Here's the next chapter! I kinda got inspiration for this chapter, and it kept writing itself. So, I said 2 more chapters training, but it ended up being one.

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After pulling his head out of the ground, Itsuki stumbled to his feet and stared at Veri. What kind of speed was that? If that sword was real, I would have been split into two by now…

Veri: “Focus your mind. Ready yourself for the next round.”

Her tone was harsh, and she already prepared her stance. The minute Itsuki raised his sword, another blindingly fast slash rammed into his side, sending him to his knees.

Itsuki: “*hack cough cough* This speed is unreal….”

Veri: “Hurry back into position. Since you can only materialize me for 1 hour before being exhausted, I’m damn sure going to make it useful. Now up.”

For the next hour, Itsuki was thrashed and beaten until his consciousness was hanging by a single thread. When Veri finally dematerialized and became her pixie form again, Itsuki collapsed onto the floor and fainted.

After resting for an hour, Veri kicked him awake, and the new training regimen repeated. Itsuki would maneuver his sword as best as he could, but his senses were nowhere near capable enough to allow him to detect Veri’s sword. Frequently, he also found himself hesitating with his guard due to the wave of fighting spirit Veri would release.

As Veri said before, Itsuki lacked technique, strength, and instincts to survive in this world. For 3 months, she made him train his physical strength to quite an absurd level. His techniques would naturally grow as he fought, but his instincts needed to be honed. That is why Veri rushed at him with all that she could in order to ingrain his body with razor sharp instincts.

Slowly, days went by as Itsuki continued to stand up and withstand more hits before collapsing. His parries began to work, and he began to be able to read Veri’s motions and predict the locations of her slashes. The rhythmic sound of wood knocking against wood became a common echo throughout the forest rather than wood against flesh. He started to block 1 blow, 2 blows, 3 blows…until he could finally withstand 10 blows and even manage a counterattack before being knocked to the ground. Was it from pride or desperation that he continued to crawl up and grit his teeth for more? His progress was nothing short of extraordinary, as his resolute will enabled him to reach this point in only 3 months since they began sparring. In fact, he hasn’t noticed it yet due to the density of Veritas’s fighting spirit, but his own fighting spirit began to develop as well.

*Veri’s Point of View*

I knew he was incredible musically, but I had no idea how he could return me to my original form so easily. Sometimes, I wonder, what can’t this young man do? Ah, it seems it’s really exhausting for him though. Only 10 seconds have passed, and I’ve already returned to being a little pixie…I, a proud valkyrie stuck as a pixie, is honestly quite humiliating. True, this sensation of flying with wings isn’t so bad, but I used to be able to jump really high and just glide around like that! That does it! Time to train his body so that I can stay as a valkyrie longer!

Hehehe. Back on Earth, I read a manga with Itsuki where the main protagonist could defeat everything with one punch. I wonder…does that training regimen work? Let’s give it a shot. Oh….he’s already collapsed after the 5th kilometer….let’s see what happens when I kick him back up. Oohhh, he’s running again. Good boy.

It’s been 3 months since I’ve been making Itsuki train his body, and he’s really surprised me with his perseverance. True, he can’t instantly crush say a Titan of old or what not, but I’m positive he could smash a C rank monster or below with brute strength alone. Time to move on, and give him some sparring lessons…hohohoh this will be SO FUN. What was that? Is my main reason for fighting him to just vent some frustration and release some stress? Of course not….it’s obviously to give him some instincts. Though, I won’t deny it is really really fun.

