“I’m sorry, it’ll only be for a short time. But please try to put up with it somehow.”
After Sid said this he looked towards Elizabeth.
“Fetch the reading permission for the library’s magic books”
“Ah, understood!”
She stretched her back for an instant and then left the chief’s bureau with light steps.
And the people remaining inside the room were me, Sid and Matilda.
“The talk took a sudden turn, huh?”
While Matilda smiled wryly as she said that, Sid snorted.
“Until the bureau chief comes back we have to deal with this. That Tanuki……” (TN: Japanese Raccoon dogs. There’s some folklore about them)
“Bureau chief…….”
I got worried about that existence known as bureau chief who wasn’t a “Substitute” incidentally.
“Um, now that you say it, why are you substituting him now?”
Then Matilda showed a crooked smile. It looked like she could hardly bear not to burst out into laughter.
Sid had an unnaturally earnest expression.
“He’s undergoing medical treatment”
“Is he sick?”
“He doesn’t seem to be able to sit in his chair for a long time.”
“Hah”
Then Matilda whispered something into my ear.
“His haemorrhoids got worse”
“Haemorrhoids!?”
I stared at her wide-eyed and Matilda who didn’t expect this couldn’t bear it anymore and started to laugh.
“Haemorrhoids, I say, haemorrhoids! Saying he would die with a serious expression, every time I recall that face–!”
“……I don’t know if it’s true either”
Sid’s expression turned bad.
“That Tanuki, he once went on a grief trip with the reason “because he turned bald””
“Bald……”
While I was dumbfounded Matilda started laughing with a Hihi and I wore a painful smile. Additionally, she clap my shoulder hard. Ouch.
“It’s said that baldness is hereditary! You should be careful, too!”
“Then everyone should act more careful so that I don’t go bald”
Sid’s face seemed to show even more displeasure.
“They are parent and child”
Matilda whispered again to me.
“Parent and child? The bureau chief and the acting bureau chief?!”
“Right. That head will be bald a few decades later.”
“Don’t imagine it! Start with the paperwork!”
Finally Sid tore Matilda of her chair next to me. And then the next few lines were probably about the idea we spoke about before.
“Until the permission for you to use magic is granted you should work in other areas first! Horseback riding, swordsmanship can be taught, too!”
Swordsmanship?
I raised my hand.
“I would like to do the sword fighting!”
The next morning I got up from my bed even before Clara came to wake me up. I washed my face in the washroom and looked into the mirror hanging from the wall.
It surely is a beautiful face.
This face which got a sorcerer’s favour.
My lips formed into a smile while making a fu sound. With that alone his atmosphere completely changed.
I don’t like it. If this face was badly bruised, would Gray be angry? Or that Woman?
……Well, that shouldn’t happen while practicing. But it wouldn’t be strange to get injured while having practical swordsmanship exercises. Rather I’ll definitely get injured!
Even though I thought about that, on this day I wouldn’t do practice which would cause physical damage.
“Young lady”
Claire’s face clearly showed her feelings of “unwillingness”.
“Young lady is the daughter of the Augustine household and swordsmanship seems unbecoming.”
“I’m not a “daughter” now, though.”
I grinned while walking to the appointed practice grounds. Claire who followed me spoke out her dissatisfaction and how rash I acted from beginning to end.
First of all, I acted deaf to all of it.
The practice grounds were very vast. It seems like there was a lot of equipment for muscle training there were also a lot of men with excellent muscles in the vicinity, it also looked like a martial arts match was taking place.
Additionally, there was a separate room in one of the practice grounds’ corners. When I approach it and look through the small window, I immediately knew this was an archery practice field. The arrows would be shot at the target marks attached to the far-off wall.
Archery would be fine as well.
I creased the middle of my forehead.
“Oi, iron mask”
Suddenly a familiar voice came flying.
“Edgar”
I scowled at him.
