After checking over my well-used swords, the ‘Mana Eater’ and ‘Yin-Yang Sword – Yin’, both of which I’d trained with so much they could now be called my beloved swords, I made sure my boots fit perfectly.
I went through my dynamic stretches to warm up, and as I began my flexibility exercises, Aina came over to lend a hand.
「At last, it’s time to show what you’ve learned, my liege.」
「Yeah. I wonder if it’ll work, though…」
「Who knows? But you’ve trained hard enough. You even managed to land a strike on me. Now it’s just a matter of trusting yourself.」
That’s right. During our training, I had actually managed to hit Aina once.
Though, to be fair, she had taken the attack head-on, guarding with a solid, textbook defense, waiting for her opponent to falter, then striking back with power like a raging flame once she sensed an opening or fatigue. Her fighting style was all about a perfect balance of defense and overwhelming force.
I had only been able to land that strike because she accepted my attack directly, after I used the ‘Vector Accel’ technique to increase my speed and combined it with ‘Invisible Jail’ to restrict her movement.
In contrast, Sorte and Renge fought differently, they relied on speed and distance, dodging attacks and breaking their opponent’s stance through relentless combos. Their strength came from agility and precision rather than brute force.
If I couldn’t recover properly after a missed strike against them, they’d likely counter and finish the fight in an instant.
「Inhale… exhale…」
「Nervous?」
「Yeah… I just want to see the results of all this training. Compared to the time you all put in, my efforts probably look like nothing, though.」
Hard work doesn’t always guarantee results, but I still wanted to see something tangible come out of it.
And besides… Aina and the others had busy adventuring schedules, yet they still made time to help me train. I didn’t want to disappoint them.
「Fufu. That’s true, but… you’ve definitely gotten stronger, my liege.」
「Really? You’re just being nice, Aina.」
「Muu. That’s not true. I was very strict with you during training to make sure you didn’t get overconfident and slip up.」
「Eeh… but when your sword accidentally hit my waist and sent me flying, you rushed over right away, didn’t you?」
「Th-that was only because the blow landed harder than I expected, and I was worried you might be hurt…」
「Even though I told you I was fine after drinking a healing potion, you said, ‘That’s enough for today! Go soak in the hot spring and rest!’ You even looked all worried and kept stroking me in the bath with that sad look on your face.」
「Uu… I was just afraid a scar might be left on your body… Besides, you’d been working so hard every day. I thought you deserved a proper rest for once…」
Aina sat snugly at my side, gently stroking the spot on my ribs that had turned red from the bruise.
Getting touched there always makes me twitch, but she must have thought it was because of the pain, and started fussing over me even more.
It was honestly adorable, and, well, I didn’t exactly hate it.
「What are you two getting all lovey-dovey for?」
Just when I was thinking I’d like to enjoy the moment a bit longer, Sorte showed up, spear in hand, looking as sharp as ever.
「Hmm? What’s this? Jealous?」
「W-What!? I was just thinking you look awfully relaxed before our sparring match, that’s all!」
「Nah, I’m nervous. That’s why I was cuddling with Aina, to calm down, you know. Right, Aina?」
「…I see. So you were teasing me, then.」
Aina puffed her cheeks slightly, sulking a bit.
Still, she didn’t stop helping me with my stretches, that’s just the kind of gentle person she is.
「So, today’s the day you two finally show off the results of your secret training sessions, huh?」
「Yeah, that’s the plan.」
「Well, I went out of my way not to watch, so make sure it’s worth my patience.」
Oh, she actually held back from peeking?
That’s… kind of thoughtful, actually.
All the more reason not to disappoint her.
「Guess I’d better live up to your expectations, then.」
Alright, let’s see, my waist feels fine.
Better stretch out the legs and hips a bit more, just to be safe.
「Masstterrr!」
Before I knew it, Aina’s hands were off my back, and then, impact!
My back bent forward, past its ‘limit’!
