The Author's POV

Swoosh-! Swoosh-!

A sword streaked through the air, cutting through it in a swift manner and giving rise to a whistling sound. Sweat trickled toward the ground, quickly evaporating the moment it touched it.

Swoosh―!

Amanda swung her sword again.

'You're not fitted for the sword.'

Her grip on the hilt tightened, and she found herself swinging with even more force as her teeth clenched tightly.

'Bastard.'

She wanted to refute his comments. They were denying her efforts and the blood, sweat, and tears she shed to get where she was.

It was denying her efforts.

Every time she thought back at his face and the condescending look he gave her as he said those words, Amanda found herself hating him more and more.

…It's just that.

'What if his words are true?'

She stopped swinging the sword and lowered her hand.

What if, the words he said weren't a lie and were the truth?

'But how's that possible? There's no one within my age group who is as strong as me. There's no way what he said is true…'

She was trying to convince herself, but thinking about the strength that he displayed, Amanda found herself starting to doubt herself even more.

She looked at the sword in her hand.

'Perhaps…'

Clank―!

The door to the training ground suddenly opened, and when Amanda turned her head to see who had entered, her face crumbled.

It was him.

***

'Someone looks a bit hostile.'

I could feel Amanda's glare from the other end of the room. She didn't look all too pleased with my presence.

"What are you doing here? This training ground is occupied."

"Oh, I know."

I nodded my head and continued to move forward. Amanda was dressed in a form-fitting uniform that accentuated her curves beautifully, and she had her hair pulled back into a ponytail.

However, even though she looked very alluring at the moment, the thing that caught my attention was the sword that she was holding in her hand.

"You still haven't changed your weapon?"

I was hit by a more powerful glare.

"Who are you to tell me what I should do, and what I shouldn't do?"

"Haha."

I found myself laughing at her tone.

She was being incredibly cute at the moment.

"Is there something funny?"

If looks could kill, I'd probably be dead a million times over.

…Sadly, looks couldn't kill.

'Hmm, maybe when my charm levels up… That'd be interesting.'

"No, don't mind me. I just think that your reaction is quite cute."

I extended my hand, and my sword appeared in my hand.

Amanda frowned at my words and took several steps back. She had a sudden look of understanding.

how it is? Did you purposely say that I'm not fitted to

looked at me

I suggest you give up. I have

"Uh?"

found myself freezing

spot? Were you actually trying to use this chance to flirt

level of disgust on her face increased, but I didn't

me a squid

"Ah."

my chest as I felt something prick

It hurt.

squid looking

no… I'm sure she's just saying this because

had

could only be

"Huu…"

took a deep breath and

her

Amanda's eyes narrowed when I did so, and

by my words that you now want to

and I shook my

to do anything of the sort. I'm just going to spar with you and

took another deep

or flirt with you… The reason why I

rank, she would definitely come to realize the flaws within

Amanda from my world―her current personality being a dead giveaway—or perhaps not even be real, but I felt compelled to

was it that told her to use

was definitely odd that Edward didn't notice the flaws in Amanda's swordsmanship, but thinking that he wasn't yet rank,

for a moment.

in her direction. She didn't

the strongest man in this world. I'm sure you can set aside some misgivings to learn from me,

stopped while narrowing my

you afraid that my

Instantly, Amanda unsheathed her

face was as cold as

"Fine."

me and swung at

as expected. She's really not talented with

her, and it became even clearer

Clank—!

"Too obvious."

of the blade, making Amanda lose her

Clank—!

"Too wide."

Clank—!

"…Your movements are wrong."

Clank—!

flexible than you. Your movements are way too

Clank—!

"Really?"

more disappointed as time went on, yet at the same time, I found myself enjoying every bit

It was really fun.

track of time. It could've been an hour, two hours, or even more, but we just continued to spar on and on and on. It was only

"Haa…haaa…"

training grounds. Though faint, I could see that the

enjoyed

how different she was from my Amanda, she was

"Convinced yet?"

"Nope."

head. Unlike before,

I massaged my forehead.

"Ugh, you're really stubborn."

"Get used to it."

"Haha."

was quite

I can share my memories with Amanda. I wonder how she'll

grinned when I

"Hey."

"Hm."

to

"What is it?"

you smiling like that? Are you thinking

"Oh?"

my brow. How did

I looked at her, I soon found myself