I’m pumped! Another day of training! Our half-day session yesterday was quite productive. And now, Elson was going to let me try handling a dagger! Indeed, what an exciting day. It would just be a taste though.

But before that, I have to get the answer to my offer the other day. I didn’t broach the topic yesterday to give him additional time. And now, I would like to have his answer.

“Sir Elson, before we start. Have you decided about my offer to you?”

“Yes, princess. I’m sorry, but I won’t take it.”

He… rejected me. Honestly, I was surprised he would let this opportunity go. Being under the direct service of a royal was basically a promotion to a knight, and that’s what many of them wanted.

“May I ask why?”

He sighed. “Princess, I’m getting old.”

“Certainly age would not get in your way. I mean, you’re doing way better than me.”

He chuckled. “It’s not that, your highness. I just think someone my age would not fit to become your direct knight. That opportunity befits a younger one, like Rogan for example.”

“... I don’t understand.”

“A few years down the line, I’m sure I would get tired. And pretty soon, I was thinking of retiring — in a few years. I can easily leave the palace behind if I’m not tied to anything significant.”

He’s rejecting me because I’m just too much trouble?! That’s bull— oh no wait, I am too much trouble.

“... I see. A shame, I quite liked you.”

“It is an honor to be liked by you.”

Damn, he’s not even that old. But I guess he just has other plans in mind with his remaining decades in this world.

“If you change your mind, I can always take you in whenever.” It’s rare enough to find fellow dagger lovers in this world of swords and magic.

He nodded. “Now then, princess. Shall we proceed with trying a dagger?”

“Oh, yes.”

He handed me one of his daggers. It was on a smaller side, opted for throwing and allowed him to carry more with him. I gripped the dagger tightly.

Elson observed me. “This reminds me, I saw you handle a dagger before. You took me by surprise.”

“... I’m just an excellent observer. So what will we be doing?”

“... Swing it around, try to feel it out first. Perhaps apply some of what you have learned in the sword training.”

And so I did, doing the stances. A thrust and swung the small dagger around. But acting like a damn amateur was actually hurting my heart. This actually tempted me to use the daggers I have hidden in my room. Especially that most beautiful and expensive one.

“Are you comfortable with it, princess? Unlike the sword, you have to get closer to your enemy to hurt them. If you are facing a knight, it will be difficult to scratch them.”

“Target their vulnerable points, then.” I stopped.

“Easier said than done. Skilled fighters always have their guards up.”

“Not if you’re more skilled.”

“Perhaps. But are you?”

I paused for a moment at his question. “... Still, I would not normally use a dagger in a direct confrontation. They should be used when the enemy is unguarded. In short, surprise them.”

“Oh? But what if you are forced into a direct confrontation?”

“Use other tools at your disposal. But if there are none, then do what you can to escape and catch them in some other way.”

“Such as?”

“Play tricks.”

Rogan for some reason audibly coughed. Yeah, I pulled plenty of tricks when I sparred with him.

“Knights normally don’t use tricks.”

“I’m no knight.”

“... Of course.”

“What about we skip some steps, Sir Elson? I’m already used to the sword and the dagger. We’ll go straight to using the magic technique.”

That’s where I’ll take more time, anyway.

“Princess, please do not joke. It has merely been days since you began. I won’t skip some steps.”

“No, let’s skip.”

“Princess, there is a process to this.”

“I don’t have a lot of time, Sir Elson. I need the magic more.”

“Armament Magic is unlike spellcasting. One needs to get used to a weapon.”

“Princess, why don’t you just demonstrate?” Rogan chimed in. “You seem impatient, so just show him you mean it. You suck at the sword, but there are other tools you can use.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

First off, fuck you for saying I suck at a weapon. Second, that’s a good idea.

“... I suppose you’re right, Sir Rogan.” I faced my teacher. “Sir Elson, if I show you that I can handle the dagger, a weapon, we’ll proceed to teaching mainly Armament Magic.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Not the dagger, the sword.”

I blinked “... The sword…?”

“If you are to learn Armament Magic, wouldn’t it make sense to prove your skill in the sword first? That’s where we all begin.”

I subtly groaned. “... Very well, we’ll do that.”

“No kind of magic is allowed, I want raw skill. So you will not use Physical Enhancement.”

Damn, that will be difficult. But, I won’t back down to something like that. “Sure. I will show you.”

“Then we’ll begin when you’re ready.”

He walked away and waited by the center of the room with a sword in hand. It was a blunted sword, so there won’t be any fatalities here today. I went for the swords, casting away the dagger and grabbed one of the blunt swords.

I don’t like using swords at all. But, if I were to make things move quickly, then I must pass this test. I have to at least prove to him that I’m good at this.

Holding the sword with both hands, I approached the center of the room.

“I’m ready.”

“Then we may begin.”

He and I moved a few steps away from each other. As I turned around, I readied the sword in my hands and immediately pondered how to defeat him. No, I didn’t need to defeat him, just show I can fight just fine with the sword.

Still, it violates my nature not to strive for victory in a match like this. I must win, no matter what. Victory was all that mattered. To be satisfied with something beneath it, how repulsive. A fire raged within my heart.

I have had a glimpse of how he fought. With that, I can have an idea what kind of opponent I’ll be fighting. Still, this was someone who had more experience with the sword than I was. And he was with more experience than even my old life combined, considering his age. I must have faith in my training.

Rogan raised his hand. “Ready.”

I put a foot forward.

