The Five-Strike Bet
Now I could train without a care, no longer worried about getting hurt. "No way? Why should I?" Chris rejected my request without the slightest hesitation.
I figured as much.
Of course, I'd half-expected it. She lost her parents in the war as a child and was picked up by a mercenary band. Raised by mercenaries, Chris turns down anything that doesn't benefit her without mercy.
It was the same in the fourth loop.
'Please, just once! I'm begging you!'
'Ugh, you're so persistent.... I said no!'
'So just think about it one more time!'
'You're planning to cling to me until I give in! You think I don't know?!'
'If you know, then just say yes!'
'No!!'
Back then, it took me nearly two weeks to wear down her resolve. I was just a worthless extra who couldn't do anything right, with nothing valuable to offer her. And sword training was the only way to build a connection with her.
So I kept begging until she gave up. That's how the fourth loop's strategy began....
But this loop doesn't have time for that....
The sixth loop was different. In the fourth, I'd approached her right after enrollment, leaving plenty of time before the next event. But now, after skipping ahead with Marie's route, time was tight. Spending two weeks begging her could throw off the schedule.
"Can't you really do it?"
"Nah, you're in the way."
To my final plea, Chris stood up, grabbed her wooden sword, and turned her gaze back to the straw dummy without looking at me.
Whoosh! Thwack!
The sturdy wooden sword began striking the dummy again. She was clearly done talking, focusing solely on her swings.
No choice, then....
She probably wouldn't answer me anymore today. Even if she did, she wouldn't grant my request. I'd experienced her stubbornness enough in the fourth loop.
Alright....
Instead of begging, I scanned the training ground.
There it is.
I spotted what I wanted and walked straight toward it. Chris, mid-downswing on the dummy, glanced over, assuming I was leaving, then refocused.
And then.
Whoosh—!!
"Wha—!!"
Crack—!!
"What the hell...!"
I'd grabbed a wooden sword from the corner of the training ground and swung it at Chris. She easily blocked my surprise attack, glaring at me with sharp eyes.
Even though I'd started it, facing that look sent chills down my spine.
But I can't back down now...!
If I just kept begging, I'd waste two weeks hanging off her leg like in the fourth loop. But I didn't have time.
So.
Whoosh—!!
I chose to force the issue. Crack—!! My side slash was blocked again by Chris, sending out a sharp impact sound.
"You.... You wanna go?"
"No, this is still just a request. Teach me swordsmanship...!"
"I said no—!"
Whoosh!
As we clashed swords and exchanged words, Chris spun around, whipping out a kick.
Oh no...!
In the fourth loop, that surprise attack would have hit. But.
Blossoming Talent effect: Your five senses sharpen!
Taat!
With the power of my Easy Mode perk, I barely dodged her kick.
"......"
Chris readjusted her stance, staring at me in surprise.
"...I noticed last time too. Your swordsmanship sucks, but your movement's pretty good."
"Like it? Then teach me some swordsmanship."
"Heh, no."
Chris smirked like she was amused by my words. Then she charged at me with her wooden sword.
Whoosh—!
A sharp slash aimed precisely at the crown of my head. Obvious attack. But insanely fast.
"Ngh...!"
Crack!
I blocked it by a hair's breadth. But Chris didn't stop, shoving forward with her body weight.
"Haha! This is fun. So what's the plan? You think I'll say yes if you win?"
"...No need to explain. That's perfect."
"Fine, but heads up—give up. You can't win!"
Thud! Whoosh—!!
No sooner had she finished than Chris dropped low and swung a horizontal slash.
I can't block this...!
My instincts screamed it was impossible, so I threw myself aside.
Whoosh!
Taat...!
"Hah, hah...."
I rolled across the training ground floor and pushed myself up with my hands. Chris looked down at me with an impressed smile.
"Get it? You can't win. So quit being annoying and scram."
"...I know I can't beat you."
If I could beat her, I wouldn't need her to teach me. My goal wasn't victory over her.
"So let's make a bet."
"......A bet?"
I stood without breaking eye contact with the puzzled Chris, readjusted my grip on the wooden sword, and grinned.
"Five times. If I land five successful attacks, I win."
From spending so much time with her in the fourth loop, I knew full well. Even with Easy Mode perks, beating her before the next event was impossible. Someone like Malcolm might pull it off with physical prowess and talent. But Chris was different. Malcolm just trained under good swordmasters since childhood. Chris had been swinging a blade on battlefields since she was a kid—leagues beyond him.
"Why should I take that bet? No, it's a hassle and a waste of time."
Chris rejected it flatly, as expected.
Of course. But I knew she'd say no. So, like before, I threw out a reckless gambit.
"Why? Scared you'll lose?"
"......"
Her expression twisted at my words.
Provocation. I'd felt it in the fourth loop—Chris fell for taunts easily. She was hot-blooded and prideful.
