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Seven is a lucky number in the world of Mushoku Tensei.
This is due to historical influence.
The Seven Worlds, the Seven Heroes—lucky numbers are basically always seven.
The common people don't really care much about such things; daily labor and production consume most of their energy.
So who cared, then?
Royalty, nobles, officials.
The higher the stratum, the more they cared about such things.
This was well-reflected in the Water God Style Main Dojo, where most apprentices were noble children.
Seventy-seven.
That was the number of apprentices in the Water God Style junior dojo.
However, the Water God Style Main Dojo itself didn't have such absurd, pointless regulations. The current number of junior dojo members was purely self-controlled by the apprentices.
In the Water God Style Main Dojo, below Saint rank, commendation ceremonies were only tied to the honor of chief disciple, not sword rank.
After all, there were so many people; there couldn't be a situation like:
"You, you're Intermediate today. Good, commend him."
"Hey, you, you're Advanced today. Come, commend him."
Having banquets every day wouldn't do; that would be far too chaotic.
And precisely because of this, the true ranks of apprentices below Saint rank in the Water God Style Main Dojo were often unclear.
So controlling the number of junior dojo members was simple. Led by the junior chief disciple, if there were too many people, they would push friends who were about to 'graduate' into various family appointments. If there were too few, everyone would scout suitable candidates from the main dojo to fill the spots.
Over time, this formed a small circle of shared interests.
The reason why everyone in the main dojo wanted to break through the Advanced threshold and enter the junior dojo was only partly due to honor.
The vast majority was due to the yearning for the junior dojo's 'circle.'
Asura's corruption of the Water God Style Dojo was gradual.
And the overall level of the disciples also showed a clear gap compared to the disciples of the Sword Sanctuary.
Did Reida know?
She knew, but she was helpless.
Asura, being under the King's feet, was inherently a place where nobles played political games.
It couldn't be avoided.
Then, could they expand recruitment? 'Poor in letters, rich in martial arts.' Commoners had no means to access swordsmanship. Couldn't they accept some wild, ambitious adventurers?
No.
The tuition fees for apprentices at the Water God Style Main Dojo were very cheap.
So cheap that it only cost one gold coin per person per year.
But for adventurers, lacking income was already a burden, and this 'cheap' price of one coin a year was still outrageously high.
How did the Sword Sanctuary operate?
It was originally a self-sufficient town composed entirely of the Sword God Style, and it wasn't in the peaceful Asura Kingdom. If people were truly out of money, they could take on adventurer quests to subjugate monsters or bandits.
This ensured the purity of the Sword God Style Main Dojo.
But the Water God Style Main Dojo, located in the royal capital, couldn't do the same.
Fortunately, five years ago, the Water God Style Main Dojo welcomed a 'catfish.'
Allen Boreas Greyrat.
This guy was not one to play by the rules.
Question: Someone won't listen to advice and wants to break the dojo's unwritten rules? What to do?
—Suppress him with the power of your status!
What if the other party already has a strong background and power?
—Then teach him a lesson with force!
Huh? Can't beat him?
—...Then? Then we'll just have to respectfully welcome the new junior dojo chief disciple into the advanced dojo!
Allen was very serious about swordsmanship and completely ignored these messy, dirty dealings. In the two years he served as the chief disciple of the Water God Style junior dojo, he managed to bring this group of nobles completely to heel.
And during that time, the overall academic atmosphere of the Water God Style Dojo flourished.
It was filled with screams and wails every day.
However, this situation, after Allen's sudden disappearance, only lasted for a short year before reverting to its old ways.
Isolte was keen to maintain it, but for one, her own focus wasn't on the dojo. Secondly, ultimately, no matter how prestigious the Water God was in the royal capital, it had little effect on Isolte herself.
She was a commoner.
And after she left as well.
The junior dojo completely reverted to its state from years ago.
This led to the current situation, especially after everyone learned that their senior brother Allen was about to return from the dead, entering a relaxed state as if their doom was imminent.
Practice swordsmanship?
Not familiar. Brother Allen will surely make everyone here train until they feel great after he returns.
Then how about some fun?
Come on!
So, in the daily drama that unfolded in the dojo, on this April 23rd.
They welcomed the dignified return of Isolte and Allen.
It was worth noting that this drama, a little over a month ago when Reida announced Allen's impending return, was a reasonable speculation: Senior Brother Allen ran away from marriage to adventure, a normal hero-vs-dragon storyline.
But as time went on.
This hero-vs-dragon gradually turned into hero-bedding-dragon, hero-bedding-evil-female-beastfolk, hero-bedding-evil-female-beastfolk-twins, hero-bedding-evil-twins-and-partying-daily.
It had now become this:
The twins, pregnant, are persuaded by a brave female knight who showed up to cause trouble, to abandon the darkness and embrace the light.
