ā¦ā¦and then after receiving rushed lessons, I somehow managed to give the appearance of having learned manners and headed towards the Capital.
On my feet were shoes with low heels.
My hair already had extensions attached to it, and I was, unusually, wearing a skirt.
Iāve become able to drink tea quietly, and if the conversation is brought my way, somehow able to answer it, but any practice that extends past thatā¦ā¦rather, time-wise it was impossible to have any further lessons.
The manners of nobility are deep and profound. Though itās a little late for it that is my impression of them.
While I was thinking about that, the carriage shook.
Just how many years has it been since I last rode a carriage?
Although lately I have been practicing horseback riding within the premises of our mansion.
And as I considered such vague thoughts, before I knew it, we had exited the Anderson territory.
āā¦ā¦such peaceful scenery.ā
Come to think of it, lately I havenāt been able to enjoy the sceneryā¦ā¦I murmured while thinking.
24 hours a day, all I thought about was how to get stronger, and in reality, I spent every day without paying attention to anything but that.
Itās as if I was possessed. Though itās only now that I feel that.
If mother was alive, then I probably would be going down a completely different path.
ā¦ā¦thatās probably right.
Iām sure I wouldāve graduated from being a tomboy, and while it wouldnāt be rushedā¦ā¦as a true girl of nobility, thereās no doubt that around this time Iād be undergoing regular practice.
As I imagined such a āwhat-ifā world, I laughed.
āā¦ā¦w-what seems to be the matter?ā
When we advanced a little further from that point, suddenly, the speed of the carriage quickened.
In front of me, Granny asked that with an anxious voice.
āGranny, be quiet.ā
Feeling that auras of our guard escorts had changed, I promptly silenced Grannyās mouth.
Even without asking, I understood that something had happened.
Because the auras of the guard escorts were tingling with bloodthirst.
While I donāt know who the opponent was, right now there were people attacking us.
As proof, when I checked the situation outside, I started to hear the familiar sound of swords clashing from a distance.
āā¦ā¦Granny, calm down.ā
I soothed Granny, who was trembling in front of me.
ā¦ā¦it canāt be helped.
There probably isnāt anyone who wouldnāt be scared when someone suddenly attacks them.
However, my heart was strangely calm.
Instead, in order to calm my excitement, I grasped my sword tightly.
Judging from the presences, the number of enemies was high.
From the bottom of my heart, I was glad that I asserted that Iād be uneasy if my sword wasnāt left close by at hand like this.
Softly opening the curtain, I looked outside from the window.
While the each of the guard escorts were taking on their respective enemy opponents, a separate group of enemies was heading straight for this carriage.
And then, the moment one of them rudely opened the door.
I reflexively pulled out my sword at my fastest speed, and using that moment, cut off that manās head.
Bushuu , a lukewarm red colour gushed out.
The smell of iron enveloped the surroundings.
It really was reflexively.
Those movements that were driven into my body until they were deeply ingrained, were reproduced without change as I swung my sword without an ounce of hesitation.
In this situation were my life was on the line, I did not have the time to be hesitating.
Even though it was my first battle, I very simply took actions which would snatch away the lives of my opponents.
Momentarily, I looked at the man without a head in blank amazement.
Unlike what our houseās guards were wearing, the clothes on his body were crude.
When I inspected his head just in case, it was someone that I had never seen before.
ā¦ā¦did I kill him?
When I thought that, a sense of nausea welled up from deep within my chest.
However, I soon returned to my senses, and straddled over the horse of the man who just died.
āWhatās wrong! If all of you have learned from General Gazelle, then show me that even if you lose in numbers, you can still crush the enemy!ā
When I injected some morale into the guards who were being suppressed by numbers, they glanced at me in surprise.
However, they soon made serious faces, and focussed on the opponents they were exchanging blows with.
I also tore off the hair extensions and threw them away as I prepared my sword.
Inhaling, I sunk into the depths of my consciousness, honing my senses.
Feel the opponentās breathing.
Read the flow, and strike the openings.
And then, past the point between life and death, find the path to lifeā¦ā¦!
I spoke to the instinct that was at the depths of my consciousness.
My body moved according to my imagination so well that it felt good.
The sword that I had swung many thousands, many tens of thousands of times, moved as if it were a part of my body.
And as a sign of that, it continued to harvest the lives of my opponents with extreme ease.