Chapter 80.5 - Side Story 'Enter the Mad Dog'

　間話「燃えよ狂犬」

Chapter 80.5 - Side Story 'Enter the Mad Dog'※

[※Note: Strictly speaking it's 'Burn(emotionally)[a command; telling her to burn], Mad Dog' but Enter the Dragon was released in Japan as 'Burn, DRAGON' so I felt like going with it. Honestly, she really does 'enter'.]

　剣の聖地。
　ただそう呼ばれる土地がある。
　年中ずっと雪に覆われた、過酷な大地。
The Holy Land of Swords. It had no other name. A harsh land that was covered in snow all year round.

　初代剣神が流派を起こし、晩年には弟子たちに剣を教えた場所。
　剣士たちにとって行き着く場所であり、そして出発の場所。
　剣士であるなら、誰もが一度は訪れるべき場所。
　それが剣の聖地だ。

そんな剣の聖地には、将来有望な剣士の卵が集められる。
　齢十代にして剣の才能を見初められた者達。
　若き天才たち。

　現在の剣の聖地には、突出した才能を持つ三人の天才剣士がいた。
まず、剣神の長女。
　ニナ・ファリオン
　現在１８歳であるが、16にしてすでに並ぶ者のない才を持つと言われた剣聖。
　２０歳になる頃には剣王と呼ばれ、２５歳になる前に剣帝になるであろうことは間違いないと言われている。
　一番の有望株だ。

ニナの従兄弟。
　ジノ・ブリッツ。
　剣神流の宗主たるファリオン家の分家であるブリッツ家の次男。
　現在１４歳。
　１２歳にして剣聖の称号を受けた、最年少の剣聖。
　未だニナには一歩及ばぬものの、将来はどうなるかわからぬと言われる天才剣士。

　そして、エリス・グレイラット。
　現在１７歳。
　彼女は見る者全てを怯えさせ、
　噛み付く者は容赦なくぶちのめす狂犬。
　二年前、剣王ギレーヌの弟子としてやってきた彼女は、
　己の所業に一切の妥協を許していなかった。
　毎日決死の修行に挑み、体をイジメにイジメぬいている。

 彼女の剣の聖地のデビューは鮮烈であった。
　数年が経過した今でも、なお語り草になるほどに。

In his final years, the first generation Sword God built a school here to teach disciples the sword. To swordsmen it was a place they would end up at, and then eventually leave. As long as you were a swordsman, no matter who you were, it was somewhere you should visit at least once. That was the Holy Land of Swords.

Gathered at this Holy Land of Swords were young swordsmen in the making, all with promising futures. Though they were teens, they had talent in the sword that you could see at a glance. They were young geniuses.

At the Holy Land of Swords, there were three swordsmen who had outstanding talent.

The first was the eldest daughter of the Sword God. Nina Farion. Though she was now 18 years old, by the time she had reached 16 she had already been regarded as a Sword Saint with talent. People would say that she'd be a Sword King around the time she turned 20, and by 25, she would undoubtedly be a Sword Emperor. The people around her felt that she was the most promising one.

Nina's cousin. Jino Britts. He was the second son of the Britts family; a branch family to the Sword God Style's main house, the Farion family. He was now 14. As someone who received the title Sword Saint  at 12 years of age, he was the youngest Sword Saint. He was such a genius that though he was now a step behind Nina, people didn't know if this would stay the same in the future.

Finally, Eris Greyrat. She was now 17 years old. She was a mad dog who frightened everyone who saw her, and those who bit her would be mercilessly beaten down. She who had come along two years ago as Sword King Ghislaine's disciple would never compromise when it came to her actions. Each day she would tackle her training with a do-or-die attitude, and she'd abuse her body until it surpassed that abuse.

Her debut at the Holy Land of Sword was striking. It was vivid enough that even now, several years later, it was still a topic of conversation.

--　約二年前　--
-- Approximately 2 years ago --

　剣の聖地・当座の間にて。
　エリスはギレーヌに連れられ、剣神の前に姿を表した。
　周囲を囲むのは、剣聖以上の称号を持つ、剣神流の高弟たち。
　その中には、ニナとジノの姿もあった。

　エリスは剣神を前にしても、
　膝をつくことも、頭を下げる事もなかった。

The location was the Holy Land of Swords. Brought here by Ghislaine, Eris showed herself before the Sword God. The ones encircling them were the best pupils of the Sword God Style, not one of them below Sword Saint. Among them were Nina and Jino.

Though Eris was before the Sword God, she neither got down on one knee, nor lowered her head.

「あなたのようなザコには用は無いわ！」

　こともあろうに、現代最強の剣士たる剣神ガル・ファリオンに向かって、そう言い放ったのだ。
　周囲の剣聖たちは、色めきだった。

"I have no use for a small fry like you!"

Of all things, she declared this to the one who was presently the strongest swordsman, Sword God Gull Farion. The Sword Saints around her became riled up.

「なっ！　貴様、師匠に向かって！」
「膝をつけ！　剣神流の作法を知らんのか！」
「ギレーヌ殿は何を教えたのか！」

「座れ」

　剣神の一声で、剣聖たちは押し黙った。

　この若くも傲慢な犬は剣神の手によって斬られる。
　誰もがそう思っていた。
　剣神ガル・ファリオンに傲慢な言葉を吐き、生きてここを出た者などいない。
　あの傲岸不遜なギレーヌですら、耳と尻尾をピンと立てるほどの暴言。

　しかし、剣神はニヤニヤと笑うだけであった。
　笑いながら、問うた。

"Wha-! YOU, to Shishou-!"

"Kneel down! Do you know nothing of the Sword God Style's manners!?"

"What have you been teaching her, Ghislaine-dono!?"



"Sit."

With just one word, the Sword God silenced the Sword Saints.

That this young and arrogant dog would be cut down by the Sword God's hands; everyone there thought that. Noone who had said such arrogant words to the Sword God had left here alive. They were reckless enough words that even the arrogant Ghislaine's tails and ears were standing straight up.

However, the Sword God merely grinned. While smiling, he asked,

"You have good eyes, huh. Just who is it that you want to cut down?"

「いい目ぇしてやがんな。一体、誰を斬りてえんだ？」

　誰を斬りたいのか。
　そう聞かれ、エリスはハッキリと答えた。

Who was it that she wanted to cut down? Having been asked that, Eris replied frankly.

「龍神よ、龍神オルステッド！」

"The Dragon God! The Dragon God Orsted!"

　誰もが、龍神という名に聞き覚えはあった。
　だが、オルステッドという名前を知りはしない。
　この場でその名を知るものは、エリスと、そしてもう一人。

Everyone here had heard the name 'Dragon God'. However, they didn't know the name 'Orsted'. The people there that knew the name were limited to Eris and one other.

