“So you want to get stronger.”
A faint voice drifted from beyond the door. My hand, which was about to knock, froze in place.
I just came to discuss something briefly, but I didn’t expect to eavesdrop on Adele’s true feelings.
After hesitating for a moment, I lowered my hand.
‘Is she grateful?’
Where did the trembling cat who got caught in the rain go? How much had her evaluation of me changed over those few months?
Well, I had put a lot of effort into building trust with her.
It was nice that things were going according to plan, but that didn’t mean I could just be happy about it.
Sigh…
If everything went according to my plan, she would have to repeat countless regressions.
When I first met Adele, I was indifferent to the pain she would endure. I thought, what does her pain matter?
But as we grew closer, I started to feel a resistance to my own plans. I began to wonder if it was really okay to proceed like this.
It’s funny, isn’t it?
Building trust means I would inevitably grow closer to her.
And I didn’t even realize that while making those plans.
Is this feeling guilt over the pain she would experience in the future? I thought my heart had shattered and grown dull over the 20 years.
But maybe that wasn’t entirely the case.
‘Is this hypocrisy now?’
Was I seeing my past self in Adele? I often worry like this.
If my pre-Adele self saw me now, they might laugh and call me a fool.
That thought brought a bitter smile to my face.
§
Time passed, and the promised day arrived.
The training ground that usually lay quiet was bustling with people for the first time in a while.
Many mercenaries had gathered to watch Adele and Abel’s demonstration battle.
It seemed like they often held external events here, as there were spectator seats accompanying the training ground. Most of the mercenaries were chatting away from above, looking down at the action.
“Hey, who do you think will win?”
“Come on, Duke will probably win, right?”
“But he can’t use magic or aura, can he?”
“I bet on Miss Adele winning!”
A small wager was going on among the younger maids, but I let it slide. Turning slightly, I spotted Lily standing quietly.
With her hands clasped together, she had her eyes closed as if praying. She looked almost desperate.
Turning back, I saw the knight squad deep in animated conversation.
“I really think the Duke will win.”
“I don’t know, you have no idea how strong Lady Adele has gotten in just a month!”
“Evan, what do you think?”
Oh, Evan was here too.
Well, he was nearly fully healed, so that made sense. He hadn’t returned formally to the squad, probably thinking of any possible aftereffects.
“I think he will win.”
Evan replied to his fellow knight’s question. His tone conveyed a firm belief that made me smile without realizing it.
In that short time, he seemed to have come to trust Adele to some extent. Even though he couldn’t provide a solid reason for why she would win.
‘The squad… as expected, everyone showed up.’
There was a specific reason why I made sure all squad members attended this mock battle.
I wanted them to respect Adele as a warrior and not underestimate her before the Monster Extermination War.
In fact, the main reason I suggested this test to her was precisely that. Of course, if she lost, we could simply pretend it never happened, so it wasn’t a big deal.
I turned my gaze to Adele standing across from me.
Her sharp aura and the piercing red eyes felt intense.
In this month’s relatively short time, she had changed significantly. The most noticeable aspect was the determination shining in her eyes.
It was the spirit and will every warrior ought to possess.
That was palpable in her gaze.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
In response to my question, Adele nodded vigorously, her determination apparent. A spirit resembling me appeared next to her.
I think its name was Silphy.
Her attribute was wind.
I had fought numerous opponents, but it had been a long time since I faced a Spirit Conduit.
Even including the time I taught Arin as a child, I had met Spirit Conduits so rarely that I could count them on one hand.
Moreover, facing a wind Spirit was completely new to me.
[Contractor.]
“Yeah. I know.”
The wind brushed against my body. An unusual energy began to envelop Adele.
Was that a substitution of wind magic with the power of a spirit? It was a rather fresh way to utilize magic.
“Both sides, prepare.”
Aurin, who was acting as the referee, lowered her hand, signaling the fight to begin.
“Start!”
The beginning was a probing battle.
Before the real clash, both sides were attempting to read one another’s intentions. Adele seemed accustomed to it, quietly staring at me without flinching.
‘Shall we get started?’
