Chapter 36

A few days later...

After finishing today's classes, instead of going home as we should have, we are now borrowing a private training room prepared by the prince.

(As expected of the prince... Just by asking if there was any place where we could train privately, we got this treatment.)

The facility, built a little away from the school building, was about the size of a dojo, made of stone walls and floors, and had a sturdy roof.

"Well, Safina... We're going to train intensively here until the tournament!"

"Yes! Thank you very much!"

Safina bowed politely in response to my words.

"So? How are you going to train Miss Safina?"

The prince, who had provided the place, asked out of curiosity. He was already aware of Safina's situation.

"Safina's Kalsana swordsmanship is already perfected. What can be improved at this point? And for that..."

"It's not that, Lord Reiforce. It's 'That.'"

"Hmm, oh, right... 'That'... I see..."

Even the prince, usually so composed, hesitated at my reminder.

"In my opinion... In Safina's case, we need to change something more fundamental, don't you think?"

Zahha, who was standing next to the prince, said thoughtfully.

"You're right... The essence of Kalsana swordsmanship is not brute force but a combination of diverse techniques and speed, delivering relentless attacks. Safina excels in speed, but her offensive skills are disastrous."

"There's nothing I can say to that..."

Magilka added, and Safina looked dejected.

"That's why! I plan to teach Safina a sword technique that suits her."

To encourage the disheartened Safina, I declared with a confident smile.

"Huh? Lady Mary, teach swordsmanship? Is this a joke?"

"Is that okay? Are you sure you can do it?"

"It seems we need to spend some time discussing my character."

Zahha and Magilka looked at me with deep suspicion, and I glared at them, causing them to avert their eyes and fall silent.

"Hmm, well... It's true that Lady Mary sometimes makes strange... no, unfamiliar movements during training. I think you have the talent to create original techniques."

Zahha tried to say something rude but changed his words when I glared at him.

(Well, it's not original, but knowledge from anime and manga from my previous life.)

I turned to Safina, who was standing there with her mouth open, unable to follow the conversation, and continued.

"Well, when I say teach, it's just the theory. How you absorb and refine it is up to you, Safina."

"Yes!"

"And what kind of sword technique do you have in mind for her?"

The prince, watching Safina and me, who were still flustered, asked.

"Hehehe! It's 'Nodachi Jutsu'!"

"Ah, you fell for it..."

"You really did..."

"Haha... Well, well, it's quite cute, isn't it?"

I covered my mouth, blushing and trembling, as the three of them mercilessly teased me.

"Cough... It's 'Nodachi Jutsu'!"

"Whoa, you just rephrased it to make it sound better."

"Good, good, you got it right this time."

"Will you stop teasing me, Kiiiii~!"

I drew my legendary sword (laugh) and chased after Zahha and Magilka, who were running away.

"Haha... So, what is 'Nodachi Jutsu'? I've never heard of it."

The prince, who had been watching us with a cheerful expression, asked to move the conversation forward. I sheathed my sword and stopped chasing them.

"Proof is better than words. I'll show you, Lord Reiforce. Zahha, be my opponent!"

"Ugh..."

I called out to Zahha, who reluctantly stepped back to face me.

"Just the form, but watch carefully, Safina."

"Yes, Lady Mary."

I turned to Safina, who had moved behind me, and then looked at Zahha.

"Hehehe! You've embarrassed me in front of everyone, so be prepared."

"Ah, so that's included too?"

"Come on, Zahha, attack me."

I crouched slightly, my right shoulder forward, holding the sheath with my left hand and placing my right hand on the hilt of my legendary sword (laugh), which was still in the sheath.

A moment of silence...

"Here I go!"

Zahha, repositioning his practice sword, charged at me with an overhead strike.

And then...

Zahha was sent flying into the side wall, and I stood there with my sword drawn.

"This is 'Nodachi Jutsu'!"

"..."

The silence from the three of them, excluding Zahha, created an awkward atmosphere, and my face turned red.

---

The next day, after classes ended, I took Safina to Deodora's workshop. If we were going to practice Nodachi Jutsu, we needed the right weapon.

"Oh, you two are dressed the same today. That's unusual."

Deodora, who greeted us at the workshop, was surprised to see Safina and me in the same uniform. In the fashion world of the young ladies, where individuality is valued, wearing the same clothes is quite rare. I later learned this and told Safina she didn't have to wear the same thing, but she was very pleased to match me.

"So, what brings you here today?"

"Do you know what a 'katana' is?"

I asked directly, and Deodora pondered for a moment.

(I guess there are no katanas in this world?)

"I'm not quite sure, but what does it look like?"

Deodora handed me paper and a pen, and I drew a simplified version of a katana, which I had seen in manga.

"Hmm... So this is a katana? It's a bit different from a sword... But it's similar to a weapon from the eastern continent, which is said to prioritize sharpness and cutting ability over destructive power, as I heard from a traveling dwarf companion."

(There it is! The fantasy world's version of Japan, the eastern continent. It exists in this world too.)

"Can you make one? I want her to have it."

"Please..."

I called Safina, who had been standing back, and she ran up cutely and bowed to Deodora.

(I'm glad I didn't make her come here alone; she was quite nervous.)

"Hmm... I can try, but I don't have much knowledge about it, so I can't guarantee it will meet your expectations."

"That's fine. Please do your best! I want a completely custom-made one for her. Money is no object!"

"Lady Mary!"

"Haha, you're as generous as ever! Alright, let's make it!"

"But, but, I don't have that kind of money..."

I took Safina's hands in mine and brought them to my chest, and she calmed down and looked at me.

"Don't worry, let me give it to you as a gift! In return, I want you to beat me up with it."

"Yes!"

I winked playfully, and Safina's face lit up as she responded.

(Alright, the weapon is settled! Now, it's just a matter of intense training!)

And so, our special training began. Incidentally, I was completely unaware that the tournament was only three weeks away.

Thank you for reading this far. Thank you for bookmarking.