Lady Verloren, who became my swordsmanship master, taught me a great many things.
"When facing medium-sized or larger monsters, slashing is more effective. Dodge and attack simultaneously. Add rotation to your footwork to increase power, and use the blade as widely as possible. Yes, like that. You're doing well."
The knack of dealing with large monsters using just a longsword.
"For combat against humans, on the contrary, keep your movements as concise as possible. Excessive power is unnecessary. It's enough to thrust and slash faster, more precisely, and more accurately than your opponent, anything more is a waste of energy."
How to kill people efficiently with minimal energy expenditure.
"You probably already know this, but if you sustain serious injuries while killing an enemy, it's meaningless, right? The fundamental idea of all martial arts is to win while protecting yourself. Today, let's focus on practicing defense, deflection, and counterattacks."
Various techniques for receiving the sword of someone stronger than oneself, deflecting its trajectory while simultaneously leading into a counterattack.
"Here, here, and here, step while turning your waist. Lean your upper body back, with the blade in front of your eyes. Then, as you spring off your back foot and rotate to dive in... Yes. Like that, you can dive behind the enemy and cut wherever you want. Let's do it again."
Footwork for evading the enemy's attack while diving in.
"Half-swording... there's no need to teach that. It's almost identical to the usage of a short spear. You should already be able to use it skillfully. No? Why...?"
How to use a sword like a spear.
"Yes, like that, suddenly extend your hands and feet to break the opponent's posture. With your strength, even more should be possible, right? While pressing down with the sword... like this, if you tear out the Adam's apple, it's instant death even with a helmet on."
Basic unarmed combat techniques to supplement swordsmanship.
"If your strength is equal, stick close and knee upwards. If it's an armored knee, it can crush even inside the codpiece no matter what they're wearing."
And even male-specific finishing moves so cruel they send chills down your spine.
While it seemed certainly effective, it was a technique so brutal I couldn't readily muster the courage to use it.
Rather than crushing balls with an iron-reinforced knee, I'd rather gouge out eyes...
Anyway, Master Verloren's intensive education greatly improved my swordsmanship skills. In a more systematic, more efficient direction that extremely heightened lethality.
It was still tough, but thanks to that, each day felt fulfilling with a sense of accomplishment.
* * *
Perhaps because I was getting more and more used to the daily routine of this house, I started waking up more frequently.
It probably means my stamina has improved enough to easily withstand the tiring daily routine.
Friede, like me, rarely fell asleep immediately upon lying down these days, perhaps because her stamina had also improved.
It was a good thing. It was proof that we were getting a little stronger day by day, even though we hadn't even started exploring dungeons yet.
If there was one problem because of that...
"Um... Hilde. Today, could we..."
Was it that Friede, who started to have energy left over, began begging me for intimacy in a slightly different sense from sleep?
"Ugh... No. Don't, Friede."
I rejected this, removing Friede's hand that had crept into my nightgown and was kneading inside.
"Let's be patient for a bit, okay?"
While trying to calm her down in a gentle tone as if soothing a child.
"But... it's already been days..."
Friede whined, pouting her lips. Yes, it had been days since we'd done it. But that's natural, isn't it?
We're not beasts, shouldn't we at least be mindful of time and place?
"I understand how you feel, but... this isn't an inn, it's someone else's home, right? We should maintain proper manners when we're relying on someone's hospitality. So, absolutely not."
I whispered in response near Friede's ear. In a tone more resolute than ever before.
I had no choice but to do so.
If it were a space where only we were present, like an inn or cave, that would be one thing, but asking me to become a human sprinkler in a place like this?
Am I crazy?
Sound, smell, traces, we wouldn't be able to hide anything, so how on earth could we face Marika and Lady Verloren afterward?
We'd be too embarrassed and ashamed to even lift our faces.
"Ugh..."
Unable to refute, Friede grumbled while puffing her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Friede. But let's be patient for a bit longer. Okay?"
I gently held Friede's hands with both of mine, brought them to my lips, and kissed the back of her hands to soothe her.
"...I don't care."
Friede turned her body abruptly, showing me her back with slightly reddened cheeks. Is she sulking because I won't do it? It seemed too childish to be the behavior of a twenty-year-old person.
Perhaps due to her cute appearance, such behavior suited her surprisingly well... but still, childish is childish.
Please come to your senses, Hero. You're twenty years old.
"Friede."
I softly whispered her name. As if admonishing, as if soothing.
"..."
