It was a safe morning.

　By the way, I was alone this morning.
　Last night I wasn't going to be Illtimina-san's hug pillow.

''I don't think I'm going to be able to endure my feelings for Marle tonight, so.......''

　She told me why.

　At that moment, Illtimina-san's lustrous smile made my heart feel like an early bell....

(But maybe that was a good thing.)

　Honestly, I was feeling upset, too.

　I don't know what I would have done if I'd felt her sweet smell and body heat all night long.

　But I slept better because we were separated.

Hmmm, nice day.

　Outside the window was a clear, blue sky.

　I stretched out and got out of bed feeling refreshed.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　We all gathered together and were seated at the breakfast table.

　Those present are Kilt-san, Soltis, Frederica-san, Rapt, Recto Alice, and Iltimina-san.
　I heard that General Dardios has not returned from the castle yet.

"Yes, please. Marle.

　Iltimina places the food, cut into plates, on the table in front of me.

"Oh, thanks.
No, sir. Oh, and I'll get you a drink, too?　Just give me a minute.
Uh-huh.

　briskly

　She takes care of me with her own hands and takes great care of me in spite of a professional maid.

(Uh-huh?)

　I'm glad, but I'm a little embarrassed.

　Everyone who had gathered was somewhat taken aback by the situation. Only Kilt-san was smiling bitterly, though, saying 'Oh dear.

　Tsun Tsun Tsun.

Hey, what's going on in there?

　Solstice, sitting next to me, pokes me with her little elbow.

'What's wrong with you, sister Irna?'

　That being said.

...Maybe because I'm looking forward to seeing it in two years, I guess?
Huh?

　As expected, I couldn't explain it in detail, so I could only answer that.　

(But I feel the same way.)

　I'm aware that I'm a bit of a floater.

　When Mr. Illtimina was doing things for me, I felt like a husband being taken care of by a newlywed sister-wife who was taking care of me.　

'See, Marl?　You've got some dirt on your mouth.
Thank you.
Hmmm... no.

　He wiped my mouth with a rag and we laughed happily at each other.

　We are not bothered by the suspicion and disbelief that surrounds us.

　Just then, an old butler comes up to our table.　

　He whispered something into Miss Frederica's ear.

'Right, okay.'

　She nodded and the old butler bowed and stepped back from the table.

(What is it?)

　When everyone's looking at you.

"My father in the castle has sent word. His Majesty's audience with the Emperor has been set for this afternoon. I hope you will be pleased with what you see.　

　Frederica's blue eyes looked around at us and said.

(Is it this afternoon?)

　This is the second time I've had an audience with you, but I'm still a little nervous about meeting someone of great stature.

　Also, this time, not only the four of us, but also General Dardios, Frederica-san, and Rapt and Lectoris will be in an audience with you.

'Naturally,'
Well, I'll come with you.

　The two 'divine Fanglars' did not seem nervous.

　Even though they were the emperor of the world's most powerful nation, Arun, they might still be aware of the fact that they were in a superior position to the 'Divine Family'.

　Soltis, for example, had a face that said, 'It's so troublesome........

　And Kirt-san.

Hmm, afternoon. Then we have a little time to spare.

　He looked at us.

'Marle, Irna, you two are going to have to go out with the straw after this.
?
That's all right.

　What is it?

It's nothing. It's just an offer of a lesson.

(Hmm?)

　But he didn't sound like a 'just' person, though.

"I was going to speak to you last night. I forgot all about it.
..........
..........

　He said with a smirk.

　At the meaningful way he said it, Solstice said, "? And a dubious look on his face.



　No, I didn't have any reason to say no.

　So, after breakfast, Illtimina-san and I moved to the courtyard where the training hall was located to practice with Kilt-san.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　The three of us came to the courtyard.

　After breakfast, Rapt and Lectoris went back to their rooms.

　Solstice went to her room with Recto Alice, trying to learn as much as she could about The Divine Art in the little time left until we parted.

　Frederica-san is preparing for the audience and confirming the arrangements on behalf of her father.

　So it's just me, Illtimina-san and Kilt-san here.

　The rehearsal room that was destroyed in the battle between Kilt-san and Rapt before has already been repaired and is back to its original form.

''Let's start with Marle.

　The appointment came in and I walked into the training room.

　As usual, Kirt and I faced each other with wooden swords in hand.

''No 'Shinki',''
Yes.

　Nodding, I hold my sword at the ready.

'Merle, good luck.'

　Iltimina's cheers fly.

　Simple me, full of motivation from that alone, stared at Kilt-san in front of me.

