Translator: Saitamsensei Editor:Ryunakama
11. Thousand Blade Academy and The Big Five Holy Festival [1] – part 3
Finally my turn came.
I stood in front of the bamboo on the pedestal and took a deep breath.
(Iai slash, huh…)
If I"m not mistaken, my best record in the Gran Swordsmanship Academy was 1.2 seconds.
In the past, it was the poorest event for me, but now that I have trained for over a billion years, this event might be my forte.
The moment when my breath was in order and my mind reached the nil state – I drew out the sword in one breath.
「-Sh!」
It"s the fastest slash I can unleash now.
「Hou!」
Leisensei, who saw my Iai Slash from right beside me, was in wonder.
The slash just now, even I think it was really good.
And the result is…
…Eh?
For some reason, the measurer didn"t tell me the result.
「E-Excuse me, how many second was it?」
As I asked so conservatively,
「…Eh?」
He looked at me with a surprised look.
「Eh, no, err… I mean, I would like to know how many seconds it was…?」
「I"m also curious as to how many seconds the record is. I would be happy if you could tell us without delay.」
Leisensei also asked in addition to my own question.
As she did,
「N-No no, what are you two saying from just now? He still hasn"t cut the bamboo, you know?」
The measurer tilted his head confusedly.
「No… I have already cut it…」
「Yes, it"s as Allen says.」
When I gently poked the bamboo in front of me with my fingers, the cleanly bisected bamboo, slowly slipped on to the ground.
At that moment, the cla.s.smates who watched behind became noisy.
「N-No way…!?」
「I couldn"t see it at all…」
「Seriously, when did he draw the sword…!?」
At the same time, the measurer who was keeping his eyes peeled, immediately ran to the bamboo that had been split in two.
「Im-Impossible…!? I, a 50 year veteran… overlooked an Iai slash…!?」
While trembling all over, and repeatedly attached and separated the two cut-sections of the bamboo.
From a bystander"s point of view, he would seem a little crazy.
「However, this is a little troublesome… You couldn"t see it when it"s moving at that speed…」
Leisensei placed her hand on the chin, and with a troubled look, she was coming up with some kind of measure.
「Fumu… it can"t be helped. Allen, please cut slower next time.」
「S-Slower…?」
「Aa, please.」
「Hhaa… understood…」
I never imagined that「slow」 would be required in Iai slash, which competes for speed.
For the time being, I once again stood in front of the new set of bamboo and readied my mind in moderation.
And then,
「-Sh!」
The slash that was intentionally slowed down when slipping out of the scabbard, and cut the bamboo considerably slower than before.
「-0.1seconds. This being your slower… you"re a terrifying swordsman.」
The best record ever so far, the cla.s.smates who watched from behind, got excited.
「As expected, Allen!」
「You"re so far forward…」
For some reason, Ria was puffing her chest, while Rose-san seemed a little dispirited.
「Fumu, let"s keep Allen"s record as a temporary record. Originally, he should have cut it in less than 0.1seconds.」
Then, everyone took the test one by one, but in the end I didn"t see anyone that beat my temporary record of 0.1 seconds.
After that, the『Ten Slash』, a test to compete for how quickly it was possible to cut all of the ten dummies in a vertical line.
As a result of using First Sword – Flying Shadow, I set an academy record of 2.0seconds.
Next,『Consecutive Slash』 is a test that uses a human body model to compete for how quickly the slashes. .h.i.ts the four most weak points of human beings – the chin, heart, liver, and solar plexus.
As a result of using Eighth Sword – Yatagarasu, it ended in 1.0second. Everything seemed to be an academy record, and Leisensei was very impressed.
And the long practical test finally ended.
「Yoshi, with this the practical test comes to an end. Everyone, well done. After this, the gymnasium will be open all day. Swinging, mock-fight, practicing your style – do whatever you like. Well then – Disperse!」
And then Leisensei left the gymnasium.
「Fuuu… I"m slightly tired.」
Since it was my first practical test after a long time, strangely I was bracing myself for it, thus I was mentally tired rather than physically.
And as I was stretching my body, a male student approached me.
One of the people I beat yesterday – the Iron Cutting-style user.
「Say, Allen. The technique you used for『Ten Slash』…was called Flying Shadow, right?」
「Aa, do you want to ask something about it?」
「Umm, how to say… If it"s okay, can you teach me that technique? I"ll teach the Iron Cutting-style in return!」
「Err… no, sorry… I"m still not a good enough a swordsman to teach other people swordsmanship.」
And as I refused him politely,
「P-Please I"m begging you! It"s alright even if you don"t teach the entirety of Flying Shadow! A few tips would be enough! …Please!」
He requested earnestly with both hands pressed together.
「O-Ok…」
When I"m being asked so far, I had no choice but to accept.
In the first place, I"m not hiding the technical princ.i.p.al of Flying Shadow.
Rather, I would like for it to be imitated more and more so that Flying Shadow could improve and evolve.
「…Understood. But I"m not very good at teaching, so don"t get your expectations high, ok?」
「S-Seriously!? Thank you, Allen! I love you!」
Perhaps they had heard the conversation now,
「Oi, wait a second! Don"t try to get a head start alone!」
「Look, Allen, teach me your techniques too! Instead, I"ll teach you the basics of the Crescent Moon-style!」
「I"d like you to teach me too, Allen-kun! In return, I"ll teach you the form of Shimmering Water-style, ok? Please!」
Other students also came to me excitedly.
「Aa, yes it"s alright.」
And while I listened to everyone"s requests,
「W-Wait, Allen! That"s unfair, teach me too!」
「Please teach me too.」
Ria and Rose-san, who both got a late start, took both of my sides.
After that, everyone noisily talked together about swordsmanship.
In addition to how to shoot Flying Shadows that was requested the most, the essence of the Iron Cutting-style, the basics of the Crescent Moon-style, the form of the Shimmering Water-style, tricks to make the Iai slash a little faster, what we always think about when swinging, and such ―― The story about swordsmanship blossomed all at once.
(That"s right, I always wanted to spend this kind of time…)
Getting along with everyone, and talking about our favorite swordsmanship…
I had been wanting it all the time during my three years at the Gran Swordsmanship Academy.
(But in the end, I couldn"t get a hold of it because of the unreasonable bullying …but right now, it"s within the palm of my hand…)
While I was vaguely remembering the past, and reflecting on this happiness I finally seized,
「…Allen, are you crying?」
Ria looked at me worriedly.
As I noticed, there were slight tears in the corner of my eyes as she said.
I seem to have gotten a little too emotional.
「Ah… n-no I"m not.」 There"s just dust in my eyes, don"t worry.」
So when I was rubbing my eyes exaggeratedly, a male student asked a question while swinging his sword recklessly.
「Hey, Allen! How do I shoot a slash from here out?」
「Haha. To shoot Flying Shadow, you must hold the sword in a certain way-」
Thus, the happy time I had been wishing for since I was a child, flowed slowly.