It hadn't been long since I’d goaded Lene into challenging the Hero Candidates.
Lene marched to the center of the training ground and immediately approached Elphiria.
Bless you, Elphiria. Truly, thank you.
"You there. Would you care to spar with me?"
"...Eh? No."
Wait, refusing was an option?! I thought the rule of this world was that the moment eyes met, a battle began.
"In that case, perhaps I could be your opponent?"
Suddenly, a man stepped in to interrupt the two girls.
Lene looked Leonis straight in the eye.
"You... you're very strong."
There it was—that built-in scouter unique to battle junkies.
The surrounding crowd began to buzz. A clash between the strongest of the Magic Sword Arts Department and a Hero Candidate—how could people not be hyped?
Leonis narrowed his eyes slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Do I really look that way to you?"
"Yes. So please, spar with me."
She changed targets instantly. I guess as long as they were strong and willing to fight, anyone would do.
Elphiria took a step back.
"..."
"Don't worry," Leonis said.
"I'm not. Do as you please."
Leonis stepped forward, looking slightly disappointed as if he’d expected that reaction.
"Then I think I’ll test my mettle against the 'heart' of the Kingdom's Magic Sword Arts Department."
Was that a double entendre? (I was overreacting).
He slowly drew his sword. His movements were refined, entirely devoid of waste.
An instructor stepped between them to set the distance.
"You two, this is a mock battle. Don't go overboard."
"I'll do my best to manage," Lene replied with a small nod.
What did she mean by "manage"? She better keep her foot on the brakes!
"—Begin!"
The air seemed to burst. Leonis’s silhouette blurred.
Wind magic—even I could tell that much. He closed the distance in a flash, delivering a downward slash with a blade wreathed in a crimson glow. Fire? Is that what they called an Enchantment?
Regardless, he was fast. Were there only non-humans in this place?
A high-pitched clang echoed through the air. Lene had caught Leonis’s blade.
How could she swing like that without her posture wavering, despite those slender arms? Her blade didn't tremble once. Seriously, my heart couldn't take the suspense.
Water enveloped her blade, dispersing the impact of his strike.
"Ho."
The look in Leonis's eyes shifted. He leaped backward, releasing three fireballs in the same motion. Simultaneously, water surged across the ground—likely a binding spell. Then, he used the wind wreathed around him to accelerate.
...You have to be kidding me. Fire, water, and wind. Not only did he have an aptitude for three attributes, but he was deploying them all at once.
Everyone, myself included, held their breath.
...And yet, what kind of monster was Lene for not even flinching?
She used water to dissipate the fireballs, stepped right over the water blades and binds at her feet, and lunged forward to match his wind-boosted speed.
Steel clashed against steel once more. The sound was heavier than before; both of them were clearly cranking up their output.
Leonis’s eyebrows twitched.
(This power...)
Even though he should have been the one on the offensive, he felt as though he was losing control of the space between them. There was no doubt in Lene’s sword—not even a hint of hesitation. She wasn't fighting with logic; she was cutting by instinct.
The distance opened again. Despite the fact that he was gradually shifting into higher gears, he couldn't shake her off.
Leonis laughed. "How interesting."
The air trembled. The flames from his Magical Power Release grew dense and blazed intensely. The wind howled, and water coiled around his blade. His magical power was clearly surging again.
He lunged. He was incredibly fast.
But in that same instant, the ground exploded.
It was water—likely Lene’s magic. A torrent gushed up from beneath his feet, coiling around him like a snake to bind his legs.
"Ugh...!"
A split second of paralysis. Lene didn't miss the opening.
She lunged and pressed her blade against his throat.
...I’d seen this before. It was her signature win: total suppression via Water Bind.
Silence fell over the grounds.
"It is my win," her clear voice rang out.
After a few seconds of quiet, Leonis laughed. "I give up."
The water dissolved. He stood up and looked Lene directly in the eye.
(Neither of us was going all out, but a loss is a loss nonetheless...)
"...You are beautiful."
Eh?
"I’ll be quite lonely once the exchange program ends and I can no longer see you."
Wait, that was creepy. Was this some kind of berserker's courtship style? The fight literally just ended! Besides, he sounded way too practiced at those kinds of lines. This guy was definitely a womanizer. The worst!
No, Lene, come back to our side!
Lene simply tilted her head, her expression flat. "I’m currently too busy being praised by Luka-sama."
I have no such plans! Actually, go ahead and be his girl!
Leonis froze for a heartbeat before shrugging his shoulders. "Haha, I see."
A short distance away, Elphiria whispered quietly, "Neither of them was being serious."
She didn't specify who she meant. Leonis offered no reply.
"Luka-sama!"
And here she came. Lene ran over to me, her eyes sparkling.
"How was I?! Was I cool?!"
"...Yeah, you were cool."
I meant it. But maybe don't run straight to me after beating a Hero Candidate? Everyone’s eyes were following her right to me.
Lene’s face brightened instantly. "Ehehe...!"
She smiled contentedly. Well, she was cute, so I guess it didn't matter. (IQ of a cactus).
Leonis watched the scene intently. "...Is he her master?"
"No," Cedric interjected. "Luka is that monster's owner."
Leonis only gave a small, intrigued laugh. "...Heh, interesting. I’d definitely like to speak with him."
It’s not interesting at all. I’ll smack you. And Cedric—where are you looking to be calling this girl a monster? Look at my Lene.
"Still, that was amazing."
"Was it?! Hehe~♪"
The seventh-ranked Hero Candidate, a descendant of the Hero who could manipulate three attributes... That was certainly impressive. But the one who had crushed him head-on was a commoner girl without even a family name.
...Lene, what a terrifying child.