I was captivated. I realized, as if by divine revelation, that the swordsmanship I had been taught up until then was nothing more than playing with a stick.
Back when Yuritia was still unaware of the vastness of the world and lived as a child in the royal capital.
Yuritia fell in love with Wolka's sword at first sight.
/
Yuritia comes from a fairly prestigious family that has produced many excellent knights for generations in the royal knight order.
He had a quiet and delicate personality that made him completely unsuitable for a knight, but the talent inherited from his ancestors was firmly etched into his blood, and above all, he loved swords so much that he couldn't see anything else. The first toy his parents gave him was a practice sword without a blade. His teacher was a servant from a household that had retired from knighthood many years ago. He thought about swords whether he was awake or asleep, and was always playing with a sword. That's the kind of child he was.
Yuritia had two older brothers.
My eldest brother was fierce and brave despite his young age, and my second eldest brother was intelligent and strict. Unlike the frail Yuritia, they seemed to have been born to be knights, and I remember them diligently training every day, carrying the weight of their parents' expectations.
Meanwhile, his older brothers dream of becoming first-class knights and receive rigorous training directly from their parents.
On the other hand, Yulitia has no idea if she'll become a knight in the future, and only receives childish instruction from an elderly servant.
It should have been obvious to everyone which side the goddess of swords would smile upon.
One day, Yulitia and her brothers decided to have a sparring match out of mutual curiosity.
Thereupon, Yuritia utterly defeated her brothers.
At that time, Yulitia was so focused on not wanting her brothers to laugh at her that she barely remembers how she fought.
A servant who was watching nearby said, "My brother was only the one doing the training at the beginning. Within a few minutes, they were evenly matched, then within a few more minutes, he had turned the tables, and in the end—it wasn't even 'training' anymore."
Yurti is undoubtedly a genius.
For the brothers, it must have been an unimaginable humiliation, a rejection of everything they had ever known. And rightly so. They, who dedicated themselves to rigorous training every day, were defeated by a frail woman who merely swung her sword for fun. All the effort they had put in was crushed without a trace, simply because of the word "talent."
It was more than enough to make her brothers hate Yulitia.
They stopped talking to me. When I tried to talk to them anyway, all I got in return was a click of the tongue and a fist. When my parents found out about Yuritia's talent, they scolded my brothers, saying, "Why did you do that?" They praised Yuritia, saying, "She's just like our child." —At night, when my parents were asleep, they grabbed my hair, threw me to the ground, and kicked me in the back repeatedly.
Her brothers, consumed by hatred and jealousy, looked down upon Yuritia as she wept and apologized .eyeManako
It was a blessing in disguise that the time soon came for Yurtiia to start school.
Her parents recommended that she attend the same knight training school as her brothers, but Yulitia chose to live in a boarding school at a magic school. She knew that if she followed the same path as her brothers, she would be treated even worse than she was now.
"I want to learn things other than swordsmanship."
Yes, I lied. My parents were a little disappointed,
"That's fine too. With your talent, becoming a Holy Knight isn't just a dream for you one day."
Holy Knight—a title bestowed upon the strongest knight in this country, possessing unparalleled skill and wielding magic equal to or even surpassing that of a sage.
These are words I've never once said to my brothers.
What is talent?
Hated by her brother, lying to her parents, unable to wield her beloved sword, she runs away from home.
Is this what talent is?
In the end, Yurtiia was really glad that she left home at that time.
Because thanks to that, I was able to meet 'him'—and that sword.
"Um, excuse me! Could you, could you, could you take me on as your apprentice?!"
"...teeth?"
From that moment on, Yurti's world became beautifully and vividly colored once again.
/
"...yeah"
I suddenly remembered something from the past. Yuritia shook her head slowly and sighed, brushing off the small amount of monster blood that was clinging to the blade.
The monsters that were cut down have already vanished, leaving nothing behind.Spoils of wardrop
That makes 36.
"...As I thought, I still can't reach it."
A desperate, unsettling strength welled up in his right hand, gripping the sword.
In Yuritia, no matter how you swing your sword, the blade gets stained with the blood of the monsters you slay. It's much better than before, but still...
Most swordsmen would wonder what's so strange about that. Monsters are living creatures, after all; it's only natural that blood would splatter when you cut them.
