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.

that I'm not fitted to the sword so that I would develop some sort

at

you give up. I have no interest in a squid

"Uh?"

myself freezing on the

spot? Were you actually trying to use this chance

but I didn't care. At that moment, I felt something within

just call me

"Ah."

grasping for my chest as I felt something

It hurt.

squid looking

no… I'm sure she's just saying this

it had to be

could only be

"Huu…"

breath

her taunts. She's clearly just

sheath. Amanda's eyes

are you doing? Were you so hurt by my words that you now want to silence

and I

of the sort. I'm just going to spar

took another

back then just to insult you or flirt with you… The reason why I said what I said is because I truly do

yet since she was too weak, the moment that she broke into rank, she would definitely come to realize the flaws within her swordsmanship, and by then, it would be far too late for

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

Who was

that Edward didn't notice the flaws in Amanda's swordsmanship, but thinking that he wasn't yet rank, I could only attribute it to

moment. Show

her on by pointing my sword in her direction. She didn't seem convinced regarding

to spar against someone who's far more powerful than the strongest man in this world. I'm sure you can set

narrowing my eyes at

afraid that my words

seemed to have done the trick. Instantly, Amanda unsheathed her sword and aimed it at

face was as cold as

"Fine."

me and swung at

expected. She's really not talented with

and it became even clearer to

Clank—!

"Too obvious."

blade, making Amanda lose her balance. Landing softly on

Clank—!

"Too wide."

Clank—!

"…Your movements are wrong."

Clank—!

my grandma is more flexible than you. Your movements are way

Clank—!

"Really?"

as time went on, yet at the same time, I found myself enjoying every bit of the time I was spending with

It was really fun.

hour, two hours, or even more, but we just continued to spar on and

"Haa…haaa…"

Though faint, I could see that the edges

must've enjoyed

different she was from

"Convinced yet?"

"Nope."

Unlike before, her

I massaged my forehead.

"Ugh, you're really stubborn."

"Get used to it."

"Haha."

She was quite

share my

I thought that

"Hey."

"Hm."

to

"What is it?"

that? Are

"Oh?"

raised my brow.

her, I soon