episode_0034

Hwoong!

Thud!

Swish!

Thud!

After a simple meal as a distraction, Rachel, who arrived at the training ground with Elden, was engaging in a real combat practice.

It was not much different from the first training.

Based on the fact that she had learned through physical practice rather than theory and explanation, the training continued to focus on practical combat.

The only difference was.

“…Last time’s attacks are not working at all.”

Elden was blocking all attacks with the same pattern, and skillfully dodging occasional unconventional attacks with a serious look in his eyes, as if anticipating a counterattack.

Even the punches that used to be blindly thrown were now waiting for the right moment, and his shoulders, which used to be filled with brute force, had become more flexible.

The straightforward steps that used to only move forward were now using various tactics.

It was strange.

I had never seen him practice or train separately after the first combat.

There was no time for that, as he was busy with reading.

I had seen him fight with thugs on a daily basis.

And I had thought.

“He’s not improving much.”

Just as a skill naturally develops when grilling meat, it is natural for one’s fighting skills to improve as they engage in combat.

Just as a baby starts walking and then running, it is natural to improve with practice.

However, Elden Raphellion defied this natural order.

He had only engaged in mindless brawls without much improvement.

Of course, it was not that he had not improved at all.

It was just that his progress was too slow compared to the frequency of his fights.

That’s why the current situation was unbelievable.

Moreover, there was nothing special that had been taught to him.

The first training was just a single combat and competition to gauge his level.

It was a combat to educate a disrespectful disciple who read books like a play and insulted his master, rather than a foundation for education.

But did he learn something from that short combat?

“What is it?”

What could it be?

With his current skills, he could probably participate in an amateur fighting competition and aim for victory.

The change in his skills and gaze was quite different from what I had seen before.

What had happened in the past few days to cause such a drastic change?

Had he taken some kind of potion?

Although his level of improvement was still at the beginner stage compared to himself, the rapid progress from walking to running was astonishing.

Perhaps.

“…Is it a difference in willpower?”

It could be.

He, who had fought just for the sake of fighting, had embraced the will to learn, and his innate sense and talent had combined with it to show a remarkable improvement.

Of course, it was too early to jump to conclusions.

Whether it was just a relative speed due to a low limit, or an absolute rise without limits, needed to be observed further.

Anyway.

“…It’s interesting.”

While others only needed to roll dozens of times to understand, he had to roll hundreds of times.

The honor of a purple belt.

It had taken him ten years to achieve that.

Even after enduring hundreds or thousands of times more than others, he could not become the kingdom’s top expert.

He did not think it was because he was a “woman.”

Physical weakness could be covered up with magic.

It was just that his innate abilities were lacking.

With only “determination” as his innate talent, he could not rise above the purple belt and had to be satisfied with that.

He realized how foolish it was to try to cover up the absence of talent with effort.

Perhaps that’s why.

“…If I do well.”

Interest sparked within him.

Elden, who had fought mindlessly without knowing his innate talent.

And himself, who had jumped into the battlefield without any innate talent.

The thought of what could happen if he did well intrigued him.

Somewhat similar yet different, the combination of two individuals with abilities that excel in practicality rather than theory seemed to be able to produce something worthwhile.

‘Perhaps…’

If it were Elden, he might be able to convey the thrill of breaking through his own limits, a vague expectation arose.

Of course, whether his growth phase would be a passing thunderbolt in the dry sky or a steady summer rain, that remained to be seen.

Whoom!

“R-Rachel?”

Thud!

Slish!

Rachel, involuntarily tensing up.

Her lightly swinging fist became heavy, and its speed increased inversely.

Her black pupils, locked in deep contemplation, lost focus.

As the increasing destructiveness became more ruthless, Elden hesitantly called out, but Rachel’s ears were closed.

“Um?”

Slish!

Pwack!

“M-Master?”

Shh!

Bang!

“Ugh!”

In the end, the force that couldn’t be resisted pierced through Elden’s defense, and he was sent flying, crashing to the ground.

Thud!

Until then.

Rachel’s pupils couldn’t find focus.

**

It hurts.

And it’s not just a little.

It started off light, that much is certain.

It was a dimension of reminiscing about the first sparring session.

However, at some point, Rachel’s fist became heavy, and in the end, she delivered a full-force ‘sincere punch’.

As a result, her guard was shattered, and a huge impact was felt in the center of the chest.

When he came to his senses, he found himself sprawled on the ground.

Today’s sparring session took place outdoors, so the clear sky was visible.

It was a flawless, clear and blue sky.

‘But still, I did fairly well.’

More important than the pain akin to being gored by a rhinoceros was the fact that it lasted three minutes longer than the first sparring session that didn’t even last a minute.

That must be it.

