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!

of lightning that repeatedly crackled in the air. By my side, an empowering red hue expanded from Kevin's body.

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

front, Monica's eyes

—Swoosh! —Swoosh!

see if you guys

in the air as if showing off,

"Ready?"

"Never been readier…"

became especially empowering, Kevin looked at me. Looking back

"Let's go…"

as he slashed

VUUUUAM!

powerful energy could be felt from the sword beam as a thick scar traced the path of

Kevin's attack, I thought, ‘Slashing down with both hands on the sword, so he's already reached that

the fifteenth movement of the Levisha style. Not bad at

"Still…"

of the [Keiki style] :

up, I took a stance. Moments after, the world around me

"Huh?"

didn't know what to do. Taking advantage of the opening I

able

"Not bad…"

Kevin's attack, Monica smiled and

—Sha!

neck to the side, to my horror,

Monica casually swung her sword down and a small orange beam shot towards Kevin's

—Craka!

paper, Kevin's sword beam crumbled

"Haa…haaa…this is so unfair"

got on my knees and took heavy breaths. On the other side of the room, Kevin slumped down on the

‘Damn it'

I knew that the gap between me and an [S] rank was huge, I

the whole time, it was as though Monica was treating us like children. She made it

"I'm impressed"

her finger on the scar left behind by Kevin's sword beam, Monica

strong. You guys were almost as good as me

to Monica's shameless

be

designed Monica to be this way. If I had to complain, I

"Here, take this"

in my direction, Monica casually threw a book in my

"This…"

the book, I didn't think too much at

through its contents,

===

[★★★✰ Quick-slash style]

user gains the ability to kill an opponent without them noticing anything had happened. Created to replicate the Keiki

===

"Is this for me?"

trembling hands, I looked

you a little gift. The sword art is three and a half stars, but given the criteria, this was the

away,

"You don't like it?"

of course, I like it. There's no way I wouldn't

quickly shook my

not like

Keiki was, the idea of someone trying to

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

a compliment. They were not even

This, however, was different.

still far off from the Keiki style, visually it wasn't. Meaning

‘That's right…'

I could now use the Keiki style

me to the basic movements, this made things much

don't know what to say,

I am your instructor I'll naturally take care

the side, I could see Monica's ears turning red. She was trying

forgot she was

be, Monica was in fact extremely weak to

enough to set

to look bad so I must do my best to make

her embarrassment, in

actually knows you're coaching

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

looking forward