桔音の尽力
さて、時間も経ち、早々に夜がやってきた。眠っていたリーシェちゃんはフィニアちゃんとルルちゃんに起こして貰い、僕はオジサマの到着を宿の食堂で待つ。
リーシェちゃんが眠っている間、僕はギルドへ行ったりお茶したり周辺の店を回ったり駄弁ったり色んな人に頭を下げたり昼寝したりしていた。うん、僕は凄く頑張った! 一人の女の子の為にこれだけ暗躍する青少年っていうのは、やっぱりモテるんじゃないかなぁって思うな、僕。
エイラさん達には頼みこんで宿の夕飯の時間を早めて貰い、本当ならまだ賑わいを見せている食堂は面白いほど静かになっている。エイラさん達の姿もない。正真正銘、この一階の空間は僕の貸し切り状態だ。
「きっつねさーん! リーシェちゃん起こしてきたよ!」
「......きつね、本当に大丈夫なのか? 私寝ていただけなんだけど......」
「さぁ? 多分なんとかなるよ、僕はそう信じてる」
「絶望的じゃないか!!」
リーシェちゃんが持っていた剣を床に落とし、悲壮感漂う表情で明後日の方向を見始めた。まぁオジサマもまだ来ていないし、落ち込むだけ落ち込んでおけばもう後は無い感じで、背水の陣的な効果が出るかもしれない。出ないかもしれないけど。
ルルちゃんとフィニアちゃんはもう流れに任せて展開を見守るスタンスのようで、エイラさんの旦那さんが作り置きしておいてくれた夕飯を隅の方で食し始めた。
すると、
「待たせたな、約束通り来たぞ」
「やぁオジサマ、見ての通り貸し切りだよ。まずは一杯お茶でもどう?」
オジサマがやってきた。腰には立派な剣を提げて、昨日見た時と同じ威厳と貫録ある佇まい。やっぱり何度見ても強者の風格が滲み出てる。怖い怖い。
「いらん、用件は一つだ。さっさと済ませろ」
「せっかちだなぁ......まぁいいや」
リーシェちゃんもオジサマの登場に気持ちを切り替えたのか、深呼吸を一つ入れて立ち上がる。たっぷり寝たからその面構えに体調不良等の異常は見当たらない。
「リーシェちゃんに聞いた限り、オジサマは騎士団長を務めているらしいね。そしてその家系も代々格式高い騎士の血筋、昔からオジサマの家系は名のある誇り高い騎士を輩出してきた由緒ある御家柄......あってる?」
「......ああ、そこまで聞いているのなら『先見の魔眼』についても知り得ているのだろう?」
「まぁね―――そこで、リーシェちゃんに聞く所によると彼女はそんな血筋に生まれたにも拘らず、2年も訓練を積んで騎士になれていない。才能が無いと言われている訳だ。だから、騎士団長としてはリーシェちゃんを家に抱えておけなくなった......それであってる?」
まずは此処を確認しておかなければならない。僕の知っていることは、あくまでリーシェちゃん側の意見でしかない。このオジサマからすればそれは間違っているのかもしれないし、あるいは何か別の、やむを得ない事情があるのかもしれない。それを、確認すべきだ。
「―――ああ、そうだな......正直な所、私から見てもトリシェは才能が無い。訓練で魔獣を相手にした時も、模擬戦で教導官を務めている騎士と勝負した時も、まるでなっていない動きで情けない姿を晒した......命の奪い合いでは無い勝負だというのにだ」
「初めは戦いを怖がっているのかと思った、騎士見習いとはいえ女だからな......だが、訓練に進んで励む様子からそうではないと分かった。では緊張しているのかと思った、しかし2年も訓練を積めばそれなりに慣れてくる筈だ......それも違った。トリシェは根本的な部分で、騎士の才能が欠如しているのだ!」
才能が無い、それは仕方のないことだ。人間、必ずしも欲しい才能がやりたいことと一致する訳ではない。だからこそ、人間は持ち得る才能を見出し、選択し、伸びるよう努力する。
でも、稀に特定の才能を持たないことを責められる場合がある。それが今のリーシェちゃんだ。現実的に見ればリーシェちゃんは何一つ悪いことをしていない、期待に応えられなかっただけだ。生まれた時に、この展開は定められていたってことか。
「私達は騎士として誇り高き一族の一人。であれば、トリシェも同様に騎士として剣を振るうべきなのだ」
リーシェちゃんが騎士になりたいと思っていない場合であれば、その決めつけに反論した所だけど、彼女自身が騎士になりたいと思っているのなら許容範囲かな?
