Hello I'm back, thy leg is healed but I don't have molars anymore.
===BREAK===
Next, Shao Yun put Lumine and Clorinde through specialized training focused on draw-and-fire hip shooting.
As the sun gradually tilted westward, after a long stretch of high-intensity training, Shao Yun felt they had practiced long enough. He clapped his hands and gestured for the two of them to take a short break.
"All right, let's stop here and rest for a bit. Move your wrists around and relax your muscles," Shao Yun said.
Hearing that the training had finally come to a pause, Lumine let out a long sigh of relief.
She rubbed her wrists, which had gone slightly numb from gripping her guns for so long and enduring the recoil, and couldn't help but mutter under her breath.
"Ugh, why does this not even feel like training? It's practically like a relaxing target-shooting vacation!"
Clorinde, on the other hand, still seemed unsatisfied. She looked down at the gun in her hands and said, "Mr. Shao Yun must have his reasons for doing this. I can feel that it really does have some effect. It's been a long time since I used a gun like this."
She paused briefly, then added, "And I can feel my draw speed getting faster too—about 0.1 seconds faster than before."
The moment Clorinde mentioned 0.1 seconds, Lumine asked in confusion, "0.1 seconds? Is that really a big improvement?"
Clorinde nodded with a serious expression and replied, "Very big! Even a difference of 0.1 seconds can decide victory or defeat! I can feel the gap between myself and Shao Yun shrinking!"
Lumine nodded half-understandingly and said, "Well, progress is still progress."
At this moment, Clorinde's gaze shifted to the pair of guns in Lumine's hands. They looked strangely familiar, as if she had seen them somewhere before.
Yet no matter how she thought about it, she couldn't recall where.
So, she asked curiously, "Actually, I've always had a question. Where did your type of gun come from? I've never seen anything like it before."
Seeing Clorinde take an interest in the gold-and-silver revolvers she was holding, Lumine answered without reservation, "Shao Yun gave them to me. I'm not really sure myself. What about yours?"
Clorinde swiftly drew out her distinctive custom gun and began explaining.
"This gun of mine was specially commissioned from the Beaumont Workshop. It's a boldly innovative break-action gun. Compared to the common muzzle-loading guns, its biggest advantage is the fast reloading speed!"
"Not only that, by using elemental power to propel the rounds, its firepower is nothing to scoff at!"
As she spoke, Clorinde demonstrated the reloading motion for Lumine.
Then she paused slightly and continued, "However, powerful as it is, it still needs to be reloaded after every single shot, like this…"
A flash of purple light flickered from the Vision at Clorinde's collar. The round in the chamber shot toward the sea amid crackling lightning, producing a series of crackling sounds.
"One shot, one reload. So overall, the efficiency is still a bit low…"
"But to reach this level, Estelle from the Beaumont Workshop had to revise the blueprints countless times."
As the conversation carried on, Clorinde knew full well that her next request was somewhat presumptuous and likely unrealistic, yet she still steeled herself and asked.
"By the way, there's something a bit rude I'd like to ask. Could you help me talk to Mr. Shao Yun and see if he'd be willing to help me get a gun similar to yours? I'm willing to pay for it…"
"Of course, if it's really inconvenient, then forget it. I'm just asking casually…" After saying this, Clorinde looked at Lumine somewhat embarrassed, waiting for her response.
Seeing Clorinde's interest in her weapon, Lumine shook her head helplessly and advised, "I'd recommend not getting your hopes up about that, Clorinde…"
Hearing this, Clorinde had already mentally prepared herself.
After all, receiving Shao Yun's guidance alone was already more than enough. Asking him for a weapon on top of that would indeed be going too far.
Thinking this, Clorinde laughed at herself and said, "You're right… what was I even thinking?"
To ease the atmosphere, Lumine spoke up with a different topic. "Speaking of which, Clorinde, when Paimon and I were reading the Steambird, we happened to see a quote from Charlotte."
"She said that many people have suffered crushing defeats under your sword. Why not under your gun?"
Hearing this, Clorinde explained, "Perhaps it's because I've always been pestering Shao Yun to teach me gun techniques, which gave people that impression. But in reality, I prefer using a one-handed sword rather than a gun."
Lumine was shocked to hear that Clorinde didn't often use guns and pressed incredulously, "Huh? You mean you rarely use guns?"
Clorinde then explained why she wasn't accustomed to using guns.
"The sword techniques my master taught me were based on those used by the Marechaussee Hunters. And in the dueling arena, most people choose to compete with me using swords. As a result, I'm personally much more accustomed to swordplay. Guns are more of a bonus for me."
She paused briefly, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly, before continuing, "Of course, the most important reason is that guns are still quite troublesome to use."
"Besides Shao Yun, and that fellow named Dutch, I'm confident I can subdue an opponent before they fire—or dodge their first shot and then subdue them."
Hearing how confident Clorinde was in her swordsmanship, Lumine asked curiously, "So, Clorinde, is your swordsmanship really that strong?"
Clorinde recalled her career as a dueling proxy and replied modestly, "Well… I wouldn't dare make bold claims, but I suppose among the many dueling proxies, I'd count myself as one of the stronger ones."
As soon as Clorinde finished speaking, Lumine rubbed her hands together excitedly and suggested, "In that case, Clorinde, how about we spar with swords?"
Seeing Lumine so eager to test her skills, Clorinde gladly accepted.
She smoothly stowed away her gun, then with a flick of her hand, the cold-glinting one-handed sword Absolution appeared in her grasp.
