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.

you purposely say that I'm not fitted to the sword so that I would

looked at me in

up. I have no interest in a squid looking

"Uh?"

freezing

actually trying to

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

she just call me a squid looking

"Ah."

found myself grasping for my chest as

It hurt.

squid looking

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

had to

only

"Huu…"

deep breath and recovered my

for her taunts. She's clearly

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

you so hurt by my words

and

just going to spar with you and let you understand why I

took another deep

reason why

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

may not be the same Amanda from my world―her current personality being a dead giveaway—or

to think of it. Who was it that told her to

odd 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 the fact that he was simply not yet strong enough

for a moment. Show me

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

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

narrowing my

afraid that

Instantly, Amanda

was as

"Fine."

me and swung at

She's really not talented with the

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

Clank—!

"Too obvious."

slapped the side of the blade, making Amanda lose her balance. Landing

Clank—!

"Too wide."

Clank—!

"…Your movements are wrong."

Clank—!

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

Clank—!

"Really?"

time went on, yet at the same time, I found myself enjoying

It was really fun.

more, but we just continued to spar on and on and on. It was only after Amanda

"Haa…haaa…"

grounds. Though faint, I could see that

enjoyed herself. I'm

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

"Convinced yet?"

"Nope."

head. Unlike before, her

I massaged my forehead.

"Ugh, you're really stubborn."

"Get used to it."

"Haha."

was quite

my memories with Amanda. I wonder

I thought that

"Hey."

"Hm."

turned to

"What is it?"

smiling like that? Are you thinking

"Oh?"

raised my brow. How did

at her, I soon found myself