For the next period of time, Inaba Tsukiyo lived with the muddle-headed school doctor, Marikawa Shizuka.
In order to take care of this muddle-headed woman, Inaba Tsukiyo could be said to have racked her brains, almost becoming her personal follower.
If this guy had the attribute of being bad with directions, she probably wouldn't even be able to go home. The longer Inaba Tsukiyo stayed by her side, the more she felt like she was becoming an old mother.
However, such days were very warm. Every morning, Inaba Tsukiyo would prepare a bento for Marikawa Shizuka to take to school.
Originally, Marikawa Shizuka wanted Inaba Tsukiyo to go to school, but her setting was thirteen years old. Skipping grades would be fine, but sending her to elementary school would be too difficult for her.
She stayed at home, and after a quick clean-up, she would wander around the city.
Sword skills needed to be practiced daily. Inaba Tsukiyo practiced her swordsmanship at home every day, but this wasn't enough; she at least needed to find a suitable opponent.
Finally, one evening at dinner, Inaba Tsukiyo asked Marikawa Shizuka if there was anyone in the city skilled in swordsmanship.
At Fujimi Academy, Busujima Saeko, the president of the Kendo Club, was the sole heir to her family's dojo, and she was a high school student.
Busujima Saeko had won first place in past competitions, so having her as Inaba Tsukiyo's opponent didn't seem impossible.
Although she didn't think much of Busujima Saeko as described by Marikawa Shizuka, she still wanted to see what level of swordsmanship people in this world had mastered.
'Busujima Style? I haven't really heard of this style. It's probably a style self-taught from certain fields.'
She wasn't fixated on the style issue; many new styles in modern times drew inspiration from other forms of martial arts.
Since Marikawa Shizuka recommended Busujima Saeko, this person must not be an ordinary individual.
Finally, on a day off, Inaba Tsukiyo and Marikawa Shizuka arrived at the Busujima family's kendo dojo, where Inaba Tsukiyo met Busujima Saeko.
This was a beautiful older sister who looked like a Yamato Nadeshiko, with long dark purple hair and deep blue pupils.
If she wore a kimono, she would definitely be a Yamato Nadeshiko-style beauty. It was just that, although she concealed it very little, the aura of slaughter on her could not be hidden.
This person's true personality must be very bloodthirsty and fond of killing, but due to modern society's laws, she couldn't unleash it.
"You are... Sister Shizuka, from the infirmary? May I ask what brings you here?"
Busujima Saeko recognized Marikawa Shizuka at first glance. As the president of the Kendo Club, there was a high chance that members would get injured during training.
As the school nurse, Marikawa Shizuka would appear whenever serious injuries occurred, so she naturally got to know Marikawa Shizuka.
"Hmm, it's me. But it's not me who wants to see you this time, it's Tsukiyo-chan."
Saying this, Marikawa Shizuka pulled Inaba Tsukiyo over from the side.
Inaba Tsukiyo deliberately opened her eyes and stared into Busujima Saeko's deep blue pupils.
This person reminded Inaba Tsukiyo of someone once called the [Empress], though they differed slightly in personality and appearance.
Just as Marikawa Shizuka was about to introduce Inaba Tsukiyo to Busujima Saeko, she suddenly felt the surrounding air become extremely cold. Even though autumn had already arrived, it shouldn't be this cold.
This was the killing intent deliberately emanating from Inaba Tsukiyo. Facing this murderous aura, Busujima Saeko not only felt no fear but looked at Inaba Tsukiyo with some excitement.
In her eyes, Inaba Tsukiyo had already acknowledged her as someone like herself, with a bloodthirsty impulse, and also a fellow swordswoman.
"I heard from Sister Shizuka that you are very formidable. I've come specifically today to experience the swordsmanship of the [Busujima Style], Miss Busujima Saeko."
"Oh? May I take this as a challenge to my dojo? Little miss."
Busujima Saeko smiled as she looked at Inaba Tsukiyo. She didn't feel angry; in fact, she found it somewhat novel.
This was the first time someone had come to challenge the Busujima family's kendo dojo. She believed this match would bring great enjoyment.
"I have no such intention. I merely wish to see what kind of strength someone Sister Shizuka thinks highly of possesses."
Busujima Saeko invited the two into the dojo. Marikawa Shizuka hadn't even fully registered what was happening and sat somewhat dazed on one side of the dojo.
"Don't you need to put on protective gear? Although there are no other members in the dojo, we can still find suitable gear for you."
There was protective gear for someone of Inaba Tsukiyo's build, protecting the head, throat, shoulders, chest, abdomen, back of the hands, fists, and lower body.
In professional kendo competitions, this protective gear was indispensable.
Because while wooden swords had little lethality, they could still cause significant impact, so both kendo dojos and school Kendo Clubs would prepare protective gear to prevent bodily injury.
"No need. If you can truly injure me, then I would be even happier, Miss Busujima."
With a Herrscher's physique combined with the body of the [Queen of Nue], ordinary weapons could not cause substantial harm to her. If Busujima Saeko could truly injure her with a wooden sword, that would be incredibly fierce.
"Heh, is that so? In that case, I don't need it either. Let's just go easy."
"Mm. Before we begin, let's introduce ourselves. [Pill Self-Manifestation Style] Inaba Tsukiyo, I challenge you again!"
"[Pill Self-Manifestation Style]... Interesting. [Busujima Style] Busujima Saeko, I accept!"
