Please Get Stronger and Come Back to Win!

“Where’s the most effective spot to strike when attacking? The place that isn’t defended, obviously. Stabbing a vital point is meaningless if they can block it. You aim for the gaps, the spots that are hard to guard. Conversely, if you create an opening, the enemy will strike there.”

“……What exactly are you saying right now?”

“You asked how I did it, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did. But the way you’re explaining it sounds like….”

She had deliberately created openings to lure in attacks. That was the only way it sounded.

“I figured that if I showed a big enough gap, they’d aim for it, making it easier to block.”

Alto was rendered speechless by Eres, who spoke such an obvious truth as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Making the enemy target your own weakness. Then blocking their strike at the perfect moment and countering. It sounded simple in words, but actually doing it was an entirely different matter.

“But when I actually tried it, it didn’t go as planned.”

The sight of her drenched in blood from being slashed by the crystal sword served as living proof. If it were that easy to block, it wouldn’t be called a gap in the first place. And to attempt such a thing against an opponent stronger than herself? No sane person would try it. Yet she had succeeded. She failed several times at first, but as time passed, even though her injuries increased, her failures gradually decreased.

“Can I ask a question now?”

When Alto’s movements finally stopped, Eres seized the chance to voice the question she had been holding since the previous day.

“Why do you use two swords?”

“……It’s my style. Do you have a problem with it?”

“The balance is slightly tilted to the right. You’re left-handed, aren’t you?”

“If it’s tilted to the right, that would mean right-handed—”

“You’re overtraining your right side, so it doesn’t match. I know because I’ve tried it myself.”

A right-handed person would naturally have a stronger right hand. So wouldn’t it make sense to train the left hand even harder to balance them out? There had been a time when Eres focused intensely on left-hand training with that exact thought, but she eventually gave up.

“It just ruined the balance instead. I thought about becoming ambidextrous, but there was no real need to go that far.”

“……You didn’t realize until you tried it? And I am ambidextrous. I was originally left-handed like you said, but it was inconvenient in many ways, so I practiced.”

“Oh, you did that? That’s impressive.”

‘This girl……the moment she opens her mouth, all the tension collapses….’

In a way, it was an incredible ability. She had spoken without knowing that being left-handed came with more inconveniences than being right-handed.

“Once I started using both hands, I tried dual-wielding and it felt right. That’s all.”

“Hmm. Nice excuse.”

“……”

And the fact that a single remark from her was enough to shatter the tension again was probably this mysterious girl’s true talent. Eres held Alto in high regard. Since her only points of comparison were herself and Luke, she had no choice but to respect someone stronger than her. Therefore, it was only natural that—

“It doesn’t match at all. That style of yours.”

She believed there was no way he wouldn’t already know the facts she had uncovered.

“What….”

“The balance is off. It might work once or twice, but in a continuous exchange of attacks, it creates a fatal opening.”

That was the first point.

“Your consecutive attacks. If the opponent comes in intending to break through from the start, they become useless. Holding out against such an enemy with only one hand is impossible.”

That was the second.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

“You’re too obsessed with chaining attacks. Because you think ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you have to connect them quickly, the moment you see a gap, you immediately try to exploit it. Honestly, it was easier to block than when you used just one sword.”

That was the final reason she had identified.

Alto couldn’t say a word. It felt as if his carefully hidden secret had been forcibly dragged out into the open and laid bare for all to see.

“You can overwhelm those weaker than you, but against the strong, you’re completely helpless. Why do you impose such limits on yourself? If it were me, even if I used two swords—”

“Shut up.”

It wasn’t the pride of a noble. It was Alto’s own instinct, his reason, his very ego. All of them united as one, screaming at him to silence that mouth immediately.

“……It’s almost like you want to lose.”

“I told you to shut up!!!”

The disgusting feeling of having his insides laid bare. If someone else had figured this much out in just a few minutes, he might have found it awe-inspiring. But when it was happening to him, he couldn’t simply laugh it off.

“What could you possibly know to spout such nonsense!”

“Don’t get hasty. I told you you’re obsessed with speed.”

Even under the relentless barrage of attacks that felt like they were being poured on her, Eres blocked them with ease. Whether she was truly at ease ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or not, Alto had no way of knowing. But if he thought she was, then the truth didn’t matter.

Spotting the gap and aiming for it had become a pattern. The speed of Alto’s full-power attacks surpassed Eres’s, yet—

‘I can’t overwhelm her…! Me, losing in speed……no, I am faster. But this difference isn’t enough to turn it around!’

As long as Alto couldn’t immediately correct the habits she had seen through, Eres could read the trajectory of his attacks before he even made them. She could even choose where to make him strike. Unless he created an overwhelming gap that didn’t even allow a reaction, the difference in speed was meaningless!

But Eres’s true value wasn’t limited to that alone.

‘How is this even possible? She wasn’t like this just moments ago! Why does she keep getting sharper? How is she becoming this precise?!’

