101 101.Selection of Ilis (2/2)

I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry it took me so long.

That's fine. So, what are you confused about?

I ask again.

In response to my question, Iris gives me a confused look and looks away. She seemed to be thinking about what to say.

I don't want to rush Iris. After a while, Iris begins to speak in a mumbled voice.

”For example, for example. What would you do if I really tried to kill you?

”Iris-san, me?　It's true, I did feel something uncanny just now, but ...... no way.

No way. - I was just using an analogy!　I'd be lying if I said I wasn't seriously thinking about slaying my teacher. ......

I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it.

You're saying you have doubts about cutting me?

...... I didn't think I had any such doubts. Because when I was trying to avenge my father, I was definitely trying to kill the Swordsmen. It was the same when I was trying to save Aria.

Iris glanced at Aria and said.

I thought I could 'cut' to save Aria. But this time, I don't know .......

”You don't know?

...... Luino Tomra said he was going to kill the doctor.

What?

The words that Iris heard from Luino's mouth were a clear declaration that he wanted me.

That's what I was going to explain to Iris and Aria.

Luino Tomra is going to kill me.

Luino is working with the Order under the agreement that he will defeat the swordsmen who pose a threat to the kingdom before that happens.

The duel between me and Luino is the truth about the cooperation between Luino and the Order.

It was Remyil's painful choice to overcome the crisis of the kingdom.

I tried to stop Ruino. I tried to stop Ruino, but all she wants is to kill each other. I thought, even for a moment, that the only way to stop her was to kill her.

Iris clenches her fists tightly. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I have.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.

But Iris is still a 15-year-old girl. She may be able to hold a sword and defeat an opponent much larger than herself, but she probably has no experience in actually killing someone.

I can understand why Iris is confused.

The swordsman Adil Gratz and Aria's father, Kufilio Notria, are both involved with people that Iris cares about.

If Iris wielded a sword to protect someone, she would have been able to do so without hesitation.

But what about Luino? She's still a girl who kills swordsmen and cooperates with the Order.

She may have said she would kill me, but she has not yet acted on it.

From Iris's point of view, there is no doubt that she is the one who should be stopped, but if it comes to a fight, she must have been the one who foresaw that she would have to kill.

The fact that she had never experienced this before made her feel lost.

I was going to fight Rui No because Rui No is after you ....... But there was a small part of me that thought that if I fought Luino, maybe I could stop him without killing him. If I fought him, we might end up killing each other. That's why I was confused and tried to run away from ....... I thought to myself, 'If it's someone who's after me, I might as well just kill them.

For Iris, leaving it to me was an escape, and fighting Luino to protect me was also an escape.

If you leave it to me, you won't have to kill Luino. In the event that you're a student, you're going to need to have the ability to take care of yourself. ...... It was too heavy a choice for her to make as she was still only a student.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out.

...... Luino asked me something similar.

And what did you tell him?

What did you tell him? - That I would kill if I had to. I'm going to be a knight as well,......, so I'm prepared to do that. But I'm not going to fight just to kill. ....... If I had more power, I might be able to stop Luino. I'm not going to fight just to kill him,......, but if I had more power I might be able to stop Luino.

”I see. You're still having trouble being a child, aren't you?

”...... What?

Iris looks at me with a puzzled expression.

I wonder why Iris is always worried about unchildlike things. I almost sigh.

You think you can stop me if I fight Luino, right?

I'm not sure what you mean by that. You are much stronger than I am.

Then you can leave Luino to me.

...... Then you can ignore the fact that you know he's being targeted.

You can't do that. It's a very difficult thing to do. So, ......, what do you think you can do now?

You mean, what I can do?

Yes. If I were to give you one piece of advice, it would be that the one thing you lack right now is confidence.

Confidence. ......

I don't think there's anything I can do about that. But you're not as weak as you think you are. You're not as weak as you think. You're just good enough for me to take you seriously.

I am? ......?

If I didn't, I wouldn't be here to teach you how to use a sword so well. You are being influenced by Luino's mood and words. As I taught you before, to be strong you need to choose. Do you want the ...... ”strength to just kill Luino”?　Or do you want to be strong enough to win without killing him?

I'm not sure what you mean by that.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea.

If you still can't do that, you can count on me. If you think you can--I'll leave it to you.

”Thank you, ...... teacher. When I talk to you, I really don't feel like I'm talking to a child.

Haha, I feel the same way, to be honest. Isn't this kind of advice common?

You have too much on your plate, Iris. You have too much on your plate, Iris. If you're not sure, why don't you ask me?

Aria finally intervened, as if she had found an opening in the conversation.

I've been silently watching the battle between Iris and I for a long time, and I'm sure Aria knew that Iris was lost.

Thank you to Aria at ....... I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time.

”No problem, dessert is on me.

Aria replied to Iris's words and they both smiled at each other.

It's good to know that Iris's worries have been put to rest - the only question now is what to do about the enemy that's actually closing in.

Not only the swordsmen, but also Luino, ...... will eventually turn against them. That was something that everyone here understood.