Volume 12 - CH 4

Chapter 4: Mio 

Clang! Clang! Clang! 

We were in a practice arena surrounded by stone walls, with nothing else but a sand floor. The sounds of sword colliding with sword echoed through the air as Aisha and Mio traded blow after blow. 

“Hahhhhhhh!” 

“Yahhhhhhh!” 

Sparks flew as Aisha’s greatsword and Mio’s two longswords collided. They were both using blunted training weapons, but if they made contact at that speed, the one who got hit wasn’t going to get off with just minor wounds. I had seen Aisha and Liscia spar before, but this was nothing like that. 

At the time, Liscia had been using technique to dodge, parry, and neutralize the attacks that Aisha threw at her with dumb brute strength. That one was what you might call a battle of hard versus soft. However, Mio, like Aisha, was also all about hard. 

Mio’s sword knocked Aisha’s greatsword upward. But that was a ruse. 

“There!” 

In the instant it was exposed, Aisha pounded her fist into Mio’s belly. Mio was sent flying backwards, but she corrected her stance in midair and landed on her feet. 

“Guh...!” 

However, the damage must have gone through, because she held the spot where she was hit and grimaced. Aisha, meanwhile, stood there, not going in for a follow-up. 

As I was wondering why, snap, the string holding Aisha’s hair in a ponytail burst. Her silver hair fell down. 

“...It looks like you only missed me by a hair.” Aisha said. 

Mio shook her head as she continued grasping her belly. “You landed such a clean hit on me that I have no choice but to admit defeat.” 

“Think nothing of it. It was pretty dangerous for me, too. You’re plenty strong, Madam Mio.” 

“...It’s a good thing you weren’t participating in Zem’s tournament.” Mio said with a wry smile. 

“With the skill you have, I’m sure you’ll achieve good results in the tournament.” Aisha furrowed her brow. “But... Madam Mio, what is it you want to wish for if you win?” 

Refusing to say anything, Mio looked away. 

“Your father said, ‘We say more through combat than through words,’ right? There was no indecision in your technique, I felt something like a strong conviction there. Something not held captive by grudges and hatred.” Aisha laid down her training sword and approached Mio. “If you have a grudge against the country and His Majesty, you can’t have a very positive view of me. I am his wife, and will protect him no matter what. Yet, I feel nothing like that from you. During our match, you were almost like a child, enjoying the chance to test your strength. What exactly is it that you...” 

“...That, I cannot say.” Mio stretched and turned towards us. “My wish is something I must grant for myself. If I don’t, I cannot face my father in the afterlife. I’m sure it will all become clear when I win the tournament.” 

She looked at me with unswerving eyes—they were filled with determination. The way she wouldn’t budge once she made up her mind was just like Liscia. Was that because they had trained under the same man? If so, there was probably no way to get an answer out of her. 

Ultimately, we ended up going back to Zem Castle without having been able to suss anything out. 

That night... 

Naden rolled over onto her side in the big bed, then let out a sigh. “...We couldn’t figure anything out, huh?” 

“Yeah. She didn’t seem to be harboring any negative emotions, though.” 

Having returned to Blanc Zem Castle, we went back to our room. Aisha, Naden, and I were talking about what had happened today there. 

When he saw the state Mio was in, Colbert’s face froze. Since she was in her room, Mio had taken off her armor, and was wearing a thin tank top. The thin fabric couldn’t hide her figure the way her armor could, and her breasts were asserting themselves. 

While averting his eyes from her appearance, Colbert said, “I-I’m sorry to bother you when you were relaxing. I am the Kingdom’s Minister of Finance, Colbert. I came hoping we could talk a little.” 

“By all means.” With that, Mio invited Colbert into her room, seemingly unconcerned. 

“Huh? It’s all right?” 

“You came to talk, didn’t you?” 

“Ah, right... Pardon me.” 

Even as he felt a little flustered, Colbert went into Mio’s room. Being temporary quarters, the room was simple, with a bed and not much more. There were no real furnishings, just a mannequin that Mio could put her armor on, and her two swords leaned up against the wall. 

Mio offered Colbert a chair, and sat down on the bed facing him. “Did Sir Souma ask you to look into me?” 

“Ah! Yes. There is that, but...” Unable to look Mio in the eye, Colbert’s gaze wandered as he spoke. “I wanted to relive some old memories, so I’d like to talk, even if it’s just a short while.”