It was raining the next day, too.

　Raindrops were banging against the windowpanes of the guest room we were assigned to, making a loud noise.

(Windy, too.)　

　I think about that as the windows rattle and shake.

　Today, I have an appointment with Mr. Garun to meet up with him.

　It's about time for me to leave the room, and I was going to leave.

I'll go with you.

　The silver-haired sister said.
　Huh?

"For Wawa is your teacher. It is only natural that he should see to it that his apprentice is matched.
..........

　Is that how it works?

　I don't know, but as far as I'm concerned, I don't mind.

　And then...

I'm coming with you.

(Huh?)

　This time I even declared that I was going to accompany Mr. Illtimina.

'Even though it's a training session, it would be terrible if something happened to my precious Marle. Please let me watch over him close by.

　And a serious look.

'Uh-huh.'

　As for me, I had to nod my head.

　So, I headed to the meeting place with my two overprotective sisters to meet Garun-san.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　We crossed the long connecting corridor to another building.

　It was one of the indoor training grounds for the Arun soldiers at this military base.
　This was the meeting place for Garun-san.

　Inside, it's like a gymnasium in my previous life.

　We entered through the entrance.

Oh, here they are, that they are.

　In the center of the training ground, Garun-san in black armor was already waiting for me.

(Huh?)

　If you look closely, you'll see that next to Mr. Garn, there's also a sister in military uniform with blue hair pulled back in a bun.

(Is Frederica-san there too?)

　I'm going to move closer to you.

Here you go.

　And bowed his head.

　Mr. Garun smiled brightly.

Good luck today, that I am.

　He held out his right hand to me.

　I squeezed his big hand and smiled back, "Yes, my pleasure," he said.

　And.

I didn't know you were here, Frederica.

　Ms. Illtimina calls out to the military-uniformed Reishi next to her.

''Well,''

　She nodded.

'At Lord Garun's request, I have been allowed to rent out this training ground. I'm present in charge of it.

(What, a private party?)

　As I was told, there were no other Arun soldiers in sight.

　To my surprise, Frederica-san laughed.

''Lord Marl?　You're a 'jingo', aren't you?
..........
'In case you've forgotten, its existence is not public knowledge. It's an entity that must be kept confidential, even to the many soldiers on this base.

　Oh.....

(Oh, I see, I completely forgot.)

If you're willing to rent it out, I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to use your "Godhead Mode".
Yes.

　Frederica, you've thought that far ahead.

Thank you, Miss Frederica.

　I thanked her with a big smile on my face.

　Frederica nodded happily.

What? That's what I do.

　I laughed.

　By the way, all but five of us are in a different place.

　Soltis is studying in Recto Alice's room. Of course, Rapt, Mr. Colontude and Poe are also in the same room.

　I heard that Mr. Gelfonberg is resting in his room.

He says it's a reaction to his "prize time.

　Frederica told me with a sigh.

　She said that her three fellow female adventurers were also with Gelfonberg.

　So, there are only five of us here.

Let's get started, shall we?

　sploosh

　Garun-san said as if he couldn't wait and held the 'Thanatos Magic Armament Battle Axe' in his hand.

(.........eh?)

　Are you going to use that battle axe?

　I'm a bit stunned.

'Wait, wait, wait, wait!'

　Mr. Kilt interrupts me, as if in a hurry.

'What do you think you're doing, taking such a thing out of the room!

　I was angry.

　Mr. Illtimina also shielded me behind my back.

Are you crazy enough to use a Thanatos magic armor for mere practice?

　He glares at Garun-san.　

　Frederica-san also puts a white finger to her forehead and sighs.

''Pull yourself together a bit, Garun-dono.

　After being scolded by the three older sisters, Garun flinched, "Nuh........

''It can't be helped, that it can't be helped.......''

　He retracts the battle axe ruefully.

(Yo, good.)

If a weapon with high killing power like the 'Thanatos Magic Armor' is used, it would be a serious battle to kill each other.

　I let out a breath of relief.

　In the end, we decided to use the wooden sword that was prepared in the training grounds.

(Good.)

　So, once again.

So, please.
Mm-hmm.

