Kyaa~ Mel~ so cool!! Haha, did everyone find her “revenge match” last chapter to be satisfying?

Perhaps he returned to his senses after hearing the referee's voice, as Donaldy stood up fiercely.

"There has to be some kind of mistake! Right……I was just going easy on her. If we fight again, then I will definitely win."

Seeing his violent appearance, the knights let out a relieved breath as an atmosphere of agreement with his statement began to float about.

On the other hand, the members of the Army let out scornful laughs as they looked at his state.

"……I see. Then, try fighting her again."

Father's voice as he said that was cold and filled with a sense of intimidation.

[Don't think that there will be a second chance.]

That he was implicitly saying that was something that anyone here partic.i.p.ating in this training could realize as being Father's true meaning.

Since that was what Father taught.

Don't think that there will be a second chance.

Because in battle, there is only death or victory.

To train with the expectation that there will be another chance to battle was an extremely foolish deed.

Do not hold the delusion that it is impossible for you to lose.

Always be afraid of death.

And always be prepared for your own death.

That was something that Father constantly preached.

Without realizing Father's true meaning, Donaldy picked up his sword and got into stance.

I also stretched out my nerves once more so that I could react to the referee's voice at any time.

……and then.

"Begin!"

Together with the referee's voice as it resounded, this time I was the one who moved first.

In order to strike at the opponent's unprepared state, I moved my entire body, leaving behind an afterimage in the s.p.a.ce I was previously.

"……eh."

Donaldy's voice as he muttered in blank amazement seemed like it came from afar.

However, I did not mind it.

Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it did not enter my consciousness.

It was as if a thick wall was concealing it, isolating my consciousness from the outside world.

My consciousness only observed my enemy in order to carefully ascertain his movements.

As my opponent remained in a daze, I swung my sword up from below, raising it overhead as I deflected the opponent's sword and sent it flying.

And then, following through with that movement, I swung the sword down from above, lowering my blade to the enemy's neck.

It was as if it was something decided in advance, something that had been predetermined……it was such a battle.

This battle that had lasted but a few seconds caused everyone to be taken aback.

"……the winner, Mel."

In the midst of that, the referee's austere voice resounded.

Everyone returned to their senses at that voice.

In an instant, sound returned to the world.

The sounds of cheers coming from those from the Army.

And, the bewildered voices from the knights.

It felt like each of them was a wave that surged forward, both nearly equal in size.

I, being the person herself, didn't particularly think much of it.

I didn't want to lose anymore. Yet, despite having won against someone whom I previously spoke pa.s.sionately about, saying that I would win for sure next time……I didn't think much of it.

Rather, instead I indifferently recalled the match just now, and what came to mind were thoughts like, "I should have moved this way" and, "That sort of movement also isn't too bad". I ended up reflecting on my own movements like so.

"……-! One more time……"

When I was dazedly thinking about such things, before I knew it Donaldy who had similarly come to his senses, cried out as he stood up.

A sympathetic atmosphere emerged from those from the Knight's Order, while an atmosphere of objection came from those from the Army.

It was, so to say, an explosive situation.

However, Father opened his mouth to interrupt Donaldy's words.

"Don't frivolously say things like 'one more time'. If you were defeated on the battlefield and on the verge of death, would you say the same thing?"

For a moment, Donaldy became speechless at the question that was plainly stated.

"That's……"

"Don't be conceited and think you're someone strong…….there aren't any strong people on the battlefield. Because only those that win and remain are strong."

At Father's words, the commotion had gone silent, unnoticed.

"Training is not just training. Allowing yourself to become negligent, and then in turn having that negligence expose your allies to danger is simply too unsightly. To begin with, a human's body is fragile. Even though accidents are an indispensable part of training……if you have such light-hearted thoughts like there being a next time, you will fail to pay proper attention to your body, which will become the root for an accident occurring."

Father's following words caused Donaldy to hang his head in shame.

"……I am repeating myself, but do not speak so lightly again. No matter how much the current you tries, you will not be able to win against that. Cool your head."

At Father's words of flat refusal, he (Donaldy) did not speak any further than that.

Those from the Army's side raised their voices in stating joyful words resembling cheers.

And then words of opposition seemed to come from the knight's side.

Their contrasting reactions counteracted each other, forming an explosive atmosphere. Whether it was due to irritation, or he was seriously angry……rather, it was probably the latter……a sense of pressure similar to killing intent came from Father.

"It is not just Donaldy! All of you are slacking!"

He roared……that shout caused everyone to shut their mouths once more.

"For what reason are all of you training? ……don't make light of others, don't be satisfied! Be greedier! Be modest! The moment you forget all of that, then you become no different than some hoodlum you can find anywhere! At that place, where you were born or who you were descended from does not matter at all. You are all learning the techniques to kill another person……that is precisely why, it is demanded that you regulate yourselves. And on top of that, you must continue polis.h.i.+ng your swords. Understand that you will be heading to the battlefield, where no one will respect you, and you will not be able to rely on anyone else - it is a battle in which you stand completely alone! At this place, everyone is equal, and you are all in an occupation where death is constantly standing next to you - do not forget that! If you still want to advance on that road despite that……then don't rely on words! Show it yourselves through your actions! …….that is all I shall say, continue."

For a while, n.o.body moved after Father's words that roared like thunder.

They just continued to stare blankly at Father.

Eventually, the referee respectfully declared the next match.

And then, training started once again.

However, the atmosphere was even tenser than before.

Everyone had serious expressions boiling with fighting spirit.

There, whether they were knights or soldiers was unrelated.

And so, the training continued.