"Rest well."
"Yeah. I'll try."
Lying under a cozy duvet in a darkened room, I felt more at peace than I ever did lying in the back alleys.
'The first time I laid down out there... ugh...'
When I first slept on the streets, all I could do was cry. I'd been hit by a truck, and when I opened my eyes, I was a beggar in a world where the apocalypse wouldn't be out of place.
I cried so much that the other homeless people came over, complaining about the noise, forcing me to move deeper and deeper into the corners to sleep. But eventually, after I started cutting people down, that became my territory, and they were the ones scuttling away into the corners. The back alleys for you.
'Did they say training starts tomorrow...?'
If I grind as hard as I can, could I become like them? It was only a brief clash, but I felt an insurmountable wall between my blade and Meursault's. Can I really become that strong?
'If I get that strong, I could land a high-ranking job at a decent mercenary company. Or should I just go straight to Rhodes Island?'
I don't know if this is before or after the main story starts. This place is such a backwater—even for Danguk, a country that barely existed in the lore—that I have no idea who is here. If there were even one Operator around, I could try to rub elbows with them.
'I forgot most of the story anyway...'
I remember bits and pieces, but I was the type to binge the story and skip through it, so I really shouldn't have done that. I know it starts roughly with the Doctor waking up in Ursus.
'How the hell do I get to Ursus from here?'
Actually, even if I got to Ursus, I'd probably just end up in the back alleys there too. Let's build up my strength here first. Learn everything I can.
Drifting through these thoughts, I eventually fell asleep.
"Look at you, slacking off already, fledgling!!"
"Huuh..? It's morning already?"
"Yes. You have ten minutes. Get yourself sorted and come to the training ground. If you're late, you train without breakfast."
That can't happen! I need my breakfast!!
"Ugh... Good morning..."
—Splash!!!
"Wash your face like that and you might peel your skin off..."
"Salsu, you get up too!"
"No. I shall sleep more."
Must be nice. To be able to sleep in.
"What are you staring at! Don't be a slug, get dressed quickly!"
"Ah, right!"
"Huff... huff..."
"Exhausted by mere running? You are disgracing the name of the Blade Lineage."
Wait, isn't she more like a cat than a fox? How did she climb all the way up here without panting once?
"You... you okay...?"
"Ye-yeah... my back..."
Ugh, I haven't even eaten anything, and I feel like throwing up...
"Hmph! It is good to see such vigor in the morning!"
That Zalure(?) over there. Her name was Don Quixote, right?
"First, take these, both of you."
"Ouch! Could you give it a little more gently..."
Something extremely hard hit my head... Is this a sword? A brand new one, at that.
"This is a Bonguk-geom. It is the most suitable form of blade for the swordsmanship that forms the foundation of our Blade Lineage. It is the sword you will use for the rest of your life, so do not stare at it for too long. You will be seeing it enough to get sick of it."
—Shinnng.
"Ooh..."
I don't have an eye for appraising swords, but I can tell this isn't something you buy off the shelf. Looks like it was custom-ordered from someone with a name. But there's one thing bothering me.
"Outis. The grip on this—!"
"Do not call an adult by their name so casually."
"Sheesh... I just wasn't taught any better..."
Actually, I know how to use honorifics, but before I died, I was in my mid-twenties. I was at least in the same age bracket as you, Outis, plus I've spent a few extra years here. Do you think polite speech comes easily?
"At the very least, call me Ms. Outis. Address me as such."
"Then, Ms... Outis. Has someone used this sword before?"
It was polished like new, but the handle felt like it had been gripped countless times by a hand larger than mine; there were parts slightly worn down.
"To notice that... it seems we didn't bring you here for nothing. Yes. It was used by a former member of the Blade Lineage."
"Former... then, what happened to them?"
"Dead. Died while fleeing from the Slave Hunters."
"Slave Hunters? Are we being chased?"
I haven't heard anything about that. Isn't this place a bit too prime of a location for people on the run?
"We will discuss that later. Anyway, grip your swords. Fledglings."
Right. We're both technically Liberi (birds), so fledglings fits.
"Got it. Ms... Outis."
"Good. Now, come at me."
