[TL/N: New Book -
Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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"Master, aren't you going to teach me?" Saeko asked Alexander, her expression filled with confusion. Logically, Alexander should have been the one instructing her.
Alexander, however, merely shrugged in response.
"Don't look at me like that," he said helplessly. "It's not that I don't want to teach you, but your foundation is far too weak. As for whether anyone here is strong enough to train you... Kanae, show her a demonstration."
Hearing Alexander's words, Kanae sighed softly and stepped forward, her hand gripping her katana tightly.
"Be careful," Kanae warned Saeko gently.
In the very next moment, Kanae's figure blurred, darting toward Saeko with incredible speed.
Breath of Flowers: Second Form – Honorable Shadow Plum!
'Whoosh!'
In an instant, Kanae vanished before Saeko's eyes. All Saeko could see were petals dancing in the air. Amidst the swirling petals, she felt an unmistakable killing intent.
"Not good!"
Reacting instinctively, Saeko drew her blade, Kashu, and swung it toward the petals. But it was futile—her attack only struck illusions created by the petals. In that split second, she felt the cold steel of a sun-patterned blade resting lightly on her neck.
"Done," Kanae said softly, a gentle smile gracing her face as she withdrew her sword.
It was only then that Saeko truly realized one undeniable fact:
This girl, who appeared to be her peer, possessed the ability to defeat her in an instant—and she did so using nothing but pure swordsmanship!
"Are you... all this strong?" Saeko asked, unable to hide her astonishment.
Kanae blinked in surprise at the question, then chuckled softly and shook her head.
"Not at all."
Relieved, Saeko nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. Of course, not everyone could be so strong."
But Kanae's next words made Saeko's eyes widen in disbelief.
"No, what I meant is... how could anyone here be as weak as me?"
"Weak?!" Saeko exclaimed, stunned. How could someone with such refined swordsmanship call herself weak? Did this sweet-looking girl in front of her not understand the meaning of the word?
What Saeko didn't realize was that Kanae wasn't being modest—she was speaking the truth. While Kanae had gained considerable levels and strength through rigorous training in the dungeon, the gap between her and the others present was vast.
Noticing Saeko's skepticism, Kanae offered a reluctant explanation.
"This is Artoria; a single strike from her sword is enough to destroy a city. And this is Esdeath, who once faced an army of a hundred thousand and still emerged victorious. Everyone here possesses terrifying strength. My humble swordsmanship is nothing in comparison."
"W-What!?"
Saeko finally began to grasp the gravity of the situation. She turned her gaze to Alexander, hoping he would tell her this was all just a joke. However, Alexander merely nodded in confirmation.
What Alexander said was true!
"Alright, Saeko," Alexander said, "You have great potential in swordsmanship, and I'm curious to see which style suits you best. I'll allow you to train with anyone here in the courtyard. In some time, I'll evaluate your progress—don't disappoint me."
With those words, Alexander turned and walked away with effortless elegance. Saeko silently gripped her sword as she watched him leave. In her mind, only one thought resonated:
"Master, I will never let you down."
However, as Alexander entrusted Saeko to their care so irresponsibly, the others present exchanged helpless glances.
"Honestly," Shinobu sighed, "Alexander is so irresponsible. What are we supposed to do now? How do we even start teaching her?"
Hearing Shinobu, the regal Artoria shook her head and replied, "My swordsmanship relies on instinct. It's not something I can teach."
It wasn't that Artoria was withholding anything—her swordsmanship truly was innate, as Merlin often described. These were talents that couldn't simply be imparted to others.
Esdeath also shook her head. "I can't teach her either. My swordsmanship stems from the battlefield, and she's far too weak right now."
Shinobu turned her gaze toward her sister Kanae. Both she and Kanae had systematic swordsmanship training and experience teaching others, as they had previously trained Kanao.
After a brief pause, Shinobu spoke to Saeko. "Alright, let Alexander grant you his blessing tomorrow. After that, I'll take you to the dungeon to level up, and while we're there, I'll teach you the Breath of Flowers and the Breath of Insects. Whether you can master them will depend on your own effort."
Hearing Shinobu's words, Saeko's excitement was palpable. She recalled Kanae's exquisite swordsmanship from earlier and felt a surge of joy at the prospect of learning such skills. A bright smile appeared on her face as she said,
"Thank you, teachers... and mistress."
Mistress?!
In an instant, both Kocho sisters flushed bright red. Saeko's unexpected calling made her surprisingly endearing.