The reason why a smile appeared despite the excruciating pain all over his body.

Even though his body was drenched in sweat, the refreshing feeling as if he could soar through the sky was there.

During the first sparring session, he was struggling.

He was too focused on defense to have any other thoughts, but perhaps because he had faced the opponent once before, he now had some room to spare and even glimpsed a chance for a counterattack.

A feeling of rapid progress in a short amount of time.

Of course, he had tried not to forget what he had learned from the first sparring session, but the feeling of output far exceeding input couldn’t be erased.

He raised his upper body.

Rachel looked half out of it.

“Master. Isn’t it a bit much to go all out against a beginner disciple?”

Seeing the newbie who had received a harsh lesson, the seasoned veteran, now fully awake, looked at the newbie who had just sat on the ground.

“Ah… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“Did you think you were a god or something?”

“No.”

He raised one arm.

With a throbbing chest and wobbly legs, getting up was difficult.

“If you’re sorry, then help me up, will you?”

“….”

Even though she had come to her senses, Rachel, who seemed to have loosened a screw somewhere, remained silent.

Just as she was about to get up on her own, she approached.

“Oh, yes.”

A slow two-beat response.

I wondered what she was thinking to act like that, and as Rachel reached out and firmly grasped my hand, she smiled brightly.

“It’s payback, Master.”

During the first sparring session, the Master had said that.

Complacency is forbidden.

You never know when or where a surprise attack might come from, so you must always be prepared.

It was simply to show that she hadn’t forgotten the valuable lesson.

Unbeknownst to her, perhaps the greatest joy for a Master is seeing their taught disciple properly utilize that teaching.

Of course.

She never thought she would fall for her disciple’s obvious surprise tackle.

After all, Rachel’s reflexes were superhuman.

Just wanting to vent a little frustration towards the veteran who gave it his all in PVP against a newbie, I stood up from my seat and immediately put my leg out to trip Rachel.

However.

“…Huh?”

Contrary to my expectation that it would end in a stumble, the trip was successful.

Rachel didn’t react.

The tackle that had already started gained momentum and couldn’t be stopped, so I hurriedly tried to release Rachel’s hand.

Because if it continued like this, something unsightly might happen.

But Rachel didn’t release her grip.

Our eyes met.

…It was a slow, two-beat gaze, finally realizing the situation.

Immediately after, our hands were released, but the situation was already heading towards a conclusion.

“Uh-oh.”

And just like that.

Thud.

Rachel and I ended up falling.

……

Rachel’s body sprawled on top of mine.

Her forehead furrowed as she assessed the situation.

The distance was so close that I could hear her breathing.

It was a tender, or rather, awkward moment as teacher and student looked at each other.

**

“Please step back.”

“If the bodyguards are too far away, how can they protect you?”

“It’s possible from a distance.”

“I’ve told you several times, but I really didn’t expect you to fall for it.”

“Understood.”

“And it was you who didn’t let go. I clearly tried to let go and avoid it, didn’t I?”

“Yes. I understand.”

……Throughout the return journey, I had been grappling with Rachel.

I had talked countless times, but there was no intention.

Of course, I thought I could avoid it.

And when I tripped, I tried to roll to the side by releasing my hand.

I just couldn’t do it because my hand didn’t let go.

It’s unfair.

It seems like there are only excuses from the first match.

“I just followed what I learned from my teacher.”

“I never taught you to make mistakes to achieve desires.”

“There’s no desire?”

“Yes. I understand.”

……

After circling around the same spot in conversation, I eventually gave up.

Who could win against the stubbornness of teacher Rachel.

With Rachel, who was careful to narrow the distance between us even by 1CM, we arrived at the annex.

The evening sun had already set.

It was a tiring day for no reason.

Now, if I could just wash up, have dinner, read the novel recommended by Arielle, and fall asleep, it would be a perfect day.

Unfortunately.

Rendler Inspiration came running out with a look as if he had been eagerly waiting.

“Go, Gongja-nim…! You weren’t at the training ground, where were you?”

“Oh, today there was no training for the guards, so I was at the outdoor training ground. Why, was someone waiting for me again?”

Judging by Rendler’s expression, it seemed that this annex had not been uneventful during my absence.

So, with a joking tone mixed in, I asked.

“Th-the Grand Duchess waited for a long time and left this note…!”

“…What?”

My forehead furrowed involuntarily at Rendler’s response.

I took the note he handed me.

Fortunately, the note was not a declaration of war.

It was a roughly folded, new note.

As if representing the writer’s state of mind, it was roughly folded.

“What is this?”

“I was just given the order to deliver it…”

I unfolded the note.

[At the northwest end of the Grand Palace, to the Eternal Snow Garden]

Hmm.

Is this… a challenge?