Wolka's sword is different.
Wolka never stains his sword with blood. No matter how many hundreds or thousands of monsters he cuts down, its beautiful blade never becomes defiled. His lightning-fast technique doesn't even allow for a moment to be caught in the instant he draws his sword from its sheath. It is one of the pinnacles of the path of "swordsmanship," attainable only by those who relentlessly pursue it with unwavering devotion.Ta・is・So・re・is・hair・
This time, an ecstatic sigh escaped her lips.
"Ah, Senpai is really amazing. Senpai, Senpai, Senpai, Senpai--"
What is revived is that single flash that annihilated < > right before Yuritia's eyes . A deadly sword flash that seemed to cleave even light in two, pried open by a single swordsman with all his might. Even Yuritia, who was praised for her innate talent, is nowhere near as powerful—beyond the limits.ExterminatorGrim Reaperswordnageu
Just the thought of it sent shivers down her spine, a feeling of exhilaration that enveloped her entire body. She even felt a sense of euphoria, as if her mind were floating in the air. Ever since she first met Wolka, Yuritia had been captivated by his sword. She even felt as if she had been born to encounter this sword.
That's why,
"--..."
The pleasure throughout my body vanished like dew, replaced by an overwhelming sense of regret and guilt.
Wolka's drastically altered appearance, missing his right eye and left leg.
"...It's my fault."
Rizelarte blames herself entirely for accepting such a request. But no, Rizel did nothing wrong. The guild had officially acknowledged that the dungeon had already been explored. No one in the world could have predicted that the true boss was waiting in the deepest part, hidden by a teleportation trap.
Therefore, the real culprit is Yuritia, who activated that teleportation trap.
"If only I hadn't made that mistake—"
He never encountered the "Death-Taker." If he hadn't even come across that monster, Wolka wouldn't have lost an eye or a leg. Judging from the incredible technique that destroyed the "Death-Taker," if at least his leg had remained intact, his swordsmanship would surely have reached unprecedented levels in the future.
But that future is now doomed.
I heard from Rizel that Walka didn't think he would survive that battle.
Even if he miraculously survives, having lost his pivot footing, he's essentially dead as a swordsman.
Yuritia's foolish mistake caused the swordsman she most admired in the world to abandon everything.
That fact has driven Yuritia's mind to a dark, madness.
"I have to become... I have to become stronger."
When Walka decided to sacrifice his life, Yuritia could do nothing. She was knocked away by the "Death Reaper," and the pain and fear paralyzed her, preventing her from standing up.
Too weak. Both the sword and the heart are pathetically weak, laughably weak.
As the only disciple to learn swordsmanship from Wolka, I can't express how much I regret it.
Therefore, I must become stronger.
I must get even a little closer to Wolka's sword and carry on his legacy. To prove that his sword once existed. If Yuritia, his only disciple, does not carry it on, his sword will disappear from this world forever.
And they must atone for it.
What's to come.
What we can do for Wolka.
Protecting someone you love.
How can we ensure that we never hurt anyone again?
To ensure that no one ever takes it away from us again.
--Wolka, that's it.Yu・Ri・Te・i・a・to・vinegar・Be・hand・committee・hey・hand・Ku・re・ru・Yo・cormorant・to・Na・re・Ba・stomach・stomach・
"That way, I can protect everything about you, Senpai, right?"
There is no response.
In the forest, off the main road, the light, blocked by the lush green branches and leaves, couldn't reach Yuriti's eyes.
—If Wolka were here, he would probably be convulsing with stomach pains, his eyes rolling back.
/
"—Oh, that's Yuritia. I'm actually working on the same request as you right now."
"Yuritia..."
What a beautiful name, the boy thought. It was the perfect name for that girl, who was like a lovely flower.
When the boy returned to the guild and recounted what had happened— while cleverly downplaying the fact that he had been defeated—the receptionist gave him a quick and easy answer.GoblinGoblin
"Hmm. Shorter than you, with cherry-blossom-colored hair and a red pattern . It can only be that girl."Single-edged curved swordTalwar
"Has there ever been an adventurer like that in this town?"
"Hmm, they're adventurers from the Holy City."
The boy was surprised, but at the same time, he understood.
