Chapter 27 – An Assassin’s Presence
Escorting someone at a party means that Yuzuriha-san and I enter the venue together as if we are engaged to be married.
As expected, there was a great deal of excitement in the hall when we entered the Duke’s Family Garden, the venue for the event.
It’s only natural because Yuzuriha-san, the very famous duchess, is standing next to a commoner, a complete nobody.
So I am not troubled by this.
But there is another reason to be troubled—
“—Come on now, why are you so timid like that?!”
“No, well, you see, if I get any closer…”
“Hey, why are you so stiff and hesitant? You’re supposed to be my escort, so come closer and wrap your arm around my waist tightly. Come on, like this squeezes tightly.”
“No, if I do that, Yuzuriha-san’s overly rich chest will be pressed against my body…”
“…I-It can’t be helped, can it? If it’s you and not other men, then… Huu, it’s embarrassing…”
With all that fuss, we managed to finish entering the place.
At the start time, the head of the family appeared and began his speech.
So, in other words, it’s a story about how “Yuzuriha and her comrades” bravely faced a wandering white-haired vampire and ultimately achieved a great victory by cutting off its arm and driving it away.
To be honest, the story was so heavily embellished that it made me feel embarrassed just listening to it.
The best bard in the royal city must have written the manuscript.
And when the speech ended, a simulated combat between me and Yuzuriha began.
The Duke had told me in advance that this was also part of the program.
By showing a mock battle, the aim is to show that we have real strength.
“Here I come, show them what you can do!”
Moved by the enthusiastic Yuzuriha-san, I followed her to the center.
The aim is basically that.
The stage is set up by the Duke to show the attendees what I can do, rather than Yuzuriha-san.
The idea is to prove that the current extermination story is not a lie by engaging in a sword fight with Yuzuriha-san, who is already known as an overwhelmingly skilled warrior.
First, it began with Yuzuriha-san’s solo sword dance, which was both beautiful and terrifying.
On the other hand, I’m an amateur, I can’t even do a good sword dance.
By all accounts, Yuzuriha-san’s sword dance is impressive enough to be a spectacle in itself.
“…Are we really doing this?”
“Of course!—Take this!”
My muttered words seemed to have triggered Yuzuriha-san, and she came at me.
Her swordsmanship was fresher and sharper than when we first met, showing remarkable growth.
It’s probably because she hasn’t fought against too many strong opponents and has focused more on attacking than defending.
Nevertheless, she has made great progress in the past month or so.
But this… This is no different from the usual training scene, I wonder if it’s okay?
“Ha! Hmph!”
Pang! Pang!
“A-Amazing… That Killing Goddess, the goddess of war, is really giving it her all…!”
“Who the h**l is that young man who coolly dodges…!?”
“An attack like that, if you get hit once, you’ll die instantly…!”
“It’s faster than the knight commander’s blow, and everything is aimed precisely at the vital spots…!”
“Most of Yuzuriha-sama’s movements are also crazy, but dodging every single one of those slashes is no longer human…”
I don’t have enough time to listen to the conversation properly, but there seems to be a lot of noise around where the knights are gathered.
The aristocrats who were civil officials, on the other hand, seem to be watching with admiration.
Or rather, if you’re a complete amateur, you might not be able to properly appreciate Yuzuriha-san’s swordsmanship.
“Haha, as expected of Suzuha-kun’s older brother! But why don’t you try to at least come at me with an attack!”
“I guess I should. Well then—HUH!?!?!?”
In that instant, I jumped to finish this mock battle by combining sword blows in an appropriate manner when…
I saw a glimmer at the edge of my vision.
Without even pausing to think about what it was, I reacted reflexively.
—It was probably a poisoned needle that came from something like a blowgun.
It flew at a ridiculously fast speed, precisely aiming at Yuzuriha-san.
In the first place, it’s in Yuzuriha-san’s blind spot, and even if she had noticed it, it would have been an unavoidable attack on her as she was swinging in the air.
It was an absolute coup de grace by a top-notch assassin aiming at Yuzuriha-san.
“Haaaaaaahhh——!!!!”
Just before the fatal blow pierced Yuzuriha-san’s neck…
My sword strike knocked the poisoned needle in half from the side.
I slammed Yuzuriha-san’s body to the ground, and then put my blade firmly on her neck.
I was ready to protect Yuzuriha-san even if a second shot came at any time.
And so, I was on the lookout for when the second blow would come…
“…I-I’ve been reminded once again that my swordsmanship is nothing compared to your serious fighting skills… Anyway, it’s a bit embarrassing to be in this position, isn’t it…?”
“…Eh?”
Before I knew it, I was in a position where I was pressing down on Yuzuriha-san’s body.
There were loud cheers of admiration for our simulated combat.
And the assassin’s presence was gone before long.
