Chapter 109.5 Eris SS - 'Sharpening Fangs'

Hey, so I've decided for this chapter to translate all instances of 研ぎ澄む and its forms as 'sharpen'. You can say it's like, making a person's mind sharper or keener, or whatever, but I'm using sharpen even if it sounds a bit funny to continue the metaphor of sharpening your fangs or sharpening yourself (metaphor is that you are a blade).

Also not sure if I should translate オーベール as Auber. Auber is a surname, but hmm... Both Auber and Corvette are French-origin, so I guess it's fine. Ah, also ty Zunko and the others for the QC-ing!

　間話「牙を砥ぐ」

Chapter 109.5 Side Story - 'Sharpening Fangs'

　剣の聖地。
　そこから北へ一時間ほど歩いた、名も無き岬。
　そこで一人の少女が素振りをしていた。
　剣神流の型でもなんでもない、ただの素振りである。
　少女の名を、エリス・グレイラットと言った。

The Holy Land of Swords. If from there, you walked north for about an hour, you'd arrive at a nameless peninsula. There stood a single girl doing practice swings. It was not one of the Sword God Style's forms, nor was it anything else; it was just practice swings. Her name was Eris Greyrat.

「…………」

　エリス・グレイラットは剣を振る。

　無心に剣を振る。
　誰もいない一人きりの空間で。

　無心に、ただ無心に。
　雑念の入った素振りは、意味のない素振りである。
　形をなぞっただけの素振りには、何の意味もない。

　雑念が入らない無心の剣であるなら、
　素振りを一振りする度に自分が研ぎ澄まされる。
　向こうがハッキリ透けて見えるほどの薄皮一枚程度の分だけ、研ぎ澄まされる。
　薄皮一枚分だけ、強くなる。

　それをどれだけ積み重ねればいいのか。
　どれだけ続ければ、オルステッドという高さに届くのか。
　エリスにはわからない。
　誰にもわからない。
　――あるいは、どれだけ自分を削りとっても、オルステッドには届かないのかもしれない。
　そう思う事こそが、雑念である。

"..."

Eris Greyrat was swinging her sword. She stood in a place with noone else around.

She did so single-mindedly, completely single-mindedly.※

Practice swings where you had unnecessary thoughts were useless practice swings.

Practice swings where you simply imitated someone else had no meaning at all.

As long as you continued to swing your sword single-mindedly, without a single other thought, with each swing you could sharpen yourself.

The amount you could improve by was a tiny amount, like a tiny layer of skin, completely transparent; even so, you could sharpen yourself.

Though it was just like a tiny leaf of skin; you would strengthen yourself.

But for how long would you have to pile these layers up?

How long would you need to continue this to reach Orsted's level of strength?

Eris didn't know.

Noone knew.

―――― It could have been that no matter how many of these layers you piled up, you would still never reach Orsted.

But it was exactly this idea that was an 'unnecessary thought'.


[※Note: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushin]

「……ちっ」

　エリスは舌打ちを一つ、頭を振り、座り込む。
　そして考える。

　面倒な事だ。
　オルステッドを倒したい。
　そう思えば思うほど、オルステッドから遠のく。

　かつて、エリスの師匠ギレーヌは言った。
　考えろ、と。

　しかし、エリスは考えるのが苦手だ。
　どれだけ頭を捻った所で、結論を導き出せないからだ。

　それに対し、二番目の師匠ルイジェルドはよかった。
　『わかったか』と聞いてきた。
　無言で叩きのめし、ただわかったか、と。
　エリスが分かるまで、繰り返し、繰り返し、何度も何度も。
　頭を使わなくても、同じ所に立てるように。

　ギレーヌは尊敬している。
　ルイジェルドも尊敬している。
　忌々しい事に剣神の教えは、尊敬する二人の良い所を内包していた。

　ただ無心で剣を振れ。
　無心で剣を振って、疲れたら座って休んで考えろ。
　考えるのに疲れたら、また立ち上がって剣を振れ。

　剣神は、それをエリスに命じた。
　エリスは言われるがまま、剣を振る。
　振って、座って、振って、座って。
　腹が減ったら、何かを食べた。
　また振って、座ってを繰り返した。
　最初は道場でやっていた。
　けれど、そうしていると誰かが邪魔をしにくる。

　邪魔をしてくるのは、大抵は同じ道場の女だった。
　やれ、朝の打ち合い稽古にあんたも参加しなさいだとか。
　やれ、飯が出来たから食べにきなさいだとか。
　やれ、ちょっと稽古に付き合ってだとか。
　やれ、臭いから風呂に入れだとか。

