17 – Episode 2. How to Regain the Favor of the Hated Woman (7)
As I was hoping for the first time to see the expanded function, the quest window naturally extended.
Resolution of Identity [▼Expansion]
⤷ Victory through sparring with Miné 0 / 1
“School will start in less than a month. As soon as the next semester begins, Rina will apply for a sparring match. Please lead her to victory in the sparring.”
⤷ Abel’s embrace 0 / 1
“Rina is feeling betrayed by you. Simply hugging her won’t make her feel better. On the contrary, there is a high chance she will slap you, calling you a pervert.”
So, capture the atmosphere and engage in a sincere conversation before coaxing her heart wide open. Then, tightly embrace her. However, feel free to choose the conversation topic as you see fit.』
Rinayu Comprehensive Mastery [▼Expand]
⤷ Rinayu “Clearwater Flow” Level 0 / 1
『If the swordsmanship of the Spaon Family focuses on defensive counter-attacks, Rinayu’s natural and fluid movements are the key.
Through precise steps and quick shifts in weight distribution, Rinayu maximizes attack power by preventing the loss of energy from the sword. This enables her to respond to the opponent’s attacks with smooth movements, creating an evasive form.
Additionally, leveraging the advantages of the Spaon style, Rinayu excels in counter-attacks and possesses swordsmanship that can gain the upper hand in fast-paced battles.
To ensure Rinayu masters the fundamental technique, “Clearwater Flow,” which is the basis of her skills, you must give her guidance without mishap.』
It’s great that I don’t have to think about parts unrelated to the original content.
However, if you’re going to take care of it, do it decisively. I don’t understand why I have to come up with the conversation topic. It’s so irresponsible.
“I’m catching a cold. Be reasonable.”
“Hmph. Who worries about someone weak?”
I chuckled at her while she glared at me.
“Pretending to be tough.”
She might act tough, but deep down, she’s probably falling apart.
I want to defeat Mine but my skills aren’t improving, and since our engagement and childhood friendship are a mess, I can’t focus on one thing.
In that case, I needed to first establish my relationship with Rinayu so she can concentrate on beating Mine.
By the way, Mine Illustan Ferrator is the Second Princess, the Student Council President at the Academy, and the protagonist of this world.
I don’t know if a supporting character can beat the protagonist, but it’s possible right now.
It’s not the explosive growth period for the protagonist yet.
However, that doesn’t mean she’s weak.
The Academy’s Knight Division was still considered the pinnacle of talent, even to this day.
Darn it, this is so frustrating.
It was fun to read about in novels, but dealing with it in person is giving me a headache.
But still, to have opened up Rina’s heart…
I waved at Rina, who seemed to be putting on an act, with a smile.
“Why are you laughing?”
…I wonder if I can open her heart.
I guess even my laughter is something to comment on now.
* * *
“Yawn.”
Just a yawn, but it felt like a gust of wind.
Even though winter was slowly fading, the morning air was still chilly as ever.
“…Why did you come out?”
Rina, who was stretching as if to flaunt her sensual figure, asked as if interrogating me.
“To go for a morning run with you.”
“What?”
I was contemplating how to approach Rina. I had to establish enough intimacy for her to listen to me. If I tried to lecture her on her growth direction out of the blue, she might resist. Especially with Abel, who was so distant from violence, it wouldn’t be easy to convince her.
So, I needed to build enough closeness for her to at least listen to me.
“You didn’t bring a change of clothes, did you?”
“The servant brought it with them.”
Even though it was just a brief stop at the noble’s house, all the servants had come along. It was Houston’s consideration to not draw too much attention by taking the servants with him when he suddenly visited.
“Oh, I see. But do you think you can keep up with my running pace?”
“Are you ignoring me? You won’t know until you try.”
“Hah. Then let’s see you try.”
I stretched out my lower limbs while looking at Lina, who was snickering as if it were a joke.
“Watch. I’ll show you.”
* * *
“Hoo…! Heuk…!”
I felt like I was going to die. No, I really felt like I was going to die.
I thought Abel’s body might be thin, but I thought he would have some stamina.
However, after running a few laps around the training field, his legs were shaking, and the soles of his feet were dragging on the ground.
I should have known since he had no muscle strength. Damn.
Thud!
Eventually, he fell down awkwardly.
As she cackled and got up, she stopped running, catching up to me. I didn’t know how many laps ahead I was.
“You’re insisting on something you can’t even do properly?”
“Well, I wanted… I wanted to be with you.”
“What, what?”
I wiped the sweat off my face and took a deep breath.
“Is it not allowed for that reason?”
“What… you might really collapse if you keep going. Stop running and crouch over there. You’ll catch a cold.”
“Are you worried?”
“Why would I worry about you, idiot?”
She spat out a rough curse unbecoming of a noble lady and resumed running. He watched her straighten her back and move forward.
The ponytail tied up her hair, revealing a clear neckline, was a work of art. With the sweat dripping, it seemed subtly stimulating.
Thinking again, what exactly did Abel not like about Lina that made him embrace another woman?
No, maybe he couldn’t touch Lina, so he satisfied his desire with someone else?
That does seem plausible.
But considering Abel’s personality, it’s hard to imagine him not touching Lina. He must have tried once and got rejected, I suppose.
“Abel, would you like to go wash up now?”
Dana approached and handed him a towel, asking.
“No. I want to watch a little longer.”
“If you don’t wash off the sweat and stay outside for too long, you might catch a cold… Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
I have something to give.
With that, Lina finished her morning jog after running eight more laps around the track. As she panted for breath, he handed her a fluffy towel.