　We faced each other in the center of the training ground and each held our wooden swords at the other.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　Garun Billie Lang is the equal of Mr. Kilt and Ms. Illtimina in The Golden Mark of Demon Hunters.

　There's not a single factor that makes me a winner.

(But--)

　I've been working out a lot.

　Even if I don't win, I'd like to get one.

　I stared at the big man in black armor who was facing me at about five yards away.

(I'm going to borrow his chest, I'm going to take the plunge!)

　That's how I feel.

　Tang.　

　At the same time, I took the plunge.

　Huh.

　First of all, a small check.

　I'm going to try to pull out my best 'stroking sword'.

　Gas.

(Ugh!)

　It was easily played.

　On the contrary, the momentum of the bounced wooden sword dragged him back farther than he had stepped in.

　What power!

　I can't believe I was just lightly touched by Garun-san's wooden sword and yet I got played so much.

''Go as fast as you can, Marl!

　Kilt's scolding voice flew in the air.

　I nodded at my beautiful master's words and stepped forward once more.

　Huh, hyphen.

　He mixed in a feint and fired a series of shots.

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

　Mr. Garun narrows his yellow eyes.

　Cuts, gulp.

(!)

　Garun-san's wooden sword flicked off my series of blows and unleashed a sharp thrust.

　The wooden sword tip is closing in.

(I have to dodge!)

　I twisted and turned desperately, but

　doh!

What?

　The tip of the wooden sword dug into my abdomen.

　A sickening sensation lifted from inside my stomach, and gastric juice spilled from my mouth.

"Merle!

　I can hear Illtimina-san scream.

(Ku.........)

　Enduring the pain, I hurriedly stepped back.

　I immediately held the wooden sword in my positive eye.

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

　Garun-san didn't follow up.

(I thought I could have avoided that one... but I guess I misjudged it?)

　More focus.

　And.

A man wants to see what Lord Marl is really up to, that he does.

　Mr. Garun said unexpectedly.

(Huh?)

　A serious voice.

　There's a straight, strong light in his eyes.

　...........

　My seriousness.

　Garun-san didn't seem to have any intention of joining swords with me, a mere child.

　I see.

　I have a zinging pain in my stomach.

　I let out a deep breath.

'Okay.'

　Answer, and once, release the stance.

　With blue eyes down, he focuses his attention on his own body.

　And.

...divine release.

　I opened my inner faucet and released my divine power.

　Don't.

　A magma-hot force flowed inside his body, with pinned-up beast ears on his head and a long, fluffy tail sprouting from his butt. Around me, the dissipated divine Qi crackled and sparked white.

　I open my eyelids and look at Garun-san with my blue eyes.

　He nodded happily.

''That's what I've been waiting for, that I've been waiting for.

　A large hand grabbed the helmet that was hanging down behind the neck of the armor.

　Clunk.

　Putting it on.

　Garun-san's expression disappeared, and at the same time, the tremendous magical surge of Thanatos magic armor chattered through the air.

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

　The atmosphere is different from before.

　The air was tense.

　It was like a real fight, even if it was just rehearsal.

　Cukku.

　I held the wooden sword in my hand to my right eye.

　Mr. Garun also half-heartedly held the wooden sword up.

(Let's go!)

　bang

I, who had become a 'divine dog', kicked the floor of the training ground as if to crush it and attacked Garun at once.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　In terms of results - I was completely defeated.

　Garun-san, who wore the Thanatos magic armor, was a tremendous power. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world, and I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

　But when it comes to speed, I was faster than you.

　I used it to my advantage and desperately attacked Mr. Garun, but I couldn't get one step closer.

　On the contrary, Mr. Garun's attack hit my small body in an interesting way.

(Why?!)

　I thought that over and over again as I put my swords together.

　In the world of extreme concentration, Garun-san's sword seemed very slow to me.

　A sword that was slowly approaching.

　I moved to dodge it.

　Of course, my movements are also slow.

　The sword is slowly approaching, and I try to dodge it with slow movements.

　And yet...

I can't dodge...!

　The wooden sword moves to the point of evasion, chasing me, and eventually I'm cornered and hit.

　Because I can see it, I feel even more impatient and afraid.

　You can see it, but you can't avoid it.

　It's slowly closing in on you, but you just can't avoid it.