The southern holy city of Granflose— a city of faith where the cathedral of < > is located, is about a three-day carriage ride from this city. It is known as the safest place in the country and is considered one of the two best places in the country, alongside the northern capital, Eisenvista.Holy ChurchKriscles
In short, he's an adventurer from a good background.
"I was alone, so was I a solo artist?"
"No, of course she's here for a party. There's no way such a young child would be traveling alone."
Well, that's true. But then why was he alone at that time? The receptionist seemed to have the same question.
"Huh? You were alone? I thought you left with one of your party members..."
"...Now that you mention it, you said you were looking for someone."
"Damn it," the boy bit his lip. At that time, Yuritia was looking for her party members. In other words, for some reason she had become separated from her group and was wandering through the forest all alone . He shouldn't have let her go alone.WanderingWanderer
However, the receptionist's reaction was rather nonchalant.
"Well, it should be fine. Yuritia is in an A-rank party, so the monsters on the road shouldn't be a problem for her."
"A!?"
The boy was astonished. An A-rank party is the epitome of skill, a rank that can only be attained by accumulating undeniable achievements. He wondered if there were even ten such parties in this city's guild.
"But that girl is around the same age as me..."
"Yes, I think she was younger than you. Thirteen, perhaps?"
"Is that even possible?" the boy wondered. Even though he was still a rookie who had only recently started his adventuring career, a boy two years older than him was already a D-rank adventurer.
Something feels off.
"...Just to be sure, that party is okay, right?"
My first suspicion was whether that girl was truly a "member" of the party. In short, there was a possibility that she had been recruited by a higher-ranking party simply because of her pretty appearance, and was now being treated like a mascot.
In terms of proportion, the number of female adventurers is much lower than that of men, and I hear that there are many guys who set their sights on young women as the "flower" of their party. According to a senior adventurer I used to be in a party with, there have been so many such conflicts between men and women in this area that it's become impossible to count, and he's heard about it so many times that he's practically sick of it.
If that were the case, I'd have to help him—as I was letting my imagination run wild, the receptionist suddenly grinned,
"Oh, you seem quite curious. Are you interested in Yurtiia?"
"Bwah..."
I think it turned red.
"N-no, it's not like that! That party isn't just the two of you, is it?! I was just wondering what the others were doing while they were pushing the job onto such a little kid!"
"No, no, it's not like I'm being forced to do it or anything."
The receptionist sighed.
"Ah, young man. Very young boy. I understand that you have many concerns, but that's just a misguided sense of justice. It's not like what you're imagining at all."
The boy, having been sharply reprimanded, pouted.
"...So what then?"
"Oh well... It's someone else's party, so I can't go into details."
The receptionist suddenly lowered her voice,
"Someone got seriously injured at the party, so we're currently on hiatus. But there are expenses like accommodation, food, medical treatment, and donations to the church, right? So, someone who can move has to earn at least enough money for travel. And that person who can move is Yurtiia. That's the situation."
"...I see"
I was somewhat convinced. Even though he was a boy, he was an adventurer, so he knew that money was necessary for survival, and that the Holy Church wasn't a charity that helped people for free. He could understand the idea of the party members filling in for each other when someone was incapacitated.
If she's not being forced into it, then it must mean that Yuritia is a kind girl with a caring heart for her friends. Impressive.
"She's such a kind girl. —Even though more than half of the blame lies with the guild, she doesn't utter a single complaint..."
"picture?"
The receptionist lowered her eyes and said something as if trying to hold back. By the time the boy was about to ask a question, her expression had already returned to normal.
"Hmm, that's all I can tell you. Don't pry too much, it's bad manners."
"I know, I used to be in a party too."
"Also, don't get carried away just because she's a quiet girl. If you come on too strong, she'll be turned off in no time ☆"
"Oh, really?"
Waving his hand dismissively at the nagging, meddling woman, the boy turned around. He wouldn't do anything to trouble Yuritia without being told. But, if one of his companions was injured and in trouble, there was no harm in asking if he'd like to join their party for a little while.
That was my first time doing a solo mission, so it didn't go well, but I have plenty of experience working in a party. I've completed quests with senior B-rank adventurers more than a couple of times. Even if Yuritia is A-rank, she won't be a burden.
