episode_0085

To elevate Hedy to 3 stars, I began teaching her swordsmanship.

I regained the everyday routine with her as before.

At the point where the second semester lectures were all finished and only the end of term was in sight, meeting her became more frequent.

In the morning, we would meet for a duel.

Having lunch together with Lucy and Aria.

“Hey, from now on, don’t tell them to eat separately?”

“…Separately?”

Sometimes, Hedy would show signs of reluctance towards Aria and Lucy, pouting.

“Is it because it’s awkward with the kids?”

“That’s part of it…”

“….”

She had a lot to say but seemed to hold back, turning her head.

I roughly understood her intentions.

‘-xxx.’

A chuckle escaped me.

That one phrase she confided in me when we met separately last time.

Seeing her, who always seemed guarded and wary around me, now appeared cute, as if she had found me difficult all this time.

Is this what they call a soft spot?

Cute. Honestly, it felt like the forgotten younger sibling coming to mind, making her seem cute.

“Got it. From now on, I’ll ask to meet separately. Is that okay?”

“Well, if you do that, I’d appreciate it…”

After lunch, we headed to our usual spot.

The place we always went to whenever time and bodies allowed.

It was behind the academy.

“But Sienna, why specifically the mountaintop behind? Can’t we train at the training grounds?”

“Argh, it feels like the environmental officials are increasing their workload.”

“Environmental officials…? What’s that?”

“It’s there, that sort of thing.”

Arrived.

“You’re not panting much today?”

“After climbing the mountain for three weeks, if your stamina doesn’t improve, that’s strange.”

“Impressive.”

“…Draw your sword quickly.”

Hedy hesitated as she drew her sword from its scabbard.

Her actions made me chuckle involuntarily.

“Why do you keep laughing?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. People can laugh sometimes.”

“It seems like you’re laughing at me.”

“It’s just my mood.”

“I feel bad for some reason. If you don’t draw your sword quickly, I’ll go first.”

“Go ahead then.”

My provocation made Hedy flinch.

Soon, she aimed her sword at me.

“I’ll make you regret this.”

-Whack!

Hedy dashed towards me at a swift speed.

An incredible speed. It was surprisingly agile, almost unbelievable for a 2-star novice.

As she rushed towards me, she swung her sword right up to my face.

-Clang!

“….!”

“Your speed is fast, but you’re too impatient. That will make you predictable.”

I immediately drew my sword from its scabbard and blocked her strike.

Pushing away her sword that faltered due to the force, I made her step back.

“…How annoying.”

She seemed upset.

But what could I do? The gap between her and me is like night and day, even though it used to be a different story.

It might have been a mistake in underestimating her agility.

Red streaks of blood trickled down my cheek.

I was taken aback.

“I knew she had good agility, but to this extent… Did I underestimate her?”

It seems like I need to reassess.

Winning while going easy won’t work.

No, normally I could win while going easy.

…From her as she stepped back, an immense amount of mana surged.

“Have you finally decided to take this seriously?”

“It seems like you trained a lot on your own after the duel ended.”

“Always being defensive makes you tense. Why? Scared?”

Honestly, I was scared earlier.

She steps forward again.

Her mixed swordsmanship combining the quick strikes of the dagger techniques learned at the academy with various other elements.

More proficient than before.

“At this rate, in a week… no, in three days, she might be able to break into 3 stars.”

With a smile on my face, I readied myself as she ran towards me once again.

***

One week ahead.

Iris had only a few days left before guiding the field training to subdue the Great Wyvern with the Empire’s special forces.

Sitting in the professor’s office, she calmly sipped her tea and flipped through documents.

“The location for the mission is… the wyvern nest located on the Romanth Coast continent, which forms the border between the Liana Empire.”

A journey of over two weeks by carriage.

Iris wondered if Hedy could endure such a long trip.

“Even though Gongja is just fifteen years old, a 5-star martial artist whose physical abilities are incomparable to other students, can she withstand it…”

Although the chances were slim, even if Hedy Marigold became a 3-star martial artist within a month, could she handle the field training?

In fact, there had been friction with superiors to secure Si’an’s field training.

She had accepted it under the premise that she would take full responsibility if the mission went wrong.

