The Art Of Sword

After the tournament everyone returned to the hotel, the winner's group and the loser's group went on separate buses.

As usual, Grimm has already sat on the bus waiting for Sunz to continue his story. And just like last time, Sunz is also the last to get on the bus. Right after entering the bus, he sits right next to Grimm and they begin to talk.

Sunz: Mr.Grimm congratulated on winning the match. Seeing how you perform I guarantee that you’re going to the final.

Grimm: Thanks for the compliment, kid. I want to say the same for you but each of your matches always ended with such a close result.

“And I also want to remind you that, if this tournament is important to you then don’t give yourself too much disadvantage.”

Sunz: I’ll try. So, will you be telling me more about your past?

Grimm: Hmm, not yet. There are some parts that are too inappropriate and traumatic for your age. So I’m looking for some words that can describe the situation without going into too much detail.

Another voice “Then can I have a talk with my next opponent if you don’t mind, Mister.”

Grimm and Sunz then look to the seats opposite to them and see that the voice belongs to the ‘No-Name’ girl.

Grimm gets out of his seat, pats Sunz on the shoulder, and tells him “Good luck” before moving to the front of the bus.

Sunz takes a deep breath and thinks (What does she want with me?)

The No-Name girl has long black hair with navy blue eyes, which match the navy blue dress she is wearing. But her dress was like nothing Sunz had seen before. It has sleeves, a collar, and a back and front flap. The dress looks like it fits tightly around her upper torso.

Even though it looks like the dress covers her entire body, there is a gap between the two flaps starting from her hip to her feet which reveal her whole leg. But she has already covered them with sports trousers.

No-Name: I know that we have never met before but you have this aura that keeps ticking me off.

Sunz: Yeah, I know. Just say what you want then we can go our separate ways.

No-Name: I heard that you were planning to defeat me by crippling yourself? Or was it nonsense I heard?

Sunz: How did you know about this information? Have you been stalking us?

No-Name: How I got my information is not your concern, but be careful about what you say when I’m around. So tell me was it nonsense I heard or what?

Sunz: It is! Why do you care about it so much? Or are you thinking that I’m underestimating you?

No-Name laughs “Haha! You, underestimate me. That cute!” and swiftly draws her sword at Sunz’s neck. “I don’t like to have my win handed to me on a silver platter. But I’ll accept it knowing that it will leave a bitter taste in my mouth!

Sogae hears the ruckus, stands up, and screams at them: No Fighting On The Bus!!!

No-Name removed her sword from Sunz’s neck and said: I’m sorry Miss. I may have gone overboard with the beefing. I promise it won’t happen again.

Sogae sits down and doesn’t say anything else.

Sunz checked his neck and said: You girls are totally crazy!

No-Name: When you live this life long enough the sane one sometimes is the craziest one or not. But… you saw it didn’t you, My Attack! Right when I touched my hilt I saw your hand reacted the same.

“But it looks like you were lagging behind, was it because there were too many options for you to process? You know that you can’t improve when someone still has to hold your hand.”

Sunz: You’re right, have to say I've never seen anyone like you before. You have more attack patterns while sitting down than someone going in berserk mode. And all I need to do to catch up is get up to your speed level.

“Didn’t you just say the sane ones sometimes are the craziest ones?”

No-Name: That is only related to behavior. Don’t use my own words against me when you don’t fully understand it.

“ I don’t want to repeat what others said about your plan, but being able to predict the opponent's attack and choose the perfect counter is very useful. Sadly, you are the only person who possesses that ability.”

Sunz: You sound jealous, If you have my ability winning this tournament would be a breeze wouldn’t it?

No-Name: Why should I be jealous when I had already mastered that ability of yours!

Sunz: Huh? Are you bluffing?

No-Name: Why should I ! ‘Fire manipulation’ is an ability that only belongs to those who are born with it. Your ability is more like a skill that can be learned but just because something can be learned doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an entry level.

The bus comes to a stop and Sogae announces to everyone

“We have arrived back at the hotel. Make sure that you don’t leave your weapon back on the bus. Please don’t cause any trouble or I will take care of you myself. That’s all and enjoy your stay.”

Sunz (This trip is faster than normal.)

No-Name gets off the bus first and Sunz follows right behind.

Under the night sky No-Name turn around and tell Sunz one last thing.

“ I know that what I said about you on the bus feels like I looked down on you because it is. But I still have to compliment you on your skill to mix ‘Elements’ together. Not everyone has that skill… I mean you’re probably the only person to have that skill. So don’t waste your potential.”

Sunz feels like he should say something like a “Thank you” but No-Name put her index finger to her lip signal him to stay quiet. Then she turns away and leaves.

Not being able to say something simple like a “Thank you”. Sunz's brain immediately redirects his thought to “I’m so unfaithful!” after analyzing what just happened.

Grimm pat Sunz on the shoulder and jokingly said: I never thought that you are the type to chase after other women when you already have one.

Sunz: Let’s not joke about this Mr.Grimm. She was just being polite and besides if Grace saw what just happened I don’t know how will she react.

Grimm: Let’s find out.

Sunz sighs: She has been watching the whole time, isn’t she?

After that sentence, Grace appears from behind Grimm and walks toward Sunz. Without giving him a chance to speak she grabbed his hand and said “You’re dead if you open your mouth” then dragged him away. Sunz and Grimm just wave goodbye at each other.

At that moment No-Name had already returned to her room and taken a shower. After changing into something more comfortable she takes a look at the letter that she left on the table and said to herself.

“It been two years since I last saw you. You leave without saying anything except this letter.”

She put the letter down and reached for the picture that was next to it. She stared at it for a moment before putting it back, next to the letter.

No-Name fills up the electric kettle in her room with water and lets it heat up. While waiting, she rummages through her bag and takes out a cup of instant noodles.

Right before No-Name is about to remove the packaging, she hears a knock on her door.

She just sighs and goes toward the door. She opens the door slightly and asks: What do you want?

The person who was knocking on her door was Sogae: I just checking to see if you’re going to have dinner downstair.

No-Name: I think I’m going to skip today. But thank you for reminding me!

Sogae: Are you eating noodles cup again?

No-Name: How do you know?

Sogae: No reason! But I do hope you will come downstair to have dinner. If you don’t want to socialize, at least come down to have a good meal.

No-Name: I’ll remember that. Thank you!

After that Sogae leaves and No-Name closes the door.

No-Name holding the cup of noodles from before and telling herself “She’s been checking on me every day. I might go down to show my gratitude.”

No-Name place the cup of noodles with the letter and picture before turning off the kettle. Then she headed down for dinner.

On the outside of the letter it was written ‘Deliver to Han Nam of the water clan in Korea.’

The picture she was staring at before was the picture of her first day in high school. In the picture, a male figure was standing next to her. The man has gray hair and some wrinkles on his face.