「だが、トリシェはそれが出来ない。故に一族の恥だ、騎士になれない者など、我が一族には必要ない」
「長々と語ってくれてどうも。もういいよ」
「ふん、それで? トリシェはこの一晩で何が変わった? 騎士になれる実力を得たというのか?」
「それはまぁ自分で確かめると良い―――騎士には模擬戦があるらしいし、リーシェちゃんとオジサマ、一対一でやってみようよ」
何? とオジサマは眼を細めた。リーシェちゃんも僕の後ろで驚愕の表情を浮かべている。実力を測るのなら、一回戦ってみればいいじゃないか。それが騎士のやり方なんだろう? 格式高い騎士様の、正式な、やり方なんだろう?
「つべこべ言わず、やれよ。今更腰が引けたのか?」
そう言うと、オジサマは眉間にしわを寄せて剣を抜いた。その動作に乱れはなく、やはり騎士団長としての経験が垣間見えた。
対して、リーシェちゃんはあわあわと青褪めた表情で僕を見ている。剣を落としたまま、立ち尽くしているようだ。まぁ唐突にこんな話を持ちかけられたらそうなるか。
「リーシェちゃん」
「っ......き、きつね! 私は騎士見習いなんだぞ!? 父様に勝てる筈が無いだろう!」
「勝つ必要はないよ、騎士としてやっていける実力を認めてもらえればいいんだ」
「しかし!」
「良く聞いてリーシェちゃん」
これは、賭けだ。僕の予想が当たっているのなら、僕の推測が当たっているのなら、これで何とかなる筈だ。分の悪い賭けではあるけれど、元々可能性の皆無だった状態で見出したんだ、賭けられる物は可能性がある限り賭けてみよう。
1%でも可能性が残っている限り、僕は諦めない!
なんて言ってみたりして。前も言ったっけ?
「――――」
「な、でも............分かった、やってみる」
リーシェちゃんも納得してくれたようだ。
「でもまぁ、此処でやるわけにはいかないよねぇ」
「「あ」」
宿の食堂、模擬戦をやるには迷惑過ぎる場所だね。
私の名前は、トリシェ・ルミエイラ。騎士見習いとして日々鍛錬を欠かさない17歳の女だ。
私は今、一週間前程に命を救った相手......きつねに言われた場所へとやってきている。冒険者ギルドの裏に設置された試合場、きつね曰く冒険者達が戯れに模擬戦をしたりする場所らしい。今ここにいるのは、私と......私の父様の二人だけ。
私は2年間、騎士見習いとして自分を磨いてきた。その日々に全力を注いできたと断言出来る。でも、私はまだ騎士になれていない。才能が無いと言われ、貶され、騎士の家系として生まれたことで生まれた期待も裏切った。
だから、私は父様に見捨てられようとしている。
実を言うと、先程きつねと話している父様の言葉は、私の心に突き刺さった。深く深く、楔を打ち込まれたような感覚だった。前も言われたことがある、一族の恥、欠陥品、失敗作、凡人、色々言われたことが。
―――必要ない
要らない、とハッキリと言われたのは初めてだった。自覚はしていたが、改めて思い知った―――私は家族に必要とされて『いない』ことを。
だから、これが最後のチャンス。父様が我が子だからとくれた最後のチャンスなんだ。自然と、剣を握る手に力が入った。
「トリシェ」
「.........はい、父様」
「これが、最後の機会だ。今、ここで―――私に騎士としてのお前の力、見せてみろ」
父様はそう言って、剣を抜いた。何度見ても、綺麗な動作だ。あれに憧れて、私は騎士になりたいと思った。父の背中は遠く、巨大なものだったが、それでも私はその大きな背中を見つめて走ってきた。
ここでやらないで、どこでやるんだ。
「―――はい」
私も、剣を抜いた。
途端に父様の放つ威圧感が大きくなる。剣を抜き、切っ先を相手に向けあった瞬間......両者の間には親子の情も、友との絆も、愛で育んだ思い出も、一切無くなる。
そこにあるのは、騎士同士、自分自身に掲げた唯一無二の誇りのみ!
「魔眼は使わん......
父様は私をトリシェではなく、『貴様』と呼んだ。これは私を騎士として戦う相手だと認めたということだ。
後は騎士の礼儀として、名乗りを上げれば試合開始だ―――!
