Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter9 - MTL

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Chapter Nine: Myozunitonirun

Louise and Siesta were standing on the hill where Saito fought, and looking down at the spreading meadow below.

The morning sun rose from the other side of the mountain range, and light cracked through the crevice of mountains, making the scenery more beautiful.

Both of them, during the previous day, have walked almost 50 leagues. Even though the tent was put up and they slept at night, their legs still felt like a pair of sticks.

However, the spectacle before them served like a healing medicine for this tiredness.

With the mountain range far away, the contrast it and the faint fresh green grass was everywhere. It seemed unbelievable that this place just one month ago was a battlefield. The spectacle in front just could not be related with tragic feast of iron, blood, and magic.

However, Saito held the enemy back in here.

“…Saito attacked 70,000 in here.”

Here, my shield took my place.

What was he thinking?

The wide forest line could be seen sideways. After explaining the issue, Louise borrowed from the Academy of Magic, an Albion map made by the Tristain geography academy.

Siesta looked over her shoulder.

“This is a map of the whole Albion continent”

Louise cleared her throat and folded the map.

“I wonder if there is a village nearby…“

Siesta looked into the distance and pointed at the corner of the forest.

“There is a path there.”

There was a path that they didn't notice at night.

“It leads to the forest.”

“It’s easy to miss, but it doesn’t disappear within the forest.”

Though the path was not wide enough for a carriage to pass, it was wide enough for a person, and seemed to tread down rather firmly.

“Someone lives in here.”

Siesta said.

* * *

During those days…　

In the forest of the Westwood village, Agnes and Saito set up their wooden swords.

Though Agnes said that technique is not important in war, she taught Saito some techniques. Technique for rolling, cutting swords, and using it; also the way to feint.

And now… Agnes talked about ‘examination‘.　

Saito was told to use all the tricks and techniques he was taught in this one.

“Then, I will call you by name.”

Until now, Saito was always referred to as 'dog'.

“What is needed to be done?”

“Imitate an actual combat, naturally.”

Then Saito inhaled deeply and lowered the sword.

“…What? This stance…”

Then Saito scoops the soil off the ground with the point of a sword, and threw it, aiming at Agnes's face.

“Teyaah!”

But… Agnes stood stone-still.

“Uh.”

“The soil won’t be caught into one’s eyes as easily as the sand.”

“Sossu”

Saito put on a serious look on his face and set up the sword.

And for a while, the feud continued.

“You are not charging in? Then, I will go.”

Agnes took a wide swing.

Fast… however, he did not hesitate.

Saito was moving according to it.

Once it started, he decided.

First, taking full-length swings with a sword…

Agnes taught him that striking from the beginning may not always pass. As taught, he kept dodging and adjusting the timing.

Therefore, long swings with the sword.

Bonnnn! The sound of a wooden sword hitting a shoulder echoed.

Garan! Followed by the sound of wooden sword falling to the ground.

Saito dumbfounded, stared at his own hand.

It was firmly gripping the wooden sword.

Looking up… He saw Agnes kneeling on one knee and picking up the dropped sword.

“A-are you all right?!”

Saito ran up panicking. Agnes calmed Saito by standing up.

“I’m all right.”

After that, Agnes gave a smile.

“Surely, I'm matched with your swords full-swings…”

“I thought it was the only chance of winning.”

Saito said in disbelief. He was really excited to be able to take out the musketeer commander.

“Moo, as promised, now I will call you by name, Faito.”

“It’s Saito.”

Said a disappointed Saito.

* * *

Leaning against a tree… Saito and Agnes were having some rest.

Agnes began to talk.

“Now, then… since you passed the examination, I have one more thing for you to tell.”

Saito turned.

“What?”

“The techniques I taught you have one common thing.”

“Fmm?”

“They are all useless.”

“Yes?”

“In actual combat, an opponent is not always armed with a sword. You’ll never know, it could be spear occasionally or a gun. Or a frightening mage. No, it could be not human to begin with. You will not know if it’s magical beast or demi-human. Even more, it could not be one on one situation to begin with. If so, how long could you hang in there dodging? Sword fight is not always useful.

“Then what…”

“What did you do when you attacked me the first time?”

“Erm… I swung and lowered the sword.”

“And?”

“I pierced.”

“That’s right. This is the basic movement of real combat: swing, lower, pierce. It is good. Yet, you have to use the situation.”

“Situation?”

“First of all, a surprise attack. Try to hit from behind. If it fails, and you have to fight face to face, wait for the chance. Search for the chance. Create it if there is none.”

“…and when I cannot create?”

“Give your life up.”

“Really?”

“No, in real combat if you think you are defeated, you will be defeated. Technique and skills are worth nothing without self-confidence. So fake it, convince opponent that he won. Lure him out of reality. This is the essence of the victory.

“Then, now…”

Saito recalled Agnes's swinging. Somehow, it felt as if it lacked the usual speed. In other words, Agnes…

”Of course, the purpose of it was to build up your confidence. Yet, that technique was worthy of the victory.“

Saito face glowed.

“Thank you!”

“Now if you understand – wash your face.”

As said, his face was covered with sweat and dirt.

“Yeees!”

Saito cheerfully ran up through the field towards the stream.

“Fuah” Agnes sighed shaking her hand, and Derflinger, who was leaning against the tree, asked.

“Pretended, really?”

Staring at Derflinger Agnes answered.

“…Mo, it is still too early to evaluate his progress. But he already forged one year of practice of a considerable fighter.”

“Of course. He has more actual battle experience than you do. Even if the head does not remember, the body still recalls the life threat.”

Agnes quietly watched her hand, and then shook her head.

“Well… I went 80 percent. Yes.”

“80 percent?”

“Well, I may have gone fierce and went out 90 percent. Maybe.”

“You too have an unyielding competitive spirit, huh?”

* * *

When Saito was washing his face in a stream... Tiffania ran up, accompanied by a small girl.　

“What’s wrong?’

He asked Tiffania, who ran out of her breath.

“The Louise-san of whom Saito talked about had pink hair and was a short girl?

“Y-yeah…”

While trying to figure out what was so urgent about it, Saito nodded.

“She has long-hair, small chest, is cute, but a very rude girl?”

Dumbfounded, Saito nodded.

“T-that’s right… what’s wrong?”

“Than, it could be Louise-san after all…”

“Eh?”

“Emma, when picking mushrooms in the forest, saw that person, together with another woman with black hair, walking.”

“Woman with black hair?”

“That person called her Siesta…”

“R-really?!”

Saito as shocked.

“Louise-san! Waah, she seems to be heading straight here! What to do!”

Louise?

Searching for me?

His chest was filled with various emotions. Huge desire entered his thoughts. It swelled like a balloon pumped with gas.

I want to meet her.

I want to meet her a lot.

Louise… his cute Master-sama, whom he was protecting for so long.

I want to meet her.

Tears started flowing.

That noble girl came to look for me.

* * *