The One You’d Miss if You Blinked

Summer was just around the corner.

Under a sky that felt exactly like the season was changing, I was energetically swinging a wooden sword. It was currently the middle of an afternoon practical skills class. Finally liberated from Alexia, I was back to taking lessons with Hyoro and Jaga.

Since Instructor Zenon’s little scandal had caused a sharp decline in students for the Royal Capital Bushin Style, the three of us had been bumped up to Division 7.

"So, what’s the deal with you and Princess Alexia?" Hyoro asked, practicing his swings beside me.

"I keep telling you, we broke up. End of story."

She also nearly murdered me, for the record.

"What a waste," Jaga chimed in. "You didn't even get to second base, did you?"

"Nope. Not even close."

I kept up the worthless conversation while swinging my worthless sword with zero effort. This was the pure, unadulterated essence of Division 7.

It was a total waste of time, but if this was the path of a mob character, I had no choice but to walk it.

"It’s almost time for the Bushin Festival," Jaga noted. "Have you two entered the Selection Tournament yet?"

"Well, duh," Hyoro said. "If I make a splash at the tournament, I’ll be swimming in girls. I’ll probably take home two or three of 'em, easy."

(Total virgin, by the way.)

"Hehe, three at once sounds like a bit of a handful," Jaga added.

(Also a total virgin.)

"Cid, you haven't entered yet, have you?"

The Bushin Festival was a massive sword fighting tournament held once every two years. Naturally, it drew famous swordsmen from across the country and even from abroad. There was a specific Academy Slot for the festival, and the Selection Tournament was what determined who got it.

Of course, as a perfectly average mob, I had absolutely no intention of entering a high-profile event like that. It was out of the question.

"I’m not go—"

"I went ahead and entered for you, so you can thank me later—Bugh!!"

Hyoro suddenly clutched his stomach, doubling over in agony.

"H-Hyoro-kun?! What happened?!" Jaga screamed.

It was a terrifyingly fast body blow. The kind of move you’d miss if you blinked—if you weren’t me, that is.

"Whoa there, Hyoro. What’s wrong? You collapsed like someone just drove a right hook straight into your solar plexus."

I unclenched my right fist and looked down at him.

"That’s... oddly specific, Cid-kun," Jaga remarked.

"Darn, looks like he’s completely unconscious. Help me carry him to the infirmary. Oh, by the way, is it possible to cancel a Selection Tournament entry?"

"I'm not sure... Oh, look, Hyoro-kun is foaming at the mouth."

Claiming that Hyoro had suffered a sudden seizure, I got the teacher's permission to haul him off to the infirmary.

On the way there, I spotted something.

"What’s that about?"

I noticed a stern-looking group entering the main school building.

"That’s... Princess Iris is with them," Jaga noted.

Alexia was there, too. For a split second, our eyes met, but she immediately turned away with a sharp "Hmph."

I still hadn't told anyone that she’d lost her mind and become an indiscriminate street slasher. As long as she stayed out of my hair, I didn’t plan on breathing a word about that incident on the rooftop. It was a Mutual Non-Aggression Pact. She was free to enjoy her hobby of cutting people down as much as she liked. Her swordsmanship had actually improved quite a bit lately; I supposed polishing one's technique was always a good thing. Provided she didn't try to polish it on me.

"Now that I think about it, I heard Princess Iris requested some kind of investigation from the Midgar Academy for Arts and Sciences," Jaga said.

He was surprisingly well-informed for a guy like him. The Midgar Academy for Spellswords was a massive campus, and it shared the grounds with the Midgar Academy for Arts and Sciences, which focused on academics and research. I didn't really know much about them, though.

"Huh. Interesting."

I vaguely recalled her mentioning something about forming a new unit.

Jaga and I watched the knights pass, dumped Hyoro in the infirmary, and proceeded to ditch the rest of our classes.

---

SHERRY

A small meeting was taking place inside a spacious reception room.

"I would like to ask you—the woman renowned as the greatest intellect in the kingdom—to decipher this artifact."

The speaker was Iris, a red-haired beauty. She held out a large, pendant-like object.

"But... I am still just a student," the girl with pink hair replied, looking at the artifact with hesitation.

"Your research is famous both here and abroad," Iris insisted. "In this field, there is no researcher who can surpass you, Sherry Barnett."

"But..."

"It’s a wonderful opportunity. Why not accept it?"

The man who interrupted was an elderly gentleman.

"Vice Academy Director Ruslan Barnett..."

"You know, you could always call me 'Father,'" Ruslan said with a warm smile.

Sherry gave him a troubled, shy look.

"Sherry, you are destined to be a researcher who takes wing into the grander world. This request from Princess Iris will surely be a stepping stone toward your brilliant future."

"But I’m not really..."

"Sherry, what have I always told you? Have confidence in yourself. You can do this. In fact, you’re the only one who can."

Ruslan placed a reassuring hand on her slender shoulder.

"I understand..." Sherry said softly, taking the artifact from Iris. "Ancient Letters? And written in code, no less."

"It was recovered from a facility belonging to a religious group calling itself the Cult of Diabolos," Iris explained. "We believe they are researching ancient civilizations, but the details remain a mystery. The code likely relates to that era."

"Then it is indeed a task suited for me." Sherry peered at the artifact, her interest clearly piqued.

"Furthermore," Iris continued, "I would like to dispatch guards from the order to oversee the artifact’s safety."

"Guards?" Ruslan asked, his tone shifting.

"The truth is, this artifact is being targeted by the Cult of Diabolos."

"How very dangerous," Ruslan said, his eyes sharpening.

"We originally seized this item from one of the Cult’s facilities. We had many other documents and items in storage as well, but—to my shame—someone burned the warehouse down the other day. This artifact is the only thing left."

"Ah, that fire. I see. If I recall, that was when you established your new order, Princess Iris?"

"It was. Though we are still a small-scale operation."

"The Crimson Order, wasn't it? And you are visiting us in that capacity today?"

"Yes..."

"Are the existing orders truly that untrustworthy?"

Iris didn't offer an answer to Ruslan’s pointed question. She simply stared back at him, her expression unreadable.

"Hmph. Very well," Ruslan conceded. "I will permit two guards. No more."

"Two? I suppose if I were the one standing guard, it wouldn't be an issue, but..." Iris trailed off, looking troubled.

"If Princess Iris is always tied down to a single location, the order’s work will stall," said the large knight sitting to her left. He had a physique like a stone wall and a beard resembling a lion’s mane, with a prominent scar running across his cheek.

"You’re right... Glen, I’ll leave the security in your hands."

"Understood. Consider it done," Glen said, bowing his head.

"Sister, I’ll help as well," Alexia said from Iris’s right. "If we’re diverting personnel to guard duty, we’ll have fewer people to investigate the Jet-black Incident."

Iris remained silent.

"The Crimson Order is short-handed as it is," Alexia continued. "Besides, I know him. I’m the best fit for this."

"Alexia, you’re still—"

"A student. I know. But you’re the one who told me that status doesn't matter if one has the skill."

"I never said that."

"You said something very similar to Sherry-san just now."

Alexia gave her sulking sister a composed, playful smile.

"You used to be so cute..." Iris muttered under her breath.

"I can hear you, Sister. I just want to know what their goal is... and if they intend to be our enemies."

"It’s dangerous, Alexia."

"I’m well aware."

The two sisters locked eyes for a long moment.

"Fine," Iris sighed. "I will request your cooperation, but only for missions that don't interfere with your studies and carry minimal risk."

"Thank you." Alexia smiled and bowed.

Iris turned back to Sherry with a heavy sigh. "I leave the artifact in your hands."