Abstract.
But it fit the characteristics of life in Asura's royal capital quite well.
And now, the junior dojo was utterly silent. Everyone looked at Faltz, who was doomed, with great pity.
Silently praying for him.
At the same time, they all tried to peer past Isolte's figure, looking behind her.
To welcome the former chief disciple, whom everyone respected, the tyrannical 'catfish' who had wandered into a school of herbivorous fish.
However, they didn't get to see Allen's figure as they wished.
Instead.
What appeared was a girl with red hair like spilled paint on her shoulders, and sharp, upturned eyebrows.
A girl?
And, she was here to...
...challenge the dojo???
"...Senior Sister, are you sure? Where did this new face come from? And wouldn't it be better to go to the main dojo?"
Two minutes later, Faltz took the wooden sword Isolte handed him as she entered the ring, asking in a low voice.
He completely avoided mentioning the play.
At this moment, all seventy-seven people in the dojo sat on zabuton cushions, forming a large circle, all watching the three figures in the center.
The chief disciple of the junior dojo, Faltz, who was whispering to Isolte with his head bowed.
The referee, Isolte, whose face was full of smiles, as if the play moments ago had simply passed by.
And...
Eris, frowning tightly, looking very 'nervous,' wielding a wooden sword.
And near the door, a few people were still standing.
Derrick Redbat, Ariel, and Dantolis.
The first two were staring intently at the center of the ring—there was a very obvious fact: Eris, Allen's biological sister, had actually played a strange role in the Flowing Falls City assassination incident.
—After the chaotic assassination, she suppressed the street patrol guards on the first floor.
Was this young lady from the Fittoa territory truly just an ordinary Advanced Swordsman who grew up under noble protection?
Dantolis, however, wasn't looking at Eris. He knew Allen's talent better than anyone else in the Water God Style Dojo. The fact that Allen's sister was highly talented in swordsmanship was an established fact.
He looked at Sylphy.
The latter, at the edge of the ring, had a look of utter devastation on her face, repeatedly muttering incomprehensible things like 'eloping' and 'Allen is Isolte's husband.'
Dantolis smiled.
He knew very well whether Allen had eloped. Sylphy also didn't seem like the type to cause trouble.
But this didn't stop him from standing on a very simple emotional ground, leveraging his grandmother's words, which were clearly meant to help Isolte.
To support his sister.
Of course, there was another subtle thought.
From the perspective of the Water God Style Dojo's actual operator, Allen was a perfect 'catfish.' The value he could bring to the Water God Style Main Dojo far exceeded that of a mere 'brother-in-law.'
In the ring.
Isolte glanced at Faltz somewhat amiably, making his face stiffen.
"No problem."
She turned and called out to the side of the ring.
"Miss Sylphy! Mr. Rudyus! Please come and help!"
Sylphy, looking dazed, subconsciously stood up and ran over, followed by Rudy, who walked over looking a little confused.
Isolte watched Sylphy run over, her smile becoming more natural. She leaned in and whispered something into the white-haired girl's ear.
The latter's still dazed face jolted in surprise, her eyes widened, and her face flushed instantly.
But after those words were spoken, her heart, which had been agitated and jumping with unease due to the elopement rumors, was immediately calmed.
The Water Saint's movements were quick, and her words very soft. Rudy and Faltz hadn't even caught what she said before she stood up, smiling, and bowed to Sylphy and Rudy, seeking their help.
"Later, I'll need your help with the healing."
Faltz froze, then his face relaxed, and he mumbled.
"Healing magic? Why would I strike without restraint?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt two gazes fall simultaneously on his face.
—One was from the white-haired girl with long ears, who was staring at him with a strange expression. The other was from the young boy named Rudyus, whose face was twitching as he sized him up.
Isolte's voice continued to enter his ear.
"This way, your safety can be ensured. After all, as the chief disciple of the junior dojo, if you return tonight with injuries on your face, it would bring dishonor to the dojo."
Faltz's brows furrowed into a knot. His earlier cautious expression vanished. He stared directly at Isolte.
Even though Isolte was already Saint rank, Faltz didn't really think much of her deep down.
This was because Isolte's 'to-the-point' dueling record completely lacked the crushing pressure Allen had exerted on him.
So, these words instantly ignited the fire hidden in his heart.
I show you respect for Senior Brother Allen's sake.
You take my kindness for weakness.
A mere woman, and a commoner at that.
Just because you're lucky enough to be a year older than me and started swordsmanship earlier, and because you're the Water God's granddaughter, and Senior Brother Allen favors you, you actually think you earned this position in the Water God Style Main Dojo yourself?
But he didn't show it on his face. He just silently watched Isolte for a moment, then replied with a smile.
"Senior Sister, are you serious?"
Isolte narrowed her eyes. "Faltz, your opponent's name is Eris Boreas Greyrat. Please give it your all."
