Sounds of clashing metal was heard and small sparks scattered. A black haired boy fell on his butt.
ăOuchouchouchâŠâŠă(Shingen)
A woman whose eye was transparent like a glass bead walked over to the teary eyed black haired boy, looking down at him.
She then laughed.
But there was no ridicule with that laughter.
ăââââthis is no goodăHow do you hope to win against this OrtashiaïŒăYou canât even win against a single Fuhren Saint Knight.ă(Ortashia)
She put her hands on her waist whilst saying that. The black haired boy pointed at himself.
ăIf I have the thunder swordăIâll manage somehow.ă(Shingen)
He sent his glance to the thunder sword leaning on the wall. Ortashia shook her head after taking a glance too.
ăYou wonât progress much with that line of thought.ă(Ortashia)
ăWhy?ă(Shingen)
ăTell me honestlyăYou relied on that sword to fight, didnât youïŒă(Ortashia)
ăEh?ă(Shingen)
Shingen was surprised at what Ortashia had pointed out.
What she pointed out was correct. As she said, Shingen didnât fight using his own ability. It was the âThunder Swordâ.
There was a soul residing within the thunder sword.
It wasnât a human soul, but the soul of a divine phantom beast called Kirin.
It was the result of many research on making a stronger weapon; a method to make a monster or phantom beastâs soul to reside within the weapon.
This Kaminarizuki (Thunder Moon) was one of the sword forged on the far-eastern land of Jiparg, the final work of the legendary swordsmith Fuji Minamoto Itsuki. He also produced several other swords.
Shingen inherited the sword from his elder sister.
Though he didnât understand the importance of it yet when his sister gave it to him, he came to realize the reason now.
You didnât fight by yourself; the sword will fight for you.
It wasnât something that a normal opponent can handle. Kaminarizuki made it so that it will be hard to tell what will the user do next.
Most human feelings are shown on their face. Eye movement, body language, individual habits: it can all be seen through since we are only human.
However, the sword was a different case. Itâs simply impossible to read the intent of cold steel.
This made Shingen even more afraid of Ortashia.
ă
She had seen through everything.
ă
Behaviour and habits. She always had that penetrating gaze even when they first met as if trying to see what lies at the back of his heart.
ïŒââââââshe had never even touched it directlyăbut managed to guess the mechanism behind the thunder sword nonethelessâŠâŠOrtashia is really amazingâŠâŠïŒ
He felt a pure admiration for this girl. And it wonât be nice to have her as enemy just as expected.
Ortashia was exercising in order to be able to fight without turning her shoulder too much by controlling her power. Sheâs been practicing for a while now, but she had no sweat on her at all.
And it wasnât only that that was surprising.
She did all of that with her slim legs and arms.
Itâs hard to see her as a veteran of many battles no matter how you look at her.
Despite still recovering from old wounds and having been unable to regain her full power yet, it doesnât mean that sheâs weak.
Unhesitantly, she attacked the openings Shingen had made.
The way she used her ability to the fullest makes you question whether this girl was truly a human or not.
Sheâll hardly be a human if her full abilities could be used.
At the very least, Shingen still considered her as a human. Itâs because he also hailed from a special race of Jiparg.
But even so, he couldnât seem to be able to reproduce the superbly fast slashing anyways. As he was looking around in a deep thought, his gaze accidentally fell on Ortashiaâs thighs which he quickly averted his eyes in a panic.
ïŒââââââDangerousâŠâŠăI might get killed if she noticedâŠâŠïŒ
Ortashia had been teaching Shingen on fencing every morning.
The sun had risen right above their heads, signaling that itâs already midday. Smoke rising from chimney of every house on the town of York, seemingly preparing for lunch.
Shingenâs stomach started to grumble upon sniffing the drifting fragrance of baked bread.
Ortashia clearly heard that noise.
She widened her eye while Shingen looked down. His face was crimson.
ăThaăthat isăthiăthisâŠâŠă(Shingen)
Ortashia muttered inside her mind.
ïŒââââââheâs so cuteâŠâŠïŒ
Ortashia looked up to the sun while holding up her hand.