「トリシェ・ルミエイラ―――行きます!」
空気が張り詰めた糸のようだった。緊張と、探り合い。切っ先が僅かに揺れ、足がほんの少し前に出る。
隙が無い......騎士団長、その地位に立つ者としてその佇まいは凄まじいの一言に尽きる。攻め込めない......!
「どうした? 来ないのか?」
父様の言葉に、焦った私は駆け出してしまった。失策、と悟った瞬間、此処で止まるのは愚策だと考え更に加速した。スキル『身体強化Lv2』と『俊足』を発動し、父様の間合いの一歩手前で―――もう一段階、加速する!
「はぁっ!!」
「遅いな」
上段から振り下ろした剣は斜めに構えられた父様の剣に受け流される。体勢が崩れ、隙だらけになる。そこへ、容赦なく父様の剣が横薙ぎに襲い掛かる。
「くっ......ッぁあ!!」
「なにっ......?」
私は振り下ろした剣を地面に突き立て、自分の身体を横へ倒す。横薙ぎに振られた剣は私の顔の前をギリギリで通り過ぎる。
「......なるほど、何故かは知らないが確かに動けるようになっているな......どんな手品だ?」
「さぁ......私は一晩、寝ていただけなので。強いて言うなら、睡眠を取りました」
「ふん......あの男か、態度も言動も飄々と......謎の多い男だ」
「そうですね、私もそう―――思います!」
今度は焦った訳でもなく、前へと足を踏み出す。先のスキルを使用して、同様に加速する。父様も私の動きを読んでいる、撹乱する様に左右に動いてみるが、父様の眼は魔眼を使わずとも私の姿を捉えていた。
ならば!
「見えている!」
下段から真上へ、半円を描くような軌跡を描いて振るわれる父様の剣。だが、私はそれをを斜め前へ出ることで躱す。そしてそのまま父様の横を通り抜け、すぐさま振り返る。後ろを取った!
「隙―――ありです!!」
「甘いな」
「なっ!?」
振り返り様、身体ごと回転させて剣を振るった。しかし、父様は既に私の方に身体を向けていた。切替が早すぎる!
「ガッ!?」
振り上げた剣を柔軟に鍛えた肩を使って背後へと回し、その柄頭で私の肘を正確に叩いた。腕が曲がり、振り抜いた剣の威力が逃げる。
不味いっ、剣の威力は死んでも身体は回転してしまっている、この威力は逃げられない―――!
「終わりだ」
回転した勢いで父様に背中を向けてしまった、その隙を見逃す父様では無い。静かに、背後から私の首へ冷たい刃が突き付けられた。敗北、それが完全な形でそこに在った。
敗北宣言をすると、父様は剣を引いて鞘へと収めた。その動作すら美しく、憧れた存在の大きさを突き付けられる。悔しいと思うと同時、やはり強い父様が誇らしく思えた。
「きつねさん、リーシェちゃんはどうなるかな?」
「十中八九負けるだろうねー、レベル的にも能力値的にも格の差が違うし」
「え? それじゃあどうするの?」
リーシェちゃん達が出てから、僕達は自分達の部屋で寛いでいた。僕もベッドに寝っ転がりながら鼻歌を歌っちゃったよ。ハハッ、何もしなくていいっていいね。
そんな時、フィニアちゃんが腕を組みながら聞いてきたので、普通に考えれば出る結論を伝えた。
「まぁ勝たずとも実力を示せればいいからねぇ、その条件なら......合格点を出す可能性はあるさ」
「どういうこと?」
「私も気になります」
フィニアちゃんの問いに、ルルちゃんも気になったのか近づいてきた。仕方ない、あの時この子達は眠っていたからね。ならば教えてあげよう、あの時リーシェちゃんと話していたことの内容を。
「あのね、リーシェちゃんは―――」
◇
「リーシェちゃん、もしかして騎士団の練習って型を中心としたようなものなの?」
「え、あ、ああ......そうだ。騎士はあらゆる国に存在するが、大まかに分けて三通りの形式がある」
聞くところによると、騎士には剣を扱うに当たって三種の形式があるらしい。
一つ目は、武器と己の肉体のみを使う攻撃の剣技―――剣武式
二つ目は、武器と魔法を組み合わせた防御の剣技―――水明式
三つ目は、武器で攻撃を受け流し、一瞬の隙を狙う返し技の剣技―――流鏡式
騎士達はこの三つの形式の内、自分にあった剣技を訓練段階で自覚し、伸ばす。早い者ならば大体半年程で騎士に上がることが出来るらしい。最初は基礎のみ三つとも習うので、追々得意な形式に別の形式を組み合わせてオリジナルの動きを考えたりする事も出来るとのこと。
