You want to play me?
"Yes.

　Iris nodded at my words without hesitation. Her expression is serious.
　It's a mock sword that she's holding, but the blade she's pointing at is filled with determination. It's more than the first time Iris challenged me to a match. ......

I'm not sure what you're talking about, Iris.　This is not the time.

　This is the first time I've been challenged to a match by Iris.
　When she glanced at Aria, her expression seemed to be somewhat angry. Considering the situation, Iris's comment must have been something Aria couldn't overlook.
　--What's the point of fighting me at this time?

It's necessary to do this now.
What are you talking about?

　When Iris and Aria were about to argue, I stopped her as if signaling with my hand. There's no need for them to fight right now.
　I need to find out the truth of what Iris is asking of me.

"Dr. Alta, ......?
I'm sorry, but you're going to have to step back.
"What?

　Aria looks surprised.
　After a moment's silence, Aria moves backwards, as if following my words.
　As I respond to Iris, I also take out a mock sword from my pocket. I put magic into it and made it into a straight sword - the same as the Blue Armor Sword I use.

"Will you fight for me?
"In the past, I might have refused. Even now, I probably shouldn't have accepted. But if what you're asking for now requires 'fighting,' ...... I'll take it.
"Thank you, .......

　Iris released her stance and bowed her head.
　It's just a mock sword that we both hold. It's not like they're really trying to kill each other, but what you can feel from Iris is a spirit that's close to that.
　If you think about it, there was something wrong with Iris from the moment she met Luino. Did Luino say something to her? ...... I don't know what it was. At least something happened between her and me.
　As Iris's mentor, I needed to find out.

"Professor Schweizer, hand to hand--please.

　Iris tightened her grip on her sword again, and readied it. The stance is beautiful, straight, and correct.
　At first glance, anyone with a certain level of skill would understand. Iris is strong and already close to perfection.
　But with ...... that strength, she still won't be able to beat me.
　I'm sure Iris understands that. If she still wants to fight me, then I'll take up my sword and stand in front of her for the first time in my life.

Whenever you're ready.
"Okay, I'll come.

　Iris stomps her foot on the ground and starts running. She instantly closes the distance between us and swings her mock sword.
　The first blow. He dodged it by moving backward slightly.
　There was no hesitation in Iris's movements--she took another step forward and struck. This time, she catches the blow.
　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm going to try. ...... I was going to do that, but I was pushed slightly.

I'm not sure what to say.

　I'm not sure what to do.
　It's a good idea to take a look at the website and see if you can find anything that might help you.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

"Huh!

　I let out a breath and struck another blow. She let out a breath and struck another blow, bouncing off my mock sword and slashing down.
　But sooner than that, I go on the offensive. Iris immediately noticed this and moved into a defensive stance.
　Five strikes in quick succession. In the beginning, Iris was off-balance by the fourth blow and couldn't take it.
　But now Iris is different.
　With the results of her sword training with me and the experience of her past battles-at least the actual battles-Iris has gained a different kind of strength.
　She was able to completely block my repeated attacks, and we engaged in a fierce battle. Our gazes crossed, and our strength was balanced.
　Iris grasps her sword with both hands, refusing to move away from me. She's probably wary of my pursuit the moment she steps back.
　Iris's sense of fighting is far superior to that of any other swordsman.
　She must have understood that if she kept her distance here, she might not be able to prevent my attack.
　In fact, I was planning to finish him off with a series of even faster strikes if Iris moved back here.

It's not so straightforward now, is it?
Thanks to Dr. .......
That's good. I'm beginning to enjoy this a little more.

　He was enjoying the fight with Iris so much that he couldn't help but smile.
　I don't know if I'm genuinely pleased with her growth as a disciple ......, or if I'm anticipating that she'll be strong enough to stand alongside me - but then I also realize one thing.
　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.


　In order to obtain the strength to stand alongside me, he is going to sacrifice something - he is getting stronger, but what I can feel from Iris now is hesitation.

"Mr. Iris. I don't know why you said you wanted to fight me for real. If you can get something out of it, I'm willing to help. But what I'm getting from you now is the same thing I got from you before. What are you confused about?
"......

　Iris doesn't answer my question.
　For a while, my power and Iris's were at odds, but then I broke the balance.
　I flicked Iris's sword and closed the distance between us.
　As Iris tried to move to keep her distance, I unleashed an invisible blade from my left hand - the Invisible. The wind blade glanced off her cheek and disappeared into the darkness of the night.
　Iris' eyes widened and she stopped moving.

It's the attack I'm best at. If you can't defend against this--
"I don't stand a chance, do I?

　Iris sighs and relaxes her stance.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry it took me so long.
That's fine. So, what are you confused about?

　I ask again.
　In response to my question, Iris gives me a confused look and looks away. She seemed to be thinking about what to say.
　I don't want to rush Iris. After a while, Iris begins to speak in a mumbled voice.

