At the command of Instructor Joseph, the students swarmed to the box containing the swords.
　One by one, the students pull out their swords.
　When the number of students swarming around me has decreased a bit, I go to get my own sword.

''Hm?　Are there different kinds?

　The box also contained items of different sizes, thicknesses, and sword shapes.

''Well, ordinary ones are fine...''

　I'm not good with any kind of sword.
　..........
　All right, this one will do.
　Is this what you call a longsword?
　He grabs the hilt and pulls it out.

'....Mm.

　Even though the blade was machined to prevent it from being cut, it still had a solid weight to it.
　I see, this is what a real sword is........
　Even though it's for competition, there's something very impressive about it.
　Earlier I thought spears are cool (although I think they are actually cool), but maybe boys are fated to carry the sense that they think swords are 'cool'.......
　After all this time, I can't really say anything about the big boys in this country either.

　And someone tapped me on the shoulder.
　I turned around and saw Cecily-san with a smile on her face.

'Se, Miss Cecily?'
See, your shoulders are tense?
Huh?

　Kuniguni, he rubbed my shoulder.

''Fufu........did you relax your shoulders?''
Uh....yes?

　But my heart is backing up and it's not that bad.
　I mean, all of a sudden the smell around me has changed to a nice smell!
　Ah, but to be able to see Cecily in her athletic uniform this close up...!
　Thank you, God!
　I'm glad to be alive!

Your name is Kurohiko, isn't it?
Oh, yes.
'Then let me introduce myself again, Crohico. My name is Cecily Arkwright and I'm looking forward to working with you over the next year. I look forward to working with you for the next year.

　Cecily-san places a thin hand on those moderately sized beautiful breasts and bows a small bow.
　
　Cecily-sama was an angelic person with a heart of gold.
　Or rather--.

　That workout outfit looks archangel-grade on you!

　....I wanted to say it, but as expected, I couldn't.
　Yeah.
　As expected, you know.

It's nice to meet you too!

　Eventually, I return it normally.
　Then Miss Cecily tilts her head slightly.

Yes. Let's keep each other in check.

　He smiled and said with a smile.

'Ha, yes.'

　It was the moment of the angel's second coming.

　Ah........I'm so glad I'm in the same group with him.......　

　As I was thrilled, Cecily pulled out a slim sword from the box.
　Huh?
　When I saw you yesterday, I thought you were fighting with two swords........

''Hey~, Cecily-sama!　Hurry up and get back here~!

　When I looked, I saw a rear-facing female student waving to Cecily and calling out to her.

''Hmm.......see you then.

　Leaving a smile, Cecily-san returned to the circle of cronies.
　.........Zeke-san, as usual, seems to be busy handling the students who flocked to Cecily-san.
　It's hard to be a popular person.

　That's why, with our swords in hand, we naturally formed a circle around the center, with our backs to the wall of the training grounds.
　And as for me, I was sitting alone in between the five instructors and a few classmates who were waiting at the side.

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

　Hmmm, the man who came in late, is about to be botched as soon as possible.
　Cecily-san is basically being protected by Siegwall and his crony tornadoes.......

''Hmm?''

　I just saw Currier-san standing on the wall opposite me.
　She was standing there with a long sword in her hand, just like me.
　I looked around.
　Hmm.
　The only people in this group who are clearly feeling bossy are me and Currier-san.
　However, Currier-san emits an aura of stay away from me, so although it can't be helped.......oh, I......?
　.............
　Crap!
　Is this the harm of being enrolled two days late...!
　It's like they've already solidified themselves as a group of good friends right away.
　Machina-san said that 'I'm sure it will draw some attention,' but the theory is that because the lion's group has outstanding talents in Cecily-san and Currier-san, my demon setting doesn't work as a source of attention...

　Ugh, I wonder if my bocce life will begin again.
　Will history repeat itself?
　Kuh.
　No ... not yet!
　There's no way I'm going to fall down here!
　I'm going up!
　We can't sit here and feel sorry for ourselves!
　Whoa!

　As I was rousing myself like that, Instructor Joseph, who had seen that the sword was finished in everyone's hands.

We will now begin a simulation game!　All those who think they are the ones to come forward - step forward!