　そいつの事がうっとおしくなって、エリスは道場を出た。
　道場を出て、まっすぐ歩いて。
　誰もいない岬を見つけて、そこで素振りをした。
　飯は道場の台所から取ってきたものを食べるか、
　もしくはたまに襲い掛かってくる魔物を倒して食べた。
　寒い時は道場から薪を何本か持ってきて、それを魔術で燃やした。
　眠くなったら道場に帰って好きなだけ眠った。

　そんな生活を、エリスはもう半年続けている。

　振って、考えて、振って、考えて。
　一つ、エリスにもわかった事がある。
　剣を振るというのは、難しい事だった。

　小さな頃は、勉強なんかよりずっと簡単で自分に向いていると思っていた。
　その考えは今でもそう変わっていない。
　自分には勉強より、剣を振る方が性に合っている。

　けれど、少なくとも簡単ではなかった。
　思えば、人に教えられる分だけ、勉強の方が簡単なのかもしれない。

　ただ、振り上げて、振り下ろす。
　それだけの事がどうしてもうまくならない。
　もっと速く振り上げられるはず。
　もっと速く振り下ろせるはず。
　そう思いながら剣を振る。

　半年前の自分よりは、きっと速くなった。
　でも、ギレーヌはもっと速い。
　ルイジェルドはもっと速い。
　剣神はもっと速い。
　そして、オルステッドはもっともっと速い。

　エリスは座る。
　考える。
　剣を振る方法を考える。
　剣神やルイジェルドやオルステッドの姿を思い出して。

　剣神はどう動いていたか。
　ルイジェルドは、そしてオルステッドは。

　彼らの指先から、肩までの全ての細胞の動きを模倣するように。
　そして、模倣からさらに先を目指す。
　超越するのだ。

　しかしその方法はわからない。
　わからない。
　わかるはずもない。
　エリスは考えるのが苦手なのだ。

　考え疲れたら、また立ち上がって剣を振った。
　何も考えずに剣を振った。

　振り上げて、振り下ろす。
　もっと速く。
　振り上げて、振り下ろす。
　もっと速く。

　何十回も、何百回も、何千回も繰り返す。
　すると、また雑念が交じる。
　雑念が交じるのは、疲れた時だ。

"...Tsk."

Eris clicked her tongue, shook her head, and then sat down. Then she began to think.

It was something troublesome. She wanted to defeat Orsted. The more she thought this, the further away Orsted became.

In the past, Eris' shishou, Ghislaine, had said this;

'Think'

she had said.

However, Eris was bad at thinking. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't come to an answer after all.

In light of this, her second shishou, Ruijeld, was a godsend. 『Get it?』 he would ask. Beating Eris down, and then asking only 'Get it?'. Until Eris understood, they'd repeat it, and repeat it, again, and again. Even when her head no longer worked, she'd stand up on the spot and repeat it.

Eris respected Ghislaine. She respected Ruijeld as well. Because the Sword God's lessons were irritating, she came to understand the good parts of the two that she respected.

She continued to swing single-mindedly. She'd swing her sword until she was tired, and then she'd sit down and rest whilst thinking. Then when she was tired of thinking, she'd stand up and continue to swing her sword.

This was what the Sword God had ordered of Eris. Eris swung her sword as she was told. She'd swing, she'd sit, she'd swing, she'd sit. When she grew hungry, she would eat something. She'd then swing again, sit again, and continue to repeat this. At first she did so in the dojo. However, someone or other would always interrupt.

The ones who interrupted were mostly other women in the dojo.

'Hey, you join in on our morning sword rallies as well.' for example.

'Hey, the food is done so come eat.' for example.

'Hey, come practice with me for a little.' for example.

'Hey, you smell so go have a bath.' for example.

Because it got irritating, Eris left the dojo. After leaving the dojo, she walked straight forward. She found a peninsula with noone else around, and there she did her practice swings. For food she would eat what she brought from the dojo's kitchen, or she would kill and eat monsters that attacked her. Because it was winter she brought a number of firewood pieces from the dojo and she'd light them up with magic. When she became tired she'd return to the dojo and slept as much as she wanted.

Eris had already continued such a lifestyle for half a year.

She'd swing, she'd think, she'd swing, she'd think. There was one thing that Eris had come to realise as well: swinging a sword was difficult.

When she was small she had thought that it was a lot easier than studying, and that she was a lot more suited for it. That thought hadn't changed even now. She was more suited for swinging a sword than studying.

