Sword headed straight for me as soon as our swordsmanship lesson started.

You IDIOT!

Ouch!

He suddenly bonked my head. Why!?!

Dont you possess a shred of sympathy with my situation!?

Hmm? I do sympathize with you! Thats why Ill take care of all the troublesome matters mysgyaaa!

An iron claw!!

If you sympathize with me, why did the prince approach me bout allowin him to have a mock battle gainst you!?

Does it matter? Youre free to allow it or not, arent you? I dont mind either way. To be honest, since itll be extremely difficult to hold back enough to not kill him, lets consider the rest after I killegyaaa!

He put the screws on me.

Instructor Sword, please leave it at that. Otherwise hes going to excuse his defeat with him having been punished by you before the fight, said the prince.

With a sigh, Sword finally released me.

The pain stings~

Sorry, but I forbid a mock battle. Thats why youll have your showdown in this way, Sword declared and took something out, before dropping it on the ground with a thud.

Screams filled the training field.

The other day we subjugated a cyclops. This is a part of its arm. Ive been given it back after bein told that its arm is no good for craftin. You guys, try to cut this up.

Hmm? Something so simple?

I dont particularly mind, butwill this serve as any kind of contest? I asked the prince.

Humph! If not, Ill just challenge you to another match!

I see.

When I tried to draw my wooden sword, my hand was stopped.

Ill designate the weapon, too. Cut it with this.

I was handed another sword.

Cut, switch swords, cut again, switch again, cut again, switch again, and cut once more. Well properly check the condition of your blades. Anyway, give it a go.

A sword, huh? Well, its not like I cant use one.

Haaah!

Next to me, the prince brandished his sword widely, swinging it down with all his might. A clang reverberated across the area.

!!

It looks like his hands were hurting from the recoil. And while observing him, I cut the cyclopss arm.

Its much cooler with my usual wood sword. Do you know the technique of drawing your sword, slashing your opponent, and sheathing your sword in one single stroke? I can perform that in a pretty nifty way, you know?

Okay, switch

Instructor Sword didnt even listen to me!

Eh?

The prince appeared to be startled over me having already cut the arm.

Im not accustomed to this sword, so I can only use it in a normal way, I passed the sword to him while explaining.

W-Well also switch the location! This spot was too tough! The prince blurted out in a fluster.

I dont mind either way. How about you decide where to hit?

H-Hit the place I hit!

Sure.

I quickly slashed at the spot, slicing it apart like ham.

Can it be used for something if you strip off the skin and tan it?

How bout you strip the skin then?

Instructor Sword is so cold-hearted towards me!

While puffing out my cheeks in a huff, I skinned the cyclopss arm.

It felt more like lightly scraping across stone than skin, didnt it? Arent cyclops organic beings or some such? They dont seem to decay, though. I think tanning the skin might be kinda impossible.

Next to me, I heard yet another metallic clang.

Okay, switch.

Once we switched, I got scolded, Isnt there a chip in the blade!?

Its nothing major, so dont make such a racket.

It doesnt matter anyway. In the first place, if I feel like cutting it, I can always cut it with my wood sword.

It is major! Your way of using the sword is

Okay, stop there. Do you recall the time before the switch? Was there a chip in the blade at the beginning when you switched for the first time?

The prince looked at Sword, and reluctantly admitted, No.

And now theres a chip in the blade. Indra, show us the sword you received after switching.

I handed it over.

Do you see any chips in the blade?

It was apparently chipped.

Did you understand why I didnt want to let you fight gainst this guy? No matter how often we do this or how many swords we use, the result will be the same even if you hand a kitchen knife to him while usin a sharp sword capable of cuttin this here yourself. It wont be much of a duel. Give it a rest if you dont wanna die. The strongest in this academy is Indra, declared Sword to the prince and turned in my direction. With that decided, Indra, could you settle down? Could stop involvin His Highness the Prince, or plan to kill people by makin em pick a fight with you through your agitation skill?

Somehow Im being told something terrible here?

Ugh, but even the prince cant accept this, can he? Very well, let us have a duel with that much of a handicap. Ill use a kitchen knife while youll come at me with a masterpiece of a sharp sword. Like this you wont mind us fighting, will you? Gyaaaa!

An iron claw!!

Just what are you suggestin after Ive brought everythin so neatly to a close!?

T-The prince doesnt agree!

No, Ill obey Instructor Sword. But, this was only the sword part!! Next were going to have a match with magic!

Oof, and here he came up with somethin where he got even less of a chance for winnin, Sword mumbled under his breath.