084: The Death Scythe

"I am so sorry! Something urgent came up the other day and I just couldn't make it..."

Senior Sierra was actually bowing her head to me.

A few days ago, I’d accepted her challenge for a duel, only to be left waiting in the cold for over an hour. Thanks to that, the rumors have been flying. People are whispering things like, "Weiss might have won the tournament, but he utterly lost the war of wills."

Naturally, I plan to murder every last one of them eventually, but first, I wanted to know why she’d done it.

I had happened to spot the Witch Sisters building a snowman in the courtyard and decided to confront them. That was how we ended up in this current situation.

"...Well, if it was an emergency, then I suppose it can't be helped."

I was certain I’d been stood up just so she could make a fool of me, but apparently, that wasn't the case.

Eleanor was wearing a very strained, wry smile. I wondered what that was about.

"Onee-chan, but you were in bed—"

"Eleanor, be quiet. This was my mistake."

The younger sister started to say something, but the older sister cut her off immediately.

Wow, impressive. To bow her head to a junior without offering a string of pathetic excuses is no ordinary feat. In the Original Story, she was a textbook 'mean girl' character, but I suppose my presence has altered her too. And here I was... actually doubting her.

"...No, if that's how it is, then I’ll let it go."

"In that case, how about a do-over? Meet me in thirty minutes. I want you to grab your weapon and wait for me. I'll show you my seriousness."

"Understood. I'm looking forward to it."

I turned and walked away.

Behind me, Eleanor and Sierra went right back to tinkering with their snowman. They must be perfectionists. They probably can’t stand to leave it unfinished. I can see how that obsessive drive translates into their strength. Fine then—bring it on.

Two hours later.

"Hey, Allen! Have you seen Senior Sierra? She was supposed to be right here building a snowman."

"Huh? I-I have no idea. Why, did something happen?"

I moved on to grill Allen, who was currently in the middle of a snowball fight with the muscle-heads in the courtyard. That damn woman. Where did she go?

"What’s the matter, Weiss? Don't tell me you got stood up aga—"

"Do you want me to rupture your precious muscles, Duke?"

"N-never mind, sir. Nothing at all."

Even if I went to the upperclassmen’s wing, I couldn't get into the girls' dormitory. I tried checking the cafeteria first, but she wasn't there either. Dammit, I’m out of places to look.

"If you're looking for Senior Sierra, I saw her heading toward the back of Mock Battle B with Senior Eleanor," Shari said, appearing out of nowhere.

"Shari, is that the truth? She didn't pay you to say that, did she?"

"...Since when did you become so pathologically distrustful?"

'Mock Battle B' was code used within Nobless Academy. It was a training area styled after a ruined urban district; I’d used it once before. It was supposed to be off-limits today because of the heavy snow, but for those two, school rules probably didn't mean much.

"Thanks, Shari."

"Wait, uh, you're welcome?"

I hurried away from the scene. I am not forgiving them this time...

"I wonder what’s up with Weiss? He seemed like he was in a real panic."

"Who knows? Gwah! Duke, you jerk, you got me!"

"Hahaha! Taste my full-power snowball, puny mortal!"

I arrived at Mock Battle B. Buildings stood in tight rows, their rooftops buried under thick blankets of snow. Without specialized snow boots, a normal person would have slipped and fallen instantly. I, however, surged mana into my feet and scrambled straight up the side of a building.

It was the basics of Mana Movement I’d picked up in class. Reaching the highest vantage point, I scanned the area with my Dark Eye. I immediately sensed two mana signatures behind one of the buildings. They were moving in short, rhythmic bursts—likely throwing snowballs at each other.

I could clearly sense the waves of Darkness. Since one of them was definitely Eleanor, there was no doubt. I’d found them.

"Take this! Hundred Snowball Barrage!"

"Onee-chan, isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?!"

"Eleanor, a duel is all about deception. Oh—"

Sierra nimbly dodged the snowball I’d chucked at her from above.

I remembered the settings from the Original Story well. Sierra Witch is a sore loser. She’s cunning, she’s cowardly, she’s mean-spirited, and—

Enough of this runaround. I’ll just have to force the issue myself.

"It seems your business here is finished, Senior."

"Ehe-hehe... Oh, I’ve been found out?"

She did a "tehe-pero" face, sticking out her tongue and bonking her own head with her fist. Was there a character this retro in the original Nobless game? No, don't let her distract you... I just need to change my approach. I am Weiss, after all. I can be just as petty.

"Forget it. I get it now. You clearly just don't want to fight me. You're a coward, aren't you?"

"I know you're strong, Weiss-kun, but I'm an upperclassman, you know? I'm the type of girl who wants to take it easy in her old age."

"Onee-chan, you’re still in your teens..."

I didn't offer a verbal retort. Instead, I silently wound up and hurl a snowball. My target? Eleanor.

"Fue?!"

I knew it wouldn't hit her. Why? Because Sierra would never let it.

I remembered now. Eleanor only snaps when people make fun of Sierra, but she doesn't care much about herself. Sierra, however, is the opposite. The moment Eleanor is in harm's way, she snaps.

"I see. So you've decided to change your approach, Junior-chan."

"I suppose I have. Look, I don't actually want to harass you. I just... really want some 'guidance' from my esteemed senior."

"Fufufu... Ahahaha! Fine. I guess I have no choice."

After a bouts of high-pitched laughter, Sierra’s eyes changed. They became sharp—deadly serious.

"Eleanor, stay out of this."

"Wait, you're doing this here?! Without training clothes?! What if you actually injure him?!"

"Hear that, Junior-chan? Eleanor isn't worried about me at all."

Well, of course not. The points Sierra has racked up over three years rival Eva’s. She’s still Undefeated in inter-school matches. Eleanor has probably long since forgotten what it's even like to worry about her sister's safety. But... I’m going to make her remember.

"What are the rules?"

"Anything goes. I don't mind if the loser is the one who dies."

"Onee-chan!"

"Kidding, kidding! Eleanor is so scary. Hmm... how about this? If you land even a single blow on me, I’ll count it as your Victory."

With a flick of her wrist, Sierra summoned her Death Scythe out of thin air. It was likely a technique similar to Debi’s Dark Storage, but I couldn't detect a single trace of a magical circuit. To top it off, it was a chantless summon.

Heh. Upperclassmen really are built different.

"Debi."

"Debibibi!"

I called forth Debi and readied my Dual Sword.

"Heh, you've got quite a cute little minion there. It looks just like you."

"De-Debi?!"

For some reason, Debi started fidgeting and squirming with embarrassment. Damn it, Debi, don't let her play you that easily! You've still got a long way to go.

"Actually, with those rules, there’s a chance this might never end..."

Sierra lowered her scythe and tapped her chin thoughtfully. It was a blatant provocation, implying I wouldn't be able to touch her if we fought for a hundred years.

"Then let's make it so I lose if I take a single hit, too—"

"Then I'll take you up on that!"

The instant the words left my mouth, Sierra vanished. A split second later, the massive blade of her scythe was whistling toward my throat. We weren't even wearing training gear, and she was going straight for the kill.

Naturally, I blocked it with my blade, but Sierra just flashed me a beaming, predatory smile.

"Nyaha! I guess an attack of this level isn't going to cut it, huh?"

Ha... interesting. This is the power of a Nobless upperclassman—the girl who boasted top-tier strength even in the Original Story, Sierra Witch. I guess there’s no need to hold back.