Reina and I stood at opposite ends of the platform.
“Before we begin, I want to ask something. This is swordsmanship training, correct?”
“Correct.”
“Then I’m not allowed to use anything other than swordsmanship?”
“Of course!”
“In that case, I won’t be fighting at full strength. Are you all right with that?”
“Ah.”
Reina’s expression froze.
“Right. You’re an Astraea.”
Only then remembering that I came from a magical family, she muttered, “There’s no point defeating a mage with swordsmanship……”
Her face gradually crumpled. I smiled and consoled her.
“It’s fine. We can have a real spar later.”
“True. Then it doesn’t matter.”
As if she had never been dejected, Reina smiled and swung her sword through the air.
Apparently satisfied, she planted its tip against the floor.
“Besides, this is training, not a spar. There’s no need for either of us to fight at full strength.”
“Then we don’t need to spar later?”
“……If you refuse later, I’ll torment you until you beg forgiveness.”
“So if I beg, you’ll stop?”
Reina shot me a razor-edged glare.
There was so much emotion in it that my body flinched involuntarily.
I should stop teasing her now.
Adjusting my grip on the sword, I changed the subject.
“This training room uses special magic to preserve the user’s body, so we don’t need rules like last time.”
“I already know that much.”
“Then I don’t need to tell you about the hidden options?”
“What? It has hidden options? What are they?”
“No. There aren’t any.”
“……Stop teasing me.”
“Yes, Master.”
I kept telling myself to stop, but her reactions were too entertaining.
Reina glared for a moment, then relaxed and began explaining.
“You might already know this, but Serenia-Style Swordsmanship is a defensive style modeled after flame.”
“As far as I know, Serenia-Style Swordsmanship contains only one defensive technique.”
Her statement was not technically false, but I had always wanted to point that out.
The style claimed to be defensive, yet every technique except one was an attack. Worse still, each was a devastating strike that abandoned defense entirely.
Caught off guard, Reina fell silent, then cleared her throat.
“……That’s true, but once you face it, you’ll understand what I mean by defensive. With that in mind, today I’ll teach you 【Combustion】, the core technique of Serenia-Style Swordsmanship and its sole defensive form.”
Reina lowered her sword and assumed a combat stance. I did the same.
Unlike my low posture, which prepared me to charge, Reina stood relatively upright.
“You give the starting signal this time. Your master will graciously yield the honor.”
“Then I won’t refuse. Begin!”
“What?!”
While Reina was still startled, I kicked off the ground.
【Serenia-Style Swordsmanship – Ignition】
With the skill assisting me, my body moved naturally.
Like flame racing along a fuse, I rushed toward Reina and swung my sword.
Her response was a fraction late, but her expression immediately became serious.
She inserted her blade into my sword path and twisted my attack aside.
CLANG—!
As swiftly as flame flaring to life, my sword and both hands were knocked over my head. My body was left completely exposed.
Reina could have ended the match instantly. Instead of striking with her sword, she kicked me.
THUD!
The heavy impact sent me rolling across the platform. Reina lowered her sword again and asked,
“Did you see how I stopped your attack?”
It had happened too quickly for me to grasp the principle with my eyes, but I already knew it intellectually.
“You read the sword path, interfere with it, and forcibly create an opening?”
Reina nodded.
“Correct. What I just showed you was 【Combustion】. Just as one kindles a flame and allows it to grow, you entangle the opponent’s sword, force open a gap, and create the opportunity to deliver a powerful blow.
“Deflecting an attack and finishing with a decisive strike—that is what makes Serenia-Style Swordsmanship both defensive and fierce.”
“That’s impressive.”
“Isn’t it?! It’s incredibly impressive!”
Reina nearly bounced with joy, as though I had praised her personally. Then she cleared her throat and regained her composure.
“But what I can show you now is only part of the Serenia style. Its true value lies elsewhere.”
Did Serenia-Style Swordsmanship possess lore like that?
The only possibility I could recall was its ultimate technique. It was powerful, but not extraordinary enough to be called the style’s true value.
“Besides, the style is founded upon Aura. Even the techniques I use now aren’t complete. That’s why I can’t perform the ultimate technique.”
“Do you know how to use it?”
“Of course. I am the last……”
Reina had been speaking cheerfully, but stopped abruptly.
Then she smiled again.
“I’m a direct descendant of House Serenia. Naturally, I understand it in theory.”
I saw her expression darken during that pause, but did not point it out.
Reina was the last surviving direct heir to both Serenia-Style Swordsmanship and House Serenia itself.
Of course she knew every technique.
I had failed to consider even that before asking such a foolish question.
To change the mood, I adjusted my grip and smiled.
“I think I understand how it works. Attack me first this time.”
Reina smiled back.
“You think one demonstration was enough?”
“I already stole one technique. Why should this one be different?”
