“Lord Hal, I pray for your success in battle.”
Sandra-san placed her hand on her chest and encouraged me at the training grounds attached to the Chevalier family’s townhouse. That alone makes me incredibly happy.
“Please watch. I will definitely gain my brother-in-law’s approval and become a member of the Chevalier family.”
“Yes. If it’s Lord Hal, you certainly will.”
Sandra-san and I gazed at each other and smiled.
“Ahem! Ahem!”
…Cedric-san, disliking that, is clearing his throat so obviously.
But the look he’s been giving me says, ‘I’m going to make you pay,’ so eloquently.
“Well then, let’s decide on the victory conditions for this sparring match in advance. Let’s see… if Prince Harold-denka can land even one hit on me, we’ll call it your win. Conversely, for me, it’s until you say ‘I yield.'”
“Understood. I have no objections.”
I see… just listening to the terms, it sounds like I have a huge advantage.
But he must be confident that I won’t even graze him with an attack, and he must have a way to make me say ‘I yield.’ He’s quite the character.
“You absolutely can’t lose! Partner!”
“If Prince Harold-denka wins, I’ll give you various (・・・・・) services, so please do your best.”
“Monica-san!? What are you saying!?”
Unlike Caz-san, who is purely cheering me on, Monica-san is teasing me even at a time like this.
Thanks to that, Sandra-san’s expression turned stern in an instant.
Well, even though they’re all different, I’m definitely happy that they’re supporting someone like me… though Cedric-san, who isn’t getting any support from anyone, is glaring at me intensely.
“Then, let’s begin. En garde!”
Cedric-san’s words are the signal to start.
Now then… if I land one hit, I win, but I have a shield, so I don’t feel like I can hit him in the first place.
Besides, even though he’s a siscon pervert, he’s still Sandra-san’s older brother. His skill is definitely real. If I’m not careful, I might just get beaten one-sidedly.
“Prince Harold-denka, aren’t you coming?”
“Ah. Unfortunately, my weapon isn’t a sword, but a shield.”
“Ah, that’s right. It’s not too late to take up a sword, you know?”
“No way.”
I don’t need a sword.
All I need is a shield to protect me and my Precious Thing.
“Hmph… you’re quite stubborn. But… I won’t hold back!”
“Tch! He’s coming!”
The instant Cedric-san shrugged his shoulders and shook his head as if he were fed up, he shouldered his wooden sword, kicked off the ground, and closed the distance in one go.
He’s quite fast, but not as fast as Sandra-san or Monica-san… I can’t let my guard down.
I focused, holding my shield up, not wanting to miss a single move from Cedric-san.
But.
“Eh!? What!?
“Huh…?”
In contrast to Cedric-san, who raised his voice in surprise, I unintentionally let out a dumbfounded sound.
Why? Because I was able to easily block his attack.
If it were my usual sparring with Sandra-san, I would have been rolling on the ground after that exchange.
This is strange no matter how you look at it.
“Um… by any chance, are you holding back?”
“Eh!? …Heh, you say something interesting.”
When I asked hesitantly, Cedric-san, whose expression was only pleasant in appearance, finally changed to an angry expression.
Or rather, that’s the face he makes when he’s angry. He still has narrow eyes, but they’ve turned from droopy to slanted, like they’ve been flipped upside down.
“I was going to just teach you a lesson as Alexandra-san’s fiancée and the Third Prince, but I’m done with that. I’m going to beat you to a pulp until you cry and beg to break off your engagement with my sister.”
Cedric-san’s eyes widened, and he smirked, lifting the corner of his mouth.
What can I say, he’s not just a siscon, he’s also pretty messed up.
“Haa!”
“Mmm…!?”
His speed increased dramatically compared to before, and he launched a barrage of attacks without giving me a chance to breathe.
“Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! What’s wrong! What’s wrong!”
“…………………”
Cedric-san, with a crazed expression, repeatedly slammed his sword against my shield, and I was on the defensive.
Well, that’s only natural. After all, I only have a shield.
But.
“What!?”
“You left an opening.”
I deflected his full-force downward strike by shifting my shield diagonally, and then swung the shield down towards his defenseless neck and back.
“Kuh!”
“Too bad. You dodged it.”
I stared at Cedric-san, who jumped back on reflex, without moving an inch.
From the sidelines, I might look calm and composed, but I was actually incredibly excited.
Because I never thought that I, of all people, would be able to hold my own against Cedric-san, Sandra-san’s older brother, to this extent.
What’s more, I’m the one with the advantage.
“Sandra-san!”
Overjoyed, I looked at Sandra-san with a beaming smile, and she smiled and nodded.
I see… you knew this would happen from the beginning, didn’t you?
But, conversely, there are also things I don’t understand.
Even in EnHaza, my physical stats were the lowest. On the other hand, Cedric-san, whose ability data is unknown, should have better specs than a mediocre heroine, considering he’s Sandra-san’s older brother.
And yet, not only am I on par with him, but I’m actually stronger.
As someone who knows the abilities of all the characters, I can’t believe this result.
…Could it be that there’s another kind of strength (・・・・) that’s not in the game?
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
Letting out a war cry, Cedric-san charged forward with his sword.
He’s lost his composure, but more than that, he must have focused on the weight of each strike rather than the number of attacks.
But.
“No, impossible…”
I’m sorry, but I’ve blocked an even heavier blow than that.
Compared to Sandra-san’s strike, or that Demon Beast Henwen’s strike, your attack is light.
That’s right, isn’t it? Everyone.
“Lord Hal! Now’s your chance!”
“Hal! Get him!”
“Prince Harold-denka, finish it!”
Receiving the cheers of the World’s Greatest Fiancée, my best partner, and my endearing personal maid, I swept my shield horizontally.
And.
“Gu…uh…!”
–This match, I win.
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