Chapter 5 Actually substandard
{TL:By Creed}
"Wait, Sofia, you're the Sword Saint!?"
After forming the party, we had various discussions, and among them, I learned that Sofia holds the title of "Sword Saint."
Sword Saint.
A title that only those who have mastered the sword can attain, and its power is said to rival SSS rank. In other words, she is one of the top adventurers in the world, with only a few dozen of them.
With physical abilities several times greater than an ordinary person and a sword speed surpassing the speed of sound, she can cut through mountains and seas. There is nothing in this world that she cannot cut. Furthermore, Sofia possesses the one-of-a-kind sword, Excalibur.
Superhuman physical abilities and a legendary sword. She's like a hero from a fairy tale.
"Amazing... I had no idea things were like this."
No wonder she defeated Sigurd with a single blow. Even though Sigurd is an A-rank adventurer, compared to Sofia, the Sword Saint, he might as well be a baby.
"I see. So that's why you could cut the contract collar."
"If it's something like that, I can cut as many as you want. Honestly, I wanted to cut down those scum adventurers as well."
"Well... that's a bit much."
"Oh? Is Fate defending them?"
"Nah, I don't have an ounce of sympathy for them. It's just that they didn't commit any particularly heinous crimes. If you were to cut them down, Sofia would be held responsible."
"Hehe, are you worrying about me?"
"Of course. Above all else, I prioritize thinking about Sofia more than anyone else."
"...So you're still saying those things."
"What things? What do you mean?"
"You really haven't changed at all, Fate."
"Sofia hasn't changed either."
Beautiful, kind, and a little devilish. She's still the same as she used to be.
"Oh, that's right. I have a request, can I ask you?"
"What is it?"
"If Sofia is the Sword Saint, would you be willing to teach me? I've been a slave for a long time, so I couldn't improve my strength... If I stay like this, I'll just hold you back. I don't want that. So, I want to become stronger."
"Training? You mean you want me to train you?"
"I've always been a slave, so I couldn't improve my strength... If I stay like this, I'll just hold you back. I don't want that. So, I want to become stronger."
"Hehe, Fate, you're a little boy, aren't you?"
"Is it not okay?"
"No, not at all. Of course, it's okay."
――――――――――
So, to receive training, Sofia and I left the town. We moved to a nearby grassy field, each armed with a wooden sword, facing each other.
"For now, I want to see Fate's current abilities."
"Even if you ask me... I've never really used a sword."
"That's alright. I want to assess your potential or talent, and determine the direction for our future training."
"I see."
"First, try to strike me freely. Oh, give it your all, please."
"Sure, I got it."
Worries about hurting Sofia were nothing but arrogance. There's no way a former slave like me could do anything against the Sword Saint. I probably wouldn't even be able to give her a scratch.
Anyway, for now, let's give it our all. I don't know what will happen, but I should do everything I can.
"Alright, here I come."
"Yes, come on."
Sofia wielded her wooden sword with ease, a relaxed smile on her face. I took a deep breath and focused my mind. I put all my strength into the strike, concentrating solely on that, moving my entire body.
"Huah!"
"Eh...!?"
I kicked the ground and charged forward, crouching slightly. I unleashed a thrust with the momentum.
"Kuh!?"
Sofia let out a surprised sound...
*Clang!*
In the next moment, I was flying through the air. I could see the wooden sword spinning as it flew far away.
"Itai!?"
Thud, I hit the ground, and a dull impact ran through me. I couldn't help but grimace.
"Ah... I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm not injured. Despite how it looks, my body is pretty sturdy."
"That's a relief. Apologies, but I reflexively tried to counter since you were delivering such a sharp thrust. Sorry."
"No, don't apologize. More importantly, does that mean you have some expectations for my potential or talent?"
"Well... Shall we have a practice match?"
"Eh!? Wait a second, there's no way I can beat Sword Saint Sofia. I probably won't even last a second..."
"It's okay, I'll go easy on you. Besides, if my prediction is correct..."
"Prediction?"
"No, it's about something else. Anyway, it's easier to understand through a practice match, so what do you say?"
"Hmm... alright, I'll do my best."
"That's the spirit, Fate!"
I picked up the wooden sword that had flown away and readied myself once more. Unlike before, Sofia also held a wooden sword, but her smile had disappeared. She wore a very serious expression.
"Huah!"
