Chapter 122 - Sparring with Kelly
After finishing breakfast, we headed to a quiet open field nearby. It was more like I was dragged there. Grace had gone back because her father would worry, Elinne headed off to the hero party, and Ray went to the temple. Now it was just Kelly and me, facing each other alone.
"Tch, loosen up that face. Someone might think I'm gonna eat you alive."
"Go easy on me."
Kelly wasted no time putting her promise to make me stronger into action. As expected, her decisiveness was pure Kelly.
"Alright, let's see what you've got."
It wasn't like I was being forced into this spar. I wanted to get stronger too. Ariana's training methods weren't wrong by any means. But since they were the refined techniques of nobles and knights, they couldn't help but feel a bit slow. Kelly, who had clawed her way up from the bottom, seemed like someone I could trust to push me faster.
"Here I come! Pour everything you've got into it—give it your all!"
"Hoo."
I drew my sword and charged at Kelly. She casually pulled out the sword she'd grabbed from her mercenary group earlier. She usually carried daggers, but this was probably her main weapon—a bit thicker and longer than mine, though still smaller than the greatsword we'd used in training with Ariana.
Anyway. Focus!
"Your basics are solid?!"
I'd only swung once, but she dodged lightly and sounded surprised. Kelly swung her blade in sync with my mana output. When our swords clashed, a sharp jolt shot through my hands. Ariana's sword had been heavy too, but with an elegant weight. This impact carried a wild instinct.
"What the hell? You're not just good at swinging your dick?!"
"Even the famous Ariana Katrin acknowledged my swordsmanship!"
"I know. That bitch swings a mean blade too. Whoa! That was sharp!"
It was swordsmanship Ariana herself had approved. Back when my mana circuits were wrecked and I was a crippled soldier, I'd honed it just to survive. It didn't follow any rigid forms, but that was actually my style's strength.
"But your power's lacking. If you push harder there, your enemy couldn't take it—but you're short!"
"Kuh."
"And targeting the opening was good, but too reckless! In a real fight, your arm would've been gone, you idiot!"
As Kelly's frantic feedback left me stumbling, her foot shot toward my gut. I barely blocked with my left arm and got shoved back. Kelly's style was similar to mine—freewheeling and unbound. Her raw mana seemed lower than Ariana's. But that's why she could match Ariana: pure battle sense. Maybe this was even a glimpse of my future swordsmanship, shown through Kelly right now.
"And sometimes you're too hesitant when you should go aggressive. Knight habits?"
Sparring with Ariana might've drilled that into me. Should I just charge however I feel like it?
"Kelly. Here I come again!"
"Come at me!"
That didn't mean my spars with Ariana had ruined me. I just hadn't fully forged my own style yet, but I was confident it had sharpened. For now, I'd let my body move on instinct.
"Oh?"
Kelly had to block with her sword more often now, unable to dodge. I swung wildly, mixing in hand-to-hand techniques.
Opening!
"Ahhn. You fucking bastard?"
"Ah."
My foot grazed Kelly's breast as it passed. She'd dodged, but couldn't control that jiggle.
"Enemies don't go easy in a fight!"
"Then I can crush your balls?"
"……."
"Pfft. You're such a serious little shit. Just kidding."
As I straightened up, Kelly cackled and raised her sword again. This time, she was coming at me.
"I've got a rough idea of your level now—hold up!"
Her onslaught was fiercer than before, forcing me to focus purely on defense. Without mana in my blade, it might've shattered.
"Time to end this!"
"Grk!"
Kelly poured more mana into her sword like she meant to finish the spar. I held on desperately, but my limit was closing in. The mana gap was too wide.
……I couldn't just lose pathetically like this.
"Huh?"
Kelly expected me to brace. Instead, I relaxed, letting her momentum push her blade past me. The trajectory let me dodge without getting sliced. Her guard opened wide—that was my chance. I slammed my free fist into her side. But she twisted, thrusting her breast right into my punch's path.
"Kyaaan♥"
Twaaaang—.
Her moan hit like a coquettish arrow, sapping my strength. The rebound sent my hand flying back, and I collapsed in a daze.
Breast defense—what the hell was that?
Anyway, the spar was over. Arguing win or loss was pointless; Kelly wouldn't lose.
