Chapter 74:
Getting Stronger
“What? You say the neighboring country has stopped their operation?”
Rumors had been flying at both the military barracks and the Hunters’ Guild in the town of Mafan. They had been hard at work, bribing the Hunters’ and Mercenaries’ Guilds of not only the towns closest to the border, but even the country’s capital, along with some ordinary citizens—all for the sake of gathering information. Of course, there was no way that they could obtain a complete report on anything bigger than a mid-sized operation, but any reports at all were a boon.
Low-ranking soldiers, villagers, and thugs—the types who did not recognize the importance of information—were liable to talk their heads off. The transport of supplies and mobilization of troops was easily spotted, and the solitary messengers that carried messages over long distances traveled much quicker than
any troops, making it easy to eavesdrop on relevant information with so many such individuals in your pay. Their enemies might have maintained the element of surprise if they could pretend they were gearing up for a normal “monster drive,” but judging by the scale of the military mobilization, and the number of peasants who were being conscripted, the people of Mafan could tell that they intended more than just simple harassment this time.
“I was worried whether we’d be able to hold out until the reinforcements got here, but… Well, if that’s true, we gotta get out a messenger right away! We were wrong to call for mobilizing that many troops—we have to call it off right now! If we have to pay expenses, rewards, and apology gifts to each of the lords’ militaries, we’ll all go bankrupt! Hurry up! Get all the information you can!”
Compared to what would happen if a true war were to break out, this was a relief. The best outcome here would be to end this safely and without wasting money.
So thought the lord of these lands, dispatching messengers to gather information as quickly as possible.
***
“We’re pretty far from the capital now. I think we should probably be all right,” Reina muttered.
“Yes,” Pauline agreed. “I think we’re far enough to be safe. I’m pretty sure that word of what Mile did probably won’t get around much, either…”
For the past few days, the Crimson Vow had marched on, sleeping in the open to prioritize getting as far as possible as quickly as possible. As a result, though they had yet to make it over the border, they were already a great distance from the capital. They decided it was time to stop in at the next town and see what intel they could gather at the local guildhall.
“There’s nothing!”
There were no interesting jobs, no lucrative jobs, and no jobs that would provide them with good experience. This was, of course, normal. If any jobs like that cropped up in a little town like this, they would be snatched up by the local parties.
“I guess we’ll just stay here tonight and then head on to the next town.”
If they were going to kick up their feet for a while, it would be better to do it in a bigger town. The other three nodded in agreement with Mavis’s suggestion.
“…Huh?”
As they left the guildhall and walked down the main road in search of an inn, a particular signboard caught Mavis’s eye:
Sword lessons. Observers welcome. Short-term drill sessions also available. Former knight of the Imperial Guard, Ladimarl.
“…”
“……”
“………”
“Okay, okay! You wanna go, so let’s go!” Reina sighed in resignation, seeing how Mavis stared at the sign, not moving a muscle.
“Mrnn…”
The four members of the Crimson Vow sat in the corner of a training hall, observing the sword instructor’s lessons. Every now and then, Mavis grunted.
“All right! What is it?” asked Reina.
Clearly deeply moved, Mavis replied, “He is certainly someone worthy of his former title. His skill and his methods of instruction are exceptional. My father and older brothers are very skilled, but they’d prioritized the pursuit of their own goals, so none of them were very good at teaching. Plus, I was just a little girl back then. Now that I think about it, they probably treated sparring with a child as a game. I can’t really say that I ‘learned the art of the sword’ from them.”
Mile and the others would never think such a thing, but as Mavis observed the swordsmanship and teaching acumen of this former knight of the Imperial Guard, she suddenly felt that her own skill with a sword was little better than that of an amateur.
She gazed fixedly upon the former knight’s demonstrations, her eyes alight.
Ah, she’s hooked! thought the other three.
Anyone with sufficient drive and the slightest bit of discernment would want to learn from this man. It was probably his confidence in this fact that had lead him to allow observers into his classes. And it was for the sake of those who were unable to study under him for long periods that he offered “short term focus sessions.”
“The fee’s gonna be super expensive!!!” Pauline groused, but even she knew that Mavis improving her skills would be beneficial for the whole party. “Fine! We’ll pay the fee out of the party bank!!!”
Hearing this, the receptionist, a refined older woman, gave a satisfied smile. More than likely, she was the instructor’s wife.
“That will be three half-gold a day for each of the two swordfighters.”