リーシェちゃんは剣武式らしく、最初からずっとこの形式で努力してきたらしい。
「なんで剣武式?」
「私の家系は代々剣武式が多かったからな、父様もそうだったし、だから私も剣武式を伸ばそうと思ったんだ。魔眼が使えない以上、カウンターもあまり伸びそうもないし、魔法は魔力が少ないから使えない、必然的にそうなったって感じかな」
「ふーん......」
でもどうなんだろうね、剣武式って肉体重視の剣技なんだろう? なら女であるリーシェちゃんが鍛えた所で将来的に周囲との差が開いて行く気がするんだけど。ステータスの伸びもけして才能があるといるようなものじゃないんだし。
僕としては三つ目のカウンター形式、『流鏡式』を推したいなぁ。魔眼が無くても鍛えれば相手の動きを見切るくらい出来るだろうし。
「ところでリーシェちゃん、リーシェちゃんって一人で戦う時やりやすかったりしない?」
「え? うーん......確かに誰かと一緒にいる時よりは......そうかも?」
今のを聞いて、なんとなく分かった。
リーシェちゃんは人間関係的には多少人見知りな部分もあるが、その一面が最も出るのが剣を振るう時だってこと。大事なのは、二つの要素だ。
一つは、リーシェちゃんは自分の夢として騎士を目指していて、だから精一杯頑張ってきたって自覚。
そしてもう一つは、騎士の訓練として『形式的』な『型』の剣技を教えていることだ。
この二つがリーシェちゃんの動きを制限している最たる理由に他ならない。
な所がある。それはつまり人の視線を気にする性分だということだ。
戦闘時、誰かが傍にいると―――正確には人の視線があると、彼女はその視線を気にして思う様に動けなくなる。これだけでも彼女の実力が出せない理由の一つになるが、もう一つ。
形式的な剣技の『型』があること。リーシェちゃんは才能が無い、故に応用が利かない。おそらく2年間基本の技を練習してきたに違いないことだろう。
それが駄目だった。
『型』があるということは、決まった動作を行うということだ。リーシェちゃんはそれをかなり意識している。陰口や陰湿な悪事の中で、恐らく何度も言われたのだろうね、
これらを組み合わせると、彼女は視線を気にして思う様に動けず、また『型』が違うと指摘される過去のトラウマが剣技を繰り出させないのだ。
故に、一人でいる時は視線もトラウマも気にすることなく動く事が出来る。魔獣とも戦えるというわけだ。自覚は、無かっただろうけれど。
「よし、リーシェちゃん。作戦変更だ」
「試験の内容は僕がどうにかリーシェちゃんが上手くやれる形に持ち込む、あとは君がその試験で全力を出すだけで良い」
「その、試験内容って......」
「今は言わない、取り敢えず今は寝て身体を休めるんだ。起きた時、寝不足で動けないなんてことにならないようにね」
「......分かった、任せる」
「なら、それで行こう」
スキルを解いて、僕は薄ら笑いを浮かべた。
「―――だから、リーシェちゃんは一対一で周囲に視線が無ければ戦えるんだよ」
「へぇ~、でも相手がお父さんなら駄目なんじゃないの?」
フィニアちゃんの言うことは御尤も。一対一だとしても、相手が魔獣ではなく騎士団長だ。剣技についてはこれ以上なく知っている人物、これでは戦うこと自体無理なように思える。
「そこはまぁ、リーシェちゃん次第だよね」
「そこまで考えたのに大事な所は丸投げなんだね! 流石きつねさん抜かりない手抜きっぷりだよ!」
「まぁ、最後に少しだけアドバイスをしておいたけど......戦闘経験の薄い僕の言葉じゃ軽いだろうなぁ」
あの時、さっきオジサマと話して結論が出た後、リーシェちゃんに言った僕の言葉。
『相手は騎士団長じゃなく、普通の父親だと思って戦ってごらん』
リーシェちゃんはなんとなく頷いていたけど、実際動けるかどうかはリーシェちゃん次第だ。
「ふあ......眠い、今日は走りまわったし......疲れた」
「うん、ギルドの皆やエイラさん達、街の皆に頼んで、早めに帰ってもらったんだもんね! 起きてから試験の時まで、『リーシェちゃんに視線を感じさせないように』!」
全く、ただ働きも良い所だ。
でも、女の子の為にこれだけ働いたんだ―――少しはモテるかな?