「You’re doing stretches, right? I’ll helpssu!」
「Wait, hang on! My back’s done already! Don’t push, don’t push!」
Renge pressed down hard, forcing my body forward as I struggled to resist.
She always pushes ‘right’ to the breaking point, it’s torture! I could feel cold sweat running down my face.
「Oh, really? Then let’s move on to splitsssu!」
She shifted around to the front and started spreading my legs apart, way too eagerly.
「Easy there! Easy does it!」
「I knooowssuuu! Oryaa!」
That’s not a stretching cue!
「Why are you so pumped up!?」
「Well, duh! I finally get to see the results of your secret training, master! Of course I’m hypedssu!」
My legs were stiff as ever, and the moment my knees started to lift, Sorte calmly pressed them back down.
Ow ow ow ow, my legs are cramping!
「Haa… haa…」
「Master, you’re breathing heavyssu. You’re sweating buckets too. You sure you’re good for the sparring match?」
「Whose fault do you think that is…」
After catching my breath, I managed to finish the stretches somehow.
I gave my sword a few light swings, then faced Sorte.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and focused, settling into my stance.
「Both sides ready?」
「Yes」「Yeah」
Listening closely to Aina’s voice, I opened my eyes and waited for the signal to begin.
「Begin the mock battle!」
「Hah!」
The instant I heard her call, I lunged forward.
Against Sorte, closing the distance was everything.
A spear’s reach was far longer than my own, and once she created space between us, I’d have no chance to strike back.
But this time, Sorte didn’t move from her spot. She took a defensive stance instead.
So, she was planning to take me head-on, to test how much I’d improved.
「Haa!」
She easily deflected my downward strike with her spear, but I pushed on, forcing a flurry of attacks.
「Your strikes are sharper than before. But your rhythm’s too predictable.」
She matched my timing perfectly, parrying and knocking me back.
I grit my teeth, keeping my stance low so I wouldn’t lose balance, and forced myself to continue attacking.
「I’m not at the level where I can think that far ahead yet!」
「True. But you’ve definitely grown.」
Hearing that made me grin despite the pressure.
Still, not enough yet!
I launched into another chain of slashes, alternating between both swords, but Sorte remained composed, her expression barely changing.
Meanwhile, I was nearly out of breath, fighting the urge to lift my head for air.
「Your breathing’s uneven, your sword follows suit. Too soft.」
「Tch, damn it!」
Her spear flashed toward my ribs.
I barely managed to raise my sword in time to block, but couldn’t hold my ground and was forced back several paces.
「Hmm. You really should give up the dual wielding. It’s full of openings.」
「Ow… I’ve got my reasons, alright?」
She had me at range again, perfect time to try it.
I switched my grip on the Yin-Yang Sword, reversing it.
Then, as I stepped forward, I activated ‘Vector Accel’.
Energy gathered in my legs, and in an instant, I surged forward, closing the distance like a gust of wind.
「Tch!」
「Haa!」
Sorte’s eyes widened for a moment in surprise, but she quickly adjusted, her instincts as sharp as ever.
Still, I didn’t have the luxury to change my plan mid-attack.
As my first swing carried me past her, I twisted my stance, bringing ‘Mana Eater’ around in a sweeping arc aimed low at her legs.
She reacted instantly, springing upward to dodge, but that was exactly what I wanted.
Our backs now faced each other for a split second.
Predicting her evasion, I slammed my heel down to brake, muscles screaming as I forced my body to stop and pivot.
Then, driving all remaining strength into my arm, I thrust the reversed Yin-Yang Sword straight behind me.
My ankles, calves, thighs, waist, and arms all howled in protest, but this strike would decide it.
「Close, but not quite….!」
「Got you.」
With Sorte suspended in midair, evasion was no longer an option.
In that case, all I had to do was interfere with her defense.
I cast ‘Invisible Jail’ along the likely path of her spear, slowing her reaction.
Then, with my reversed grip on the Yin-Yang Sword, I thrust forward, faster than any swing could ever be.
「…Not bad. But still」
「What!?」
I aimed to strike her as she descended, but she didn’t fall.
