Proofreader: Myself

Unexpectedly, the passage was straight and simple enough for even me to follow. As soon as I passed the gates, I was instantly reminded of Earth.

While there were training dummies and training weapon racks, the other side was a full modern gym experience. The game did show this, but yet again, in person, it was frankly exciting. I wasn’t necessarily obsessed in real life, but such an environment was almost a second home to me.

Hah…

I won’t be focusing on that as of now.

The area was empty except for a few students lingering around the gym, and further inward there was a sparring arena.

“Woohoo!”

“Keep it up!”

“This is a riot!”

I could faintly hear the cheers from that room.

“No,” I mumbled, slapping my cheeks.

I had to focus.

I went over to the training dummies and picked up a wooden sword from the racks. I stared at it, pondering how I should train.

In all honesty, my only guidance to the sword was kendo… a sword art unfit for killing, having been developed in the modern age for sports rather than murder.

Well, there still was hope. If I continued to up my proficiency, the more my movements would be corrected and modified. Although, a training instructor would be appreciated.

“Tsk, that damn dragon.”

If Runalia had placed me into a normal class, I would have been able to access the swordsmanship teacher and his lessons immediately.

However, yet again I had to thank her regardless, as without that opportunity It would’ve been massively harder to accomplish the goal of destroying this world’s romance.

“Hoh..” I grasped my sword and adjusted my stance to its weight.

I enamoured myself with the teachings I had been bestowed upon. There were many to initiate an attack, strike boldly, or follow up after consecutive movements. Even the way my master had always told me to shut up and listen rang within my head.

The movements were true to memory as I began to strike the dummy rhythmically.

At first, it was awkward and clumsy, but in seconds my arms began to move on their own. This new body began to accept my memories and experiences.

‘Muscle memory’ was it?

The way my sword followed my arm, as if it was always there elated my spirit. Slowly advancing in difficulty, I positioned my feet in unison with my body.

I ignored the preconceived notions of stamina, continuing to move without rest.

Time would continue to flow as I embraced the movements I had once loved.

The shoulder. The waist. And finally the head.

“Phew-“ I wiped the sweat that covered my head.

[Skills]

Basic Swordsmanship (E) (0% -> 8.7% Proficiency)

* Technique of a novice knight.

I glanced over at my status board, such a short time frame of training had already raised my proficiency by a decent amount.

It was most definitely a trance that I had been in. It was unfortunate that I let go of such a focus in the end, but such was the norms of training. I had been covered in sweat without realising it as well.

“I need some fresh air,” I muttered expecting to see a dimming sunset.

It was dark, completely pitch black.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

I looked to the back door where the sparring match earlier had been held. It was silent, no noise, nothing. The magical lights in the gym had remained but the once bustling nature had dissipated.

Nothing was left except…

‘Why is she here?’

Erin had been sitting on a side bench staring directly into my eyes.

“You finally noticed?” She remarked without much expectation.

“So… how long have you been, uhhh…” I didn’t know what to say in this situation.

“Half an hour or so?” Erin guessed. “I was taking a break from training and noticed you in the corner of this empty gym.”

“For that long?” I was genuinely concerned rather than confused right now.

“I was intrigued,” She continued, “Your dance was intrinsic and meaningful, but such techniques cannot prove to kill.”

While I was aware of such a glaring weakness, there was little I could do to modify this sword art. I spent quite a part of my childhood focusing on kendo, so its movements were hard for me to change. Especially since I gave up on it not too long ago, when I lost the national championship.

“I know, but there’s nothing I can do at my current level,” I succinctly told her.

“Nothing, you say?” She emphasised the word.

“Don’t tell me,” I had already guessed.

“Tell me more about your power, and I will train you to become a person fit for a knight,” It was a tempting offer uttered by her mouth.

I wasn’t sure if it was worth letting such information be known, but considering it was Erin.

Erin… huh… why am I hesitating so much?

She’s my favourite so it’ll be okay!

“This is a win-win!” I internally hurrayed.

She eyed my celebration weirdly, “So? Will you take it?”

“On one condition,” I added.

“Hmm…”She hesitated for a moment, “State your demand.”

“It’s one thing. Tell me more about yourself,” I couldn’t resist not wanting to know my number one character in person.

“That’s it?” She scratched her head, “I understand I’m somewhat in the wrong for being intrusive, but for that little?”

She wouldn’t understand what I was feeling, this was akin to a dream come true.

“Of course!” I exclaimed joyfully, “Now about my ability.”

“I’m listening,” She urged me to continue.

“It’s an enhancement,” I stated clearly.

“How could simple enhancement cause those things?”

“That’s for you to figure out,” I decided to keep shut about the rest of its capabilities.

I wasn’t sure if revealing all my cards to a person who could be an enemy was a good idea, regardless of my liking.

“Then the deal’s off-“

“Surely you wouldn’t lie right?” I interjected, targeting her pride. “You did say that if I told you more about my power without specifying so…”

Her hand clenched into a tight fist at my words. I gulped in a squeak of fear to not seem pathetic.

“Well, it is as you say,” She bit her lip in visible frustration.

“Then…?”

“No,” She childishly remarked, “I refuse to be mocked in this manner.”

It was a surprising display of cuteness, although I’d have to stop messing around.

“Alright, fine. Simply put, I'm not limited by what I can improve.”

“Elaborate,” She curtly told me.

“Yes ma’am,” Erin still frightened me a bit, but I continued regardless. “What I did was enhance the forces that make up this world, the strength of which they act.”

“Forces?” She asked curiously.

“Gravity, friction, stuff like that…”

I was on the verge of realising something embarrassing. Not for me, but for her.

Erin’s face scrunched up in contemplation, “What…?”

“Huh…? You seriously don’t know?”

I remember that these concepts weren’t foreign to the game, and were essential to the formulation of some complicated magic.

Oh… wait.

She was an archdemon, a race which used a completely different method of magic from both humans and lesser demons. By nature, they were superior to humans in almost every way just by existing. It makes sense that Abel didn’t bother to teach her because of such a fact.

“This, ‘forces,’ I don’t recall being taught such a concept.”

“Essentially, they are the push and pull effects of this world.”

“I see… but…”

“I made the push thingy stronger.”

“How odd and confusing.”

Had Erin’s father who freely manipulated such a complicated field of reality not taught her anything?

“No, it’s not. I could simply just improve my strength if I wanted to.”

“So, you’re not limited to these ‘forces’?”

I nodded.

“Then, aren’t you really strong?” She noted.

I wasn’t sure how to reply. Her curious stare had not noticed my weakness, despite immediately seeing the ones in my sword.

“The thing is…” I sighed, “It’s pretty weak.”

“Hmmm…” Erin spoke sharply, “Then I shall now honour my word.”

“Yesh!” I fist-bumped the air.

She gave me a complicated look but it wasn’t worth mentioning. I celebrated the amazing benefits being granted to me here. The fanboy inside of me was tearing through the rationality inside my brain.

“It’s night, however, so we will begin tomorrow,” Her words cut my hopes immediately.

“Oh, right…”

In disappointment, I watched her leave.

“Wait!” I remembered something important, “Can you show me where the male dorms are?”

“Sure…?” She agreed, albeit somewhat concerned.

I scratched my head looking ashamed.

I really did need that mini-map ASAP.