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.

it is? Did you purposely say that I'm not fitted to the sword so that I would develop some sort of interest

at me

then I suggest you give up. I have

"Uh?"

myself freezing on

actually trying to

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

she just call me

"Ah."

chest as I felt something prick

It hurt.

A squid looking

just

had to be

could only be

"Huu…"

took a deep breath and

for her

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

Were you so hurt by

mouth twitched, and

going to spar with you and let you understand why I

took another

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

she broke into rank, she would

same Amanda from my world―her current personality being a dead giveaway—or perhaps not even be real,

Who was it that told her to use the

he wasn't yet rank, I could only attribute it to the fact that he was

a moment. Show me what you've

my sword in her direction. She didn't

than the strongest man in this

purposely stopped while narrowing my

that

Instantly, Amanda unsheathed

was as cold as

"Fine."

me and swung at

She's really not talented

with her, and it

Clank—!

"Too obvious."

blade, making Amanda lose her balance.

Clank—!

"Too wide."

Clank—!

"…Your movements are wrong."

Clank—!

is more flexible than you. Your

Clank—!

"Really?"

same time, I found myself enjoying every bit of the time I

It was really fun.

been an hour, two hours, or even more, but we just continued to spar on and on and on. It

"Haa…haaa…"

the training grounds. Though faint, I could see that the edges

must've enjoyed

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

"Convinced yet?"

"Nope."

head. Unlike before, her tone

I massaged my forehead.

"Ugh, you're really stubborn."

"Get used to it."

"Haha."

was quite

when I come back, I can share my memories

I

"Hey."

"Hm."

turned to look at

"What is it?"

that? Are you thinking

"Oh?"

my brow. How

I looked at her, I soon found