そう思いながら、僕の意識は睡魔に攫われていった。
Kitsune's efforts
Well then, the time has elapsed, and it's almost evening soon. After asking Finia-chan and Lulu-chan to wake the sleeping Rishe-chan up, I'm currently waiting for uncle's arrival at inn's dining hall.
While Rishe-chan was sleeping, I spent my time by going to the guild, eating at the neighboring stalls, bowing my head to various person, and took a nap. Yup, I was really doing my best there! A youth who would do that many acts secretly just for a single girl, as expected without a doubt he sure would be popular, right, or so I thought.
I asked Ayla-san and the other to make my dinner meal a bit earlier than usual, and right now the usually crowded dining hall is amusingly quiet right now. Ayla-san and the other also aren't here. Without a doubt, this first floor is reserved only for me.
"Kitsune-san! I've wake Rishe-chan up!"
"...Kitsune, is it really gonna be okay? I was just sleeping, though...."
"Who know? Perhaps it would work somehow or another, that is what I believe."
"Isn't that mean it's hopeless!!"
Rishe-chan drops her sword to the floor, and starts looking at a faraway place with a grim expression. Well, uncle is also hasn't arrived here yet, it indeed feels as if there won't be any tomorrow if we just left this desperate situation as it is, and it may lead us into a great pinch. Or probably not.
Lulu-chan and Finia-chan are also just watching over and let everything to the flow of development, and start eating their dinners which have been prepared in advance by Ayla-san's husband.
And then.
"Sorry for the wait, I come as promised."
"Hello esteemed uncle, as you can see we've reserved this place. How about having a cup of tea first?"
Uncle finally come. Carrying a splendid sword at his waist, and with a similar dignified appearance as yesterday. As expected no matter how many times you look at them, a strong person's bearing sure is something. How scary.
"I don't need it, my business here is only one. Let's finish it quickly."
"How impatient... well, fine then."
Perhaps Rishe-chan also has overcame her emotion at uncle's arrival, she stand up after took a deep breath. Since she has slept plentifully, I can't see any abnormality or bad feeling at her expression. Then I also slowly stand up, and stand facing uncle.
"According to Rishe-chan, seems like esteemed uncle is serving as knight leader, right. Also, everyone at your family lineage were always became a strong knight from olden generations, even many of them become a great knight who were recorded at this country's histories... am I right?"
"...yes, if you've heard that much then you must also already know about {Demon eye of foresight} , right?"
"Demon eye... then, according to what I heard from Rishe-chan, she who was also born at that lineage, still unable to become a knight even after practicing for almost two years. She was even labeled as someone with no talent. That's why, as a knight leader you can't keep Rishe-chan at your family lineage... am I right?"
I must confirm it first. If I remember it correctly, I only had heard about it from Rishe-chan.  So if I could hear it from uncle then perhaps it may be wrong, perhaps there was another reason, perhaps it was an unavoidable circumstance. That is, I must confirm it.
"...yes, you're right... to be frank, personally I also think that Trisha has no talent. Even when she practiced to fight against a magical beast, even when she had a mock battle with her instructor, she would always shows a miserable movement as if a total amateur... even though those weren't a life stacking battle."
"At first I thought she was scared to fight, since even though she was a knight apprentice, she was a girl after all... but, by watching her endeavor at the next trainings I understood that that wasn't the case. Then, perhaps she was nervous, but by continuing practicing for two years she should be got used to it ... but that also wasn't the case. That means it's fundamentally because of Trisha herself, she has no talent to become a knight!"
She has no talent, that is an inevitable matter. Human, aren't necessarily would always have the suitable talent at the things they want to do. That's why, human always preserve their best to discover and choose their talent.
But, sometimes there were a times when you would be criticized because you don't have a certain talent. And that exactly what's currently happening to Rishe-chan. Realistically Rishe-chan hasn't done anything bad, she just wanted to live up to his expectation. Even since she was born, this development has bound to happen.
"We're one of the great knight family lineage. That's why, Trisha must also wield her sword as a knight."
Perhaps he thinks that Rishe-chan doesn't want to become a knight, I want to object at that matter which he arbitrarily decided by himself, but if we show him that she's really wants to become a knight then would he gives her a tolerance?
