The "Master swordsman” who was reincarnated, wants to live freely - Chapter 96

Translator: Paul | Editor: Nebosuke

Iris didn’t let her guard down yet – No, she couldn’t let it down yet.

The girl that had suddenly appeared in front of her didn’t even look at Listille’s body on the floor and said,

“Nihi. That makes two”

With a smile shaped like a crescent moon on her face, she said this. Iris didn’t know what this number meant, but the girl finally turned herself towards Iris.

Iris gripped her Purple Lightning firmly and prepared herself.

“…You, who are you?”

“If you’re going to ask one’s name, give your own first”

The girl said as she shrugged her shoulders.

Unlike Iris, the girl didn’t seem to be preparing herself for battle at all. 

She just stood there with her blade in hand.

Was this a feeling of her wanting to kill me? — After a little moment of silence Iris took a breath and told her her name.

“…Iris Reinfell”

“!Iris…? Iris… The Swordsmaster Princess?”

“Yes, that’s what they call me”

“Ooh, is that so! Well, that’s perfect!”

Said the girl, as she suddenly moved her blade upwards to the sky. As the blade made a beautiful rotation she put it into her scabbard. 

It really seemed like the blade was a part of her — No, it’s more than that. Like the blade moves on its own.

… This girl’s blow from before certainly was surprising.

However, the Swordsman Gang member, Lastille, definitely noticed this girl coming at her before she struck. 

The speed and power that were behind the attack were so fierce that Iris too didn’t know whether to defend against the attack or not.

In the end, it was the blow that did the Swordsman Gang member in though.

The girl had sheathed her blade, while Iris was still ready to fight.

“Don’t be so cautious. My name is Reino Tomura — I am your ally, you know”

“My.. Ally? What do you mean?”

“Nihi, Just like I just said. I am your friend — I am not here to put YOU in any form of danger!”

She completely changed her attitude from before. She now actually seemed to behave like her actual age and smiled much more girl-like.

However, Iris was still stuck on the words that she had used before.

“Why did you stress the You part of that sentence? Are you going after someone else then?”

“! Aah, You could indeed say so huh… By the way, do you like dressing like this?”

“Dressing you say–!!”

As Iris heard these words she quickly covered her chest area. Her swimsuit was cut by Lamille. 

She was fully aware that her own chest was even more exposed than Ruino’s. With that in mind, Iris said the following,

“… I will tell you this already, but just because you suddenly appeared and did what you just did doesn’t mean that I can trust you”

“Did what I just did? By that you mean, make the Swordsman Gang’s head fly?”

Ruino hung her head.

She’s about the same age as Iris, and has no problem killing another person – From Iris’ perspective, this made Ruino quite unconventional.

It seems that Ruino is here on the request of someone else, but to call her an ally becomes all the more difficult.

Ruino laughed and started talking again,

“Are you telling me… That you… Haven’t killed anyone?”

“! Of course, I haven’t! That’s not something you can just –“

“Whaaa–t. I thought that since they call you the swordmaster princess, that you would’ve killed a few already.”

Then why do you even use the blade?”

“Why would you… Why is this talk—“

“It’s quite important. I mean you even point your blade at me even now. Why have a blade if you’re not going to kill?”

“…Even if I didn’t have any intention of killing you, you are still someone I can’t trust. So if need be, I’ll take you in”

“Nihi, I see! I see! You really don’t have any intention to kill then. Well then… For example, if I were to tell you I am going to kill Alta Schweiss, what would you do then?”

“—“

Iris was filled with anger after she heard what Ruino had to tell her.

She was going to quickly lash out and cut her down – But instead, she kept this impulse in check, and calmly walked up to Ruino.

“You have said his name. So do you know him personally?”

“Nono, we’re no acquaintances. Well, I do have experience with helping the Kingdom’s knights though”

“Help the knights…? You?”

“Nihi, that’s right. The Knight’s captain will come soon too, so you can ask her about it later. But it’s such a pity…”

With a loss of interest, Ruino walked towards Iris.

Iris wanted to immediately stop Ruino from coming closer but then- The tip of Purple Lightning reached Ruino’s chest area. 

The then relaxed the blade a little to make sure not to pierce Ruino.

Ruino looked at Iris with a rather cool look on her face.

“Why’d you stop?”

“Wh-What..”

“You just moved to stop me right? Yet you didn’t cut me down. Without any defense on my part, you could’ve easily killed me. 

That’s why I said it was a pity. I’ve watched you fight from a distance. You’re quite strong… But that’s it. You have absolutely no intent of killing your opponent. 

And that’s no good. You must be able to kill your opponent when you use the blade”

“…If need be I will”

“And that need isn’t here right now? Even after I just clearly told you I’ll be killing Alta Schweiss? Nihi, you’re too half-hearted! I really wanted to fight you for a little while, but now… 

I don’t need to fight you. I have no interest in those who do not swing the blade for themselves”

And as Ruino had finished her talk, she went the other way. 

Her words were meant to criticize Iris. Indeed, Iris didn’t swing the blade in order to kill anyone.

Even now she had never swung her sword with the intent to kill. For she used her sword for the sake of protecting others.

The thing that Ruino wasn’t complying with was Iris’ way of living.

“H-Hold up! I can’t just let you g–“

Hyuin– And the sound of wind reached Iris.

Ruino had once again unsheathed her blade and pointed her tip at Iris.

“You know, I only swing the blade for my own. I don’t have weak policies, like your “only if I need to” one. If I fight, it has to end in death. If you can’t do that, then don’t bother”

“….”

Quite the critical moment. Both of them had the tips of their swords pointed at one another. If Iris was to now take her on in battle it had to end with one of them dead.

Iris knew that that is exactly what Ruino was aiming for.

Iris also doubted whether she’d be able to actually capture this girl, who had just come in suddenly and put a Swordsman Gang member in their grave just like that.

Ruino noticed this hesitation in Iris and put her blade back into its scabbard. …If Iris is challenging her again, it will end in death.

“I…”

…The current Iris swings her blade for the protection of others.

If she were to fight Ruino it would be just for the sake of killing — Iris too realized this. She knew this from the fact that Ruino had also killed Iris’s opponent.

Though she hesitated, Iris stepped forward to stop Ruino in her tracks, and then,

“Iris! Are you alright?!”

“Mr. Schweiss…?!”

Iris heard Alta’s voice coming from behind her, so she turned her face in surprise.

She then remembered what Ruino had said before and quickly prepared for battle again, however — 

As she looked over as to where Ruino was supposed to be standing, she was already gone.