The sound of metal clashing against metal rang out. The sun’s rays melted the snow on the ground.

No other sound could be heard besides the heavy breathing of two women and their grunts as a result of exerting themselves. Their sweat flew as they had a bout with their swords. Both strived to prove the other who was more mighty and skillful. It was an excellent exchange of pure swordsmanship. No aura, they only used their bodies to make and take blows.

Their hair stuck to their faces, however, neither bothered to wipe the sticky sweat.

“Haaah!”

Arielle dodged a slash from Celina’s black sword. Her wyvern armor wasn’t so lucky. There was a big cut on her chest when she retreated backwards.

Celina wasn’t any better. Her robe was already slashed in multiple places. Had it not been for her speed then Arielle would’ve been able to land a solid hit.

“Haa…Haaa….”

Both Arielle and Celina were exhausted at this point. They had been fighting ever since this morning. It was currently noon.

Rosetta had watched the two from the same spot as this morning. She was sitting on the stairs of her school building, observing their fight.

“As it stands, they have nothing left to learn from me. Each and ever thing I throw at them wasn’t enough. These two are just incredible.”

Rosette spoke to the disciple next to her. It was a girl who also recently came to the dojo. As with every newcomer, they had to take on the old newbie.

Arielle was her opponent when she arrived at the dojo. And as expected, the girl was brutally beat down by Arielle. It had been months since then.

“Then…why aren’t they leaving, miss Rosetta?” The girl, Emilene, asked timidly. She had brown hair, a short build and an average face.

She came here hoping to learn the necessary skills to enroll into the Knight Order. Rosette wouldn’t turn away a disciple so she let her join her dojo. That might’ve been the case for all those who wished to train under her, however, it was another story if they could survive in this dojo.

“They are waiting for the so-called test that I always give my favorite disciples to test their power. What a bunch of crap. I never said that I have those kinds of tests. Whoever made that up should go die. If they want to be tested then they should go fight in a war as a vagabond or something.”

‘Well…maybe I should give them one, after all…’ Rosetta thought to herself as she watched Arielle and Celina fight.

“Emilene, go prepare the bathhouse.”

“M-Me? Wait, miss Rosetta, are you inviting them?” Emilene pointed at Arielle and Celina.

“I am. Do you want to join?”

Emilene’s face turned red.

‘I-I’m going to see miss Celina naked…Hehehe…’

“Yes!” Emilene shouted excitedly. She ran with quick steps into the building.

Rosetta chuckled.

The reason she wanted to invite them was to bond with her disciples for once. All she ever does was tell them to do whatever she says. However, she had never gotten to know her disciples.

Not anymore, to be specific.

There was one girl who she regretted ever teaching the way of the sword.

She was a unique weapon user. That meant that she had a certain style to her swordsmanship. It was something that fascinated Rosetta before. However, right now it terrified her.

That girl took the wrong path in life.

‘No, I shouldn’t compare Arielle and Celina to her. She was just pure evil.’

Rosetta stood up and walked over to the maidens who were still fighting even though both were exhausted.

Clap, clap.

Rosetta’s clap made them stop.

“How about we take a break, hm?” Rosetta smiled gently. “Let’s go have a talk inside.”

“Yes, master.”

“Whatever.”

Arielle and Celina answered respectively.

◇◇

Later that day.

When they came into the bath, Rosetta spoke first. She looked at Arielle while she spoke.

“So, Arielle, are you virgin?”

“!!!” Arielle almost fell down when she was about to sit in the bath. “What kind of question is that!?”

“Huh? You’re not?”

“…..” Arielle’s entire face turned red.

Celina’s eyes widened. She didn’t know there was this side of Arielle.

Emilene was also shocked and surprised.

“I’m…not…” Arielle’s entire face reddened.

“Who’s the guy that took it? He must be incredible to make you allow him to see you naked.”

“Would you stop speaking like that?” Arielle glared at Rosetta. She lowered herself in the water and sighed. “His name is Clyde. We’re childhood friends.”

“Oh, my. Your eyes look totally different than usual when you mentioned his name.” Rosetta teased.

“T-That’s….” Arielle reddened even further. It was the truth. Whenever she thought about him, her heart raced. She couldn’t stop thinking about him. It was an everyday thing.

Of course, she would get wet as well whenever she remembered the night the two of them shared.

“What’s he like?” Celina asked after joining them in the bath.

“What do you care? I heard you’re not even interested in dating.” Arielle harrumphed.

“Really? I never said that, so they must be assuming wrong. I just haven’t met the one who can make my heart flutter like this Clyde can make yours. So? What’s he like?”

Both Emilene and Rosetta looked intently at Arielle, awaiting an answer. One would assume that the warm water was the reason Arielle’s face was so red.

“He’s…really kind. When he was little, he’d comfort me whenever I was down.” Arielle spoke as the memories of the two of them flashed inside her mind.

“He always acts so mature and takes many responsibilities upon himself. He overreacts and overthinks in a lot of situations. As if he has to save the world or something. He’s also very strong. I’m not sure how much he’s grown now but since he is so talented, he must be comparable to an elite mage already.”

The other three silently looked at Arielle. She was like a maiden in love. Her eyes were in a daze as if she didn’t see them anymore.

