Chapter 107 - Abnormality and White Lily Academy [8] (1/2)

107. Abnormality and White Lily Academy [8]

I invited Idol-san into my room, and poured her a cup of tea that had been chilled in the refrigerator.

「Here you go…」

「Thank you.」

She sat at the dining table, and took a sip of the tea in an elegant manner.

And then,

「……」

「……」

There was silence between us.

(What am I supposed to do now?)

Should I say something witty?

(…No, but Idol-san came all the way over to visit me.)

I’m sure there’s something she wants to tell me.

(It’s a little awkward, but… the correct answer would be to wait so as not to rush her!)

I decided that, and stared straight into her face without bringing up any topic.

Idol-san didn’t seem particularly nervous. She had an expression which made her difficult to read as usual.

About thirty seconds had passed since then.

「Eh, uh… Idol-san? Why did you come in the middle of the night like this?」

Unable to endure the awkward silence, I decided to just ask her.

「Ah… yes. I had a little something to talk about, but… one thing before that, okay?」

「Yes. What can I do for you?」

「It’s been bothering me for a long time, but… why do you use honorific for me?」

「…Eh?」

I let out a stupid voice at that unexpected question.

「We’re the same age, aren’t we?」

「It’s… That’s right.」

The reason why I use honorifics for Idol-san…

(…To be honest, that’s not an easy question to answer.)

『It hasn’t been long since we met』means we are still distant to each other.

『Just cause』is too weak as a reason.

「Well, uh… I thought it would be better to treat girls politely…」

I gave a bland answer.

「But you don’t use honorifics for Ria and Rose, do you? If you don’t mind, I want you to talk to me normally too」Idol-san said.

Personally, I’m not concerned with honorifics.

If she’s good with it, then I’ll just address her casually.

「-Okay. Well then, nice to meet you… I-Idol.」

I’m still not used to addressing girls without honorifics, so… I hesitated a little.

But she smiled without any particular concern towards it.

「Yes, nice to meet you too.」Idol said, and stood up quickly. 「Then, see you later.」

She went toward the front door.

「Eh…? Ah, yes. See you tomorrow.」

Was this all she came here for? I felt a little disappointed.

Idol-san slowly put on her shoes, and placed her hand on the door.

「…Oh, I forgot.」

She took off her shoes again and sat on the table.

「I forgot the real issue. Let’s talk again.」

「A-Aa.」

(This person is seriously an airhead.)

「Ahem, I’m going to get down to business.」

「Yes, please…」

「Yes. Let’s see… I trained a lot after losing to Allen at the Sword King Festival. But today’s ability measurement has made it clear to me that the difference between you and me is widening.」

She bit her lower lip in frustration.

「There must be some secret… I thought.」

「Secret?」

「Yes. Allen’s strength must have some secret behind it. So I want you to answer my questions honestly.」Idol said, and took out a piece of printed paper from her small backpack.

Questions were written on it in beautiful handwriting.

Seems like she came fully prepared.

「No good?」

「No, I don’t mind.」

I have nothing to hide.

If answering questions can help her, then I’ll happily do so.

「Well, thank you. Then, the first question – Allen’s swordsmanship is very unique. Who’s your teacher?」

「……」

She shot a difficult question right from the start.

「Ahaha… I’m ashamed to say that my swordsmanship is self-taught.」

All swordsmen belong to some school, where they learn the basics of swordsmanship.

This is the common sense of a swordsman, and it is quite natural.

But I’m an outlier of that common sense – the swordsman who was not allowed to enter any school, who had no other choice but『self-taught』.

And, the world makes a fool of such an outlying person as『the dropout swordsman』.

「…Self taught? Why?」

Idol tilted her head in honest wonder, not knowing the circumstances of the people at the bottom like me.

「I’ve been told that I don’t have talent. They didn’t let me into any schools.」

There was nothing to gain from hiding it, so I answered honestly.

「Even though you’re so strong… All those people didn’t have the eye to judge true talent.」

Idol said, while shrugging her shoulders, and moved on to the next question.

How many hours a day do you spend on swordsmanship?

How many swordsmanship books have you read so far?

How much rice do you eat every day?

(I-It’s almost like an interrogation…)

I answered politely, one by one, to the barrage of questions which surpassed ten.

「This is the last question. What training did you dedicate the most time to since the end of Sword King Festival?」

「Training that I dedicate the most time to?」

「Yeah.」Idol nodded.

Judging from how this was the last question, I guess this is the one she wanted to know the most.

(…Hmmm)

Training of soul dress, manipulation of darkness, strength training – I do various training every day, but when it comes to the one that I devoted the most time to–

「Practice-swings.」

This was the one.

No matter what happened, I have never missed swinging in my daily routine.

This has not changed since my time at Gran Swordsmanship Academy.

And then.

「Muh… Answer me properly.」

Was my answer not convincing enough?

「Ah, aha… I am answering honestly though.」

I wasn’t lying about anything.

The training I dedicated most of my day towards, is definitely practice-swings.