Chapter 7: Heaven’s Fall
Morning at the shelter. I stretch to loosen my stiff body.
Last night, Kimijima said, “It might be a magical tool.” Those words stick with me, and I take out the bracelet from my backpack. It was found under a large bone. If a person attacks with a spear, it might have an effect that enhances their physical abilities.
As I stare at the bracelet, pondering, Kimijima approaches.
“Are you going to put it on?”
“I don’t know… Is it dangerous?”
“The person who was fighting wore it. I don’t think it’s harmful.”
“You’re right. …I’ll try it on.”
The bracelet opens with a click, like a metal watch strap. I open the clasp, put it through my arm, and close it again. It shuts with a click. The fit might be a bit loose, but it doesn’t feel like it’ll fall off. It should be fine.
“…How is it? Do you feel power surging through you or something?”
“Hmm. Nothing so far. Well, it could just be a piece of jewelry… What about you? Want to try something?”
“Eh, me?”
“How about this necklace?”
“Hmm. It might get in the way when running… This ring… Oh?”
Kimijima notices something while looking at the ring. She takes my left hand and compares it with the bracelet.
“What’s wrong?”
“This ring… Doesn’t it have a similar design to the bracelet you’re wearing?”
“Hmm… Indeed, it has the same crest engraved… Maybe it has a similar effect?”
“…I’ll try it on.”
Kimijima checks the ring size and, finding it suitable, slips it onto the ring finger of her right hand.
“…As expected, there doesn’t seem to be much change.”
“I see… Well, should we take them off…”
As I’m about to remove the bracelet, thinking it has no effect, Kimijima stops me.
“Ah, but wearing them might bring out some effect. I’ll keep mine on for a while too.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes…”
Well, it’s not like they’re getting in the way, so it should be fine.
There’s a bit of guilt about taking these jewelry pieces, but we pay our respects to the two bodies. Kimijima gathers some flowering plants from outside and offers them as a small tribute.
We continue straight down the road. Well, it’s not like we have any other choice… Having raised our levels yesterday, we decide to fight if we encounter a single monster. While there’s hope of raising our levels further, it’s also important to know how many times I can draw my sword in my current state.
But things rarely go as planned. After walking for a while, something feels off.
What is it? I have a bad feeling.
Reflexively, I move my left hand towards my sword, feeling a chill run down my spine as if being watched. Glancing at Kimijima, I see she has the same tense expression.
“Do you feel it?”
“Yes… Something unpleasant…”
Kimijima seems to sense something too, fidgeting slightly.
We stop and look around, but there’s no sound. …Is it just our imagination?
Come to think of it, if I take an iaido stance, would it help me focus my senses?
With that thought, I grip the sword with my left hand, placing my thumb on the tsuba. I gently touch the handle with my right hand and synchronize my breathing with the sword. I concentrate, aligning my body’s center of gravity with gravity itself. At the same time, I expand my consciousness like ripples spreading wide. ………………!
“Kimijima!”
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We’re surrounded. Three, no, four of them. Shadows creeping quietly to hunt their prey. They’re positioned to block all four directions, working together… Of course, there’s no escape route.
“We’re surrounded! Let’s do this.”
“Yes!”
I can definitely draw my sword twice. With the second level increase, I hope for three times, but even that’s not enough. Damn. Should we time it simultaneously? Or two strikes in one draw?
…Maybe that could work.
Sensing our alertness, the monsters’ movements become bolder. The closest is on the right, then behind…
“To my left,”
I whisper sharply to Kimijima, who responds immediately.
“I’ll handle the ones coming from the right and behind simultaneously. Can you use wood magic to obstruct the ones in front and on the left if they come?”
“I’ll do it… Like a net… right?”
“A net, that’s good.”
As I reply, Kimijima crouches down, placing her hands on the ground. I take a small step back to the right rear, trying to lure the monsters. The one on the right charges at me, with the one behind following shortly after.
One breath. I need to conserve magical power, carrying over the energy from the first draw to the second monster.
Pressing the tsuba with my thumb, I rotate my body to face the monster attacking from the right as I draw. That’s when I finally see the monster’s form. It seems to be a wolf monster, abnormally large.
By the time I’m face-to-face with the monster, I’ve already finished drawing. Its exposed fangs split open as its face distorts. Without stopping, I change direction with my kicking foot, opening my right foot wide to the right. The drawn blade flows naturally, the movement of my body and arm coordinating to extend a long slash. Finally, I step to the right of the monster attacking from behind, passing my blade through it.
When I was young, this technique was difficult for me, often being overwhelmed by the blade. It’s a wide-ranging slash that not only circles around oneself but also incorporates body movement to continuously apply force to the blade. It’s a drawing technique designed for attacks from multiple directions.
Kikusuikeiko-ryu Iaijutsu. Gozan.
After cutting down two monsters, I confirm sufficient magical power in the extended time frame. While directing my consciousness to the left where Kimijima is, I shake off the blood and sheathe my sword.
With a few seconds’ delay, two wolves leap at us, their momentum killed by the vine net Kimijima has spread. Well done. As one wolf tears through the branches and leaves, advancing, Kimijima brings down her spear.
Gyan!
Still can’t cut through, huh. But it seems to have some effect as the wolf stops for a moment. Meanwhile, the other wolf is already pouncing on Kimijima.
As I rush to get in front of Kimijima, the shaft of her spear makes a whirring sound as it’s raised. There’s a dull thud, and the jaw of the following wolf is knocked upward. I see. In naginata fighting, both the blade and the butt end can be weapons, allowing for versatile combat. Not bad, naginata.
Just for an instant. That instant creates the perfect timing.
The monster slashed by Kimijima and the one hit by the butt end line up their necks.
As Kimijima steps back smoothly, I move forward from the left, placing my hand on the handle while opening the Koiguchi.
The wolf’s gleaming fangs slowly open. I can even see the viscous liquid stretching between its fangs. In my focused consciousness, the approaching monsters’ movements are almost like cutting stationary targets.
With the draw of my sword, two heads fly.
It’s lucky that we managed with just two draws in this momentary exchange. I remain still, checking for any movement from other monsters. Alright… It seems safe, but the smell of blood might attract other monsters. As usual, we quickly leave the area.
“Did you feel any effects from the accessories?”
“Magic became much easier, and I felt more power in my spear… but it might be because my level increased.”
“That’s right, this is my first battle since my level increased too. Gozan isn’t usually my best technique, but I felt like I could control my movements much better…”
“It doesn’t seem to have any negative effects. Let’s observe a bit longer.”
…But still, could I have executed it so cleanly? Feeling uneasy about being able to control Gozan so well, I check my Shinmin-roku…
“…Huh?”
── Kikusuikeiko-ryu [Okuden Level] ──
…My transmission level has increased? Can it change? My skills… still have room for improvement.
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