Ch.8686. At the Training Ground (7)

My Mana efficiency had improved.

And not just by a tiny bit, but enough to deserve the modifier “substantial.”

I desperately wanted to check just how much my Mana efficiency had increased.

However, the situation wasn’t conducive to calmly gauging my improved Mana efficiency.

I was in the middle of a sparring match with Siabel. And it was an incredibly difficult one at that.

Not only were there large and intense movements.

Predicting the path of that playful sword was no easy task either.

If Siabel would allow it, I’d throw down my sword right now and rest.

There was absolutely no leisure to contemplate the Mana flowing within my body.

Swoosh!

After crossing our raised swords, the power struggle between Siabel and me eventually began to tilt in her favor.

“You seem to have copied my sword style. Am I right?”

A strong pressure emanated from her.

As power filled Siabel’s sword, it was only natural that I was pushed back due to the broken balance of power.

“Ugh… it’s just one of my meager skills.”

“Ha, to call what you just showed a ‘meager skill.’ All our trainees would weep tears of blood if they heard you say that.”

She pressed down on my sword, bringing her face closer to mine.

With a bit of exaggeration, the distance between her and me was about a hand’s span.

Siabel felt my unstable breath touching her cheek and said:

“Your breathing is rough. You’re tired.”

I calmed my wide-open eyes and looked at Siabel, who was stating the obvious.

“Since you’ve shown me something interesting… I think it wouldn’t be bad to take a break and continue later. What do you think?”

I nodded immediately at Siabel’s words.

Hearing her suggestion to rest and continue later, it seemed I’d have to do this ordeal once more…

But for now, I focused on regulating my breathing and enjoying the short rest.

Many people were talking about me. I half-listened and let their words pass.

They had probably already noticed I was unusual from the gossip about the man who had single-handedly caught an Arachne.

What’s already been shown. With so many eyes watching.

At this point, even if I wanted to hide it, I couldn’t anymore.

Yes, just as there are women who are affectionate and domestic, men can also wield swords skillfully.

Even if they don’t know about my Mana, the swordsmanship I’d already displayed while taking down two Demonkin in the royal palace had no further meaning to hide.

As I caught my breath and felt my gradually calming heartbeat, Sione approached quickly, her silver hair fluttering.

“Ray, are you alright?”

Her demeanor was completely different from before when she had smiled softly and said she would cheer me on from behind.

Her expression was as solemn as could be, but I could easily tell that the emotion she harbored was considerable concern.

Sione’s low voice was also filled with worry solely for me.

“That… my sister’s sword didn’t touch your breastplate, did it? I was worried about that…”

Kid, worrying about me too.

Perhaps feeling embarrassed, Sione’s voice grew quieter towards the end, and I quietly laughed.

“I’m fine. It just grazed over the breastplate.”

“…But it was such a fierce attack. Wouldn’t there be some impact left?”

“I’m fine. Really, it just grazed the surface.”

As if my words weren’t quite convincing enough.

Since Sione continued to show a suspicious gaze, I said with a small sigh:

“May I borrow your hand for a moment?”

“Hand?”

Sione tilted her head and extended her hand to me.

I took her hand and guided it to the long scratch mark on my breastplate.

Ooh…

Unlike the knights who were deeply discussing our recent sparring match.

Those watching Sione and me let out exclamations.

Poof.

Sione looked around restlessly, not knowing what to do.

Glare!

Sione, whose face was starting to flush, glared at them.

Under the sharp gaze of the County’s young lady, the attention directed at Sione and me gradually disappeared.

Without any intention, just examining the protective gear, yet they react like this.

What kind of emotion could they possibly feel for this flat-chested man’s chest that I have to witness such reactions?

I swallowed a hollow laugh and said:

“Isn’t the mark on the breastplate shallow?”

“…But.”

“The impact wasn’t that great either. I’m really fine, so I’d appreciate it if you could set aside your worries.”

“…I will do so.”

Sione nodded vigorously and quickly withdrew her hand.

Meanwhile.

Behind Sione, I saw Siabel.