「ハァッハッハッハー！　なるほど、確かにオルステッドに比べりゃあ、俺様はザコだ！
　そうかそうか、あいつを斬りたいか！
　俺様以外にも、あいつを斬りたいと思うやつがいたか！」

"Haahhahaaa! I see, if you compare me to Orsted then I'm certainly a small fry! I see, I see, so it's him that you want to cut down! So there was someone besides me who wanted to cut him down!

The Sword God energetically slapped his knee while cheerfully laughing. Everythere gulped at the strange scene. That Sword God was laughing. Arrogant words were thrown at him, he was called a small fry, but he was laughing. It was something impossible.

However, only the Sword God knew. To plan on killing Dragon God Orsted. It meant, in other words, to aim to become the strongest.

　剣神はバシバシと膝を叩いて快活に笑った。
　その場にいる誰もが、その不気味な光景に唾を飲んだ。
　あの剣神が笑っている。
　傲慢な言葉を受け、ザコと挑発され、なお笑っている。
　ありえない事だ。

　だが、剣神だけは知っている。
　龍神オルステッドを斬る。
　それはすなわち、最強を目指すという事だと。

「けどな」

　ピタリと笑いが止まる。
　当座の間にシンと静けさが戻る。

"But you know,"

The laughter suddenly stopped. A complete silence returned to the area.

「口で言うだけなら、簡単だぜ。できんのか？」
「やるわ」

　エリスは当然のように言い放った。
　そこには、何の気負いもなく、何のためらいもない。
　迷いの一切無い目であった。
　剣神は口の端を持ち上げた。

"It‘s easy just to say it. Can you do it?"

"I will."

Eris declared it as if it was natural. There was neither fighting spirit, nor hesitation. She had eyes with not a single hesitation. The Sword God raised the edges of him mouth.

「よし。剣を見る。ジノ、相手をしてやれ」
「え！？　は、はいっ！」

　伯父に名を呼ばれ、ジノ・ブリッツは立ち上がる。
　自分とそう歳の変わらない少女。
　口先で伯父を笑わせた、いけ好かない少女。
　そいつに一泡吹かせてやると意気込んで。

"Alright. Let's see your sword. Jino, be her opponent."

"Eh!? Y-, yes!"

Called by his uncle, Jino Brits stood up. Of about the same age as him, a girl. Making his uncle laugh with empty words; a disagreeable girl. He wanted to give her a scare.

「そいつはウチの最年少だ。お前より年下で、まだまだ甘っちょれえが、結構やるぜ」

　ジノとエリスは、他の剣聖から放り投げられた木刀を受け取る。

"He's our youngest one. Though he's younger than you and still naive, he's pretty good, you know."

Eris and Jino received the wooden swords tossed over by the other Sword Saints.

「では中央で」
「うらああぁぁぁぁ！」

　木刀を受け取った瞬間、エリスはジノに打ちかかった。
　ジノは咄嗟の応戦すらできなかった。
　一打目で手首をしたたかに打ち据えられ、木刀を落とし、
　参ったを言う間もなく、いや、何をされたのかもわかる事なく、木刀にて切り伏せられた。
　完璧な殺気。
　ジノは真剣で斬られたと錯覚し、気絶した。

"Then in the centre."

"Uraaaaaaaa!"

The moment she received the wooden sword, Eris struck Jino. Jino couldn't even respond. With a single strike to the wrist, he dropped the sword, and before he could even surrender, no, without even realising what had happened, he was cut down by the sword. A perfect killing intent. Jino saw a delusion of being cut down with a real sword, and fainted.

「なっ！？」

　唖然とする、当座の間の面々。
　こんな馬鹿な事があってたまるか。
　開始は、せめて中央で向い合ってからだろう。
　第一、ジノはエリスの方を向いてもいなかったのだ。
　卑怯者め。
　剣聖たちはそう思った。
　だまし打ちのような形で弟分を討ち取られたニナも当然。

　そう思わなかったのは四人。
　剣帝二人と剣王一人、そして剣神である。

"Wha-!?"

Everyone there was dumbfounded. As if they'd accept something so ridiculous. At the very least they should've faced each other in the middle, right? To start with, Jino wasn't even facing Eris at the time. She was a coward. So thought the Sword Saints. Since the boy that she saw as her younger brother was taken down by a sneak attack, of course Nina was the same.

The ones who didn't think so were four people; the two Sword Emperors, the Sword King, and finally the Sword God.

「な、甘っちょろいだろ？」
「本当にそうね」

　エリスは短く切りそろえた髪を振り、すでに全員の動きに気を配っていた。
　いつ、何時、誰が襲いかかってきてもいいように。
　一切の無駄のない立ち姿で、周囲を睥睨していた。

　剣神はエリスを咎めなかった。
　ただ、打ちのめされ、気絶したジノを甘っちょろいと評価した。
　互いに剣を持った状態で油断したほうが悪い。
　唐突に襲い掛かってくる可能性を考慮しない奴は馬鹿だ。
　剣神は言外にそう言っていた。

"See? Naive, right?"

"He really was, huh."

Eris' short hair swayed, and she was already taking note of the movements of everyone there. So that it would be fine even if anyone attacked, at any time. Without any useless movements, she looked over her surroundings in contempt.

The Sword God didn't criticise Eris. He merely judged that the beaten and unconscious Jino was naive. It was his fault for letting down his guard when they two of them were holding swords; he was stupid for not considering the possibility of being suddenly attacked. This was what the Sword God had implied.

「よし、次はニナ。お前だ。
　今度は中央にて向かい合ってからだ。
　不意打ちもいいが、用意ドンでの剣も見せてくれよ」

　その言葉で、剣聖の一人がニナに向け、木刀を放った。
　それを受けとめた瞬間、ニナは剣聖の方を二度見した。
　木刀はやや重かった。
　中に金属が詰まっている木刀である。

"Alright, next is Nina. You're up. This time start after you face each other in the centre. Though surprise attacks are good too, this tiem show me your sword after I give you the signal."

At those words, one of the Sword Saints turned to Nina and tossed her a wooden sword. The instant she caught it, Nina did a double take at the Sword Saint. It was a little heavy. It was a wooden sword with metal inside.

「…………」

　木刀を放った剣聖はこくりと頷いた。
　それを見て、ニナは身震いを一つして、頷き返した。
　この無礼者を殺す。
　ニナとて剣聖だ。人を斬り殺したことがないわけではない。
　少々卑怯だが……。
　先に無礼を働いたのは向こうだ。
　ジノの屈辱を思えば、万死を持って報いを受けるべきだ。

　中央にて並び、二人は構える。

"..."