While thinking about all sorts of things like that, I ate lunch and organized my items around town so I could invite people to a party at any time—
"—Senior, is there anywhere else you'd like to go? Please don't hesitate to tell me, I'll go with you wherever you go!"
"Ah, ah"
"Hmm... The weather's nice, so it might be good to relax in the square for a bit. There's a breeze too, so it would be nice to take a nap..."
"...Um, by the way, Senpai, there's something I'd like to try just once. That, um... kneeling—um, mumble mumble..."
"........................"
Yurtiia was diligently pushing a wheelchair, which was occupied by a young man she didn't know.
She had a smile that was like a flower bud turning red.
/
It was afternoon. Yuritia had once again entered that "Is there anything I can do?" loop, so this time I finally gave in and let her help me take a walk, which also served as sunbathing.
In this other world, it seems that the dominant type of wheelchair is one that is propelled from behind by an assistant. At least in this city's church, there were no self-propelled wheelchairs that the user could push themselves. Perhaps, given the lack of accessibility in this other world, safety concerns have prevented their widespread adoption.
However, the frame and wheels are made from monster materials and are built to be strong, and aside from the fact that it shakes a lot on rough roads due to its lack of cushioning and that sitting in it for a long time makes your body ache, it doesn't seem too bad compared to wheelchairs made on Earth. I was worried that it would turn out to be something like a wooden toy, so this was a pleasant surprise.
Perhaps because this alternate world is originally a pseudo-fantasy conceived by a Japanese person, there are quite a few instances where Earth's—or rather, Japanese—customs and concepts are applicable.
For example, Yuritia's hair is a pale cherry blossom pink, and the people of this world also perceive it as cherry blossom pink. An old woman walking down the street will react with something like, "What beautiful cherry blossom pink hair you have, it's lovely." I wonder if cherry blossoms even exist in this world?
Then there's the traditional Japanese act of dogeza (bowing deeply), and the knight who committed a transgression might declare he'll "commit seppuku (ritual suicide) to atone." Well, thanks to all that, I, a reincarnated person, have been able to adapt to this other world, but even now I sometimes get a strange feeling.
Now, back to the main topic.
And so, I'm taking a stroll through town with Yuritia pushing my wheelchair.
"Senior, is there anywhere else you'd like to go? Please don't hesitate to tell me, I'll go with you wherever you go!"
"Ah, ah"
Yurti's lively voice came from right behind my head. I felt like she was putting an accent on the word "wherever." Our youngest mother at the party seemed to really enjoy this wheelchair assistance.
"~♪ ~♪"
Next to us, the oldest girl in our party is happily strolling around, munching on a candy apple. She really does love sweets, doesn't she, Master...?
And I was dressed in casual clothes that showed no trace of being an adventurer, complete with a black eyepatch to hide the scar on my right eye. Not a medical one that hooks over the ear with a string, but the intimidating kind that wraps around my head and covers from my eye to my cheek, like the ones you see in manga and games. If I do say so myself, I looked pretty cool, and my inner teenager was smoldering.
The wheelchair slowly made its way along the edge of the road, passing through a street bustling with numerous stalls, making sure not to get in anyone's way.
"Hmm... The weather's nice, so it might be good to relax in the square for a bit. There's a breeze too, so it would be nice to take a nap..."
Oh, that's quite a good idea. It's late afternoon, just the time when you start to feel sleepy, and it would be so pleasant to doze off among the flowers and plants while being caressed by the breeze.
"......Um, by the way, Senpai, there's something I'd like to try just once. That, um... kneeling—uh, mumble mumble..."
Oh, that's a pretty good idea. I'd love for him to give his master a lap pillow. A character who met a tragic bad end in the original story, surviving and getting along with him, getting a lap pillow—hmm, I'd need to take a picture and frame it.
"Okay, let's go to the square."
"Huh?! Uh, um, senpai, does that mean... is it okay to... do it...?"
To my master, you know. I won't deny that I'm attracted to him as a man, but when it comes to Yuritia... I feel like something would come flying at me...guardpolice
The wheelchair, now a little restless, was about to turn around the corner towards the square when suddenly,
"...yeah?"
Right next to the tool shop across the street, there was a boy standing there, frozen in stunned silence, staring at us. Yuritia noticed him immediately and let out a small gasp.
"...Do you know them?"