She's not answering. Does she intend to keep ignoring me, showing her sulking attitude with her back turned like this?
To show such a reaction just because we haven't done it for about a month, I became a little afraid of the future, wondering what on earth she would do later.
"Hey, Friede...?"
"..."
Still silence. It seemed like it would be the same no matter how many times I called her.
...What should I do with her?
"Haah..."
A sigh escaped involuntarily. Friede's ear twitched slightly at that sound. I clicked my tongue inwardly at that sight and pondered for a moment—
"Heyah!"
I suddenly extended both arms like lightning and shoved them into Friede's clothes.
"Hieeeek!"
Friede stiffened up in surprise.
It seems she couldn't react in time due to the extremely fast hand movements. You could call it the result of special training.
"Hii, wait, Hi-Hilde. S-suddenly, uwah...!"
I firmly gripped Friede's side as if tying her up with my strength that had improved even more than before, and tormented her by moving my more flexible fingers wildly.
"Hi, hiaah! Not there, not there! Uwah! Hehiek! Stop, hieeek!"
Friede just writhed helplessly, moaning without even being able to resist.
"Sto- hieuk...! Fingers, hueeeh! Tickli- hehe, hiik...!"
While being overwhelmed by my merciless hand movements tickling all sensitive areas including her sides, back, armpits, and even the soles of her feet.
Tickle tickle.
Tickle tickle.
Fingers wriggling like ten snakes crawled over Friede's skin, spreading irresistible laughter.
I'm sorry, Master. Your unworthy disciple is using the techniques you taught in such a way.
No, since I succeeded in ambushing the hero, maybe I'm using them properly in a way?
"Are you going to keep ignoring me like that?"
I kept tickling Friede endlessly until a declaration of surrender came from her.
They say laughter is contagious. The corners of my mouth were rising up like hers too.
This is kinda fun.
"Hihu, heuk, hahieek! I won't, I won't do it anymore!"
Finally, a declaration of surrender burst out. Unable to endure the tickle torture, Friede acknowledged defeat and begged me to stop.
"Good. That's better. Our dear Hero."
I stopped the tickling with a smug grin of victory. Though I didn't withdraw my arms.
"Haa... Haa... Uuuu, really, why so suddenly..."
Friede, finally liberated from tickle hell, panted heavily.
"You know, Friede, you're cuter when you're smiling than when you're sulking. It's much nicer to see."
"...I wasn't sulking."
That's what all sulking kids say. Ignoring her protest, I raised my hands to grab her arms and shoulders.
"Aah...?! Okay! I admit it! So please stop tickling...!"
Perhaps thinking I was going to tickle her again, Friede hurriedly confessed the truth.
Laughter escaped involuntarily. I didn't really intend to do that.
"Since you're cute when you laugh, I'll give you a reward."
"No more tickli- Huh? A reward...? What do you mea- Uwup...?!"
I abruptly turned Friede's body to face me, then buried her face, which had turned bright red from the tickling, into my chest.
Right onto the bare skin exposed by my half-undone nightgown.
Then I stretched out my legs to tightly wrap around her lower body, and with both hands, I pulled her upper body to press her against mine without a single gap, embracing her.
Ah, so warm.
Friede tends to have a high body temperature, so she's really warm.
"How is it? A good reward, right?"
I grinned as I released Friede's face that had been buried in the large mass of flesh. Looking down with a smile at her eyes as she hurriedly lifted her head.
"Uh..."
Friede, who had been struggling due to surprise at having her breath cut off, became docile as if by magic the moment our eyes met.
Golden eyes half-closing dreamily.
Slightly protruding small lips.
Her flushed face so clearly showed what she wanted that I almost burst out laughing.
Right, a kiss should be...
That much should be fine.
I gently supported the back of Friede's head with my hand and lowered my head to kiss her.
A kiss that just lightly pressed our lips together, without inserting my tongue.
After staying like that for a while, Friede's breathing gradually became quieter. My eyes were also slowly closing.
And so, we fell asleep tightly embracing each other with our lips pressed together.
* * *
The next morning.
Lady Verloren couldn't look at me properly even during the morning duel, to an unusual degree.
As if she was reluctant to meet my gaze, her eyes kept strangely turning elsewhere.
The exposed ear next to her long braided black hair was as red as an apple.
...Shit, she heard us.
Yeah, Friede's laughter was a bit loud, wasn't it...?
I hung my head low.
My face felt like it was about to explode from embarrassment.