　If Garun-san unleashes an attack, the last thing I can do is avoid it, no matter how hard I try to avoid it, nor can I use my power to prevent it.

(Hmph!)

　I've never had this kind of fear before.

　Gasp.

Gah!

　thumping

"Gulp.

　crack

.....

　Halfway through, I was already being torture one way or the other.

'That's enough!'

　I might have been injured worse if Kilt-san hadn't jumped between us with his spare wooden sword in hand and stopped Garun-san's sword.

''Marl!''

　I was about to fall down dizzy, but Illtimina-san stopped me.

　My whole body was covered in swelling and bruises.

　Ms. Garun is

Phew.

　He let out a hot exhalation from behind his helmet and eventually drew the wooden sword that he and Mr. Kilt had matched.

　Kirt-san also draws his wooden sword.

　After glancing at me with a glance.

You're overreacting.

　I say blame-wise.

　Gachan.

　Mr. Garun took off his helmet.

''I don't know what to expect. The Jingu-dono was faster than I expected, that I didn't have time to add or subtract,''

　His face was drenched in sweat as he answered that.

　His large hands wiped the sweat from his bald head.

I've missed the vital point, so you'll be fine, won't you?
I don't need another letter.

　Mr. Kilt said mortified.

　Hah, hah....

　I caught my breath, I was dizzy, but Illtimina-san supported me as I managed to stand up.

'Oh, thank you.........'

　Then I bow to Mr. Garun.

(I knew he was strong.)

　I thought it would work a little better, but it was like no.

　It's frustrating.

　But I was too completely defeated to feel better about it.

'Lord Marl.....

　Frederica-san gave me a surprised look.

　The warrior Garun Billy Lang nodded.

''He was strong, that he was.
..........
But Jingu-dono's too straightforward nature and too good eye have taken a toll on him, that it has.

　Huh...?

I was falling for every single feint we had, that I was.

(Huh, feint?)

　He nodded at me in surprise.

''A man was deliberately slowing down the initial speed of his sword, that he was.

　Huh?

Seeing this, Jingu-dono made a move, but a certain man quickened his sword to match his movements, so that he was unable to evade in time, that he was.
..........

　I don't believe it.

(I hadn't noticed that at all.)

Your eyesight is so good that you can see the beginning of your sword swinging, that you can't see the speed of your sword.

　That was it.........

　Mr. Garun laughed and

Jingu-dono is really quite obedient, that he is.

　With his large hand, he crumpled my head.

　I never imagined that he could change the speed of his sword in the middle of the process.

(.......It's really an amazing skill.

　So this is Arun's 'Golden Mark Demon Hunter'?

　Garun-san's expression softened and

I have a feeling Master Marl might want to learn a few more cunning swords, that I do.

　A cunning sword?

A deceitful sword, that it is.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait.

　Mr. Kilt, who had been silent until then, interrupted me.

'Don't teach a man's apprentice to do what he wants,'
Hmm?
'There is no need for such a sword. I will let Marle walk the straight path of the sword.

　Mr. Kilt declared as he stood in a position to face Mr. Garun.

　He patted his bald head.

'But even so, Lord Marr is too straightforward, isn't he?
That's his strength.
..........
"Learning to use an outlawed sword dulls its brilliance. It's a sword he has no use for.

　The beautiful master says so.

　Mr. Garun looks at me.
　And then he looks back at Mr. Kilt.

"There is no need for you to use the Sword of the Outside World, Sir Marle, but if you know what you're doing, you'll be able to use it. But if you know what you're doing, you'll be able to handle it even if your opponent uses it.
No need.
"M
If you keep polishing it off, you'll be able to deal with it someday, even if you don't know it.
You are stubborn, that you are.
What?

　Shumuria and Arun, the 'Golden Mark Demon Hunters' of the two countries, stared at each other.

(Eh, eh?)

　I don't want them to get into that kind of trouble because of my education policy....

　But that wish didn't come true, and the two of them were battling their own theories about their swords, saying this and that, without regard to me.

　What should we do?

Huh....

　Mr. Illtimina sighed heavily.

　Then she smiled gently at me.