However, at the very least it wasn't easy. Thinking about it, since it was just learning things that others taught you, studying might be easier.

Just raising her sword, and swinging downwards. Though it was just that much, she couldn't become good at it no matter what. That she should be raising her sword faster. That she should be swinging down faster. Thinking these two thoughts, she'd swing her sword.

She had become a lot faster than she was half a year ago. However, Ghislaine was even faster. Ruijeld was even faster. The Sword God was even faster. And Orsted was much, much faster.

Eris sat down. She began to think. She began to think about how to swing her sword. She recalled the Sword God, Ruijeld, and Orsted's figures.

How was it that the Sword God moved? How did Ruijeld, and Orsted?

She would try to imitate them, imitate their every cell from their fingertips to their shoulders. Then, whilst aiming for even greater heights, she'd imitate them. She wanted to transcend them.

However, she didn't know how to do so. She didn't know. There was no way she could know. Eris was bad at thinking.

Once she got tired of thinking, she'd stand up and continue swinging her sword. Without thinking a thought, she'd swing her sword.

-Raise it up, swing it down.-

'It has to be faster.'

-Raise it up, swing it down.-

'It has to be faster.'

Tens of times, hundreds of times, thousands of times, she'd repeat this. When she did, worldly thoughts would interrupted her. This happened was when she was tired.

「……ちっ」

　舌打ちを一つ、エリスは座る。
　手が痛い。豆が潰れていた。
　懐から布を取り出し、無造作に巻いた。

　エリスは辛いとは思わない。
　三年前、赤竜の下顎での事はいつだって思い出せる。
　あれに比べれば、なんでも耐えられる気がした。
　だから辛くはない。
　痛みも、辛さも、もどかしさも。
　そして今、一人でいることも、傍に彼がいない事も。

"...Tsk."

Clicking her tongue, Eris sat down. Her hand hurt. Her mind wasn't working properly. She produced a cloth from her chest and carelessly wrapped it.

Eris didn't think that this was tough. She would always recall that incident three years ago, and the Lower Mouth of the Red Dragon. When she compared it to that, she felt like she could endure anything else. That's why this wasn't tough. Whether it was the pain, the harshness, or the frustration, it wasn't tough. Even if it was the fact that she was now alone, or that he wasn't by her side, it wasn't tough.

「ルーデウス……」

　ぽつりとつぶやく。
　ただし、それ以上は考えない。
　エリスは考えるのが苦手だからだ。
　彼女は決して、楽観的な考えだけをできるわけではない。
　深く考えてしまえば、自分が「折れる」であろう事を理解していた。

"Rudeus..." she muttered.

However, she didn't think about anything further. Eris was bad at thinking after all. It wasn't as though she was someone who could only think optimistic thoughts; she understood that if she thought about it more deeply, she would break.

「ふぅー……」

　３年。
　強くなったと思うが、まだまだだ。

　エリスはまた立ち上がり、剣を振りはじめた。

"Phew..."

3 years.

Though she thought that she had gotten stronger, there was still a long way to go.

Eris stood up again and started swinging her sword again.


---


　エリスが眠気を抑えて帰ってきた時、
　道場の入り口に見慣れぬ男が立っていた。

　奇抜な男であった。
　虹色の上着に、膝までしかない下履き、腰には四本の剣。
　頬には孔雀の刺青があり、髪型はパラボラアンテナのように開いていた。

　彼はエリスを見つけると、頭を少し下げて、挨拶をしようとした。

Fighting off the urge to sleep, Eris returned to the dojo. When she did, she found an unfamiliar man standing at the entrance of the dojo.

He was an eccentric man. He was wearing a rainbow-coloured coat, shorts that barely reached his knees, and four swords at his hip. He had a peacock tattoo on his cheek and his hair was styled in the shape of a dish antenna.

When he spotted Eris, he lowered his head a little and gave his greetings.

「某は北……」
「どきなさい」

　エリスは、道場に入るのに邪魔な位置にいるその男に、ただ一言。
　それ以上の事を言う気力は無かった。

　エリスは素振りによって限界まで研ぎ澄まされていた。
　野獣のようなギラついた眼光。
　全身からほとばしる、照り付くような殺気。
　何者を寄せ付けぬ野生の生き物がそこにいた。

"I am the North-"※

"Move it."

Eris spoke only one line to the man who was stopping her from entering the donut. She didn't have the energy to speak further.

Because of the practice swings, Eris had been sharpened to her limit. The glint in her eyes was like that of a beast. Killing intent welled out from her whole body, like a glow. There stood a wild beast that would allow noone to near her.

