When I first saw the teacher, my impression was 'someone who doesn't look confident'.

　I thought so.

　He had a faltering tone of voice and didn't even make good eye contact.

　I had a certain amount of respect for him as a special class antimagician, but I wondered what he was like as a person... it was kind of natural to question him.

　But I found that perception to be naive.

　That human strength is not due to their personality.

　At first I was just genuinely surprised. Because Sensei's swordsmanship was far beyond that of a human being. At least I couldn't catch those sword fights.


　It's a big world.

　I had been stagnant for a long time.

　Just then, I met Yulia, who returned to the Boundary City, and I learned of a strength beyond human understanding, but there was more to it than that.


　Bertina Light.


　Her sword fights had already reached the level of art. Sensei was the greatest swordsman in the history of mankind. There was no doubt about that but.......Sensei was never satisfied with his current self.

　This was right after I became his apprentice.


'Your teacher is really strong. I'm honestly surprised....
I'm not satisfied with my strength yet, you know?
'What?　Is the doctor still not satisfied?
''Yeah I don't think I'm much of a master yet so...''
Master, sir?
''Yeah. My mentor was ... strong, very, very strong...
Better than your current teacher?
'Yeah ... much ... stronger than I am now ...'
'I see. It's a big world.
'Well there's still so much more in the world that we ... don't know about ...'
If you're still a work in progress, then I'm not quite there yet either. I'll work harder.
"...yeah. Good luck, Shelly.
Yes!


　I can remember that conversation like it was yesterday.

　Sensei told me that I was still a work in progress. I kept following my master's back, never being satisfied with my current strength, but continuing to pursue my own strength.

　I admired such a back.

　My goal was to become a teacher. I've been following her footsteps for a long time.

　Even though I awakened my ability as a demon race, I had yet to reach my teacher. That meant that Sensei's strength was no longer outside the realm of humanity.

　My abilities as a demon race raised my basic physical abilities and even refined my Singularity Ability 《Extras》.

　Nevertheless, my teacher's back was far away. I longed for her to be far away, and I also wanted to be strong like her, and I wanted to be strong.


　But the reality was cruel. Sensei was defeated.


　He was defeated by a higher-ranking demon, and his life was scattered in the land of dusk. The strength of a demon that even that teacher couldn't reach. It would surely be impossible for me to reach it now. I understood that even in that sword fight at that time.

　Even though I rushed in out of desperation, that skill of slicing through my right eye, even though I was exhausted from the fight with my teacher and also engaged with Julia, is certainly astounding.

　But just because I can't reach it now doesn't mean it won't reach me forever. I'll just have to work harder for when we meet again someday. I think we have talent, that's for sure. But it's an element we can't see and can't control.

　Then we just have to do what we can do. Just as the teacher has been doing all along, I'm going to....


'Good morning, sir.'


　As I get up and get ready, I greet my teacher's picture.

　It's a picture of him smiling with me, which is rare for a teacher.

　I bow reverently to it and leave. With a hazy moonlit night around my waist, I proceed to the training ground as usual, clinking my military boots.

　While certainly carrying on my teacher's will--.



　◇



....

　Since then, he had trained as usual and showered before heading to the royal castle.

　Today, he was to have an audience with Her Majesty the Queen. Of course, that's not just an audience. It's because Her Majesty has given me an imperial order that I am heading there.

　That imperial order is.......regarding the formation of the Special Class Counter-Magician.

　With the death of Sensei, the pecking order of the Special Class Counter-Magicians was to be renewed again.

　But it's not the same as before.

　I said I was going to take over from my teacher. It was literally saying that I would take over everything from my teacher. Then it was also the pecking order I would take over.

　I've already spoken to the top brass and Liane.

　How will that come out this time........


''Good morning, senior.
Sherry. Good morning.
Eira-senpai is early, too.
Yeah. You're up a little early. Okay, let's go.


　I met senior Eira in front of the royal castle.

　And so we stepped forward into the presence of His Majesty the Lady King.


''Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming together.


　In a solemn atmosphere, Her Majesty opened her mouth. Currently, in addition to the special class anti-magicians, there are also people from the upper echelons of the military, mainly generals, and also Liane.

　We kneeled down on the spot and listened to his words.


''With regard to the organization of the special class anti-magicians, we are pleased to have you here today. Now let me put it bluntly. Noah Bileschmidt was newly ranked 10th in the pecking order. And the number one spot in the pecking order, which was occupied by Bertina Wright it is now passed on to Shelly Amis. Does anyone have any objections?


　The military brass, plus Princess Liane and Her Majesty, had apparently decided that I could officially be ranked number one in the special class anti-magician hierarchy.

　However, things were not going to work out that way, I knew that very well.


''........It's Roy, isn't it? Objection?''
Yes, sir.


　And so it was Roy-san who raised his hand in that situation.


''I disapprove, a fifteen year old girl ranked first in the special class anti-magician pecking order........and I believe that she is also lacking in ability.
Then let's prove it, Mr. Roy.
Huh?


　I stood up quickly and continued to stare at Mr. Roy. His eyes were clearly filled with anger. I'm sure he thinks my attitude is arrogant and insolent. But this was to be expected.


　Sensei was the most powerful swordsman in the human race.

　That's why everyone agreed on that pecking order. Of course, there were exceptions like Yulia, but Sensei was the most noble of all, a swordsman who was respected by everyone.

　But what about me?　

　He had only recently become a special grade anti-magician and had no achievements. He is not a respected swordsman like his teacher.

　Although he has the ability as a special class antimagician, there is no dignity in that.

　Even if you called me a mere lass, I wouldn't be able to argue with you.

　But even so, I understood that before I decided to follow in your footsteps. I didn't make that statement without that much resolve.

　I am stronger than anyone else.

　That is a word that includes the meaning of pure fighting strength, but also the way of being a human being.


''If I show you my abilities, you'll recognize me, right?
"Shelly, Teme ... do you know what you're talking about?
'Yes, sir. 'I am saying that I have the power to make you bow down to me. No, that's not all. I'm saying that I have the ability to rank first in the hierarchy of special class anti-magicians.
Well you're a little girl of 15 years old, aren't you? You're just getting a little older, aren't you?
'No, this is a simple fact. I am succeeding my teacher. But it's not just the way of being a person, the secret sword he gave me. I will also inherit his position as the number one in the rankings of the special opponents of magicians, where he worked.
Hahaha I'm going to laugh. You're number one on the pecking order?　You're taking over for Bell?　Well, I'm aware of some of it. You might even become a better swordsman than Belle one day. I'll be the first to admit that talent. But hey, now's not the time. I'm not going to be the one to take over from you. Now, stay back.
I will return the words exactly as they were written.
Ha, you barked. Okay, let's do it, Sherry.
Yes, sir.


　And so we are going to fight here. Of course, some people suggested that we should go to the training ground, but I said that this was enough for me. That's because I had the confidence to complete Roy-san.


　--Sir, you'll see. I will take over from you.