And Rogan brought down his hand. “Fight!”

I charged forward. We met at the center of the battle floor, and I swung my sword swiftly. The pressure of the clash vibrated through my arms. With our blades touched, and him pushing down, I lowered my force and made his blade slide down mine to the side.

He flinched in surprise, but before he could respond, I turned my sword, breaking away from him and swung downward. My blade came at his shoulder. However, he immediately dodged to the side, my attack missed. I slowed the momentum of my sword as I leaped back as well.

To my surprise, there was no attack incoming, he didn’t take that chance to strike me. No, it was more like he was processing his surprise.

“That was —”

I gave him no breathing time, and I attacked again, thrusting my blade forward. He deflected my sword. I swung again sideways, aiming for his waist, but he defended. He swung back at me, but I deflected and defended.

We clashed blades multiple times without either touching our skin. Metals clanged loudly, blades grinding. Footsteps quickly shifting and changing. With each passing time, the more adrenaline flowed around my body. My senses sharpened. My strength grew. My body ignored the pain in my muscles.

My eyes fixed on my target. Yes, my target.

Our battle intensified in my relentless advances. I saw his emotions faltering. My blade struck the floor, and I immediately stepped away to evade his attack. Using one hand, I instantly swung back. I almost had him by the chest, but he evaded by an inch.

He stepped away.

No escape.

There’s no escape. Not one must escape.

I charged again, giving him no breathing room. My waves of attack fell upon him. But he protected himself from all. This was why I hated this kind of battle. It’s too long. Too much to do just in an attempt to hurt the opposition. If only I had a gun, this would be over. If only I could use magic, I could have won already.

But no matter, I’ll kill him.

Our blades ground, both swords swaying side by side, trying to hit the other. Sword fight was boring. I find no satisfaction in this.

As our swords were binding, I instantly shoved upward sideways and let go with my left hand, my right holding the sword while still contacting the enemy. I swiftly carried and twisted my body in the air. My boot aimed at his face.

“ — What?”

He quickly used his arms to block my kick. At the same time, when my other foot landed, I swiftly turned around, my sword turning with me in quick speed, coming towards my target. It was coming for his neck.

He quickly turned his sword around to meet my blade. A couple of inches away from his neck, he successfully parried my sword, repelling it back.

That pissed me off, I almost had him.

The impact from the parry was powerful, and my sword threatened to slip away from my grasp. And thus I leaped back in the same direction as the force to keep it in my hand. I gripped the sword with both hands again and regained my footing.

My target’s eyes were both wide while looking at me. I took a step forward.

“That’s enough!” Elson suddenly said, raising his palm.

I froze, the blood still rushing to my head. “What did you say?”

“Princess, that’s enough.”

“B-But we’re just getting started!”

“Huh?” He was confused.

“There’s no winner yet.” My heart was racing so intensely.

“Then you win, princess.”

“Huh?”

“You almost struck me down.”

“B-But…”

No, he survived. He drove away my attack. That was not a defining moment. Close calls always happen in fights, but that doesn’t bring conclusions.

“You have proven yourself to me. That’s enough.”

“What?”

Rogan suddenly stepped in front of me, with him was his ever so casual smile. Still, he looked concerned. “P-Princess Estelia, it’s done. There’s no need to actually win, remember?”

I blinked as he slowly grasped my sword. “... That’s… right…”

Oh yeah, I didn’t need to defeat him. I forgot. I got caught in the moment.

“Yes, so calm down and give me your sword, okay?”

“... Okay.”

I gave him the sword.

“You really don’t hold back in a spar.” Rogan remarked.

“I’m sorry… I was so focused.”

It’s been a while since I personally killed someone. It’s frustrating. And yes, in things where someone wins and loses, especially in something like this, I just couldn’t help but do the extreme.

My heart gradually relaxed.

“Want to drink some water?” Rogan asked me.

“Yes, please…”

Rogan gestured for Vernon to bring me water, and I drank it all in one go. I closed my eyes, breathing slowly, attempting to lessen the stimulation within me. They led me to sit down on the nearby bench.

Elson approached. “You have quite the fierce will, your highness. I didn’t expect you to actually try to throw a fatal blow.”

“... Blunt swords aren’t fatal.”

“Still, it would hurt.”

“I’m sorry.”

“As long as you’re alright. But as discussed, we will proceed to learning Armament Magic.”

“Thank you.”

“... Have you always been skilled with the sword, princess? Were you perhaps only hiding your true abilities?”

I smiled. “What is there to even hide? I only just started practicing swords.”

“Your talents surprise me. Although, was that even mere talent…?”

I may have almost landed hits on him, but I knew he was holding back. Not giving his all in the fight. Somehow, when that happens during spars, it’s quite insulting. Maybe what I actually wanted was both parties to use everything they got so I could get a measure of my own abilities. And I just find winning ecstatic.

“Don’t tell anyone what happened. Not even my family. Only I must do that.”

“Again, you wish to hide what you could do, just like before. Why the secrecy?”

“... Just don’t tell anyone.”

“... Very well, princess.”

“Thank you. So, when should we start with the magic?”

“You’re still all red. Perhaps later when you’ve calmed down some more.”

“... Fine.”

And so, I rested. It was then later that the adrenaline had faded that my body began to sore. My legs and arms were all painful. In the end, as usual, I used healing magic to relieve the pain. But that happened a little later, for I was still terribly exhausted. Can’t even cast magic properly.

I really pushed myself there. Can I have adrenaline 24/7?