More efficiently. More accurately.

Eres thought a lot. Questioning things was as natural to her as breathing now. Endless doubt made her ponder every aspect of the world, and she never let anything pass without deep consideration.

It became the foundation that allowed her to realize more than others from the same amount of time and experience. And Eres could instantly apply those realizations to herself.

“Are you some kind of machine?!”

‘Hmm. What’s a machine?’

She took the solid foundation she had built, absorbed new knowledge and experience, and optimized herself once again. Her sword energy grew more precise, her movements more economical. All while maintaining her existing strategy of inducing openings.

‘How can a human even do that!’

This was not an opponent he should have faced. If he had known, he never would have given her the chance under the pretense of fairness.

‘I’m being devoured. This is wrong. Fria should have been the one to face her. Not with skill, but with raw power. She should have ended it instantly without giving any room for analysis!’

Consecutive strikes no longer worked. Now, there was only one thing he needed to do to win.

‘If I use my full power now, I can still win.’

But—

‘I……have to go all out against this girl…?’

He was worried about what Luke might do afterward, but more than that, did he really have to reveal his full strength and fight desperately against a mere countryside girl? As the heir to a ducal house, did he truly need to go that far just to defeat a nameless LV2 commoner? No matter how he looked at it, it was humiliating. Even if he won, it wouldn’t feel like a real victory.

Yet at the same time, another thought arose.

‘What if……I lose…?’

More precisely—

‘What if I can’t win…?’

The fear that if he couldn’t defeat Eres even by giving everything now, he wouldn’t be able to win next time even if he revealed his full power. And the greater terror that if Eres could withstand his full strength, she would swallow even that foundation and become a monster he could no longer handle.

‘I……I……!!’

Now that it was already too late, what choice was left for him? In the end, Alto Ripelreus steeled his resolve.

‘I can tell just by looking.’

It was far too large to be called a sword. Even compared to him, it was a massive greatsword. It was literally a war hammer…a crystal hammer. Did he really have to take that hit?

‘Why do I……?’

I clearly announced at the start that I would dodge. Why is she so certain I’ll take the frontal clash? And there was no such pattern in the original story.

‘It looks like I could just run and avoid it. Do I really have to get hit?’

If it were useful, I’d accept it and give her some praise, but this thing is so heavy she can’t even wield it properly. It’s a failed design that sacrificed all mobility for pure power. Sure, if someone held the target still, she might land it. But in that time, she could have hit them several more times with normal attacks.

‘No. If I dodge this, won’t it just boost her confidence for no reason?’

She isn’t someone who fights at her normal speed anyway. As long as her single-hit damage is high, that’s enough. If I dodge, she might think I’m scared and convince herself that this is actually useful.

‘Yeah. I can’t let her waste time on this piece of garbage skill.’

It’s already right above my head. As expected, accelerated thinking is convenient. Good, it’s within reach now. Let’s grab it.

THUD!

The impact from the crystal hammer flowed steadily through my body and into the ground. There was a minor accident where the floor, being weaker than me, cracked, but it was no problem in the face of my sense of balance and leg strength.

“You……how did you……!”

“Can’t you tell by looking? I caught it with my hands.”

The excessively huge greatsword came to a complete stop, blocked by both of my hands. Fria looked like she wanted to engage in a contest of strength, but—

“You stupid girl. You prepared something like this as your trump card?”

“Kuh, ugh…!”

“You’re putting strength into a sword you can’t even swing properly because it’s too heavy? Just let go of it already. Don’t try to hold it with me.”

Honestly, I’m a bit surprised it’s lighter than I expected. But to Fria it must have been unbearably heavy, because it felt less like she was swinging it and more like she was slamming it down.

“To create a weapon that even you can’t use properly. That’s the kind of thing only snot-nosed brats would think of.”

“This……!!”

“Got a complaint? Unlike your brother who would break it or throw it away, this consumes too many resources. And even if you wanted to use it again, it’s so heavy that you can’t even lift a finger or take a step.”

So just don’t use it. It’s a good thing I caught it for you. If it had embedded itself in the ground after I dodged, you’d be struggling and groaning trying to pull it out.

Fria’s face flushed red as she tried to retrieve the sword, but because it was heavy and I was holding it, she could only let out strained groans.

“Your brother from yesterday would have been better than a brute like you. What kind of confidence made you come to stop me?!”

“Don’t you dare treat me like an idiot……kyaaak!”

‘Huh?’

Fria, who had been twisting her body to wrest the greatsword away, lost her balance while trying to regain her footing. She stepped on one of the cracks in the already damaged floor and fell over.

‘Oh shit. At this rate, I’m going to get crushed by this sword?’

My hands were at the very end of the greatsword. Within my accelerated thoughts, I could feel the sword’s weight overcoming the friction between the smooth crystal and my palm. It was slipping. In that case, I’d use a force other than friction!