“Whoa! That’s expensive!!!” all four hunters reflexively replied. The woman only smiled and asked, “Do you realize the value of being able to say that you’ve received instruction from a former knight of the Imperial Guard—without being a formal pupil? Are you aware of the kind of money and connections normally involved in obtaining the tutelage of such a person?”Even Pauline was wondering if this might actually be a bargain. The instructor had to be a good-natured man. He could have easily found employment as the teacher for the children of any noble, and yet here he was, teaching commoners in a place like this for just three half-gold…
“But he teaches more than ten people at once! And he has the pupils spar against each other while he just sits back to watch! These lessons are only two, three hours tops, so if he runs two groups of students a day, that’s over sixty half-gold!!!”
As Mile did the math, the woman averted her gaze.
“He’s making a killing!!!” shouted the other three, and throughout the hall, the students engaged in their sparring bouts all suddenly froze.
“Is that so…?”
After the incident in the hall, the woman explained to the Crimson Vow that there were various tiers of training fees, and there was a big difference between the tuition for beginners and most experienced folks. For penniless commoners, orphans, and the like, they charged only a nominal fee—and after the lessons were through, they even provided them with meals. If they did not collect the bulk of their fees from those who could afford to pay them, they would not be able to continue serving the poorer ones as well. Satisfied with this explanation, the members of the Crimson Vow had no choice but to accept.
The woman, who had initially thought that both Mavis and Mile would be taking lessons, was a bit disappointed to learn that her expected revenue would be halved. She strongly urged Mile to take lessons as well, but Mile told her that despite her gear, she was primarily a mage. Moreover, Mile claimed, despite studying the sword for over a year and a half at the academy, she still had yet to grasp even the basics, so studying for just a few days now would do her no good. Although the woman looked regretful, she seemed to give up.
“Well, I guess while Mavis is taking lessons for the next few days, the rest of us can go do a few jobs or just kick back for a bit…” said Reina.
The receptionist interrupted her train of thought: “I should let you know that in a town two days’ walk from here, there’s a place where you can receive magical instruction from a former court mage. What do you three think of training over there? He allows observation and offers short-term focus sessions as well.”
“Huh?” asked the three in perfect unison. As fellow party members, they had a way of reacting in sync.
“Are they some kind of affiliate?” asked Mile.
The woman answered without a hint of hesitation. “We have no direct affiliation, though the master there was a friend of our master here back during his years of service at the palace. Plus, any student who carries a letter of referral from us receives a five percent discount on their tuition. And we receive fifteen percent of their tuition fee.”
“We figured it would be something like that!!!”
In the end, the three other members of the Crimson Vow headed out of town, leaving Mavis. Much as they might gripe, they were all curious to see what kind of power and teaching style this former court magician possessed.
Before they departed, Mile had insisted to Mavis again and again, “If anything happens, please call us right away!” That being said, the town seemed relatively orderly, and it was hard to imagine that anyone would bother Mavis, a hunter armed with a sword. The town that the trio was traveling to was only two days away, and there had not been talk of any bandits appearing in the area for several years at least. Perhaps, they theorized, the towns were a little too close to each other to provide adequately lucrative hunting grounds for brigands. An extermination force would be quick to appear from either side.
Mavis’s short-term lessons were to run for the next five days, though she could extend her stay as much as she wanted. The idea was that this period would be long enough for her to be made aware of her own power and her own current shortcomings. Afterwards, she could take her time training in the particular areas where she stood to grow the most—under Mile’s capable supervision.
For his part, the sword master was thrilled. Not only was he happy to find a customer with a bit of money, but it had been ages since he had had a pupil of such promise, one who showed potential even after a short trial. His short-term students were usually self-taught, with absolutely vulgar technique.
Plus, she was a young beauty, with a prim and tidy appearance—in terms of attracting other customers, her presence was priceless. And then there was the fact that, if the three other girls went to the mage’s place, the swordsman would get a cut of the three half-gold tuition for three people over several days. If things went well, they might get six or seven, even ten or more half-gold.
The looks of satisfaction upon the faces of the master and his wife were only inevitable.
***
“Godspeed Blade!”
Smack!
“Gah!”
“That’s enough!”
Mavis stepped down as her sparring bout with one of the senior disciples came to a close.
Here in the training hall, there was a clear distinction between true disciples, and the short-term customers, the latter being referred to only as “students.” The students would leave once they were through and have nothing to do with the school again. As such, they were not deserving of the name of “disciple.” Similarly, the disciples referred to their primary instructor as “Master” rather than as “Teacher” as a way of separating themselves from their fellow students. Certainly, the short-term students would never refer to the disciples as their fellows.
