170: The Second Summer Vacation (Estarm) ①

“...I see. That Magic Eye of yours is quite a terrifying thing, isn't it?”

“Hah. You don't look particularly frightened to me, Zebis.”

We were in the courtyard of the Fansent estate.

This was the first time I’d ever sparred with Zebis since coming to this world.

I knew he was a former Knight Commander and that he’d been Allen’s old master, but I never imagined he’d be this good.

“—One-Hit Kill!”

I unleashed a sharp, invisible slash—at least, that was the plan.

But Zebis sidestepped it with effortless ease.

He supposedly had almost no aptitude for magic, but his overwhelming swordsmanship made that fact irrelevant. He moved with reflexes that far exceeded even the speed Cecil had shown me.

“You cannot defeat me by simply attacking from a distance.”

“—Yeah, I'm well aware!”

I applied the Magic Formula for Fast Move to an Unnatural and took off in a blur. I activated my Magic Eye right then and there.

[Attack to the right—evaded. Attack to the left—evaded.]

I can see it. I can see everything, yet I can't land a single blow.

I tried to lunge for a frontal kill at the very last second, but even that only managed to graze his cheek.

The counter-stroke from his wooden sword caught me right in the solar plexus—a clean hit.

To my shock, my Inviolable Domain (Barrier) hadn't blocked it. Why? Because he was just too damn fast. My defense wasn't something that stayed active 24/7; it was designed to trigger automatically in response to an attack. In other words, if an attack was unleashed faster than the Magic Formula could be constructed, the barrier wouldn't react.

I’d just learned that the hard way.

Seriously though, it hurts like hell...

“What’s the matter, Weiss? Is that all you’ve got?”

“Haha... Give me a break, I'm doing my best here.”

“Zebis is nothing but a fast little weakling. His strikes have no weight behind them!”

Teacher Milk, who was standing behind Zebis, shouted her critique. Was it just my imagination, or was Zebis’s eyebrow twitching?

We were rotating through sparring partners. It was Spartan training in the truest sense, but for the current me, I was grateful for the intensity.

“It is my turn now,” Zebis said. “Milk, be quiet.”

“Hah! You sure bark loud for someone with such pathetic, spineless swordsmanship.”

“...I’ll kill you.”

Yeah, I’d officially confirmed another thing: Zebis was actually terrifying.

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【Important Notice】

The second Summer Vacation (Estarm). How will everyone spend their time? And finally, Zebis makes his move! (^^)/

Readers, I’m so sorry this chapter is short! ( ;∀;)

The Case Where a Boy and a Cat Who Lived Unrewarding Lives Were Reincarnated into Another World and Became the Strongest with Magic Marks and an Out-of-Spec Dragon https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330667751334852

Strong and Slow Life of a Former Otherworld Hero, Customizing the Island to My Liking with the New Ability ‘Pioneer’ https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330667750471450

I, Who Reincarnated as the Weakest Villainous Noble, Found Out I Had Out-of-Spec Mana While Raising an Evolving Magic Sword, so I'm Going to Break All the Flags https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330667749374858

I’ve just posted a new work for Kakuyomu Contest 9. I’ll be updating daily until I run through my backlog! Please give me a follow and some ☆☆☆! ( ;∀;)