*Eryk's POV*

  After demonstrating how I fought against monsters, Tsubaki looked extremely disappointed. I could tell from her expression that I was quite clumsy with a sword. I already expected to be bad at fighting, but this bad?

  The first thing Tsubaki did was give me a loure.

  She expined everything that was wrong with my stahe way I swung my sword, and every aspey movements. However, she did praise my fidence.

  "Even though you have no skill at all, your fidence is enviable. Your fidence will help you improve quickly."

  "I'm not sure if I should feel happy hearing that all I have is fidence..."

  "It's a pliment. Some people never improve because they ck fidend are afraid to face monsters."

  "That makes sense. But now… what is the correct stance? I'm using the one Hephaestus taught me."

  "The Goddess taught you?" Tsubaki excimed in surprise. "Your stance is so terrible that I didn't think anyone had taught you before. I trust in the Goddess's skills, so I think you just didn't learn properly."

  "Are you just going to keep talking, or are you actually going to help me fix my weaknesses?"

  "Alright, alright, that's why I'm here, after all. First, the way you hold your sword is wrong. You grip it so tightly that your hands shake, which is unnecessary."

  "Do I really do that?"

  "Go on, hold it the way you did before."

  I got into position as Tsubaki instructed.

  "See? Your sword is trembling. Your hand is also very red, showing that yripping it too hard. You're fog more on just holding the sword rather than moving it properly. Try to hold it mently and take a deep breath."

  Following Tsubaki's instrus, I did as she said.

  I held the sword more lightly and swung it gently.

  I don't feel any difference.

  "That's better," Tsubaki said, satisfied. "Now, about your movement. Your body is too stiff when you fight, and you barely move. Try to make your body lighter."

  "So you're saying I should rex my body and make eaent more fluid?"

  "Yes, that will help you. Of course, this is just to improve your movement. Your sword teiques are still awful. Also, I noticed you don't pay attention to your oppo's movements."

  "It's easier if I just kill them before they try anything."

  "Do you think all monsters will be that easy? We o improve your teiques."

  "And how am I supposed to do that? By fighting monsters?"

  "No. This time, you'll fight me. Let's find a suitable pce."

  Tsubaki started walking away. I kept my eyes on her baot believing what I had just heard.

  This woman… does she even know how to teaeone?

  Well, they say the best way to teach is through hands-on practice…

  ####

  After searg for a few minutes, we found a suitable p the sed floor of the dungeon. We entered a few adventurers along the way but simply ighem. Most of them were men, and the majority stared at Tsubaki with rather lustful looks.

  However, she didn't care at all.

  "I think this spot is good," Tsubaki said.

  We arrived in a room. It wasn't very big, but it was enough for a sparring session.

  "Since I'll be training by fighting you, wouldn't it be fair for you to give me back my sword?"

  "No. Just holding this sword, I tell there's something special about it. What is it?"

  "The sword has two abilities. One increases the magic of the wielder, and the other boosts their speed. I want to use it to increase my movement speed. Fighting you without it is unfair."

  "I see, so that's why you want to use it…" Tsubaki uhed the sword and exami. Then, she swung it before pointing it at me.

  "I'll be using this for now."

  "What!? You're joking, right!? You're already way strohan me!"

  "There's nothier than fighting someone much stroo improve your skills. e on, don't be scared. You attack whenever you want." Tsubaki tinued pointing the sword at me.

  We stared into each other's eyes for several long seds until Tsubaki lost patience.

  "Hurry up! Why are you stalling so much!? Don't you want to train!? Just attack me already!"

  "Why do I feel like you just wao attack so you beat me up?"

  "Of course not. I just want to have a little fun."

  "As long as you don't chop off one of my arms, I guess it's fine." I pointed my sword at Tsubaki and said, "Here I go."

  Unlike when I was using my previous sword, my movements were much slower.

  I ran towards Tsubaki and swung my sword. I did so without gripping it too hard or tensing my body too much.

  Clearly, my movement had improved, but I was still way too slow!

  g!

  Tsubaki casually raised her sword and easily blocked my attack. She didn't even flinch. She just kept looking at me as if I was nothing special—like I was truly weak.

  And she wasn't wrong.

  It was frustrating. I clicked my tongue and started swinging my sword rapidly.

  The sound of our bdes g echoed through the dungeon room. Tsubaki didn't move from her spot. She just stood there, swinging her sword with ease. That's when I lost my patience.

  I started making bolder moves.

  I tried to strike at her legs, her back. I moved around her as quickly as I could, attempting surprise attacks. But Tsubaki remained in the same pce, only moving her sword.

  Before I k, I was out of breath. Even after giving it my all, I couldn't make her take a siep back.

  It was so frustrating that I felt like cursing at her.

  But I held myself back.

  "Are you angry?" Tsubaki raised her sword and poi at my forehead. "You got irritated and started attag mindlessly again. There's no way you'll ever hit me like that. Use your head."

  "It's impossible. Even if I try to make a smart move, you'll definitely avoid it. You were already strong, and now you're using my sword too. Like I said, it's unfair."

  "Alright, then I'll do this." Tsubaki tossed the sword away. "Try to hit me now."

  She spread her arms wide, fshing me a grin.

  ParodyGirl