Arnold pointed the sharp tip of his wooden sword at Rishe. It was a beautiful stance, but somewhat open.

Perhaps it meant “go ahead and strike”

Since there was a difference in their strengths, she also honestly gripped her wooden sword.

Then she checked the conditions of her limbs again.

The restraint on her left hand was secured to her back by a hook-like clasp.

It wasn’t like being cramped by a mighty force, but more or less like in a state of a game. However, due to the structure of the joint, the range of motion was limited.

If you hold a heavy wooden sword in one hand, an arm that lacked muscle strength was enough to withstand it.

The longer the fight lasts, the worse the disadvantage… Then…

Rishe exhaled briefly and dove a foot into Arnold’s space.

Arnold remained still. Where he was, she aimed at his right face and raised her wooden sword at an angle.

Kaan ~ a loud crack resounded.

Arnold lightly parried Rishe’s sword.

She had struck with a reasonable amount of momentum. And yet, Arnold’s sword didn’t falter.

In that case…

She twisted in an axis and flipped around. Even that blow, which used centrifugal force, was easily received by Arnold.

The two swords crossed and interlocked, overlapping with the gaze beyond them. Arnold, who was temporarily one eyed, narrowed one of his eyes and laughed.

“Come on, that’s it?”

“Hmph!”

A creepy feeling ran down her spine as she looked into his eyes that looked as if he was truly enjoying it.

Rishe immediately jumped back and regained her stance while breathing.

My balance is shaky. My grip is lax. I’m drawn to the sensations I have when my left hand is of use…!

She reflected on some points and considered what she could do to quickly cope up.

Correct the balance…and the pacing will change. I need to step in further, only the weakest sword tip will hit His Highness.

She calculated in her head and ascertained the spot she would charge in. Since her grip was out of control, she raised her sword upwards, so that as much power as possible could be transmitted to the tip of it.

A trivial trick wouldn’t work, but it was better than nothing. Also, she has to stop trying to find her balance with her left hand.

Again.

Simultaneous with Rishe’s thoughts, Arnold gave her an inviting look.

She tempered her breath, let it out shallowly, and slashed at Arnold again.

“Ya~”

Her first swing was blocked. Once she pulled back, she immediately struck two or three times and dove into Arnold’s bosom.

She tried to slash up from underneath him, but Arnold’s sword also blocked it, and pushed her back with a twist of his arm.

“–Heh.”

“…”

Pause.

However, it was also at this time that Arnold, who has only ever held up his wooden sword, made his first move. Rishe retreated once more, leaving a gap.

“Oh, hey, Rieshe-sama’s movements have changed a lot after crossing swords with His Highness only a few times…”

“No, that’s impossible! But…if I’m not mistaken…”

The exchanges between the knight guards fell on deaf ears as she devoted her attention to striking Arnold. Defended and attacked, she searched for a breakthrough.

“You’re moving too stiffly. Don’t challenge me with might. Your legs are slipping.”

“!”

He pointed out, and she was flabbergasted.

He corrected her while they crossed swords. She was reminded of the days she was desperate to make up for her inability to match men in terms of strength.

“Take advantage of your agility. Step on your left foot and you can still move, right? One more step, not yet, look!”

She stepped in accordance with Arnold’s guidance while they clashed swords.

A sensation rekindled – that sense of life that she had not too long – like it was just recently.

Arnold instructed Rishe in a straightforward, yet precise manner.

Amazing. I was a knight, and it took me five years to get to that point.

Perhaps Arnold could tell the best solution just by watching Rishe’s moves.

But.

Even Rishe was unwilling to give up. The more she got used to the bodywork, the more her vision opened up.

Then, this time, she started to make room to observe Arnold.

What passed through her brain was the image of Arnold Hein “That Day”.

–Right!


Chapter 44.1: What the crossed swords could tell.
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