"Don't lose too badly."
As these words fell, Faltz seemed to remember something. His expression flickered, and then he actually chuckled.
"Heh heh... Eris Boreas Greyrat? I see, who else could it be?"
He glanced at Eris, then turned to his small group, a teasing smile on his face.
"Did everyone hear that? This is the young lady from the Boreas family who was expelled from the noble school a few years ago! She's here to challenge our Water God Style Main Dojo! How absurd!"
Someone below mumbled a response to his words, but the long-haired colleague from earlier cautiously warned him.
"This is Senior Brother Allen's..."
Faltz's gaze darkened. He swept it over his colleague, then turned and spoke loudly to everyone around him.
"Water God Style Dojo! We speak with strength! Is that Senior Brother Allen's rule? What? What can his sister do?"
"Allen Boreas Greyrat is strong. I, Faltz Eolus Greyrat, respect him, honor him as my Senior Brother, and am utterly convinced by him."
"Sister?"
"Don't be silly. A mere woman. She should just go to various banquets like Princess Ariel. Be a swordsman?"
"Noble young lady?"
"Can you even understand how to play with a wooden sword?!"
His voice rose layer upon layer, until finally, it was a furious shout.
Silence fell over the arena.
This direct heir of the Eolus family, besides Allen, truly no one could tame him.
However.
"So much nonsense!"
Everyone in the arena turned in unison to the other side of the ring.
—Eris was still swinging the wooden sword in her hand.
She ignored Faltz, who was now looking at her with a darkened expression. Instead, she raised an eyebrow and looked at Isolte.
"Can't I use an iron sword?"
Isolte replied with a smile.
"No, Eris. This is a challenge, not a deadly fight."
"Tch. Fine!"
Faltz narrowed his eyes as if trying to discern Eris's appearance, then after a long moment, he spoke.
"Arrogant..."
Eris pouted, looking at him with her chin raised, her expression quite dismissive.
The little lion, who wore her emotions on her sleeve, had learned more than just the Voiceless Sword of Light from Allen.
She had also learned.
Confidence as burning as her eyes!
The sword hilt moved with her wrist, rising, tracing an arc in the air, slowly settling in front of her.
A pause.
Middle stance.
The sword body was light.
But the sword intent was heavy.
"Come!"
Faltz smiled. The next instant, even before the referee could officially announce the start of the duel, his figure abruptly vanished from beside Isolte and the others.
Five steps instantly closed the distance, leaving afterimages.
What greeted him was only a side sweep with one hand!
Rip!!!
A teeth-grinding, wooden friction sound suddenly exploded in the dojo!
Wooden sword against wooden sword, vibrations rattling, a struggle. Red eyes stared into the pupils of the approaching attacker.
"Interception? Your skill is too poor. Again." Faltz scoffed, looking at Eris's wooden sword.
Eris ignored him. "Hmph!" Her wrist lifted, the sword body pressed against the other sword body, forcing it into an arc!
She deflected Faltz's figure, her sword streaked with afterimages, thrusting directly at Faltz's face.
However, wooden grain was already rising in the air between them.
It was the sword body.
Just barely blocking the side of Eris's sword tip.
Rip! Sword body grinding against sword body, Faltz twisted his wrist, and with a backhand, he sliced Eris's wooden sword away from his face!
"Pluck the String!"
The sword clanged as it was swept aside. In that instant, Eris's wooden sword, arcing, caused her body to tilt to one side.
Faltz grinned wildly, pressing forward!
With a turn of his wrist, leveraging the force of Eris's sword vibration, he spun his sword in a flourish, and in a flash, reversed his grip into a backhand, his left hand pressed against the back of the sword hilt.
He thrust fiercely towards Eris's abdomen!
In his high-speed movement, battle aura surged, and Faltz's pupils constricted to pinpricks.
The sword tip sped forward, less than two inches from Eris's body.
It's over... The genius's sister? Nothing special...
The next instant.
Wooden grain invaded his vision.
Not the sword body.
It was the hilt.
"Bang!!!"
The sword hilt, which had suddenly shot out from the side, slammed violently into Faltz's sword body. The sword body deflected, thrusting directly into the empty space beneath Eris's armpit.
Pluck the String???!!!?
Faltz's eyes rotated in surprise. The flying sword hilt, pulling the wildly twisting sword body, intruded into his vision.
It was the wooden sword that Eris, using battle aura erupting from her fingers, had flicked from her wrist, sending it flying to save herself.
—A technique Allen had used against Rudy in Buena Village.
The next instant, their gazes intertwined.
One pair filled with surprise.
The other.
Burning with fire!
Slam!! Eris, who had already stabilized herself, stomped her foot on the ground.
Twisting her body! A knee strike tore through the air, heading straight for him!
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