The Author's POV

June flew by and July was nearing. Summer had already approached and the temperatures were starting to rise.

Inside of a training ground.

—Clank! —Clank!

The heavy sound of metal resounded across the room.

"Ren, cover me!"

Shouted Kevin as he quickly moved right of me. As his foot tapped on the ground, his body suddenly shot upwards.

"Huup—!"

—Swoosh!

Right as Kevin's foot touched the ground, I drew a circle in the air and pointed my finger towards a certain spot in the distance. In the same direction, Kevin was headed.

"Thanks!"

Twisted his body, Kevin quickly arrived before my ring. Putting his foot on the ring, he propelled his body towards the center of the room where a young girl leisurely stood.

"Haaa—!"

Arriving before Monica, Kevin let out a shout and slashed his sword down.

"Hmm, not bad…"

—Clank!

Lifting her sword with one hand, Monica easily blocked Kevin's attack.

"…but still not good enough"

BAAAM—!

"Guuuh—!"

"Khhuu!"

Casually swinging her sword and parrying Kevin's attack, Kevin was instantly pushed in my direction.

Because of how fast he was going, I wasn't able to stop him in time and we soon both crashed against a wall.

"Kuegh…this is so unfair"

I muttered as I laid down on the ground. My back hurt like hell.

"I agree…"

Supporting his body with one arm, Kevin weakly stood up. Raising his sword, he glared in Monica's direction.

"Oh, you're not done? I like your fighting spirit"

"Ren, stand up. It's not over yet"

"Ugh…"

Lifting my head, I let out a groan.

‘Damn it, I just want to lay down on the ground for another minute. I'm the one who took the brunt of the attack, not you!'

Why couldn't he let me rest?

Putting my hand on my knee, I stood up and stretched my neck. My eyes soon interlocked with Kevin's.

"Seriously?"

Without him even telling me what he wanted to do, I understood what he meant.

"Alright…"

"Good"

Nodding my head, I placed my hand on the grip of my sword. Kevin on the other hand raised his sword with both hands.

"Huuu…"

Taking a deep breath, I channeled all the mana inside of my body. A white hue shrouded my body.

Kracka! Kracka!

white hue were blue bolts of lightning that repeatedly crackled in the air. By my side, an empowering red hue expanded from Kevin's body. He was also

planning on using your strongest techniques? Good, good, I want

the front, Monica's eyes lit

—Swoosh! —Swoosh!

see if you

in the air as

"Ready?"

"Never been readier…"

empowering, Kevin looked at

"Let's go…"

as he

VUUUUAM!

felt from the sword beam as a thick scar traced the path

‘Slashing down with both hands on the sword, so he's already reached

the fifteenth movement of the Levisha style. Not bad at

"Still…"

of the [Keiki style]

Moments after, the world around me turned dark and

"Huh?"

what to do. Taking advantage of the opening I created, I aimed my sword attack towards her

Monica was quickly able to recover from

"Not bad…"

and Kevin's attack, Monica

—Sha!

to my horror, Monica easily

sword down and a small orange beam shot towards Kevin's

—Craka!

made out of paper, Kevin's sword beam

"Haa…haaa…this is so unfair"

Monica, I got on my knees and took heavy breaths. On the other side of the room, Kevin slumped down on the ground and supported his

‘Damn it'

between me and an [S] rank was huge, I didn't think it would be this

time, it was as though Monica was treating us like children. She made it seems as though our most

"I'm impressed"

her finger on the scar left behind by Kevin's

were this strong. You guys were almost as good as

Monica's shameless boast, my

you be more

be this way. If I had to complain,

"Here, take this"

Monica casually

"This…"

much at first, but my

contents,

===

[★★★✰ Quick-slash style]

fully focused on speed. With one quick draw, the user gains the ability to kill an opponent without them noticing anything had happened. Created to replicate the

===

"Is this for me?"

trembling hands, I looked

gift. The sword art

her sword away, Monica nodded her

"You don't like it?"

course, I like it. There's no way

shook

not like this?

popular Grandmaster Keiki was, the idea of someone trying to imitate his sword art wasn't

there were many sword arts similar to the Keiki style in circulation at the

was already a compliment. They were not even close

This, however, was different.

it wasn't. Meaning that the

‘That's right…'

now use the Keiki

me to the basic movements, this made things much easier for

what to say, thank you, Miss

I am your instructor I'll naturally take care of

looked away. From the side, I could see Monica's ears turning red. She was trying her best to hide

right, forgot she

be, Monica was in fact

one compliment was enough to set

perform badly, I'm going to look bad so I must do my best to make you guys stronger for when the

her best to hide her

one actually knows

my heart. Of course, only in my heart. Had I actually said it out loud, given Monica's personality, I would be in

looking forward to