"I'm… done… can't… lift… my arms…"
I was face-down in the dirt, my stamina completely depleted. Despite my desperate "final" charge, I hadn't even grazed his cloak.
The knights watching from the sidelines were howling with laughter at my pathetic state. Bastards.
Wright was casually twirling his wooden sword with one hand, whistling a tune. He hadn't even broken a sweat. He looked down at me with a grin.
"Hah! Another loss for Issei."
"…Next time," I muttered into the grass. "Next time, I'm getting you."
"That's the spirit." Wright sat down beside me and offered me his canteen. I took it without a word and gulped down the water.
One of the younger knights called out, "Maybe swords aren't your thing, Issei?"
"Yeah," another added. "You're better than when you started, but your growth is pretty slow, man. You even lost to the new recruits the other day."
Ugh. I had no comeback for that.
I spar with people other than Wright sometimes. The result is always a disaster. No matter how hard I swing, they parry me with a flick of the wrist. And yes, losing to the teenage recruits hurt my pride more than I cared to admit.
I thought I was athletic. I did okay in PE back at school. But these people have spent their entire lives training with steel. It was natural that I'd lose… but it still stung.
I let out a long, heavy sigh.
"Well," Wright said, "Issei's growth is a bit slow. He can't even use basic magic yet."
"Don't kick a man while he's down…"
In this world, even a seven-year-old can use "Basic Magic." I, on the other hand, couldn't produce so much as a spark. Maybe it's because I'm from another world, but the energy just won't flow.
Wright's smile softened. "But you know, your grit is something else. Most people would have quit after losing this many times. You just keep coming back for more."
"I'm not going home as a loser. Before I leave this world, I'm landing one hit on you. Period."
"I love it. That stubbornness is your best quality. Honestly, your willpower rivals any knight in this division. You guys better watch out," he said, looking at the recruits. "At this rate, he really might get a hit on you one day."
"Sir, yes sir!" the young knights shouted back, grinning. They were about my age.
No talent, just guts, huh? It was a backhanded compliment that made me want to cry, but I guess having a Hero vouch for my "willpower" was something to be proud of.
Once I recovered enough strength to wobble to my feet, I started heading out. "I'm going to go wash up. I'm covered in sweat and dirt."
The washing area was just outside the training grounds, but when I got there…
"Gah… it's packed."
It was full of sweaty, middle-aged knights. No thanks. If I went in there, they'd corner me and make me talk about "Earth technology" for three hours while I was trying to relax.
Instead, I decided to make the trek to the bathhouse inside the castle. It was a bit of a walk, but at least it would be quiet.
I dragged my exhausted body through the halls and finally reached the heavy doors. I pushed them open and stepped inside—
"Oh…"
"...?"
I froze. My eyes met the gaze of about a dozen naked women.
The castle maids.
In this kingdom, the maids also serve as guards, meaning they are all highly trained and incredibly fit. Apparently, today was their training day, too.
And they were all… very much exposed.
Well, I thought for a split second, at least the view is nice.
Then, the crowd of maids parted, and a golden-haired girl stepped forward. Alice. The princess of this kingdom and a formidable fighter in her own right.
She stared at me, a terrifyingly sweet smile fixed on her face as she balled her hand into a fist.
"I think a punch is a fair starting point, don't you?"
"Wait, hang on—!"
"YOU PERVEEEEERT!"
A merciless, bone-shattering strike slammed into my face.
As I flew backward, I found myself thinking: Maybe this isn't so bad. Even with Alice's occasional "unrelenting fist of justice," I liked this life. I wanted it to last. I knew I'd have to go home eventually, but until then, I wanted to stay here, laughing and living with these people.
But… that wish was never meant to come true.
"What's the status of the interception force?!"
"Sir! The Demon King's army is overwhelming! We can't hold the line!"
The end of my peace came without warning.
Audelia's quiet, cheerful streets were suddenly swallowed by chaos. The demons had launched a full-scale invasion. Because Audelia borders the demon lands, there had always been tension—skirmishes at the border, posturing—but it had been a stalemate for years.
That stalemate shattered a few days ago.
Sirius, the man feared as the strongest Demon King in history, had taken the field. With his appearance, the defensive lines we thought were impregnable were torn to shreds in hours.
And now, the demon vanguard was at the gates of the castle town.
I could hear Maurice barking orders. "Prioritize the evacuation of the civilians! Avoid direct combat where possible!"
"Sir? You're saying we abandon the town?!"
"Look at the numbers! We can't protect the people and win a defensive battle at the same time! Don't forget who is leading them… Sirius is out there!"
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