19 Far Off Memory (1/2)
”Y-, you, why are you here?!”
Upon turning a corner, Alexia finds before her a face that she is quite familiar with.
”There's no 'why' about it. This facility is mine, after all. I made an investment in that man. That's all there is to it.”
Blond hair, a well-featured face, and that confident smile. It is none other than Zenon-sensei.
”What a relief. I've always though that you must have some screws loose in your head. Feels good to be proven right.”
So says Alexia while slowly backing up, one step at a time.
Behind Zenon is a flight of stairs. Most likely, that is the way out.
”Is that so? I don't care what you feel though. All I want is your blood.”
”Every single person here keeps going on and on about blood. Are you guys researching vampires in here?”
”For you, it might be something similar.”
”Wasn't actually hoping for an answer. I have zero interest in the occult.”
”Thought as much.”
”I'm sure you already know, but the Knight Order will arrive very soon. You're already finished.”
”Finished? Exactly what is it of mine that would be finished?”
Zenon's smile is the same as ever.
”Your social status and prestige will be ripped from you, and of course your life too. I'll drop the guillotine blade for you.”
”See, that's not gonna happen. Because you and I will be escaping through an escape tunnel. Together.”
”Wow, what a romantic invitation. But unfortunately, I hate your very guts.”
”Oh, you will come with me. With your blood and my experiments, the 12th Seat of the Rounds will be mine. The status of such a position is like heaven and earth in comparison to a worthless position like 'Swordsmanship Instructor.' ”
” 'Rounds'? Is that what you and your group of crazy friends call yourselves?”
”Twelve knights recognized and chosen by the Order, 'Knights of Rounds.' Status, prestige, and wealth, everything will come to my hands at a rate incomparable to anything before. My strength has already been acknowledged. The only thing that I have left to do is to present a tangible achievement, but that will soon be cleared too, courtesy of your blood and my research.”
(T/N: Yep this naming is a reference to the Knights of the Round Table. But the author even used katakana to indicate that he wants them to be called Knights of Rounds, so I'm going to stick with that.)
Zenon spreads his hands theatrically and laughs.
”Really couldn't care less. More like, I'm getting tired of this stupid conversation about blood.”
”To be honest, if I could choose, I'd have preferred Princess Iris' blood, but I suppose I'll have to make do with yours.”
”I will fucking kill you.”
”Oh, pardon, you dislike being compared to your sister, right?”
”...!”
Alexia's flare of killing intent turns into the starting bell of their fight.
Her sword flies straight to Zenon's neck, but...
”Ooooo, so scary.”
It is repelled by Zenon at the last possible moment.
Then he also proceeds to handle Alexia's follow up attacks.
The two swords collide violently again and again, filling the air with sparks.
Just by looking at the exchange of blows and the two swords dancing through the air, it can perhaps be said that the two are equal.
However, the facial expression of the two are in sharp contrast.
Alexia's is grim, while Zenon's is a relaxed smile.
Sure enough, the one at a disadvantage is Alexia.
After a soft click of the tongue, Alexia retreats from Zenon's maai.
”In the short time that I haven't seen you, it seems that you've changed to using a rather cheap sword.”
What Zenon is looking at is Alexia's sword. Alexia also looks at it, albeit with a bitter expression. Although it hasn't been long since the start of the fight, her blade is already chipped in numerous places.
”Masters don't choose their sword, right?”
Alexia decides to put up a strong front.
”That's true. Actual masters, that is.”
Zenon scoffs.
”But you, you are a commoner. That I can guarantee, as the Swordsmanship Instructor.”
Alexia's face visibly distorts.
For a split second, she looks close to tears, then the next moment it is all wiped away by a fierce anger.
”Then you keep looking. Whether or not I am a commoner.”
With another flare of killing intent, she dives back into the fray.
Alexia knows. She knows that even if she fights Zenon with normal circumstances, she wouldn't win. And now, her weapon is even a cheap, mass-produced sword. It will not last long.
However, Alexia has not been swinging her sword everyday for nothing. With her sister as a goal, she has been analyzing her own shortcomings, and pouring in effort to overcome them. And she has also seen her sister's sword up close far more than anyone else.
She is already capable of flawlessly tracing a tiny bit of her sister's sword.
Which is why she can easily pull off this move.