The one who had thrown it nodded. Seeing that, Nina trembled once and then returned the nod. She would kill this insolent girl. Even Nina was a Sword Saint. It wasn't as though she hadn't killed someone with her sword before. Though it was a little cowardly... Eris was the one who was rude just now. Considering Jino's humiliation, she deserved to be paid back with certain death.

The two lined up in the centre and took their stances.

「はじめぃ！」

　剣聖の合図で、ニナは木刀を振りかぶる。
　何万と繰り返してきた剣神流の型に則り、この無礼な赤毛の女を打ちのめす。
　そんな気概のこもった一撃。

　剣と剣が打ち合わされる。
　その瞬間、乾いた音を立ててエリスの木刀が砕け散った。

　ニナは勝利を確信した。
　あとは呆然とするエリスの脳天に容赦無い一撃をぶち込むだけ。
　そう思った。

　瞬間、ニナは顔面を殴られていた。
　次いで顎先を打ちぬかれる。
　たたらを踏んだ所を蹴り飛ばされ、馬乗りにされた。
　気づけば、両腕は足によって抑えこまれていた。

　見あげれば、本物の殺気をまとった悪魔が拳を振り上げていた。

"Begin!"

At the Sword Saint's signal, Nina swung her sword. It was one of the forms in the Sword God Style that she had practised countless times, and with this she would knock down the red-haired girl. That single swing of hers was filled with fighting spirit.

The swords collided. In that instant, with a dry sound, Eris' sword was smashed to pieces.

Nine was convinced of her victory. Now she would just swing into Eris' temple without mercy. So she thought.

That moment, Nina's face was hit. Next her chin was hit. While she was stumbling, she was sent flying with a kick, and then mounted. Before she realised, her two arms were checked by Eris' legs.

When she looked up, she saw a bloodthirsty devil with its fist raised.

「や、やめっ！　やめ、やめろ！」

　静止の言葉が掛けられた時、すでにニナは数発は殴られた後。
　鼻血を垂らし、歯を折り、失神していた。
　その股座からは、ちょろちょろと湯気の立つ液体が広がっている。

　エリスはゆっくりと立ち上がると、ニナの持っていた金属芯の入った木刀を拾い上げる。
　そして、フンと鼻息を一つ。
　ニナをジノの失神している所へと蹴り飛ばした。

"S-, stop! St-, stop it!"

When these words were spoken, Nina had already been hit several times. Blood ran from her nose, her teeth were broken, and she had fainted. A pool of steaming liquid that was streaming from her crotch now spread across the ground.

Eris slowly stood up, and then she picked up the iron-cored wooden sword that Nina had been using. She then snorted. She kicked Nina over to where Jino was laying unconscious.

「ここには甘っちょろいやつしかいないの？」
「き……貴様ぁ！」

　剣聖たちがいきり立つ。
　卑怯者めと罵る声も聞こえる。
　だが、剣王以上の称号を持つ者達は、むしろそうした剣聖を冷ややかに見下していた。
　彼らは、誰が正しいのかを、理解していた。

"Does this place have nothing but naive people?"

"Y-... You bastard!"

The swordsmen flew into a rage. Shouts of 'coward' and other abuse could be heard. However, those who were Sword King and above, on the contrary, overlooked those swordsmen indifferently. They understood who was in the right.

「悪い悪い。ちょっと見誤ってたな。俺様が相手してやるよ」

　だが、剣神が立ち上がると、剣帝二人はやや驚いた顔をしていた。

"My bad, my bad. I misread you a little, huh. I'll be your opponent."

However, when the Sword God stood up, the two Sword Emperors' expressions showed a little surprise.

「師匠が出るまでもありません」
「こういう場合はギレーヌの……弟子でしたな、なら私めが」

　剣神はそんな言葉を無視し、己の剣を掴んだ。
　真剣である。

　エリスはそれを見て、床を強く蹴った。
　後方へと飛び、自分の剣を置いた位置まで下がる。
　そして、長い旅を共にしてきた相棒を手中に収め、即座に鞘から抜き放った。

"There's no need for Shishou to do it personally."

"Ghislaine, she's your... 'disciple', wasn't it? In that case, I'll go."※

Ignoring her words, he grasped his own sword. He was serious.

Seeing this, Eris strongly kicked off the ground. She leapt backwards to where she had left her sword. Then she immediately removed the scabbard from the partner that she gone on many journeys with.

[※Note: The reason 'she is' is present, and 'wasn't' is past is because they're two distinct thoughts. It's presented this way in the original text, so I used different tense to represent this. i.e. Ghislaine, she's your...(disciple, right?) (The word you used was )'disciple', wasn't it? In that case, I'll (be the one to fight her).]

「慌てんなよ、ちゃんとハンデやるから……。
  って、お前、いい剣持ってんな。ユリアンのだろ、それ」
「知らないわ。ミグルド族にもらったものよ」
「あ、そう。……こいつも、ユリアンの作品だぜ」

　剣神はそう言いつつ、ゆっくりと剣を抜く。
　刀身が金色に輝くその剣を。
　剣神七本剣が一つ。
　魔界の名工ユリアン・ハリスコが、王竜王カジャクトの骨より作り上げた４８の魔剣の一つ。
　魔剣『喉笛(ノドブエ)』。

　剣神が魔剣を、だらりとぶら下げるように持った。
　剣聖たちが息を飲む。
　剣神が真剣を持つなど、剣帝との実戦稽古以外では滅多にない。

　そして剣神は気軽につぶやいた。

"Don't panic, I'll properly give you a handicap after all... Oh, that's a good sword you have. It's one of Yulian's, right?"

"I don't know. It's something I got from the Migurd clan, you see."

"Ah, I see. ...This guy here is also one of Yulian's works."

While saying this, the Sword God slowly drew his sword. It was a sword with a sparkling golden blade. It was one of the Sword God's seven swords. It was one of the 48 swords that the Demon Realm's craftsman, Yulian Jalisco created, from the bones of King Ryuuou. The demon sword 『Windpipe(Nodobue)』.※

[※Note: says king dragon king, so I didn't know what to do and left 'dragon king' as ryuuou LOL]
[※Note: read aloud as 'noh doh boo eh']

The Sword God held the demon sword loosely in his hand. The Sword Saints all held their breaths. It was rare to see the Sword God get serious outside of training the Sword Emperors.

And then the Sword God light-heartedly muttered,

"Alright. I'm coming."