But this time, it wasn't enough.
"Hah.... Sorry, but I won't lose to you. Like I said, it's a waste of time."
Unlike last sword class, where she'd charged in excitedly, she stayed calm this time.
She's rational because it's a bet....
Unlike just asking for a sparring partner last time, this bet involved teaching swordsmanship.
"Sigh.... Fine, nothing I can do then."
"......"
So I had no choice but to provoke her more.
"Running away? Guess the swordsmanship you learned is just that level."
"......What?"
"Your teacher was probably crap too, huh?"
"......"
Shiiiing—.
I'm screwed....
My final ace provocation. The air around Chris shifted, her feral aura making every hair on my body stand on end. I froze, smiling at the coldly furious Chris.
And then.
"Hah."
She let out a short scoff. Raising her wooden sword toward me.
"Fine. Five times. Land five attacks, and I'll grant your request."
"Whoa, really...?"
"But."
Her sword pointed at me felt like a real blade. With that intensity, she glared.
"If you miss all five, you die."
"......"
As expected. Even in Easy Mode, conquering a heroine meant risking my life.
"Please take good care of me...."
I tightened my grip on the wooden sword, bracing for the savage pain to come.
。 。 。
"Whoa.... What the hell happened?"
"......"
The next morning, Sierra showed up for morning training as declared. Seeing my arms, legs, and shoulders covered in ugly bruises, her eyes went wide in shock.
"You didn't fake this, right...?"
Poke.
"Ow—!"
"Ah, sorry."
Yesterday had been hell. Naturally, I'd lost the bet. As I tried to apologize and flee, Chris grabbed me and forced the spar to continue. Sparring? More like a beating with a club. Her strikes came in earnest—if I didn't block, I ate the full hit. A game from hell. Luckily, survival instinct let me block all the headshots.
"Emil.... Where'd you get beat up like this?"
"Circumstances.... If we're training together, just focus on training quietly."
"Don't tell me some jealous bad student is bullying you now that you're doing well in studies...."
"If you're not training, go home."
Well, her guess wasn't entirely wrong. I did get beaten by a bad student.
Anyway, after that, I trained with Sierra in the morning.
"Ugh~, this sucks~."
Of course, Sierra, who'd just joined today, ran with me. The usually lonely running path filled with her whines.
After finishing the run and bodyweight exercises.
"Wait here a sec, Emil."
"Huh? Wait for what.... Wait, where are you going!"
"I said wait!"
Sierra left those words and vanished. I plopped down on the grass, staring blankly after her.
Moments later.
"What is this...?"
"Hehe, watch. I'm good at this stuff."
Sierra returned from the dorm with a basket, sat in front of me, and smugly pulled out ointment and bandages.
"...It's fine if you leave it."
"Stay still. Some spots are burst open. Gotta treat 'em right or you'll scar."
She'd gone back to the dorm for first-aid supplies to treat me.
She gave me simple care after that.
"......"
As she wrapped the bandages, drawing close. Focused on my wounds, Sierra was unusually calm and quiet.
The different vibe made me stare blankly at her face without thinking.
Her eyelashes are so long....
Seeing her up close, I understood why she was the original game's heroine. I'd thought it before, but her serene face was stunningly beautiful.
"All done! How's it look? Perfect, right?"
"Ah, yeah."
Lost in her face, her treatment ended. She looked up smiling, and I quickly turned away, avoiding her eyes.
"Hey, where's my thank you?"
"Huh?"
"You say 'thank you' for this, don't you?"
"...You did it expecting thanks?"
"No such thing as a free lunch."
Sierra grinned playfully, urging me with her eyes. Feeling awkwardly embarrassed, I scratched my cheek and averted my gaze.
Awkwardly.
"Thanks...."
"Hehe."
She smiled, satisfied.
。 。 。
Somehow, the morning training felt awkwardly heated.
But the bandages help.
Thanks to Sierra's treatment, the wounds didn't rub against my clothes. I changed comfortably and headed to the academy as usual.
...She'll honor the bet today, right? ...It's about her foster mother's honor, after all.
I attended classes normally, pondering Chris's route the whole time.
The bet to land five attacks on her. Tough, for sure. But unlike the fourth loop, Blossoming Talent gave me a shot.
I'd bet on this perk from the start. Without it, like in the fourth loop, it would've been impossible.
Ideally, settle it within a week....
I spent every moment at the academy replaying yesterday's spar with Chris in my head. Simulating mentally, searching for chances to land those five hits.
And.
"......Emil."
"Ah."
"Y-You're covered in bandages...!! What happened?!"
Too focused on Chris, I didn't notice Marie approaching in the hall. Spotting me, she paled at the bandages on my arm and rushed over.
"Who did this...."
"Ah, no, Marie...."
She looked up at me with those eerie eyes from before.
"Who did this...?"
"......"