“Well then, that’s all for swinging practice,” Battenmeier said. “Next, we’re going to do defense training, so please pair up with someone you like.”

Someone you like, she said?

Somehow my body naturally walked sideways and ended up next to Carol.

Yes, because I love her.

“Carol, let’s pair up,” I said.

“Huh, I’m using a morning star,” Carol complained.

“Well I plan to fight with various weapons in the future,” I said.

“I don’t feel like saints are supposed to be fighting all the time,” Carol said. “Well, I suppose it’s fine, I think you can handle a bump or two, Makoto.”

“My defense is perfect,” I said, putting my magic buckler forward.

“No, even if you get hurt, there’s healing magic,” Carol said.

“Yeah, I’ll heal the injuries~,” I said.

That’s the way.

“Try alternately attacking and defending,” Carol said. “If you don’t understand defensive actions, ask Sensei to teach you.”

I prepared to fight Carol.

Hmm, a loli body in gym clothes and holding a morning star ignites the passion.

“Please attack first,” Carol said.

“Yes, here I go,” I said.

Aiming at Carol’s neck, I swung my dagger.

Djarin.

Carol held the chain in front of her with both hands to block the attack.

Ah, that’s how she defends herself.

“I’ll be next, ei,” Carol cried.

Carol used her whole body to swing the morning star around.

She’s shockingly fast.

Gakkin.

The magic buckler automatically defended me.

It’s quite an impact.

If I got hit directly, that would have been an unavoidable injury.

“Okay, let’s take turns,” I said.

“Yes, understood,” Carol said.

Jarin.

Gakkin.

Jari-jarin.

Kahn.

Carol swings her morning star from all directions.

She’s fast and good at attacking.

But the buckler is an automatic defense, so it won’t be easy to hit me.

“You’re good at parrying,” Carol said.

“It’s automatic with magic, so you’re the one better at defense,” I said.

“Because I’m used to it,” Carol said.

Oh, right, she had been hunting and already was a Copper rank adventurer.

Well done, Carol.

That’s my girl.

“Come on, Makoto, let’s speed it up,” Carol said

“Bring it on,” I said.

As if it was getting fun, the corners of Carol’s lips rose and she started twirling the morning star.

Yeah, I’m having fun too.

“Hai.”

“Ouh.”

Ghan.

“Bottom cut.”

“Mmn.”

Jyarin.

“Continuous strikes.”

“Roger.”

Ga-ga-gang.

“Round down, round up slash.”

“Understood.”

Jyari-jyarin.

Yeah, this is fun, fun.

Carol’s forehead was sweaty and her cheeks were flushed.

Cute, and fun.

Sweat is running down my face.

I enjoy moving my body.

And just like that, when we were speeding up to the limit and we were doing it hard, Batten-sensei came by.

“Come on, it’s defensive training, your sparring is lagging,” she said.

“Huh?” I asked.

“S-Sorry, it was getting rather fun,” Carol said.

“Albright-san’s handling of the morning star is good, and it has some incredible speed. Are you using magic to assist it?” Battenmeier said.

“Since I have a golem core, I can manipulate any chain-like object,” Carol said, showing off the golem core attached to her waist.

“I see, I thought the swing was so light for a reason, that’s convenient,” Battenmeier said.

The golem core is about the size of an egg and looks like a dark red jewel. It’s blinking.

I see, it’s Chain-kun’s control app.

“Kimball-san, you’re getting better with the dagger, have you practiced?” Battenmeier said.

“No, I’m just swinging by instinct,” I said.

“It’s talent, then, it was a good move,” Battenmeier said.

Hooray, I was praised by my sensei.

After that, Carol and I went back to the “kan-kan” and did our defense training leisurely.

Cattleya-sama isn’t feeling well.

She’s an annoying lady when she’s in good spirits, but when she’s not in good spirits, I’m still worried about her.

“Would you like to spar with her?” Carol asked.

“Huh? She’s Mike’s little sister, you know,” I said.

“It’s fine, you’re curious, aren’t you, Makoto?” Carol asked.

“Then I suppose it can’t be helped,” I said.

I parted from Carol and went to Cattleya-sama.

“Shall we change partners?” I asked Cattleya’s partner.

“Huh, but,” Cattleya said.

She’s got a long sword, she looks pretty good, and maybe she’s aspiring to be a knight.

“Would you like to do defense training with me?” Carol asked.

“Ye-Yes, Albright-sama,” Cattleya’s partner said.

Carol took her away.

“Do you not want to spar, Cattleya-san?” I asked.

“… Gununu, mock battle!” Cattleya said. “I’m petitioning for a one-on-one mock battle with Kimball!! No magic!!”

“Huh?” I asked.

“I can’t allow mock battles with the same person in a row,” Batten-sensei said as she came up.

Cattleya-sama made a face of despair from the bottom of her heart.

“Is it okay if it’s not the same person?” Cattleya said.

“Well, that’s fine, but there aren’t many students who are skilled enough to have a mock battle with you, Pickering-san,” Battenmeier said.

“Mock battle~,” Cattleya trilled.

How much do you like mock battles, Cattleya-sama?

