forward with a clear will.
The two cross paths, and a high-pitched metallic clang rings out.
Neil, following the momentum of his slash, moves behind Lyall, out of range.
He cut through while maintaining his speed.
In contrast, Lyall hasn’t moved a step from his starting position.
He only defended against Neil’s sword and made one more action on top of that.
“Pass, Neil. I’m not very good at counters… but if you can dodge that, there’s no problem.”
The answer to the preparation against the opponent’s counterattack that was mentioned in the previous conversation.
This series of movements is probably that.
Neil didn’t slow down from the start of his attack until his disengagement, thus avoiding a counter.
“As for the power—”
Lyall lightly swung his arm.
Then…
With a cracking sound, the gauntlet shattered and broke.
“Oh, it’s perfect. What do you think, Katia?”
He looked at me with an expression that said, “You can’t complain, can you?”
As soon as Lyall called out to me, the gazes from around us flooded in.
…Ugh.
I have to get used to this quickly.
A-Anyway, the fact that he destroyed the armor means that he momentarily surpassed Lyall’s aura.
If it were an average user, it wouldn’t be surprising if their body was split in two along with the gauntlet that blocked the sword.
I think it was that powerful of a blow.
And the fact that he didn’t receive a counter is proof that he has both speed and power.
There is nothing I can say against the sufficient results Neil has achieved.
“That’s amazing. It’s an exceptional result for four days of training. You might even surpass Lyall someday, you know?”
“Haha, that’s great! If that happens, will you fight me?”
“No, no, please spare me! If we fought seriously, I’d be instantly killed!?”
“I didn’t say right now. Kuku, someday. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Y-Yes… Um, Lyall-san, Katia-san, thank you very much. I won’t forget this training.”
At this point, Neil won’t be at a disadvantage in most situations.
Now, it’s my turn to fulfill my promise.
“I’ve been waiting for this, Katia. You’re ready, right?”
“You’re really enthusiastic, Lyall. What are the rules?”
“Of course, it’s until one of us dies… Hey, I’m kidding, Fina, don’t glare at me. It’s a one-point match, the first to land a big blow wins. Use real swords.”
“Real swords?”
“Don’t worry, we’ll wear armor.”
Lyall’s statement caused a stir among the disciples.
They probably don’t usually wear armor.
Isn’t he overestimating me too much?
I thought this before, but what if I’m no match for him?
“I won’t hold back. My instincts tell me that this level of preparation is necessary for you.”
“I hope I can live up to your expectations…”
I don’t have much experience fighting people.
Therefore, I don’t really know if my opponent is strong or how strong I am.
For now, I have no choice but to try fighting.
Lyall is clanking as he puts on his armor.
It looks like it’s made of metal, but this is…?