“My name is Ariel. Please don’t call me by such a strange name.”
“I don’t want to call you by a woman’s name.”
Edgar answered coldly.
Well, that is certainly weird. However, I don’t want to be called iron mask or Gray either.
“Anyway, you’re here. Come”
Edgar started to walk at a fast pace with Claire and I, while still upset, following him.
Towards the back of the practice grounds many big magic formations were drawn on the ground.
Those magic formations were covered by semi-transparent domes.
What is this?
While I stared at it Edgar started to speak.
“That’s the practice field for beginners. Go inside.”
“Inside this?”
I fearfully advanced towards the magic formation in the dome.
Then the magic formation started to shine brightly. And a person’s shadow suddenly appeared before me.
Surprised I took a step back while staring at the person’s shadow in wonder. It looked like “Gray”.
“What’s this?”
I muttered.
However, the shadow didn’t move an inch. It was standing there acting completely like a doll.
“One’s practice partner is basically one’s doppelganger.”
Edgar entered into a different nearby dome. Then a doppelganger which looked just like Edgar appeared there.
“This magic formation was made for the sake of practicing swordsmanship here. First of all imagine the weapon you want to use.”
Right as he said it, Edgar held a long sword in his hand.
“The length and weight are just right for me, but for you a sword a bit on the shorter side should suffice.”
“Imagination?”
I stared at Edgar’s hand while being puzzled. A sword like that, huh?
And when I thought about that I felt a weight in my right hand.
When I looked a sword similar to Edgar’s had appeared. The handle was hard and the blade was transparent although it gave off a shine.
“Probably too heavy.”
Edgar lightly waved the sword I had in my hand. I could hear the sound of the wind created by the cut. It seemed to be completely real.
Though I tried to mimic Edgar in swinging that sword, it was certainly too heavy partly because I’m not used to t.
A slightly shorter sword.
With that in mind, the “sword” slightly changed. Then it lost a little of its weight.
“First I will teach you the basic movements.”
When Edgar confirmed that my sword changed, he began his explanation in a business-like manner.
Sword stance and sword swing. Was it something that used the body’s and arms’ muscular strength?
“Today as it’s your first day I only have you acquire physical strength. Do the basic movements and match your sword to that of your doppelganger.”
Edgar moved his eyes to the doppelganger before long.
Edgar’s and my doppelganger kept standing still all the time till now.
“The same sword should be fine.”
As he said that, a sword emerged in the hand of Edgar’s doppelganger. Then Edgar swung his sword down on his doppelganger.
A metallic sound.
His sword was caught by the doppelganger’s. When Edgar pulled his sword back the doppelganger attacked with the same movement.
Edgar who was used to the movement blocked it.
“That guy’s movements are a copy of your best movement. Because one loses if one grows tired, take a break there”
Lose- -.
I looked at Edgar with furrowed brows. Then he continued whether he noticed my question or not.
“That sword is fake so there is no way for you to get hurt. You should try it.”
I see. I urged towards my – – though it had Gray’s appearance – – figure and swung down on it.
Interesting!
At first, it was an unfamiliar and undignified movement. I understood that well probably because my partner was my Doppelganger.
However, I became accustomed to drawing my strength from my waist producing a good movement, if I do say so myself.
Well, though they were still the movements of a beginner.
After some time Edgar started to talk again.
“Then if you have any questions catch me in the evening in the dining room. I’m busy even if it doesn’t look like it.”
Edgar never laughed. But he only kept me company because of the acting bureau chief’s order.
I thank him and lowered my head.
After looking at me being like this Edgar left the practice grounds.
“Young lady. Are you not hungry?”
Claire sat on the floor nearby while bored, but after some time she called out with a sigh.
“Shall we go to the dining room?”
I left the dome. And Claire reached out a hand which I took and stood up.
Claire’s face warped into a complex expression.
“I am really totally like a boy”
I carelessly burst into laughter.