[※Note: He uses soregashi as a personal pronoun, which is apparently samurai-ish.]

「……っ！」

　男は咄嗟に剣を抜いた。

"...!"

The man immediately drew his sword.

「邪魔よ、どきなさい」

　エリスは一歩進んでそう言った。
　彼女にとって、目の前の男は邪魔でしか無かった。
　自分のねぐらのある場所までの最短距離に立つ、邪魔な石コロだった。

"You're in the way; move it."

Eris spoke as she took a step forward. Eris could recognise the man before her as nothing but a hindrance; a rock that stood in the way of the shortest place to her sleeping place.

「な、なんだ、こいつは……」

　男は最初、エリスが言葉を発している事がわからなかった。
　目の前にいるのは、飢えた獣である。
　獣が空腹で獲物を探している所に、運悪く遭遇した。
　己の経験から、そう判断した。

　獣が言葉を発するとは、思えなかったのだ。
　しかし数秒、エリスが剣を構えたのを見てようやく彼女の正体を察した。
　彼女はどうやら人間で、そして剣士であるらしい。

"Wh-, what's with this woman...?"

At the time man hadn't realised that Eris was speaking. A starving beast was before his eyes. While the hungry beast was out searching for prey, he had unfortunately come across it. That was the conclusion he had reached based on his experiences.

He hadn't thought that a beast would speak. However, after a few seconds Eris prepared her sword, and only then did he finally realise her true nature. It seemed that she was human, and a swordswoman.

「某は『孔雀剣』のオーベールと申す。剣神流の門弟とお見受けする、どうか剣神様にお取次ぎをお願いしたく……」
「どけと、言っているのよ」

　イライラしながら、さらに一歩、エリスは歩を勧めた。
　彼女は「どけ」と言っている。
　しかし、オーベールと名乗る男には、その言葉は届かない。
　ただ殺気だけが届いていた。

　問答無用。
　男の脳裏に浮かんだのはそんな言葉である。
　恐らく、次の一歩で彼女の間合いに入る。
　それを察知し、オーベールは右手で剣を握りしめ、左手を腰の小剣の柄頭へと移動させた。
　しかし、その持ち手は普段とは逆であった。
　刃のついていない、剣の背を向けている。

　間合いに入った。
　エリスは、その瞬間目の前の石をどけようと判断した。

"I am 『Peacock Sword』 Auber. 'I am here to meet the disciple of the Sword God Style.' Could you please convey this to Sword God-sam-..."

"I told you to move."

While irritated, Eris advanced another step. "Move." she said. However, that line didn't reach the man named Auber. All that reached him was her bloodlust.

Speaking to her was useless. This idea floated through this man's mind. It was likely that after her next step, he would be in her range.※ Realising this, Auber's right hand grasped his sword tightly, whilst his left hand moved to the smallsword at his waist. However, the swords he held were pointed the wrong way; the side that faced Eris was the back of the blade.

He was now in her range. In that instant, Eris decided to move the rock in front of her.

[※Note: maai, if you practice martial arts]

「シッ！」

　エリスの剣が走った。
　素振りによって限界まで研ぎ澄まされた『光の太刀』。
　並の者では、防御する事もままならない、剣神流の必殺剣。

"Shh!" <- what's a battle sound that sounds like this, except not stupid?

Eris' blade flew. It was the 『Longsword of Light』 that had been sharpened to the limit because of her practice swings. It was a technique that the average person could do nothing against: the Sword God Style's certain kill technique.

「フッ！」

　並の者では。
　オーベールは両手にそれぞれ剣を握り、それを受け流した。
　エリスはそれを敏感に察知し、返す刀を振るう。

"Fhh-!"

But that was only for the average person. Orbel swung the swords in his hands and parried it. Sensing this, Eris moved for a return swing.

「っ……！」

　エリスの剣はオーベールの左剣によって押さえられた。
　オーベールは片手、対するエリスは両手持ちをしている。
　力は拮抗しない。
　エリスの剣はいとも簡単に振りぬかれる。
　しかし流される。
　男のパラボナアンテナ髪の端を切り裂くにとどまった。
　エリスの体は流れ、軸足が一歩、たたらを踏む。

　瞬間。
　オーベールの右剣が動いた。
　エリスの首目掛けて、凄まじい速度で。

"...!"

