Days quickly passed.
Sweat streamed down my face, and my breathing was ragged. I was alone, practicing my sword forms—my everyday routine. My classmates, engaged in their specialized training regimens, worked on the far side of the grounds.
My dedication was paying off. In the last few weeks, I felt profound changes. Compared to the body I had when we were summoned, I was noticeably stronger. Though the physical changes might not be dramatic to an observer, I could feel the continuous increase in my raw strength. My sword work had sharpened significantly.
The most potent factor was the practice of Ki. It was rapidly increasing my physical capabilities, and now I could subtly manipulate the small amount of Ki I had cultivated within my body.
"Practicing hard as usual, Andre-kun."
A familiar voice interrupted me. Reina, the girl with golden hair and my childhood friend, approached, her posture relaxed during her short break.
"It's you, Rei. Are you already finished?"
"Nope. Just a short break. You've been training nonstop these days. You don't even hang out with me anymore." She finished with a cute, exaggerated pout.
Reina was genuinely beautiful; I often wondered why she had never had a boyfriend. We had been close since we were small—she was family to me. I remembered her tomboyish phase, but since high school, she had become increasingly attractive. Given the weekly confessions she received, it was entirely possible she had crushes on other guys. My own standard for beauty was undoubtedly high because of her, yet I still found myself single.
Why doesn't this girl have a boyfriend? Is she in love with me?
I laughed inwardly at the ridiculous thought. What a narcissistic jerk. We're practically siblings, raised together.
Or... wait... this perfect girl... could she be...
"Not really, it's just become a habit," I replied, forcing the thought away. "Hey, Rei, can I ask you something?" My curiosity got the better of me.
"What is it?" she replied, her smile bright.
"Are you a lesbian?" I blurted out, unable to stop myself.
Silence. Complete, total silence.
This is bad. A terrible premonition hit me. Reina's smile vanished, replaced by a fierce glare. A literal black aura seemed to emanate from her. I had just stepped on a landmine.
I'm dead! I'm completely dead this time.
"O-of course not! Andre-kun, you idiot!" Reina's face instantly flushed crimson with rage.
"S-SOOOORRYY! That was my mistake! WaaAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Pak! A hard, stinging slap landed across my cheek. It was an absolute critical hit.
Ouch! The pain was immediate, a burning sensation where the outline of her palm was branded on my face.
After that brief, painful scene, Reina spun around and stormed off angrily.
The Eavesdrop
I continued my walk toward the Royal Library, cradling my throbbing cheek. That was entirely my fault, I suppose. Bringing up things like that is just asking for trouble.
"Ugh! It hurts! That slap felt like it almost fractured my cranial bone."
The castle was vast. We, the summoned heroes, had considerable freedom to move around the premises, a generosity I exploited to study reliable documents in the Royal Library and scout out other hidden areas.
I was nearing the library when I heard voices echoing from a hidden alcove.
"That girl is always getting in our way. We don't even get to have any fun anymore."
It was Harvi and his last remaining lackey. I immediately concealed myself, my instincts screaming that they were plotting something malicious.
"That bitch Reina! I'll break her someday!" Harvi spat, venomously.
"We can't even mess with that trash Crux anymore because of her."
"If she interferes again, we'll jump her during the training exercise at the Arsibal Canyon. Three versus one, I doubt she can win." They chuckled, a cold, hateful sound.
These damn delinquents! If they dare lay a hand on Rei, I swear I won't forgive them!
My anger overwhelmed all rational thought. Every lesson about patience and strategy evaporated.
Enough is enough! Hurting me was tolerable, but threatening the people important to me was unacceptable. I will not forgive them!
I clenched my trembling fist and charged straight into their hiding spot. Focusing all my strength and the nascent Ki into my arm, I delivered a straight punch to one of Harvi's lackeys, slamming him violently against the stone wall.
"Y-you!"
Harvi glared at me, his face contorted in hatred as his stunned companion slumped to the ground.
"You damn jerk! You dare!!"
Hallway Brawl
Seeing Harvi wind up for a furious, retaliatory punch, I quickly shifted my weight and lowered my core.
There is no attack that cannot be dodged or blocked if you can predict its origin. This was a core lesson from Old Man Ornn.
Using the momentum of the immediate threat, I swiftly redirected my target to the remaining lackey. The guy tried to block, but his movement was riddled with flaws. As my right fist made contact with his head, my left fist was already driving deep into his abdomen.
"GAHHHAHH!!" The lackey collapsed, clutching his stomach and groaning in pain.
Harvi immediately started bombarding me with continuous, reckless punches. I evaded most of them, but a few grazed my arms and torso.
Ugh... I felt a searing pain run through my shoulder. The attacks from a summoned hero, even a reckless one, were far more impactful than sparring with the castle soldiers.
"Eat this!" Harvi continued his assault.
Harvi's weakness is his temper, I analyzed rapidly, adrenaline surging. The more anxious and irritated he gets, the sloppier his moves become.
He clearly took his training as a joke. The path of his punches was easily telegraphed, allowing me to dodge or deflect them with minimal effort.
I ducked beneath a wide right hook by a hair's breadth, then drove my entire body weight forward, aiming for a powerful strike to his solar plexus.
"GUH!" Harvi gasped, eyes wide with panic, and desperately leaped backward to avoid the blow.
CRUNCH!
His dignity—and his nether regions—took the full force of my attack.
I watched Harvi curl up on the floor, writhing in agony and clutching himself.
Yep, that attack was definitely unintentional... I thought, not entirely believing it. It was his fault for jumping back right onto the line of fire.
"D-damn YOU!" he shrieked, lying on the floor like a wounded animal.