Twin Swordsmanship

"Huff, huff. What do we do, Evan?"

"I don't know."

A startled Bastian turned his head toward me.

It must be the first time he's heard me say something like "I don't know."

Though I wasn't as out of breath as Bastian was,

I wasn't all that different in not knowing what to do.

Company commander Leonel Jorge.

He's not a match I can do anything about with my current level of skill.

'I knew he was an opponent I couldn't beat. But I didn't expect it to be this bad.'

The moment Company commander Leonel put his hand on the sword's hilt and took up a stance, pushing his left shoulder forward,
I saw right away that Bastian and I couldn't possibly face him as we are now.

There's no way a twelve-year-old child could defeat a man commanding a thousand troops.

But experiencing his swordplay firsthand was even more astonishing than I had expected.

'Not that his swordsmanship is flawless, though.'

As his movements increased while parrying mine and Bastian's swords, he started to reveal openings as well.

However,
with our current strength and speed, there's just no way to exploit those clear gaps.

I considered kicking up the dirt at his feet to blur his vision and aiming for a critical strike.

But this is an interview to decide unit assignment.

If this were a real battle for my life, I wouldn't have hesitated to do that.

But there's no reason to act like a back-alley thug in the middle of a practical exam.

'Still, to think we can't even get close to him.'

Company Commander Leonel Jorge didn't so much as counterattack, but he never once allowed Bastian's or my sword to come within the distance he had set.

"I heard you led fifty mercenaries, so I had some expectations. Disappointing."

That stings my pride.

So I do have pride after all.

Even if I can't win,
I want to squeeze into that space he's claimed and swing my sword.

It's not that I don't know how.

Even now, I can see dozens of possible sword routes to break through Company commander Leonel Jorge's openings.

It's just my body can't follow through.

The speed, the strength, even the length of my arms and legs,
are hopelessly lacking compared to Company commander Leonel Jorge.

Taking advantage of the moment I opened up distance to catch my breath, I whispered to Bastian.

"Bastian, do precisely as I say."

"Okay."

"You hit the lower section, I'll take the upper."

"Got it."

"Don't grip your sword too tightly. Just hold it lightly, it's okay if you drop it, just relax your grip."

Bastian turned to look at me.

"You told me before: the most important thing is to grip the hilt lightly enough that you don't overstrain your wrist and arm muscles, but firmly enough that you never let go."

"Just do as I say now. Even if you lose your sword, that's fine, just hold it loose. Actually, assume you'll drop it."

It's bothersome when people pester you for reasons in situations like this.
Bastian isn't that kind of companion.

"All right! Evan."

"How long do you two intend to keep chatting? Planning to stay up all night?"

My irritation was rising.

So this is what it feels like to be annoyed.

My opponent is merely a provincial kingdom's regulars company commander,
yet right now, I can't even get the blade of my sword close to his body.

I can see sword routes clearly.

I passed the essence of swordsmanship hundreds of years ago,
yet I can't even touch the hem of this country army company commander's uniform.

"Let's go, Bastian."

"Yeah!"

Bastian and I threw ourselves in at the same time.

To coordinate the combined attack, I deliberately matched Bastian's speed, meaning I couldn't go full force.

But I know well that if I rushed in at full speed by myself, leaving Bastian behind, the outcome would be even worse.

'This time, I'll break through that precious distance of yours, no matter what.'

Slash!
Swish!

Bastian's and my swords swept in at the same time.

Bastian went for the lower body, swinging from right to left.

I went for the upper body, swinging from left to right.

It looked like we struck at the same instant, but my sword was ever so slightly the faster.

A tiny difference.

I made that difference on purpose.

Leonel Jorge was bound to notice it.

'There.'

Just as I predicted,
the company commander defended his upper body first.

Clang!

He lightly batted away my sword, then quickly lowered his sword to block Bastian's.

There's only one chance.

Before Leonel's sword batted aside Bastian's, as planned, I tapped the underside of Bastian's sword hilt with the top of my right foot.

'Good fellow.'

Because he remembered my instructions and kept his grip loose, Bastian's sword slipped easily from his hand.

"What are you—?"

For a split second, I saw surprise flicker in Leonel's eyes.

The sword he'd aimed to deflect soared upward, and in an instant, it settled into my right hand.

The third of my twelve companions.

It's time to unveil the twin swordsmanship I honed with Bennett.

—Why can't you let go of this inefficient sword style? Twin swordsmanship? That's not where the essence of the sword lies, Bennett.
"Of course, I'm not planning to make this my main sword art."
—Then why are you so obsessed with perfecting it?
"Because there could always be someone stronger than me."
—Someone stronger than you, who wields me? At least in this era, there won't be.
"You never know. The world's a big place."
—Suppose you meet someone fiercer than Bennett. You're saying that when honest swordsmanship doesn't work, this twin sword style could win?
"I might just be able to unsettle them for an instant. Just a moment of confusion. That's all I need."

I never expected a day would come when I'd make use of that twin swordstyle, Bennett.

If I succeed today, I'll visit your grave and pour that red wine you love, a whole bottle, and only the very best.

All right, time to give it everything I have.

Well, everything this body can muster for now.

