Back in the dorm, Almark took a peek at the things dry.
I washed the robe and top I borrowed from Wallis and dried it over yesterday.
I touched it with my hand and it was already completely dry.
Almark held it and visited Wallis's room.
Wallis, who opened the door, said, oh, and when he received it, what would he do with your robe? And he asks.
"I got a new one from Dr. Illmis yesterday."
"Right."
"The old ones are going to sew it up and use it."
"I don't really recommend that. It would have cut a lot bigger, it doesn't look good"
"Yeah. Just stitch it up and I'll think about it."
Well, I'll leave that to you.
Wallis looked like he was going to think about it.
"... Almark, do you have a moment?"
"Oh. I'm fine, though."
"Then hang out with me a little bit"
That's what Wallis says, he comes out of the room.
"To where?
Martial arts.
Wallis replied.
Yesterday's martial arts tournament was a martial arts venue with no sign of people.
In the middle of it, Almark and Wallis turned to each other wearing protective gear.
"I know Morgen took the best player"
On the way to the martial arts, Wallis told Almark.
"I have no objection to that either, but the strongest player in our team is Almark. You."
Then Wallis names Ain, Rosfilia, and other outstanding players in his class.
"They're both pretty good, but they're not enough compared to you."
Wallis would be the only one this school year who could name those two and say that.
"So you and I are out of the martial arts tournament. Let's do a head-to-head showdown this school year."
Wallis' suggestion was a terribly childish, unusual Wallis-like one, but Almark accepted.
"Fine. Instead, I'd like to ask you a few questions."
"If you can answer, let's answer"
Wallis says so, then laughs and adds.
"I'll answer one of your questions thanks for hanging out with me. If you beat me, I'll give you another answer."
"Come for real."
That's what Wallis said, raising his sword.
"Oh."
Almark answers and aligns his sword tips.
The two took their time at the same time.
Even in martial arts classes, Wallis rarely approached Almark, so this is actually the first match in the form of a match.
Nevertheless, Almark had gained some certainty of strength by observing Wallis during the class.
Wallis slowly packs his time.
Almark stepped in the moment that his leg went into his own time.
Sharp poke.
Wallis' sword that took it makes a dull noise.
and that moment.
Wallis' sword slipped over Almark's sword.
As it flows, it turns to attack.
Almark takes it sparingly, too, but Wallis lightly folds it up.
Almark can see that each blow is all based on elaborate calculations.
Almark sews a gap and releases an attack, but Wallis taking it is still a move as if it were an expected attack.
All events, including Wallis' attack, foot clamping, and Almark's counter-attack, are counted backwards from Wallis' conclusion of victory.
Wallis sees a goal.
That's what Almark thought.
Almark's sharp penetration is also difficult to make Wallis's point because the attack is limited to the torso.
Eventually, when Wallis' penetration captured Almark's torso, Almark accidentally leaked a sigh of admiration.
"Wow."
To the words, Wallis shakes his head.
"It took seven hands more than I expected."
Slightly distort the right face and soak up the sweat.
"There's no such thing as awesome. I'm just saying that I was a little more used to martial arts as an upbringing."
Wallis does not rejoice, he says pale.
"The so-called actual battle... if it's a life-taking battle, it won't pass my skill, and I know it's not far from you."
That could be it.
Almark nods too.
Wallis' technology seemed like one piece of art, entirely dedicated to martial arts as a competition.
Techniques totally different in purpose from Almark's swordsmanship, which he worked out on the assumption that he would be on the battlefield, not even supposed to be in action or anything like that.
Almark would also have fought in a much more diverse way if the attack had not been limited to punching the torso only, and that would not be possible if Wallis' sword moves were to prevail on the battlefield as they were.
Though.
"But losing is losing"
Almark admitted honestly.
Wallis looks at Almark and loosens his mouth.
"Next year, you might miss me."
After saying that, Wallis accidentally imitated Almark's tone with a prankster face.
"But winning is winning"
"I have questions I can answer and questions I can't answer"
Wallis said, taking off his protective gear.
"So just name what you want to hear."
"Okay."
Almark also answers, taking off his protective gear.
"First of all, ever since I joined this college, why have you been avoiding me, much less hostile"
Hmm, and Wallis raises his voice and sees Almark.
As Almark stares back at Wallis, Wallis waves ahead.
"Go on."
Almark nods and opens his mouth.
"Next, that black, dark thing you showed me on Martial Arts Day"
Dark magician's arms have been devoured, shapeless darkness.
"Is that your magic? Or is it something else"
"Hmm. And then"
And then there's Almark.
"At the martial arts tournament, I received a trophy from Prince Wolfe as a representative of my class"
That word raises Wallis' eyebrows.
"The face of Prince Wolfe looked just like yours."
There are no painful scars on that neat face that Almark stares at.
But other than that, I'm glad to say that everything is the same as King Wolf Prince I saw yesterday.
"It was so melon and melon that it was not someone else's probable resemblance. What the hell is your relationship with Prince Wang?"
"Now, three"
Wallis said so that he could wear it on Almark's words.
"What do you want to hear yet?
"There's a lot of details, though."
Almark answers.
"I guess these three things for now"
"Right."
Wallis nods and laughs thinly.
"It's just a tough question. Glad I beat you."
Almark shrugs his shoulders and waits for Wallis' answer.
"Let's answer one last question"
Wallis said.
Almark is a little surprised.
Because I thought that would be the hardest question to answer.
"The Wolf of King Galai's Prince..."
But with no discouragement, Wallis said farewell.
He's my twin brother.