「よし、行くぜ」

　瞬間。
　エリスはふっ飛ばされていた。
　当座の間の出入り口の扉をぶち破り、外へと叩きだされ、積もる雪の中に叩きこまれた。

　剣神は、いつしか剣を振り終えたポーズで静止していた。
　誰も、そのモーションを見切ることはなかった。

In an instant, Eris was blown away. Her body flew outside, smashing down the gate in the process, and smacked into a pile of snow.

Before anyone had noticed, the Sword God was already standing still in the terminal position of a strike; noone had seen the motion at all.※

[※Note: An attack in martial arts usually starts with the chamber/set-up (positions the body for the movement), then goes into the follow-through (the movement itself), then ends in the terminal position (usually the position where the body has fully extended for the strike). Basically noone saw his first two steps; by the time anyone had noticed, he was already in the final step (the static terminal position).]

「お見事！」
「お見事！」
「お見事にございます！」

　周囲の剣聖たちが口々に、その剣筋を褒めた。
　魔剣の力ではない。
　剣神より発せられた闘気が、エリスを吹き飛ばしたのだ。
　あの無礼者は死んだ。
　誰もがそう思った。
　しかし、エリスは死んでなどいなかった。

"Amazing!"

"Amazing!"

"You were truly amazing!"

The surrounding swordsmen unanimously praised the swing of his sword. It wasn't the power of the demon sword; the touki※ emitted from the Sword God had blown Eris away. That insolent person had died. Everyone thought as much. However, Eris hadn't died.

[※Note: literally 'fighting spirit', but in a lot of series it's not 'fighting spirit' the way we think, but more like a 'fighting variant' of 'ki' or a type of 'ki' that comes from one's will to fight. In this series it seems to be mana or something, so yeah.]

「うっ……ぐうぅ……！」

　うめき声を上げて雪の中で弱々しくもがく。
　剣神の斬撃をうけてなお存命？
　否、剣神が手加減したのだ。
　しかし、あのような野良犬に剣神が本気を出すまでもない。
　あとは破門にでもして、雪のつもる外にでも放り出せば良い。
　しかし、剣神は剣聖の予想とは真逆の言葉を口にした。

"Uu... Guu...!"

Raising a groan, she struggled weakly in the snow. Though she received an attack from the Sword God, she was alive? Nay, the Sword God had gone easy on her. However, there was no need for the Sword God to get serious on a stray dog like her. Afterwards it'd be fine just to excommunicate her from the Sword God Style, and throw her out into the snow. However, the Sword God spoke words completely contrary to the expectations of the Sword Saints.

「ギレーヌ、エリスを治療しろ。今日からあいつは剣聖だ。明日から俺様が剣を教える」

　顔をほころばせていた剣聖たちが凍りついた。
　剣を教えるとは、すなわち剣神の直弟子を意味する。
　ギレーヌ以来、誰もなれなかった、高弟中の高弟。

"Ghislaine, treat Eris. From today onwards, she's a Sword Saint. Starting from tomorrow, the great me will teach her the sword."

The grinning swordsmen froze in place. 'teach her the sword' meant, in other words, that she would become the Sword God's direct pupil. It was something that hadn't happened since Ghislaine; she was the best pupil, amongst the best pupils.

「馬鹿な！　剣聖は『光の太刀』を習得した者のみに与えられる称号！
　こんな山猿も同然なガキに……！」

　言いかけた男は、剣神に剣を向けられ、その言葉を途切れさせた。

"Ridiculous! The title Sword Saint is something that isn't given to anyone but those who have learned the 『Longsword of Light』! To teach a brat who's the same as a barbarian※ is...!"

The Sword God raised his sword towards the man who had spoken and cut off his words.

[※Note: This term '山猿, yamazaru' literally means 'mountain monkey'. It's basically used to refer to either people from the boonies, or just, uncultured people who lack etiquette (i.e. monkeys). Since these sword dudes apparently live on a snow island in the middle of fucking nowhere, gunna go with the latter and translate it as barbarian.]

「『光の太刀』を習得したガキを二人ものしてんだ、十分だろうが」
「し、しかし……」
「『剣神』ってなぁ、何かを覚えりゃなれるってわけじゃあ、ねえんだぜ？　特別な俺様が特別扱いされてねえのに、なんで剣聖を特別扱いする必要がある」
「…………申し訳ありませんでした」

"Didn't she just defeat two of the people who had learned the 『Longsword of Light』?"

"H-, however..."

"A 『Sword God』 isn't something that you can become simply by memorising a skill or something, you know? Even though someone special like me didn't get special treatment, why is there a need to treat Sword Saints that way?"

"...I've spoken inexcusably."

　剣聖はそれ以上、何も言わなかった。
　自分の感情が嫉妬であることに気付いたのだ。
　嫉妬が剣を鈍らせることを、剣聖たちは理解していた。

　そして誤解していた。
　剣神の提唱する欲望のままの剣術。
　それによれば、えてして嫉妬のような汚い感情が剣を鋭くさせるものである。

　もっとも、剣神はそんな重要なことを一から十まで教えるつもりなど無い。
　他人に言われてようやく気づくような奴は、言っても無駄だと思っているのだ。

　こうして、エリスは鮮烈なる印象付けと同時に、剣聖の名を持つようになった。

The swordsmen didn't say anything more. They had noticed that their feelings were those of jealousy. The Sword Saints understood that jealousy was something that would dull their swords.

But they misunderstood. The Sword God advocated swordsmanship based on desire. According to this, the majority of those with dirty emotions like jealousy would have their swords sharpened instead.

However, the Sword God didn't intend on spoonfeeding such important things. He believed that if they were the type who couldn't realise this themselves, then it was pointless even if you told them.

Like that, whilst creating a striking impression, Eris became a Sword Saint.