Eris' sword was checked by the sword in Auber's left hand. Auber was dual-wielding, whereas Eris was using a two-handed grip. The power of their strikes couldn't be compared. Eris simply swung. However, she was parried. Her sword stopped near the man's dish-antenna hairdo. Eris was parried and because of that she stumbled forward.

In that instant, Auber's right sword moved. It was aimed at Eris' neck and moving at a terrifying speed.

「ちっ！」

　エリスは剣を手放し、しゃがみ込むように地面へと転がった。
　オーベールの剣はエリスの首のあった空間を薙いだ。

　エリスは猫のように体を反転させる。
　目指すは己の剣である。
　オーベールは即座にエリスの剣を蹴り飛ばした。
　剣は雪の中へと埋まった。

　勝負あり、であろう。
　普通なら。

　しかしエリスは止まらない。
　剣が無理と見るや、無手のままオーベールに飛びかかった。

　オーベールはとっさに剣の腹でエリスの横っ面を思い切りひっぱたいた。
　頸の骨がねじ切れるほどの衝撃。
　エリスの頬に一筋の傷が残る。
　しかし。
　しかしエリスは止まらない。

"Tsk!"

Eris let go of her sword and fell to the ground in a squat. Auber's sword cut through the space where Eris' neck had been.

Like a cat, Eris rolled her body. She was aiming for her sword. Auber immediately kicked it away. It was buried in the snow.

It would've been his victory. Normally, that is.

However, Eris didn't stop. Seeing that she couldn't attack with a sword, she leapt at Aurber barehanded.

Auber immediately slapped Eris away with the flat of his blade. It was a strong enough impact to break the bones in one's neck.

However.

However, Eris wouldn't stop.

「ガアァァァ！」

　エリスはオーベールの顎先めがけて拳を振りぬく。
　オーベールはそれを、剣を持ったままの左手で受け止めようとする。

"Gahhhhh!"

Eris swung her fist at the chip of Auber's chin. Still grasping his swords, Auber moved his left arm to stop it.

「むぅっ！」

　オーベールの左手にエリスの手が絡みついた。
　剣柄に指が掛かる。
　剣を奪おうというのだ。

　オーベールの背筋に寒気が走った。
　この獣は殺さなければ止まらないと悟った。
　まとわりつく女を乱暴に蹴り飛ばす。
　今まで逆に持っていた剣を持ち直した。

　エリスが蹴り飛ばされた場所には、運よく彼女の剣があった。
　荒い息をつきながら、彼女は剣を拾い上げた。
　殺すしかない。
　オーベールが本気で構え、殺気を放った時。

"Mu-!"

Auber's right hand was caught by Eris. Her fingers arrived at the sword pommel. She was trying to take his sword.

A chill ran down Auber's spine. He realised that this beast couldn't be stopped unless he killed her. He kicked away the woman who was holding him and righted the swords that he had been holding backwards until now.

By luck, Eris had been kicked to where her sword was. Her breathing wild, she picked up her sword. There was no choice but to kill her. The moment Aubel readied his sword and seriously meant to kill,

"That's enough."

suddenly, a voice rang out. The bloodlust stilled. Eris as well received that killing intent and stopped her movements.

「そこまでだ」

　唐突に声が駆られた。
　殺気が静止する。
　エリスもまた、その殺気を受けて動きを止めていた。

　道場への入り口。
　いつしか、剣神が立っていた。
　オーベールは剣を収め、エリスは仰向けにバタリと倒れた。
　荒い息をついて空を見上げる。
　その顔は悔しさで歪んでいた。

　オーベールは右手を胸にあて、頭を下げた。

At some point, the Sword God had been standing at the entrance of the dojo. Auber sheathed his sword, and Eris collapsed onto her back with a flop. Breathing wildly, she looked up at the sky. Her face was warped into an expression of frustration.

Auber placed his right hand to his chest and bowed.

「お久しぶりです、剣神様」
「よくきたな、『北帝』」
「お手紙を拝見いたしまして……そうしたらあの子が」
「おう、すげぇだろ？」
「……これほどまで苛烈な剣士は、初めて見申した。まるで獣のような……ああ、これが例の狂犬と呼ばれている子ですか」

　オーベールと剣神の会話を聞きつつ、エリスが立ち上がる。
　幽鬼のようによろよろと。
　その姿を見て、オーベールが剣を構える。

"It has been a while, Sword God-sama."

"You've come, 『North Emperor』."

"I saw your letter and... And then that girl..."

"Yeah, amazin' right?"

"It's my first time meeting such a serious swordsman. She was like a beast... Ahh, is this the Mad Dog that you mentioned?"

