—The complexions of the nobles from the Calvin faction were grim.

A noble, his face beet-red with anger, slammed his fist on the desk, drawing the gazes of those around him.

"Dozens of people, just from my son and clan affiliates alone. Dozens have vanished!"
"Are you saying we're the only ones who suffered losses!? Dammit! If only I'd known that bastard Liam had such devoted retainers."
"Was it Klaus? He's unknown, but quite capable. To be able to crush an opposing faction so thoroughly through infighting... what kind of cold-blooded man is he?"

The war with the United Kingdom's forces had come to an unexpectedly swift end.

A war that was expected to take decades had ended in victory in less than a year.

Cleo's fame, having secured victory in such a short period, was on the rise.

This was true even though it was a hard-won victory with considerable losses.

Most of those losses were not from Cleo's faction, but from the Calvin faction, which had been dispatched to drag him down.

They weren't the main fighting force of the faction.

While losing them wasn't a critical blow, a substantial defeat in practical terms was another matter entirely.

A noble sitting near Calvin wore a bitter expression.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Cleo's faction, using the war as a pretext, has almost completely updated its generation of weaponry. Several weapons factories ignored our orders."

"So it seems. It appears my name only carries so much weight."

The Empire had given the expeditionary force permission to prioritize equipment upgrades.

They had given it, but—Calvin and his followers had instructed the weapons factories to keep their assistance to a minimum.

However, the weapons factories with ties to Liam had ignored this.

While other factories followed Calvin's instructions, the Third, Sixth, Ninth—and the Seventh Weapons Factory, which was on friendly terms with Liam—had provided their full support.

The nobles looked furious.

And they began to state the reasons why the weapons factories had betrayed them.

"Those bastards, they held a grudge against the Empire for favoring the Barkley family."
"It's the price for favoring the First and Second Weapons Factories too much."
"Even though we weren't the ones who favored them."

Quite some time ago, the weapons factories had been accumulating dissatisfaction related to the Barkley family.

The First and Second Weapons Factories, which cooperated with the Barkleys, were supposed to receive technology from the other factories free of charge.

Calvin let out a sigh.

"It has nothing to do with us—or so we'd like to say, but I suppose from the factories' perspective, they figured they'd get a bigger reward if Liam-kun came out on top, didn't they?"

To put it bluntly, Calvin and his faction had only tightened the screws, being stingy with the rewards.

That, too, was unavoidable.

It was the fault of favoring the other weapons factories.

They had prepared the whip, threatening to tighten their grip further if the factories continued their association with Liam—and in turn, had made enemies of them.

"Cleo's faction has now equipped itself with state-of-the-art weaponry. We'd like to do the same, but—"

When Calvin looked at the nobles, their expressions were not good.

Apparently, it would be difficult.

"A portion of it is possible, but we were depleted in the recent war. Even if we recover some reparations from the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is unlikely to allocate the budget for it."

The Prime Minister would surely use the cost of this war as a reason to cut military spending.

They couldn't expect to strengthen their own faction using the Empire's budget.

Other nobles began to talk about Liam.

"That little brat, he strengthened his own faction with the Empire's budget."
"No, the brat was making some pretty flashy moves himself. He must have spent a considerable amount out of his own pocket."
"Is he exhausted too?"

However, Liam had gained a huge return.

Calvin thought to himself.

(—I've made a mistake. Liam-kun didn't misjudge where to stand his ground.)

The reason Liam had stayed behind was to focus on logistical support.

Thanks to that, the expeditionary force never had problems with its supply lines.

They were able to fight in perfect condition.

Even if it meant bearing the slight disgrace of not going to the battlefield, Liam's decision to remain on the capital planet was worth it.

(Our faction now has a weakness in terms of military power.)

The Calvin faction affiliates who participated in the expeditionary force had suffered considerable damage.

Furthermore, the generational change of their weaponry would likely not proceed as they wished for some time.

Citing the end of the war, the Empire's Prime Minister would surely reject it as a wasteful budget.

