Chapter 38: And You Still Say You Haven’t Read My Light Novel

Chapter 38: And You Still Say You Haven’t Read My Light Novel

“What kind of novel are you writing?”

In Kujou Sara’s mind, the Fatui had always been a force that valued strength above all else.

So why on earth would this guy… write novels?

Maybe it was because of that day? That after visiting the Yae Publishing House, he saw A Legend of Sword and somehow got this bizarre idea?

Ridiculous. Light novels aren’t something you can just—

Sara hadn’t really cared about what Bai Luo wrote. But when she casually picked up the manuscript lying on the side table, her hands froze.

‘My Electro Archon Can't Be This Cute?!’

Did Kujou Sara know this book?

Of course she did.

It had been taking Inazuma by storm lately—so popular that even the Resistance had hand-copied editions floating around.

Not just light novel enthusiasts—ordinary citizens, roped in by friends or relatives, had been buying it in droves.

At first, Sara had read it with a critical eye.

She worried it might undermine the dignity of the Shogun in the eyes of the public.

But… the more she read, the more absorbed she became, completely forgetting her original purpose.

Especially when she discovered a certain character named Kujou Ayase, a tengu general. She immediately projected herself into the role.

Granted, she was more than a little annoyed that the author seemed to be hinting at pairing her—er, Ayase—with Yae Sakurako.

But all those sweet, heart-melting moments between Ayase and the Raiden Shogun… It had taken every ounce of self-control for her to not end up in “wet” status.

Unfortunately, no matter how subtly she tried to probe for the author’s identity, the Yae Publishing House staff wouldn’t breathe a word.

They even claimed it was under Lady Yae’s orders, which promptly killed her idea of using her official position to pressure them.

She’d already given up hope of ever finding the author.

And now—what’s this? She hadn’t caught Bai Luo as the mysterious duelist, but instead… she’d stumbled onto the author of that light novel.

“You… read my novel too?” Bai Luo asked, blinking in surprise.

He hadn’t been out much these past few days—whenever he did, it was straight to the Tenshukaku—so even though his subordinates had told him his book was a hit, he hadn’t grasped just how popular it had gotten.

“No. As the current general of the Tenryou Commission, why would I read something like that?”

Sara straightened her posture, speaking with righteous dignity.

Only… the way she clutched the manuscript so tightly told a very different story.

‘So, there is a Volume Two.’

She wanted to read it.

She really, really wanted to read it.

She super wanted to read it.

“Uh… could you maybe put the manuscript down?”

Bai Luo was honestly worried she might get overexcited and accidentally tear apart the pages he’d slaved over.

Sara instinctively began to set it down—then caught herself mid-motion.

Clearing her throat, she spoke with perfect seriousness.

“Regarding this book… I’ve heard a little about it. But to make sure you’re not writing anything inappropriate, as a general of the Tenryou Commission, it’s my duty to inspect it.”

She said “inspect,” but her impatient, hungry expression wasn’t fooling anyone.

It was the literary equivalent of covering your ears while insisting you couldn’t hear.

“But… don’t you have other things to do?”

After the commotion at the Duel Before the Throne, there was no way Sara had leisure time to sit around reading novels.

If anything, she’d probably forgotten she even had urgent work waiting.

Sure enough, her expression shifted immediately.

“…I do have a mission to attend to. I’ll read it next time.”

Reluctantly—painfully—she put the manuscript back, rose to her feet, and left the room.

But barely a few steps past the door, she turned right back.

“Whatever you do, don’t you dare pair Ayase with Sakurako!”

“….”

Oh, you lying tengu. And you still say you haven’t read my light novel?

Once Bai Luo was sure she’d actually left for real, he finally summoned his subordinates.

Though he’d witnessed everything at the training grounds with his own eyes, as far as anyone else knew, he had been holed up at home writing novels the whole time.

Still, to avoid arousing suspicion, it was worth sending his men out to “gather information.”

Kujou Sara—already halfway to the Tenryou Commission’s gates—caught sight of a Fatui agent hurrying away from Bai Luo’s little courtyard.

Her brow furrowed for a moment… then eased.

The Fatui having a foothold in Inazuma was never a good thing. But Bai Luo dispatching someone to investigate the situation? That all but confirmed he had no ties to the mysterious duelist.

It seemed she’d been overthinking things.

Once everyone had left, Bai Luo finally had a quiet moment to check the new skills he’d gained.

During his bout with the Raiden Shogun, he’d already used several of them—

Like the Kuzuryūsen (Nine-Head Dragon Flash).

[Elemental Burst: [Kuzuryūsen (Nine-Head Dragon Flash)]

[Strike the target with Kuzuryūsen (Nine-Head Dragon Flash), suppressing them for 1 second. All damage dealt during that time is converted to true damage. If Battousai is in a heavily injured state, the skill automatically upgrades to Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki (Flash of the Heavenly Soaring Dragon), dealing massive true damage.]

That one second of suppression was one of the reasons the Shogun hadn’t been able to move at all.

And the true damage was even scarier—no matter how thick your armor, no matter how clever your defenses, against this strike, they meant nothing.

This was damage that bypassed everything, landing directly on flesh and bone.

The only way to survive it… was to have a body strong enough to endure the blow.

Otherwise… there was no escaping it.

After using Kuzuryūsen, the piercing, metallic shing of his blade returning to its sheath had been another skill in action—though it could only be used while his Reverse Blade Sword was still unsheathed.

[Active Skill: [Ryūmeisen (Dragon Cry Flash)]

[Sheath the blade at blinding speed, producing ultrasonic vibrations that deafen nearby enemies for a brief moment. During this period, enemies are also silenced, unable to channel any elemental power.]

The effect was fleeting, but for fighters heavily reliant on their Vision and elemental abilities, it was utterly lethal.

Then there was the burst of speed right after sheathing—the third skill he’d tested.

[Active Skill: [Sōryūsen (Twin Dragon Flash)]

[Increase movement speed by 275% and gain control immunity for 1 second. Within 3 seconds, your next draw will strike twice in rapid succession.]

Those “two consecutive strikes” weren’t just two sword swings. The second was a follow-up blow with the scabbard along the same trajectory as the first slash.

Even if the sword missed, the sheathe strike would be waiting to catch the opponent off guard.

If you weren’t used to his style, this was practically impossible to dodge, after all, how many people seriously considered the scabbard a weapon?

That was why Ayato had come within a hair’s breadth of being cut down in a single stroke—not only had he been completely unprepared, but he’d underestimated the power of that “casual” draw.

Who would’ve guessed that such a seemingly ordinary motion could rival the Elemental Skills of Vision holders?

If Bai Luo hadn’t promptly sheathed his sword, there might be another Commission—alongside the Shogunate and the Kanjou—clamoring to issue a nationwide bounty on him and Kaedehara Kazuha.

All in all, he was thoroughly satisfied with this new class.

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