On the first day of the second month of fire, the Six Kings Festival ended and six months have passed in the calendar. Incidentally, the calendar in this world passes in the order of Fire Moon, Water Moon, Wood Moon, Earth Moon, and Wind Moon, and after the Light Moon, the Fire Moon to Wind Moon is repeated again to become the Heavenly Moon.
　It is said that the fire to wind moon comes around twice in a year, so the latter months are called 'February' to distinguish them.

　Well, that's just the way it is, and since I'm tired of the Sixth King Festival, I want to take it easy today.
　While thinking about this, I pat Belle's head, who is leaning back against me, and watch Lilia-san and the others who are diligently working on their training.

　The ones participating in the training are Lilia-san, Luna-san, Zeke-san, and Anima, Eta, and Theta. Aoi and Yona, perhaps tired from the Sixth King Festival just like me, did not participate in the training today, but went out into town together.
　I was invited to join them, but I wanted to brush Belle, so I refused and came to observe the training after it was over.

　Somehow everyone participating in the training seemed to be more spirited than usual, and I'm sure it wasn't my imagination.
　Just then, Lilia-san stopped her sword and wiped the sweat off her face. Then she seems to notice me and calls out to me as she walks towards us.

''Lilia-san, thank you for your hard work.''
Thank you.
He was very enthusiastic about it.
''........That's right. The incident with the first hero-sama, the challenge to Agni-sama at the Sixth King Festival................I guess it's because I've had many opportunities to feel inadequate.

　 Maybe.

Well, then, I'm going to go back to work.
'What?　Already?　You haven't rested at all...
'I have a job, so I can't spend too much time training, so I like to do my best when I can.
Well then, at least have this drink...
'No, so don't take out the World Tree fruit drink as if it were water like that. I won't drink it.

　I took out a drink of the fruit of the world tree in an attempt to get Lilia-san to at least recover from her fatigue after talking to her for a little while, but she refused.
　Lilia-san smiled bitterly as it was and said, "I'll just accept your kindness," and went back to training.

　Hmm, everyone seems to be working hard, and I would like to be of assistance, but I'm not very good at fighting.

"What's the matter~?　What's the matter with you?
...Mr. Illness?
Hi. I was just walking by on my way home from the laundry and I saw that you were thinking about something.
Oh, no...Lilia-san and the others are working hard on their training, so I thought I'd be able to help in any way I can.

　I tell Illness-san, who happened to be passing by and called out to me, what I was thinking about earlier. Then Illness-san, after glancing at Lilia-san and the others who are training, nods and opens her mouth.

''........I see~ It seems like you're 'sluggishly growing', too. Maybe she's in a hurry~. You can say that the training method is ~ wrong~, but~
'What?　Is that so?
Yes, especially the young lady and, uh, Anima, you've hit a wall, haven't you? It's a chance for her to grow up.

　I had no idea, but Mr. Illness tells me with conviction. Lilia-san and Anima are hitting the wall?　A bigger chance?
　When I was confused, Illness-san gently reached out her hand to pat me on the head a bit, and then took a slow step towards Lilia-san and the others.

　Then, after opening a little distance, she clapped her hands with a punch and opened her mouth as Lilia-san and the others stopped their training.

''Please listen to me for a moment~. Kite-sama's~ please, I'll give you some advice~
Illness?

　Hearing Illness-san's words, Lilia-san nodded her head curiously.

''First of all~ Miss, I recommend that you train your magical power management, not your physical abilities and ~technology~.
Huh?　Uh, um ... yes?
Next, Anima - hone your technique. Sieglinde should ~ focus on the parallel activation of the techniques. Lunamaria - pay attention to the distance between you and your opponent. Eta and Theta ~ lack basic skills.
"..........
That's all. Do you have any... any questions?

　Illness-san, who was giving her advice in her usual manner, was looking at Lilia and the others stunned, as if she hadn't caught up on her thoughts.
　Anima, who was the first to recover from the confusion in such a situation, raised one hand.

''Yes~ What is it?''
Mister Illness, if I do this will I become stronger than I am now?

　By the way, Anima is also indebted to Illness-san for teaching her how to write letters and so on, so she uses a firm respectful tone to her.

''That's right, a little~ Shall I try it out~?
What do you mean, "try"?
"Please try attacking me~. I don't use any magic power, so please try attacking me with all your might~
What?　No, no, but then....

　I can understand Anima's confusion.

"If you want to be strong, try attacking me without hesitation, you might find the answer there.
Okay, okay.

　Hearing Illness-san's words, which she tells without any hesitation, Anima nodded as if she had made up her mind and drew her fist and prepared herself.
　While Lilia-san and the others are also watching with worried expressions, Anima runs towards Illness-san who hasn't taken a single stance and................................slams her fist into him with all her might.

...What?

　I didn't know what had happened. The next thing I knew, the anima that I was supposed to have hit was lying on her back on the ground with a shocked expression on her face.

''I threw her so that she wouldn't be ~injured~, are you okay?''
Yes, sir.
'Illness!　What did you just do?　To me, it's just like the moment Anima-san was touched by Illness, she was spinning...

　You threw it?　Did you spin the moment he touched you?　Could it be that Irnes-san used........aikido?

I just adjusted the force to make her jump on her own.
What?　Uh, um....
Well, I guess that's one way to do it.

　It still feels like it. Of course, they wouldn't call it Aikido because it's a different world, but maybe it's the same kind of technique.
　I mean, Irnes-san........strong!　I really handled Anima's attack easily without using magic power.

"For now~ I'll tell you the details of that one later~. Anima!
Yes!
Your physical strength is good enough for a high ranking demon, even for a county-level demon. However, your attack pattern is very simple. You're probably going to lose by not being able to hit them.
Huh?

　Hearing Illness's words, what came to mind was the battle at the Sixth King Festival. She attacked bravely, but all her attacks were handled by Epsilon.

"You don't need to acquire the same skills as I do. "You don't have to learn - my skills, you just have to learn them broadly. If you learn to attack, you'll learn to avoid attacks. If you learn the art of defense, you'll understand how to break down defenses. And then your offensive power will be more than enough to survive.
'Yes, sir!　I'll keep that in mind!

　Hearing Illness-san's advice, Anima hurriedly stood up and saluted. Seeing that, Illness-san nodded with a satisfied smile on her face.
　Then, Lilia-san, who had remained with a surprised expression, spoke to Illness-san with a slightly panicked look.......

''.........I, Illness. You, you, this, were you this strong?
Well, I'm still a "Countess High Rank Demon". To a certain extent~
''Nah, I see...Count-level high-level demon race...Count-level...Count...what?　Ehhh!

　When I heard Illness-san's words, which were announced assertively, I exclaimed.

　Dear Mother, Father - Lilia-san's exclamation would be most likely. Or rather, I was going to scream too. I thought she would be strong since she easily defeated Anima, but Illness-san was - she was a Count-level high-ranking demon race.