"For example, for example. What would you do if I really tried to kill you?
"Iris-san, me?　It's true, I did feel something uncanny just now, but ...... no way.
No way. - I was just using an analogy!　I'd be lying if I said I wasn't seriously thinking about slaying my teacher. ......

　I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it.

You're saying you have doubts about cutting me?
...... I didn't think I had any such doubts. Because when I was trying to avenge my father, I was definitely trying to kill the Swordsmen. It was the same when I was trying to save Aria.

　Iris glanced at Aria and said.

I thought I could 'cut' to save Aria. But this time, I don't know .......
"You don't know?
...... Luino Tomra said he was going to kill the doctor.
What?

　The words that Iris heard from Luino's mouth were a clear declaration that he wanted me.
　That's what I was going to explain to Iris and Aria.
　Luino Tomra is going to kill me.
　Luino is working with the Order under the agreement that he will defeat the swordsmen who pose a threat to the kingdom before that happens.
The duel between me and Luino is the truth about the cooperation between Luino and the Order.
　It was Remyil's painful choice to overcome the crisis of the kingdom.

I tried to stop Ruino. I tried to stop Ruino, but all she wants is to kill each other. I thought, even for a moment, that the only way to stop her was to kill her.

　Iris clenches her fists tightly. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I have.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.
　But Iris is still a 15-year-old girl. She may be able to hold a sword and defeat an opponent much larger than herself, but she probably has no experience in actually killing someone.
　I can understand why Iris is confused.
　The swordsman Adil Gratz and Aria's father, Kufilio Notria, are both involved with people that Iris cares about.
If Iris wielded a sword to protect someone, she would have been able to do so without hesitation.
　But what about Luino? She's still a girl who kills swordsmen and cooperates with the Order.
She may have said she would kill me, but she has not yet acted on it.
　From Iris's point of view, there is no doubt that she is the one who should be stopped, but if it comes to a fight, she must have been the one who foresaw that she would have to kill.
　The fact that she had never experienced this before made her feel lost.

I was going to fight Rui No because Rui No is after you ....... But there was a small part of me that thought that if I fought Luino, maybe I could stop him without killing him. If I fought him, we might end up killing each other. That's why I was confused and tried to run away from ....... I thought to myself, 'If it's someone who's after me, I might as well just kill them.

　For Iris, leaving it to me was an escape, and fighting Luino to protect me was also an escape.
　If you leave it to me, you won't have to kill Luino. In the event that you're a student, you're going to need to have the ability to take care of yourself. ...... It was too heavy a choice for her to make as she was still only a student.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out.
...... Luino asked me something similar.
And what did you tell him?
What did you tell him? - That I would kill if I had to. I'm going to be a knight as well,......, so I'm prepared to do that. But I'm not going to fight just to kill. ....... If I had more power, I might be able to stop Luino. I'm not going to fight just to kill him,......, but if I had more power I might be able to stop Luino.


"I see. You're still having trouble being a child, aren't you?
"...... What?

　Iris looks at me with a puzzled expression.
　I wonder why Iris is always worried about unchildlike things. I almost sigh.

You think you can stop me if I fight Luino, right?
I'm not sure what you mean by that. You are much stronger than I am.
Then you can leave Luino to me.
...... Then you can ignore the fact that you know he's being targeted.
You can't do that. It's a very difficult thing to do. So, ......, what do you think you can do now?
You mean, what I can do?
Yes. If I were to give you one piece of advice, it would be that the one thing you lack right now is confidence.
Confidence. ......
I don't think there's anything I can do about that. But you're not as weak as you think you are. You're not as weak as you think. You're just good enough for me to take you seriously.
I am? ......?
If I didn't, I wouldn't be here to teach you how to use a sword so well. You are being influenced by Luino's mood and words. As I taught you before, to be strong you need to choose. Do you want the ...... "strength to just kill Luino"?　Or do you want to be strong enough to win without killing him?
I'm not sure what you mean by that.

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea.

If you still can't do that, you can count on me. If you think you can--I'll leave it to you.
"Thank you, ...... teacher. When I talk to you, I really don't feel like I'm talking to a child.
Haha, I feel the same way, to be honest. Isn't this kind of advice common?
You have too much on your plate, Iris. You have too much on your plate, Iris. If you're not sure, why don't you ask me?

　Aria finally intervened, as if she had found an opening in the conversation.
　I've been silently watching the battle between Iris and I for a long time, and I'm sure Aria knew that Iris was lost.

Thank you to Aria at ....... I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time.
"No problem, dessert is on me.

　Aria replied to Iris's words and they both smiled at each other.
　It's good to know that Iris's worries have been put to rest - the only question now is what to do about the enemy that's actually closing in.
　Not only the swordsmen, but also Luino, ...... will eventually turn against them. That was something that everyone here understood.