　But Kilt-san didn't take a stance.

　He just stared at me.

"Merle.

　I felt a strange heaviness in his voice as he called out, "Show me you're serious.

Show me you are serious. Otherwise, you could die.
...What?

　Dead?
　With this exercise?　Me?

　Illtimina-san was surprised by the unexpected words.

　But Kilt-san's expression was serious.

(..........It seems he wasn't joking.

　I took a deep breath and nodded.

'Okay.'
Hmm.

　Mr. Kilt nodded and finally raised his wooden sword.

　Both of them are in a positive eye stance.

　While placing the sword in the center of your body, the tip of the sword is pointed at your opponent's eyes. It's the basic stance I was taught.

Let's go!

　The Master informed me shortly.

　I was about to nod yes, and just before I did, a heavy weight fell on my whole body.

(!)

　I felt like I was going to collapse.

　I don't know what happened.

　But I soon found out.

　A tremendous amount of pressure was gushing out from the Golden Mark Demon Hunter in front of me.

　Gah, gah, gah.

　The birds in the trees of the courtyard flew away in unison.

　The golden eyes staring at me were filled with a hostility that had never been directed at me before.

(----)

　I know what the weight is.

　--Fear.

　My biological instincts were reacting to the threat in front of me.

　I know this feeling.

　There was a time once when I encountered the Skeleton King in the lowest level of the Dior Ruins, when the memories of my previous killings came flooding back and I was unable to move.
　It's exactly the same feeling I had then.

(Quilt.........)

　I don't know why such hostility is directed at me.

　It's just horrible that she can't understand.

　Even that Illtimina-san has lost her complexion and is unable to speak.

　But there was a strong light in Kirt-san's golden eyes.

''........''

　That is the light as a master.

　It was the look I had seen so many times before, as the swordsman I trusted most.

(Don't run, Merle!)

　I tell myself that it's because I'm afraid of them.

　I'm afraid of them, so what is it?

　You're going to run away?

　I will continue to fight the Children of Darkness and the Demon's Attendants. If I get scared there, every time I feel fear, will I be unable to fight them?
　If that happens, who will fight for you?

.................

　I can feel that man's eyes on me.

　You want me to fight?

　You know that guy?

You're kidding me.

　I can't accept that.

　Yes, and I only have two years left to do that.

　I have to be good enough to stand next to her by then. I've got to get there.

　Fear?

　What a difference that makes compared to losing that man!

Don't let your feelings defeat you!

　He filled his mind, which was about to be pushed in, with a strong fighting spirit and pushed back firmly.

　Then he shifted his stance to the upper level.

　The best sword technique I know.

　Taking a stance that could release it, I stared back at Kilt-san, hard.

''..........''

　Kilt-san gave a small smile for a moment.

　But she quickly returned her expression to that of the 'Sword Master' and she also changed her stance.

(!)

　Halfway down and level the sword with the ground.　　

　Thrust stance.

　Bilili.........

　A tremendous sense of supremacy assaulted me.

　The drawn down, beautiful stance was like a bow and arrow just before it was fired.

(..........)

　It was not good.

　My upper stance is dedicated to attack only, not defense.

　And the trajectory of the sword draws an arc (.).

　In contrast, Kirt's thrusting stance is the same offensive focus, but the sword's trajectory is a straight line (.).

　Even if you release a technique at the same time, Kirto's sword reaches you first.

(Losing...?)

　My mind wavers.

　No, no.

　I'm not done.

...later.

　It's a battle technique where you let your opponent attack first and establish a counter later.

　In other words, you dodge Kirt-san's sword and match it right after she unleashes her swordsmanship to hit her with our attack.

　Boom!

　My heart jumps.

(Dodge...?　(That sword of Kilto Amandes?　

　Impossible, he thought.

　No, even if he could successfully dodge her, he would have to attack her before the next sword was released. Having seen how extremely difficult it was to penetrate the gaps in the 『Golden Seal Demon Hunter』's continuous attacks, having seen its strength up close and personal, it was immeasurable.

''.........''

　Mr. Kilt stares at me.

　It could be any moment.

(...chuckles)

　My mind wanders.

　And - then.

Merle....

　I clasped my hands together in front of my chest and noticed Illtimina's gaze on me.

　Anxiety.

　Fear.

　Behind the blurring of those things, a strong light of trust lit up.

　She was the only one who believed in my victory, which I myself couldn't believe.

(...ah...)

　Then we have to do it.

　No, I'm going to do it!

　What you need is the time to evade.

　If you dodge Kirt-san's sword in a big way, you won't be able to counterattack in time. I really need to avoid him at the very limit.