“I’m glad he was my first….” Arielle realized that she had spoken a little too much. “A-Ahem…”

“How did you two meet, miss Arielle?” Emilene asked with sparkles in her eyes.

‘I wish I met someone like him. He sounds so attractive.’ She thought.

“We lived together when he came to our manor to be taught magic by a tutor. Our families are close so we’ve pretty much known each other since we were kids. His family is a vassal to our household. I think his great-grandfather married one of the women in our family so that makes us cousins in a way.”

“Aren’t you worried your children will have defects?” Emilene asked worriedly.

“Their relation is thin so it’s unlikely.” Rosetta answered. “Well, it depends if Arielle here wants children.”

“Children…? Hehe…he…he…” Arielle went into a daze again as she rubbed her belly.

The three of them sighed.

“Let’s talk about something else. Shall we?” Rosetta steered the conversation towards another subject. “Arielle. Celina.”

The two who were called listened attentively.

“Do you want to experience your first real life battle with the skills you have learned at my institute?”

◇

When evening came, it was time for dinner. As usual Arielle went to eat alone in her room so no one was surprised. Celina was the same, but she went to sit on the stairs at the back of the main building.

She overlooked the crystal-clear lake that lay past the training grounds.

Upon hearing the sound of someone approach, she turned her head around.

“Noria.” Rosetta appeared behind Celina.

The latter’s face twisted. “Don’t call me Noria, you hag.”

“Why not? It’s your real name, isn’t it?”

“That’s the name my scum parents gave me. Do you think I want to keep such a name?”

“Alright, fair enough.” Rosetta sat down next to her.

“So, Celina. When are you leaving?” Rosetta glanced at Celina with her head turned forward. “If I remember correctly, you said there’s someone you’re looking for?”

“Yes…”

“Why stay here when you can go look for the person right now?”

“It’s just…what if he ended up in the same situation as me? I want to be strong enough to protect him once I find him.” Celina clasped her hand on her chest.

Rosetta smiled at her when she began showing her vulnerable side.

“Do you have any idea where to look?”

Rosetta didn’t ask who it was or why this person was so special. She only supported Celina’s decision.

“I might head to the northern part of the continent.”

“That place is a hellhole, Celina. Do you seriously plan on risking your life? People die there every single day.” Rosetta said sternly. It was times like these when she had to act serious.

“I know but… It’s where you found me, right? That’s the first place I must search.”

“True, however, what if the person you are looking for is dead?”

Celina glared at Rosetta.

The latter only shrugged.

“Are you telling me that your reason for going through such training with the sword was solely to find this person? Is that what your determination amounts to? Then what if that person is already dead, Noria?”

“That….It couldn’t…” Celina–no–Noria couldn’t answer. She struggled to even find the right words to retort.

In all likelihood, that person was lying somewhere in a ditch, just waiting to die.

Rosetta crossed her arms and said: “The most likely place you’d find them is in Habsburg.”

“Why there?”

“They are rescuing survivors on the battlefield. By rescuing these people, they can increase the overall military power by making those people join their royal army. Even a peasant can be dangerous with a weapon if trained properly. Plus, the tactics that the Dark Warrior God, Schwartz, uses can be fatal even if the units are made up of normal humans. If they are indeed there, then it’s a high possibility that they would be in the army.”

Schwartz wasn’t just some mercenary who swore allegiance to the queen. He was a bandit leader who even made the royal army tremble from hearing of his strength alone. He rode a pitch black stallion and always wore black clothes. Even his armor, which was adamantium the strongest metal in this world, was tinted black.

Thus, people started calling him the Dark Warrior God.

He had talent related to war tactic and he had excellent military experience since he served as a soldier even before hitting puberty.

“Yes…Habsburg…I must head there then…” Noria made up her mind as a dazed look appeared on her face.

“When will you leave then?”

“….May I complete my training first, master?”

‘Oh? Now I’m not a hag anymore?’

Rosetta was surprised by Noria’s willingness to complete the training. That said, all that remained was one thing before they had their final test.

But Rosetta decided to wait until she told them.

“Tomorrow, you may take the day off. The two of you have been training non-stop for two years now. I don’t want you to dedicate your life to the sword. That is no life for a young adult.”

Rosetta was contradicting herself with those words. Had she not lived by the sword all her life? She didn’t even make time for a lover. Never experienced the joy of having her own child.

Her life was only meaningful as long as her two arms had the strength to grasp a sword.

Maybe that was why she wanted no one else to follow her lead.

“The Rusa Dynasty has many entertainment areas. Why not head to one of them and get yourself to a male prostitute?”

“Are you out of your mind, old woman!?” Celina almost threw her sword at Rosetta’s sudden words.

“Whaaat~? Women can enjoy a man’s body every now and then too~” Rosetta turned around with a teasing smile. She looked over her shoulder at Celina. Her smile had vanished. “I suggest you enjoy your time with Arielle and the other disciples. My final test will not be for the faint-hearted.”

She said what she wanted to and left.

..for the faint-hearted….

Those words echoed in Celina’s head.

“Am I…ready for the ultimate test. To demonstrate how far I’ve come?”

She uttered to no one in particular. That said, no one could answer that question but herself even if they heard it.

“No…I have to be ready."