---


　ニナはエリスのことが嫌いだった。
　なにせ、大勢の前で気絶させられ、失禁までさせられたのだ。
　恥。
　そう、恥をかかされたのだ。

　ポッと出の山猿。
　剣がダメとあらば殴りかかってくる、駄々っ子のような態度。
　剣聖の名はもちろん、剣神流にすらふさわしくない。
　そう喧伝した。

　二年近く、エリスとまともな口を効かなかった。
　ジノと二人で、同年代の弟子たちとつるみ、彼女を徹底的に仲間はずれにした。

　もっとも、エリスは普段、剣神かギレーヌにひたすら鍛えられ続けている。
　寝るときもギレーヌと同室だ。
　接点もなく、必要もなく、ニナ達と会話しようとすらしなかった。

　会話といえば、せいぜい一ヶ月に一度ある内弟子の総稽古において、二言三言、嫌味を言い合う程度だ。
　その稽古において、エリスとニナの実力は拮抗していた。
　ニナは、自分の方が勝ち越しているとさえ考えていた。
　剣を落としたり折られたりしたら敗北という、きちんとしたルールでなら、そうそう遅れは取らない。
　ニナはそう考えていた。
　そうした部分が「甘い」のであるが、実戦経験不足の彼女がそれを悟るのは、もう少し後の事である。

　ライバル関係。
　周囲にはそう映っていたが、しかしエリスはニナの事など歯牙にも掛けていなかったと明記しておく。


　そんなある日。
　ニナは同じくらいの女子と共に、話をしていた。
　若い女子らしく、弟子の中の誰がカッコイイとか、
　この間、付き合っている誰それと初体験迎えましたとか、
　そうした話題である。

　ニナは生まれてこのかた剣一筋に生きていたため、そうした話題は苦手だった。
　そして、これからも無縁な話だと思っていた。
　身近な男と聞かれて思い浮かぶのは、四歳年下の従兄弟ジノの事であるが、
　兄弟同然に育ってきた相手とそうした関係になるとは思えなかった。
　ゆえに、自分は剣だけに生きていく。
　そうでなければ、エリスに置いて行かれる。
　あの女に負けるのは嫌だ、と考えていた。

　そこに通りかかったのがエリスだ。
　彼女は全身から湯気を立ち上らせていた。
　自分たちが雑談をしている間にも、修行をしていたのだ。
　そう考えると、ニナは少々焦るものがあった。

　ゆえに、言ってしまったのだ。

Nina hated Eris. She had been knocked out in front of a large group of people, and made to wet herself after all. Humiliation. Right, she was humiliated.

The sudden appearance of that barbarian... When her sword was broken, she started hitting her opponent instead; she clearly had the attitude of a bad child. She was unsuitable for the title 'Saint'; at least within the Sword God Style. That was what everyone had been saying.

For nearly two years, the words directed at her had no effect. She was completely left out by Jino and the people around his age.

However, everyday Eris would do nothing but continue her training with either the Sword God or Ghislaine. When she slept she'd be in Ghislaine's room. There was no contact between them, and she had no need to converse with Nina and the rest.

Speaking of conversations, at most they'd exchange a few quarrelsome words during the day of the month that all pupils practiced together. In regards to that practice, Eris and Nina's abilities rivalled each other. Nina thought that she had won more often. Dropping your sword or breaking your sword counted as defeat, and as long as such rules were in place, she wouldn't fall behind, Nina thought. Though that was part of her "naivety", this wasn't something that she would come to realise until a later time.

A rivalry. That was how it was seen from outside, but to Eris it was as clear as writing that Nina and her lot had no fangs.

On a certain day... Nina was chatting with some girls around her age. As befitting of young girls, they were talking about things like who was cool among the other students, or how had their first time with the person they were dating. They talked about those kind of topics.

Because Nina had been training earnestly in the sword since she was born, she wasn't good with topics like this. She thought that they would continue to be irrelevant. If you asked her about men that she was close to, the only one who came to mind was her 4 years younger cousin, Jino, but they were raised together like siblings so she couldn't think of him like that. As a result, she lived only for the sword. For if she didn't, she would be left behind by Eris. She was thinking that she would hate to lose to Eris.

The one who happened to pass by there was Eris. There was steam rising from her whole body. Even when Nina had been chatting with these girls, Eris had been training. When Nina considered this, she lost her cool a little.

As a result, she said,

"Hmph, still training even at this hour, huh! You'll probably never get a man your whole life, huh! It's fine if you want to stay a virgin forever and live for nothing but the sword!"

Even though she herself was inexperienced, she said something like that. However, because it was something that she was worried about herself, and something that hurt her as well, she assumed that Eris would also be hurt by it.

「ふん、こんな時にまで修行なんてね！
　あなたには一生男なんてできないんでしょうね！
　生娘のまま剣だけに生きていくといいわ！」

　自分も未経験であるのに。
　そんな事を言った。
　しかし、自分が気にしている事であるがゆえ、自分が言われると傷つく事であるがゆえ。
　エリスも傷つくだろうと考えての事だ。

「ふっ……！」

　しかし、エリスは鼻で笑った。
　勝ち誇ったその顔に、ニナはたじろぐ。

"Hu...!"

However, Eris snorted with laughter. In the face of that triumphant expression, Nina winced.

「な、なによ」
「悪いけど、私、生娘じゃないから」

　ちょっと自慢気に、ちょっと顔を赤らめながら。
　それは明らかに見栄などではない。
　と、その場にいる誰もが思った。

"Wh-, what?"

"Sorry, but I'm not a virgin."

That she was a little proud about it, and that she was blushing a little as well.

That was what everyone was thinking.

「え……！？　うそでしょ？　え？　誰？　誰となの？」

　ニナは内心の動揺をまったく隠せなかった。
　無様にうろたえつつ、エリスからその話を聞き出す。

"Eh...!? That's a lie, right? Eh? Who? With who?"

Nina couldn't hide the unrest in her heart at all. While unsightly and flustered, she started questioning Eris.

「小さい頃から一緒に育った人よ」

　普段は無口なエリスであるが、
　その男の話題となると、次から次へと出てきた。
　小さい頃から一緒に育ったとか、
　一緒に魔大陸から故郷まで旅をしたとか、
　龍神と出会い、その男が一矢報いたとか。
　そして、その男と初めてを迎えたとか。
　その男のために強くなろうとしているとか。

　恋する乙女の恋が成就するまでの恋物語だった。

　ニナは完全に打ちのめされた。
　負けたと思った。
　完全敗北だった。

　剣術で互角。
　だが年齢で負け。
　しかも、相手は男までいるという。

　ニナにできることは、その男の存在を否定することぐらいであった。

"Someone I grew up together with."

Though Eris was usually taciturn, when it came to that man, she continued to talk about one thing after another. About how they had grown up together since they were young, about how they travelled from the Demon Continent to their hometown, about how when they met the Dragon God that man managed to land a hit, and then, about how she had her first time with that man. About how it was for his sake that she wanted to become stronger.

It was a love story that detailed the events from when she fell in love with him as a girl, until that love was fulfilled.

Nina was in complete shock. She had lost, she thought. She had completely lost.

Their swordsmanship was on par. However, she lost in age. Furthermore, the other girl had a man.

The only thing left that Nina could do was deny that man's existence.