"Well, acquaintance, or rather... when I was hunting monsters this morning, I saw someone outside for a bit..."
Now that you mention it, the boy's attire certainly resembles that of a fledgling adventurer. The fact that he's wearing a forehead protector with an X-shaped crossed symbol , the emblem of an adventurer, gives him a fresh, innocent look.Sword and StaffSword and Wand
"Did you form a party or something?"
"...I don't form parties with outsiders."
Wow, I got a really serious rejection. What was there in that question that would upset them...?
My master, who had finished half of his candied apple, noticed. At times like these, my master shows no fear or hesitation whatsoever. Even though this person was not someone he needed to be particularly wary of, he sharpened his gaze and stepped in front of me.
"Hey, kid over there. Do you need something from us?"
"...Hah"
The boy came back to his senses. It's unclear why he was so stunned in the first place, but whatever the reason, he quickly tried to make sense of the situation,
"Hey, hey. We meet again."
"Huh? Oh, yes..."
For some reason, instead of answering his master who had asked him the question, he replied to Yuritia with a slightly nervous expression.
Hey kid, if you do that, my master will—
"Hey, you! Don't ignore me! You're a rude little brat!"
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean? You're the short one."
Having stepped on two landmines in a row, my mentor quickly lost his temper. He turned to me, and with a wonderful smile, veins bulging on his forehead,
"Walka, I'm going to go beat that guy up."
"Master, there's still half of the candied apple left!"
Idiot...! You stupid boy...! Why would you do something like bungee jumping towards a hellish mountain of needles...!
But there's really nothing we can do about that. My mentor is really small, after all. When I first met him, I mistook him for a child and got scolded for it.
Anyway, we have to get Master's attention away from the boy. I'm not kidding, Master really does beat guys like this to a pulp. I've seen so many victims get hit in the face with magic and sent flying.
"If Master isn't going to eat it, then... I'll eat it myself."
"Huh? Oh, then, would you like to eat with us, Wolka?"
"yeah?"
Hmm, that's not the reaction I expected. I thought the greedy master would get angry and say, "I'm not giving you any!!" and silently eat the candy apple, completely ignoring the boy...
Oh well, let's have the boy deal with Yurtiaya while we have the chance. It seems he wants to talk to you.
Yuritia was clearly not enthusiastic, but it seemed she had no choice since she had been asked.
"Um... so, was there something you needed?"
"N-no, it's nothing special. I just happened to see you..."
The boy answered with a somewhat embarrassed, yet incredibly innocent, demeanor. Meanwhile, in the corner, I was...
"Come on, if Wolka wanted some too, we should have just bought some. Here, open wide."
"Ah, ah...?"
For some reason, my master's master mode has completely vanished, and the scene resembles a public execution in broad daylight, with a little girl feeding him. I wish the guards would just take me away and put me out of my misery...
"Well, I was wondering if there were any adventurers like you in this town, so I asked around at the guild. I heard that one of your companions got injured...is that the one you're talking about...?"
"Y-yes..."
"Hehe, is it delicious?"
"Uh, yes."
Stop it, kid. Don't look at me with those eyes that make it hard to comment.
In the end, it seems she decided not to think too deeply about me. Turning back to Yuritia,
"So, you're currently taking on assignments to earn money for travel expenses, right? If you don't mind..."
At this point, I had a hunch what the boy was going to say.
If even I could see through it, Yuritia must have seen right through every single word. The boy decided to speak at almost the same time that Yuritia bowed her head curtly.
"Me and Pa"
"I'm not interested in party invitations. I don't need them."
"Cough..."
Boy...! Hold on, boy...! It's only a hole blown in your stomach so far...!
However, it seems this boy wants to form a party with Yuritia. If he's spoken to the guild, he should naturally know that < > is A-rank.Silver-gray journeySilvery Gray
On the other hand, the boy is probably a D rank, or at best a C rank. The fact that they're inviting him to the party despite that rank difference means...
Ah, I see—a profound understanding spreads through my heart.
Come to think of it, this could be considered a new kind of encounter that wouldn't have been possible in the original work.
In the original story, we were just a disposable mob party that all lost their lives in that battle. So, under normal circumstances, there would never have been a future where Yuritia and the boy met like this.