Instead, her body drifted slightly back, the sword’s tip missing her by a breath.
Just as my sword fully extended, her motion stopped midair, and she landed lightly on the ground.
Crap, too slow!
Before I could pull back, Sorte inverted her spear in one swift motion.
「Yeah… you’ve gotten stronger, my lord. Now, grit your teeth, don’t want you biting your tongue.」
Her calm voice reached me just before the impact.
A heavy shock slammed into my stomach.
By the time I realized she’d struck me with the butt of her spear, I was already flying, rolling across the courtyard like a rag doll.
「Match over!」
Even before Aina’s voice rang out, I couldn’t move.
Flat on my back, I spread my arms wide and dropped my swords.
「Ghah… khh… haaah…」
Ugh… damn it.
That one stings, physically and mentally.
She must’ve used the ‘Invisible Jail’ itself as leverage to pivot midair, dropping lower than her expected landing point.
And since I’d switched to a reverse grip, my reach was just short.
To react like that on the fly, her adaptability was absurd.
Guess this is what they call the difference in real combat experience.
「You alright, my lord?」
「Cough… yeah… somehow.」
Sorte extended her hand, helping me up.
The damage to my body wasn’t too bad, but the blow to my pride… yeah, that hurt more.
Honestly, I’d thought that if I abandoned defense completely, I could at least land one hit.
「Using ‘Invisible Jail’ to restrict my movement instead of blocking was clever, though.」
「I tried not to use it early so you wouldn’t notice, but… sorry for letting you down.」
「Letting me down? Why would you say that?」
「Well… I didn’t manage to meet expectations. You know, all that secret training and still couldn’t land a solid blow.」
All that time and effort, and not a single clean strike to show for it… or so I thought.
「Expectations? You did land a hit, didn’t you? That’s plenty, my lord. You really have gotten stronger.」
「Huh?」
「Yaa! You did great, masterssu!」
「Indeed. Even if it was just the sword’s tip, a strike is a strike.」
「Here, see? I didn’t even notice during the fight, but my side’s still tingling.」
Sorte pointed at the spot I had aimed for, her stomach.
Wait, seriously? I actually hit her?
「Uooooohhh! No way! I did it!」
「Ah, but just a tiny bit, okay? Don’t get carried away.」
「R-right…」
Ah… here. This is where I hit her…
I rubbed the spot lightly. Her stomach was as flat and smooth as her chest.
No wounds, right? It was the Yin-Yang Sword, so it should’ve just numbed her a little.
Still… I’m really glad.
Before now, I hadn’t even grazed her, not once. Not even a near miss.
Even if she wasn’t going all out, there’s no way she’d have let me hit her on purpose.
So yeah… this really means something.
「…Hey, you’re rubbing my stomach too much.」
「I can’t help it. It just feels… precious.」
「You look like a husband doting on his wife after finding out she’s pregnant.」
Yeah… it does feel kind of like that.
Not that I’d know from experience, though.
‘Clatter’
「Hm?」
「Wh-wh-wh-what…? Y-you mean… y-you’re having a child!?」
Standing there frozen, the dropped tray at her feet, was Wendy.
She must have come to bring us drinks, but the ground got a taste of them first.
And she was definitely, absolutely misunderstanding the situation.
「What do you mean, ‘what’? Master’s just caressing Sorte’s belly with lovessu!」
「Renge, you idiot! Why do you always say the worst possible thing!?」
「Th-that’s…! Congratulations!」
Wendy fell to her knees, tears welling up in her eyes, but still managed to offer her blessing.
Ah… but no, there’s no baby.
「Thank you, Wendy. When the baby’s born, I’ll have you choose the name.」
「Don’t just ride on like that, Sorte!」
It took a lot of explaining to clear up Wendy’s misunderstanding, and by the time it was done, I was completely exhausted.
Then came my mock battle with Renge, where I got thoroughly beaten down.
I wasn’t sure if it was because I’d already seen her ‘Vector Accel’ once before… or if my focus was just completely shot.
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