「う、ウソよ！　お父さんは言ってたもの！
　龍神は『龍聖闘気』を纏っているから、生半可な技じゃ傷ひとつ付かないって！
　でまかせよ！　そんな人、本当はいないんでしょ！？
　嘘って言いなさい。今ならまだ間に合うわよ？」
「嘘じゃないわ。ルーデウスは生半可じゃないもの！
　…………でも、ルーデウスと、今の私は釣り合わない。もっと強くならなくちゃ」

　エリスは最後にそう言って、ぎゅっと拳を握った。
　決意の瞳に炎を宿し、
　そして、ニナたちを無視して先ほど自分がいた修行場『錬気の間』へと戻っていった。

　ニナはその姿を唖然として見送った。
　一番ありえないと思った相手が、すでに自分の先を行っていた。
　その事実に、頭がクラクラしていた。

"Y-, you're lying! This is something Otou-san said! That the Dragon God wears something called 『Dragon Holy Touki』 so half-assed techniques can't wound him! You're just making stuff up! That person actually doesn't exist, right!? Admit that it's a lie. It's still not too late to say so, you know?"

"It's not a lie. Rudeus isn't half-assed! ...But, right now I'm not suitable for Rudeus. I have to get stronger."

Eris said that at the end, and firmly clenched her fists. Her eyes carried flames of determination, and ignoring Nina and the rest, she returned to the 『Space of Martial Training』※ training place that she had come from.

Dumbfounded, Nina watched her walk away. The one person she thought would absolutely never beat her in this had already surprised her. Nina was dizzy from the reality of this.

[※Note: uses a rather strange term - 練気 (renki, training spirit). It's obviously a made-up compound, but upon research seems to have martial connotations. The only notable thing I could find on it was a martial arts training method called Renki Juushin Hou(練気柔真法, the training spirit gentle truth method) which was apparently a martial training method allegedly based on the training methods of Chen Variant Taijiquan. Point is, it's just a training room, but the name is meant to be imposing and meant to bring to mind special martial arts for experts.]


---


　自分がまだで、あの山猿エリスに恋人がいる。
　そんな事があってたまるか。
　きっと嘘に決まっている。
　ルーデウスとやらは架空の人物だ。
　ニナはそう考えた。

　休日に情報屋に赴いて、ルーデウスについての情報を集めさせた。
　まぁ、簡単には集まるまい。
　なにせ架空の人物だから。
　そう思っていた。

　そんな願いとは裏腹に、情報はすぐに集まってしまった。

　ルーデウス・グレイラット。
　アスラ王国フィットア領ブエナ村出身。
　三歳の時に、水王級魔術師ロキシー・ミグルディア（当時は水聖級）に弟子入り。
　五歳にして水聖級魔術師となる。
　七歳の時にフィットア領城塞都市ロアの町長の娘、エリス・ボレアス・グレイラットの家庭教師となる。
　その後、フィットア領転移事件にて行方不明となる。
　が、最近になって中央大陸北部にて、冒険者『泥沼のルーデウス』として名を上げる。
　現在は魔法大学に特別生として招かれ、ラノア王国の魔法都市シャリーアに滞在しているという。
　一部の冒険者連中からは尊敬されており、はぐれ竜を単独で撃破したという噂もある。

　実在する人物であった。
　エリスの妄想の王子様ではなかった。

　ニナは凹むと同時に、大した事ないな、と思う。
　確かに、七歳までの経歴は凄まじいが、所詮は冒険者だ。
　水王級になるでもなく、泥沼などというダサい名前がついているあたり、
　所詮は幼い頃だけの才能だった、そうに違いない。
　そう考えた。

　そして、悪いことを思いついた。
　そのルーデウスとやらを倒し、奴隷にでもしてここに連れてきたら、エリスはどんな顔をするだろうか、と。

　思い立ったが吉日。
　ニナはその日の内に旅支度をして、ニナは父親譲りのせっかちさを発揮し、馬に飛び乗った。
　そのまま、ラノア王国へと旅立ったのだ。
　冬の間ならまだしも、ラノアは眼と鼻の先。
　剣の聖地にて育てられた名馬を使えば、２ヶ月もかからず往復できる。
　彼女はせっかちだったのだ。


　一ヶ月の旅路をなんなく終え、魔法大学へとやってきた。
　そして驚いた。

　ニナは正直な所、魔術師というものを馬鹿にしていた。
　ロクな修行もせず、適当にごにょごにょと詠唱とやらをするだけで強くなった気でいる連中と思っていた。

　しかし、道を行くのは屈強な男たちだ。
　なぜか獣族が多く、戦士風の格好をしている者が多い。
　ローブを着ている者や可愛い制服を着ている者もいるが、屈強な肉体を持っている者がやけに多いのだ。
　ニナは自分の世間知らずさを恥じた。
　１８歳まで生きてきて、魔術師というものを偏見でみていたのだと。

　ニナはとりあえず、近くにいた青年に声を掛けた。
　筋骨隆々とした、まさに戦士という感じの獣族だ。
　そいつにルーデウスの居場所を聞いてみる。
　すると、彼もルーデウスの場所に行くのだと言う。
　これは丁度いいと、ニナはついていく事にした。

　制服姿の少年の所についた。
　彼がルーデウスだという。

　ニナの想像通りの人物だった。
　体はそれなりに鍛えているようだが、覇気のようなものは感じられない。
　顔は悪くないが、自信もなさそうで、男としての魅力は無い。
　エリスにはお似合いだ。

　よし、こいつをぶちのめして……と思った瞬間、獣族の青年が声を張り上げた。

Though she hadn't had one yet, that barbarian had a lover. As if Nina could bear with such a thing. She decided that it was definitely a lie. That Rudeus person or whatever was imaginary, she thought.

On one of her free days, she headed towards an information broker and gathered information on Rudeus.

'Well, it won't be easy; he's fictional after all' she thought.

Contrary to her wishes, she immediately managed to find some.

Rudeus Greyrat. Born in Buina village of the Fittoa region of the Kingdom of Asla. At 3, he became the pupil of the (Water Saint Ranked at the time) Water King Ranked magician, Roxy Migurdia. At 5 he became a Water Saint Ranked magician. At 7 he became the home tutor of the Stronghold City Roa's mayor's daughter, Eris Boreas Greyrat. After that, his location became unknown due to the Teleportation Incident. However, lately he was in the northern parts of the Central Continent and made a name as the adventurer 『Rudeus of the Quagmire』. He was now a Special Student at the Magic University and staying at Sha'Riah, the capital city of the Kingdom of Ranoa. He was admired by certain types of adventurers, and there was also a rumour about him single-handedly slaying a stray dragon.

He was real. He wasn't just some prince from Eris' delusions.

While yielding to this, Nina thought to herself that he wasn't a big deal. Though everything up until age 7 was amazing, in the end he was an adventurer. He hadn't even become Water King Ranked, he had a lame name like Quagmire, and he was talented as a child, that's all. There was no mistaking it. So thought Nina.