“There’s no point boasting when you can’t even perform it properly.”
“Either way, if you don’t believe me, attack. I’ll show you.”
“Fine.”
This time, I stood ready while Reina lowered her stance.
“Begin!”
At the same instant she called the signal, Reina kicked off the ground and rushed me.
Forced to respond instantly, I recalled the technique she had shown me.
【Serenia-Style Swordsmanship – Combustion】
Layered images of Reina’s sword appeared before my eyes. I could see its path.
The blade was rising diagonally toward my neck.
At the instant it crossed that diagonal line, I inserted my own sword into its path.
I was not yet familiar enough with the technique to create an opening as Reina had. With the difference in our stats, even stopping her attack through strength alone was impossible.
So I drove the point of my sword into the platform and balanced the force against the ground.
GRRRIIND—!
It was far from perfect, but I successfully halted her attack.
Reina smiled with pride.
“You’re doing well.”
“Perhaps my master is exceptionally good.”
“Flattery won’t earn you anything!”
Reina withdrew her blade and swung again. I answered with 【Combustion】.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Her continuous attacks resembled sparks bursting from a raging fire. Though the execution differed slightly, they were similar to 【Ignition】, modified from a single decisive strike into a combination.
I had expected her to attack recklessly, but apparently she intended to train me properly.
Midway through the exchange, Reina called out,
“Serenia-Style Swordsmanship might be defensive, but it isn’t a style that only defends!”
That was a provocation.
If both combatants used the Serenia style to exchange offense and defense, victory would go to whoever wielded 【Combustion】 more skillfully.
Under the current conditions, Reina would obviously win.
But I did not mind.
I had intended to lose this match from the beginning.
To move freely in the future, I needed to hide my true ability. Above all, I could not give Reina any clue that might expose my identity.
I had already spilled the water during our first spar. I could not reinforce the impression that I was powerful.
So I accepted her provocation.
“Here I come!”
I imitated Reina and unleashed a combination derived from 【Ignition】.
Her attacks had been so polished that they resembled a separate technique. Mine were rough and disorganized, and I soon exposed an opening.
CLANG—!
As when I first experienced 【Combustion】, a sharp metallic note rang out and my arms were knocked above my head.
This time, Reina lowered her stance and drew her sword down as though she truly intended to cut me apart.
It was the posture of 【Ignition】.
That strike would defeat me, but there was still one thing I had not confirmed.
The hidden skill.
If my prediction was correct, it would activate now.
【■■■ activates.】
【Attack speed is doubled for the next strike.】
As I thought.
The system window confirmed my hypothesis.
Whenever I was in danger, the hidden skill granted the enhancement I needed most.
Its effect lasted for only one strike, yet doubling an attribute was incomparably stronger than ordinary buffs that increased it by roughly thirty percent.
Reina’s sword was already flying toward me, but I was certain I could attack her first.
If I countered now, however, I would convince her I was strong. I deliberately relaxed my strength.
Reina’s blade did not stop. It swept horizontally through my body.
SLASH—!
The sensation of cold steel passing through me forced a scream from my throat as I rolled across the platform.
“Aaaaaagh!”
My body was unharmed, but the feeling was so horrific that I never wanted to experience it again.
Reina looked down at me with a smile.
“You didn’t actually die. Why are you acting as though it hurts so much?”
“If I had died, I wouldn’t be able to scream……”
“Now, now. Don’t talk back to your master.”
Playfully scolding me, she poked the place where I had been cut.
“Aaaaagh!”
“You’re far more sensitive than I expected.”
“Experience it yourself later and see whether you can say the same thing.”
“I doubt I would scream even if I were seriously injured.”
No. The first time you are injured in this training room, you skip an entire day because it hurts.
How did I know?
I had already seen it in the game.
Reina Serenia, the greatest training fanatic under heaven, skipped both practice and class because of pain.
When the player visited her, she whined without the slightest restraint. Since Reina was an extra with no dedicated character events, players called that scene her one and only event.
When the day arrived, I would visit her in the infirmary and tease her for the rest of her life. Hehehe.
As I laughed inwardly, Reina poked the cut again.
“Ghuuugh!”
“Stop making that strange face.”
“I’m sorry…… It truly hurts, so please don’t poke there……”
“I’ll think about it.”
Reina pretended to deliberate, then poked the exact same spot.
“Aaaaagh!”
She smiled like a little devil.
“This is more entertaining than I expected. May I poke it again?”
“Of course not!”
“I wasn’t actually asking your opinion.”
Reina raised her hand. I blocked it faster than I had moved all day.
“W-Wait!”
“Oh? You stopped my hand?”
“W-What must I do to survive?”
“Praise me, and I may spare you.”
Praising Reina? That was as easy as eating cold porridge.
Without thinking, I immediately began listing her strengths.
