Gripping my sword, I swing it.
This moment, repeated tens of millions of times across both this life and the last, is the most comfortable for me.
After all, I really do love the sword.
“Lord Kraze, how about we take a break soon?”
“…Yeah, you’re right.”
I halted my sword without a tremble and wiped the sweat from my brow down to my neck.
I felt a pleasant sense of fatigue and heat.
After such intense training for a long time, heat had built up in my body.
“Phew…”
I drank the water Frill handed me.
The cold water flowing into my overheated body felt like it was cooling me from the inside out.
“You’ve always been like this, but lately, you’re putting in even more effort, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“It’s because of the fight during the king’s birthday celebration, isn’t it?”
“That’s part of it, of course.”
The king’s birthday celebration took place a month ago.
In the middle of it, a sorcerer dressed in black crashed the event and attempted to kidnap the second princess.
It was a shocking incident.
Well, for me, it was a good opportunity to experience a life-or-death battle with a sorcerer.
And, since I left the sorcerer I killed to my father, the credit for rescuing the second princess went to him, and he was apparently awarded by the king.
The reward was something about land or taxes, but I wasn’t interested, so I didn’t pay much attention.
What I’m interested in is the magic combat tournament in two years… and that genius noblewoman.
“Also, there’s that. Some dangerous people are going to show up at the magic tournament. If I stay as I am, I won’t win.”
“Huh, it’s rare to hear you say something like that, Lord Kraze. You’re usually so confident. Could this be some sort of omen?”
“Hey, you fluffy maid. I know that recently when you’re cleaning my room, you’ve been burying your face in my pillow.”
“Eep. Th-That’s absolutely not true!”
“You’re really bad at lying.”
Well, Frill’s strange behavior isn’t anything new, so I don’t particularly care.
More importantly, I have to defeat that genius noblewoman in the magic combat tournament two years from now.
I have confidence in my abilities.
That much is certain.
However, even with my skills, I’m beginning to think it’ll be difficult to win against that genius.
At least, in all my past lives, I’ve never seen anyone as talented in magic as her.
Of course, I can’t use magic, so this conclusion is based on rumors and what I’ve heard from my parents.
It’s generally accepted that a swordsman can’t defeat a mage.
The overwhelming difference in attack range.
The simple difference in firepower.
The flexibility to adapt to various situations.
The list of reasons goes on.
Everyone would likely give up and pursue a different path.
But not me.
I don’t care about common sense or what others think.
Everything is for the sake of getting closer to that swordsman who once inspired me.
The next battle is the magic combat tournament in two years.
With renewed resolve, I began swinging my sword again.