Then she thought of something bad.

'If I defeated this Rudeus, made him into a slave and brought him here, what kind of face would Eris make, I wonder?' she thought.

No time like the present. Nina prepared for a journey that very same day, and demonstrating the impatience inherited from her father, she jumped on a horse. Like that, she began her trip to the Kingdom of Ranoa. Though it was still winter, Ranoa was very close by. With one of the fine horses raised in the Holy Land of Swords, you wouldn't even need 2 months to get there. She was impatient.

After easily finishing her journey in a month, she arrived at the Magic University. There she was shocked.

Nina had honestly made light of magicians.

'Without any decent training, they were a bunch that did nothing but mumble some vague chants or something, thinking they could get stronger that way.' she thought.

However, walking down the road were muscular men. For some reason there were a lot of Beast People, and people dressed like warriors. Though there were also those in robes, and those in cute uniforms, the overwhelming majority had robust bodies. Nina was ashamed of her ignorance of the world; her view of magicians had been narrow until she was as old as 18.

At any rate, Nina called out to a nearby young man. He was well-built and was a Beast Race who definitely appeared to be a warrior. She tried asking him about Rudeus' whereabouts. When she did, he replied that he was heading to Rudeus as well. Thinking 'this is perfect', Nina followed him.

They arrived at a uniformed youth. He was said to be Rudeus.

He was just as Nina had imagined. Though he had trained his body, she couldn't feel any ambition from him. Though his face wasn't bad, he had an unconfident expression, and he had no appeal as a man. He was perfect for Eris.

'Right, time to beat him down...' but the instant she thought this, the young Beast Man raised his voice.

「はぐれ竜を単騎にて仕留めたA級冒険者『泥沼』のルーデウス殿とお見受けする！
　我と尋常なる婚儀の決闘を！」

　ぎょっとした。
　この男はルーデウスにいきなり決闘を申し込んだのだ。

"I assume that you are the lone horseman who defeated a stray dragon, A-Ranked adventurer Rudeus of the 『Quagmire』! I challenge you to a customary courtship duel!"

Nina was shocked. The man had suddenly challenged Rudeus to a duel.

「いえ、ピアノのお稽古があるので……」

　ルーデウスは男らしくない事に、即座にそれを断った。
　しかし、青年はあーだこーだと理由をつけてルーデウスの前に回りこみ、
　問答無用とばかりに襲いかかった。

　ニナは次の瞬間ルーデウスが引き裂かれると思った。
　自分ほどではないにしても、獣族の青年はかなり強いと見たからだ。
　そして、ルーデウスは魔術師。
　魔術師は距離を詰めてしまえば弱いとは剣士にとって常識である。
　あの距離では、魔術師にできることなど無い。

　が、結果は逆だった。
　ルーデウスはあっという間に青年を打ち倒した。
　３秒といった所だろうか。
　まさに一瞬だった。

　そして、呆然とするニナに一瞥もくれることなく、さっさとどこかへと行ってしまった。

"No, I have piano lessons so..."

Though it was unmanly, Rudeus immediately rejected him. However, with this or that reason, the man ended up in front of Rudeus and because there was no use talking, he attacked.

Nina thought that in the next instant, Rudeus would be cut to pieces. Though he wasn't as skilled as she was, Nina could still see that the young Beast Man was quite strong. And Rudeus was a magician. The common sense of a swordsman dictated that as long as you closed the distance, a magician was weak. At this distance there was nothing a magician could do.

However, the result was the opposite. In the blink of an eye, Rudeus had defeated the young man. It might have been within three seconds. It was truly an instant.

Then without paying another glance at the dumbfounded Nina, he quickly went away.


---


　それから、なんとか立ち直ったニナは、再度ルーデウスの場所を聞いて回った。
　そして、図書館にいるという事が分かった。
　図書館の場所を聞き出し、向かってみると、建物の前には大量の獣族が並んでいた。
　自分には関係ない、そう思って図書館に入ろうとすると、

And then, after Nina somehow managed to compose herself again, once again she asked about for Rudeus' whereabouts. She then found out that he was at the library. When she headed towards it, she found a huge line of Beast People lined up in front of the building. Thinking that it had nothing to do with her, she made to enter the library when,

「お前もルーデウスへの決闘を申し込む者か？」

　獣族の青年にそう聞かれた。

"Are you here to duel Rudeus?"

She was asked this by a young Beast Man.

「え、ええ。そうよ」

　思わずそう答えると。

"Y-, yeah. That's right."

She replied as such without thinking.

「ならば一番後ろに並べ！
　順番抜かしはするな！」

　そう怒られた。
　聞いた所によると、この列は、全てルーデウスへ決闘を申し込もうという者たちだという。
　３０人はいた。
　ニナはその事実に戦々恐々としつつも、おとなしく並んで待つことにした。
　すると、前にいた獣族の青年に「気の毒だな」と言われた。
　何のことかわからなかった。
　そうして待っていると、時刻は昼過ぎになった。

　そして、奴が現れた。


　真っ黒い肌をした、筋肉の塊のような魔族だ。
　そいつは、随分と偉そうな態度で周囲を睥睨した。

"Then get to the back of the line! Don't cut in!"

He became angry. According to what she had heard, the people in this line were all here to duel Rudeus. There were 30 people. While trembling in trepidation at the reality of this, she quietly waited in line. When she did, the Beast Man who was in front said "It's a pity, huh?". She had no idea what was going on. She just waited like that, and it became afternoon.

Then 'he' appeared.

A demon with pitch black skin, like a lump of muscle. With a very self-important attitude, he overlooked the surroundings.

「ほう、なんだこの列は何か催し物か！」
「ルーデウス・グレイラットへの決闘の順番列だ！」
「なんと！　こんなにか！　フハハハハ！
　ルーデウスとはなんとも人気者よな！
　我輩は待つのは構わんが、どうにかして先にやらせてもらう方法はないか！」

　堂々といいはなつ男に、周囲は沸き立った。
　並べ、順番を待て。
　ニナも憤慨した。
　遠路はるばるやってきた自分ですら待っているのだ。
　偉そうな態度を取ってないで並べ、と。
　そして、一人の馬鹿が言ってしまった。
　言ってはいけないことを言ってしまった。

"Hohh, is this a line for an attraction or something!?"

"It's the queue for dueling Rudeus Greyrat!"

"What! There are this many of you!? Huhahahaha! Rudeus is a pretty popular guy, isn't it! I don't mind waiting, but isn't there any way I can get further ahead!?"