However, for some reason, Mavis was being treated as a disciple by the end of the first day’s training and so was permitted to refer to the other disciples as her seniors. None of the disciples seemed unhappy about this and in fact doted on Mavis, their little junior.
Mavis, entering into this world for the first time in her life, was overjoyed.
My seniors! Brethren, walking the path of the sword together!!!
Meanwhile…
A young, beautiful lady! She’s elegant, and judging by the worldly topics and martial matters she speaks about, she’s clearly from a well-off noble family. She’s honest and good-natured. This is a gold digger’s paradise!!! Sothought the disciples.
She’s getting the disciples fired up, and more short-term hopefuls are going to come flocking in! thought the master. Plus, she’s a hard worker and good tempered. And though she can only maintain her concentration for a short while, she has that tremendous “Godspeed Blade” technique, which allows her to make rapid, continued strikes. It’s a shame that she’s only enrolled short-term! She is in the middle of a journey with her allies, though, so I suppose there’s nothing to be done for it.
She is chivalrous, the sort of person who would never sully her hands with foul deeds. I’m certain that one day she will grow into someone truly splendid and find herself wedded to a person of great status. If I can advertise the fact that she was my disciple, when that happens…
Everyone had their own way of looking at the situation, but as long as none of them were in direct conflict, everyone was happy, and that was fine.
“Master, roughly how strong do you think I am compared to other hunters?” asked Mavis after their lessons.
Master Ladimarl, the instructor, stroked his beard, mulling over the very straightforward question before finally issuing his reply. “Hmm… In standard terms, I would say you’re in about the top twenty percent of C-rank hunters. You told me that you learned from your father and older brothers, but you’re also earnest and disciplined. You haven’t any bad habits. Most hunters are self-taught, with a wasteful, vulgar technique. Compared to them, you’re doing quite well. Also, your blade is incredibly fast.
“However, though your strength and endurance is impressive for a lady, you still have a woman’s slight frame, without the sort of musculature that female rogues carry. Considering those setbacks, you’re not quite at B-rank, though your speed is good… That said, when you use that ‘Godspeed Blade’ of yours, I think you could rival any B-ranker. If you were to rattle them enough, or strike them while they were down, you might even have a chance against a lower A-rank hunter. It pains me that you cannot stay on for very long, but I will say that I rarely get to spar one-on-one with a student for such an impressive length of time.”
Thus far, Mavis had presented only her basic Godspeed Blade here. If combined with the True Godspeed Blade, which used her “spiritual power,” she believed she could generate an impressive display of strength… Naturally, the use of her EX True Godspeed Blade was limited to actual battles, when it was a matter of life and death. Anyway, she could not reasonably call that a use of her own power.
“I see…”
Reina and Pauline’s magic was probably on the level of A-rankers. Mile was…well beyond that. Compared to them, she could only just measure up to the level of A-rank via her trick of drinking Micros. She could just barely match them by relying on a medicine that someone else had provided her, and which only worked for a short amount of time, ruining her body in the process.
Her heart plummeted at the realization of her own worthlessness.
Besides, the mages could take on scores of opponents at once, while she could only fell the enemies who stood right before her, one at a time. Of course, she did realize that this was a swordsman’s role by nature, and their functions would never be the same. Still, Mavis could not help but be overtaken with a sense of powerlessness.
“Master, could I ask you to let me train in an all-against-one?”
“What?”
By “all-against-one,” Mavis meant that she wished to practice facing down an army’s full forces all at once. In other words, she wished to have all the disciples serve as her opponents, fight them all at the same time. By this time, the short-term students from the afternoon period had already gone home, with Mavis remaining behind by special permission to train alongside the regular pupils. Therefore, only twelve now remained—all of them fairly skilled senior disciples. They were the sort of swordsmen against whom even B-rank hunters could not hope to win.
There was a possibility that she could win in a short bout if she imbibed some Micros, but of course, that would mean nothing in terms of training.
“You do understand what it is you’re asking, yes?”
“I do.”
“Are you fine with being removed if this is received as an insult to your seniors?”
“I would never insult them!”
“Do you believe that you can win?”
“No…but I hope to practice so that I might be able to someday win. And so that I can catch up with my friends, just a little bit.”
Ladimarl, fell silent and then asked, “Are they really that strong?”
“Yes. Even our healer, who has the weakest attack magic among the three, could probably snuff out several A-rank swordsmen in the blink of an eye.”
“What?!”
At this, the disciples behind her froze.
“Please! I don’t want to drag them down—I don’t want to be dead weight! I have to make it over this hurdle! I must surmount this wall!!!”
A single tear dripped down Mavis’s cheek.
