The final training day.

I was facing Alicia with my wooden sword in hand, just like always.

The other three members of the [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather] are also present here, watching our mock battle.

In the midst of all this, Monica gives the signal to start.

"Alright then... let's begin."

And then, the final mock battle began.

The one who moved first was Alicia.

She approaches me with agile movements and delivers a sharp thrust.

I step to the side and avoid by deflecting the sword away from me.

However, Alicia's true aim began here.

"Sweet!"

The thrust is a fake.

Receiving a rebound from the stepped-in footing, she launched a powerful horizontal slash.

The blow that balanced speed and weight was absorbed into my side—

"Well, I'm not so sure about that."

"Wh-What!?"

At the last moment, I raised the wooden sword to block the horizontal slash.

The real deal starts from here.

Having received a horizontal slash, I use that force to accelerate even further sideways.

Additionally, with swift footwork, I adjusted my vector and circled behind Alicia.

And then, aiming for her now wide-open back―

"―Hah!"

"Ugh!"

I swung down the wooden sword, but should I say, as expected of an S-rank adventurer?

Alicia did a forward roll on the spot, narrowly escaping the tip of my sword.

I never thought it would be dodged at that moment, so I couldn't help but widen my eyes.

"...I can't believe you dodged that just now."

"The one who is surprised here is me. It's only been about ten days since we started the special training, and yet... Yuuri-san has really become strong."

"Thanks to you."

In the midst of light banter, I expressed my gratitude to Alicia.

As Alicia said, if I have truly become stronger, it is undoubtedly thanks to them.

First, what was gained from the mock battle was a sense of measuring distance with others and the technique of delicate swordsmanship.

What I've mainly been doing in the [Time-Space Interval] so far is making my body move faster and stronger, and enabling me to unleash various sword techniques.

Regardless of the type of enemy, I was only thinking about fully demonstrating my own power.

...Well, since I was the only one there, I think there's a part of it that's unavoidable.

What I gained from continuing my training with Tio was "Presence Detection."

Thanks to Tio's cooperation, the accuracy improved day by day, but for me, this was particularly significant.

The reason is...

At first, I thought "Presence Detection" could only be used to sense the presence of monsters from afar, but in reality, it was different.

By enhancing concentration, it was a godlike technique that allowed one to perceive not only the appearance of other people and objects but also their subtle body movements and even their intentions.

These elements made me even stronger.

If I were to compare it to the [Time-Space Interval], it would undoubtedly be worth over a hundred years.

As proof of that, even under the condition that neither of us uses magic (though I can't use it at all), I had become able to hold my own against Alicia on equal terms.

"―Hah!"

"Ugh!"

Alicia caught the wooden sword I swung down head-on.

Attempting to pursue, she immediately jumped back and created distance.

―Additionally, one last thing.

This isn't related to the special training, but the muscle pain that was as torturous as hell has finally completely disappeared today.

The sky feels so light, as if wings have sprouted from my back, and I even feel like I could reach a new realm now.

Yes, to a new frontier―

"...Ugh！"

―As I step in forcefully, for some reason, Alicia's eyes widen in surprise.

The "presence detection" picks up on her body while slightly stiffening.

Nervous? At this timing?

I don't know the reason, but if I'm going to attack, now's the time.

With the sudden opportunity for my first victory, I absolutely cannot let this slip away.

It was at that moment, confident of victory, that I tried to push forward even more.

"...Hah!"

Alicia's wooden sword wavered for just a moment.

That is a strike that is on a completely different level from anything before.

Before I could even blink, that strike was upon me.

In response to that, I―

"Stop, that's enough."

At that moment, Monica's words resonated.

Alicia and I come to a complete stop.

It seems that exactly 30 minutes have passed.

"...Is this the end?"

Muttering that, Alicia slowly lowers her wooden sword.

After wiping the sweat from her arm, she turns to me with a bewildered expression.

"Yuuri-san, just now, that last strike was..."

"Hmm? Ah."

It seems that Alicia is being asked for her thoughts on the final blow she delivered.

The answer goes without saying, but since she asked, I should answer.

"That last one Alicia unleashed was amazing. If it weren't for Monica's intervention, we would have been done for."

"Eh? No, what I'm asking about isn't mine—"

"When I met you this morning, I heard you had finished your rehab and were back to normal, but I never expected it to be this good. You really surprised me."

To think that she hasn't even used their magic yet is truly unfathomable.

