Relationship
Lux’s Side
We have only exchanged a few blows with our swords, but there is something I am absolutely certain of… this person… is really strong!
Even though this person has only been receiving my attacks without counterattacking, I can tell how strong they are just from the way they read my moves and block my wooden sword.
“Your sword is as straightforward and honest as your character seems to be… The fundamentals of your movements are well-honed, so there is no doubt that among sword users you are excellent… however.”
As they said this, the helmeted person knocked my wooden sword away with a single precise strike. From the shock, I lost my balance and fell to the ground, supporting myself with one hand.
Then, the helmeted person pointed their wooden sword at me and spoke.
“With only that, you cannot defeat me, who has devoted more training to the sword than you.”
…Amazing.
To knock away my swinging wooden sword with a single strike, break my stance, and in the very next moment already be pointing their wooden sword at me… Just as this person said, they must truly have spent far more time than I have in training with the sword.
My classmates, who had been watching the mock battle between me and the helmeted person, applauded to praise both the winner and the loser.
At that moment, my gaze happened to fall on the hand gripping the wooden sword of the helmeted person pointing it at me.
“Such a beautiful, graceful hand… I feel as though I have seen it somewhere before…”
“…!”
When I unconsciously muttered that, the helmeted person pulled back their hand along with the wooden sword and said to me.
“As long as you waste your breath calling my hand beautiful, it means you still lack training… You must continue to train much more from now on.”
“Yes!”
Though I felt there was something familiar about those words, I firmly responded to what they had told me.
“Now then, Rodwell, step back and tell the young lady of the Florence family, who was also drawing attention, to come to me.”
“U-Understood!”
With those words, I bowed my head to the helmeted person, returned to where I had been, and called out to Florence-san.
“Florence-san, they would like you to go next.”
“Understood… I shall do my utmost to avenge Lux-sama.”
“G-Good luck!”
“Yes.”
Even though she was about to have a mock battle with someone clearly very strong, Florence-san smiled at me gently as usual, and then walked toward the helmeted person.
Floria’s Side
“So you have come.”
“Yes, I ask for your guidance.”
When she reached the helmeted person, Floria Florence bowed her head politely.
Then, after raising her head a moment later, the helmeted person spoke.
“I have heard of your talent, both academically and with the sword. I had even looked forward to crossing swords with you for the first time today.”
“My talent is nothing remarkable… However, since we are crossing swords, I shall face you with my full strength.”
“Good. Then come.”
After that exchange, Floria slowly approached the helmeted person and displayed flowing sword techniques with her wooden sword.
“I see, this sword…”
The helmeted person stepped back to create distance and then addressed Floria.
“By watching how I received Rodwell’s sword earlier, you noticed the habits in my defense and adjusted your strikes to exploit the angles that would be difficult for me to block, did you not?”
“The fact that you realized that in such a short time is truly impressive.”
Once again, Floria swung her sword at the helmeted person. However, the way the helmeted person blocked had changed, so it no longer went as it had before.
“There is not only one way to block a sword.”
“To change your defense instantly like that… but still…”
Floria adjusted her offense in response to the change in defense and struck again.
“Truly splendid, Florence… splendid, but…”
Rather than blocking Floria’s sword, the helmeted person parried it and placed her wooden sword against her neck.
“Your wooden sword lacks a decisive edge… If you had been wielding the rapier you excel at, the outcome might have been different. But at the very least with wooden swords, I have the advantage.”
“Fufu… I must admit defeat.”
As Floria honestly acknowledged her loss, both of them lowered their swords, and applause was given to the two of them just as it had been with Lux.
“By defeating both of you, I should now have earned trust regarding my abilities… With this, I will be able to conduct training without issue.”
“I am glad to hear that… Then, may I return over there?”
“Yes… but there is something I would like to ask you. What exactly is the relationship between you and Rodwell?”
Floria had not expected to be asked about her relationship with Lux by the mysterious helmeted person, so she asked in return.
“I can answer, but why does such a thing interest you?”
“You two seemed rather close, so it piqued my curiosity a little… There is no deeper reason, so if you would rather not answer, you do not have to.”
For Floria, whether she answered here or not did not matter much, but she decided it was best to answer properly.
“Lux-sama and I are schoolmates… and at the same time, we are in a relationship where marriage discussions are being considered.”
“W-What!?”
At that, the helmeted person raised her voice in unexpected shock.