Everyone present was a martial man.
They knew the days of writhing in anguish as a result of hitting a wall in terms of their strength. The days of wanting to die from the weight of self-loathing, being stained with bitterness and envy at how far they had fallen behind their friends. The days when they futilely banged their heads against that wall, saddled with the regret of not protecting someone that they failed to save due to their own inadequacy.
There was not a single person among them who’d never experienced such things.
“I will not allow a disciple of the Ladimarl School of the Sword—nay, any swordfighter—to be made to look a fool beside three mages. I will train you as you like. You will learn well for your three half-gold a day!”
“Yes, sir!”
“You will all assist me in this, for the sake of your dear junior, for the honor of your school, and for the pride of followers of the sword the world over. You will not hold back. To do so would be an insult and a betrayal of your fellow student!”
“Yes, sir!!!” the others chorused.
And so, Mavis’s special training began.
It was hell. But her dreams were coming true, and by that measure, it was also paradise.
***
“Thank you very much!” cried Mavis, all in tatters.
Once again, after all the other short-term students had gone home, she’d remained to train with the full disciples. They had just finished an all-against-one bout—all-against-Mavis. Now, the disciples would clean and tidy the training hall, head into the backyard to wash up with water from the well, and then change their clothes.
Though she was being treated as a disciple, there was no way that Mavis, who was paying quite a bit of money, would be asked to clean the hall along with them. Mavis offered to help anyway, but the master shooed her away. Furthermore, no matter how egalitarian their shared training might be in regards to gender, the idea of Mavis washing up half-nude and changing her clothes alongside her seniors gave everyone pause. Instead, she would do her washing and changing after returning to her inn. As a result, Mavis left the hall a bit sooner than the rest.
As she headed toward the inn, Mavis thought to herself, I didn’t really make very much progress today, either. By our initial planning, I have two days of training left. Could I stay a bit longer? No, that would just cause trouble for the others.
So, what if I ended it here now? When I think about it, I’ve already learned quite a bit. The excellent sword technique that my seniors taught me and also the tactics, practical skills, and repertoire of dirty tricks—my ability to battle against other hunters, brigands, soldiers, and the like has been elevated by miles.
I’ve received so many valuable gifts from the master and the other disciples in exchange for the money I paid. No, it’s even more than that…
Mavis had half-resigned herself when something that Mile had once said floated through the back of her mind.
“Mavis, if you give up, then the battle is already lost!”
What in the world am I thinking?! How could I give up and waste these few precious days that my friends have allowed me, at the expense not only of our party’s funds but also of their time?! A maiden’s most precious resource—something that we can never get back!
It’s not that I have only two days left, it’s that I still have two days! I’m sure that Mile would think that way!
Think, Mavis! I must think of some way to get stronger in just these two days! It’s not often that you get the chance to gain experience in battles of one versus many. You must not waste this opportunity!
Think! You must think of something, Mavis von Austien!
A number of thoughts then ran through Mavis’s mind.
“Um, well, actually, there is a way that you could probably win…”
Mile’s words from the day of the fight against her older brother suddenly came to the forefront of her memory.
“You just need to get used to my speed… Strengthen your muscles with the power of your mind…
“Pain is nothing more than a warning signal. So all you have to do is tell yourself, ‘All right, all right, I get it already!’ and keep on pushing…
“You have to harden your heart!…”
“Use your speed to raise your power…”
“It’s centrifugal force or something like that…”
“Cats are so adorable…”
The smattering of phrases crossing her mind gave her an odd sense of déjà vu. And then…
“That’s it!”
With that cry, Mavis rushed back to the inn, quickly cleaned herself and changed her clothing, and hurriedly ate her fill of dinner. No proper knight would ever neglect food and hygiene, no matter how much of a hurry they were in. A knight’s body was their greatest weapon. Being in robust health was necessary to do their masters proud.
With all of her preparations complete, Mavis slipped into bed with her beloved sword, clutching the scabbard tightly, and began to channel all of her spiritual energy and powers of imagination.
When she had expended all of her spiritual energy, she promptly fell into a coma-like sleep.
***
“Please, allow me to use this one today.”
As the standard training drew to a close and it was time for Mavis’s final all-against-one training battle, she produced something from her pack.
“This is…”
“Yes, my own sword—in other words, a real sword, wrapped in cloth.”
After giving her a good, hard look, Ladimarl said to her, “Very well. With the blade so carefully wrapped, it is unlikely to cause injury. It might be harder to swing than a wooden sword, though, and less convenient. If you’re fine with that, then you are welcome to use it.”
“Thank you very much!”