I couldn’t use magic or aura.
It felt like playing chess while sacrificing not only the queen but also the rooks. However, I still had my knights and one rook left.
“Ha!”
With a short battle cry, I charged forward. Adele raised her rapier, not thrown off by my sudden rush.
The moment our swords clashed, a metallic sound rang out.
Clang!
The blades collided fiercely, sparks flying, but I felt her holding steady despite the tremors rippling through.
She knew well not to let go of her weapon.
But that alone wouldn’t suffice. In battle, mere resolve amounts to nothing.
Whoosh.
I twisted my wrist in mid-clash, aiming for her neck. However, a barrier of wind conjured by Silphy blocked my sword as if it was already predicted.
At the same time, Adele thrust her rapier towards my chest. I smirked at her experienced reaction and fell back.
Then I swung my sword again with more force.
Clang!
“Silphy!”
[I know!]
A giant wind barrier blocked all sides, momentarily freezing my movements with its immense power.
During that moment, Adele seized the opportunity and swung her rapier. Her coordination was certainly at a respectable level.
However, it wasn’t enough yet.
[Ugh!]
While the idea of using wind to freeze the opponent was great, that could only work once. If she had enough strength, she could surely counteract it.
“Is that all you’ve got?”
“Not at all!”
Crying that out, Adele charged at me once more.
If she had rushed recklessly, I would have knocked her out immediately, but her gaze told me otherwise.
Perhaps due to Silphy’s wind, her attacks were faster than before.
It was almost too fast for my body to react.
Clang!
The consecutive sounds of metal clashing filled the air as Adele’s rapier targeted my neck. I couldn’t help but smile at the sensation coming over me after so long.
That feeling I had over and over in battle.
‘She has gotten stronger.’
Could it really be the same girl I saw a month ago? She had truly transformed.
Not just her ability to control spirits but her overall judgment had reached quite a level.
Of course, she still had a way to go.
Whoosh!
In the ongoing chain of attacks, I found a tiny opening. Yet even that slight gap could instantaneously lead to death in battle.
The longsword sliced towards Adele’s neck.
But she merely smiled and reversed the grip on her rapier.
“Oh?”
[Perfect, you fell for it!]
The wind’s direction shifted. A barrier far stronger than before surged to halt my movements.
Was she really planning to finish it all with this one blow?
But I had no intention of just accepting that.
Boom!
With a sound that sliced through the air, the wind barrier broke apart.
[…Monster!]
“Game over.”
Just as my longsword was about to reach her neck, a powerful gust burst forth from her rapier. Did she not put all her strength into that previous barrier?
I was thrown off balance before I could respond.
Before I knew it, her rapier, still held in reverse, had perfectly targeted my neck.
I hurriedly raised my longsword to block, but perhaps because of the winds, my reaction was far slower.
I felt a cold sensation on my neck.
“I lost.”
“…Lady Adele, you win!”
Aurin’s excited shout seemed to cause Adele’s legs to give out beneath her, and she sank down. I chuckled and extended my hand toward her.
“What’s wrong, Adele? You won.”
“Is that really true?”
“Of course. I never thought you’d set two traps.”
In battle, what mattered most was the psychological warfare.
In that psychological duel, she momentarily seized the upper hand from me, so she deserved to participate in the Monster Extermination War.
Of course, the way she used the wind spirit was also at a passable level.
Though I hadn’t put everything into the fight, I hadn’t approached it with an intent to let her win, either.
She had managed to exploit an opening against me, so she could be considered passed.
She took my hand and rose back up.
Clap clap clap!
Soon, a resounding applause erupted from the spectators. Turning my head, I saw maids and butlers, even knights, cheering for Adele’s victory.
“Lady Adele is the best!”
“Damn, there goes my paycheck for the month…”
“I had faith in you!”
Sure, some of them were celebrating because their bets had paid off. But that was something I could overlook.
“You did well over the last month, Adele.”
“…Thank you.”
Even though Adele was utterly exhausted, she offered a faint smile. Thus, she earned her right to participate in the Monster Extermination War.
By her own strength.
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