Chapter 12: New Rules for the Battlefield
On the battlefield... the strongest is not the one who swings their sword the hardest...
but the one who understands the 'rules' of the battlefield...
and can rewrite the 'rules' to their own advantage.
— From "The Tactics of a Nameless General"
There was no greeting... Vulcan and Kaen stood before my family, their expressions unreadable.
"We are old comrades," Vulcan replied flatly. "Kaen was once a member of the Guild's 'Special Reconnaissance Unit' before he pledged himself to the service of the Shadow Royalty."
He turned to look at Lunaria and me.
"We have been in contact throughout this past month... to plan for your futures."
Vulcan explained his offer... The Craftsman's Guild would officially take the two of us under its protection as 'Genius Researchers and Developers,' and we would be moved to a special residential area of the Guild in the capital, which was much safer.
"But protection... comes at the cost of 'development'," Kaen added. "You must both become stronger... in mind... and in body."
And so... a new "curriculum" for Lunaria and me began.
Theoretical Studies (Mornings)
Every morning, we would travel to the Guild to study theory in the library.
Practical Application (Afternoons)
And every afternoon... our backyard would become a "training ground."
Kaen took on the duty of teaching us both the "fundamentals of swordsmanship."
"No matter which path you choose in the future," he said in a stern voice while handing us wooden swords, "understanding the principles of weaponry is the basis of survival."
Lunaria seemed to have been born for this. The moment she held the wooden sword... the atmosphere around her changed. Her movements were graceful and dangerous, the wooden sword in her hand a blur of astonishing speed.
As for me... I was a complete disaster. I tried to imitate her posture, but my body refused to obey. My [Imperfect Breath] made me gasp for air quickly, and I dropped my sword again and again.
My father... Aether... could only stand and watch from a distance with a worried look. He knew well that I had no talent for this at all.
One evening, after a humiliating training session had ended, Father called me into the shed.
"Faelix... trying to be something we're not... will only bring us pain."
"You don't have to fight with a sword like everyone else... but you do need to 'know how not to lose.'"
He picked up two twigs.
"I'm not a good fighter... but I know how war works." He placed one twig to represent himself, and another for the enemy. "Most people think a fight is about hitting two twigs together... whoever is stronger wins."
"But what if the enemy is stronger?" he asked. "What do we do?"
I shook my head...
Father moved his twig... not forward... but to the side.
"We simply... change the 'rules' of the battlefield."
"If you can't fight with strength... fight with something else... If you can't fight at his range... pull him into yours."
Those words... were like a key that unlocked a deep-seated memory.
The image of the "dojo" at my old school... the smell of sweat in the "Muay Thai gym" near my home... They were two things I loved in my past life because they were the "science" of combat. I wasn't a great fighter... but I "understood" their principles.
The next day... during sparring with Lunaria.
She was as fast as ever, but this time I didn't try to parry her sword.
As she lunged forward for a straight downward slash... I decided to drop my wooden sword...
"Faelix!" Kaen cried out in alarm.
I paid him no mind... I stepped towards her, not charging, but "turning" into her inner range. I let her wooden sword graze my shoulder, accepting the minor pain in exchange for entering "point-blank range," where her long sword would be useless.
I used my left hand to sweep her sword arm off balance, my right hand grabbing her shoulder, and used my foot to hook her ankle, using the very "force" of her own lunge to send her...
It was the principle of "Osoto Gari," which I had learned in my Judo class.
Thud!
Lunaria was on the grassy ground, looking up at me with a gaze of both shock and confusion.
Kaen's jaw dropped, not believing what he had seen.
[...You have successfully applied 'knowledge from another dimension' to self-defense!...]
[...Condition Met: Unlocked a new proficiency line 'Applied Martial Arts'... Proficiency: F...]
[...You have learned 'split-second decision making'... WIS increased by 2 points!]
[...Adrenaline rush has restored 10 MP!]
I extended my hand to Lunaria, who was still sitting on the ground.
"Are you hurt?"
She looked at my hand, before taking it and slowly getting to her feet.
"...What... was that?" she asked, amazed.
I gave a faint smile.
"It's called 'changing the rules'."
Suddenly... Lunaria laughed. Not just a faint smile, but a bright and genuine laugh... a sound I had never heard before.
"Interesting... Very interesting! Let's go again! I won't be careless this time!"
Her eyes were filled with a spark of amusement, no longer the eyes of a refugee princess, but the eyes of a "girl" who had found a new and challenging toy.
That day... I understood...
Strength... does not come in only one form.
And perhaps... having a good "rival"... is the best morale booster of all.