It seems the “Woman of Absolute Zero” was a user of special armaments.
I woke up before the alarm app could activate.
Opening the curtains, I gazed at the morning sun. Perhaps it was due to my elevated spirits, but the sun felt brighter than usual.
I finally understood why I had come to this world.
I had also received Grandpa’s feelings for me. I was no longer the same person I was yesterday.
Yes, I was different. Not the me from yesterday.
Even as a reborn person, my daily routine remained unchanged.
After paying my respects to the Milk God, I went for a run around the hotel, then back to my room for strength training and imagery training.
I repeatedly reviewed the basic sections of the Mugen Ittouryu secret manual, creating images of my body in motion.
From the secret manual, I realized Grandpa hadn’t been a practitioner of the Ono-ha Itto-ryu.
The swordsmanship I learned during my six years as an elementary school student was the basic foundation of Mugen Ittouryu.
He opened a dojo and taught swordsmanship to neighborhood children, but he never let me train with the other kids.
He must have learned Ono-ha Itto-ryu after coming to Earth and could use it, but he was passing down Mugen Ittouryu, which he had mastered himself.
The imagery formed like water seeping into dry earth.
I seriously studied sword fighting during elementary school; I was starting to remember that.
And now I understood what I couldn’t grasp as an elementary school student: the crucial essence of Mugen Ittouryu.
Imagery training alone wasn’t enough; I wanted to move my body soon.
That’s right! The poolside of the penthouse, there was enough space there.
I had also received various gifts from Princess Mikoto. I should probably explain that to the Commander.
I decided to head to the penthouse.
“…I see. So you received gifts from Princess Mikoto, who mistook you for a survivor of the Yashi clan.”
The Commander, who had been woken up early for two consecutive days, was still in a bad mood. However, he seemed to cheer up after hearing my story.
“Yes, I decided to accept them as per your teaching, ‘Take what you can get.’ I do feel a bit guilty, but they were all useful for survival.”
I was becoming quite the skilled liar myself. Even with the Commander, I couldn’t tell him the whole truth.
“Kanata, you seem to be becoming quite the scoundrel. A famous sword, the Mugen Ittouryu secret manual, and a Zero-Type Bio-Metal Unit. As expected of the Princess of Terukyo, she’s quite generous. Among them, the Zero-Type Unit is a true treasure.”
“So it really is that valuable a unit?”
“Indeed. My mother was a collaborator with Towa Saginomiya, and through that connection, I also possess several Zero-Type Units, but I can hardly give them to just anyone. Specifically, only squadron leaders in the Asura Unit have been issued them.”
No matter how generous the Commander is, it makes sense when considering rare items that cannot be mass-produced. There’s a limited quantity.
“Are they that rare? Then that means in the Asura Unit, only you, Lieutenant Colonel Kurando, and the squadron leaders are equipped with Zero-Type Units?”
“That’s right. They’re hardly distributed to the general Alliance Army. In fact, they might be nonexistent.”
Princess Mikoto probably doesn’t keep a balance sheet like the Commander, but I’ve incurred a huge debt. I must protect her no matter what.
No, it’s not about the debt.
Princess Mikoto is the only one in this world who understands my situation and knows everything about me. I must protect her for my own sake.
…And not just for my sake, but for Grandpa’s too.
This is Grandpa’s last request, given to me at the cost of his life, and I will stake everything to protect Princess Mikoto.
“Tomorrow, I will go to an SBC branch to have the Zero-Type Unit upgraded.”
“Understood. I want to borrow Lilith for a bit longer, so finish your errands quickly. Once Himnon’s personal matters are sorted, I’ll have Lilith switch with him.”
“Switching with Major Himnon?”
“Himnon holds not only a law qualification but also an accountant’s license. He’s the perfect person to meticulously refine the paths paved by the intellectuals. It was an unexpected acquisition.”
I was the one who found him, though. So Major Himnon was indeed an intellectual elite.
“Then, I have a law lecture with that intellectual elite, so I’ll take my leave. Please allow me to exercise by the poolside for a bit.”
“Understood. Study diligently in your Curriculum. You only have a little while longer to take it easy.”
A large-scale operation is coming up soon. I need to train both my mind and courage to be prepared.
It’s the third day of the Officer Curriculum, and as usual, the mornings are for lectures and the afternoons for practical training.
The afternoon practical session is free combat using one’s preferred weapon. My choice, of course, is the sword.
I practice the first four stances I’m learning from the manual on the students.
It feels good. My techniques are effective against the students, who are all strong members of the Weed Team.
I should be grateful to Grandpa for leaving me the secret manual.
“As expected, Kanata’s preferred weapon is the sword, like a samurai.”
“And Danny, your weapon is a flamberge? You use quite a rare thing.”