"What? With real swords?"
"Why? Afraid you'll get cut?"
What kind of group spars with live steel? Is this really a cult of lunatics?
"No. Afraid I'll cut you."
"Ho. Right. A fledgling should have at least that much guts. Come then."
Despite how I look, I've been involved in every kind of fight the back alleys have to offer. I should be able to exchange at least a few blows.
"Then!! Squire Sinclair shall duel with me!!"
"P-please go easy on me..."
"Not a chance!! Here I come!!!"
"Whoaaa!! Really?! You're really coming at me?!!"
"Ho. I see. The nickname 'Ghost' wasn't just hot air."
To reach my top speed, I first have to push my heart to its limit. When I fought Cap'n Sault, I had already been fighting, so I ramped up quickly, but now it might take a moment.
'This brat. He's getting faster. Is it Reinforcement Arts?'
Arts. The "magic" usable by the inhabitants of Terra. Its types vary, as do the methods of application. Since Originium is used as a catalyst, those infected with Oripathy can often use stronger Arts. The problem is, they die faster.
'If it's Reinforcement Arts, that speed makes sense.'
A speed unbelievable for a child. Outis flinched for a moment at the unexpected velocity, but she wasn't someone who would be pushed back by just this.
"This is my max!!!!"
My top speed. Now that I've reached this level, the thought of losing doesn't even cross my mind.
'Front... no, side.'
—Clang!
'He vanished... This time, above!'
The moment his feet touched the ground, Baekhyun disappeared. Outis could no longer afford to be lenient.
'Catching the blade with his hand?'
That was when a blue aura began to swirl around her sword.
"Arts?"
It was just a clash of blades, but the recoil on my side was immense, breaking my stance.
"No. Not Arts. Technique."
This time, it was orange. The sword was aiming for—
'The heart...!!!!'
She really wasn't kidding about not going easy? More importantly, that stance...
'The book Faust gave me!!'
That was definitely the thrusting technique called Jabeop!
I recognized the attack pattern. Now I have to block it, but I don't have a good option. Better to go for a desperate counterattack.
The trajectory of the incoming blade. If I can just deflect it slightly with my sword...!
'...!'
'I wo—!'
Blades dug toward each other in a split second. But my sword didn't reach her. The blade, glowing with orange light, slammed into my shoulder, sending me flying back into a tree.
"Cough...! Cough...!"
I almost had her!!
"Mm. Excellent bladework, Squire Sinclair!"
"Hi, Sin... clair...?"
"You... alive...?"
Look at the state of us. I've got a cut on my shoulder bleeding out, and Sinclair is leaking blood from cuts all over his body.
"Sparring ends here. Go to Faust, get treated, eat, and come back. If you're late, you'll be running to the mountain peak and back."
"I came here to live, but I feel like I'm dying..."
"Take my hand. Let's go eat."
"Just give me a second... Overloaded."
My body lets me generate explosive speed momentarily, but moving beyond my limits drains my strength just as fast.
"Anyway, how was it? With Don Quixote?"
"She was incredibly strong... Even though she looked like she was going easy, I never felt like I could win."
"Same here. But what was that blue and orange light on the sword? She said it was a technique. Do you know, Sinclair?"
"I don't know... not really..."
What the hell was that? It wasn't a normal sword strike. I got pushed back without even being touched, and there was recoil just from blocking.
"Mm... I don't know! Let's just go eat!!"
"M-medicine first!!"
"So, Sir Outis. Why did you use techniques? Even if Yogyeok-se (Interceptor Stance) counts as defense, I did not expect you to use Jabeop."
Meanwhile, Don Quixote and Outis were discussing Sinclair and Baekhyun.
"Squire Sinclair seems to have hesitation in his sword... or perhaps it is something slightly different... Anyway, his potential for growth is very, very high!"
"...That fledgling, Baekhyun. Is he really only twelve?"
Those eyes. It wasn't just a lack of hesitation about killing; it was a fleeting glint in his eyes that looked like he lived for the kill.
"That brat. If he grows up well—or perhaps if he grows up wrong—he is definitely material that might claim the title of the youngest Salsu (Assassin)."