(The tide seems to be in their favor. But we can't let things stay this way.)

"—We've allowed Liam-kun a clean sweep. But this is a problem, isn't it?"

The nobles nodded.

"Let's thoroughly attack Liam personally and tarnish his reputation."
"We acknowledge his competence in logistical support, but it's a fact that he fled the battlefield."
"Also—I believe we should give him a little warning."

Even if they tried to do something to Liam's associates, Liam, who had defeated a Sword Saint, was protecting them.

Liam's clandestine forces were also excellent.

He had remained on the capital planet and provided logistical support for the expeditionary force himself, without relying on hostile factions like them who were trying to hold him back.

In that moment, Liam became a formidable enemy in Calvin's mind.

No, he had become an enemy that the nobles could no longer ignore.

He was no longer just a somewhat lucky, conceited, and annoying presence, but a true enemy.

(We realized it too late. —Linus, I wonder if you felt this way too?)

Calvin spoke.

"Summon the two Sword Saints at once. The capital planet is about to get rough."

If they couldn't defeat him on the battlefield—they had no choice but to defeat him here, on the capital planet.

Calvin and his followers decided to use every means at their disposal.

(To think he could turn this situation around, it seems fortune truly is on his side. But we can't let it end like this.)

◇

That planet was considered the headquarters of the Aarlen Sword Style.

The name of the Aarlen Sword Style was so great that it had been granted an entire planet.

Its disciples included not only members of the imperial family but also powerful nobles.

It was such a major school of swordsmanship that people would ask, "Aarlen or Kurdan?"

At the headquarters of this Aarlen Sword Style, the man who was its head was about to depart for the capital planet.

"Master."

His disciples had arranged a car, and he was about to get in.

"Mm."

The one who spoke to him was the son of the head, who was also a Sword Saint.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is being quite troublesome. To think he'd summon you, Father, for protection just because he's afraid of Liam."

Because they held more power than your average noble, he spoke as if he were a noble himself.

In fact, they were nobles.

They were the Empire's sword instructors and held a corresponding status.

"I've never even heard of the One-Flash Style. To fear such people, it's truly deplorable. I'll consider this an opportunity to retrain His Highness the Crown Prince."

Because they received appropriate treatment from the nobles, they had become a little—arrogant.

And they truly possessed the strength to back it up.

"He's conceited for having defeated a Sword Saint, but he only took down a single practitioner of a self-taught style. He's no match for our Aarlen Sword Style."

As his son said this, the head of the school nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. The One-Flash Style is just one of those schools that will vanish like a fleeting bubble—"

Suddenly, the head of the school leaped back from the car he was about to enter.

The surrounding disciples did the same, but those with less skill had been cut, and blood was spurting from their wounds.

The son drew his sword.

"Who's there!"

When they looked, the car had been sliced in two vertically.

Appearing before the head and his son was a young—woman, with swords hanging from her left and right sides.

The woman, wearing a wide straw hat, was dressed in an outfit resembling a kimono.

Her figure was clearly identifiable as female.

She was very lightly dressed.

"—How did you get here?"

The son was panicking.

It was no wonder.

There were many reckless youths in the world, and every year, some would try to force their way into the Aarlen Sword Style headquarters.

For that reason, the security checks were strict.

As the woman reached for her straw hat, the master-class swordsmen, seizing the moment, leaped at her all at once.

The head of the school cautioned the woman, who he thought was about to die.

"This is what you get for being careless in enemy territory. If you're going to launch a raid, you should have the proper—What!?"

What the head saw was the master instructors who had charged at her being sent flying—all of them with one of their four limbs severed.

Not a single one was killed.

And the woman before him didn't seem to have moved at all.

The son stepped in front of the head.

"An assassin!? No, then why—"

Why wasn't she killing them?

More importantly, the head of the school was panicking.

(J-Just now—what did she do!?)

He hadn't seen the woman's sword.

Was it some kind of magic? Or a new weapon!?

As the head panicked, the woman who had thrown off her straw hat revealed her face.