The senior disciples appeared to accept this too, and they all silently nodded.
“All right, everyone, please prepare your hearts… Mavis von Austien is now entering the ring!”
“Splendid!” Ladimarl cried, leaping to his feet as Mavis thanked her seniors, her twelve seniors, who had all been knocked out of the ring, no longer able to fight…
No matter how many hits Mavis took, she persevered. The rules of the battle were that, if any of the other disciples took a hit that would have rendered them unable to fight on a real battlefield, they were to step out of the ring. All of the battles so far had been run under the same conditions, but previously, Mavis had succumbed to damage and fatigue before she could wipe out all of her opponents.
This time, while she had taken a number of hits in the opening moments, she had managed to dodge the rest of the blows after that, going on to fell all twelve of her opponents.
“Did something happen to you since yesterday?” the master asked.
Mavis, beaming, replied, “I found new strength in the words of my friends!”
“I see… You have yourself some wonderful friends.”
Then came the final day of Mavis’s training. Having managed to avoid any wounds that would be deemed fatal in her final battles against the disciples, Mavis received Master Ladimarl’s final decree.
“Our school has no proof of enrollment, nor certificate of mastery. We have no need for such things. Our skill is our testimony. While there are those who can study the art of the sword for ten years with no results, there are also those who can make leaps and bounds in just three days. Whether one can truly grow in such a short amount of time…well, that isn’t a question you need anyone else to answer, now is it?”
Mavis shook her head.
“You came here as a customer, just a short-term student, but I don’t believe anyone here now thinks of you as merely that. You are a disciple of the Ladimarl school, and fellow to all who study here. From now on, I permit you to bear that title. Never forget, there will be many who are your seniors, and from now on, many more who are your juniors. Whenever you are in trouble, rely on those allies. And now, you must go to the friends who await you!”
“Yes, sir! Everyone, thank you for everything. I will never, ever forget your kindness. Now then, I will say farewell!”
Bowing her head deeply, Mavis left the hall behind. Tonight, she would rest again at the inn, and tomorrow morning, she would set out to the next town to meet up with the others.
“Gone, is she? Haven’t had that much fun in quite a while! All right, all of you, clean up, get changed! Let’s all go out for a drink, my treat! I’m feeling good today! Can’t pass up a chance to celebrate, can I?!”
The disciples let out a cheer, while the master’s wife, who was tighter with her purse, forced a smile—which was to say, she gave the master’s announcement her approval. The disciples cleaned the hall with great vigor.
“Later on, find out for me what country the noble house of Austien hails from, would you? If she gets famous, it’ll be great publicity for us. And if she’s ever in trouble, let’s give her a teeny bit of help. And when she gets married…perhaps we’ll send her a gift.”
“Yes, dear.”
Ladimarl’s wife, of course, understood. When her husband said, “a teeny bit of help,” he meant that he would be willing to devote the rest of his “teeny bit” of remaining life to aiding Mavis.
“Say, if our daughter were still alive… No, never mind.”
“Yes, dear.”
Mavis von Austien slept, her beloved sword in her arms. She knew not the trials that lay on the horizon, but whatever dreams she dreamt, the look upon her sleeping face was a happy one.
***
“Hehehe! They’re gonna be so surprised. Now, I wonder when would be the coolest time to make my big entrance…”
Mavis strolled down the road with a slightly crooked grin upon her face.
Without Mile around, she had neither tent nor bed nor blanket, though of course, most normal travelers did not carry those sorts of things. As long as you had a cloak, there was no need for such conveniences. She was traveling for two days, one night at most. As for food and water, she had what she needed inside the pack slung over her shoulder. There would be places to draw water along the way as well.
Incidentally, she did not use the type of bag that you carry on your back—in the event of a surprise attack, she would be unable to drop it quickly enough, and it would get in the way of her ability to fight. This would not be a huge issue if she were a mage, but such things had a fairly drastic effect on swordsmen.
Mavis walked along, making all sorts of exciting plans in her head, when suddenly she heard a harried, desperate voice.
“Please, hold on! If a wagon passes by, we’ll ask them to let us ride with them! Then, we’ll be able to make it to the next town… If we get to town, we can get you to a healing mage or doctor, so please, endure just a little while longer!”
There was no one else along the highway. Mavis turned to follow the sound of the voice, only to see—a girl, fifteen or sixteen years of age, sitting in the grass along the side of the road, leaning against a tree. Three men stood around her, all appearing to be in their mid-30s, and armed with swords. They were probably her bodyguards. They did not appear to be hunters, so they were likely the hired entourage of a wealthy young noble or something of the sort.
