"...This is ridiculous..." My body trembled, enveloped by exhaustion, as the alarm bells signaled the end of training.
It's absurd. How did it turn out like this?
"Haa, haa...you kept up better than expected. But..."
Cecilia, catching her breath, looked down at me triumphantly with a mocking smile.
The sparring session with Cecilia lasted about two hours. I had only accepted it thinking it was just a normal training session...
"I guess I win, right? After all, you didn't even manage to touch me once."
I couldn't hit Cecilia's body with the bat even once.
Although there was no clear winner, it was essentially the same as my defeat.
My body was covered in tiny marks from Cecilia's attacks, while she was unharmed except for some sweat.
At first, I rushed forward with a hint of excitement, but then I sensed something was wrong and started fighting seriously, only to end up like this.
...How could this be?
This doesn't make sense at all!
"Hehe♡Useless♡Loser♡Trash Monster♡Pathetic Strength♡"
"...I haven't officially lost yet, have I?"
"It's the same as losing. Even if I held back, you still couldn't land a single hit."
Though I retorted angrily, Cecilia's words were true.
When I fought Celestia, she was the first to collapse before declaring me the winner, but this time the situation was slightly different.
After the two-hour timed battle, the difference in their physical condition wasn't due to who collapsed first.
Even with a referee present, whoever ruled would declare Cecilia the winner.
...Damn it. How could I possibly last two hours without using any skills? Even a hero couldn't do that.
"Phew... Compared to those noisy, annoying teachers from before, you're alright. A newbie, but pretty resilient. Pretty enjoyable♡" After returning the sword to its place, Cecilia wiped her sweat with a towel and walked towards the door.
Cecilia stood at the door, flashing an infuriating smile and giggling.
"Well then, you loser monster, go clean the training ground. Next training is in two days? Don't be late and get beaten up again~♡"
Tsk, this ill-mannered guy... his words are really... But this time, I didn't even feel like pouncing on him.
After all, I'd been completely outmaneuvered by a mere level 28 19-year-old brat, not even managing a single punch.
Just before coming here today, I was still admiring Cecilia's face and figure, thinking I'd punch her if she was too rude... What a load of crap, I've become that bastard's punching bag instead.
...Damn... this is so frustrating.
...…
"…Haa, haa…" Cecilia, who appeared calm as she walked out of the training ground, began to tremble and gasp for breath as soon as she crossed the corridor.
She never expected to be driven to such a sorry state by a monster she had underestimated.
If the training had lasted any longer, or if she had been allowed to use her skills, her body, already nearing its limit, would likely have collapsed first.
"…Pretty good. That monster…" Although she had used every means to provoke her opponent into doing things her way, today's training had actually proceeded entirely according to Cecilia's plan.
Cecilia's specialty was wielding a fast sword with a light and agile movement.
Whenever she asked the instructor to bring a sword, because it was a sparring match with the noble Cecilia, everyone would reluctantly bring a small sword instead of a greatsword.
Once given a suitable light sword, she should have used it to toy with her opponent and enjoy their suffering—but facing that monster, there was no time for such leisure.
Because of her exceptional talent, Cecilia could freely employ her swordsmanship in various situations. Therefore, she was confident she could hold her own even against higher-level adventurers.
But the certainty that a single, heavy blow from that monster would instantly defeat her kept her on edge.
Although she had a premonition when she saw those powerful muscles… she hadn't expected a monster of a lower level than herself to possess such strength.
A single blow to decide the outcome—this experience gave Cecilia an unprecedented and wondrous thrill and pleasure.
"…Heh. Got a good toy…" Her previous teachers had all been annoying blabbermouths, pointing out incorrect postures and skills.
Especially the teacher before that monster—not only was he unsightly, but he was also an annoying old fogey, so she simply gave up on him.
But this monster was different. He didn't interfere; he simply conducted sparring happily, and there was the thrill of a single, fatal blow.
Plus, after training, his well-built muscular body, bearing the small cuts she had left behind, briefly attracted attention.
Gazing at that burly body, Cecilia was enveloped by a strange excitement, her urge to contort the monster's face intensified.
"...Hehe, next time I come, what method should I use..."
"Cecilia?" Just as Cecilia leaned wearily against the wall, recalling the monster's form, a familiar voice reached her ears.
Her fiancé, whose mere presence brought her joy.
Leo, the hero and soldier of Radia, was approaching her from the opposite side.
"Ah. Just finished training? How was it? Training with the divine beast?"
"...Hmph. Nothing much. Just gave it a good beating before coming back."
"Not again... If even the divine beast is forced to resign like the other instructors, won't the lord be angry?"
"Ah~ Here comes the lecturing again. But this divine beast seems pretty sturdy, it should be fine, right?"
"...I heard that since the city became guarded by a divine beast, the lord seems to have considered many things. Go easy on her..." Leo, with a troubled smile, walked towards Cecilia.
The moment Leo gently touched Cecilia's shoulder, he suddenly stared at her with a shocked expression.
"...The divine beast is indeed extraordinary. It actually managed to exhaust Cecilia like this..."
This was a personal training session initiated to slightly deplete Cecilia's energy from torturing the soldiers.
To date, no instructor has been able to handle this demanding and energetic Cecilia.
Cecilia, who would torment those she disliked with words and actions, leaving her instructors exhausted after training sessions.
Playing with Cecilia, who still had energy left after training, was one of Leo's routine tasks on Cecilia's training days.
But the warmth of Cecilia's body and her sweat-soaked skin in his hands indicated that today was no longer necessary.
"Ah, I'm not tired at all! It was just training against monsters..."
"Even if you say that... this is the first time I've seen Cecilia so exhausted..." Cecilia, who would become completely absorbed and tireless once she became engrossed in something.
And recently, Cecilia had become obsessed with slaying monsters with her sword.
Just how obsessed was she—recently, she had even grown rapidly, able to match his own strength as a hero... yet this Cecilia had been completely drained of energy during sparring?
As both the hero and her fiancé, the reason he couldn't accompany Cecilia in training was ultimately because he'd collapse from exhaustion first… Leo couldn't help but admire the divine beast that could drain Cecilia's stamina so quickly.
"Looks like we don't need extra training today. Right?"
"...Haa. Yeah…that's right." Although she pouted and looked unwilling, Cecilia's honest admission was rare.
She was probably truly exhausted.
Thinking about seeing Cecilia fall asleep early tonight, Leo breathed a sigh of relief.
"...But! We'll eat together tonight too! I'll come out after I shower, so get ready to go!"
"Haha. Okay, okay. Hurry up and finish showering. I'll wait for you at the city gate."
"Okay! I know, Leo-nii!" Although she was the daughter of a soldier and a lord, Cecilia always called him "nii" when they were alone.
Watching his fiancée wave goodbye, addressing him by that name, looking like an adorable, mischievous little sister, Leo's face naturally lit up with a smile.
'...As expected of a legendary beast. I really hope it can always be Cecilia's sparring partner.' He began to develop a strong interest in the power of a legendary beast that could satisfy Cecilia so much.
Although he had guessed it was powerful just from seeing its exaggerated muscles, he had heard it was only just over level 20, and had initially thought there would be a significant gap between it and Cecilia or himself.
While once again marveling at its legendary status, Leo, hoping this beast could serve as Cecilia's instructor for a long time, set off to wait for Cecilia.