That's right. If they can overturn the ending of the original story where everyone is wiped out, then the masters will be able to meet many more people from now on and live their lives forging many more connections that didn't exist in the original story.
Thinking about it makes me feel quite emotional. Especially since Yuritia jumped into the world of adventurers at a young age, so she hardly has any friends her own age. How wonderful it would be if she could meet people, forge bonds, and enjoy a rich youth filled with both sweet and bitter experiences.acidvinegar
In the original story, she was never even given a normal youth.
So, I want to actively welcome encounters like this. Welcome, young man, I'm glad to have met you.
However, I'm sorry to say this so quickly, but I have to say that his offer is very difficult to accept. That's because Yurtiaya herself is extremely wary of these kinds of offers.
Perhaps due to her small, animal-like personality, Yuritia has always had a knack for attracting the attention of strange men. Being timid and reserved, she's not good at fending off such types, and it's been more than a couple of times she's been nearly dragged into secluded places in town.
If she had to go through that kind of experience multiple times, it's only natural that she would become more wary of strangers. Inviting Yuritia to a party without knowing each other well is a fatal mistake.
As expected, Yurti's gaze as she looked at the boy had turned icy.
"W-wait a minute! I know my rank isn't very high yet, but I understand how to play in a party."
"...Are you planning to keep bothering me like that too? It's really annoying."
"Gahaha..."
Don't die, boy...! It's just a fatal wound...!
Sadly, the boy did nothing wrong. Even if there was a rank gap, how can you deny the desire to team up with someone you're interested in?
The boy should resent the scoundrels of the past who have repeatedly caused Yuritia unpleasant experiences.
"Hey Wolka, do you want some more? Let's buy another one and eat it together."
"Sorry, Master, just a moment."
Putting aside my master who hasn't returned from her little girl mode for a moment,
"Um... it's not your fault. This child has been bothered many times by persistent approaches."
"Ah...!"
I tried to help the boy, but for some reason he glared at me with eyes that looked like he was looking at me with hatred. Is this my fault?
The boy trembled,
"...You really do like that man, don't you?"
"Uh, ...yes."
"Wall car!"
"Mugu"
Just as Yuritia was about to answer, my master, who was sulking at being ignored, angrily shoved a candy apple into my mouth. What the hell are you doing all of a sudden!
"Forget that guy, talk to me! Come on, let's go buy another one!"
" "Ngan gaga gan gaga guuHey, we're in the middle of talking about this now.
"Th-that's important... um... ahh"
"Don't think you've won yet!"
And while I was distracted by my master, the boy ran off, leaving behind a textbook-like parting remark.
Between.
Well, it seems Yuritia... anyway, she managed to politely decline the boy's invitation. If he was going to invite someone who was already in a party, the boy must have expected to be turned down. Yet, he was so shocked that he ran away—so his feelings for Yuritia must be genuine.
"Huh? Looks like you've given up. Alright, senpai, let's go."
"...Mmmph"
Hang in there, young man. Right now, Yuritia only sees you as "Adventurer A." The only way to earn her recognition is to use your hands, not your words, and simply become stronger through sheer determination. Let your sword speak for itself.
"Yuritia"
"yes?"
"If you find someone you feel comfortable with... you can form a party with them. Don't worry about me."
"Hehe, Senpai. There's no way someone like that exists."
Did she really have to say it that bluntly? If the boy heard that, he'd probably collapse to his knees in tears. Hmm, I understand she's shy and reserved, but rejecting others to this extent is a bit concerning—
"--senior"
It came out of nowhere.
Right next to my ear. So close I could hear her breath. It was as if she was holding me in her small arms .degree・cormorant・death・Yo・cormorant・too・Na・Ku・Excellent・death・Ku・
"I, .figure・-・tt・and・beside・to・stomach・Ma・vinegar・mosquito・and others・
"Isn't that great, senpai?"
It's Yuritia as always. With her usual gentle voice, as lovely as ever, as full of compassion as ever, and as always—
"...Is that so...?"
"Yes!"
But for some reason, I felt an overwhelming chill down my spine, and I couldn't even turn around for a second.
Tips for Yuritia:
A girl as lovely as a flower. It's pretty much a given that girls like her will end up with some crazy mental breakdown. If anyone is going to start kidnapping someone, it'll probably be her.