18 Chapter 18 - Lout Swordsmanship

Well to be honest, I had no clue if she was actually being bullied or not. But she was there so, I can plead ignorance if he gets mad at me.

When I was reading novels and manhwa, I loved the cliché of the protective siblings. They had always appealed to me. Because of that I had written both the Vandersun's and the Frostborn's children to be very family oriented.

And now that Taku knew his sister was being bullied, these guys would probably be fucked. Even though your family status means nothing here, those nobles were people who'd probably care. They'd probably shit themselves if this man went to talk to them with the way he looked right now.

He was fuming.

"Explain."

"I had overheard Kazu yelling and when I went to check it out there were 4 guys surrounding your sister, Kazu, and my brother."

"I think they said something like "You pieces of shit; I'm just putting you all in your place." along those lines"

"Then I heard Ayaka start to yell. Then I came up behind them and beat their asses."

It was close enough to the truth.

Taku had a mean look on his face.

"Names."

"I have no clue. All I know is that they were in Class B."

"That's enough for me. Thank you for protecting my sister."

"I was more protecting my brother, your sister just happened to be there."

"Thank you anyway."

He left the dorm.

Well with that I was probably going to be safe, I had told the truth.

Ayaka might say that he didn't say those words exactly but that meant they were still yelling in her direction. They pissed off the wrong person.

I got up and knocked on Rio's door before entering it.

He wasn't crying anymore but it was obvious that he was before.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah..."

"I'll be okay too."

"Are you lying?"

"Nope."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

He hugged me.

"Thank you..."

"Are you friends with Kazu?"

"Yeah!"

"That's good."

"Mhm!"

"What about Ayaka?"

"I don't think so..."

"Do you want to be?"

"Eventually..."

"Alright."

I wasn't going to ask him what caused it in the first place. I'd probably had gotten as mad as Taku if I knew.

"I'll be leaving now."

"See you later."

"Yup."

Well since I didn't have to think about getting in trouble anymore, I was going to do what I originally planned. Seeing if Ms. Brent had a sword style that fit me.

I left the dorm and headed to the teachers building. Luckily there were no problems on my way here this time.

"Vondheart, what are you doing here?"

It was Mr. Mispholfo

"Good evening, I'm looking for Ms. Brent."

"She'd be in the second room on the right."

"Thanks."

I knocked on the door and heard a voice

"Come in."

"Hey Miss."

"Leo, did you need something?"

She was doing some paperwork

"Are you busy?"

"What do you need?"

"I was hoping you could show me some more swordsmanship styles, I don't think the one before suits me."

"You don't think?"

"Yeah, I asked Ian and Taku they both said it probably didn't fit me."

"Hmm."

"Alright, follow me, I'll show you some more."

"Thanks."

---

She took me to the gym. Ian was still there practicing.

"Hey Ian."

"...Hello."

Ms. Brent picked up a sword and started to demonstrate a variety of styles. After she finished showing a few off she asked

"Did you see any that interest you?"

"Um..."

Ian had cut in

"...I don't think any of those would fit Leo..."

"Yeah, me neither."

"Do you have any idea on what kind of style you were looking for?"

"Quick? Steady? Defensive? Offensive?"

The kind of style I was looking for... Ian said the most suitable style would be one that replicated how I grew up...

"Do you have any cheap ones?"

"Cheap?"

"Yeah."

"What do you mean by cheap?"

"Dirty, unsophisticated, brutal, like you're clinging for life."

The teacher and Ian looked at me with shocked eyes for a brief moment.

"Um..."

"Maybe?"

"It's quite a dangerous style though."

"Could I see it?"

"Ian, could I borrow your help?"

"Okay..."

"This is called Lout Swordsmanship."

Ms. Brent and Ian took their respective styles.

Ms. Brent took the initiative; she charged in like a rabid dog. She had lifted her sword high in the air and her body was completely exposed. Ian tried to slash her body, but she had stepped back just out of range, she didn't stop her attack though.

She lowered her sword and was in permission to slash Ian's side.

Ian had instinctively put his guard towards his left while Ms. Brent lifted her left leg and went for a kick on Ian's exposed right side.

The kick connected and caused Ian to stumble; Ms. Brent didn't let up. She had raised the sword high again; it looked like she was going for a downward slash motion, so Ian went to block in the air again.

But instead of slashing, she kicked him in the stomach again.

She still didn't let up; she had gotten in position to slash from the right again. Ian thought that she was gonna go for another kick, so he didn't fully guard his left side.

But instead of kicking she slashed. Ian wasn't ready for that, which caused him to stumble again.

The fight ended with Ms. Brent holding the sword against his neck.

"That was Lout Swordsmanship."

"I'm sorry Ian, there isn't really a good way to demonstrate it without someone's help."

Ian was out of breath

"...It's okay."

I was shocked, it was exactly as I asked for, dirty, unsophisticated, and brutal. Just like me.

"It's quite dangerous because you'd have to be constantly moving and pressing the attack. If you-"

"I love it."

"Please teach me, teacher."