At first, Mavis thought that the girl might have taken ill—in which case there was nothing that Mavis could do for her. Even if the other members of the Crimson Vow had been here, she would have had to take a back seat. Resigned to this fact, she started to simply pass them by…when suddenly, the smell of blood wafted into her nostrils.
Reflexively, she directed her power into her eyes, and the nanomachines inside her body sharpened her vision. It was the same kind of unconscious body strengthening she employed in her True Godspeed Blade. What she saw with her now-strengthened eyesight was…
Blood?
Sure enough, there was dark red staining the girl’s clothing.
“What happened to her?”
As Mavis stopped and called out to the four beside the road, the men reflexively put their hands to their blades and took a protective stance.
Ah, I messed up! Though she carried a sword herself, she was just a young woman, all alone, strolling casually down the road. She was neither a particularly strange nor threatening sight…or so she’d thought.
The fact that they were so terribly on guard had to mean one of two things: either the men themselves had a guilty conscience or they had recently come under attack.
It was probably the latter.
Perhaps realizing that Mavis was clearly not the enemy they had imagined, the tension between the men seemed to lessen, and their hands moved away from their hilts. Of course, they did not really let down their guard, remaining poised to draw their swords at any moment.
“Forgive us, but would you happen to have anything on you that can stop pain or bleeding—or do something about this wound? If you do, we desperately beseech you to help us. Naturally, you will be appropriately rewarded!” pleaded the man who appeared to be the leader of the trio.
Unfortunately, Mavis was not carrying any kind of medical supplies. The Crimson Vow, who had two supremely skilled healing mages, had no need for expensive medicines, and of course, Pauline would never permit such an excess expenditure.
“My deepest apologies. I haven’t any… Oh!”
Mavis looked surprised at herself, as though she had suddenly realized something.
“Would you allow me to take a look at the wound?”
A young woman’s bare body. If she were a man, she would never be granted permission, but Mavis was a woman, and moreover, she appeared to have some sort of plan. Hoping against hope, the leader nodded.
Mavis approached and gently pulled back the girl’s clothing.
“Nn…”
Earlier, one of the guards had mentioned holding out until they could reach a town by wagon, but the odds of such a thing didn’t look particularly likely. Such was the severity of this wound.
“A stab wound, inflicted by a dagger. She was able to avoid a fatal wound by dodging at the last minute—or because someone intervened?”
She exchanged a look with the guards, but they appeared to be at a loss, standing by helpless. Mavis decided to put into motion the plan that had occurred to her. She was not the type to stand by and watch a girl die, after all.
“I am going to attempt to treat this girl. This technique is a family secret of mine.”
“Oh my!”
The guards voices were filled with admiration and hope.
“Oh, oh blessed day! We will most certainly repay…”
Mavis waved her right hand to interrupt the guard.
“However, there are some conditions.”
Did she intend to take advantage of their situation and demand a ridiculous sum in return for her assistance? The guards looked a bit grim, but Mavis paid them no mind.
“Three conditions, to be precise. First, you must trust in me, and you must not interrupt me partway. Second, you must not ask me anything in regard to this secret technique. Third, you must not speak of this to anyone… Can I ask you to abide by these rules?”
The guards nodded fervently. Such terms were only to be expected if one hoped for someone to use their family secrets in service of another. Of course, one could not possibly betray someone who would rescue the daughter of an influential household.
“We swear it before the gods, on our honor!”
Hearing this pledge, Mavis gave an emphatic nod.
“Now then, I shall begin.”
Mavis gripped the hilt of her sword with her right hand and exposed about ten centimeters of the blade. She gently pressed her left arm to the exposed blade, and moved it very slightly. Though it is said that Western-style swords are unable to cut, that is primarily true of longswords of the type wielded by knights on horseback, which are used chiefly against fully armored enemies. Moreover, it is not so much that such weapons cannot cut, but rather that they are not designed with such features in mind, having no need for a cutting edge. In any event, a normal sword like Mavis’s could still cut fairly well.
And so, the blood ran down Mavis’s arm, moistening her palm (she had not cut her fingers or palm because of the effect it might have on her sword grip).
Next, she took a single tiny metal capsule from her pocket—her old friends, the Micros. Of course, the Micros were nothing more than a liquid suspension dense with nanomachines, meaning that they had no effect on their own. They were not a potion. Just trying to have the girl drink them would not have any effect on her wound.
Instead, Mavis took the liquid into her own mouth. Then, she wrinkled her brow and thought for a little while, before suddenly embracing the girl.
“Wh…?”
