131 The Swordswoman’s Secret

The first period at Nobless Academy usually began around eight in the morning. Since many of the students lived in the dorms, it generally started with everyone gathering in their classrooms.

Once you reached the intermediate years, the number of elective classes increased, so there were patterns where one could take things easy until around ten.

But my mornings—Weiss Fancent’s mornings—started early.

Depending on when I went to bed, I was usually out running around the outer gate by five o'clock.

Once that was finished, I would cycle through muscle training and exercises to increase my total mana capacity.

Finally, I’d finish with Zazen in my room.

Maintaining a Balance of mind, body, and technique is vital to becoming stronger.

It was during one of those runs that I happened to spot Tura.

She was still wearing her hakama, by the way.

I’d heard her school uniform had finally arrived, but apparently, she found the traditional garb more "calming," so she only changed into the uniform just enough to avoid getting scolded.

Once, when she started stripping right in the middle of the classroom while shouting "Aah, ahh!", Carta had to stop her in a blind panic.

I didn't quite get it, but she must simply be the type of person who can't help herself once she makes up her mind.

And Tura was running, too.

As expected of a transfer student from Duran, she likely understood the importance of basic training better than anyone else.

Fighting in a world where magic was the primary force required rare, specialized techniques.

Duke was the same, but fundamentally, getting inside the opponent's guard was everything; that was where the battle truly began.

In her case, her invisible slashes supported that strategy, but we weren't fools, either.

We used every trick in the book to block her attacks, and naturally, we would chant whatever spells the opponent would hate most.

But she was strong.

Tura was truly, remarkably strong.

And while none of us said it out loud, I’m sure everyone felt that it was a blessing she’d joined us.

Once you stepped into the outside world, you encountered plenty of swordsmen.

The fact that we could practice against one was all thanks to her.

No, more than anything, we were probably saved by her personality.

She was positive and bright at all times, and as we saw during the Sports Festival, she knew how to enjoy things with all her might.

I truly respected her.

"—Ehehe... Hehehe... Hwah!? Huh!?"

However, that very same girl was currently glancing around her surroundings with extreme suspicion.

I reflexively ducked into hiding.

I didn't really know why I did it; it was just a hunch.

At that moment, I heard the rattling of wheels.

...Is that a supply carriage?

At Nobless, the staff would import goods from the outside if you requested them.

Food, perfume, sweets—you name it.

There were even people who ordered specialty items from their distant hometowns.

Of course, it cost a fair bit, but most of the students were nobles. No one cared about the price.

Usually, however, people ordered things in bulk.

But alone, and at this hour of the morning?

...Is it a katana? Something special?

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Tura-san. I’ve managed to get my hands on some good ones."

"Y-Your voice is too loud! So, how many do you have?"

"Ten... no, I’ve got twenty of 'em."

"Fufufu... fufufu... Not bad. Are they all... good ones?"

"They’re the highest grade, miss."

"N-Not bad at all! P-Please, keep this strictly confidential."

"Of course. Thank you for your continued patronage."

Tura accepted a large wooden box, a fearless smile spreading across her face.

In an instant, a thought struck me.

I remembered how her points had been rising steadily lately.

High grade? Good ones?

Wait, is she... doping? No, there’s no way. Tura would never do something like that.

In the first place, there was no way such things would be allowed at Nobless.

But—.

"Fufufu... with this... fufufu..."

The smile Tura wore as she carried the wooden box back to the dormitory looked genuinely, blissfully happy.

"Well, whatever it is, I guess it's fine."

And that very day, Tura hammered out the highest score on her exam.

◇

One day, after that incident had slipped my mind, I found myself at the Girls' Dormitory.

I didn't visit often, but Cynthia had left something in my room, so I’d come to return it.

Entering the building itself wasn't an issue as long as you had permission.

As I gazed out a hallway window, I realized the scenery looked a bit different than what I was used to.

"Just changing the vantage point makes everything look different, huh?"

Right then, something slammed into me from behind.

"—Hm? Nuoh!?"

"Eh? A-Aaaaaaaaaah!"

She must have been carrying a massive wooden box; the contents went flying everywhere.

I didn't know what they were, but something soft and squishy hit me right in the face.

"Nn... W-Weiss-dono!?"

"...That voice... Tura?"

I felt like I’d recognized her more from the "softness" than the voice.

Wait, she isn't wearing a bra, is she?

I tried to open my eyes, but Tura suddenly slammed her hands over my face to cover them.

"W-Wait, don't open them!"

"...Why not?"

"S-Stop! Not yet!"

I started to hear the voices of other girls nearby.

I had permission to be here, but this situation looked incredibly bad.

I tried to scramble away, but Tura refused to let go of my hands with terrifying strength.

"Hey, Tura!?"

"W-Wait! For now, just get in my room!"

"Hah!?"

"P-Please! Have the mercy of a warrior!"

