"There’s one thing I still don’t understand, Nakata."
"Yes?"
"You said that your role ended because the crusade ended. But there’s still a very important war going on."
"Oh, the one in the south, right? Against dragon people or sothing like that? I think the German guy was sent there."
Urraca tilted her head in confusion yet another ti during this conversation.
"Ger... man? What is that?"
"Oh, is the nationality of the hero that went to... what was the na of the country again? Calem?"
"Yes, Calem is the only country to the southwest of ours. They also received a hero?"
"Yeah. A guy around my age. There was a girl sent to an Eastern country. I think the na was Histria. She was tasked with working against the spread of the faith in the Saint in the East of the continent. Oh, by the way, can I have another of this milkmix?"
"Of course!"
Urraca makes a gesture, and one of the maids present goes to fetch it.
"But, you see. The guy at Calem is one guy, and he is at Calem. He is not going to help us here in Castro. So you shouldn’t worry about it. Though, now that I think about it, if you are just normal people, what exactly are you able to do that normal people can’t?"
That question under most contexts and circumstances would be seen as rude or outright offensive. But Urraca was just being curious, and that’s how Nakata interpreted it.
"Well, I gained a special title of Hero upon arrival, and it seems that I start with higher base stats than everyone else. But that’s as far as my knowledge of the matter goes. I wonder if she couldn’t just give the Hero title to soone from here and call it a day."
"Yeah, it would make so much more sense. She likes doing convoluted things, but I don’t think that she would go that way unless there’s a special reason."
"Your guess is as good as mine."
"What does your title do?"
"I have no idea. It only says ’a hero summoned from another world,’ and that’s it."
The reason Urraca didn’t appraise her to read the title directly was because it’s considered very offensive to appraise soone without consent. And it’s rude to ask for the consent in almost every context.
"The Church has provided with training, but it’s mostly focused on the system and skills. It doesn’t seem that they are aware of what the title is supposed to do either."
"I see... and how is your training going?"
"It’s good. I’ve been training in the art of the sword since very early, and my body is now a lot lighter, faster, and stronger than before. And the skills provide a good addition to my base form, improving it."
Urraca’s eyes flashed hearing that.
"Would you like to spar with ?"
"Right now?"
Nakata was in the middle of drinking her second milkmix, but the invitation was too instigating for her swordswoman’s heart.
:::
Soon they were on the training grounds of the castle. Several knights quickly gathered on the stands as soon as they heard that the princess and the hero would spar, as the word spread like wildfire.
The captain of the guard would act as the referee. Each girl went to their side of the arena. Urraca had changed to training clothes, but Nakata said that she was comfortable enough with her kimono and didn’t change.
What most impressed the knights was the fact that she was wearing an one-tooth geta on her feet, which seed to be impossible to stand on for most people, let alone fight in.
"Rember. No magic and no fatal injuries allowed. On your marks. Begin!"
Nakata had adapted to the western-style swords but still didn’t feel as confident as when she was using the curved swords of Japanese traditions. So she decided to begin on the defensive and observe her opponent.
anwhile, Urraca launched herself on the offensive, cutting the air with short and precise slashes of her blade. Her blows wouldn’t be enough to properly connect if they hit, as she was just testing the other’s defense.
Nakata saw through it, so she simply stepped one foot backwards, getting out of the reach of the short slashes and switching her center of gravity.
Seeing that the opponent didn’t even bother to parry or block her minute attacks, Urraca raised her sword to apply a stronger slash. Her aim was to take advantage of the increased distance to land a proper blow.
But before she finished her movent downwards, she knew she had erred.
Nakata stepped forward in a flash, shouting a kiai (a power shout used to convey spirit and focus) and slamd her elbow square on Urraca’s chest.
As Urraca reeled from the slam, Nakata quickly put the sword on her throat.
"I surrender."
It was all so quick that it took a bit for the knights to cheer.
Nakata returned to her normal stance and bowed, Japanese-style.
It wasn’t a custom in Castro, but Urraca understood the aning of it.
"That was a nice one. I thought that you said you were a normal person before. Are all normal people in your world strong like this?"
"Hehe, no. Well, I guess I wasn’t that normal, after all. I’ve been hyperfixated on swords since the first ti I saw one, so training was the main thing I did besides school. And in that regard I know I was a complete outlier. But the truth is, coming to this world REALLY made a lot stronger and more agile and resistant."
"Well, I have trained since childhood as well, and I have my share of real-life combat experiences, and I have always had the benefits of the system. And yet, I’ve never seen anyone pull off those moves of yours."
As Nakata smiled and blushed bashfully at the complints, Urraca couldn’t help but think that that girl in front of her was absolutely cute.
Whatever the social status, n would kill or die for a chance to marry this girl. It’s impossible a man not to fall for her charms very quickly...
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