There was a martial arts arena in the garden of the Viscount Saudrek family. When I was led to the martial arts arena, my eyes widened in disbelief. No, because, to all appearances, this is a Japanese martial arts school.
　There are several wooden swords hanging on the wall between polished boards. Wait a minute, there's even a Shinto shrine?

"This is the dojo designed by Lord Shigebei and built by my father. It's built in the style of Yisheng.
It's very similar to my parents' dojo, that it is. No, it's nostalgic.

　I've missed it too. Now I must go back some day, Yisheng.

"Choose the wooden sword you wish to use. The top three knives are in order of size.

　After changing into his dojo clothes, the Viscount picked up a wooden sword as he fixed his obi. In contrast, Yae picked up several wooden swords and grabbed them, grabbing them and swinging them bare a few times before confronting the viscount in the middle of the dojo with one of them.

''Can any of you guys use recovery magic?''
Me and my girlfriend are available.

　I raise my hand at the viscount's words and look at Linse.

''Then don't be shy. Go ahead and give it your all.

　We sit on the edge of the dojo so as not to interfere with the Viscount and Yae, who say so.
　At that time, I suddenly thought of something and took out my phone from my pocket. Let's see....

''...What are you doing, sir?''

　Linse asks with a curious look on her face.

'Just for later reference.'

　While they answer that, Else, who has bought the role of referee, stands between them.
They confirm that they are ready for each other and raise their voices.

''Then──start!

　With Else's voice, Yae slashed at the viscount with the speed of a bullet. The Viscount caught the blow head-on, and the next successive Yae's sword strikes were all swept away with his own wooden sword.
　Once Yae jumped back, he slowly breathed in and out. In contrast, the Viscount does not try to attack himself. I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.
　I'm not going to be able to get it right. Little by little, little by little, they close the distance, and when they cross the line, the wooden swords cross each other again. And again, a fierce exchange of fire ensues.
　But Yae is the only one who continues to shoot one-sidedly, while the Viscount's side flushes, ducks, catches and does not attack.

''I see. ''I see.''

　The Viscount's wooden sword was held at the lower level. Yae was breathing on his shoulder as he held it in his right eye. He is clearly exhausted.

''Your sword is a correct sword. It's exemplary, or rather, it's lean in its movements. It's the same sword I learned from Lord Shigebei.
And you think it's bad?
It's not bad. But I don't think you're going to make it up there.
What...?

　The viscount's sword was held at the upper level and an unprecedented fighting spirit flooded out. A chattering spirit could be felt all the way over here.

''Let's go.''

　Just as the viscount took a big step forward, he jumped into Yae's space in the blink of an eye. The swinging sword struck down from the front of Yae's head. To catch it, Yae raised her wooden sword above her head.
　It was supposed to be.
　The next moment, Yae fell to the dojo with a sound. She clutched her side and grunted.

''That's it!''

　Else signaled the end of the match. If it was a match with seriousness, Yae was cut in half by her torso.

''Ugh........''
Don't move. You've probably got some broken ribs. You move too much, you'll puncture your lung. Hey, you, let's fix him up.
Oh, yes.

　I held out my hand to Yae's side that was twisted in pain and cast a recovery spell. After a while, the pain may have subsided and Yae's expression also softened.

''........I'll be all right now, that I am.

　After thanking me, Yae stood up and bowed deeply in front of the viscount.

''Don't hesitate to instruct me,''
'Your sword has no shadow. Your sword has no shadow. The righteousness of the sword alone is not in the realm of dojo swordsmanship. That's not a bad thing. Strength is only as strong as you are.

　The viscount's shooting eyes pierce through the eight layers.

''What do you seek in a sword?''

　Yae didn't answer anything. He was silent and just stared at the wooden sword.

'That's where we'll start. Then you can see the way. If you can see it, then you can come back here again.

　The viscount left the dojo after saying this.



''Well, there it is. You shouldn't worry about it too much!　Victory is the luck of the hour, and when you lose, you lose no matter what you do!
''.........Else-dono.......not much of a follow-up, that I don't know......''

　Else, who was staring at me eightfold with her zitty eyes, returned a thirsty laugh, hahaha.
　We were on our way to the checkpoint as Linse piloted the carriage and left the nobles' living area.

''So what do we do now Yae?　We're going back to the town of Rivlet, though.
What are we going to do, that we are...

　Oh, you're kind of out of it.... I'm like a businessman by the window. He was cheek-to-cheek with his cheekbones on the side of the back of the truck, looking at the sky in the distance.

