93

"Ugh…"

Dragging my staggering body, I returned to the dormitory.

With no strength left in my body, I had no choice but to collapse onto my bed, unable to do anything.

"I'll kill her…"

My body began to tremble with seething anger.

Athena.

The one who wasn't even worth tearing apart—she had taken my sister from me.

Under the guidance of my master, through relentless training that pushed me to the point of rupturing blood vessels and breaking bones,

I managed to reach the realm of Grandmaster at a young age.

Additionally, though only partially, I inherited the power of the Holy Sword and received the goddess's blessing.

I thought that would be enough.

For years, I had suppressed my desire for revenge and my longing to see my sister. Finally, driven by the desire to fulfill those wishes, I sought her out in her mansion without hesitation.

But contrary to my expectations,

even with all the strength I had gained, I couldn't kill her.

Of course, it was different from before.

Unlike back then, when all I could do was cry helplessly,

this time, I managed to put up a fairly even fight.

But it still wasn't enough.

She couldn't kill me, blessed as I was by the goddess.

But I, too, lacked the strength to kill her.

And for some reason, her attacks didn't seem to carry any intent to kill.

Did she realize that only provoked me even more?

Clench—

"I'll kill her. I'll kill her. I'll kill her."

The searing resentment and sorrow began to torment me again. I forced myself to swallow the tears threatening to flow and sharpened my sadness into a blade of fury.

Even if it costs me my life, I will take her back.

I'll return to our home with my sister and continue the happy life we once had.

To do that, I must admit it.

She's still stronger than I am.

I must find a way to grow stronger, no matter what.

She claimed she didn't know where my sister was, but that had to be a lie.

If I beat her to the brink of death, she'll have no choice but to spill the truth.

Until then, I won't stop.

And with that resolve, not even a day had passed when, perhaps the goddess decided to side with me, an unexpected opportunity to grow stronger came my way.

.

.

.

"A duel?"

"Yes. I've always wanted to face a warrior like you at least once."

The red-haired male student standing in front of me, looking down, was someone I knew.

After all, he was in the same class as me, carrying the famous title of a Unique Ability User.

On top of that, judging from what the teachers said, he was said to possess incredible potential.

…Come to think of it, my sister was a Unique Ability User too.

"Alright."

At my unwavering reply, I caught a glimpse of his slight smile of excitement.

A battle with a new challenger is always a valuable experience.

I had no intention of missing the golden opportunity that rolled right in front of me.

"Looking forward to it. This weekend works well for me."

He extended his hand toward me for a handshake.

Plastering on the practiced smile I had honed countless times over the months, I took his hand.

"Yeah. Let's make it a good fight."

Please, help me grow even stronger.

"Lily… are you really okay with this?"

"Yes, Iris. Don't worry."

The scent of fresh grass and the cool night air enveloped us.

It had been a long time since I spent time with her like this.

Now, I was walking with Lily through the academy's garden.

Of course, it was my suggestion.

At first, Lily tried to refuse, but she agreed to join me, saying she had something to ask.

Though our meeting had a purpose, I didn't mind.

Just being by her side like this put my mind at ease.

"The duel is tomorrow… If you get hurt, I'll heal you right away, so don't worry!"

"Thanks, Iris."

She smiled.

Seeing her rare smile made my heart flutter once again.

But perhaps because I had resigned myself, it didn't beat as wildly as it did when we first met.

Still, my feelings for her hadn't changed one bit.

The sight of her small, pale hands made me want to hold them, interlace our fingers, and walk around together.

But I had to suppress that desire.

As we continued our walk through the garden, time passed.

Lily was the first to speak.

"Iris, I have something to ask you."

"Of course. Ask me anything!"

If it's Lily's question, I could answer hundreds, even thousands, of them.

That thought nearly escaped my lips, but I managed to hold it back.

"I haven't been able to fully draw out the power of the Holy Sword yet. Do you have any advice?"

"Hmm…"

I pondered for a moment over her words.

But it didn't take long to find the answer.

"Yes, I know."

It was just a brief moment.

But the eyes that always seemed dark and clouded with no light now shone brightly, like those of a child.

"You… really? H-how do I do it?"

Unlike her usual calm, indifferent demeanor, she looked genuinely flustered.

Thump-thump.

Seeing this new side of her made my heart quietly race again.

'Calm down, Iris. You decided to let go, remember?'

After repeating this resolve several times in my mind, I finally managed to steady my heart.

Taking a short breath, I looked at her expectant expression and answered her.