He is incapable of even blocking my first blow due to my sheer speed. Oi Oi, this is only 10% of my strength you know! I proceed to smack him again and again and again. I think his body at the very least will become powerful enough to withstand loads of damage. Whenever he passes out after I finally return to pixie form, he doesn’t realize he gets visited by Demeter. We usually chat a good bit about lady things, though I do wish she would quit asking me when I’m getting married. The valkyrie of truth does not require love! Demeter then proceeds to place Itsuki’s head on her lap as she strokes his head. Sigh, she really has taken a huge liking to him. Well…I won’t deny it. His unshaken will as he continues to get up and resume training impresses me to no end, and he is quite attractive when playing the lyre…

Lately, Itsuki’s been improving by leaps and bounds. He’s been a little disappointed that he can only block one of my strikes, but I don’t let him know that I can increase my strength beyond 10%. I don’t want him getting complacent, so I’ve been secretly increasing my strength to keep him level-headed. After being summoned so frequently, I learned that for every 10% extra that I unleash of my true power, the amount of time I am capable of staying out is halved. Just yesterday, Itsuki improved enough to make me utilize 40% of my strength. Luckily, his vitality improved enough to allow my 10% self to remain for 2 hours. After increasing my strength to 40%, I only had a mere 15 minutes! Sigh, it seems I’m going to have to allow him to go past 1 strike now…how humiliating. Too bad we’re leaving the forest soon, or else I would force him to train until I could remain my 100% self indefinitely. I wonder, how long will that take?

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Itsuki: “Man, 6 months sure went by in a flash. I guess it’s time to leave the forest?”

Veri “Yes, we shouldn’t delay going to see Artemis at the Renaissance kingdom, and I think your training has reached a good point. Now, you need to hone your skills by fighting monsters.”

Itsuki: “Ok, though there is one thing bothering me…my clothes are tattered and the wooden swords are shattered now. I don’t have clothes, a weapon, or supply of food…I feel like some beggar guy…”

Demeter: “Allow me to fix that for you my child.”

Demeter appeared from thin air with another young woman in tow.

Demeter: “This should be enough to sustain you until you reach Renaissance kingdom.”

She handed Itsuki a set of clothes for traveling. In addition, he was also given a green cloak that radiated nature’s energy with a wheat symbol embroidered into it, and a simple iron sword.

Demeter: “I am not gifted in making clothes, but the cloak should give you a good deal of protection. The clothes were just something done roughly, so do forgive me on that. Furthermore, only Hephaestus is capable of dealing with weapons, so I could only give you a simple iron sword left by a former adventurer who wandered into my domain.”

Persephone: “Itsuki, I sincerely thank you for soothing my mother’s heart for the past 6 months. Due to my mistake, she has usually been alone, but this time, you were here. I have a special bag here for you to carry that will preserve any and all food that you put inside it. Since you’ll be traveling a lot, I am sure it will be helpful. There’s also a special pouch for water, and all water that you put inside it will be transformed into blessed water.”

Itsuki: “Thank you…these gifts are incredible. Would it be alright if I came back to visit?”

Demeter: “Of course my child. I see you as a godson, and your mother is my good friend. Perhaps, next time, come and play music when Persephone is here. I’m sure she will find your music stunning just as I did.”

Itsuki: “Hehe. Will do!”

Demeter: “Not going to say good-bye Veritas? Or is it Veri now? Hohoho”

Veri: “Agh you freaking gossip hungry goddess. Good-bye!”

Demeter: “That is enough teasing for now. The valkyrie of truth does not require love correct?”

Immediately, Demeter’s countenance became frightening to behold.

Demeter: “Be on your guard Veritas. Those traitors up on Mount Olympus are strong. I’m not sure what Artemis has in mind at the moment since all of us have been isolated from each other, but the one in most danger is Itsuki. Protect him as best as you can, else I don’t know how to face his mother Anna the next time I see her.”

Veri responded with a hardened expression: “I understand.”

Itsuki bowed to both Demeter and Persephone as he turned to leave this forest he called home for the past 6 months with a pixie in tow. Readying himself for the start of his adventure, he began to make his way for the Renaissance kingdom.

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There goes the quick training arc. 6 months without Persephone would usually drive Demeter to depression, but luckily our protagonist was there! Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I enjoyed writing from Veri's perspective since her character is meant to be slightly sadistic, super fun, and also super serious. I'm trying to avoid writing a tsundere character since I'm not a fan of them. Let's hope that doesn't happen. Maybe Veri's just a novice at love?