Her slightly wavy orange hair was long and tied back.

As it swayed in the wind, it spread out for a moment like a lion's mane.

It was obvious at a glance that she was a woman, due to her large chest that couldn't be hidden even by her clothes.

There was a strange allure amidst her wildness, but she looked young—had she just come of age?

(What is this? Who is this woman—no, what school is she from!?)

The head of the school couldn't stop the cold sweat.

He immediately drew his sword, and seeing this, the woman before him introduced herself.

"I'll state my name. I'd hate for you to be wondering who defeated you. My name is 【Shishigami Fuuka】—my style is the One-Flash Style."

Hearing this, the head of the school instinctively jumped back.

But his son leaped forward.

"You fool, get back!"

"A single swordswoman of this level is not worth our father's time—"

The head's eyes widened at the scene before him.

(Th-This person—what did she do?)

His son, the most talented among his children, had both his hands cut off.

A moment later, blood gushed out, and he began to wail.

"My arms! My arms!"

"You're in the way, move."

Fuuka kicked her wailing son aside and walked towards the head of the school without even touching the hilt of her sword.

She did so with her arms spread wide.

"I've been wanting to meet you, Sword Saint. I was actually planning to challenge my senior disciple with your head as a souvenir."

Invading the Aarlen Sword Style headquarters and cutting down one master after another, the head of the school understood intuitively.

(I—can't do it.)

He had been chosen as a Sword Saint for political reasons, but he was still the top of a major school.

He sensed his opponent's strength and understood he couldn't win.

But he smiled.

"I am truly fortunate. Here, I can use any means necessary to defeat you."

"Huh?"

As Fuuka showed a dubious expression, the head of the school shouted.

"Do it!"

What emerged were armed soldiers.

And also, flying tanks.

Surrounded by soldiers with firearms, Fuuka shrugged her shoulders.

Pointing his own sword at Fuuka, the head of the school gloated.

"Did you really think I would grant you an honorable duel? No matter how strong the One-Flash Style is, if you lose, word will spread throughout the universe in an instant. Your school will be finished."

Fuuka's eyes had turned incredibly cold.

She was probably disgusted, her face showing disappointment as if to say, "And this is a Sword Saint?"

But the head of the school was laughing.

"Winning is all that matters! Swordsmanship is ultimately about achieving victory. Devising strategies to win is not a bad thing!"

However, Fuuka just ran a hand through her hair.

She seemed uninterested.

"I'm done with this. I just want the achievement of defeating you. Also—you'll pay for the crime of insulting my master. You will lose, live in disgrace, and become a tool to advertise the strength of us, the One-Flash Style."

As she said this, the head of the school screamed at his surroundings, "Shoot her! Kill her now!"

The moment he screamed—the weapons and people around him were cut down and sent flying.

The head of the school was frozen in place.

After all, Fuuka, who had been about thirty meters away just a moment ago, was now right in front of him, her drawn sword plunged into his stomach.

"Now I'm going to slowly teach you the terror of the One-Flash Style. And while I'm at it, give me that Sword Saint title you have. It sounds kind of cool."

Did she have any idea how much he had struggled to be called a Sword Saint?

To be told to hand it over just because it sounded "kind of cool" made him feel as if his entire being had been defiled.

Furious with Fuuka, the head opened his mouth to say something, but a scream of pain came out first.

"Agh!"

"I was planning to just crush you and be done with it, but I will never forgive you for insulting my master."

Looking into Fuuka's eyes, the head of the school trembled.

(Th-This little girl is stronger than me? The One-Flash Style—what is it? Why has it appeared in the world now! Why!)

A school that had never appeared in the world had begun to move.

That's what the head of the school thought.

"G-Get herrrr!"

And as the head screamed, even more weapons appeared than before.

"Kill her! I don't care if I get caught in the crossfire! Otherwise, the Aarlen Sword Style will be—!!"

—Finished as a school.

Surrounded by hundreds of weapons, Fuuka smiled and readied her two swords.

"—I'll chew you all up."