“First, you’re extraordinarily hardworking. Even if one searched all of Iris Academy—no, the entire Azerum Empire—hardly anyone would work harder than you.”
“Oh! Next!”
“You possess unwavering convictions. You aren’t swayed by others and follow only what you believe is right.”
“Ohh. How did you know? Next.”
“And you’re cute. Without question, you’re the cutest person in the Empire—no, the world!”
“Hehe. Then what about beautiful?”
“Well, when it comes to beauty, there are other people……”
As I recalled Spell Breaker’s most beautiful characters, Reina exploited the opening and jabbed my wound.
“Guaaagh!”
Her eyes curved into a smile, but an inexplicably murderous aura surrounded her.
“Now, answer again. Am I beautiful?”
“Of course you’re beautiful, but the most beautiful……”
Determined to block her this time, I raised my guard. Reina applied 【Combustion】 to brush my hand aside and stabbed the injured spot.
“Uooooogh!”
“Your learning ability is worse than I thought.”
“……Please say that my convictions are unwavering.”
“Then you shouldn’t have called me cute in the first place.”
“But that was true.”
“W-What are you saying?!”
Reina’s face reddened. Without warning, she began pummeling me indiscriminately.
“W-Wait!”
Not the injured spot! I’ll die! I’m going to die!
She ignored my screams and did not stop until she had beaten me for quite some time.
Reina cooled her flushed cheek with the back of her hand, then glared down at me.
“Honestly, you really are a scoundrel. You say whatever you please.”
“Please at least explain why you’re hitting me……”
Having expended her energy, Reina looked refreshed.
“Well, I’ll forgive you now.”
“Thank you……”
Believing the ordeal over, I relaxed.
Unlike my dying self, Reina was still having the time of her life.
“Van, do you know the one thing you must never do in battle?”
“Let me think…… I doubt it’s poking an injured person’s wound or swinging your fists indiscriminately.”
“The answer is lowering your guard.”
“N-No!”
“Yes!”
I raised my guard at once, but Reina’s finger reached the wound first.
***
The next day, after a battle that could hardly be classified as either training or sparring, the entrance examination results were posted in the central corridor of the main building.
Three notices hung on separate walls according to the dormitory assigned by each student’s score. Anyone whose name appeared on none of them had failed.
There had been more applicants than successful candidates, so most students looked devastated. A considerable number even threw tantrums in anger.
The administration had clearly anticipated this. Whenever trouble began, guards appeared within seconds and dragged the offender away without mercy.
Naturally, I passed.
After what I had done during the examination, being assigned to Tatia Hall—the second-best dormitory—was rather surprising.
House Astraea still paid my tuition and residence fees despite the family head’s displeasure. Perhaps the evaluators had raised my placement while watching one another for political cues.
Fortunately, Drener also passed.
He had even been assigned to Iris Hall, the finest dormitory.
As I scanned the notices and confirmed the names of important characters, Reina approached and spoke as naturally as if she had been beside me all along.
She also repeatedly poked the place where I had been cut yesterday.
“Oh? You don’t react anymore.”
“After we separated, I spent the entire night hurting whenever I moved in bed. I’m more or less accustomed to it now.”
Simply lying down had made the simulated wound ache so fiercely that I thought I would never sleep.
I had attempted to reduce the pain with 【Basic Sacred Art-Healing】, but unlike mana, I had no idea how to use divine power.
“Then being cut again shouldn’t hurt very much.”
“Of course it would. I can tolerate this much now, but I refuse to be cut again.”
“Hmm. What a shame.”
“Hey. Don’t lick your lips.”
“Hehe. I’m joking.”
As if remembering something, Reina handed me an envelope.
Her expectant expression made its contents obvious.
I opened it and found exactly what I anticipated: a formal congratulation upon her admission, notification that she had placed first in the year and would reside in Iris Hall, and confirmation of a full scholarship for the first semester.
Apparently following my gaze across the letter, Reina spoke with barely contained excitement.
“Well? What do you think?”
She was plainly asking for praise, so I answered with theatrical enthusiasm.
“Wow! You really placed first! First in the entire year?! Reina, that’s incredible!”
Reina nodded and smiled radiantly.
Thankfully, she no longer seemed to believe she had taken first place solely because of me.
“Tatia Hall sounds fun, though. You’ll be able to become close with seniors and classmates.”
“Me? I’ll be fortunate if they don’t run away when they see my name.”
“Come on. Even if you’re famous as a deranged scoundrel, surely they won’t flee at the sight of your name.”
“Hey.”
After parting from Reina, I reached my room in Tatia Hall.
It was designed for four people.
Remarkably, mine was the only nameplate on the door.
Apparently, everyone else had already fled.
I had expected it…… but facing the reality still felt unpleasant.
On the other hand, I had this enormous room entirely to myself. That was actually better.
……
It was better this way……