Chapter 135: What Cannot Be Reproduced

　It was a very uncomfortable situation to see myself completely naked in front of me. I forced Mira to put some clothes on, which she didn’t want to do. Lionel had finished changing his clothes by then, so the two of us worked together.

　Apparently, for Mira, who is usually naked, the clothes were uncomfortable but it can’t be helped.

“I don’t like this.”

 “Don’t say that, Mira. Just for now, just for now!”

“Eh~?　I can’t help it anymore. ……”

　She seemed to accept it, though quite reluctantly. It might be necessary to get Mira used to wearing clothes on a regular basis. But with this feeling, even if I made her clothes, she might not want to wear them.

“What are you going to do with Mira-sama in your form, Julius-sama?”

“Oh, that. I wanted to see if I could talk to Mira. See, Mira only says ‘’Kyu’, right?　In her egg state, she could speak with a kind of telepathy. I just wondered if she could still talk.”

　I glanced at Mira. She noticed it and twisted her head.

“Telepathy? I don’t know.”

“ you don’t know?”*

　It seems that she has no memory of when she was in the egg state. Perhaps that was an ability that Mira’s mother had temporarily left behind for the sake of her child.

　Did she lose that ability when the egg was hatched safely?　Maybe Mira won’t be able to use her telepathy until she is a little older.

“Mira, is there anything you want?”

“I want you to play with me!”

“I see~”

　Yes, but, I’m not talking about what you want now, but what you think you want on a daily basis, but I think it’s a little too soon for Mira. But the answer to that question seems to be that there is no shortage of anything.

“What word you like me to say, Julius-sama?”

“Mira, just wait for a moment, I’ll play with you a lot later.”

“Kyu!”

　It seems that the reply is always the same. I can always play with Mira. But, however, checking Lionel’s movements is not always possible. This one had higher priority.

　I sat Mira down in an appropriate chair and faced Lionel. Lionel, who was very perceptive, was already ready for me.

“Julius-sama, please.”

“Thank you. Well then, let’s start off with a light bout.”

“Ha!”

　Lionel gave a good answer. I feel a bit weird since it was coming from me. But I had to switch it up. We both took a distance from each other with our wooden swords at the ready.

　The first thing we did was to check our movements. I moved slower than the last time I fought Lionel so that Lionel could check me carefully.

　The sound of wooden swords clanking against each other. Mira watches the scene with a twinkle in her eye. That’s the one. Definitely a “I’d like to do that too” look. Well, okay.

　We continued to exchange blows, flying backwards and sideways, and repeatedly trying to catch each other with the wooden sword.

　Little by little, our movements became faster and faster. Lionel, too, had grown accustomed to the movements, and his stiffness from the beginning was gone, replaced by a supple whip-like movement.

“Julius-sama’s body is wonderful. You are well trained.”

“am I?”

　The only thing I do is radio exercises in my room, but I wonder if those are working?　terrific radio calisthenics! While I was thinking that, Lionel’s attack became sharper. Wow, he seems to be getting serious. Not to be outdone, I started to get serious too.

　We had been at it for about 30 minutes, and then Lionel made me wait. We were both drenched in sweat.

“I’m here, Julius-sama. It’s my loss.”

“What’s wrong, all of a sudden?”

“I’m at my limit.”

　Hmmm, is it that I’m physically stronger than you?　If you look like me, I’m sure we have the same physical strength.

“I wonder if it’s possible to reproduce it perfectly with magic potions?”

“I don’t think it’s possible to reproduce latent powers. For example, magic. Julius-sama can use it, but I can’t seem to use it when I’m in your form.”

“Is that so!?　I didn’t know that.”

　Apparently, the physical body is recreated, but other potential abilities are treated differently. So Lionel can’t use magic, and he can’t use the skills I have.

　I had been using strengthening magic to control my body movements, but Lionel was fighting with only his own skills and techniques. If that is the case, it may be natural for Lionel to stop moving first.

　If you think about it calmly, that’s true. It’s Lionel inside, right? It is only natural that Lionel’s contents should be reproduced.

“This would be better if I became the decoy…”

“No, Julius-sama.”

　Lionel flatly denied it. I can no longer laugh at Lionel’s concern, can I? If anything should happen to me, Lionel’s head will roll. That’s not good.

“I’m next!”

“Oh, right, Mira. Lionel, give Mira the wooden sword.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, of course. It looks like she’s been after it for a long time.”

“Kyu!”

　Boku (male from of I), huh? It seems that Mira was a boy. Thank goodness. You’re not a Bokkuko (girl that uses boys’ pronouns), are you?　She’s not a boy’s girl, is she?　Hmmm, I don’t know.

　Mira received a wooden sword and was swinging it around by imitating what she saw. I’m glad she’s having fun.

　I know Mira will never wield a sword, but since I’m going to the trouble, I’ll teach her. It was uncomfortable fighting myself, but it also felt uncomfortable teaching myself. She never improved, but she seemed to be enjoying herself, so I guess it was all for the best.

　Mira was still in my form, even though it must have been less than the amount of magic potion Lionel had taken. As I expected, the effect time seemed to change depending on the size of the original body. It was a good thing I didn’t make her drink a lot.

　While I was giving Mira a mock swordsmanship lesson, someone seemed to have arrived at the indoor training hall. I thought I heard a sound at the entrance, and the door was opened with a bang.

　Anyone is free to use the training area. There is no need to ask for permission, and therefore no need to knock.

“Ah.”

　We screamed together.

TL note:

• Bokukko is, literally, a girl who uses the first-person Japanese Pronoun boku, primarily used by boys and young men.

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