The beatings continued until dinner.
"Ughhh... my whole body is screaming..."
I can't even lift my spoon... It feels like my muscles are staging a coup.
"Eat quickly and go to sleep. And after Hai-shi... I mean, after 9 PM, do not leave this building."
"Hm? Where are you going, Cap'n Sault?"
"I am going to battle. If anything happens, Outis will remain behind, so seek her out."
Battle? Come to think of it, we are in conflict with the Kurokumo Clan, and they mentioned Slave Hunters being involved. I guess they only move during these dark hours.
"Okay. Come back safe, Cap'n Sault."
"I shall."
"D-do we have to go out there someday too?"
"Probably? We're part of the Blade Lineage, after all."
If they just fed us and let us sleep without fighting, this would be a homeless shelter, not a syndicate.
"Why? Scared?"
"...Are you not scared?"
Scared... Of course I'm scared. One wrong stab and it's a one-way trip across the River Styx.
"The more scared you are, the tighter you have to grip your sword. If I don't kill, I die."
"That is a good mindset, fledgling."
"How long are you going to call me fledgling? I call you Ms. Outis."
"I will call you fledglings until you peel off that fledgling label."
"And when is that?"
"That depends on you. Now, if you are done eating, go get some sleep."
"Yeah, let's go. Sinclair."
"W-wait for me! Goodnight, Ms. Outis."
'Hmm... that attack...'
Breathing, was it? If I can figure that out, can I use it too?
Jabeop... It was definitely written in that book in Faust's library.
"Alright. Faust went out too, right?"
Then let's go take a quick peek at the book. It should be fine if it's just for a moment.
Holding the vocabulary book Faust gave me, I sneaked into the library. Surprisingly, the door wasn't locked.
"Let's see... was it this book?"
Faust said the Blade Lineage has members from all over and many variations of swordsmanship, so records are kept in multiple languages.
"Let's see here... Breathing... Breathing... Is this it?"
Looking at the diagram of a human breathing, it seems about right.
"Breathing... is... the Blade Lineage's... basic... Jwase? Stance..."
If your breathing wavers, your stance collapses. If your breathing quickens, your vision narrows. The most important thing for a swordsman is a broad field of vision. Attacks coming from all directions, the opponent's next move—you need composure to react to them. And the foundation that builds that composure is—
"Breathing..."
I see. So Breathing isn't just the basis for swordsmanship; it's the foundation for everything—predicting the opponent's next move, reacting to attacks from blind spots.
"The sword... is a... vessel. Depending on what you fill it with—"
What you fill it with determines whether you cut, stab, or strike. We define this as filling it with Self (E.G.O).
"Fill it with Self? So that blue and orange light... was E.G.O?"
It makes sense why they said it wasn't Arts, but a technique. A technique to pour your own self into the blade.
"How do you do that?"
That's the most important part... but I can't read it.
"If you don't have teeth, you chew with your gums. Does she have a dictionary?"
Someone like Faust wouldn't need a vocabulary book to translate these, but since she gave me a kid's version, surely she has one for others?
"Ooh, found it! Found it!"
An intermediate vocabulary book, and some others too.
"It'll be a while before they come back, right? Just a little more reading."
And so, studying away... I just fell asleep right there.
"Everyone, go inside and rest."
"The Kurokumo Clan is swarming more than usual these days. It is deeply concerning."
As dawn approached and the sun began to brighten the world again, the members of the Blade Lineage returned from battle and headed to their rooms.
"Hm? Why are the child's shoes placed in the library?"
Faust was here, so there should be no shoes, yet whose small shoes were those?
—Creaaaak.
"He was right here!!!"
"Shhh—it appears he has fallen asleep. But why sleep here instead of his room?"
"It seems... it was because of the books."
"Books. You mean swordsmanship?"
Why would this small child covet these books? Is he... perhaps a spy who infiltrated for the Kurokumo? Or does he intend to sell our swordsmanship elsewhere?
"Look here. It seems it is because of you, Meursault."
[Win against Cap'n Sault]
A goal scribbled in small letters on the vocabulary notebook. The handwriting was quite neat for a child.
"It appears he has developed a competitive spirit towards you."
"Hmm... I will not charge him for this transgression. Carry him to his room."
"Wake up, fledgling! Oversleeping again?"
"Wha-huh?! Here is?! My room?"
"Where else would it be? Sinclair has already left for the training ground!"
"What? That traitor!"
"Save your traitor talk for when you arrive, you slug!"
"Huff... huff... This is child abuse..."
Jesus, climbing up here is hard enough on its own, but telling me to piggyback Don Quixote all the way up?
"Was I very heavy?"
"Yeah. Just how many kilos are y—GAAAAH!!"
"Asking a lady her weight is the height of rudeness!"
"What do you want me to do then?!!!"
My hair! My hair!! My precious black and white hair!!
"That is enough playing around. We resume Breathing training."
"Again? Damn it... fine, bring it on!"
"You wavered again! Correction Punch!!"
"Gaaah!!"
And so, I got the hell beaten out of me. Again.