“Hmm─”

Unlike the embarrassed Sione, she was calmly staring at Sione and me.

Siabel’s deep blue eyes shone. However, that light was just a brief moment, so I couldn’t tell what emotion had illuminated her blue eyes.

Siabel put a small smile on the corner of her lips.

Creating an infinitely gentle atmosphere, she walked quietly and calmly, taking in the sight of her younger sister.

Reaching our side and observing her sister’s profile, Siabel closed her eyes for a moment and brushed back her hair.

When she opened her eyes and faced none other than me, I could see it.

‘Hmm…?’

Just like the moment she saw me following her sword dance.

Siabel was smiling deeply as if nothing could be more interesting than this.

“Ray, it seems Sione cares for you a lot.”

At those words, Sione’s cheeks reddened even more.

Somehow, in response to Sione’s reaction, Siabel’s smile seemed to deepen.

“If you’ve rested enough, let’s resume our sparring.”

“…I’ll follow.”

It was just as Siabel was about to move with me to start sparring again.

“Um… sister.”

Sione grabbed Siabel’s hand as she was passing by her side.

“If possible… could you control your strength a bit…?”

Siabel gently stroked Sione’s head and replied:

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of treating someone you care about without consideration. Besides─”

As she spoke, Siabel’s gaze moved past Sione, who had her eyes tightly closed while receiving her sister’s caress, and towards me.

“I’ve also taken a liking to him, so I won’t treat him harshly.”

“…What?”

Sione questioned her sister’s words.

Siabel tousled her sister’s hair with a playful gesture.

“Well then, let’s go again. You’ve caught your breath enough, right?”

I nodded at Siabel’s words.

After that, we just crossed swords.

I wielded my sword just enough not to make Siabel’s smile disappear and be replaced by a cold face.

Considerable time passed.

I had to engage with Siabel until my muscles protested that any more intense movement would be too much.

Only when my body creaked and refused to obey my control did she declare the end of the sparring with a satisfied expression.

“Good job. You were truly impressive.”

“…Thank you for your guidance.”

After the brief greeting, the quest was completed.

In this exhausted state, even reading text was annoying, so I just skimmed through, picking out only the important words.

The rewards were exactly as mentioned in the quest, without a single difference.

Normally, I would feel some satisfaction looking at the rewards, but now I didn’t have the luxury.

‘I’m dying.’

They say a healthy mind dwells in a healthy body.

I don’t know about that, but one thing I could assert now:

A lazy mind dwells in a tired body.

Right now, all I wanted was to take off this stuffy protective gear and lie spread-eagle on the cool ground.

As I was putting away the training sword, visibly exhausted:

Siabel began to speak, having noticed Sione approaching me after the sparring ended.

“Before, you said you had enough skill to catch one wolf, but that was a complete lie. It seems like you could sweep away not just one wolf, but an entire pack by yourself.”

“…You flatter me.”

As I bowed my head in respect, Siabel touched her lips and continued:

“That’s why… I feel a bit regretful.”

Then she approached me, closing the distance.

I tried to step back slightly, feeling she was getting unnecessarily close.

But Siabel moved even faster, sticking close to me.

Almost as if embracing me, she began to whisper in my ear.

It seemed like a gesture conscious of the keen-eared knights.

“It’s good to clash with pure swordsmanship like this, but… the flower of the sword is the clash of Mana against Mana.”

Siabel placed her hand on my shoulder as she whispered.

“Ray, if possible, I’d like to cross swords with you once more.”

“……”

“Not with this pure swordsmanship, but in the way of knights.”

Startled by Siabel’s sudden approach, Sione hurriedly came over to me.

Siabel untied her tightly bound hair, letting her long hair fall, and said:

“Sione.”

While slowly arranging her silver hair, Siabel continued:

“From now on, occasionally, I’d like to borrow your attendant once in a while at dawn. Would that be alright?”

“What…?”

Unlike Siabel’s calm tone, Sione’s atmosphere instantly turned cold.

“…Could I hear that again?”

The voice coming from my master’s lips was as cold as a biting wind.