If you don't know where to go, come to Yae's Rivlet, too!　So why don't you join the guild, team up with them, and cultivate while you're at it!

　You said it was incidental. Well, I see what you're saying, Else. We've gotten to know each other so well, I'm a little sad to say goodbye now.

"Isn't that a good thing, too...
'Yes!　Then it's settled!
That's very forceful...

　I can't help but chuckle at Else's folding decision. Taking advantage of Yae's weakness...no, she must be worried in her own way, this is probably a worry.
　While I was thinking about this, a carriage was approaching the checkpoint. When Linse showed the soldiers who were conducting the checkpoint the metal given to her by the dukes to the soldiers, they let her through easily. Oh, that's amazing, the dukes.

The world is a big place, that it is. I didn't know there was someone as strong as you. I still have a long way to go, that I do...''

　Yae mumbles sullenly. You're still pulling.... It must have been really tough.

The last blow in particular. What the hell happened.... I thought I had indeed caught the sword brought down on my head, that I did, but the sword came from the side...
It was amazing. I was standing next to you and I couldn't see you at all. Before I knew it, Yae was down.

　As Yae analyzes, Else excitedly recounts the moment.

''It's a shame, that it is. If only I could see that taijishi once more...''
Can I see it?
...What?

　When I answered simply, Yae's eyes flashed with a dumb face.
　I take out my phone from my pocket, play back the game I recorded earlier and show it to Yae.

I'm not going to be able to get it right.　Ah!　I'm here, I'm here, that I am!　And you, Viscount!　Lord Else is here too!
'Oh, my God!　It's going by itself!　I'm right here!　Wait, that's not me!　No, Linse is here too!　What's going on?!
Easy.
Ow!

　Chops to the brains of two panicked people. Too much haste. It was kind of funny, though.

'This is my non-attributional magic... sort of thing that allows me to record what happened at the time and watch it again. I recorded the fight we just had.
That's great, that it is!　This magic!
How magical is that?
Uh, a smart phone?
I've never heard of this kind of magic. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before it's too late.

　Else crossed her arms and twisted her neck. Meanwhile, Yae was still clutching her phone and staring at the screen as if devouring it. Eventually, we came to the scene where Yae was struck down.

'Here it is, that is!

　The sword that was supposed to be swung down from the front of Yae's body was, to my surprise, swung out aiming for the body from the beginning. Huh?　I'm pretty sure I was hammered for a double head.

'What do you mean?'
You know...?

　I asked Else, who was watching the screen beside me, but she shook her head, as if she didn't understand either.

''Took, Fuyu-dono!　Can we see this again, that is!
You can do it. You can do it all the time. From the beginning?　Or even before you were knocked down?
Before we were knocked down!

　I manipulate it a bit and hand it to Yae. The Viscount approaches Yae and swings his body out of the way. I wasn't swinging at it after all. But at that time, I'm sure....

"Shadow sword........
The Shadowed Sword?

　Yae mumbles.

It is a technique that uses the heightened fighting spirit as a sword, that it is. Because it is an illusion, it has no substance. But it has no substance because it is made of chi, that it has a presence. That's why you can't help but notice its existence, that it is. Perhaps the Viscount-dono divided the shadow sword upwards and the real sword to the side. If you feel the fighting spirit and move, it is the sword of the shadow. If you don't have a fighting spirit, it's the sword of the shadow, and if you don't have a fighting spirit, it's the sword of the fruit. I've fallen for it, that I've fallen for it...

　I was shown a phantom... or was that what it was? I thought I was going to be depressed again when I saw reality, but Yae had a thin smile on her face. A smile of resignation....not....you've grabbed something. It's a bit of a drawback to the fact that you're mumbling something.

"My sword doesn't have a shadow...? That's logical. Instead of waiting for an opening in the opponent's mind, you make the opponent create an opening... that too...
Hey, Yae?　Are you okay?
"...it's all right, that it is. I'm not faint, Fuyu-dono. You're safe, that you are.

　I took the phone from Yae, who looked radiant, and I put it back in my pocket. Well, it was good if it gave me a chance to get back on my feet.

''I will train more and more to become stronger, that I will. Together with you all.
That's the way it should be!
　Yae and Else laugh at each other as they high-five each other. Nice, youth.

'I'd like to mix in with you...'

　An envious voice from the gyoja-dai. Ah. I didn't forget about it, you know?　Sorry, Linse.