“What were you doing instead of coming in? Trying to catch a cold? Are you trying to play sick because the academy is about to start?”
“I was just watching your running form because it’s impressive.”
“What, what?”
“And this too, for you.”
I took out the letter and handed it to her. Rena took it with a frown.
“Another letter?”
It was the one I wrote before going to bed yesterday.
Since I didn’t have much time, it might not have been as sincere as the first one, but judging by the growing stack, it seemed effective.
They said the reward for the letter quest helps improve relationships, so I thought it might help with the scolding quest this time.
“Why bother with this? The person is right in front of you, who writes a letter to give it to them? Are you an idiot? If you have something to say, just say it.”
“I can’t express my thoughts with words, that’s why.”
“Ah, whatever! I’m going to take a shower first.”
She’s not even looking at it.
That was enough for me.
“I wrote it with great effort.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“So what.”
Her voice sounded much weaker.
After hesitating with the letter a few times, she told the maid, “Put it on the desk,” and headed to the mansion.
“Are you going to stay there? Aren’t you going to have breakfast?”
“I will.”
“Anyway, you have to say it, don’t you?”
Rena’s attitude seemed composed, but she was responding firmly to my words. This meant that Abel still had lingering feelings for her.
* * *
Since then, I have been harassed by Rena through letters.
“It’s annoying when you use such expressions. It feels like mockery without any touch of emotion,” she grumbled.
It’s so difficult to mend a heart once hurt. Abel has to bow to me every morning. Seriously.
“You lay yourself out in the morning and then train again?”
I asked as we entered the training room.
“Isn’t it obvious? I don’t intend to throw away my academy grades like you, relying solely on my family’s name.”
Come to think of it, Abel is majoring in public administration, so he’ll probably end up working at the royal palace after graduation.
Suddenly, I feel gloomy. I have to work even in this world.
“…What are you going to do?”
I asked, examining his serious expression.
“What?”
“Live as a freeloader, relying solely on your family for the rest of your life?”
I want to. Really! I truly want to!
But saying such a thing would only ruin the image I’ve carefully built.
“…Never mind. I won’t ask you anything.”
“At least.”
“What?”
“When you introduce me to someone, I shouldn’t be someone you’d be embarrassed about. Of course, I’ve done too much to confidently introduce myself, but still.”
I scratched the back of my head in self-reproach.
Was my remark unexpected? Rena’s eyebrows lifted slightly, her eyes widening. She turned away without saying a word.
“…Come out of the training ground. You have to wield the sword.”
“Lina.”
“…You said I have to wield the sword.”
“Work hard.”
“….”
I obediently left the training ground and watched her from a distance. Lina, as if lost in thought for a few seconds, eventually raised her sword.
She started with a vertical slash.
Repeatedly swinging it upright, she solidified her fundamentals silently.
Having swung the sword vertically and horizontally hundreds of times, she spread her legs wide, adjusted her posture, and dynamically changed her movements as if reviewing the Spawning Sword Technique.
After watching silently for a while, I felt like I understood why the Spawning Sword Technique was described as defensive.
There was a lack of an aggressive feel in the flow of the form. It felt more like it was created to dominate rather than to kill the opponent.
However, it was by no means easy to pierce through Lina’s sword. Rather, attempting to pierce through it would likely result in a counterattack.
The problem was that the defensive form of the Spawning Sword Technique was meaningless in front of Mine’s overwhelming strength.
Just like a sturdy shield would crumple and break under strong force, the swordsmanship was no different.
In the previous semester, there was a quest where Lina was defeated by Mine’s Spawning Sword Technique, so she must be trying to pursue some change.
Nevertheless, training in Sirius Academy, where there is magical purification water, might be better than here. How should I persuade her?
While pondering about that, Lina approached me after one round of training and spoke.
“Haven’t you left yet?”
“No. Watching you train is impressive.”
“Are you teasing me?”
“It’s praising.”
After chuckling at the blunt remark, he spoke with a somewhat serious tone.
“Lina.”
“What.”
“I don’t know if it might help, but would you take a look?”
“At what?”
The quest had instructed him to reprimand, but he couldn’t think of a way to explain the Lina-style with reprimands.
In that case, there was only one way.
I had to reproduce what I had seen. I was worried it might turn out like a farce, like a pantomime, but they said seeing is believing.
I might be able to give her some insight.
“Hand me a sword.”
“The one I used?”
“If it bothers you, any other will do.”
Lina reluctantly brought a sword from the array in the training ground and handed it to me. I felt a solid sensation as I stood the sword upright.
A real sword is heavier than I thought. Is it just Abel’s lack of physical strength?
“I’m watching.”
I closed my eyes. I recalled the detailed description of Cheongsan Yusu’s movements that filled two pages.
Finally, I opened my eyes and swung the sword delicately.
Since I had only read about it, it’s impossible to perfectly reproduce what the author envisions for Cheongsan Yusu.
But if it’s Lina, just showing it once might help her notice where things are going wrong and guide it in the right direction.
It’s no wonder that Lina is talented enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the protagonist.
“Gasp…! Gasp…!”
I finished the Cheongsan Yusu technique and took a breath.
It wasn’t easy for Abel to maintain his posture.
Even though he moved slowly, his breathing was a mess, and not only was the weight of the sword off balance, but it was also difficult to swing the sword correctly.
“…What do you think? Did you see?”
Hoping she understood it properly, I asked.
“What… was that swordsmanship…?”
Lina was in shock, unable to close her mouth.
Judging from her reaction, it seemed like she didn’t understand. Darn it.
I was thinking that when–
“Where did you learn that swordsmanship?! Tell me right now!”
What’s going on? Why is she suddenly angry…?