　I said.
　The students buzzed.
　I, the first one is a bit.........
　And instructor Josef said.

Yeah, yeah, I forgot to mention one thing.

　He added, and then spoke the names of the three students in turn.

''Phiburg Marrow, Ira Horne, and Cecily Arkwright. As for these three, the mock match is the last. And these three will be my opponent, Joseph Baygan - that is, I will be in charge of them. So those three who have just been named will have to wait until the rest of the students are finished.

　Oh," the students groaned.
　I follow the students' gaze.

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
　It's just a matter of time before you get the chance to see them.
　And that red-haired female student wearing an earring is the person called Ira.......
　........Oh, she's pretty cute.
　And as for our Cecily-san, she didn't have any pretensions, and kept a cool expression on her face.
　The fact that she doesn't sniff out these things is also wonderful........

　Asaro.
　Ira Horne.
　Cecily Arkwright.

　Apparently, these three are the three most talented people in the Lion Clan who have a good reputation in front of them.
　Hmmm, I'm a little unconvinced that Asaro is treated as a competent person, but since Instructor Josef says so, he must be quite skilled.

　And.

Okay, I'll go.

　The first one came forward and the ranked mock match began.

　　　　　　　　　　*

　Just after the mock match for the rankings began, the ten players were finished.
　At that point, the instructors playing against each other would change.
　The lion's group had a total of fifty people.
　If you exclude the three skilled instructors Josef will be dealing with, there are forty-seven of them.
　In other words, each of the five instructors would be dealing with nine to ten students.

　Then, the eleventh mock match would begin.

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

　But everyone is so cool.....
　It's like, they're fighting just like normal.
　I've seen a scene like that in a western movie set in the medieval or early modern era.

　I look at the sword in my hand.
　...Am I going to be okay?
　Ugh, I'm starting to get nervous.

"How do you see this year's freshmen?
'Well...'

　Oh.
　The instructors waiting at the side began to talk about something interesting.
　I leaned closer to the instructors.

"First of all, this lion gang has the best talent in the world.

　The instructor who said that took a glance at the two students in turn.

''Honestly, those two alone are more than enough for me.
'The Marquis of Marrow's son, Fibruk Marrow, and Ira Horne of the Horne family.......indeed. They are both reputed to be highly skilled swordsmen.
But this lion squad would not be complete without Cecily Arclight.
Yeah.
''When I first found out that Cecily Arkwright was going to be enrolled in this school, it was all about her for a while.
'That's true. My grandfather is the current Holy King's swordsmanship instructor, and my brother is the vice-captain of the Sacred Tree Order... And Miss Cecily herself has been praised by both of them for being more talented than they are. It would be strange if it wasn't talked about.

　I've heard a similar story before, but I knew Cecily was an amazing person....

More importantly, she's that good-looking.
Yeah.
I wish I was a little younger.
No, you can't.

　

''Well, anyway, it's said that if there are three talented students in a grade, it's a good thing, but this year, there are also promising students in the twin snake group and the star group.

　Is that right?
　A group of people?
　..........
　Ah, the names of the other classes.
　I mean, how many classes are there in total?

Yeah. So, you have five good prospects as of now?
Three of them are lionesses. But we'll get noticed.

　Hmm.
　The Lion's Group was an elite class in a sense.

''This year's rookies can't wait to see the results of their attack on the Holy Ruins.
..........
Hmm?　What's going on?
Oh, no, I'm sorry.
'What?　What were you looking at?
"I was watching Miss Cecily.
Hey.
Because....
No, not because of that, you know, but because I know what you're thinking.

　While I was listening to these instructors' conversations, the mock game was still going on.
　Wow, what am I going to do........
　Someday, it will be my turn, right?

　And I noticed that the only ones who hadn't played a mock match were me and Currier-san.

''Is there anyone out there who hasn't played a match yet?''

　The bespectacled female instructor addresses the students.

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

　Okay, let's go.
　Let's go.

　I stood up and stepped forward.

"This is Sagara Kurohiko!

　Yeah, let's see what you can do.
　I'll raise my sword at the sight of the sword.

"Yo, I'd love to meet you!