"But, Trisha is unable to accomplish it. That's why she is family's disgrace, someone who's unable to become a knight, I don't need them at my family."
"Thank you for explaining it detailedly. That's enough."
"Hmm, then? What has changed from Trisha overnight? Does she acquired an ability that would lead her to become a knight?"
"That is, well, perhaps you should ascertain it yourself... a mock battle isn't something new for a knight, right, so let's have an one on one mock battle, Rishe-chan against esteemed uncle."
What? then uncle sharpen his eyes. Rishe-chan is also seems surprised behind me. If we want to measure her prowess, then isn't it would be easier to just do a match. Isn't that knight's way of doings? Isn't that great knight official's way of doing, right?
"Without any complain, let's do it. Or perhaps do you get a cold feet here?"
When I say so, uncle's eyebrows are wrinkling up and then he draws his sword. There are no unrest at his movement, as expected as a knight leader his experience must be abundant, right.
On the contrary, Rishe-chan is looking at me flustered with a pale expression. Still dropping her sword, she's standing still there. Well, that is an obvious reaction if you suddenly receive such suggestion.
"Rishe-chan."
"...Ki, Kitsune! I'm a knight apprentice, you know! There's no way I'll be able to win against my father!"
"You don't need to win, it's good as long as he would recognize you that you have a suitable ability as a knight."
"But!"
"Listen to me properly, Rishe-chan."
This is, a gamble. If my expectation is right, if my conjecture is right, this should be work somehow or another. It's indeed a gamble with a high risk, but in the first place she was placed with a condition with almost no possibility to success, that's why as long as there's a possibility then it's best to just gamble on it.
As long as we still have a chance even by just one percent, I won't give up!
Or so I say. Didn't I also have said it before?
"---"
"Wha, but... got it, let's give it a try."
Seems like Rishe-chan is also agree with it.
"But, well, there's no way we would do it here, right."
""Ah.""
Inn's dining hall, doing a mock battle here sure would be a great trouble right.
My name is Trisha Rumiela. A seventeen years old girl who is every day practicing as a knight apprentice.
Right now, I come to a place which the person who I'd helped a week ago, Kitsune, said. An underground arena at the adventurer guild, seems like this is the place where adventurers similarly like Kitsune-san do a mock battle. The one here are I... and my father, only both of us.
I'd been practicing as a knight apprentice for almost two years already. I'd been doing my best every day. But, I'm still unable to become a knight. I even was told and mocked as someone with no talent, and as someone who was born at a knight family lineage, I also betrayed their expectation when I was born.
That's why, I'm going toing to be abandoned by my father.
To be honest, my father's word when he was talking with Kitsune just now, it was piercing through my heart. That was the feeling as if a very deep bond was severed. I've been called as family's disgrace, defective product, failed product, ordinary person, and so on before. But, the clearest one is.
--unnecessary.
Unnecessary, this is the first time I've been told such directly. I'm aware of it, but it make me realize it again-- that I'm {not}  necessary for the family.
That's why, this is my last chance. My father give me this last chance because I'm his child. Naturally, my hands which hold the sword is brimming with energy.
"Trisha."
"...Yes, honorable father."
"This is, your last chance. Here, right now-- your ability as a knight, show it to me."
When my father say that, he draws his sword. No matter how many times I see it, that is a beautiful movement. Admiring that, I thought that I wanted to become a knight. My father's back was a distant and huge one, but even so I was always running while staring at that big back.
I must do it here, I will do it here.
"...yes."
I also, draw my sword.
The intimidating aura from my father is very strong. At the time we draw our respective swords, and pointing it to our enemies.... The emotion that we're a family, bonds as a friends, and my admiration feeling, everything are gone.
Those here are, a similarly knights, those who're prideful at their own prowess!
"I won't use my demon eye... show you(..)r true ability, and come at me!"
My father doesn't call me as Trisha, but {you} . Is that mean he recognized me as a knight opponent?
Knight etiquette, we should start it by announcing our name first--!
"Trisha Rumiela-- I'm coming!"
Seems like the atmosphere here is strained. Mental strain, and probing each other. My hands are shaking a bit, my feet could only stepping ahead just by a little bit.
I can't see any opening... knight leader, as the one who wield that title, his appearance is could only described as terrific. I can't attack him....!
"What's up? You won't attack?"
Activating {Body Reinforcement Lv.2}  and {Swift}  skills, I shorten my distance with my father till just one step short before him-- just a single step, accelerate!