Koishi came over.

“I want to try it with Pickering-san, aye,” Koishi said.

“Oh, yes, it might be a good match with Kominvitch-san,” Battenmeier said.

“Horai sword arts, huh? … How interesting!! I’m eager to fight you!” Cattleya said.

Yeah, you look like you’re feeling better.

By moving your body, you can forget your suspicions and feelings of distrust toward your faction comrades.

We students went to the spectator seats in the stadium, and Koishi-chan, Cattleya-sama, and Sensei went up to the stadium.

I wonder if Koishi-chan is pretty strong, or is Cattleya-sama stronger?

Confronting Cattleya-sama’s unique stance, Koishi-chan put a wooden sword to her eyes.

“Mock battle, Cattleya Pickering vs. Koishi Kominvitch, single match, no magic, let’s begin!” Battenmeier cried.

Koishi drops her waist and starts stepping out.

The stance is neat and cool.

You’re pretty strong, Koishi-chan.

On the other hand, Cattleya-sama is more of an upper-body stance.

It’s big and bold.

The two gradually closed the gap.

Little by little, they get close enough to strike.

Koishi-chan’s wooden sword is longer, but Cattleya-sama is taller.

Half a step more and both of them are within reach to strike.

Koishi-chan entered the space with a half-step.

At that moment, Cattleya-sama’s slash is swung straight down.

Koishi-chan advances diagonally to Cattleya-sama’s side by moving her center of gravity and then cuts sideways.

The speed is amazing.

Koishi-chan cuts at a speed of 2 to 3 times that of Cattleya-sama.

Somehow, Cattleya-sama manages to parry it with the tip of her sword, but two or three more blows fly out after that.

“Woah.”

“It’s fast, and she’s got good footwork,” Carol said.

Is Carol an expert observer?

Koishi-chan keeps her center of gravity down, moves left and right with her swaying feet at high speed, and does not stay in one place. It’s like watching a Japanese dance performance.

Cattleya-sama is desperately blocking it, but she can’t attack at all.

She’s gradually being worn down.

Cattleya-sama managed to find an opening and make a slash down from the top, but Koishi-chan didn’t avoid it, she blocks it sliding her wooden sword against it, shifting its angle, and letting it cut down the length of Cattleya’s sword.

Gatchin.

“Guaah!”

“Oh, sorry, it went in too deep,” Koishi said.

I couldn’t see the trajectory that hit Cattleya-sama’s hand, but it seems that Koishi-chan’s wooden sword struck her thumb.

In a real fight, her thumb would be cut off and she would be incapacitated.

“Oh no, we have to hurry to the infirmary,” Battenmeier said.

“No need,” I said, getting up.

“Ah, Makoto, potion,” Carol said, taking a bottle out from somewhere.

“No need, Carol, I am the Hi-Potion,” I said.

“Oh, that’s right.”

The exchange just now is so cool.

It must have stabbed Carol’s chest with a “zukin.”

""

Uhahahaha.

“Kimball-san, you can do healing magic, right?” Battenmeier said.

“Yes, Sensei, leave it to me,” I said.

Batten-sensei welcomed my stepping into the arena.

Cattleya-sama hunched her back and groaned as she endured the pain.

Koishi-chan is flustered.

“Put out your hand, and I’ll fix it right away, ‘Heal’,” I said.

Cattleya-sama’s breathing quieted visibly as her thumb was enveloped in blue light.

But she still can’t stop crying.

“Still feeling pain, yeah?” Koishi asked.

Cattleya-sama silently shook her head. “I, I lost twice in a row, and I, I’m a useless knight…”

“What are you talking about!?!” I yelled.

""

I patted Cattleya-sama’s back.

“If a knight loses twice or thrice, he will cry, train hard, and fight again,” I said.

“Uuuuu,” Cattleya whimpered.

“Or what is this, a Knight of Pickering can only fight against opponents they can beat?” I asked. “The value of a knight is not how many times he has fought against enemies he can’t win against, it is how many times he has risen from defeat.”

“Makoto-jyan’s got some good points, aye,” Koishi said.

“The value of a knight…” Cattleya-said.

“Horai-jutsu has a lot of attacks from directions that are not found in your longsword-jutsu, yeah?” Koishi said.

Cattleya-sama wiped her eyes with her fist and stood up.

“I, I’m sorry for showing you an unsightly side of me,” Cattleya-said.

“No worries,” I said.

“Pickering-jyan was strong, aye, I want to fight you again,” Koishi said.

“I see… Kominvitch-san, yes?”

“Just Koishi is fine, aye,” Koishi said.

“Ko-Koishi-san, um, wo-would you be friends with me? This is the first time I’ve met a girl with such a strong sword arm, I thought I could become stronger if we became friends and trained together,” Cattleya said.

“I-I’m from the North, and I talk funny, yeah?” Koishi said.

“That’s not true, Koishi-san, you’re cute. Just Cattleya is fine for me, too,” Cattleya said.

“Ca-Cattleya, I didn’t have any friends either, so I’m very happy, aye,” Koishi said.

Nyo-nyo.

The scene where friendship is born makes my heart warm.

You guys are so cute!