The three men were dumbfounded. Instinctively, one of them moved to separate the two young women, but the leader gripped his shoulders and stopped him.
“We swore that we would believe this woman and leave it to her. Do not interfere!”
Mavis pressed her blood-soaked left hand gently to the wound on the girl’s side, slowly brought her face closer to the girl’s…and gently kissed her.
“Whaaaaaaat?!” the three guards shouted.
“W-wait! Wait just a minute!!!”
This time it was the man from before who pressed the leader back, as he moved to grip Mavis’s shoulders and pull her away.
“Didn’t you say we’re supposed to believe in her?!”
“N-no, but, I mean… But seriously!!!”
At first, the girl opened her eyes wide in shock, but then her cheeks went a deep red, and slowly, she closed her eyes again.
“Aaah! Gaaaaaaah!!!”
The guard leader’s shrieks resounded across the area until…
“Pfhah!”
After ten-odd seconds, which felt like an eternity to the guards, Mavis finally pulled away from the girl’s face.
The girl sat with her eyes closed and her cheeks aglow.
The guards wore obscure expressions, their faces marked by strange feelings that they could not place.
In the midst of this tense atmosphere, Mavis, her hand still pressed to the girl’s wound, shouted in almost an explanatory tone, “By the secret medicine imbued with my spirit flowing into her mouth, and by the power of the spirit carried in my blood now flowing into her wound, let the damage be healed!”
Naturally, there was no real need for such an incantation. The so-called spiritual power required for the healing had already been expended. The incantation was frankly nothing more than an explanation for the benefit of the others present, a way of dispelling the tension that Mavis sensed in the air.
The guards immediately began to assail her with questions. Having predicted this, Mavis prepared herself to explain.
***
“I, I-I-I, I see…?”
“I, I-I-I, I see, hm…”
“I, I-I-I, I see…”
The three finally seemed to accept Mavis’s explanation, which she had now delivered twice in its entirety. As she explained it, she had planned to use the power of her “spirit” to strengthen the girl’s body and aid in her physical recovery, sending that spiritual power into her via the “secret medicine” and her blood…or so she imagined.
In reality, Mavis had used honest-to-goodness healing magic. Having no idea of this, she believed that she was using not magic but a new art, which she had come up with all on her own, inspired by Mile’s old family secret of “spiritual power.” In fact, she was rather pleased with herself.
I’ve surpassed the limits of Mile’s secret art. I wonder if I ought to call this something new, like, The Mavis-Style Art of Spiritual Cultivation…
She was starting to let herself get a little bit carried away…
“A-anyway, we are in your debt! When we first saw you, we believed you to be only a swordfighter. But to think you would also be skilled in healing magic… I suppose you did say that you carried no medicine. You have no need for such things in the first place, do you?”
There was nothing to be done about the blood that the girl had lost, which meant that she still wasn’t in full health. However, she had begun to recover and could even move now under her own strength—albeit slowly. For this, the guard leader thanked Mavis graciously, the other two bowing their heads as they followed suit.
“Please, don’t mention it. It’s only natural that someone aspiring to be a knight would stop to help a person in need. It is truly my honor to have been at your service. Now then…”
As Mavis spoke her words of parting and began to take her leave, the guard leader shared a quick, meaningful look with the other three. They all shared a nod of agreement, and the leader called out to halt her.
“Please wait! It appears you are heading in the same direction as we are. Could we possibly implore you to accompany us until we cross the border?”
Such a request was only natural. With Mavis traveling at their side, they could rest assured that someone would be there to handle things if what they believed to be the “healing magic” was somehow incomplete, and the girl’s condition once again worsened.
Mavis considered their request. She still had four more capsules of Micros, and it was true that they were traveling in the same direction. At worst, she might arrive in town a day later than planned, and that much should not worry her companions terribly.
With that in mind, Mavis gave her assent—but really, there was no other choice she could have made. After all, she was Mavis von Austien, proud noble daughter and knight hopeful.
“Oh, bless you! We must repay you!”
The guard leader bowed his head again and again in excessive gratitude. Suddenly thinking of something, Mavis cut in. “In that case, so that we can all proceed without worry, could we frame this as a formal job request? An official escort until we reach the next town? As for payment, how does one half-gold sound to you?”
A price that low was as good as free. For even a normal escort request, one might expect to pay upwards of two gold a day at typical market price, and these were clearly special circumstances. They had been attacked once and seemed to think it might happen again, which meant that chances were high they were probably being tailed by someone competent, rather than some simple bandits. Furthermore, the guards were hoping that Mavis would provide additional healing using her special medicine, should the need arise. And it would be difficult to make it to town by the next day with an injured girl in tow.