"You'll have to wait here for a bit, Merle. I'll go to the infirmary and borrow some medical supplies.
Uh-huh.

　Illtimina-san stands up.

　I look at Kilt-san and the others as if I were in trouble.

''Uh ... what should we do about those two?''
"Leave it alone.
..........
They're both good adults. --so I'll be back soon.

　Ms. Illtimina smiles.
　Then.

"Frederica.
I know. Until you return, I'll keep an eye on Lord Marl.
Please.

　Illtimina-san said to the sister in military uniform who nodded, and then left the training ground.

　As I watched her back.

"Sir Merle, can you walk?
Uh-huh.
There are chairs over here to rest. You can rest there.

　Saying that, Frederica-san lent me her shoulder.

(Aitta........)

　The bruises all over his body were chattering and numb.

　I don't think the bone was broken, but it felt quite feverish.

'Let's walk slowly,'

　Frederica-san says so gently.

　.............

　Perhaps because I was burning, her skin felt nice and cool to the touch.

(Also..........it smells kind of nice.)

　It was the smell of Frederica herself, which was somewhat soothing.

　Somehow, I managed to reach the chair and sit down in it.

(Phew.)

　I exhale loudly.

　Frederica-san crouches down in front of me and removes the armor and cuirass that I was wearing. As it is, she also undoes the collar strap of my shirt and opens it wide.

　Her cold fingers caress my sweat-soaked skin.

(....................It feels so good.

Miss Frederica.
Hmm?
Would you mind touching my forehead?
..........
..........
Yeah, okay.

　quickly

　A cool palm is pressed against my forehead.

　Ah.........

　The pain in my whole body felt a little lessened.

''Thank you, Frederica-san.

　I closed my eyes and chuckled.

'No problem.'

　The black knight's sister replied with a voice that sounded like she was smiling back at me.

　She did so for a while.

　...........

''Mar-dono has really gotten stronger, hasn't he?

　Frederica suddenly muttered.

(Hmm?)


..........
Maybe you're stronger than I am now.

　I open my eyes.

　Frederica-san was smiling a little sadly.

　...........

'I don't think so.'

　I replied.

'But if I've grown stronger since then, maybe it's because of you, Frederica.
...What?
More swords.

　He speaks up with nostalgia.

'You told me that when I talked to Frederica-san on the airship before about my sword problems. That's why I've been able to wield the sword so far without hesitation.
..........
So I'm going to keep swinging my sword harder and stronger.

　Miss Frederica looks surprised.
　But

I see.

　The words spilled out with some kind of hot breath.

(????)

　The eyes staring at me seemed to be slightly moistened.

''I'm also properly inside Lord Marl........''

　White fingers entered through the open collar and stroked over my heart.

　...............

　It's chilly and very comfortable fingers.

　Frederica-san closes her eyes and presses her forehead against my shoulder.

　Her soft blue bangs twist.

　The good smell has grown stronger.

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

　For a while, we didn't move to each other.

　And.

Here you go, Merle!

　bang

　The door to the training ground opened and Iltimina-san returned with a first aid kit in her hand.

　Frederica-san let go of her forehead.
　Then she stood up, looking at Iltimina-san.

''You're late,''

　A resolute voice.
　That expression is no longer visible from me.

　Eventually, along with Illtimina-san who came over, the two black and white sisters treated me.

(Finally, I might have calmed down a bit...)

　A breath of fresh air.

　Incidentally, Kirt-san and Garun-san had developed an argument, and somehow the two of them had turned into a practice session where they bumped their wooden swords against each other.

　.............

　It looks like they won't be able to practice with me anymore.

　So I had two people, Illtimina-san and Frederica-san, practice with me.

　Since I'm injured, it was just a matter of lightly matching swords, but

(Ms. Frederica's a liar!)

I, who didn't go into 'God Body Mode', was no match for her sword, at all.

　Or rather, Frederica-san, she was even stronger than the last time we met.

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

　Swing the sword more.

　And that's what she kept doing, herself.

　Frederica Dardios.

　Really good-looking, nice lady.

　I've enjoyed practicing swordplay with her, whom I admire and respect, forever and ever.

　--And so the time goes on.

　Before I knew it, the three days we spent at the military base had flown by in the blink of an eye.