　Phew.

　I regulate my breathing.

　Kirt-san's sword felt like a pressure like a volcano on the verge of exploding.

(If it hits, it could really kill you.)

　Or so I thought.

　But I'm not going to run anymore.

　I'm going to win.

　I'm going to beat Mr. Kilt.

I swear.

　Now, remember.

　Remember how Mr. Kilt once fought a man-eating ogre that looked like an ogre slipped through his grasp.

　Now, remember.

　In the spirit world, Illtimina was able to dodge the black flying dragon's onslaught by just an inch or two.　

　As I concentrate, a strange sensation surrounds me.

　First, the sound disappeared.

　There was no smell.

　Then the colors disappeared from my vision and everything became black and white.

　Extreme concentration.

(----)

　No fear, nothing, just peace.

　Kilt's eyes glow.

　I see him start to move.

　As if to match it, my own left foot moves forward.

　Something drawn to the limit was released and Kirt-san's wooden sword was thrust out as if it had been played.

　Fast.

　A sword that still feels fast in a world that appears to be in slow motion.

(--Kaase)

　I twisted my body around, putting all my strength into my right leg.

　Surprisingly, I feel myself moving sluggishly, and I feel the tip of Mr. Quilt's wooden sword touch my clothing. The cloth tears easily, reaching the skin beneath it.

(----)

　The skin is torn by the wooden sword.

　But it was only the skin that was torn.

　Without a care in the world, I step in and at the same time unleash the swordsmanship I've been training for until today.

　A swing down from the top step.

　I can see Kirt's golden eyes widen.

　Aiming at that point, my wooden sword is sucked in - and stops just before it hits.

　Bukha.

　Immediately after, the world returned to normal and a tremendous sword wind arose.

　For a moment, her beautiful silver hair fluttered backwards as my wooden sword stopped just short of Kilt-san's forehead, causing her beautiful silver hair to flutter backwards.

　On the contrary, her sword had pierced through my clothes, cutting only the skin on my side to my back side.

　It was truly a paper-thin.

　If I hadn't danced with her, my internal organs might have exploded.

"..........
..........

　We looked into each other's eyes.

　And.

It's beautiful.

　Kirt said and drew his sword.

　I'll draw my sword, too.

(...ah?)

　Brule.....

　My hands, holding the wooden sword, are shaking.

　I think it is due to extreme concentration and tension, and a release from that.　

　Kirto-san gently takes the wooden sword from my hand.

　Her white fingers remove my strong fingers, one by one.

　I couldn't help but look up at her.



　She smiled as she told him with a deep emotion.

　Ah.........

　I was recognized by Kilt-san - and when I thought that, something hot was filling me up.

''Merle!''

(!)

　Mr. Illtimina runs underneath me.

　Mr. Kilt drops back to give up his place, and my body is hugged tightly by the one I love.

'Oh, Merle. I trusted you.
Miss Illtimina.

　An impressed voice.

　I finally felt a sense of victory as I was pressed against the elasticity of her large breasts.

　--I took one from Ms. Kilt.

'Yeah. Yeah, I did it, me!
Yes, sir.

　As I laughed, Illtimina-san was also smiling.

　Kilt-san chuckled as she put one hand on her hip while holding the two wooden swords in her hand, ''Oh dear,'' she said.

　And.

See, Ilarna, you're next. You're next.
Yes, sir.

　The 'Silver Seal Demon Hunter' nodded at Kilt-san's new appointment.

　What she holds in her hand is a wooden spear.

　In contrast, Kirt-san put the wooden sword away on the shelf, and this time she pulled out a large wooden sword.

(......................You chose a more familiar weapon, right?

　What that means is more serious practice.

'You'll have to wait and see, Marle. I'm going to win, too.
Yeah, good luck with that!

　I nodded broadly, trustingly, to her as she declared reliably.

　Ms. Kilt laughs.

'Well?　Will it work that well?

　Then he held up the great wooden sword.　

'Of course. Marle will be watching you, you know.

　Mr. Illtimina, too, half-heartedly replied, as if it were a given, with his wooden spear at the ready.

　And then the expressions on each other's faces disappear.

　What is born is a warrior's face.

(.........What on earth is the meaning of this practice?)

　The practice is closer to the actual battle than usual.

　I'm not sure I can gauge the true intentions of Mr. Quilt who conducts it.

　He doesn't know how I feel about it.

Let's go.
Yes, sir.

　The two beautiful demon hunters quietly approached the distance between them - and the two beautiful demon hunters quietly approached the distance between them.