introduction
Passing through the north gate of Darju State, the wilderness continues to the buffer zone.
is a huge barrier that has continued to protect us from the "uncleanness" of the outside world.
Now it stood as just a gray block of stone.
Haru Briesemeister stopped my beloved horse from walking.
The wind sounds different. Unlike the warm wind inside the wall, this place is outside the wall.
The earth, the trees, and even the chirping of birds are
It was different from what I usually hear.
on a small trip with Haru and several attendants
Haru's heart was pounding.
after a while from Dirge's barrier.
We approached a huge suspension bridge that divided a large river.
"Wait! Haru Briesemeister!"
At the same time as Haru turned around, Ikki's shadow was obscured by a huge cloud of sand.
A light lower body with very little exposure and armor that is lacking in various ways.
Leila is the head of the Maischberger family, the most prestigious family in Darju State.
Layla jumped off the horse, and
I pressed myself close to Haru, breathing into his shoulder.
His eyes were filled with anger and other complex emotions.
“What do you mean by leaving without saying a word to me?
I won't let you pretend to be a hero all by yourself without even settling a deal with me! ”
Haru gave a short sigh on his horse and quietly descended to the ground.
"Layla what are you talking about? Shut up, don't.
After going through the formal procedure, I received
from Micheline Royer.
I received a permit to go outside the wall.
There is no rule to report to you.”
“You’re so stupid! You can say something to me, my childhood friend!
There is a limit to the smell of water! ”
"If I say so, you will follow me like this. Is that wrong?"
Haru calmly but sharply retorted.
“And Layla, you are the head of the Maischberger family.
Even though he has a younger sister, Sheila,
leaves home and goes out for personal reasons.
Isn't this an abdication of one's responsibilities as a nobleman? ”
"Argh!"
Layla was at a loss for words.
Haru's points are always correct and hit where it hurts.
“Well, I’m sure about that!
Even I received permission from Lord Loirier! ”
Leila took out a piece of parchment from her pocket and thrust it in front of Haru.
It certainly has the seal of the Loirier family stamped on it.
“Loirier-sama said.
Let the cute child travel, and the lion will drop his child into the valley of the sky.
Haru, if you think you're the only one special, you're wrong.
I will also come to Siegfrieda-sama.”
Haru's eyes widened a little, but he quickly returned to his usual serious expression.
"…If you have permission, I have no right to stop you.
But Layla, your playful sword techniques won't work from here on out.
I hear that Vaispa monsters are still rampaging in Silkus Agricultural State.
Is a young lady like you prepared to be covered in that mud and blood? ”
“I don’t want you to say that!
When I was a kid, I was better at playing in the mud than you! ”
"I'm talking about determination"
Leila bit her lip at Haru's cold voice.
It's always like that. Haru seems to be one step ahead and treats Layla like a child.
This is both incredibly frustrating and endearing.
That's why I can't lose.
"…It seems like there's no point in saying it. Haru."
A metallic sound echoes in the wilderness.
Leila pulled out the sword from her waist.
Reflecting the setting sun, the tip was aimed at Haru's throat.
“From here on, the path to Siegfrieda-sama’s hermitage is
We will compete with you not as partners but as rivals.
But before that…I want to make something clear.
See who will be the first to kneel outside the wall! ”
Haru took another look at his best friend in front of him.
Beautifully styled hair, well-tailored custom-made armor.
However, the fighting spirit deep inside is stronger than when it was smoldering inside the wall.
It's burning much hotter.
Haru seemed to have given up, but his mouth loosened slightly as he pulled out his own sword.
"Okay, Layla. If you're going to say that much, prove it here.
That sword of yours is not just a decoration."
"It's what you want! I'll engrave Maischberger's sword skills into your body!"
The bloodlust of the two young ladies collided, and the surrounding air became filled with tension.
"Let's go, Haru!"
“I remember that, Layla!”
Settlement
"Haaaa!"
"Taa!"
Two shadows intersect,
A high-pitched metallic sound cut through the wind.
The swordsmanship practiced by the nobles of Dirge is
.
Basically, it's just a hobby.
However, outside this barrier,
The swords of the two men were very serious and there was no hesitation.
Haru turns his wrist to parry Layla's slash, but
The impact makes my arm go numb.
"Damn… it's heavy…!"
"Of course! I haven't been wielding a sword just as a hobby either!
I've always been thinking about you. There's no way it's light! ”
Layla doesn't let up in her pursuit. At the same time as she stepped forward, Leila kicked up the sand.
At the same time, dust flies up, robbing Haru of his vision.
(Sand…!?)
Haru turned his head away for a moment.
A fierce force of nature that would not be possible in a clean dojo inside the walls.
Haru's foot stepped on a floating stone in the wilderness, causing him to lose his balance slightly.
"There's a chance!"
Layla didn't miss a moment.
Layla doesn't mind getting dirty,
It jumped into Haru's bosom from a low stance that scraped the ground.
The tip is flipped up from below.
Gakin
Haru's sword was blown away, flying round and round in the sky, and
It hit dry ground.
Thud.
Haru sat down on the ground.
Leila's sword slowly pointed sharply at Haru's face.
Haru's eyes sway, then close quietly.
"…It's my loss."
"Haa, ha…I did it!…I won…I won…!"
Layla exclaimed, breathing heavily as she savored her victory.
However, as soon as she lowered the sword, she also slumped to the spot, as if her strength was gone.
The sound of the wind echoes in the wilderness.
"…I'm disappointed, but I lost.
I never thought they would kick up sand to block visibility.
I didn't swing my sword inside the wall because of the poor footing. ”
When Haru leaked it, Leila snorted.
"It's a battle. I won't let you call me cowardly.
…But I was desperate.
I would rather lose to you here and be left behind,
I didn't care about getting covered in sand.''
Hearing those words, Haru opened his eyes and looked to the side.
Layla's perfectly set hair was disheveled, and there was dust on her cheeks.
However, her profile does not look like the face of an aristocratic lady that she has known since she was a child.
It looked like a knight.
“…Maybe I was being conceited.”
Haru muttered with a hint of self-mockery.
“Although I said, “I’m determined, I’m determined,” I was still practicing “swordsmanship inside the wall.”
You can't be a knight if you lose your balance due to poor footing.''
“It’s the same for me.Since the other person was you,
I was able to do something that wasn't part of my usual swordsmanship training.''
Leila stood up and held out her hand towards Haru, who was sitting down.
The hands of a comrade in arms after a battle are different from the ones when they crossed swords for fun.
"Let's stand up, Haru. Our battle begins here."
"…Yeah. That's right."
Haru gripped his hand tightly.
The two were pulled up and faced each other at close range.
We felt each other's body temperature.
"Leila. Nothing would be more reassuring if you were next to me."
When Haru spoke his words in an unusually honest manner, Leila's face turned red and she turned away.
"Please don't get me wrong!
I'm just going to keep an eye on you and make sure you don't misbehave with Siegfrieda-sama! ”
"Hehe, let's leave it at that."
Haru pulled out the sword that was stuck in the ground and sheathed it.
Leila also puts away her sword and adjusts her living arrangements.
"Let's go, Leila. We're inexperienced. But we'll go to Siegfried-sama, and
Let's become even stronger! ”
"Yeah! From now on, we'll fight together!"