She kneaded her breasts a few times, then strode over and grabbed my shoulders hard as I sat there.
"Fuck, what are you?!"
"Huh?"
"Your swordsmanship's too solid for your mana level! Normal knights have more mana, so their basics are shit—but you?!"
She remembered I was a baron's knight. She'd assumed I sucked like the rest.
"That's a compliment, right?"
"Obviously. Building up your mana is the key……."
"It's only been a few months since my circuits opened."
Probably less than half a year.
"What? Fuck, and you're this strong already? Are you some kind of genius freak?!"
Kelly shook me wildly. Her way of praising was a bit much.
"Actually, Ariana Katrin opened my circuits."
"The empire's sword prodigy. But even so, this fast? Did she spill her family's secrets?"
Kelly shoved her hand under my shirt, probing my mana around my solar plexus. Good thing Ariana's method checked out.
"Come to think of it, she's one of the girls you fucked, right?"
"Yeah."
"Strong ones know talent. No male measures up to you. Keeea, my eye for men is spot on!"
Like with Ariana, Kelly had confirmation her choice was right.
But didn't you just jump me 'cause you saw my dick and couldn't hold back?
Kelly cackled as she stood.
"Anyway, I can build you up faster than I thought. Figured it'd take five years."
"Five years?"
"Hey, how much of a free ride you expecting? Even to match me takes at least that. But it'll be shorter than I thought."
I'd actually thought five years was short.
Kelly and Ariana were true geniuses to reach this level in their twenties. Me? I had past-life memories and Ariana's intensive help. Who knew if I'd grow like Kelly expected.
"You've been at swordsmanship a while, right?"
"Yeah."
Including my past life, I'd poured in plenty of time.
"Makes sense. That level in months is bullshit anyway. Looks like you've started tweaking your old style after trading blows with Ariana Katrin."
"Bad thing?"
"Fuse 'em right, and you'll advance further. Not easy, though? Not saying you can't. I thought your basics were crap, but more training and it'll click."
Time was the answer. Got it.
"So just build mana for now?"
"Yep. Plus one more: learn to infuse mana finely into your muscles."
"What’s that mean?"
"Simply put, use mana as efficiently as possible. You've seen me and the empire's style—compare 'em. Who’s got more mana?"
"Ariana, obviously."
"Right. But in a real clash, I know I won't fold."
Even hearing that much explained why Kelly was rated equal to Ariana. I'd thought it was just swordplay difference, but she had other edges.
"Say these five pebbles are the mana I use."
Kelly nudged some stones on the ground with her foot, gathering them.
"Ariana uses three in real combat, and I could use four?"
"Bingo. Smart guy. My man."
"So if I had Ariana-level mana and used it like you…… I'd be a real monster?"
"Exactly. Perfect that swordplay too, and you're the ultimate stud. No one but a hero or Demon King beats you."
Kelly's words got me fired up. Lately, hanging with Charlotte and Jed had shown my limits. Sure, I'd conquered Ariana and Kelly with my dick, but my pride wouldn't let me coast on that alone.
"Alright. Where do we start?"
"First, expand your vessel. I'm not bulky, but these muscles are super dense. See?"
Strength training ramp-up, got it.
"I'll teach you mana tricks during. Keep gathering mana, refine your swordplay, and someday you won't just surpass me—you'll crush me."
"Let's start today."
I needed to get stronger, and yeah, I'd hit a plateau lately. Basic sword drills and mana gathering. But Kelly had cleared the fog.
"Such passion—real man's fire. You won't burn out quick like a premature shooter, right?"
"Do I look like that kinda guy?"
"You did last time."
"That was when I was weak."
"Hehe."
Kelly smirked…… with a lusty glint in her eye. Right—she dreamed of getting railed by someone stronger than her. Last time, she'd taken me…… but now?
"You provoking me 'cause you wanna fuck?"
Training already sidelined.
"If it bugs you, fuck me then. Or…… I'll eat you up like last time?"
Kelly gripped my crotch hard. I shoved her hand away.
"Was just waiting for the day to show you my real dick game."
"You okay, though? It was swollen tight yesterday from overuse."
"Hey."
I grabbed Kelly's thick ass firmly.
"Fuck first, then yap."
"Eek, Daron's pissed♥"
Sex battle rematch.