Arel, you're going to have to match me!

　The day after I came back to my parents' house.
　Laina suddenly said something like that to me.

''........What, from the bushes to the sticks?''
'Why do you look so strange!　What do you think I was apprenticed to Lord Farah for!
"Bridal training?
Not that!　Sure, he was doing some housework!　That's just a housewife's helper, Lady Fara!　The main thing is the sword!

　That's what I thought.

"It was all about taking you down!　I've had to train hard for that!
'Laina has a very resigned nature.
I don't want you to be the only one to say this.

　Well, there's no reason to say no.
　I've decided to accept Laina's challenge.

　As expected, I can't fight in the city like in the past.
　It's better to be out of town, and as far away from it as possible.

　And the last time I fought my mother, I was too close to town, and the town fell into chaos in the aftermath of the battle.
　I remember that time, Laina's father had rushed over with a change in his blood.
　Come to think of it, he almost sat down yesterday when he saw the behemoths approaching.

　However, I don't think it's going to be such a fierce battle.
　I don't know how strong he has become.

''By the way, am I allowed to use magic as well?
No, that's a bad idea.

　It seems to be a purely sword-based match.
　Well, I don't want to use magic from the end but it's going to be too one-sided.
　I just wanted to check it out.

"What about the demons?
Please don't do this to me!

　Of course, I just asked this too.

'Okay. Let's get started then. Just until the blessing is gone.
You don't think it's possible for you to lose to me, do you?
Hmm, is it clear to you?
I can see it in his face!

　Laina sniffed there, huffing and puffing.

If you can afford it, I have a wager to make.
"Bet?
'Yes. ...How about ... the one who loses has to listen to one order of whatever the winner gives?
I don't mind, but...
Are you sure?　If you lose, no matter how unreasonable you are, you'll always have to listen to me, okay?
You're talking about losing.　I won't lose, I'll be fine.
'Huh, huh, huh... you said that?　You don't have two words for a man, do you?

　Lifting the corner of her mouth and smiling wryly, Lyna drew her sword.
　Then for a moment, the sword itself seemed to glow faintly.

　Hmm, it doesn't look like it's just a sword.
　Even though I just pulled it out, I feel a tremendous pressure.

''This is a God(──)story(──)-class sword that I got as a bonus for attacking that sword city dungeon.

　I see, it's that dungeon I've dived in before.
　The fact that it's a capture bonus means that you must have reached the lowest level of the dungeon.

　A sword is a part of a swordsman's body.
　Even if it is a sword with special abilities, it is not strange to fight with it.
　Moreover, it is something that Laina obtained by herself by hiding in the dungeon.

'Well, no matter what kind of abilities you have, it doesn't matter?

　Suddenly, something strange happened to her body.
　I tried to move my body for some reason, but it wouldn't budge.
　It's as if his entire body has been turned into metal.

　Could this be the sword...?

'Yes!　That's the power of this sword!　The ability to completely block your opponent's movements is truly mythical, right?　Though the effect is only a few minutes at most.

　Okay, I tried to put all my strength into it, but I really couldn't move at all.
　You can't even swing a sword like this.
　It seems like you can use magic that doesn't require you to move your body, but I've decided in advance that magic is forbidden.

''........Isn't that indeed unfair?
All I had to do was win.

　They don't mind winning this way.
　What was this rigorous training?

''Well, it's not too late to surrender.
I don't want to give up.
Well, then, live with the pain. Then you'll just have to live with the pain. You're used to it.

　Laina slashes at me.
　But before she can get in time, the slash I fired first hits her torso.

''Wha...?　What did you just do?
What? I attacked you before you attacked me.
Don't tell me it's magic?　I told you!　He said no magic!
No, it's not magic. It's a regular slash.
'Don't be silly!　You're not supposed to be moving right now.
You don't need to swing your sword to unleash a slash, do you?
What do you mean?

　I explained simply.

'Just picture it. It will definitely cut," he said. Then you'll really cut.
I don't know what that means!
'Well, if you don't have enough imagery to learn how to separate personalities, it's going to be difficult.
What's that separation of personality law all about in the first place?

　Laina shouts with her head in her hands.

'This isn't the time to be looking in the corner!
Geez. ........d*mn it, you've got to be kidding me!

　Laina fights back in a losing effort, but my attack is faster.

The best way to do this is to have a good idea of what to do.
Really?　It's pretty tiring, though, so I can't spend hours on it.







"...we lost...

　With all the blessings gone, Laina had her hands on the ground and was hanging down.

'Don't be so downhearted. I think I was getting stronger, don't you?　That's what I've learned from my mother in person.
'It's no consolation at all!　What a lot of effort I've put in over the past few years to even lose to an opponent who couldn't move!
It was quite an embarrassing loss, to be sure.
Woooooooooooooooooooo!

　I made him cry again.
　Even though I'm already over twenty years old, I'm still crying like a child.

''It can't be helped. I'll do whatever you say, and I'll do whatever you say. So cheer up.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
Really, really, really true?　Since you asked, we're screwed!　Don't tell me what to do!
Really. So what were you going to order me to do if I won?

　Laina wiped her tears away with her arms, and suddenly she turned bright red.

Well, it's just that we-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa...
Kekeke?





Keke, will you marry me...





　I don't know.
　Oh, I don't know.





That's good.