—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Belle groaned softly and opened her eyes.
The first sensations that registered were the dampness clinging to her skin and a burning thirst.
Her clothes, soaked through with sweat, stuck uncomfortably to her body.
She turned her head slightly and saw a water bottle on the small table beside the bed.
Her senior must have left it there for her.
“Senior…?”
Belle sat up and slowly looked around the room.
Silence hung heavy in the air; there was no sign of anyone else.
The aches and pains that had plagued her that morning had subsided, leaving her feeling slightly languid but otherwise fine.
After a few stretches, she drank some water and opened the door, stepping out into the hallway.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Swish! Swish!
The familiar sound of something slicing through the air reached Belle’s ears.
Following the sound, she found someone practicing with a wooden sword in the courtyard.
She stopped, captivated by the display.
“Wow…”
With each swing of the sword, long, deep sky-blue hair flowed around the figure.
The movements were precise and controlled, each strike radiating power.
Even though Belle’s own training had been mostly observational, she could tell that this woman’s skill was exceptional.
She appeared to be eighteen or nineteen, perhaps a handspan taller than Belle, with a slender, well-balanced physique that spoke of rigorous training.
It was the ideal form for a swordswoman, Belle thought enviously.
As she watched, Belle noticed something odd.
She’s…blind?
The girl was swinging her sword with her eyes closed.
Belle moved closer to confirm, and sure enough, the girl’s eyelids were firmly shut.
She wasn’t just standing still; she was moving, stepping and shifting, dodging imaginary obstacles with an almost unnatural grace.
Perhaps it was some kind of specialized training, Belle mused.
Beads of sweat trickled down the girl’s face, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration.
It wasn’t simply exertion, Belle sensed; something else was weighing on her.
As Belle continued to observe, she noticed a loose wooden plank dangling precariously from the roof above.
It swayed in the breeze, then suddenly plummeted downwards, heading straight for the girl’s head.
“Look out!”
Belle screamed.
But the falling plank was too fast.
Before her warning could register, it was almost upon the girl.
Crack!
In a blur of motion, the girl spun around, her wooden sword flashing out.
The blade connected with the plank dead center, splitting it cleanly in two.
The pieces flew harmlessly away. The girl’s eyes remained closed.
“…Amazing.”
Belle whispered, realizing she was unconsciously clapping.
The sheer speed of the strike was impressive enough, but the girl had been facing away from the falling plank.
She had sensed it, reacted, and destroyed it without even seeing it.
All with her eyes closed.
As Belle’s applause faded, the girl turned towards the sound, taking a deep breath.
“…Who’s there?”
Her eyes opened, revealing unusually pale irises.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to eavesdrop…”
Belle stammered, feeling a pang of guilt.
The girl seemed unconcerned, her gaze drifting away.
She sat down on a nearby tree stump, her back straight, and quietly caught her breath.
Even in repose, her posture and demeanor suggested a refined upbringing.
Belle felt a little awkward at the girl’s nonchalant reaction.
“Um…that was amazing! Are you training to be a knight?”
She asked brightly, trying again.
The girl didn’t respond immediately.
Belle wondered if she had said something wrong.
Finally, the girl spoke, her breathing evened out.
“If anything, I’m aspiring to be an adventurer.”
“An adventurer…!”
Belle’s face lit up.
An aspiring adventurer! Just like her!
Excited to have found common ground, Belle’s energy surged.
“I’m aspiring to be an adventurer too! I’m currently training under a veteran senior!”
“I also have a master.”
The girl replied.
“Then maybe we’ll meet again soon as fellow adventurers!”
Belle exclaimed.
She would turn seventeen soon, and after a month of training with her senior, she would make her debut.
Judging by the girl’s skill, she was also destined for greatness.
It wouldn’t be long before their paths crossed again.
But the girl shook her head.
“Even if I become an adventurer, it won’t be for another two years.”
“Why?”
“Because I just turned fifteen.”
Belle felt a weight settle in her chest.
Fifteen…?
With that appearance?
With that skill?
Younger…than me…?
Belle had assumed the girl was older, but she was actually two years younger.
The girl stood up from the tree stump, towering over Belle.
She couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated.
Two years younger, yet possessing superior physique and skill.
Belle, who had considered herself strong among her peers, suddenly felt the presence of a formidable rival.
She swallowed hard, looking up at the girl.
As they stood facing each other in silence, a young man approached, waving.
“I’m back.”
Belle and the girl turned simultaneously.
A bright smile spread across Belle’s face as she recognized the approaching figure.
“Senior!”
“Master.”
…Huh?
The two girls turned to each other again, confusion etched on their faces.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Here, drink this.”
Iyer placed a teacup in front of the sky-blue haired girl.
It was a cheap, crudely made cup, but it had a saucer, at least.
Satisfied with the semblance of hospitality, he sat down opposite her.
“Sorry I can’t offer you anything better.”
“It’s fine, Master.”
The girl, Zeta, replied, lifting the cup.
She kept adding “Master” so casually; she was quite the cheeky one.
But Iyer had a plan.
He sighed dramatically and placed a hand on Belle’s head.
“Sorry, but as you can see, I’m already mentoring an aspiring adventurer. I can’t take on another.”
Belle, you’re actually useful for something.
Taking you on was the right decision.
Being a good person pays off.
Using Belle as a convenient excuse, Iyer subtly rejected Zeta’s request.
“Of course, I won’t just send you away. I can introduce you to someone much more skilled than me. They would be a much better teacher…”
“You’re the only one I want.”
Zeta interrupted, her refusal absolute.
Could you at least pretend to consider it?
A reflexive rejection left me with nothing to work with.
She was as stubborn as Belle.
Iyer sighed internally, feeling a sense of déjà vu.
“It’s pointless, but I’ll ask anyway. Why?”
“Anyone else is meaningless.”
Meaningless…?
Iyer tilted his head, puzzled by her cryptic response.
“You’re here to learn about being an adventurer, right?”
“No.”
“…No?”
Then why was she here?
Surely she wasn’t going to give him the same answer as Belle, about wanting to follow in his footsteps.
“I’m sorry, but I’m more of a brawler. I don’t have any techniques to teach you. If you want proper instruction, you should find someone else.”
Zeta had an air of refinement about her.
Her posture, her clothes, her manners – everything pointed to a privileged upbringing.
She must have had access to better teachers than him.
He was busy enough with Belle.
Just as he was thinking this…
Clink!
The sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the room.
Startled, Iyer saw that Zeta had dropped her teacup; the pieces lay scattered on the floor.
Her hand hovered near the saucer; she must have been trying to put the cup down.
But what happened next was truly strange.
Zeta froze, as if petrified.
“…Zeta?”
“I apologize. Such a clumsy mistake…”
Normally, when someone dropped something, they would pick it up.
If they broke something, they would gather the pieces or clean up the spill.
But Zeta just stood there, motionless.
Judging by her expression, it wasn’t out of defiance.
“…Belle, could you get a towel?”
“Oh, sure!”
Belle, looking flustered, hurried out of the room.
Iyer studied Zeta carefully.
Her unusually pale eyes were directed towards him, but they seemed unfocused, gazing somewhere above his head.
Could it be…?
Iyer slowly raised his hand and waved it in front of Zeta’s face.
She didn’t react, her gaze still fixed, unseeing.
He finally understood what she meant by “You’re the only one I want.”
“You…you can’t see.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[The blind swords….woman?]
