Chapter 127: Developing a New Ability!
"U-Um, Ayatsuji Kaito is my father..."
The moment Ayase mentioned Kaito, her voice became slightly subdued. Ikki failed to notice and instead grew excited after finally hearing news about the swordsman he had not heard from in years.
"How has he been lately? It's been a long time since anyone in the swordsmanship world heard news about him."
"My father suffered an accident during a match... He's still in the hospital."
"I-I'm sorry. I think I asked something I shouldn't have..."
Ikki immediately lowered his head and apologized to the person behind the curtain.
"It's all right. The reason I followed you is also related to my father's hospitalization."
"My father was always my swordsmanship teacher. Since he was hospitalized, I've been training in [Ayatsuji Ittou-ryuu] alone, but recently, I've reached a bottleneck..."
No matter how much Ayase practiced, she could not reach her father's level. It left her deeply frustrated.
"Afterward, I heard from my classmates that a first-year sword expert was teaching others, so I wanted to ask whether you could give me some inspiration."
"But I've barely interacted with other men, so I didn't know how to approach you. I'm the one who should apologize for causing you trouble."
Ikki was not foolish enough to ask what injury had left her father unable to even watch her train. Instead, he asked Ayase through the curtain,
"If you want swordsmanship guidance, Shiro is more suitable than me. Why not ask him? He can probably see what's wrong with your training."
In Ikki's eyes, [Twin-Wings] was the most absurd swordsmanship he had ever seen. Shiro, who could use it, was clearly far more skilled than him.
Since Ayase wanted guidance, why not ask Shiro?
However, Ikki had clearly forgotten one thing.
Not everyone possessed his level of perception.
Although Shiro's fight with Stella at the start of school had attracted many spectators, those student knights only knew that his swordsmanship was impressive. Not everyone could see his final strike clearly.
Besides that battle, Shiro had barely drawn his sword within the academy.
Or rather, he had not encountered any opponent worthy of making him draw it.
During the Seven Star Sword Art Festival selections, he defeated every opponent with his fists. Some first-years even believed his fighting style consisted entirely of punching people.
So compared to Shiro, whose true skill remained unknown, Ikki had fought his way through every match with swordsmanship and even taught other students at Hagun Academy.
Naturally, Ayase trusted him more.
"Eh? Really?!"
Even through the curtain, Shiro could feel the heated gaze aimed toward him.
However, he pondered for a moment before answering.
"Rather than me, wouldn't it be better to let Ayatsuji Kaito himself teach you?"
"Hey, Shiro!"
Ikki tugged on Shiro's clothes, signaling him not to continue. Anyone could tell that Kaito's condition was far from optimistic.
Shiro ignored him and continued.
"I might be able to cure your father. Could you first tell me the details of his condition?"
"That's impossible!"
Ayase loudly interrupted him.
For a girl who could not even look an unfamiliar man in the eyes to become this emotional showed how important her father was to her.
"My father... He might not survive this winter..."
Ayase's voice trembled.
No one wished more than her for her father to awaken, but the hospital had already declared how much time he had left.
Rather, the fact that Kaito had endured this long in such a condition already proved how tenacious his life force was.
That was why Ayase had to inherit her father's legacy and reclaim everything he had lost before he passed away.
Only then could she release his soul from the deep despair imprisoning it.
"That's only the hospital's judgment. Have you tried using a Blazer ability?"
"A Blazer ability...?"
The abilities in this world were incredibly varied. Some people had even used theirs to become internationally renowned doctors.
"Mm. My ability might be developed into something similar to healing."
"But I'll warn you first. The human body is extremely complex, so I'm not completely confident. To me, this is only an experiment, and there are still risks."
"I can only guarantee that your father won't become worse after I treat him. Whether you want to take part is ultimately your decision."
For Shiro, this was merely a matter of successfully or unsuccessfully developing a new application of his ability. Even failure would not cost him anything.
But for Ayase, this was a chance to save her dying father.
The cruelest thing in the world was not being unable to see hope.
It was seeing hope, desperately reaching for it, yet never being able to grasp it.
The area behind the infirmary curtain fell silent. Ikki and the others did not speak, allowing Ayase to think.
She looked at the calluses on her hands, formed from years of swinging a bamboo sword.
She remembered her father gently holding her hands and teaching her how to swing.
She remembered watching someone shatter his bones one by one and tear open his skin before her eyes.
Even now, her father remained trapped within that nightmarish day.
Despite being in a vegetative state, he continued apologizing.
Over and over, he said he was sorry.
He could not protect the hearts of his students.
Even [Ayatsuji Ittou-ryuu] was about to end in his hands.
At this rate, her father would remain trapped in that nightmare forever.
'I will never allow that.'
Swish—
The curtain was pulled open.
Ayase stared directly into Shiro's golden eyes and spoke through clenched teeth.
"Please, I'm entrusting my father's body to you!"
...
"Shiro, will this really be all right?"
On the way to the hospital, Stella secretly moved beside Shiro while no one was paying attention and asked him quietly.
Among everyone present, only she knew the true nature of Shiro's Blazer ability.
No matter how she looked at it, [Severing] had nothing to do with healing. Rather than saving someone, Shiro looked far more suited to killing them.
"Relax. Even if my ability doesn't work, I prepared a second safeguard."
"And if this succeeds, my combat ability will also receive a major improvement."
Shiro looked at Ayase leading the way, and the corner of his mouth rose slightly.
As everyone knew, when doing anything outside, one should always keep something in reserve.
Even with a ninety-nine percent chance of success, one should still tell others there was no guarantee.
…
(Don't forget to vote and leave a comment below! :D If possible, share your review to show your support.)
...
Read more than 20 chapters in advance:
patréon.com/U22
(Note: Replace "é" with "e" on your web browser.)