“Well, yeah, but if we’re talking rare, Shion’s weapon is even rarer.”
Danny pointed his chin towards Shion, who was fighting against students from the Weed Team.
I had experienced firsthand that Shion excels at martial arts, but she was wearing something like gauntlets on her arms.
“What is that? It’s too big for brass knuckles. The armor covers up to her elbows. Is it some kind of guard knuckle?”
“It’s a type of guard knuckle, but it’s a special armament. That’s an ejector knocker, Kanata. Just watch.”
Shion’s fighting style involves using the armor covering her arms to block swords while countering with her fists.
That alone would be a common tactic in martial arts, but…
She sidestepped the sword strike and got inside my guard, but it’s too close. You can’t land an effective blow from that distance.
As Shion made contact with the opponent’s chest at point-blank range, an explosion resounded, sending the opponent flying.
“An explosion? She can land an effective blow from point-blank range!?”
Danny explained with a knowing look.
“That’s the special thing about the ejector knocker. It can deliver a powerful blow using gunpowder, even when just making contact.”
Gunpowder punch, how brutal.
An empty shell ejected from Shion’s ejector knocker and clattered across the floor.
She didn’t even crack a smile after winning. Still the same cold-blooded woman.
“It seems like an effective armament, but I’ve never seen it on the battlefield. Why is that?”
“Because it’s difficult to handle. Kanata, the ejector knocker chooses its user. After all, it uses the power of gunpowder to deliver a powerful punch, so the burden on the user is immense.”
“Ah, so you need the arm strength to support the ejector knocker.”
“Furthermore, the true value of the ejector knocker isn’t in its effective close-range strike. Its true worth lies in the additional power it adds to a blow delivered with full body weight—the plus alpha. But if you don’t detonate it at the moment of impact, instead of adding power, you’ll reduce the punch’s own force, making it counterproductive.”
“…I see. A special armament that can only be wielded by users who possess both skill and strength.”
“…Now that my explanation is over, will one of you spar with me? It’s okay, I won’t hurt you.”
Liar. The guy who took the point-blank punch still can’t get up.
“She’s asking, Danny?”
“If I am thus requested, I have no choice. I, Daniel Stewart, shall be your opponent.”
Danny will do it, I’m saved.
“Yes, I would have preferred to challenge Kenrou to a rematch, but that’s fine. He should be a suitable appetizer.”
Danny smiled defiantly.
“I hope you don’t get too full from just the appetizer, Ms. Tundra?”
Danny, wielding his flamberge, faced Shion.
This looks like it’ll be a quite watchable match. I should learn from it.
Danny pointed the tip of his long flamberge towards Shion, observing her.
Shion circled around Danny with light steps, belying her heavy-looking build.
Danny, as a two-handed sword user, had the advantage in reach.
However, if Shion got inside his guard, she, as a martial artist, would have the advantage, especially with her zero-range punch.
Both of them clearly understood what they wanted to do in this matchup.
The exchange focused on Danny preventing Shion from closing the distance, while Shion tried to get inside his guard.
As Shion attempted to enter his guard by parrying a slash, Danny used backsteps and kicks to maintain distance. They repeated this back and forth.
“You’re more capable than I thought. This won’t make progress at this rate.”
“Why don’t you break through by force? I know the real reason you’re called the ‘Woman of Absolute Zero.’…You’re not looking down on me, are you? Show me!”
“Oh, you’re quite knowledgeable. Very well… I’ll show you!”
Icicles appeared around Shion, hovering in the air.
I heard about this from Marika-san. There are special types of pyrokinetic abilities.
Normal pyrokinetics release fire, but occasionally there are users who release ice or lightning.
So Shion was a special type of release ability user. And she wields ice, truly the Woman of Absolute Zero.
“Heh, finally getting serious, huh? That’s more like it. Come on, cold-blooded woman!”
The defiance had vanished from Danny’s face. He seems to have some hidden technique too.
When Shion pointed at Danny, the icicles, acting as loyal servants, charged towards Danny.
As Danny met them, his flamberge ignited, and he spun the sword at his hilt, forming a shield of flame.
Danny is also a release ability user!
The flamberge is a sword whose wavy blade resembles flames, but Danny’s sword truly burns with fire.
Ice and fire clashed, but the icicle spears could not pierce the flame shield.
“You’re good… I remember now. Some rich kid with superior pyrokinetic abilities got bored with his peaceful life and became a soldier. He was known by a nickname like ‘Firewall’… Was that you?”
“Indeed. But it’s not just a shield, you know?”
Saying that, Danny enveloped his sword in flames and took an offensive stance.
Danny’s quite something, a real “Burn Your Sword”!
Today, the author is also going out drinking in the city for the first time in a while.
