Episode 133

The next morning.

I had come to the backyard with Refy and Alicia.

It was the place where Alicia had trained before.

In the center of it, I faced Refy.

As we had discussed yesterday, I had come to receive instruction from Refy.

Both Refy and I held swords and faced each other.

Alicia sat on a bench a little distance away from us.

She watched us with keen interest, which made me a little nervous.

“Well then, Lord Faik. Feel free to attack whenever you’d like.”

“…A-Alright.”

Yes, I was about to spar lightly with Refy.

My role in the labyrinth was mostly weapon maintenance and self-defense.

So I wasn’t expected to have great fighting skill, but I hadn’t been fighting much lately.

I had, after all, once attacked a Horned Dragon… but that was an exceptional case.

Because you never know what might happen in the labyrinth, we decided to move our bodies just in case.

Refy was certainly quite skilled, as she served as our guard.

…I just hadn’t expected to be fighting while Alicia watched.

“Do your best, Faik.”

Hearing that only made me more nervous.

I couldn’t show her a pathetic side…

“What’s the matter, Lord Faik?”

There wasn’t a single gap in Refy’s composed smile.

As expected from someone who served as our guard and servant.

If I charged in like this, I’d be dealt with without much I could do.

…Now then, what to do.

If only I could create some opening.

We’d agreed not to use magic this time, so magic was out.

Then, what other means might there be…?

It was then.

A bug was moving at Refy’s feet.

When I fixed my gaze on it, Refy flicked her eyes towards it as well.

And—

“Eek!? A spider!?”

Refy let out a shrill cry, jumped on the spot, and immediately stepped back as if to escape.

The spider had been briskly walking, but it ended up creating a big opening.

Now’s my chance!

I applied an Enchantment to myself, temporarily strengthening my body.

At the same time I kicked off the ground and charged at Refy.

“Ugh!”

Refy wore a look of ‘damn’ but immediately faced me.

I swung the training sword without an edge.

The slash was easily parried.

Refy’s body moved immediately, and she swung her sword as if to counterattack.

I received it head-on.

We faced each other.

“Lord Faik… you can move quite well after all.”

“…Th-thank you…”

Barely managing to reply.

During the bind with Refy, I almost got shoved aside.

Even though I had surprised her, what strength.

Even though I’d Enhanced my body.

Refy might be doing something too.

I was heavily knocked back and we both put some distance between us.

I exhaled deeply, regripped my sword, and Refy extended one hand toward me.

“Lord Faik. You might do well to have a bit more composure.”

“Composure…?”

“Yes. Lord Faik, I think your combat ability is quite high, but you lack the composure typical of those inexperienced or unaccustomed to combat. If you just recklessly plunge at an opponent, you’re more likely to get countered; so it might be good to hold a little more of an unreadable composure so they don’t know what you’ll do next.”

“…But can you suddenly do that?”

“Before attacking, perhaps take a deep breath, or a single breath in between— that might help.”

“…I see.”

Indeed, I might not have often responded with composure in battle.

If the opponent is weaker I can be more relaxed… but against a human, nerves make it hard to remain composed.

“Then, let’s train while keeping that in mind.”

Refy readjusted her grip on her sword and took her stance again.

As expected, without the spider, Refy was strong enough that I couldn’t even bring it to a sword exchange.