ăAh so itâs midday already? Not yet. No need to be in a hurryăItâll be best if you become able to protect me from danger.ă (Ortashia)
ăEh? Just nowăwhat did you say?ă(Shingen)
Ortashia looked back at Shingen, who was also looking at her. She giggled a little.
ăNever mind.ă (Ortashia)
Ortashia patted Shingen head as she said so.
Riru came in and offered a glass for each of them.
ăHereăwater.ă(Riru)
ăThank youă(Shingen)
Shingen finished the content of the glass in a single gulp. Ortashia was also feeling satisfied.
ăFuuăUmuăit truly is nice to drink water after training.ă (Ortashia)
Ortashia looked somewhat cute when she said those lines or so Shingen thought.
ăMina should be done with the meals some time soonăShall weïŒă (Ortashia)
ăAhăvery well.ă(Shingen)
Shingen nodded deeply before getting up.
Riru beat the dust that stuck to his hips. That only served to make him slightly embarrassed.
When they were about to enjoy their lunch, a girlâs voice rang out from somewhere.
ăMaruru!! As I thoughtăitâs really Maruruâââââââ!ă(Julienne)
Shingen, Riru and Ortashia turned towards the source of that voice.
At that moment, a blue haired girl with a pair of leather boots and shorts ran at them with full momentum.
ăEh? Who again?ă(Shingen)
Riru and Ortashia quickly moved away from Shingen. At that point, the blue haired girl was jumping toward Shingen with her arms spread.
ăUwaaa?!ă(Shingen)
Shingen was caught off-guard as he was knocked down due to the girlâs momentum. The girl herself already got up when he noticed.
ăâŠâŠaăare you alright?ă(Shingen)
ăYou are still alive!ăThis stupid idiot!ăI was really worried!ăI was told that you were dead so I went out to search for youăThank godăTruly.ă(Julienne)
A blue-haired girl suddenly drowned in tears while rubbing her face on Shingenâs chest. The already worn out shirt became damp. Though he didnât think itâs bad⊠but thisâŠ.
Shingen had an embarrassed look on his face.
ăI-I am not Maruto, you know?ă(Shingen)
That reply was immediately denied.
ăAre you kidding me? No way I can mistake you. Donât argue back to an adult!ă(Julienne)
ïŒââââââNononoăarenât you younger than me?!ïŒ
Externally, the blue haired girl looks to be only sixteen.
Though the voice sounded mature, sheâs still a petite-bodied girl. Riru then told the blue haired girl.
ăJulienne-sama? That boy is not leader Maruto.ă(Riru)
Maruru was apparently Marutoâs pet name. Julienne pointed her finger to Riru.
ăYou are lying!ăSince you are hereăthen Maruru should be here too!ă(Julienne)
ăE, even if you say thatâŠâŠă(Riru)
It was a frighteningly simple but justified idea.
Riru had worked as Marutoâs adjutant for years now so itâll be normal to think that wherever there is Riru, Maruto will be there too.
But Maruto was really killed in battle. Itâs necessary to tell her that fact.
Shingen tried to say that heâs not Maruto again, but Juline began to cry again, this time beating Shingenâs chest multiple of times.
Riru was powerless in this matter.
She hesitated whether it will be okay to separate them by force. Meanwhile, Shingen hesitated as to whether he can touch her in the first place.
Ortashia then admonished the girl calmly.
ăThat boy is not MarutoăâŠâŠhis name is Shingen.ă (Ortashia)
Juline finally looked up on to Shingenâs face and stared at him so intently.
The sun made it as if she was shining beautifully. Her golden eyes were moist with tears. Julienne shook her head.
ăThatâs a lieâŠâŠarenât you just dyeing your hair?ăThere is no doubt that you are MarutoâŠâŠIâm certain of ităThere are a lot of people in this country wanting to kill youăIs that why you disguised yourself as someone else?ăThatâs cowardly of youăYouâll still raise some suspicion anywaysăThatâs why you donât have to deceive me anymoreâŠă(Julienne)