第１１１８堀：訓練相手 (Part1)
Chapter 1118: Training Partners
Side: Kagura
"Ouch..."
"You should be completely healed by now, yet it still hurts, doesn't it?"
Mikos replied to the groan that had escaped my lips despite my wounds supposedly being mended.
Yes, yesterday, Deryu had held a mock battle to gauge the true strength of Wazfi and Nilua, but for some reason, we ended up being dragged into a mock battle ourselves. The result, as always, was us getting absolutely thrashed.
"Hey, Mikos-chan, is my face really not distorted?"
"I told you, it’s fine. It’s not distorted at all. Besides, how many times have you asked me that since yesterday? And that Rurua-san healed us thoroughly with recovery magic, so there’s no way she made a mistake. Not to mention, this isn't even my original body."
"Ugh. But a girl’s face is her life! I let Yuki-sensei see me with a face covered in bruises and blood, I lost completely pathetically, and on top of that, my face is all scarred up—isn't that just hopeless?"
"...I suppose so. But Yuki wouldn't hate you for something like that."
"I know, I know. I know that, but still, I want to be the best version of myself in front of Yuki-sensei."
"Yes, yes. I get it, so calm down. We’re in a classroom."
We were currently at the Lancer Magic Academy, in the break between classes.
Mikos kept checking her face in a hand mirror every chance she got, muttering to herself. I understand how she feels, but to the other students who don't know what happened, she just looks like she’s acting strangely. I really need to stop her to preserve the honor of Haiden, but I have no idea how.
Just as I was agonizing over this, someone suddenly spoke up.
"I heard the story. You were training with the other wives of Lord Yuki, weren't you?"
"Oh, Ardes-san."
This was Ardes-san, who I’d heard once had a duel with Yuki. I’d been told he was quite the fool back in the day, but as far as our interactions go, he’s always been a polite man.
"Please, just 'Ardes' is fine. Still, to think you’d be having mock battles at the training grounds right after accompanying Nilua, the top-ranked student, yesterday."
"Huh? How do you know about that?"
"Well, your names were listed as users at the training grounds."
"Ah..."
I suppose that makes it obvious we were the ones using it.
"Besides, I heard it from Lord Yuki as well. He asked me to look after you since the training was quite intense."
"I see. Thank you. But... actually, I’m not really okay. Could you help me with something?"
"Certainly, I would be happy to. What do you need help with?"
"In yesterday's training—well, for me too—Mikos had attacks mercilessly hammered into her face, and she’s worried about whether there are any scars left. No matter how many times I tell her she’s fine, she doesn't seem to trust me since I’m one of her own."
"I see. That is a very important matter for a lady. Very well. May I take a look at your face?"
"Oh, um, yes please."
"Then, excuse me."
Ardes-san politely asked for permission, examined Mikos’s face with genuine seriousness, and assured her there were no issues. Upon hearing that, Mikos finally sighed.
"Phew. That’s a relief. Now I won't have to worry about Yuki-sensei hating me."
"Haha. I find it hard to believe that Lord Yuki would dislike his wives over a few facial scars."
"I’ve told her that many times, but Mikos seems to be hung up on it."
"Still, I don't know the extent of your strength, Kagura-san, but as Lord Yuki’s wives, I assume you have a certain level of ability. And yet, you were injured? Was Nilua really that strong?"
"Oh, no, that’s not it. After we saw Nilua and the others' strength, we ended up training against each other, and that’s when we got beaten to a pulp."
"I see. It’s tough for you all, then. Being Lord Yuki’s wife isn't a position one can hold easily."
"I suppose so."
"Well, Yuki-sensei’s wives have to be strong!"
That’s right. To stand by Yuki’s side, you have to be strong. That is a sentiment shared by all of us. That’s why we don't run away when training is mentioned. Anyone who would run away from that isn't fit to be Yuki’s wife.
"But, both of you were trying to run away at the start yesterday, weren't you?"
"Well, now, the opponent was that Deryu-san."
"Hey, that’s not fair to bring up!"
"...I can't even imagine a scenario where we could beat Deryu-san. Oh, right. Ardes-san, you dueled Yuki, didn't you? How did you face him back then?"
Come to think of it, I’d heard he dueled Yuki, but I’d never heard the details. I knew he’d lost because Yuki had held back, but there might be something I could learn from it.
"Ah, well, back then I was truly a foolish, ignorant young man. I was just acting on pure momentum. Even so, as soon as the match started, I was overwhelmed by the difference in our strength and was stunned, thinking there was no way I could win... but..."
"But? Is there more to it?"
"Yes. Yuki-san encouraged me to come at him with everything I had, and that allowed me to stand my ground with conviction."
"Ah..."
Somehow, that sounds exactly like something Yuki would do. He’d show his opponent his full power once, just to let them have their moment.
"In the end, it is very difficult to defeat an overwhelmingly strong enemy. However, at that time, I knew Lord Yuki wouldn't kill me, so I was able to challenge him with everything I had. Pain is inevitable. But to lose without doing anything—that just makes the pain pointless. That is why..."
"Fighting with everything you have, huh? Now that you mention it, Mikos-chan, I don't think we’ve ever really done that."
"Now that you say it, that’s true. Nilua and the others were desperate."
"Did you see Nilua’s fight directly? I haven't fought her myself."
"Yeah, I was there. Oh, but I can't tell you about it. She’s the type who keeps those things secret."
"I understand. Trying to force that information out would be a violation of school rules. Still, you showed your training session to everyone, didn't you?"
Well, it was to see if they were worthy of being our companions, after all. Nilua couldn't exactly hide it. Besides, the academy’s rankings don't mean anything to us. As I was thinking this, Enora, who had been listening to our conversation, spoke up.
"Well, it all comes down to motivation. Kagura, Mikos, you two just have to put your hearts into it. Your combat experience is clearly different, so it’s natural to lose. You should just go at them with everything you’ve got, using them as a stepping stone."
"Indeed. The gap in strength is significant, so as Ardes-san said, it would be better to challenge them with your full strength. That said, I would also like to find a way to train to bridge that gap. If the difference in strength is too great, Lord Yuki will surely worry about us."
"That’s true... Yuki-sensei is so kind, he’d definitely worry if we were as weak as we are now."
"I suppose so."
If Yuki asked Deryu-san to train us yesterday, it means he’s already feeling anxious about our strength. If that’s the case, I have no choice but to take this as a good opportunity and do my best.
"Alright. I’m going to train again today."
"Eh? Seriously?"
"Yes, seriously. Mikos, you don't have to join if you don't want to. But I am going to become a woman who can stand firmly by Yuki’s side."