...Is it really that serious? Or rather, does the concept of a "warrior" even exist in this world?

But since she was pleading that hard, I had no choice but to take refuge.

And so, in a bizarre state resembling a game of "Guess Who?", I was pushed into her room.

But the next second, she screamed, "Wait here!", and the door slammed shut again.

I could hear the sound of Tura frantically picking things up in the hallway.

I tentatively opened my eyes.

I felt a massive wave of guilt washing over me.

The room was... very spacious.

Since she’d already earned a fair amount of points, it was a C-rank single room.

No, more than that... this was... could this be...

At that moment, the door swung open with a bang.

"Y-Yo, Weiss-dono! Please don't open your—Aaaaaaaaaah!?"

"For a warrior, your emotions are certainly volatile."

"...I-I will commit seppuku. It's all over... Aaaaaah!"

"Wait, wait. I don't really think anything of it."

"Is that true? Do you really not think anything of it? You don't think, 'And she calls herself a warrior'?"

"For the record, you aren't actually a warrior. And yeah, really, I don't think anything of it."

My voice hitched just a tiny bit.

Because right in front of my eyes, lined up across the entire wall... were rows upon rows of fluffy plushies.

Goblin dolls, mysterious monsters, horses, cows, pigs—every kind of cute, deformed, fluffy creature you could imagine was lined up in a row.

I see. So that's what was in the wooden box.

I cast a quick glance at the floor, where several plushies were still rolling around.

I see; she really didn't want anyone to see this.

"It’s not something you have to hide like that," I said, trying to comfort the nearly-tears Tura.

She began to speak in a quiet, hushed voice.

"...Ever since I was small, I’ve lived in a world full of men. So, I didn't know if this sort of thing was... okay. But... I love them."

I see. Come to think of it, that made sense.

Well, even so—.

"I think it’s fine. Like this one here—it’s cute. It looks like Debi."

"I-Is that true!? T-That’s a limited edition item from the Raiwe Region! It was made by a world-famous craftsman!"

Hah. She’s way more of a nerd than I thought.

Still, it was an unexpected side of her.

The Tura I knew—the one from the Original Story—was only interested in Allen and had a purely boyish vibe.

You really can't understand a person just by looking at one side of them.

Besides, as Tura rambled about her plushies, she looked remarkably young... and cute.

Coming to Nobless all by herself must have required a lot of Courage.

These dolls were clearly her source of healing.

So this was her version of doping.

No, that's a bit of a mean way to put it.

"Best friends" would be more accurate.

"Thanks. This was fun, but I should probably get going now."

"A-Ah! Yes! Sorry. I talked way too much... If you’d like, please take this doll, Weiss-dono! It’s cute because it looks like Debi, right?"

"...It does. I'll take it, then."

It was a pleasant surprise. And a nice little unrevealed secret.

Yes, it had been a good day—.

"Tura-san, about the next class—"

Entering the room at the absolute perfect timing was the true heroine of this game, Cynthia Violetta.

Who also happened to be my fiancée.

No, stay calm. First, let’s be calm. Extremely calm.

I'm not about to be... served cold... right?

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

"Listen calmly, Cynthia."

"Yes, go ahead."

"First of all, this was an accident."

"I see."

"T-That's right, Cynthia-san! This is all just a big misunderstanding! I was just trying to give him a doll!"

Hey, Tura! You’re skipping way too much context!

"I see, I see."

"For now, why don't we change locations? My fiancée, and my beloved Cynthia?"

"I see, I see, I see."

I was reasonably skilled in combat. I’d survived several scenes of carnage. There was an intuition that only developed in people like that. And that intuition was screaming at me that I was about to be—frozen solid—.

"Ice Entrios!"

That day, I became the first man in human history to truly understand how an ice cube in a freezer feels.

---

"I see, so that’s what happened. I love dolls too, Tura-san."

"Lilith... do you have a hot water bottle?"

"Yes, here it is, Weiss-sama!"

"Thank you. I'm so happy to hear you say that, Cynthia-san. Weiss-dono, I'm sorry for everything."

"Yeah. Lilith, is there any warm tea?"

"Yes, coming right up, Weiss-sama!"

A few hours later, I was in Tura’s room having my body thawed out by Lilith.

Since Cynthia had eventually understood the situation, everyone was chatting peacefully.

"Since I love dolls as well, would you like to go shopping for some together next time? It’s almost Summer Vacation (Estarm), after all."

"I-Is that okay?"

"Of course. Right, Lilith?"

"Yes! I love them too!"

"I see... I'm so happy. I'm looking forward to it."

In the Original Story, Cynthia and Tura were love rivals and never became particularly close.

That was why seeing them talk like this made me happy.

Just as there were bad alterations to the story, there were good ones, too. I’d come to understand that deeply.

"Lilith, do you have any extra clothes I can layer on?"

"I do!"

I also now understood exactly how ice feels.