The people around became angry at the man who boldly declared this. They had lined up and waited for their turn. Nina was indignant as well. Even she who had come here after a long journey was waiting for her turn.

'Stop acting so conceited and get in line!' she thought.

Then, a certain idiot said it. He said what he shouldn't have said.

「どうしても先にやりてぇなら、先に並んでる奴を全員倒してからにしな」
「フハハハハ！　それがいい！　気に入った！
　では、全員同時に掛かって参れ！
　我輩に挑もうとする気概に免じて、先に一撃入れさせてやろう！」

　あまりにも傲慢な態度に、その場にいる全員が怒り狂った。

"If you wanna get ahead no matter what, then how about you do so after beating down everyone in front of you!?"

"Huhahahaha! That's fine! I'm good with it! Well then, all of you come at once! In deference to the guts you have for challenging me, I'll let you attack first!"

At that excessive haughtiness, everyone there became mad with rage.

「なんだとコラァ！」
「調子こいてんじゃねえぞオラァ！」

　そして、この身の程知らずにわからせてやろうと、襲いかかった。
　ニナも、よくわからないうちにその戦列に参加していた。

　そして、負けた。

　魔族はニナの斬撃を加えてもなお、平然と立っていた。
　漆黒の肌には剣が通らないのだ。
　殺す気で放った光の太刀でようやく傷がついたが、一瞬で再生された。

"What did you say!?"

"Don't get too carried away!"

Then thinking to let this guy know his place, they attacked. Before she knew what was going on, Nina was participating in the attack as well.

Then, she lost.

Though Nina was attacking as well, the demon stayed remained composed. Their swords couldn't pierce that black skin. After letting loose her bloodlust she finally wounded him with her Longsword of Light, but he healed in an instant.

「我輩は不死身の魔王バーディガーディ！
　フハハハハ！　我輩に勝てれば勇者の称号をやろうぞ！」

　ニナは善戦した方だったろう。
　だが、攻撃力不足はいかんともしがたく、
　何の手も打てないまま捕まり、叩き伏せられ、愛剣も叩き折られた。

　そして恐怖し、混乱した。
　なんで自分はこんな所で魔王となんて戦っているのだ、と。
　そもそも、魔大陸の魔王が、なんでここにいるのだ、と。

　その場にいた誰もが、そう思っていただろう。

　ニナがやられてしばらくして、順番列は全滅した。
　不思議な事に、怪我をした者はいても、死んでいる者はいなかった。
　手加減されたのだ。
　そう気付くと、ニナは拳の上に涙が落ちた。
　しかし、悔しくとも、すでに剣を失った自分には何もできなかった。

"I am the Demon King Bardy Gardy! Huhahahaha! If you can defeat me I'll grant you a hero's title!"

Nina ought to have been putting up a good fight. However, her attack power was too low, and after her tactics failed to strike home multiple times, she was caught, defeated, and her beloved sword was bent.

Then came the terror, and the chaos.

'Why am I doing something like fighting a Demon King here?'

'To begin with, why is a Demon King of the Demon Continent at a place like this?'

That was what everyone there was wondering.

A little while after Nina was beaten, everyone else was as well. Miraculously, though there were injured people, noone had died. He had held back. When she realised this, tears fell onto Nina's fists. However, though it was mortifying, she had already lost her sword and there was nothing left that she could do.

「……なんだこりゃ」

　全滅とほぼ同時にルーデウスが図書館から出てきた。
　彼らはあれこれと話をして、場所を移した。

　ニナも、痛む体に顔をしかめつつ、それを追いかけた。

　広い校庭。
　ルーデウスと魔王はそこでにらみ合いを続けていた。
　何か会話をしているようで、時折魔王の高笑いが聞こえてきた。
　だが、何を話しているかわからない。
　決闘が始まったのは、やけに足の速い少年が杖を届けてからだ。

　ルーデウスと魔王の決闘。

　ニナはその決闘の一部始終を見た。
　ルーデウスが杖を手に取り、その封印を解いて。
　二言三言話してから、魔王に対して杖を向けた次の瞬間。

　魔王の上半身が弾け飛んだ。

　自分たちが手も足も出なかった相手が、一撃で倒された。
　その事実に、ニナはただひたすら、呆然としていた。
　その後の事はよく覚えていない。

"...The heck is this?"

Around the time everyone had been defeated, Rudeus appeared from inside the library. After saying this and that, he moved locations.

While frowning due to the pain in her body, Nina followed them.

They arrived at a large field. Rudeus and the Demon King continued to glare at each other. Seemingly having some sort of conversation, sometimes the Demon King's loud laughter could be heard. However, Nina couldn't tell what they were talking about. The duel began when a terrifyingly fast youth brought a staff to Rudeus.

The duel between Rudeus and the Demon King.

Nina watched the duel from beginning to end. Rudeus received the staff, and unsealed it. After some brief words, he pointed his staff at the Demon King, and in that moment,

The Demon King's torso was shot off.

An opponent that she was helpless again was defeated in one blow. In the face of that reality, Nina was purely dumbfounded. She couldn't remember what happened afterwards very well.


---


　ニナは剣の聖地に帰ってきた。
　エリスはあのランクまで上がろうとしているのだと知って、愕然としていた。
　愕然としつつも、努力するエリスを見るニナの視線は、なんとなしに柔らかくなっていた。

　そして、その頃よりニナは心を入れ替えた。
　今まで以上の努力を始め、剣を折られた時の対処として、二本の剣を持つようになった。
　エリスの拳による攻撃方法も馬鹿にしなくなり、軽い付き合いをしていた同年代の弟子たちとも疎遠になった。

　その後、ニナは名実ともにエリスのライバルとなっていくのだが……。
　それはまた、別の話。

Nina returned to the Holy Land of Swords. Now that she knew the level of strength that Eris wanted to reach, Nina was shocked. While shocked, the gaze that she turned on the endeavouring Eris had somewhat softened.

Then, since that time, Nina turned over a new leaf. She renewed the effort she had put in up until now, and to deal with cases where her sword broke again, she now carried two swords. She stopped looking down on attacks from Eris' fists, and distanced herself from the trivial acquaintances from her age group.

Afterwards, she became Eris' rival for real, but... That's another story.


---


　ちなみに。
　魔王襲来の情報を受けてやる気満々の顔で剣を研いでいた剣神は、
　ニナの話を聞いて、残念そうな顔で静かに剣を鞘へと収めたという。

Incidentally, upon hearing about the news of the Demon King's attack, the Sword God had grabbed his sword with great enthusiasm written on his face, but hearing Nina's story, his expression turned to one of disappointment and returned his sword to its sheathe.