"Haaa!!"
"Too slow."
My sword which I swing downward from my overhead is parried by my father's sword which he placed it diagonally. My stance is crumbled, there are so many opening. And then, my father's sword is mercilessly rushing sideway toward me.
"Ku...waaa!!"
"What...?"
The sword which I swing downward is stabbed at the ground, and my body is lying on the ground. The sword which swung sideway is passing barely right in front of my face. Looking the somewhat surprised father, I take some gap by rolling in the ground. Whether it was because I was a low ranker, my father isn't come at me. Well, because of that I'm able to reorganize my stance, though.
"...I see, I don't know the reason but you indeed become able to move... what kind of magic did he use?"
"Who know... I was, only sleeping overnight. Or more precisely, trying to sleep."
"Hmm...that man, whether it his attitude or his speech and conducts are very transcendental... what a mysterious man."
"You're right, I also... think so!"
Now it isn't because I'm flustered, I step my feet forward. Reactivate my skill from earlier, and similarly accelerating. My father is predicting my movement, he seems like somewhat perturbed, but when my father's eyes are activating its demon eye, he could easily grasp my movement.
Then!"
"I can see it!"
My father's sword is swung upward, drawing a semicircle traces. But, I evade it by slanting my body forward. And then, with that I'm able to pass through my father side, and then I immediately turn my body around. I get his back!
"An ope--ning!!"
"Not bad."
"Wha!?"
When I turn my body around, I swung my sword cylindrically similar like my movement. But, my father is suddenly has already looking my way. His switchover is too fast!
"Gah!?"
The raised overhead sword is swung to his backward using his flexibly and trained shoulder, its pommel is precisely knocking my elbow. My hand is warped, my power to swing my swing sword is gone.
It's bad, even when I lost my strength to swing my sword, my body is turned around, I can't escape from him--!
"It's the end."
Vigorously rotating I show my back similarly like my father just did, and my father isn't someone who would let that opening away. Quietly, the cold sword is trusted right beside my neck from my back. My lose, a complete lose.
When I declare my lost, my father is pulling his sword back at put it at its scabbard. Even that movement is very beautiful, realized me just how great the person who I admired is. I'm indeed feeling frustrated, but as I thought, I think I'm very proud for having such a strong father.
"Kitsune-san, what would happen to Rishe-chan?"
"Most certainly she would lose, right, whether it level wise or ability wise, their statuses values are too distant apart after all."
"Eh? Then what should we do?"
After Rishe-chan and his father left, we returned and relaxing in our room. I was also just humming while lying around at my bed after all. Hahaha, we didn't need to do anything.
And then, Finia-chan came asking me while folding her hands, and so I told her the most natural and probable conclusion.
"Well, even if she lose as long as she is able to show him her true ability then it's all good after all, with that condition... there's a possibility that he would give her a passing mark."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm curious, too."
At Finia-chan's inquiring, seems like Lulu-chan is also curious about it since she is also drawing near me. It can't be helped, since at that time these children were sleeping, after all. Then let's tell them, about what I discussed with Rishe-chan at that time.
"Listen, Rishe-chan is...."
*
"Rishe-chan, could it be your knight practices were focused on a certain pattern?"
"Eh, hmm, well... let's see. Knights are existed at every kingdom, but roughly it was divided into three form."
When I ask her about it, seems like there are three technique of how knight use their sword.
First is, an offensive sword technique which is utilizing sword and their own body-- martial sword style.
Second is, defensive sword techniques which is combining sword and magic-- shining water style.
Third is, counterattack sword techniques which is parrying every attack with their sword, and aiming for an instant opening-- flowing mirror style.
From that three styles, every knights are practicing the most suitable sword style for them. And seems like the fast one would be able to be promoted into a knight at around half year. At first they were practicing these three styles, and by gradually combining his specialty style with the other styles, seems like they would be able to make their own original sword style.
Seems like Rishe-chan is using the martial sword style, and seems like she was always practicing it from the very beginning.
"Why did you choose martial sword style?"
"Because the majority of my lineage from olden generations were using it, even my father is also so, and so I thought that I should use it, too. Not just I was unable to use my demon eye, I also wasn't too skilled at countering, I can't use magic since my magical energy is too scarce, you could say that it was inevitable."
"Hmm...."