Even though I had put some restrictions on myself to avoid getting sore muscles again... even if I gave it my all, I wouldn't stand a chance against her, who was also giving her all.

Still, it's a fact that I became stronger by my own standards.

I bowed my head to everyone, including Alicia, with a feeling of gratitude.

"Thank you once again. I've been able to grow thanks to everyone's teachings."

"...I feel like I've been somewhat deceived, but let's just leave it at that. Anyway, there's no need for Yuuri-san to bow your head. We returned the favor of our own accord."

"Still, my gratitude remains unchanged. If it's not a bother, I would be happy if you could accept my words of gratitude."

"...Yuuri-san."

Alicia looked slightly confused.

Then, a new voice suddenly comes in.

"Understood. If Yuuri is saying that much, I'll accept it honestly."

"Monica, you haven't done anything special, have you...?"

"Excuse me. I properly introduced Tio."

"You just dumped it all on me!"

As usual, I greet Monica and Tio, who appear with their usual comedic banter.

"Of course, I'm grateful to both of them. Tio taught me how to sense presences, and Monica accompanied me to special training every day... well, it felt like she was just relaxing next to me."

"It's okay. I was cheering for you properly."

"...Then it's fine."

I don't really know what's okay either, but I guess it's not something to worry about.

In any case, our days of intense training came to an end with such exchanges.

Finally, after exchanging greetings with the four of them once more, I left the party house, the base of operations for the [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather].

◇◆◇

After Yuuri left the party house.

The girl with the distinctive red ponytail, Ceres, suddenly opened her mouth.

"How should I put it... he was an elusive guy until the very end."

"Ceres? What does that mean?"

"I think you should ask Alicia about that, not me."

"Then, Alicia, tell me."

In response to Monica's question, Ceres directed her gaze at Alicia.

Receiving the gazes of the three people, including Tio, Alicia sank into her own thoughts.

What she's recalling is the mock battle from earlier.

She had noticed that Yuuri's skills had been steadily improving over the past few days.

Because he was absorbing the swordsmanship Alicia demonstrated in actual combat, and the "presence detection" that Tio taught at an astonishing speed.

That alone was surprising, but for Alicia, the biggest shock came afterward.

The final showdown.

The aura surrounding Yuuri that stood before her suddenly transformed into something otherworldly.

It was an overwhelming sword aura that even the seasoned S-rank adventurer Alicia couldn't help but freeze in place.

In an instant, the premonition of defeat crawled up her neck.

Alicia unleashed a magical sword strike reflexively, faster than she could think.

That was an action that disregarded the condition of the mock battle, which was not to use magic.

By the time Alicia realized her mistake, the wooden sword was already closing in on Yuuri.

However, she made eye contact with Yuuri at that moment.

The encounter of gazes that even leaves perception behind.

And a clear intention to counterattack.

As if it had become a deterrent, Alicia was able to stop her movement just in time.

At the same time, Monica's voice echoed, announcing the end of the mock battle.

It was terrifying to even imagine what the outcome would have been without that signal.

"...That's right. Just as Ceres said, he was truly an elusive person."

An F-rank adventurer who, despite having only fought slimes, wields sword techniques akin to a master.

It was clearly distorted.

That said, there is only one obvious thing that exists.

"...It's really unfortunate that he doesn't have any magical power."

No matter how talented one is in swordsmanship or martial arts, there are limits for those who lack magical power in this world.

That's why it was such a candid impression.

Nevertheless, as an adventurer, it seemed like he was already at least D-rank.

If it's just about living, it's a sufficient standard.

And so, Alicia summarized things in that manner, but―

"I see, I understand. Anyway, Yuuri is Yuuri."

"...You ask the question yourself, and that's the answer you come up with?"

Alicia instinctively holds her head, but Monica has always been this kind of person.

Even if she thinks deeply about it, she's the only one who ends up exhausted.

Anyway, this ends Alicia and the others' days of rest and rehabilitation, and starting tomorrow, they will resume their activities as S-rank adventurers as before.

Thinking that way, each of them was re-energizing themselves.

"Excuse me! Is anyone from [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather] here!?"

They can hear a woman's voice coming from the gate.

As they approached, there stood Raisa, the receptionist of the Adventurers' Guild, panting heavily.

"Raisa-san? Is something wrong?"

"Alicia-san! And everyone else, I'm glad you came. Actually..."

After such an introduction, Raisa announced loudly.

"A sudden S-rank monster has attacked the center of the town! Please lend us your strength to defeat it!"

Chapter 21: Final Training Day