“I’m sorry, it’ll only be for a short time. But please try to put up with it somehow.”
After Sid said this he looked towards Elizabeth.
“Fetch the reading permission for the library’s magic books”
“Ah, understood!”
She stretched her back for an instant and then left the chief’s bureau with light steps.
And the people remaining inside the room were me, Sid and Matilda.
“The talk took a sudden turn, huh?”
While Matilda smiled wryly as she said that, Sid snorted.
“Until the bureau chief comes back we have to deal with this. That Tanuki……” (TN: Japanese Raccoon dogs. There’s some folklore about them)
“Bureau chief…….”
I got worried about that existence known as bureau chief who wasn’t a “Substitute” incidentally.
“Um, now that you say it, why are you substituting him now?”
Then Matilda showed a crooked smile. It looked like she could hardly bear not to burst out into laughter.
Sid had an unnaturally earnest expression.
“He’s undergoing medical treatment”
“Is he sick?”
“He doesn’t seem to be able to sit in his chair for a long time.”
“Hah”
Then Matilda whispered something into my ear.
“His haemorrhoids got worse”
“Haemorrhoids!?”
I stared at her wide-eyed and Matilda who didn’t expect this couldn’t bear it anymore and started to laugh.
“Haemorrhoids, I say, haemorrhoids! Saying he would die with a serious expression, every time I recall that face–!”
“……I don’t know if it’s true either”
Sid’s expression turned bad.
“That Tanuki, he once went on a grief trip with the reason “because he turned bald””
“Bald……”
While I was dumbfounded Matilda started laughing with a Hihi and I wore a painful smile. Additionally, she clap my shoulder hard. Ouch.
“It’s said that baldness is hereditary! You should be careful, too!”
“Then everyone should act more careful so that I don’t go bald”
Sid’s face seemed to show even more displeasure.
“They are parent and child”
Matilda whispered again to me.
“Parent and child? The bureau chief and the acting bureau chief?!”
“Right. That head will be bald a few decades later.”
“Don’t imagine it! Start with the paperwork!”
Finally Sid tore Matilda of her chair next to me. And then the next few lines were probably about the idea we spoke about before.
“Until the permission for you to use magic is granted you should work in other areas first! Horseback riding, swordsmanship can be taught, too!”
Swordsmanship?
I raised my hand.
“I would like to do the sword fighting!”
The next morning I got up from my bed even before Clara came to wake me up. I washed my face in the washroom and looked into the mirror hanging from the wall.
It surely is a beautiful face.
This face which got a sorcerer’s favour.
My lips formed into a smile while making a fu sound. With that alone his atmosphere completely changed.
I don’t like it. If this face was badly bruised, would Gray be angry? Or that Woman?
……Well, that shouldn’t happen while practicing. But it wouldn’t be strange to get injured while having practical swordsmanship exercises. Rather I’ll definitely get injured!
Even though I thought about that, on this day I wouldn’t do practice which would cause physical damage.
“Young lady”
Claire’s face clearly showed her feelings of “unwillingness”.
“Young lady is the daughter of the Augustine household and swordsmanship seems unbecoming.”
“I’m not a “daughter” now, though.”
I grinned while walking to the appointed practice grounds. Claire who followed me spoke out her dissatisfaction and how rash I acted from beginning to end.
First of all, I acted deaf to all of it.
The practice grounds were very vast. It seems like there was a lot of equipment for muscle training there were also a lot of men with excellent muscles in the vicinity, it also looked like a martial arts match was taking place.
Additionally, there was a separate room in one of the practice grounds’ corners. When I approach it and look through the small window, I immediately knew this was an archery practice field. The arrows would be shot at the target marks attached to the far-off wall.
Archery would be fine as well.
I creased the middle of my forehead.
“Oi, iron mask”
Suddenly a familiar voice came flying.
“Edgar”
I scowled at him.