Whilst Auber chatted with the Sword God, Eris stood up, swaying like a ghost. Seeing that figure, Auber readied his sword.



「……」

　エリスはギロリとオーベールをひと睨みし、道場へと入っていった。

"..."

Eris glared at Auber and made to enter the dojo.

「……」

　エリスはあっけにとられるオーベールに振り返る事なく、建物へと入っていく。
　頬の傷を拭いながら、雪を落とすことなく廊下を歩き自室へと入る。
　そして、剣を枕元に放り投げると、固いベッドへと倒れこんだ。
　そのまま、泥のように眠った。

　敗北に悔しさはあった。
　だが、今のエリスにとっては、些細な事であった。

"..."

Without even sparing a backwards glance to the dumbfounded Auber, Eris entered the building. Whilst wiping the gash on her cheek, without even shaking off the snow, she walked down the corridor and entered her room. She then tossed her sword near her pillow and collapsed onto her hard bed. Like that, she slept like a log.

She was bitter about her loss. However, right now that was a trivial matter to Eris.


---


　その日の夕方。
　ギレーヌは当座の間に訪れた。

　そこには、剣神ガル・ファリオンと、
　客人である『北帝オーベール』が座していた。

　奇抜な頭髪に、珍妙な衣装。
　やや眉をひそめたギレーヌ。
　しかし、彼女はそれを気に留める素振りを見せず、ズカズカと剣神の所まで歩いた。
　そして、単刀直入に聞く。

That evening, Ghislaine arrived at the audience room.

There sat the Sword God Gal Farion and a guest, 『North Emperor Auber』.

He had an eccentric hairstyle and odd clothing. Ghislaine was frowning a little. However, she didn't pay it any heed and rudely entered. She then immediately got to the point.

「師匠、なぜエリスに何も教えない」

　剣神はその言葉を聞き、ヘッと笑った。

"Shishou, why aren't you teaching Eris?"

Hearing that, the Sword God gave a short laugh.

「教えたじゃねえか」
「素振りの仕方をか？」
「違う、鍛錬の仕方をだ」

　剣神はただ当然とばかりに答えた。
　その声音には、普段の荒々しさが微塵もなかった。
　静かな答えである。
　ギレーヌはそんな師匠が気に食わない。
　なので、足りない頭を絞り、言葉を選ぶ。

"I am teaching her, aren't I?"

"How to do practice swings?"

"No, how to forge herself."

The Sword God answered as if natural. His voice had none of the usual　wildness. It was a calm reply. Ghislaine couldn't stomach such an attitude. That's why she racked her dull mind and chose her words.

「師匠はいつも言っていたはずだ。全てを合理的にやれ、と」
「言ったな」
「エリスのあれはなんだ、毎日馬鹿みたいに一つ覚えに素振りをして、どこが合理的なんだ」
「あぁ……？」

　剣神は、めんどくさそうにギレーヌを見た。

"This is something that Shishou always says. 'Do everything rationally', you say."

"I did say that."

"Eris spends everyday doing sword swings like an idiot; just what part of that is rational?"

"Hah...?"

The Sword God looked at Ghislaine like she was a nuisance.

「お前、いつからそんなめんどくせぇ事を言うようになったんだ？」
「ここに戻ってくる前からだ！」
「……もう、師匠のいうことは聞けねえってのか？」
「しかし……うっ！」

　ギレーヌは、いつしか剣を突きつけられていた。
　常人であれば、剣神の手に唐突に剣が出現したように見えただろう。
　ギレーヌには、その抜刀のモーションは見えた。
　だが、反応は出来なかった。
　当代最速の男を前には、いかに剣王といえど、まともな反応は出来ないのだ。

"When did you start to talk about annoying things like this?"

"Before I returned here!"

"...Will you no longer listen to what your Shishou says?"

"However... Uh!"

Before Ghislaine had noticed, a sword was pointed at her. To an ordinary person it would've looked like the sword had suddenly appeared. Ghislaine had seen the movement of the sword. However, she hadn't been able to respond. Even if she was a Sword King, in the face of the man who was this generation's fastest, she wasn't skilled enough to react properly.

「ギレーヌ。俺様はな、お前の教育に少しだけ、後悔してんだ」
「……」
「あの飢えた虎みてえだったギレーヌが、牙の抜けた子猫ちゃんになっちまった。
　あのままでいきゃあ、お前も今頃は剣帝だったのによぉ」

　剣神の言葉に、ギレーヌはごくりとつばを飲み込む。
　最近、ギレーヌは己が弱くなったのを感じていた。

　だが、彼女は今の自分を悪いと思っていない。
　確かに、自分の剣の成長は止まった。
　これ以上、強くなれそうもない。
　だが、そのかわりに、大きなものを得た。
　知恵や知識だ。
　剣術では、決して得られないものだ。

"Ghislaine. You know, I kinda regret teaching you a little."※

"..."