"The power of the goddess… It truly manifests when you have a heart that wishes to protect someone."

"A heart… to protect…?"

"Yes. Whether it's a person or an animal, when you make a vow to protect that life, only then will you be able to properly wield your power."

Lily fell silent at my words and began pondering deeply for a long moment. Her expression, which had been complex, softened into a smile as she turned to look at me.

"Thank you, Iris. I think this will help me a lot."

"You're welcome, Lily. You can always come to me. Feel free to ask me anytime!"

With that, we ended our slightly exciting and mysterious nighttime stroll and returned to our respective rooms.

Later that night, after chatting with Annie about various things, I lay in bed. Before falling asleep, I gazed at the soft, glowing white moon that reminded me of Lily and offered a prayer.

"Goddess, please, don't let Lily get hurt tomorrow…"

***

Perhaps I was worrying over nothing.

We were now at the Academy's training grounds. This space was typically reserved for the martial arts and swordsmanship classes but had been specially opened for this occasion.

At the center of the field, surrounded by countless spectators:

"Ugh…!"

A red-haired male student, Robin, was kneeling on one knee, letting out a faint groan.

Facing him, Lily stood, her expression showing a hint of discomfort as she looked down at him.

"Is this… all you've got?"

At Lily's taunt, Robin stood up on both feet and gripped his wooden sword tightly, taking a stance again.

"Hah… You're strong, no doubt about it. So, it's true that you're the Sword Saint's disciple."

"But this isn't over yet!"

Robin charged at Lily once again, but she effortlessly dodged his attack and delivered a flurry of blows to his body. He tumbled away like a rolling stone.

The difference in their abilities was overwhelmingly clear.

Lily's expression reflected her disappointment, a look that was almost insulting to her opponent.

'That kind of expression is rude to your opponent, Lily,'

I thought to myself. Of course, this wasn't the time to voice it aloud. I decided to scold her about it later. After all, it's the saint's duty to guide the hero onto the right path!

Although, to be honest, I might have been looking for an excuse to talk with her more.

Setting aside my personal desires, I continued to watch the match unfold.

As the exchanges dragged on, one round, then two rounds, Robin's clothes became increasingly dirtied with dust and dirt.

Despite the clear disparity in skill, the match didn't end quickly.

Robin, who kept collapsing, would get back up each time. And with each time he stood, he managed to endure Lily's strikes for a little longer.

Lily seemed to notice this too, her face no longer reflecting disappointment but a more serious and focused expression.

"Haha… I really don't think I can win," Robin said, breathing heavily, a grin on his face.

But despite his words, his wooden sword remained firmly held out in front of him.

"So, you're not giving up?" Lily asked.

Robin replied with a confident smile.

"The moment you give up, that's when you truly lose."

At his words, Lily's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, they trembled fiercely.

"Thus, I will never give up!"

As he grasped his sword again and charged forward, crimson-golden mana began to radiate vividly around Robin's blade.

When I looked at his sword, I couldn't help but be astonished.

'This isn't sword aura.'

During my time at the cathedral, there hadn't been much to capture my interest. However, I often found myself intrigued by watching the holy knights spar.

From them, I learned a great deal of knowledge.

That's why I can tell the difference with certainty.

Enchanting a sword with mana and swinging it.

Sword aura, where mana itself emanates from the blade.

But Robin's sword was neither of those.

It was a state where a dense concentration of sword aura had coalesced into a tangible form.

That was undoubtedly sword energy.

A level one could only reach upon attaining at least the upper ranks of an expert.

Had he achieved growth in such a short time?

"Hup!!"

Before I knew it, Robin had closed the distance to Lily, swinging his sword at a speed markedly different from before.

The air around them began to ripple, resonating with the movement of his blade.

"Lily…!"

No matter how capable Lily was, taking a direct hit from that would surely cause her harm.

I readied myself to rush forward in case she got hurt.

But—

"….Lost…?"

Lily, as if consumed by some deep thought, stood motionless, staring blankly at the ground.

And then—

Just as Robin's wooden sword reached just above her head—

Boom!

An enormous whirlwind erupted from the training grounds, shooting up from the ground in an instant.

"Urgh…!"

Robin, struck by an attack from a realm far beyond imagination, collapsed unconscious.

And with Lily's shattered wooden sword lying in pieces, the duel came to an end.

Yet, instead of the joy of victory—

Lily's expression was somber, as if she was holding back tears, her face marked by sadness.