"Of course. Please, show me what you've got!" Clorinde assumed a ready stance.
...
Lumine found a corner and changed out of her gunslinger outfit into her white dress, Rising Star, before sparring with Clorinde.
Then, with a casual flick of her hand, a plain and unadorned Dull Blade appeared.
The two stood facing each other, their gazes meeting as sparks seemed to fly between them.
With a sharp shout from Lumine, the exhilarating sword spar officially began.
In an instant, sword light intertwined and shadows of blades danced, the two trading blows back and forth without yielding an inch.
...
After a fierce exchange, the simple sparring match finally came to an end.
In the end, it was too close to call—both had wins and losses, with neither gaining a clear upper hand.
The moment the spar ended, Paimon, who had been watching from the side, hurriedly flew over with a clean towel and wiped the sweat from Lumine's forehead.
Lumine gave Clorinde's swordsmanship very high praise.
"Honestly, Clorinde, your swordsmanship is amazing! In the twelfth exchange, my weapon was almost knocked right out of my hands!"
Hearing the compliment, Clorinde first took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her own forehead.
Then she replied with equal appreciation, "You're impressive too. Especially your strength—your attacks are powerful, and your footwork is steady and solid."
"To be honest, when I first saw you wearing such a slightly loose dress, I was worried it might affect your sword swings. Turns out, those worries were completely unnecessary."
Receiving Clorinde's affirmation, Lumine said happily, "Hehe, thank you!"
Standing off to the side, Shao Yun quietly watched the two of them enthusiastically spar with swords during what was supposed to be a short break.
He couldn't help but shake his head slightly, a helpless look crossing his face as he remarked, "You two really have endless energy. You just finished gun training, and during your break you still have the mood to practice swordsmanship."
Hearing this, Lumine stuck out her pink tongue at him playfully and replied, "Hehe, learning more is always a good thing! You can never have too many skills!"
Shao Yun nodded in agreement after hearing her words.
"Mm, a love of learning is indeed something worth praising…"
...
The break came to an end. Just as Shao Yun was about to resume gun training with Lumine and Clorinde, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar.
Everyone turned toward the sound, only to see Navia running toward them in a flurry.
Her golden hair streamed behind her in the wind as she ran, shining brilliantly under the sunlight.
Navia shouted loudly as she ran.
"Hey! Why are you all… here? I've been… looking everywhere!"
Seeing how rushed Navia looked, Clorinde quickly went up to her and asked with concern, "Navia, what's wrong? You look like you're in a hurry—did something happen?"
Navia reached them, bent over with her hands on her knees, and gulped down air.
"Something happened at the Palais Mermonia… Shao Yun, Clorinde… they're urgently looking for you!"
Hearing that someone was looking for him, Shao Yun immediately cracked a joke.
"What, is Furina tearing down the Palais Mermonia, and Neuvillette can't stop her anymore?"
Navia shook her head while panting and replied, "Of course not! Let me catch my breath first… huff… huff…"
Seeing her so out of breath, Shao Yun teased again, "Don't tell me Dutch van der Linde went to threaten her again? And then acted like some beast tamer, whipping her and making us watch how he 'tame' Furina like a lion?"
The moment Shao Yun spouted nonsense about Dutch van der Linde taming Furina like a lion, Lumine and Paimon, standing nearby, couldn't hold it in anymore.
The two covered their mouths and burst into giggles almost simultaneously.
Even Clorinde nearly lost her composure, her expression turning rather strange.
Navia took a couple of steadying breaths before finally saying, "I haven't heard anything about him spanking Lady Furina in public. But he did shoot an arrow into her room—with a threat letter attached."
Clorinde, who had been listening nearby, immediately turned pale upon hearing that someone had dared to attack the Palais Mermonia outright.
"Was Lady Furina injured?" she asked urgently.
Navia shook her head and explained, "No. Lady Furina wasn't hurt, but she was badly frightened. The Palais Mermonia has urgently commissioned the Spina di Rosula to help find Shao Yun and you, saying it's extremely urgent!"
Hearing that Furina had been frightened, Clorinde's heart tightened.
As one of the Hydro Archon's guards, she decisively said to Shao Yun, "I'm sorry, Mr. Shao Yun. Lady Furina's condition is unclear right now, and I can't put my mind at ease. Let's head back and take a look."
"So, today's lesson will have to be suspended for now. I hope you can understand. Thank you very much for your guidance—we'll find another suitable time to continue training."
With that, she turned and prepared to head to the Palais Mermonia at once.
At that moment, Paimon hurried forward and stopped Clorinde.
"Hey, wait! Don't rush off like that!"
After stopping Clorinde, Paimon quickly flew over to Shao Yun, lowered her voice, and whispered into his ear.
"Shao Yun, do you think we should go check out the Palais Mermonia too?"
"Navia said Furina's fine, just scared. With Neuvillette there, do we really need to go?"
If it had been anything else, Shao Yun wouldn't have gone even if someone dragged him. But this time was different.
He had once impersonated Dutch van der Linde himself. So where did this Dutch van der Linde who attacked the Palais Mermonia come from? Obviously, a fake.
Someone was using Dutch's name—and Shao Yun already had a good guess who it was. It was very likely Arlecchino. She was one of the few bold enough to pull something like this.
And her motive was clear: create a sense of urgency, push Furina into a corner, and force some kind of cooperation.
"We should go take a look. I really want to see what this 'Dutch van der Linde' is all about," Shao Yun said without hesitation.
===BREAK===
Like the story and want more chapters?
Join and support me by joining my Patreon!
[email protected]/SiRoasa