"That old Ghislaine who was like a hungry tiger lost her fangs and turned into a little kitten. Even though had you stayed as you were, you'd be a Sword Emperor by now."

Ghislaine gulped at the Sword God's words. Lately, Ghislaine herself had sensed that she had become weaker.

However, it wasn't something that she had thought of as a bad thing. Indeed, her growth as a swordsman had stopped. She wouldn't become any stronger than this. However, in exchange she had gained something great: they were wisdom and knowledge. They were things that she would never gain from swordsmanship.

[※Note: Noting again that the Sword God refers to himself as ore-sama]

「俺様は、もう牙は抜かねえ」

　剣神は剣を収めた。
　これでわかるだろう、といわんばかりに。
　しかし、ギレーヌはムッとしつつ、言う。

"I won't pull out anymore fangs."

The Sword God was dedicated to the sword. He expected Ghislaine to understand with just that. However, Ghislaine irritatedly asked,

"I don't understand. Why aren't you training her? Isn't Eris pitiful like this?"

The Sword God sighed. He sighed like Ghislaine was a child who wouldn't understand unless you spelled it out from A to Z for her.

「意味がわからん。
　なぜ、稽古をつけてやらんのだ。
　あれではエリスが可哀想ではないか」

　剣神はため息をついた。
　ギレーヌは一から十まで説明しなければわからない子供だった、と。

「いいかギレーヌ。
　俺様を越えたきゃ、合理を突き詰めていけば、いずれ越えられる。
　俺様自身が、合理を突き詰めた結果だからな。
　まあ、もちろん剣神になりたけりゃ、相応の努力やら才能やらも必要だが、まぁそれはいい。
　あいつが目指しているのは、龍神だ。
　龍神オルステッドだ。
　奴は『合理の外にいる存在』だ。
　桁違いの化け物だ。
　俺様の教えだけじゃ、絶対に勝てない」

　剣神は、懐かしそうに目を細めた。
　彼は実際に龍神と戦った事があった。
　まだ剣神と呼ばれる前、一人の鼻っ柱の強い剣聖だった頃の話である。
　結果はボロ負けで、なぜ命を奪われなかったのか、それどころか、なぜ五体満足だったのかすら、わからないレベルだ。
　鼻っ柱を叩き折られた彼は、それからオルステッドを目指して、ずっと鍛えてきた。
　その結果、剣神になった。
　だからこそ、この一件については、他に口を挟まれたくないと考えていた。

"Listen up, Ghislaine. If you just wanted to surpass me, then following rational methods to the end, you could surpass me one day. I myself ended up where I am by following rational methods, after all. Well, of course to become a Sword God you'd need effort and talent as well, but let's leave that aside. What that girl is aiming for is the Dragon God. The Dragon God Orsted. He's 『an existence beyond rationality』. HE's a monster in a completely different league. With only my teachings, you'll never defeat him."

The Sword God narrowed his eyes as if recalling something nostalgic. He himself had actually fought with Orsted once. It was before he had become a Sword God, back when he was still a stubborn Sword Saint. Though it had been a complete loss, for some reason his life wasn't taken; on the contrary, he didn't even know why he was left without even a limb missing. His stubbornness had been completely broken, and after that he continued to train with Orsted as his goal. The result of that was his ascension to Sword God. It was exactly because of this that he didn't feel like being interrupted further on this topic.

「なぁ、ギレーヌ。修行ってのは、お稽古じゃないんだぜ？
　まして目標があるなら、人のいうことハイハイ聞いたって意味はねえ。だろ？」
「……師匠は、いつも難しい事をいう。あたしにはわからない」
「ハッ」

　ギレーヌは答え。
　剣神は鼻で笑った。
　そうだ、こいつは一から十まで丁寧に説明してもわからない奴だった、と。

"Hey, Ghislaine. Training isn't practice, yanno? Even more so if you have a goal. There's no point if you just blindly accept what someone else tells you. Right?"

"...Shishou always speaks of difficult things. I don't understand."

"Hah!"

Ghislain replied. The Sword God snorted.

'That's right. She's an idiot who won't understand even if you carefully spell it out from A to Z.'