I exhaled and charged, sweeping the wooden sword from right to left.
"What's this...?"
Sofia easily intercepted it, but for some reason, she looked surprised.
I didn't stop. It seemed like she wanted me to continue.
This time, I swung it downward vertically, striking with the wooden sword.
"Ugh! What a heavy blow!"
Next, diagonally. From left to right. I took a step back and delivered the same thrust as at the beginning.
I repeated these attacks, but not a single strike connected. I couldn't even graze her.
It felt like everything I did was in the palm of Sofia's hand, and I couldn't land a single blow.
Incredible. I realized that after facing her. Sofia possessed an unbelievable strength. Truly deserving of the title of Sword Saint. It made sense that she could defeat Sigurd with a single strike.
"Now, it's my turn!"
"Huh!?"
I felt a chilling sensation. Following my gut feeling, I leaned to the side.
Right after that, Sofia's supersonic slash passed through the place I had just been.
"They were dodged!? Then... how about this!?"
"Kuh... this!"
"Dodged again... and this time, blocked!?"
For some reason, Sofia seemed surprised, but I was struggling.
I had barely managed to parry her attacks, but the impact felt like being struck by a huge hammer, and my hand tingled.
This wasn't good. Long-term combat was overwhelmingly disadvantageous. I needed a quick decision!
"Ha!"
"Fu!"
After clashing swords with Sofia several times, I aimed for the perfect moment and swung my wooden sword.
Just as I had intended, my wooden sword moved toward Sofia...
"Kuu... this!"
*Clang!*
Sofia's supersonic sword attack sent my wooden sword flying, and then she thrust her own wooden sword toward my neck.
"The match is over."
"Yeah... I surrender. I lost."
I raised both of my hands.
"Sigh... Sofia, you're amazing. I couldn't even touch you."
"Having experienced that battle, why do you have such an impression?"
"Huh?"
"To be honest, it was quite a close match."
"Really? Um... what about my potential or talent?"
"Potential or talent... didn't matter."
What if she tells me I have zero talent? I waited nervously for her response, but what she said was unexpected.
"What's the deal with your remarkably high physical abilities?"
"Huh?"
"That first thrust, it was so fast that even I almost lost sight of it... all your subsequent attacks were just as swift, and they had incredible power as well, equivalent to S-rank... No, it's on par with my own, SSS-rank level physical abilities."
"There's no way something like that could happen."
"It did."
Sofia spoke with a hint of irritation.
"I'm the Sword Saint. Even if I'm holding back, to fight on equal terms with me... What does that mean? You're just an amateur in swordsmanship, so I could manage somehow, but if we had been using a proper sword, it could have been dangerous. I almost had to get serious."
"Um... is that true? You're not joking, are you?"
"It's true. Fate, your physical abilities are on par with SSS rank."
"Me... with that kind of power?"
"Where did you obtain such power?"
"Even if you ask me, I have no clue..."
"You didn't receive any training?"
"I didn't. I was always given various odd jobs, so I never had a moment to spare."
"Fate, what kind of life have you had until now?"
"Well..."
Except for sleeping, I always carried loads of several tens of kilograms, Sigurd and his group's baggage, food, water, and so on. I was constantly burdened, used as bait, forced to climb cliffs, and sometimes pushed off cliffs in return. I had only one hour of sleep per day, and even though I had suffered bodily harm and illness many times, over time, my body seemed to adapt, and I rarely collapsed.
"...Something like that."
"Those adventurers... they should've been killed."
Sofia said with anger, then sighed in exasperation.
"But I understand. Fate, your daily life was the same as the training an SSS rank would undergo... no, even more rigorous. Doing that every day... and not giving up even when your body was breaking down. After five years of that, it's only natural for you to obtain an incredible level of physical abilities."
"Um... what does that mean?"
"As for your sword potential, I can't say yet, but as for your physical abilities, it's a clear pass. In fact, you have physical abilities that are unquestionably on par with mine, or even surpass them, comparable to an S-rank adventurer just for that."
"..."
"Fate? What's the matter?"
"No, I mean... I never expected something like this. I'm just... surprised and speechless."
"The one who should be surprised is me."
Sofia said in exasperation.
"But... hehe, Fate, you always manage to surprise me. That's why you're Fate♪"
She smiled in a good mood.
TL Note: Imagine if Fate punched Sigurd in the face........did I predict the future plot?
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