On that day, the headquarters of the Aarlen Sword Style suffered damage as if it had been hit by a storm.

Fortunately, there were no fatalities.

Everyone thought it was fortunate, and yet, those involved lamented it as the greatest misfortune imaginable.

◇

On a different planet.

There, a female swordswoman had bisected a Mobile Knight.

Sitting on the head of the Mobile Knight, she looked down at the head of the Kurdan Style Swordsmanship and his top disciples, who were looking up at her.

The head of the school had been stripped naked, and on his back were the words "The One-Flash Style was here."

The words had been burned onto his back by the female swordswoman, who was toying with a laser gun.

"Yep, that turned out well. It's not so bad to handle a gun once in a while. It was a nice change of pace."

The top disciples were terrified.

And for good reason.

The female swordswoman with the long-bladed polearm, 【Satsuki Riho】, had invaded the home planet of the Kurdan Style and defeated the head of the school by torturing him.

When he tried to kill her with a Mobile Knight, thinking he could cover it up on his home turf—she cut down the Mobile Knight as well.

Silky navy-blue hair.

Cherry-blossom pink eyes.

She was a woman who smiled innocently and referred to herself as "boku" (a typically male pronoun).

She appeared slender and delicate, but had a distinctly feminine physique.

She was young, having come of age but still like a child.

And against such an opponent, they were completely helpless.

Riho, dangling her legs, seemed to have lost interest in the unconscious head of the school.

"—Now then, what was that about the One-Flash Style?"

As the top disciples stood frozen, Riho cut off one of their arms.

"Gyaaaah!"

The top disciples cowered before Riho, who from a distance appeared to be just sitting there.

"I won't kill you. But it'll be worse than death—no, I'll have you die as swordsmen. It was wrong for a weak little sword style to get so cocky. You insulted us—no, me and my master's One-Flash Style, and I will never forgive that."

As the top disciples, casting aside all shame and honor, began to flee crying, Riho chased after them.

"Ahahaha! A game of chase? Hey, is that really all you've got? If it is, that's hilarious!"

She chased them, slashing their ankles and tripping them one after another.

Then, she turned to the other disciples of the Kurdan Style who were watching and said.

"Remember this. The strongest sword style in this world is the One-Flash Style. And the strongest of all is my master, the Sword God Yasushi. If some playtime sword style gets full of itself and insults him—"

"St-Stop! Aaaahhhhhh!!"

The screams of a top disciple being stomped on by Riho echoed, and the other disciples trembled.

Riho's smile vanished from her face.

"I've got a good souvenir to bring before I fight my senior disciple to the death. —Now, let's broadcast this to the entire Empire—no, to the entire universe so it reaches my master. Just wait a moment."

Taking a terminal from her pocket, Riho began filming the surroundings and talking to the camera by herself.

The terminal floated on its own, filming Riho.

Riho had become a video streamer.

"Long time no see~ It's everyone's idol swordswoman, Riho-chan. To-day I raided the headquarters of the Kurdan Style! Tee-hee!"

She struck a cute pose, but the scene around her was a sea of blood.

Everyone was barely alive, and that was it.

She was the self-proclaimed bloodiest idol swordswoman in the Empire.

"They were terrible people who made fun of my school, so I beat them to a pulp. —It was a little unsatisfying, but I'll think of it as a warm-up for when I cut down my senior disciple. I hear my senior disciple is strong, so I'm looking forward to it. To everyone who's cheering for me, please wait for my next report. —Next time, I'll show you all Liam's head."

Two powerful warriors of the One-Flash Style, raised by Yasushi—now, they were after Liam's life.

And on this day, Yasushi became the sworn enemy of the two great schools.

Klaus (|| ゜Д゜) "Eh?"
Yasushi (|| ゜Д゜) "Eh?"

Brian (´；ω；｀) "It's painful having so many characters that give me a stomachache."

Brian (´・ω・｀) "By the way, everyone, the disciples were female. —This Brian is hoping that Lord Liam will make a move on them, no matter what."