"Why do you look so surprised?" Roy asked, amused by her reaction.
"No, it's not that..."
Ayase lowered her head, feeling embarrassed by Roy's direct gaze. She gave a dry, self-deprecating laugh and whispered, "It's just... usually, people try their hardest to avoid this kind of trouble."
"You said it yourself: the Sword Eater is a guy who never gives up until he achieves his goal," Roy said with a relaxed smile.
"As long as I stay in this city, he will come for me sooner or later. And to get to me, he might target the people around me."
"I just arrived in this city, so I don't know many people yet. But eventually, I'll make friends." Roy looked at her earnestly.
"For example, you are the first person I've really spoken to since coming here. If Kuraudo tries to threaten me by using you, I won't let it slide. Since we'll have to fight him eventually, it's better to take the initiative and solve the problem completely."
"Huh?"
Ayase was stunned for a second. Then, a deep blush spread across her cheeks. She hurriedly lowered her head, letting the long bangs on both sides of her face cover her flushed face.
"Um... you don't need to let yourself be threatened by Kuraudo just because of me..." Ayase said softly, her voice trembling.
Roy shook his head and smiled.
Seeing Ayase shrinking away like a frightened quail, he decided to change the subject gently.
"If you don't mind, why don't you tell me about your situation? Judging by what Kuraudo and his gang said, they seem to know you very well. Did something happen between you two in the past?"
Hearing Roy's question, Ayase suddenly went quiet. She lowered her head and remained silent.
Roy didn't push her; he just watched quietly, waiting for her to find the words.
"It... it's like this..."
After struggling internally for about half a minute, Ayase finally took a deep breath and chose to reveal the history between herself and Kuraudo Kurashiki.
The root of the matter could be traced back two years.
Ayase's father was Kaito Ayatsuji. He was a famous swordsman in Japan, known as The Last Samurai.
In an era rampant with Blazers wielding supernatural powers, his swordsmanship was so superb that, despite being an ordinary human without magic, he could compete with and even defeat weaker Blazers.
Many aspiring swordsmen came to his dojo admiringly. Some to learn, others to challenge him.
However, two years ago, Kaito was diagnosed with a severe heart condition. For the sake of his life and his family, he had to seal his sword and give up kendo.
Unfortunately, even after Kaito announced his retirement and refused all challenges, some people wouldn't give up. Kuraudo Kurashiki was one of them. And he was the type who had no concept of martial honor.
While others respectfully retreated after learning of Kaito's condition, Kuraudo was different.
To force Kaito into a duel, Kuraudo used every shameless trick in the book. Threats, vandalism, and public insults.
Despite this, Kaito steadfastly refused to fight.
"We thought Kuraudo would eventually get bored and retreat, but we were wrong..." Ayase said, a hint of deep resentment entering her tone.
A few days after being rejected, the disciples of the Ayatsuji Dojo began returning with bruised noses and swollen faces. One by one, they quit kendo in shame. Kuraudo had been ambushing them in secret, forcing them into brutal matches.
As the Sword Eater, Kuraudo was one of the top student knights in the country. The ordinary disciples of the dojo were powerless to resist him. They were beaten violently. They began to doubt if there was any meaning in learning the sword if they could be crushed so easily.
Eventually, the dojo was empty.
"He used these despicable methods to force my father," Ayase gritted her teeth. "Then, one night, he came to the dojo again. He told my father that if he refused to fight, Kuraudo would attack me next."
"It seems your father cares about you very much," Roy said softly.
"Yes." Ayase nodded, tears forming in her eyes. "This time, my father didn't refuse. He agreed to the duel."
As for the result... even without knowing the story, Roy could read it on Ayase's face.
Kuraudo hadn't used his Device or magic. He had simply used a sword. And yet, Kaito had lost.
"I assume there was an accident during the duel?" Roy guessed, looking at Ayase's pained expression.
Ayase looked up in surprise, meeting Roy's gaze, before looking away in embarrassment.
"Yes. My father... he suffered a heart attack during the fight. His body was already weak, and Kuraudo beat him mercilessly. He couldn't survive until the end... so he lost."
Ayase spoke with intense frustration. Her father would never have lost to Kuraudo in pure swordsmanship, but his body had betrayed him.
During the duel, when the heart attack struck, Kuraudo had taken the opening to strike Kaito directly on the forehead, cracking his skull.
The combination of the heart attack and the severe head trauma had put Kaito Ayatsuji into a coma. He had been in a vegetative state in the hospital for two years.
"Because he lost, the dojo was taken by Kuraudo as the prize," Ayase's eyes were full of resentment and unwillingness.
"I challenged him several times to win the dojo back, but... I was no match for him. Eventually, he wouldn't even see me anymore."
She hated Kuraudo's cruelty. She hated him for putting her father in a coma and stealing their family's legacy. But more than anything, she hated her own weakness.
"I see."
Roy looked at Ayase and offered a gentle, reassuring smile.
"It seems I have a legitimate reason to teach that Sword Eater a lesson after all. Staying indifferent when a girl makes such a sad expression... that goes against my principles."
---
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