*Huft!*
Noel panted a few times even though he was standing still. He just finished his personal training and went to eat. ｂｏ𝚟𝚕.
As expected, despite becoming a pair, Anna chose to sit far away from him. Although she looked like she was trying to get closer to him, she didn’t become closer than necessary.
When Noel looked at her, he thought, ‘I see. So, that’s what she wants. She’s trying to approach me during the training because my mind can get tired and accidentally give away information. The rest of the time will be her avoiding me. What a cunning woman.’
However, his exact thought was actually the opposite of what Anna had in mind. She was even smiling inside, thinking, ‘I can’t get too close to Noel just yet. I know that the marquis house will hear about my action here. If I become too close without showing some distance, they’ll suspect me and Noel. It will simply danger both of our lives. So, this is the best for us right now. I’m thoughtful.’
Noel didn’t know why Anna came here, so he could only see the scheme coming from her while the person herself believed she was thinking the best option to avoid the unnecessary danger.
There was also an option to discuss this matter with Noel, but with how Noel acted a few days ago, she doubted Noel would believe her. There might even be a potential of a sudden betrayal, so she decided to move slowly but surely.
After finishing their meal, the trainees returned to the training ground as they had time for free training with their partner.
All the attention was gathered at one spot. Anna and Noel were standing in front of each other while holding wooden swords.
“You should have that sharp sword if you want to kill me.” Anna smirked, taunting him.
“The tip is still sharp enough to kill you and the edge is still useful enough to leave a scar on your face.” Noel snorted.
“Heh.” Anna narrowed her eyes as she pointed her sword at Noel’s neck.
Noel took a deep breath. Instead of raising his sword as the sign he was ready for the battle, Noel actually lowered his sword.
Anna became suspicious of his action before she noticed Noel’s fingertips reddened as if he put more power into them.
The sign was followed by Noel’s immediate action as he jumped to Anna and slashed straight to her neck.
“You should know that you need to raise your sword to show that the fight will start, right?” Anna said while taking a step back to gain some distance.
However, Noel followed her movement and tried to stab her heart while saying, “Say that to a demon or assassin.”
“That’s true, but…” Anna blocked the sword with her own but soon let Noel’s sword slide on her sword as she pulled Noel in. After that, she kneed him in the stomach. With the additional force from the Spiritual Energy, Noel was thrown a few meters back. “…We’re not in both situations!”
“Gah!” Noel spat a mouthful of acid. He felt the food he just ate earlier rose from his stomach. A knee was all it took for him to almost throw up.
Anna smiled excitedly as she said, “You’re a bad guy, aren’t you?”
“Not as evil as you.” Noel gritted his teeth, enduring all the mess in his body. He also forced himself to stand up so that Anna didn’t take that chance to attack him.
“Since you said, ‘I’m evil,’ I won’t hold back anymore.” Anna leaped forward and slammed her sword to Noel’s waist.
Surprisingly, Noel managed to react and stop it with his own sword.
After that, Noel took a step to the side before swinging his sword to Anna’s neck. Anna did the same thing. She blocked the sword and used that chance to attack him.
*Clak!*
*Clak!*
*Clak!*
Without anyone realizing, Noel and Anna somehow had exchanged ten blows.
‘Hmm… How is his swordsmanship this good? He shouldn’t have been this good when he first attacked me in the forest or when he fought against a Mid Level Demon. Did he train like crazy? But two days were not enough…’ Anna was confused by Noel’s sudden leap of ability. Ultimately, she could only link his improvement to his talent.
Of course, Anna’s swordsmanship was beyond what she had shown so far. She simply hid it because she didn’t want too much attention under those many eyes. If she showed a superior swordsmanship, not only would it crush everyone’s heart but she would also become suspicious.
She limited herself to the level of what she could show right now.
Even so, it was already a quite high level, so Noel’s swordsmanship was quite astonishing to be able to keep up with this level.
However, she also wanted to confirm Noel’s level once again by provoking him. “Why don’t you use your Spiritual Energy? I know that your ability can be stronger than this.”
Noel gritted his teeth and almost bit that provocation, albeit he remembered the fight against the Mid Level Demon. His power was certainly not enough to kill a Mid Level Demon. And Anna was the one that killed the demon. Even though she hit his sword, that hit actually cut two-thirds of the neck’s flesh.
So, if he showed that power, it would just make him in a disadvantage for a few reasons.
Hence, Noel refrained himself from using it.
“Useless provocation!” Noel shouted as he jumped forward, attacking her a few more times.
“Since you don’t want to do it, then I need to remind you how ignorant you are… I’ve told you earlier that you can strengthen your muscle with it…” Anna slashed downwards, hitting Noel’s sword.
Although she didn’t cover her sword with Spiritual Energy to sharpen it, Noel felt as if he just got hit by a huge boulder.
‘Kh. Too heavy.’ All the veins on his head bulged out just from enduring the weight of that strike alone. When the first strike was successfully received, a second strike came from the side hit him.
Noel tried to block it but his hands were numb after that first attack, so it ended up blowing his sword away and knocked his body to the ground.
“Gah!” Noel gritted his teeth, enduring the pain on his side.
“What’s wrong? How about I teach you the basic of Spiritual Energy?” Anna smirked. She wanted Noel to learn more to see his the true extent of his talent, but she didn’t realize that her words would cause a misunderstanding since in Noel’s perspective, it was the same as telling him that he needed to beg her to teach him the basic of Spiritual Energy.