“My name is Ariel. Please don’t call me by such a strange name.”
“I don’t want to call you by a woman’s name.”
Edgar answered coldly.
Well, that is certainly weird. However, I don’t want to be called iron mask or Gray either.
“Anyway, you’re here. Come”
Edgar started to walk at a fast pace with Claire and I, while still upset, following him.
Towards the back of the practice grounds many big magic formations were drawn on the ground.
Those magic formations were covered by semi-transparent domes.
What is this?
While I stared at it Edgar started to speak.
“That’s the practice field for beginners. Go inside.”
“Inside this?”
I fearfully advanced towards the magic formation in the dome.
Then the magic formation started to shine brightly. And a person’s shadow suddenly appeared before me.
Surprised I took a step back while staring at the person’s shadow in wonder. It looked like “Gray”.
“What’s this?”
I muttered.
However, the shadow didn’t move an inch. It was standing there acting completely like a doll.
“One’s practice partner is basically one’s doppelganger.”
Edgar entered into a different nearby dome. Then a doppelganger which looked just like Edgar appeared there.
“This magic formation was made for the sake of practicing swordsmanship here. First of all imagine the weapon you want to use.”
Right as he said it, Edgar held a long sword in his hand.
“The length and weight are just right for me, but for you a sword a bit on the shorter side should suffice.”
“Imagination?”
I stared at Edgar’s hand while being puzzled. A sword like that, huh?
And when I thought about that I felt a weight in my right hand.
When I looked a sword similar to Edgar’s had appeared. The handle was hard and the blade was transparent although it gave off a shine.
“Probably too heavy.”
Edgar lightly waved the sword I had in my hand. I could hear the sound of the wind created by the cut. It seemed to be completely real.
Though I tried to mimic Edgar in swinging that sword, it was certainly too heavy partly because I’m not used to t.
A slightly shorter sword.
With that in mind, the “sword” slightly changed. Then it lost a little of its weight.
“First I will teach you the basic movements.”
When Edgar confirmed that my sword changed, he began his explanation in a business-like manner.
Sword stance and sword swing. Was it something that used the body’s and arms’ muscular strength?
“Today as it’s your first day I only have you acquire physical strength. Do the basic movements and match your sword to that of your doppelganger.”
Edgar moved his eyes to the doppelganger before long.
Edgar’s and my doppelganger kept standing still all the time till now.
“The same sword should be fine.”
As he said that, a sword emerged in the hand of Edgar’s doppelganger. Then Edgar swung his sword down on his doppelganger.
A metallic sound.
His sword was caught by the doppelganger’s. When Edgar pulled his sword back the doppelganger attacked with the same movement.
Edgar who was used to the movement blocked it.
“That guy’s movements are a copy of your best movement. Because one loses if one grows tired, take a break there”
Lose- -.
I looked at Edgar with furrowed brows. Then he continued whether he noticed my question or not.
“That sword is fake so there is no way for you to get hurt. You should try it.”
I see. I urged towards my – – though it had Gray’s appearance – – figure and swung down on it.
Interesting!
At first, it was an unfamiliar and undignified movement. I understood that well probably because my partner was my Doppelganger.
However, I became accustomed to drawing my strength from my waist producing a good movement, if I do say so myself.
Well, though they were still the movements of a beginner.
After some time Edgar started to talk again.
“Then if you have any questions catch me in the evening in the dining room. I’m busy even if it doesn’t look like it.”
Edgar never laughed. But he only kept me company because of the acting bureau chief’s order.
I thank him and lowered my head.
After looking at me being like this Edgar left the practice grounds.
“Young lady. Are you not hungry?”
Claire sat on the floor nearby while bored, but after some time she called out with a sigh.
“Shall we go to the dining room?”
I left the dome. And Claire reached out a hand which I took and stood up.
Claire’s face warped into a complex expression.
“I am really totally like a boy”
I carelessly burst into laughter.
