Test Period (2)

The Five Basic Forms and Thee Sword Forms naturally connect.

This is because the components of the Three Sword Forms are the Five Basic Forms.

In other words, if you dissect Thee Sword Forms one by one, each part is composed of the Five Basic Forms.

Therefore, the Five Basic Forms become the root of Thee Sword Forms.

This is the 'system' discussed in swordsmanship.

"The sword beginner's move should naturally follow the system."

Soliette said, gripping her wooden sword. I also picked up my wooden sword.

"It's similar to connecting the circuit of a Magic Spell. For example, among the Five Basic Forms, 'Triangular Cut' and 'Rapid Strike' harmonize with each other. This is because they have similar consecutive attack properties."

Her tone was like that of a lecturer.

"However, among the Five Basic Forms, 'Triangular Cut' and 'Z-Cut' do not harmonize."

"Why?"

"'Z-Cut' completes three strokes as one 'single strike', but 'Triangular Cut' fires off three strokes in an instant, making it a 'consecutive attack'."

Simply put, 'Z-Cut' is a beginner's move that connects three strokes into a Z shape. It strongly gives the impression of bundling three strokes into one.

On the contrary, 'Triangular Cut', as anyone can see, and even from its name, is a beginner's move that attacks with three consecutive strokes.

They have completely different properties.

"That's why theory is necessary. To find a sword beginner's move that flows like water, without contradiction."

"Really? Then I'll give it a try."

"…Please do."

"Okay."

I immediately swung my sword.

Tadadadadadadadak──!

Soliette blocked with her sword, but her feet scraped the ground. She, who was pushed back about three steps in an instant, opened her eyes wide.

"...What was that just now?"

She asked with a stunned face. I answered with a bit of confidence mixed in.

"How about it. I tried mixing 'Circular Cut' into 'Triangular Cut'."

"..."

Soliette didn't say anything.

'Triangular Cut' steps and swings three strokes consecutively.

'Circular Cut' swings three strokes as if they were one with a single step.

They are basic forms with completely different properties and are hard to connect.

"You... cut nine times."

Soliette muttered while fiddling with her wooden sword. I responded.

"It's three times, but it feels like nine."

While stepping the steps of 'Triangular Cut', I executed the basic form of 'Circular Cut'.

"But it hurts a bit."

I put down my wooden sword. My joints and ligaments are fine, but my Magic Core hurts quite a bit.

This is the application of 「Notepad」: modification and editing through action.

Why, if you break down 'Triangular Cut' into steps.

１. Take a step.

２. Swing once.

３. Take a step.

４. Swing once.

５. Take a step.

６. Swing once.

It goes like this, right?

"It might be best not to push ourselves today."

She tossed her wooden sword onto the grass.

"Why?"

She answered as she sat on the stone chair.

"The College Board's evaluation test is usually individual, but we've always had a large-scale team project right before the test. It's been like this for ten years, so it's likely to be the same this year."

There seems to be a pattern to the test questions.

"Oh, is that so? Then I guess we should rest."

I also put down my wooden sword. Soliette glanced at me and plucked at the grass.

"Shion Ascal. Your abilities are indeed special. It's not common to find someone who can utilize the initial form to such an extent, even if it means sacrificing their body. Just now, you twisted it as if there was no system."

There's no system.

That sounds familiar.

I've heard that phrase before.

─There is no system in the Severing Sword.

It was Soliette who said it then.

"But that method is wrong. If you continue like this, your body will break down first."

I chuckled dryly.

Who's telling who they're going to break down?

"Don't you break down."

"I'm sturdy."

"I mean mentally, mentally."

I raised a finger and poked my temple.

Soliette pursed her lips in what seemed like dissatisfaction, but without saying anything else, she crawled into her sleeping bag.

"Go home already. How long are you going to stay here?"

"Get lost."

She must be upset.

______________________________________________________________________

…Late at night.

Elise sat in the visiting room, glaring at someone beyond the glass.

He was smiling at her, but to Elise, he was just repulsive. She didn't even want to open her mouth to speak to him, fearing that she would be contaminated.

"...Congratulations."

After a slash, she barely spat out the sarcasm. Elise glanced at the restraints binding his arms and legs.

"You've somehow found your way back."

─Thank you. This place is much better than prison.

But it seems he can't even take her sarcasm as sarcasm. His intellectual capacity is already below that of a goldfish.

─Is it because you're just a little sister?

At his words, Elise gritted her teeth again.

Little sister.

The word "little sister" keeps touching her brain.

Yael.

Why on earth is this man my blood relative?

─I heard your play went well.

He said, smiling faintly.

"You can hear news from the outside, I see."

─There's the internet.

"Is it a mess?"

Elise was skeptical. She was also a little worried.

They let a mentally ill murderer roam free and even allow him internet access. What on earth is her father thinking?

"You can't write comments… or anything like that, can you?"

─I can.

"What did you say?"

─But I just write nonsense. Everything gets censored. The hospital pretends not to, but when I try to write a comment or post and upload it, there's a very slight loading delay.

Yael smiled.

─They're spying during that time. It's a clever strategy. It's not efficient to just keep someone locked up. It's much more efficient to give them a little freedom and monitor what they do there. Isn't our father unnecessarily sneaky?

Elise silently glared at Yael. He only moved his lips quietly.

[They're probably watching right now.]

Without realizing it, I looked around. Petra Psychiatric Ward's secret meeting room. There was only one surveillance camera.

─Ah, right. That friend of yours was in the play too, right?

"..."

Elise's eyes turned back to Yael.

─I even searched for and watched the play video. The Bard. It was amazing. It's the talk of the town these days. How about it? Has your heart changed a bit now?

"Could you just..."

She clenched her teeth and closed her eyes.

"...sigh."

She cooled her boiling insides with a sigh.

"Could you just shut up?"

─What's wrong? Thinking about your sister's love life-

"Before I rip your mouth open!"

Bang! Elise banged on the table in the visiting room and shouted.

At some point, she had returned the words she had heard from someone else.

"I said shut up."

Perhaps it was an unexpected curse, Yael's eyes widened.

─Hmm...

He quietly retreated.

Elise crossed her arms. It seemed to soothe her insides a bit.

"...You can never get out. From there. So if you want to save your life. If you want to live using that internet."

She pointed at Yael's mouth.

"Control your mouth. It's because he's your father, that you're still alive."

The words that if she became the head of the family, she would definitely euthanize him.

─...Okay.

Yael nodded with a small smile. Elise immediately stood up.

─But really, how about that friend?

Again, again, again, words that annoyingly held her back.

Elise twisted her mouth as she passed him by.

"I don't know why you call him a friend? When have you seen him?"

Then, Yael moved his lips again.

[He's really my friend.]

You have friends, huh- Elise, who was about to retort, froze.

Yael's expression was more serious than ever.

─Take care.

While saying that, Yael stood up first. He left the visiting room, and Elise followed a bit later, pondering.

"..."

Could it be that Yael said something to Shion Ascal in the isolation area?

Or, is it just a simple lie?

But why would he use Shion Ascal for a lie?

She, who was about to bite her nails, quickly came to her senses. She immediately made a phone call.

"...Mr. Luren?"

Among the servants of the Petra family, the middle-aged knight she could trust the most.

"There's an Arbil Orphanage in northern Arman."

The money laundering company suspected to be used by Shion Ascal.

"There. I'll stop by this weekend. Please cancel my schedule for a while."

Just in case, she plans to start by tearing that place apart.