The two stood about two or three meters apart. Inaba Tsukiyo took up the stance of [Right Dragonfly], and Busujima Saeko crouched, gripping her wooden sword with both hands, exuding a suppressed aura.
The swordsmanship of the [Busujima Style] emphasized the draw of the sword, an action that required every muscle in the body to be engaged.
Starting with force from the toes, passing through the ankles, transmitting the pushing power upwards through straightening the calves, bending the knees, thighs, lifting the hips, twisting the waist, leaning forward, raising the arms, swinging the forearms, shaking the wrist, and vibrating the fingers—a series of coordinated movements that concentrated the body's entire strength into an attack.
Busujima Saeko had spent several years just training the draw of the sword, before moving on to the fourteen basic movements: slash, chop, thrust, hook, lift, cloud, parry, point, burst, intercept, embrace, pierce, wrist flourish, and wrist flick.
The [Busujima Style] emphasized preemptive strike, but the [Pill Self-Manifestation Style] that Inaba Tsukiyo mastered also emphasized preemptive strike.
Almost simultaneously, Inaba Tsukiyo and Busujima Saeko charged at each other, their wooden swords clashing heavily.
In their first exchange, both had already gauged each other's strength. Inaba Tsukiyo was surprised that Busujima Saeko, so young, possessed such strength, while Busujima Saeko was surprised that Inaba Tsukiyo, so small, could easily block eighty percent of her power.
'She's indeed a master!'
Both thought this at the same time, but their intentions differed: one felt the opponent could make her use her full strength, while the other felt she could have a good play with her.
Although Busujima Saeko's strength was considerable, even surpassing some kendo grandmasters, she was still too green to deal with Inaba Tsukiyo.
Not to mention Inaba Tsukiyo's enhanced physical abilities, just Inaba Tsukiyo's centuries of swordsmanship training were incomparable to Busujima Saeko's mere decade-plus of diligent practice.
Initially, Busujima Saeko held back, but later, she fought Inaba Tsukiyo almost at full strength, her wooden sword becoming a relentless storm of attacks, while her deep blue pupils flashed with a bloodthirsty light.
In her battle with Inaba Tsukiyo, this person awakened her latent true nature and affirmed Inaba Tsukiyo as a worthy opponent.
To match this person's killing intent, Inaba Tsukiyo also slightly released her own murderous aura, and her offensive gradually shifted from defense to attack.
During their battle, Marikawa Shizuka was drinking the hot tea Busujima Saeko had prepared for her beforehand.
Facing the sudden drop in ambient temperature, she tilted her head in confusion, not understanding what was happening, and continued to sip her hot tea blankly.
If Busujima Saeko had initially intended merely to spar, now she wanted Inaba Tsukiyo's life; this person was getting a little out of control.
'Indeed, this person's potential is very high, just like that foolish apprentice. However, this person's figure is just like Sister Shizuka's. Is this kind of figure really okay?'
During the battle, those two things were simply too eye-catching, and hanging on her, didn't she feel uncomfortable?
Inaba Tsukiyo was very curious and couldn't understand why Busujima Saeko showed no discomfort after fighting for so long.
Normally at home, Sister Shizuka would complain to her about shoulder pain, so how could this guy not feel anything?
This battle was ultimately won by Inaba Tsukiyo.
Busujima Saeko was indeed very strong, but her real combat experience was far from being comparable to Inaba Tsukiyo's, considering Tsukiyo's sword skills were honed through constant slaughter.
Although Busujima Style sword skills also had high lethality, real combat experience created too great a gap between them.
"You are very strong, Miss Saeko. It seems I underestimated Busujima Style. You will definitely become a Sword Saint in the future."
"You're joking, Miss Inaba. I saw it clearly, I am no match for you at all. You weren't serious from beginning to end."
Busujima Saeko knew very well that Inaba Tsukiyo had never fought her seriously, holding back the entire time. Aside from the aura she released at the beginning, there was basically no hostility.
On the contrary, she gradually fell into the pleasure of battle during the fight, which made her feel somewhat helpless, yet she couldn't do anything about it.
It was just this feeling of facing a Sword Master... no, this feeling had already far surpassed that of a Sword Master.
She didn't look old, so why did she possess such power?
"None of that is important, but I also have something I want to ask you. I hope you can answer me."
"Hm? Please speak?" Busujima Saeko asked, puzzled.
Inaba Tsukiyo pointed at Busujima Saeko's sweat-drenched chest. The sweat from the intense battle had soaked her collar.
As her white outerwear became wet with sweat, it revealed the shadow of black lace underneath, which made Busujima Saeko blush. But realizing they were all girls here, she didn't pay too much attention to the question.
"Those two things, did they really not affect you during the battle? They were shaking so much just now, why didn't you feel anything at all?"
"..."
"..."
Well, this was a bit awkward. Busujima Saeko didn't know how to answer Inaba Tsukiyo's question at all.
Even Sister Shizuka on the side couldn't help but look at Busujima Saeko's breasts, then at her own, feeling that there wasn't much difference.
Thinking about Inaba Tsukiyo's words just now, she was also quite curious why Busujima Saeko had gone through such an intense battle without any issues.
And so, under Inaba Tsukiyo's body temperature and Sister Shizuka's unintentional gaze, cold sweat ran down Busujima Saeko's face.
How... how was she supposed to explain this?
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