'I was just killing time playing with you, and you dare to win...'
That’s right.
In Holly’s mind, she was doing me a favor by playing with me.
Though she’s the one who always initiates the games.
'But, I’m really tired now, can we please stop? If we keep playing until I’m exhausted, maybe you’ll finally win?'
'Ah!? As if I’d stoop to such a dirty trick! Be in your best condition when you face me!'
With those words and a middle finger raised to the sky, Holly passed through the wall to where Shion was in the next room.
She does have a sense of fair play, after all.
And she said she hates deliberately losing.
But still pretty childish to not accept her own defeat.
'...'
Looking at the chessboard where I was ahead, I thought to myself.""Holly is truly strong.
Beyond human capabilities, her chess skills are immeasurably strong.
Maybe it's because she doesn’t have a physical body, she never hesitates or ponders, always making the best move instantly.
There’s no fatigue from continuous games.
Frankly, she’s not an opponent a human can match.
'...'
To think that I, of all people, managed to win against her three times in a row...
'What’s wrong, Holly? You seem upset.'
'Shut up. Kids should go to bed early.'
'Are you that upset about losing to big brother in chess?'
'If you know, then don't ask, you brat!'
'Pffft. It’s sad to lose at your only talent.'
'It’s not my only talent! I’m super talented!'
When I heard this conversation from the next room, I no longer cared about having beaten Holly.
It’s not a big deal.
Beating her at chess...
The next day.
With time on my hands, I felt like watching Shion’s training for the first time in a while.
Come to think of it, I’d never really paid attention to her daily training with the Holy Light Sword.
I wonder what kind of training she does.
With that thought, I looked down from the second-floor balcony to the castle’s courtyard where Shion was training.
'Haahhhhhhhh!'
'Your guard is down! You’re full of openings!'
'Nooooooo!'
'Your counterattack is too slow! Be quicker!'
'Taaaaaah!'
'Don’t think! Feel! Trust your instincts!'
They were sparring.
Shion, in her adult form due to possesshion, was clashing swords with Holly.
Shion swung the Holy Light Sword, while Holly parried with a regular sword.
'...'
Thinking about it, Holly could lift heavy objects when the hero and the Holy Sword were nearby, but she could also swing a normal sword with incredible speed and skill.
Holly is the spirit residing in the Holy Light Sword used by the past heroes to defeat the Demon Lord.
Her swordsmanship must be beyond even master level.
It’s no wonder Shion's movements are extraordinary, having been trained by Holly every day.""Holly is truly unmatched.
Her chess skills surpass human capabilities to an incomprehensible degree.
Maybe because she doesn’t have a physical body, she makes instant decishions without any hesitation.
There’s no fatigue from continuous games.
Honestly, she’s an opponent beyond the reach of any human being.
'...'
To think that I, of all people, could win against her three times in a row...
'What’s wrong, Holly? You seem upset.'
'Shut up. Kids should go to bed early.'
'Are you that upset about losing chess to big brother?'
'If you know, then don't ask, you brat!'
'Pffft. It's sad to lose at your only talent.'
'It’s not my only talent! I’m super talented!'
When I heard this conversation from the next room, I no longer cared about having beaten Holly.
It’s not a big deal.
Beating her at chess...
The next day, with time on my hands, I decided to watch Shion’s training.
I realized I had never paid close attention to her daily Holy Light Sword training.
What kind of training does she do?
Thinking this, I looked down from the second-floor balcony to the courtyard where Shion was practicing.
'Haahhhhhhhh!'
'You’re too open! Full of openings!'
'Nooooooo!'
'Your counterattack is too slow! Be quicker!'
'Taaaaaah!'
'Don’t think! Feel! Trust your instincts!'
They were sparring.
Shion, in her adult form due to possesshion, was clashing swords with Holly.
Shion swung the Holy Light Sword, while Holly parried with a regular sword.
'...'
Holly, even though she could lift heavy things when near the hero and the Holy Sword, was swinging a normal sword with incredible speed and skill.
Holly is the spirit residing in the Holy Light Sword used by past heroes to defeat the Demon Lord.
Her swordsmanship must be beyond even master level.
Shion, having been trained by Holly every day, also moved unnaturally.
'What an otherworldly sight.'
As I was thinking this, a tall man with dark green hair slicked back stood behind me.
'...'
He was tall and lean, with narrow eyes that seemed almost closed, forced into a smile.
It was Platanus, the valedictorian from the military academy who now tutors Shion.
'What do you think, Crow? Seeing the power of the hero firsthand?'
'Please, don’t call me 'Crow-sama', senior. I'm just a kid.'
'No, no. Please, just call me Platanus.'
'...Okay, Platanus. Can you drop the formal speech then?'
'That’s impossible for me. I can’t speak any other way.'
'Ah, I see...'
I've always felt a bit uneasy around this guy, Platanus.
Tall and imposing, he exudes a certain pressure.
'How’s Shion's study going?'
'Literally like a sponge absorbing water, she takes in everything I teach. She has an excellent memory. Whether it's the hero's nature or her own unique talent...'
'They say she has the greatest potential among all the heroes. Truly extraordinary.'
'Indeed. From my perspective, she's a genuine genius. She's cruelly talented.'
'Cruelly talented?'
'What does that even mean?'
'A genius inadvertently tramples on the efforts of others. Not with words or attitude, but simply by being superior, hurting those around them.'
'Eh?'
'In simple terms, she’s telling everyone around her, “All your efforts are futile.” Being near her feels like being burnt to ashes.'
'No, no, no! You're not an ordinary person. If a valedictorian like you is ordinary, what am I? What about others? Most people can't match you. You're a genius too.'
As I said this, Platanus opened his usually closed eyes, stopped his fake smile, and looked down at me expresshionlessly.""He’s intimidating!
A tall, handsome, expresshionless guy is terrifying.
'I am confident in my academic and physical abilities, but they are just the result of training. I consider myself a prodigy, but not a genius.'
'Ah, okay...'
Feeling a bit uneasy under his emotionless gaze, I was slightly jittery.
'A prodigy will always remain just that, never becoming a genius. Never becoming someone special.'
'...'
'And every year, a valedictorian is produced. They’re a dime a dozen. Don’t you think it’s fleeting to live a life where there’s always someone else who can take your place? To never be the one and only, Mr. Crow?'
'...'
I was surprised.
I never thought someone else would have the same thoughts as me.
Especially someone with such good academic performance.
I was too embarrassed to say I wanted to be someone special, but I completely agree with what Platanus said.
Though, I’ve never really put in any effort to be special.
'Huh. So, Platanus, did you want to be a hero?'
'Huh?'
'What? Isn’t that it? Wanting to be unique and special means wanting to be a hero, right? That’s why you joined the military academy and hoped to be chosen by the Holy Sword every time?'
'Ah, I see... No, I didn’t want to be a hero.'
'...Huh?'
'Being a hero means shouldering the fate of all humanity. I don’t have that capacity. Even if chosen by the Holy Light Sword, I don’t think I could have withstood the pressure.'
Huh. The pressure of being a hero.
I simply thought that being the strongest in the world meant being able to do whatever I wanted.
'Mr. Crow, as the person who discovered the hero, you will...'
'Croooooow.'
Interrupting Platanus, Saffron’s voice echoed.
Looking over, I saw Saffron, dressed as a maid, waving and approaching me.