“Of course, as long as Gongja’s skills are helpful, it should be fine. The mission shouldn’t go wrong.”

Iris let out a quiet sigh.

Even if she returned as a 3-star martial artist, she would have to refuse.

It was forced from the start. She had been momentarily swayed by Si’an’s words three weeks ago, but now she really needed to set her mind straight.

That was what she was thinking at that moment.

-Tok tok tok.

“Hmm?”

A stitch flew towards the professor’s office window.

It was a stitch from the Empire’s special forces regarding this mission sent to Iris.

Opening the window, Iris received the stitch and slowly read it… Not long after, her pupils dilated significantly.

“This is…”

Subsequently, Iris whispered quietly.

“I’m sorry, Gongja, but it seems like this time it won’t work out.”

***

She had forgotten about it until it came back to her.

Already, time had passed, and the promised month with Iris had elapsed.

…Why had she forgotten about something so important?

Because an even more shocking and crucial situation had unfolded right before her eyes.

“This is… insane…”

“Gasp, gasp… This is too much…”

“I know. Take a break.”

Hedy leaned against her sword, panting heavily.

Her shirt was soaked through with sweat.

Naturally, she had just exchanged blows with me for over ten minutes. It was enough to make her exhausted.

If anyone thought that getting fatigued after a mere ten-minute sparring session was nothing, they were truly a low-level martial artist among low-levels.

Facing off against someone with vastly superior skills for just ten minutes… that held a different significance.

Constantly strategizing and thinking about psychological warfare to prevent the match from ending abruptly.

There was a difference in power against opponents with higher skills.

Enduring strikes beyond her limits psychologically and neurologically, enduring more than her body could handle for ten minutes, that was the meaning behind it.

I handed Hedy a water skin as she gasped for breath.

“Th-thank you…”

“If you drink too much, you might experience symptoms of dehydration, so sip it slowly.”

“Okay…”

Gulp gulp.

She drank from the water skin.

Even though I had mentioned the possibility of dehydration just now… well, it didn’t matter.

Her current physique could easily fend off dehydration.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect it to go this far… Is this the talent of a Swordmaster after all?”

Hedy handed me the emptied water skin.

“You carry it. You drank from it.”

“…Too lazy.”

Since she had diligently followed the training and continued to take the bitter medicine without complaint, I decided to tolerate her little tantrum.

I took the empty water skin she handed me and tucked it into my waistband.

Then, she threw another fit.

“Support me.”

“Can’t walk?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

“…I don’t know, just support me.”

“….”

Supporting her, I turned my head in the opposite direction while still propping her up.

Inside the white shirt, something seemed like it would be visible.

“…Why turn your head.”

“Just… nothing….”

Clang.

“……!”

She pressed herself against me. Something touched my shoulder.

“Why, what’s the problem?”

“…No.”

It was quite a blatant flirtation.

…I roughly knew why she was acting this way.

I decided to play dumb for now.

It wasn’t the right time yet.

‘-xxx.’

I could respond to her later.

After going into the dormitory, taking a quick shower, we headed straight to the professor’s office.

Before knocking, Hedy and I locked eyes for a moment.

“……”

“……”

Was she giving me a signal?

She seemed quite tense.

Since Iris was a professor, it was natural… It was understandable that she was different from me, who was in a student-teacher relationship.

I lightly knocked on the door.

-Knock, knock.

“Iris, we’re coming in.”

“Come in.”

As we opened the door and entered, Iris, sitting with her back straight, was looking through some documents while tapping her foot on the ground.

Today, Iris looked a bit different.

Wearing glasses with only one lens, she was diligently signing something.

I had always seen her fighting or holding a sword, so seeing her engrossed in something at her desk was a first.

“I’ve come as promised after a month.”

“Oh, that’s why you’re here…. Hm.”

Iris turned her chair around and stood up.

“Sigh.”

“……?”

As Iris faced us and let out a sigh, her expression seemed full of worry.

She suddenly apologized.

“Sorry.”

Upon Iris’s unexpected apology, both Hedy and I exchanged puzzled looks.

Following her apology, Iris continued.

“Hedy Marigold won’t be able to join us on this mission.”

“…What?”

“Yes?”

It was like a bolt from the blue.