The High Elf and the Sword Princess (3)

The dojo she had brought me to had spacious grounds, but calling it run-down... wouldn't even begin to cover it. It was a ruin.

Judging by its appearance, a large number of people had probably smashed it to pieces.

The doors had been broken down, rain and wind blew in through holes in the roof, and the pillars were probably rotten, so it could collapse at any moment.

At least, only the dojo had been destroyed; the residence farther back was in perfectly ordinary condition.

"This was once the dojo of Yosogi Style, which was counted among the Four Great Schools."

She gazed sadly at the ruins and said this.

It was as if saying that alone would make me understand everything.

Yeah, of course I understood everything.

I had actually heard a little about Yosogi Style when I looked into the dojos in the royal capital.

The story was that the head of the school had lost to Lodran Greatswordsmanship in a swordsmanship match and, despite using a blunted practice weapon, had died because the blow landed in a bad spot.

Well, even if the blade was blunted, getting hit full force with a greatsword would kill you.

But Yosogi Style's misfortune began after that. The senior disciples, having lost their master, stormed the Lodran Greatswordsmanship dojo to avenge him, only to be defeated in turn.

The two sides should have been evenly matched, but the senior disciples were embroiled in an internal dispute over who would succeed their master, so they apparently couldn't defeat the fully prepared Lodran Greatswordsmanship school.

Then, in retaliation for the raid, Lodran Greatswordsmanship apparently smashed up the Yosogi Style dojo.

"Even the disciples who hadn't taken part in the raid left, afraid that Lodran Greatswordsmanship would target them. They spared my mother and me, since I was still a child, and left our residence alone, but..."

Yosogi Style had come to a complete end.

I see.

Looking closely, I realized she was still young enough to be called a girl.

"My sword is something I developed in my own way from part of the Yosogi Style my father taught me when I was a child. It is nowhere near the Yosogi Style of old. At best, it would be fit for a sideshow—no, it couldn't even manage that. Yosogi Style has died out."

Her voice was filled with deep, deep frustration.

I couldn't possibly accept that, but there was nothing I could do.

Her voice came out as if squeezed from her, thick with regret.

"Learning a sword style like that and attracting Lodran Greatswordsmanship's attention would hardly be worth it. If you understand, please leave."

She was saying it out of concern for me.

But she was underestimating me a little too much.

Yosogi Style has died out?

That didn't matter.

Lodran Greatswordsmanship has taken notice of me?

That mattered even less.

"It's all right. What I want to learn isn't the vanished Yosogi Style, but the sword you showed me. Besides, I've seen what Lodran Greatswordsmanship has to offer, and no matter how many swordsmen of that caliber showed up, I wouldn't be scared in the least."

Yes, what I wanted was her sword.

The swordsmanship she had developed in her own way.

Whether or not it measured up to the original Yosogi Style was irrelevant.

Aside from a swordsman on Clayas's level, no matter how many swordsmen like those I'd seen at that dojo came at me, I could ask a wind spirit for one small favor and strip them all naked at once.

Of course, I had no such hobby.

"Ah, but by your sword, I mean your swordsmanship. In fact, that sword can't keep up with your technique. If possible, I'd like to have it reforged, so could you leave it with me for about a week?"

I kept piling on words as she stared at me, dumbfounded.

When I said I wouldn't back down, I meant it.

But if we were going to start from here, we'd probably have to rebuild the dojo first.

I could manage the money somehow, but I had no trustworthy carpenter to call on in the royal capital.

Well, if all she and I were going to do was train, we probably didn't need such a large dojo. In that case, we could wait until I found a carpenter.

In that case, I still wanted to do something about the sword she carried.

And my own, while I was at it.

With my advanced smith's license, I could probably rent a forge somewhere.

The look in her eyes, which had been one of concern that I not get involved, had changed to one reserved for something incomprehensible.

"Um, just who exactly are you...?"

Maybe I had come on too strong all at once.

I only just realized that I hadn't even introduced myself.

"I'm Eisa, a high elf once called the Child of the Maple in the Deep Forest. My specialties are archery and borrowing the power of spirits. I also studied smithing under a dwarf for ten years, so I have an advanced smith's license..."

Well, since this was a good opportunity, I might as well introduce myself.

I found it a little amusing to watch her grow more surprised with each thing I said.

"And I'm your disciple. ...I'd be happy if you called me the first disciple of the new Yosogi Style."

With that, I held out my right hand.

She hesitated, her expression a mixture of fear, joy, and suspicion, but eventually, perhaps worn down, she took my hand.

And so I gained a new master and took my first step toward becoming a swordsman.