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.

say that I'm not fitted to the sword so that

at

up. I have no interest

"Uh?"

myself freezing

I hit the spot? Were you actually trying

on her face increased, but I didn't care. At that moment, I

me

"Ah."

my chest as

It hurt.

A squid

no, no… I'm sure she's just

it had to

only

"Huu…"

took a deep breath

not fall for her taunts. She's

and removed my sword from my sheath. Amanda's eyes narrowed when I did so, and she took

so hurt by my words that you now want to

and I shook

sort. I'm just going to

another

to insult you or flirt with you… The reason why I said what I said

too weak, the moment that she broke into rank, she would definitely

dead giveaway—or perhaps not

was it that told her

flaws in Amanda's swordsmanship, but thinking that he wasn't yet rank, I could

serious for a moment. Show me

sword in her direction.

powerful than the strongest man in this world. I'm sure you can set aside some misgivings to

stopped while narrowing my eyes

you afraid that my

have done the trick. Instantly, Amanda unsheathed her

was as cold

"Fine."

stepped toward me and swung

She's really not talented

was the second time that I sparred with her, and it became even clearer to me

Clank—!

"Too obvious."

Amanda lose her

Clank—!

"Too wide."

Clank—!

"…Your movements are wrong."

Clank—!

my grandma is more flexible than you. Your

Clank—!

"Really?"

same time, I found myself enjoying every bit of the

It was really fun.

time. It could've been an hour, two hours, or even more, but we just continued to spar

"Haa…haaa…"

training grounds. Though faint, I could see that the edges of her mouth were

enjoyed herself. I'm

next to her. No matter how different she was from my Amanda,

"Convinced yet?"

"Nope."

Unlike before, her tone

I massaged my forehead.

"Ugh, you're really stubborn."

"Get used to it."

"Haha."

was

can share my memories

when I

"Hey."

"Hm."

turned to look at

"What is it?"

are you smiling like that?

"Oh?"

brow. How did

I looked at her, I