Mavis should have been requesting at least one full gold. If Pauline were present, that would probably be inflated to three gold. If such a request were to be posted at a Hunters’ Guild branch, it would, without a doubt, be considered a “red mark” job. It might not even be posted through the Hunters’ Guild but the Mercenaries’ Guild…or perhaps the local or national military.
“We really can’t thank you enough! I must apologize for asking so much. Thank you for accepting our request.”
The guards could tell that Mavis had taken their circumstances into consideration and was offering her services at less than the going rate. They could offer her more money, but to speak of numbers and compensation now, knowing that Mavis had accepted their request regardless of compensation, would be an affront to this young knight hopeful. They could simply give her a generous bonus, when all was said and done.
For now, bowing their heads and thanking her for her kindness was plenty.
The party progressed at a leisurely speed to match the girl’s pace. Numerous carts and carriages traveling in the same direction passed them by, but they were refused rides from all of them. Even when they asked if the girl alone might ride, the drivers were loath to drop their speed to match pace with those on foot. People seemed to suspect that they might be bandits in disguise, waiting for a chance to attack. It was unnatural to see a sickly girl of apparently high status walking on foot, and no merchant wished to get caught up in any kind of funny business. They all had their own lives, along with the livelihoods of their families and employees, to take into account.
If Mavis, the guards, and the girl were to proceed along the highway at their current rate, anyone pursing them would soon overtake the small group. Despite this, they could hardly travel by forest or field, or through the mountains. The girl’s pace was severely limited, so though most of them would have been fine on rougher terrain, she was in danger of slipping and spraining her ankle, which would slow their progress even more. Plus, no matter how much cover the forest might provide, the trade-off would be a slower pace, which might allow the main corps of their pursuers to easily circumvent them. The result would be a scenario in which they could be surrounded by enemies approaching from both the back and the front.
As they proceeded, the guards provided Mavis with a minimum of necessary information, rightly assuming that it would be unreasonable to get someone involved in a fight without letting them in on its origins. Plus, they likely wished to assure Mavis that they were in the right.
“I see. So, if the young mistress, first in line for the inheritance, perishes, then the second child becomes the heir. Well, such stories are not uncommon ones these days, though they are of course a great nuisance for the parties involved.”
Mavis meant the group no malice, but those were her truthful thoughts on the matter. The guards looked a bit dispirited, but the girl could only offer a bitter smile. She had probably thought the same thing herself.
However, that was all the explanation that Mavis received. She was not told the name of their household nor that of the one who was second in line for the inheritance. Such information was not necessary for her to protect them, and it was easy to tell by Mavis’s speech and manner, along with the fact that she had mentioned a family secret, that she was no commoner. They may have asked her aid, but there was no value in sharing too much with a noble from another country, especially at a time like this.
Still, Mavis was no idiot, and she was the daughter of a noble family. She could guess a fair bit from their conversations, though the young lady and her guards had probably not realized this…
It was still light out when the group was overtaken by their pursuers. They seemed to have surrounded them by hiding behind the large trees growing along the road.
“Six of them, huh? An advance search party. If we run, they’ll go and tell the rest of our current position and condition. But if we wipe out every single one of them… Well, I don’t think they have any intention of letting us run, anyway.”
Just as the leader insinuated, the true priority of this group would not be taking back information, but rather capturing, or perhaps even killing them all. It would be one thing if they were up against bandits, but Mavis got the impression that they were facing knights or skilled soldiers who would never pass up the chance to show off their skill. The travelers’ one extra member was a rookie female hunter, so as far as the enemy was concerned, she did not factor into the number at all—the fight was as good as two-against-one.
“Lady Mavis, please keep a tree at your back and defend our lady,” said the leader.
This request was probably to prioritize the safety of the girl they needed to protect. And to keep Mavis, who was merely a hired helper, out of harm’s way, where she could just surrender if the other three were wiped out.
However, the job that Mavis had accepted was to escort and protect them.
“I understand. And I do believe that is the appropriate call,” Mavis replied, seeming to be on the verge of agreement. “However, I must refuse.”
“Huh?”
The other four were perplexed.
“I may have been hired by you, but it is within every hunter’s right to refuse or offer alternative suggestions in response to any direction or order that they find clearly erroneous. Furthermore, I believe you all have wrongly assessed my abilities, and thus made a lapse in judgment. You three are the ones who should stand by the tree and defend the young maiden. As for me…”
Mavis drew her blade swiftly.
“I am going to annihilate the enemy!”
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