Alfine's point of view


　I was guarding the wagon that Meira was driving as I walked through the deep forest.

　The demons inhabiting the forest of the demon world are much larger than the demons in the vicinity of the king's city, and there were many of them.

　According to Rebecca's story, even with this, the knights and adventurers conducted a search for them and reduced their numbers.


　I heard that the number of demons was reduced, but they are still hanging around here.

　I'd say there are three of them around.


Al, can I leave the closest one to you?


　Meira, noticing the presence of the demon as I did, stopped the wagon and picked up the bow she had left by the guru's seat.


''You can leave it to me.


　Meira seems to be able to do the distant ones, and I'm going to go kill the nearby demons at once.

　Meira is also an adventurer, but she specializes in researching archaeological sites, and she said that close quarters combat is not her forte--.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.


''You have an impressive arm.''

I appreciate the compliments, but what's even more gratifying is the fact that you let me rub your tits--

I can't.


　Meira has the innermost one in tow, so now is an opportune time.

　The movements of the two swords are still awkward, but the kata I've trained as the Swordsman Alfine could be exposed and I need to discard it.


　I pulled the katana from its sheath and ran towards the presence of two nearby demons.

　We split off deeper into the forest. It was a forest wolf that was trying to attack us.


　This is the biggest forest wolf I've ever seen.

　This is indeed the forest of the demon world.

　But he's just big, and he knows what he's doing.


　As soon as I saw the monster, I ran into its bosom in a single bound before it could pounce on me.

　When the forest wolf is close enough, it loses the opportunity to pounce and hesitates to attack, and tries to jump back.


"Sweet. Do you think I'm going to let you get away?''


　The moment Forest Wolf was about to fly away, he stepped into the ground as if he were running after it, and unleashed a stab of wind-slicing speed from the small sword in his hand.


　Faster, smoother, more precise!

　I'm going back to the days before I was called the Sword Sage, when I was a mere swordsman and wanted to improve my swordsmanship.


　I felt again that the title of Sword Saint and my noble status had clouded my awareness of swordsmanship, as I was a different person, Al.


　The tip of the stiletto entered through the tip of Forest Wolf's mouth and then pierced to the back of his head.


''Next!''


　With his companion being killed by a single thrust, the other one pounced on him, showing his fangs in hostility.


　Too late!　You won't be able to get in my pocket with that move.

　If you want to rip my flesh off, you're going to have to go faster than that.　That's like asking me to kill you!


　I pulled the small sword in my opposite hand and aimed it at the mouth of the Forest Wolf, which was aiming to bite me in the throat, and made the fastest stab I could deliver.

　Before it could plunge its fangs into my throat, the forest wolf was finished with its life cycle.


　He instinctively unleashed his sword against the killing intent directed at him.

　This is how I used to wield the sword before I was called the Sword Sage, and I've killed many demons and even demon dragons.


　Faster and faster, faster and faster.

　The way I reacted, the way I moved, and the way I swung my sword.

　I'm fast, faster and faster than anyone else. This is what will make me the best swordsman I can be.

　That's the art of swordplay I'm after!


　I'm a dumbass, and I don't have any fencing techniques to teach people.

　I've been called a "swordsman's saint," and I'm so proud of myself that I've been talking about it on the surface, which is just a bunch of nonsense.

　I'm sure Fynn was tired of this approach to my swordsmanship, so he broke off relations with me and disappeared. I'm sure that's one of the reasons why he gave you back the sword I gave him.


　The true nature of the discomfort I've felt with swordsmanship since I became a swordsman. I felt like I realized that when I came to Ygghanotes and became Al, a fledgling adventurer.


　Facing me, who had slaughtered two heads in an instant, the last forest wolf with an arrow growing between his eyebrows comes running at me with an angry look on his face.


''I'm sorry, but you're not my opponent!


　He pulled the small sword out of the extinct Forest Wolf and crossed it in front of his chest.


　Faster, faster, faster than the wind, faster than the sound, just swing the sword out!


　When I was conscious of this, I slashed the air in front of the forest wolf coming towards me with my crossed stiletto.

　The tip of the sword slices through the air, and the sliced air generates a shockwave that flies towards the incoming Forest Wolf.

　When the shockwave touched the Forest Wolf, it slashed through its body and disappeared.


''That's impressive skill. You keep saying you're not used to it, but you're much stronger than those platinum grade adventurers.''

'I appreciate the compliment, but my sword is not yet at this level. I'm sure I can handle it better and better. I'm going to reach a place where my sword is second to none if I don't want to be even more disappointed than I am now when I meet Fynn.

'Yes. Fynn, you might have second thoughts if you saw Al as an adult. Maybe you could just be a good girl and look back.

Well, that's not what I'm saying. I know that Fynn will never forgive me for what I've done to him. But I just want to reassure him that he can live with himself. I want you to know that you can live well on your own, and that's all that matters.


　Then he shook the blood on the small sword and dropped it, and tucked it into its scabbard.


　I've destroyed my credentials to say I love him with my own hands.

　I'm already aware of that in myself, and I don't think I'm thick enough to want to get back together with him.

　I just wanted to show Fynn that I could stand and walk on my own without him, and then say goodbye.


　My time as an innocent, spoiled child had ended with him leaving.

　Now I'm spending my time trying to stand alone and be an adult.

　The truth is, I miss him so much and it's heartbreaking, but it's something I definitely need to accomplish.