Chapter 85 (1/2)

Sorry about the translation slow-down again. I suddenly got called into a casual job with only 2 days notice, which I’ll be working until Christmas. I don’t spend that long each day on it but it forces me to wake up before 4AM meaning that I’m tired for the rest of the day which in turn makes it rather difficult for the right words to come to me when translating. I have trouble falling asleep early, you see.

That’s more or less what’s causing the slow-down – actually slow translating.

The next day, Fii went looking for York.

She wanted to discuss her upcoming match against Luca with him.

Spotting him in the distance, she rushed over. He turned to face her.

“Captain! Good morning!”

“Heath? You’re lively as usual.”

“Yes!”

Although she called out to him, he seemed to have been heading somewhere, so she asked if he was busy.

“It’s fine,” he replied.

And so, Fii promptly explained the situation to him.

“Hmm…”

York took a moment to think.

“Your build does disadvantage you in a straight fight. I’ve heard about Luca as well. It’s said that he’s quite a talented youth.”

It was difficult enough for Fii to draw with the people in her dorm. Dealing with the boy that even her dorm members were afraid of would be even harder.

Having said that, it wasn’t impossible.

Far from it, Fii was aiming to win.

With that in mind, it was natural to talk to her much respected Captain.

“Is there any way I can beat him?”

She was hoping that he knew of some way she could compensate for her inferior power and skill.

“Hmm, ability is everything in a match. Not only are you unsuited for swordsmans.h.i.+p compet.i.tions, you lack the experience and technique necessary to match him. This will be difficult.”

“Yes…”

So even the Captain thought it was tough.

Not that Fii was surprised. Perhaps hoping for a victory when she was inferior in all departments was asking for a bit much.

“You still have a chance though.”

“A chance?”

York nodded.

“Just one will do. Observe your opponent carefully, and find a weakness. Just one will do. Then build a strategy focused entirely on attacking it with everything you have.

“It would be asking for too much to expect an a.s.sured victory in your position. Still, aiming for a victory with even a 10% chance of success will be invaluable to your team mates.”

Thinking about it, both Gorms and Doug had been banking on just one out of their three bagging a victory.

Just one victory between her, Remié, and Slad.

In that case, Fii felt what she needed to do was simply increase her chance of victory as much as possible.

It wasn’t important to secure a victory. Simply increasing the odds would do.

Fii settled on a plan.

“Remember your match in the entry examinations. That was an example of somebody weaker grasping at victory against somebody stronger. Keep in mind though that even that will require ability.”

She thought back to her first match with Gorms.

Even though it had been the perfect chance to turn the tables, her body had failed her.

Fii suddenly noticed that York was smiling.

“I know how hard you have been working to gain that ability. I will also be watching the matches. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Y-…Yes!” she nodded happily.

Captain York acknowledged her efforts. Every day, Fii had been training hard to improve her endurance. She was even starting to be able to follow the normal training routine a little.

Each month the Captain would ask about it, and apparently he had been receiving reports from Crow-san as well.