“Hup!”

CRACK!

All ten of my fingers dug into the heavy greatsword, stopping its slide. The sword froze in midair, and—

“Uh……huh? I thought I fell…?”

There was Fria, still clinging to it. Wait, why didn’t she let go? I could hold it, sure, but—

“How……are you holding that……with just your fingers……while holding me too……?”

“I lowered both thumbs underneath and lifted the rest of my fingers on top to brace it. It’s the principle of leverage.”

Fulcrum this, load that……I think that’s how it went. I smiled leisurely, but the fact that I got scared for a second and even used a skill is a secret from Mel.

Wait, no. She’s 1.2 times a Ripelreus. Shouldn’t I avoid looking too relaxed?

“How……could you do something like that……it was already too heavy for me to even lift….”

She seemed quite shocked. Maybe I should have gone with 1.5 instead. It wouldn’t do to look too relaxed, so I should frown now.

“Don’t say such obvious things.”

“Obvious……?”

“Isn’t it obvious that I’m stronger than you?”

I should raise her favorability while I’m at it. Her trembling eyes, shaking limbs, and ragged breathing. But the Fria I knew wouldn’t lose her will to fight over something like this. She was just surprised for the moment. Given time, she would return to her usual arrogant attitude.

“Six years ago, I defeated the Mad Dog of Higwood. The hunter of Entecrest became prey before me, and the mercenary captain of Ellawood couldn’t even scratch me.”

“Uh……huh?”

“Three years ago, the archer of the watchtower was dragged down from his tower by my hand, and even the Iron-blooded Countess knelt before me. I also defeated the princess of the wolf-guarded ruins.”

Fria, who had been hanging from the sword, released her grip and sat down. Should I make it even heavier then? I furrowed my brow more deeply and approached her while still holding the sword.

“What did you do six years ago! Who did you fight and defeat three years ago!”

“I, I…….”

“Have you ever broken your own arms and legs to become stronger? How far have you gone to surpass your limits! Are you saying you worked harder than me to become strong?!”

If I say it like this, she’ll see me in a new light, right? Not as a violent thug, but as a martial artist who gave everything to grow stronger. That kind of thing is a plus for knights, isn’t it?

“Hic, hic…….”

“If you haven’t, then do it now.”

I worked hard. So you should work hard too. You can really do it! You guys are all talent monsters anyway!

“I did it even without any unique magic. So how can you say you can’t? That’s impossible. Do it. Do it. Do it! Become stronger than me, I said!”

“I……I…….”

“Why is your voice getting so small! Weren’t you the greatest genius?! You called me a vile man! Are you just going to accept defeat against someone like that?!”

You’re not the kind of person who breaks here. Use this defeat as fertilizer to climb even higher—

“That’s enough, Count Luke! You have won!”

“Huh?”

“Match over! Quickly take Lady Fria away!”

I wasn’t finished talking yet? The judges and academy staff rushed in, restraining me and carrying Fria off.

‘W-wait, I still needed to ask her to take good care of Eres at the end!’

Since Eres had my training method, I should have hinted that they should try it together! This way, the connection between the Ripelreus siblings and Eres disappears!

THUD!

I tossed the greatsword I no longer needed to the side and walked out of the training ground while maintaining my composure as much as possible—

“You trash! What did you do to Lady Fria!”

“Unforgivable! I will formally protest to Colwen!”

“Our usually dignified Lady Fria ending up like that……!”

Maintaining composure…… Yeah, getting cursed at by extras doesn’t matter anyway. What matters aren’t those guys, but our regular friends!

“Well done, world’s greatest piece of trash master. In that short time, you dealt massive damage to Lady Leira’s stomach.”

“……Be quiet.”

“I’m the one who wishes you would be quiet. The criticism that started in Training Ground 2 has already spread all the way to Training Ground 1.”

When I arrived at Training Ground 1, Melina, who had already heard the news, turned away with a rotten expression. What did I do? I only gave encouragement. I’m sure Fria will become stronger than in the original. And if she doesn’t, I’ll make her stronger. It’s convenient that I don’t even have to get her a weapon.

“More importantly, what happened with Eres? Did that bastard Alto go easy on her?”

“No. It was brutal.”

“What?”

“Hmm.”

Melina pointed toward the center of the training ground where people had gathered to clean up a massive amount of bloodstains. That couldn’t be…….

“Alto Ripelreus kept carving her up and then finished her off. So my sister lost.”

“……He didn’t hold back at all.”

“It wasn’t holding back. He was yelling and toying with her the whole time. After making her think she had adapted, he finished her with a big technique she had never heard before.”

“Oh ho…….”

“Well……since I don’t have much knowledge in that area, I gathered the spectators’ evaluations.”

“I see…. I’ll just break his legs and leave.”

“Please stop. Seriously.”

“She’s your sister.”

“Then worry about your own sister.”