Then what should I do, isn't martial sword style is a techniques which is only utilizing sword and body? As a woman, even if Rishe-chan keep training I think her distance with her surroundings would keep widening, though. Even if her statuses are raised, that isn't necessarily means that she would become a talented one.
Personally, from these three style I would prefer {Flowing mirror style}  one. If you mastered it, even without demon eye, you would be able to more or less predict your opponent's movement, after all.
"By the way, Rishe-chan, is it easier for you if you to fight by yourself?"
"Eh? Well... indeed, compared with at the times I was together with someone... that is right, perhaps?"
After I heard that, more or less now I understand it.
Rishe-chan is also has a somewhat shy part of her at human relations, and that part is mostly appeared when she wield a sword. There are two important parts here.
First is, her self-consciousness which make her always does her best to become a knight which is her dream.
And the second one is, the existence of {pattern}  and {form}  of sword style at her knight practice.
Without a doubt these two are the biggest reason which restrict Rishe-chan's movements.
Like what she just said she also has a little shy (coward) part. That means it was her disposition which is too conscious at someone's gazes.
At fighting time, when there were someone around her-- or more accurately when there was someone's gazes, she was too conscious about that gazes which made her unable to moves. That was one of the reason why she was unable to show her true ability, and the other one.
The existence of {patter}  of sword style. Rishe-chan has no talent, therefore she couldn't put it into practice. Perhaps she was always training those basic techniques at these two years, right.
That was no good.
The existence of {form}  means you should do it according to the decided pattern. Rishe-chan was considerably conscious about it. At that badmouth and malicious deeds, perhaps she was being told "That's not it", "You're wrong", "You're mistaken", and so on numerous times already. That's why, Rishe-chan was unconsciously trying to do it according to the decided pattern as accurate as possible.
And by combining both of it, she was conscious about someone's gaze and become unable to freely moves, she can't perform her sword art because of her past trauma which is always being told that her {form}  was wrong again and again.
That's why, when she was alone she was able to freely move because she didn't need to worry about her someone's gaze trauma. That was also the reason why she was able to fight against a magical beast. But it seems like she doesn't aware about it herself, though.
"Okay, Rishe-chan. Change of strategy."
"The objective is to somehow make Rishe-chan is able to freely move at your upcoming trial, the rest is you just need to do your best at that trial."
"Umm, that trial is...."
"I won't say it, yet. Anyway, for now you just need to lie your body down and rest. So that when you wake up, you won't be unable to move because lack of sleep."
"...I got it, I'll leave it to you."
"Then, let's do it."
Canceling my skills, I float a faint smile.
"--that's why, Rishe-chan should be able to fight on one-on-one battle if there's no one at her surroundings."
"Ooh~, but since her opponent is her father, isn't that would be pointless?"
What Finia-chan said is indeed right. Even if it is one-on-one battle, her opponent isn't a magical beast but a knight leader. An existence which is at the peak of sword art, I also thought that fighting against such an existence is impossible.
"That is, well, it is depending on Rishe-chan herself, right?"
"After planning that much, you just neglect her at the most important part, right! As expected from Kitsune-san's oversight cutting corners style!"
"Well, at least I gave her a little advices, but... a word from someone with a scarce combat experience like me sure is light right."
At that time, when I concluded what uncle had said, the words I said to Rishe-chan is...
"When you fight him, just think that your opponent isn't a knight leader, but just an ordinary father."
Rishe-chan was somehow nodding, but whether in the end she would be able to move or not was depending on Rishe-chan herself.
"Fua... I'm sleepy, since today I've did so many things... I'm tired."
"Yep, you asked everyone at the guild and Ayla-san and the other, also townsfolk to go home earlier than usual, right! {So that Rishe-chan doesn't feel any gazes}  ever since she wake up till her trial, right!"
Good grief, you even could say I've worked for free here.
But, I've been working this hard for a single girl-- will I become a bit more popular?
While thinking so, my conscious is abducted by drowsiness.
I Kinda Came to Another World, but Where’s the Way Home?
【書籍化】異世界来ちゃったけど帰り道何処？
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-kinda-came-to-another-world-but-wheres-the-way-home/
Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Harem Shounen Slice of Life
Apathetic Protagonist Bullying Calm Protagonist Demi-Humans Demon Lord Demons Dense Protagonist Fairies Game Elements Ghosts Heterochromia Knights Level System Male Protagonist Murders Naive Protagonist R-15 Royalty R*pe S*aves Sword And Magic Transported to Another World Weak Protagonist Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2650bx/
こいし