「ま、要するに俺に教えてもらうだけじゃだめだってことだ。
　そのために、色々用意してやんのさ。手始めに、こいつだ」

　そう言って、剣神はオーベールを指した。
　オーベールはギレーヌに、顎を引いて挨拶をする。

"Well, the point is that she's not just gunna be taking lessons from me. For that purpose, I've prepared various things. To start with, this guy."

Saying this, the Sword God pointed at Auber. Auber gave a small nod and greeted her.

「某の名は北帝オーベール・コルベット。巷では『孔雀剣』と呼ばれている」

　ギレーヌは顔をしかめた。
　オーベールの体から、言い得ぬ刺激臭がしていたからだ。
　柑橘系の強い臭い。恐らくは香水であろう。
　獣族であるギレーヌにとって、不快な匂いである。

"I am the North Emperor, Auber Corvette. I'm known as 『Peacock Sword』."

Ghislaine frowned. It was because an indescribable odour was coming from Auber's body. It was a strong, citrusy smell. It was probably a perfume. To a member of the Beast Race like Ghislaine, it was an unpleasant smell.

「北神流が何の用だ？」
「剣神様より頼まれ申した。弟子の一人に稽古をつけてほしい、と」

　ギレーヌは更に訝しげな表情を作った。
　そして、剣神に問いかける。

"What business does the North God Style have here?"

"I've been called here by Sword God-sama. He wanted me to train one of his students, he said."

Ghislaine made an even more doubtful expression. She then questioned the Sword God.

「なぜ北神流を？　エリスには、こいつらのような姑息な手は似合わんはずだ」
「龍神が使ってくるからだ」

　その言葉に、ギレーヌの表情は訝しさを深めた。
　龍神が北神流の剣士という話は、聞いたことがなかった。
　もし彼が北神流の剣士であるなら、列強二位は北神であろう。

"Why the North God Style? Eris isn't suitable for their kind of makeshift style."

"Because of the Dragon God uses it."

The doubt on Ghislaine's face deepened. She had never heard that the Dragon God used the North God Style. If he were a North God Style, then the Second Place was likely the North God.

「龍神とは、一体何者なのだ？」
「知るかよ……。
　ただな、あいつは、いわゆる剣神流とか、北神流とか。
　そういう流派の定石みてーなものは全て網羅している。
　当然、使っても対処されるし、向こうも使ってくる。
　なら、こっちも覚えとかなきゃ、互角には戦えねえ」

　ギレーヌの顔から険しさがとれた。
　相手が使ってくる技を覚える。
　実に合理的な結論だったからである。

"Just what kind of person is the Dragon God?"

"Like I'd know... But that guy, whether it's the Sword God Style, or the North God style, what he uses incorporates all of that. Of course if you can use it, then you can deal with it, and that guy uses it. In that case if we don't learn to use it too, we won't be able to fight evenly against him."

The grimness on Ghislaine's face disappeared. After all, learning to use the techniques that the enemy used was an extremely rational approach.

「なるほど、ではいずれ、水神流も呼ぶのか？」
「ああ、手紙は送ってある」
「そうか」

　ギレーヌの尻尾がゆらゆらと機嫌良さそうに揺れる。
　剣神はそれを見て、「へっ」と苦笑した。
　自分のわかりやすい答えがあれば納得する。
　そのへんは、昔から何も変わっていなかった。

"I see, so in the future you'll call for the Water God Style as well?"

"Yeah, I'll send a letter."

"I see."

Ghislaine's tail started swaying in a good mood. Seeing that, the Sword God chuckled bitterly. As long as it was a reply she could easily understand, she would consent. In this respect, she hadn't changed at all since the past.

「では、北帝殿、ごゆるりと滞在なされるよう」

　ギレーヌは己の疑問が氷解したため、立ち上がり、北帝に挨拶をした。
　片膝をついた、剣神流に伝わる独特な作法で。

"Well then, North Emperor-dono, please stay at your leisure."

Because her doubts had cleared, Ghislaine had stood up and greeted the North God. She got down on one knee and performed the particular etiquette passed down in the Sword God Style.

「うむ、剣王殿。お世話になり申す」

　オーベールもまた、胸に手を当てて返礼する。
　こうして、エリスの修行がまた一段階進んだ。

"Mmn, Sword King-dono. I'll be in your care."

Auber once again placed a hand to his chest and returned the greeting. And so like that, Eris would begin her training from the beginning again.


---


　エリスが『北聖』の認可を受けるのは、一年後の事である。

The time when Eris became a 『North Saint』 was a year from then.