Though, to exhaust my full potential, I still need more time.

Clang! Clang!

My twin swords and Leonel Jorge's longsword intertwined in a flurry.
Time was short.

A grown man is not going to show an opening, startled by a little kid's twin sword tactics.

Still, since he wasn't expecting it at all, I could create a brief window of confusion.

Clang! Clang!

No need to defend.

If defense was necessary, I'd pick up a shield instead of a second sword.

This sword style is for driving your opponent relentlessly.

Instead of repelling the enemy's attacks,
I strike once more before he gets the chance.

Instead of putting weight into every attack,

I focus solely on creating openings with swift blows.

Clang! Cling-clang!

"Oh ho, you little... you're quite good."

Leonel Jorge.

You find the twin swordsmanship Bennett and I invented fascinating, but
if you open your mouth carelessly in the middle of a duel, you'll just create openings.

Like now.

Slash!

The sword in my right hand slashed straight at Leonel Jorge's throat.

If nothing changed, the tip should travel right over his windpipe.

A shallow cut there is still enough to kill a man.

At this barely-within-reach distance,

Leonel Jorge simply leaned his torso back to dodge my strike.

'Right now.'

Just as I aimed for,
as his body bent back, my left-hand sword stabbed in at his thigh.

Leonel's longsword swung desperately to block it—but, because it was heavy and long, its arc was wide and slow.

Slice!

At last.

I succeeded in cutting Company commander Leonel Jorge's thigh.

Of course, because he pulled back his leg, neither muscle nor a major blood vessel was hit, leaving only a small wound on the skin.

Bright red blood spattered.

'Mmm. Success.'

For what this body can do now,
that's everything I had.

Leonel Jorge dusted off the torn fabric of his pants.

Inside was a small injury.

"To think you stand there looking so triumphant after dealing nothing but this scratch."

At some point, Bastian had come to stand by my side.

I returned his sword.

"Yes. That is everything I can do right now."

Leonel Jorge's eyebrows rose, curiosity shining in his eyes.

"You're not smiling triumphantly because you cut me?"

"I just thought this was my best and succeeded. Like I said, I've shown everything I can in this interview."

"An intriguing fellow. But your skills are beneath expectations. So many rumors—I had wondered if there was something, but you're just a brat who can hold a sword."

Leonel pointed at a bench under a tree at the edge of the drill yard.

"Go sit over there and rest. After I talk with the personnel officer, I'll send someone for you. That person will probably be your direct squad leader."

"Yes, sir."

Following Leonel's instructions, Bastian and I headed to the shaded corner of the drill yard.

"This army stuff... it's really incredible. Wasn't that man we sparred with a company commander?"

"Yes. The position is company commander, the rank is 1000-man commander."

"He's nothing like the adults we met in the bandits' group. Even fighting with you, we didn't lay a finger on him. Well, at the very end, you managed to scratch him by yourself."

Not all the adults in the bandits' group were weak, Bastian.

The bandit chief there was much stronger than Leonel Jorge.

Utterly incomparable.

"It was only possible because you followed my intention so well."

Bastian suddenly swung his arms, acting out dual-wielding swords.

"That was amazing! That twin sword style... Actually, you'd have been better off using two swords from the start and leaving me out of it."

"No."

"No?"

"Yeah. If I'd been holding two swords from the beginning, I couldn't have created that gap. The only reason it worked was because we were working together and I suddenly took your sword mid-fight."

"Oh... So he was caught off guard by an attack route he hadn't expected at all!"

"That's right. You're getting smarter, Bastian."

With my sudden praise, Bastian's jaw dropped, and his head gradually drooped as we walked.

"Anyway, I get my situation, but Evan, I thought you'd be treated like a celebrity on enlistment. But to the soldiers, we're just kids after all. Who'd think you'd be told your skills are below expectations? Just how strong are the other soldiers supposed to be?"

What's this.

You really believe that?

Ah...

Maybe that's why people tell so many lies—because there are so many innocent people who believe them.

* * *

Personnel Officer's Office.

"Did you see that boy's gaze?"

"Yes."

"And the sharpness and simplicity at the tip of his sword?"

"Yes."

"What do you think, company commander Leonel Jorge?"

Leonel Jorge took a deep breath before answering.

"Evan Dagon. You said he's twelve years old, right? It's a talent and focus beyond what I can believe of a human. Good heavens... Only twelve."

"How's your thigh?"

"It was just a scratch."

"How many are there in our unit who can bring a sword to your body?"

"Excluding fellow 1000-man commander and advanced-rank soldiers? Since it's sensitive..."

"Let's say so."

Leonel stretched out all five fingers.

"Among the 1000-man commanders, those who could even attempt it can be counted on these fingers."

"I thought so. How did such a monstrous kid volunteer for our unit?"

"I still can't believe it. Such talent at twelve... There's not a single kid on the continent with that kind of gift besides Evan Dagon."

"No wonder you covet him, Leonel."

Leonel Jorge murmured quietly, recalling the sparring with Evan.

"It felt as if... I was dueling a sword with a flawless edge."

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
I like that although Evan has the knowledge, he is still limited by his body...
At least at them moment...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】