The Kingdom of Asura, situated in the northern region of the Central Continent, was encircled by the Crimson Dragon Mountains. In winter, moist winds from the sea climbed the terrain, often triggering rapid and continuous snowfall due to orographic lift.
Because of that, rooftops were steeply angled to help snowmelt drain away.
The classroom's estate was the second-tallest building in the entire Boreas mansion.
In the misty rain, its roofline appeared hazy and indistinct.
It wasn't winter now, and there was no snow.
Still, the rain should've flowed freely down the sloped tiles of the roof.
And yet, for the past few months—
There had been a slight obstruction.
Near the skylight ridge.
Rain, as it streamed across the tiles, curved around an "obstacle."
A pair of bare feet.
"One hundred ninety-seven!"
Beneath the veil of rain and morning mist—
Someone swung a sword.
This was the "base of operations" for a certain someone playing hooky.
"Two hundred!"
The blade came to a halt.
Allen exhaled deeply, his breath muffled and swallowed by the rain, dampened before it could escape him.
He sheathed his sword.
Lowered his gaze into the mist.
The Boreas estate was already situated on the highest mountain in Roa, and from this second-tallest rooftop, one could overlook the entire city.
Through the rain and fog, the city's crisscrossing main roads could still be seen clearly. Tiny human figures—no more than black dots—and miniature carriage-like specks moved to and fro on the streets.
The "lifeblood" of Roa unfolded before his eyes.
Even blurred by rain, it was vivid.
Allen had discovered this scenic spot four months ago by accident.
Since then, it became his usual hideout after "excusing" himself from class.
Here, the view gave him a sense of "dominance," which helped him refine his ken-shin (sword spirit).
Allen turned his head slightly toward the other end of the Boreas estate.
The visibility was low in the rain, but still, he could make out a dark, towering silhouette piercing the sky.
The tallest tower in Roa.
Sauros loved to stand there and gaze down upon the city.
Back when Allen was just a reader, he didn't understand that feeling.
But standing here now—he finally got it.
What Sauros enjoyed wasn't the view.
It was the sense of dominion over the entire Phitoya Territory.
Allen narrowed his eyes and turned his gaze northwest, toward the sky beyond the tower.
The rain concealed everything.
Only mist and clouds could be seen.
But he knew what was there.
Because on clear days, he'd seen it—again and again—for the past four months. It was etched into his memory.
A trace of mana from a spatial rift caused by teleportation magic.
A sphere wrapped in swirling mana "ribbons."
Black and red in color.
Far away. So distant that without close attention, it was nearly imperceptible.
But four months ago, he had seen it the moment he first climbed here.
He was especially sensitive to anything related to the Great Teleportation.
Back in the original story, Rudy had climbed that same tower and interrupted Sauros's "meow meow" moment with Lillia. Allen, as a reader, had mostly focused on the catgirl reactions and had glossed over the plot details.
But seeing the rift for himself brought it all back.
Later in the story, Sauros called Rudy up to that tower and pointed out the rift.
Visible to the naked eye, right outside the window.
And Sauros had mentioned he'd been able to see that "gem" for several years.
That scene took place the day after Eris's tenth birthday.
Right now, Eris was nine.
Winter would pass, then spring would come.
Soon, it would be her tenth birthday.
Two more years, and it would be Rudy's tenth birthday.
And the day after that, the "gem" would finally activate its true "purpose."
"Time flies… It's already been half a year since I arrived at Boreas… Two years and nine months until the Great Teleportation."
He glanced at the sword in his hand and felt the humid air around him.
Then took off his glasses and tucked them into his pocket.
Abandoned his control over Ryū no Ōgi (Dragon Flow Secret Art).
Within seconds, rain drenched him—soaking his hair, his clothes.
But also cooling the heat in his heart.
His experiment to shift from the sword spirit of "following one's heart, unity of thought and action" to "domination and control"—
Had failed.
Though his Muon no Tachi (Silent Blade) had returned to peak form over the last four months…
The final step to Hikari no Tachi (Blade of Light) still felt like an invisible barrier—close, yet unreachable.
This sword spirit didn't suit him.
Or perhaps, sword spirit couldn't be altered so easily. Even Ghislaine viewed this attempt of his as extraordinary.
And based on her observations, his return to peak Muon no Tachi felt more like the result of constant drills and refining his fundamentals with her "shadow-swing" training, not from any change in sword spirit.
Allen looked at his blade and swept his wet hair back.
A sharp gleam returned to his eyes—the kind he hadn't shown in years.
He whispered inwardly:
"From the heart—unity of thought and action."
He raised his arm.
Swung.
His soaked sleeve rippled violently against his forearm.
The curtain of rain before him seemed unchanged…
But in Allen's pupils—
A white slash faded in the rain.
It was still the peak of Muon no Tachi.
Suddenly—bam!—the skylight beside him burst open!
A flash of crimson hair shot out from the hatch!
Startled, Allen nearly went cross-eyed and dashed to the edge below the skylight with a silent step—Muon no Tachi level.
Fortunately, Eris didn't tumble off the roof.
Her flaming red hair, now soaked through, had turned a deep wine-red.
Six months hadn't changed Eris much—she hadn't grown significantly.
But her expression—
Was far more composed.
Gone was the ever-present pout of six months ago. Her mouth now held a faint calm.
She extended a hand.
Raised it horizontally into the rain.
Then—like a blade—she traced a slow line through the air toward the distant tower.
Her pale palm sliced through the curtain of rain.
A white fish tail piercing the morning veil.
Then, she pulled her hand back.
The rain continued falling as if nothing had happened.
A simple motion.
But when it ended, Eris suddenly looked up!
Stared straight at Allen!
He met her gaze, then raised a brow in surprise.
"This time's not bad… You're sensing the raindrops' descent to grasp the flow of intent? Amazing sword intuition. And…"
"You've restrained your killing intent significantly. Also—blending Nenryū's (Flow of Thought) essence with Kenshin-ryū (Sword God Style)—you're improving quickly. Very good."
Eris kept her expression flat.
Allen watched her.
One second.
Two.
Three.
As he counted silently to three—
Her calm melted into the rain.
Colors stirred.
The gloomy rain seemed to brighten.
And then—her usual high-pitched voice echoed in Allen's ear:
"How was that?! Pretty amazing, huh?! Allen!!"
She crossed her arms proudly, chin lifted with smug satisfaction.
Everything in her body language—from the little upturn of her lips to the sparkle in her eyes—screamed:
Praise Eris!!
Don't stop!!
(End of Chapter)
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