Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: If a Man Draws His Sword, He Must Cut Something!
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This was Ariana's private training room. Ariana, who had been in her armor, said she'd change and headed to the changing room. I took off my uncomfortable leather armor and waited for her.
"But didn't someone tell you not to meet with the Commander?"
That had been one of the conditions Rise Salt laid out when I was messing around with her. Still, I'd boldly broken that promise with her and followed Ariana. She'd probably passed out from exhaustion anyway, so she wouldn't know about this.
"Did I keep you waiting long?"
"No."
"Sorry for calling you so suddenly. Let's wrap this up before lunch."
Today, she was dressed in an outfit that perfectly hugged her curves. Thanks to releasing more than ten loads, my dick was still behaving itself.
"May I ask what this is about?"
"Yeah, I suppose it's time to tell you."
Ariana handed me a training sword and began her explanation.
"There'll probably be a Magical Beast subjugation mission soon."
"A Magical Beast... you mean?"
"Yes. Beasts have been appearing in a nearby forest. They haven't come out to harm civilians, but hardly anyone who's gone into the forest has come back alive."
I recalled the previous subjugation mission. It was around the time Tyke committed his murder. The Empire had initially underestimated the beasts and sent in regular troops. They weren't that strong, but the casualties were higher than expected. That's how innocent deaths happened.
"This time, it's not just one beast—several. So they've concluded it's different from usual. Regular soldiers will go along with the knights."
Several Magical Beasts appearing.
I remembered.
The knights participated in the mission, but like last time, there were human casualties. I was bedridden then, so I didn't know the details.
"So all of us soldiers are going?"
"Not every soldier. The ones deployed are just to support the knights—the actual fighting falls to them. Which is why..."
Ariana stepped up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Daron, I want to give you a chance."
"A chance?"
"To gain experience and rack up some merits."
What Ariana meant was for me to join the Magical Beast subjugation operation—up front, not in the rear.
It was definitely tempting. If a regular soldier earned merits in a beast subjugation, promotions would come fast. But at the same time, I had to prepare for the worst.
A soldier among knights?
The spotlight might be one thing, but envy and jealousy could brew plots against me.
And knights being deployed meant it was that dangerous. I had to weigh if this second life, hard-won, was worth unpredictable risks.
"Do I have the skills for that?"
I had some swordsmanship chops, but my mana use lagged far behind even regular knights. It felt harsh for a fledgling just spreading its wings.
"I know what you're worried about. So I'll give you a little extra test, then train you until the mission."
"Can I get that much stronger?"
"At least enough to pull your weight."
Pull my weight among knights?
That meant she'd make me equal to them—or better. Even in a dire crisis, I was confident I could grit my teeth and survive. With my war experience, that was basic.
"What do you say? Want to give it a shot? Even if you don't earn merits, your skills will definitely improve."
I didn't know the details, but it meant intensive training under her. Rise crossed my mind at the thought of more time with Ariana, but I cheerfully ignored our deal and accepted.
"Yes, I'll give it a try."
"Good. Just like the man I've got my eye on."
Ariana beamed, pleased, and reached for her sword again.
"Then let's do a test run."
The sword she picked this time was different from usual—longer and bulkier, like a berserker's greatsword.
"Magical Beasts are stronger than humans, using sharp teeth, horns, claws. They have limits, of course, but I'll make it feel like facing one."
As Ariana drew up her mana, I matched her, unsheathing my sword and activating mine throughout my body.
"Here I come."
Her style was completely feral, unlike her usual. She charged brutally, mana raging. She held back her power, but unlike our pure swordplay spar, this was intense.
"Ngh."
Parrying the greatsword's arc wasn't hard. But the impact was way stronger than I'd thought.
I staggered back from her swing.
"Coming again!"
Her golden hair whipped as she swung at me immediately. Blocking was easy, but the shock made my hands numb already. Each clash sent vibrations that left no room for counterattacks.
This way, I'd just get pushed back until the end.
I had to block when needed, but straight-up parrying would shatter my arms first. Ariana pressed on while I thought it over, truly feeling like fighting a beast.
Against a beast... never take hits head-on. From the next attack, I focused on dodging her greatsword. If unavoidable, I'd angle to deflect with minimal impact.
Ariana's satisfied look confirmed it was right.
"Good—that's how you handle beasts!"
I dodged her gleeful form, thinking next steps. Dodging alone wouldn't end a beast standoff. With my weak mana, one-shotting was impossible—that was for powerhouses like her.
But there was a backup: chipping away whenever a gap appeared.
I rolled my eyes along her sword's path, seeking vital hits. But her ferocity made even approaching a mental challenge.
This was good enough, but Ariana showed no sign of stopping—her face expectant, hoping I'd surprise her more.
Clang!!!
We clashed head-on again.
I couldn't dodge or deflect—it was unavoidable.
At this rate, I'd dodge till exhaustion, then drop my weapon on the final blow.
...That future was pathetic.
Fuck it—if a man's drawn his sword, he has to cut something!
I gripped tight, pouring all my mana in. One strike—I'd unleash everything.
Then, a new sensation tingled in my fingertips. The mana from them sharpened my blade. At the same time, I compressed mana into my legs.
"Haaah!!!"
With a bellow, I exploited a split-second gap. An upward slash from below. Assuming I'd dodge, I held nothing back.
As it descended, I saw startled Ariana evade my blade. For some reason, she didn't counter.
No way I'd waste it—I lunged, body first. Beasts are huge. Last round, I'd barely survived a massive one by clinging tight. When comrades got shredded by claws, I stuck to it like a human scratching his own back blindly.
Back then, eyes squeezed shut—not wanting to see deaths, escaping reality till it ended. Same now: eyes clenched, I charged.
"Ngh?!"
With Ariana's sharp gasp, my body slammed into soft flesh. Something springy pressed my face, but I was all-in on combat. Plan: pin her under me, immobile on the floor.
Thud—She fell back. I pressed close, ensuring she couldn't escape.
"Ngh, s-stop. Stop!"
I'd planned to endure hits for a counter, but she called it off first.
"Hah... hah... Do you... surrender...?"
Lifting my head, I froze at the sight below. Massive tits, bare and exposed. The Knight Commander's real breasts choked me breathless.
Wow.
My face had been buried in her cleavage.
"Get off!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
At her shout, I jumped up.
Pondering how her chest popped out, it hit: my finisher strike. No wounds, so she dodged—but it nicked the fabric over her chest, slicing it.
Glancing carefully, she clutched them firmly. But hands can't hide bigger tits. Even knuckles bulged with flesh...
"...Ngh."
"No, this is... hahaha... ha."
Damn oblivious dick—pants bulging again. Was I screwed? But with precedent of seeing them once, hope sparked.
"Pervert."
"..."
"C-come here."
Her narrowed eyes weren't like Rise's.
"I'll... milk it again."
From Ariana Katrin, a virgin awakening to lust.