There wasn't much action over the next few days.
　On this day, I was in charge of the Order as an instructor.

Hey!

　Natalie, a girl in the Order, is coming at me with authority. A powerful sword streak slices through the air, ready to strike her torso.
　I catch it with my wooden sword. I feel the weight of my hands on the hilt.

"d*mn it!

　Natalie swings her sword in rapid succession.
　Her hair swept back in a bun. Sweat dances in the air.
　Aiming for the moment when she gasps for air, she fires back.

''--Uh!

　He must have realized that they switched formations.
　Natalie tried to stay on the defensive. But she knew that for all her valiant offensive power, she was vulnerable when she turned to defense.
　She is defensive and when cornered, she will try to strike back. But it created an even bigger opening.

"This is the end!
"Yikes!

　He swung his wooden sword precisely through Natalie's body.
　It took the one perfectly.
　Natalie sank to her knees in a dejected heap. She's wearing armor, so she was not hurt.
　She was only broken by the blow.

Ugugu ....... I wasn't a match for you at all.

　Natalie clenched her fists and bit her teeth.
　The knights who were watching our battles let out an exclamation point.

"That's the way I see it, Master Kaiser. Perfect swordplay.
'Natalie's a pretty good prospect in our Order, but ...... it's like she's out of control. It was like twisting a baby's hand.
'Suffice it to say that Lady Elsa didn't manage to land a single blow.

　You have demonstrated a certain amount of dignity as an instructor.
　If I fight so clumsily, my teaching won't be as convincing.

''Ugh. I thought that if I could beat Kaiser-san in a bout, Elsa-san would fall in love with me.

　Natalie was pounding the ground with sorrow.
　She admires Elsa. In terms of envy, and in terms of longing. So by defeating me, Elsa's admirer, she's trying to get me to pay attention to her. I don't want to get in your way, but I also have no reason to lose to you.

It's so frustrating!
Well, don't get too downhearted. Natalie's going to eat up all the training I put her through, and I'm sure she's got good muscles.
Good plotting is not a word for an equal!　We're still not seen as equals, are we?

　...... Indeed .
　Natalie is right . The word "reasonable" comes completely from the top. I'm not talking to someone I would consider a rival.

"No, I'm sorry," I say to Natalie. Natalie looks up. I smile at her teary-eyed face and say, "Honestly, I don't think we're even.
"I didn't see you as an equal, honestly.
No need to restate it again!

　Natalie turns red in the face and gets mukey and angry .

'Well, even if we had a good game, the important thing is that Elsa isn't here right now. So you'll have to put the contradiction away for today.

　Elsa was now out on patrol around town.
　Natalie has no one to show her the best of things.
　But it was auspicious that the leader of the knights himself went on patrol. Normally, that kind of work would be left to his men.
　But he wants to be closer to the townspeople.

　And this was it.
　The knights surrounding us were buzzing.

"Commander Elsa. ......!
What's going on?

　Apparently, Elsa's back from her rounds.
　But all of the knights are very upset. What's going on?　I followed the eyes of the knights and I couldn't believe my eyes.

'Elsa......!

　Elsa wore a bitter expression.
　The brilliant silver and white armor she wore was dirty. She clutches her right shoulder heavily. Perhaps she was injured.
　More importantly, she wields a sword. It was broken off halfway up.

Hey, hey. Hey, hey.


　I asked. "Did you fight someone?
　Elsa gave a small, quiet nod.
"I was on my way to patrol when I was approached out of the blue. "'Are you Kaizel's daughter?' I said yes. And when I said yes, the man pointed his sword at me.
And that's why you were attacked?
...... Yes.
"How dare you break Elsa's sword: ....... Did you catch me off guard?

　I asked, and Elsa shook her head with a look on her face as if she had bitten down on a bitter bug.

''No . I didn't take any blunders. I struck them squarely, fair and square. As a result--I lost.
!

　At Erza's words, the knights gasped in unison .

''Commander Elsa said that we lost ......!
''Ridiculous . The Commander is a knight and an S-ranked adventurer!　I've never seen the Commander lose to anyone before!
I can't believe someone like that is mixed in with the rest of the city: ......!
"Elsa. "First of all, I'm glad you're okay," I said.
"I don't think he meant to get my head. Once the sword was broken and the battle was won, he no longer wanted my head.

　Elsa muttered as she recalled the scene.

"The other one said... 'This is about as good as it gets.' Then he settled his sword and left a message for me.
A message?

　Elsa nodded.

'He wants me to tell Kaisel everything that happened here.
......!

　Was I the target of the attacker who attacked Elsa?
　You know, Anna once told me. Someone in the Adventurers' Guild was looking for me. Apparently he was pointing his sword at the receptionist.
　And the intruder who snuck into the Academy?
　I don't know if it's true, but I think we need to make contact with the man.