The next moment, a silver light was upon Yumi's eyes…
"Off to the training ground, Artoria?"
As Kazuki walked down the hallway toward the training ground, he saw Artoria ahead and called out to her.
"Kazuki. Yes, I promised to instruct Yumi and the others."
He had heard that his Knight-type girls had recently been receiving sword instruction from Artoria.
"How are your disciples doing?"
"Kukuku, 'disciples' you say... Well, all three have talent. However, Yumi's speed and technique are impeccable, but she lacks power. Xenovia is the opposite. Irina has the best balance, but unless she enters her Combat Form, she lacks decisive force. In the long run, I should instruct them to compensate for their weaknesses, but the battle could happen at any moment. The question is whether I should instead focus on enhancing their strengths. It's a dilemma."
Kazuki naturally smiled at Artoria, who spoke passionately.
"Hmph, what is it, Kazuki? Did I say something strange?"
Thinking she was being laughed at, Artoria pouted slightly and said with a hint of sulkiness.
"Sorry. No, I was thinking you looked like you were having fun."
When Kazuki said that, Artoria, seemingly grasping his intent, gave an embarrassed, wry laugh.
"Ah... I suppose so. Indeed, I am enjoying myself now. That would have been unthinkable for the old me."
"That's good. The reason I made you my Queen was because I wanted you to feel those kinds of emotions. So enjoy yourself even more."
"Kazuki... Yes."
Saying that, Artoria showed him a smile like a blooming flower.
After being captivated by that smile for a while, they arrived at the special training ground. And beyond the automatic door, a scene of carnage unfolded.
The man in the white suit, Arthur, swung his sword, and with each swing, Yumi, Xenovia, and Irina were wounded and fell.
"What's wrong? Your power isn't just this much, is it?"
At Arthur's provocative words, Xenovia exploded with anger.
"You asked for it! Then take this, Durandal Burst!!"
A powerful holy wave rushed toward Arthur. But Arthur swung his sword in a single flash to meet it.
"Fuh───!!"
The sword pressure released by Arthur sliced through Durandal's wave.
"Impossible...!?"
Having her full-power strike sliced through, Xenovia was stunned.
"Your power is impressive, but aside from that, there's nothing noteworthy. I'd say about thirty points."
"Gehah!!"
Struck from behind by Arthur, who had circled around, Xenovia coughed blood and collapsed.
"Oops."
Swords flew toward Arthur, but he lightly stepped aside to avoid them.
"That was Sword Birth Meteor, was it? The idea is excellent, but the quantity is simply insufficient."
"Tch───!?"
Yumi clicked her tongue as her Sword Birth Meteor was evaded. Indeed, the number of demonic swords Yumi could create at once at her current level was twelve. That was more than before, but that many were not impossible to dodge.
Recently, since her habit of shooting demonic swords had become known, they were sometimes evaded or blocked, making it difficult to land a decisive blow.
While firing the Sword Birth Meteor, Yumi closed in on Arthur with her Holy Demon Sword in hand. But he calmly handled the situation, dodging or knocking down the meteor shower.
"And above all, you simply lack power. As you are now, you won't be effective against the enemies that will appear from now on. Forty-five points."
"Kahh!?"
After the two crossed paths, Yumi coughed blood and fell. Behind Arthur, who swung his sword to shake off the blood, a powerful heat wave surged.
"For what you did to them───!"
With a roar of anger, Irina, having entered her Combat Form, charged with a blade of blazing light.
After exchanging two or three clashes, Arthur murmured with admiration.
"Oh. So this is the Brave Saint's Combat Form. Indeed, it's impressive. However,"
"!!?"
While their blades were locked, Arthur drew another sword from thin air.
"Unfortunately, you have not yet mastered this power. Fifty points."
Arthur swung the second sword down. Irina blocked it with her blazing light sword, but only for a moment. The blazing light sword was shattered, and she was cut down as is.
"No way..."
Irina's Combat Form was released, and she collapsed on the spot.
The time was barely over one minute. In just that span, Arthur had defeated all three of Yumi, Xenovia, and Irina.
"Kazuki, please call Asia quickly."
"Artoria!?"
Artoria's voice reached Kazuki, who had been stunned by the sheer unexpectedness of the event. When he realized it, Artoria had already stepped onto the battlefield.
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