…

  It’s been five days since I’ve begun my training.

  My Mentor, Mister Earl, has taught me a lot of things in these measly five days. He has taught me how to handle a sword correctly, sheathe it correctly and even how to swing it in a way that would be the most comfortable for me.

  I have to say – though he is gentle as an individual, he is quite strict and ruthless as a mentor. He hasn’t gone easy on me or Kagawa.

  First day, he absolutely kicked our asses.

  It was so embarrassing. Although… It was quite predictable.

  We have zero experience with a sword or even in a fight, so getting absolutely obliterated by my Mentor was the most expected scenario.

  Anyways…

  Over these five days that I’ve been learning under my mentor, I’ve also come to understand this world a bit better. According to my Mentor, the territories that aren’t owned by the Revenant Monarch have been divided by four main nations.

  Kingdom of Roria – which is where we were summoned to. This is apparently the most peaceful of the nations, only having conflict with the Revenant Monarchs forces. Other than that, it doesn’t seek any sort of wars with the other three nations.

  The second nation he told me about, is the Ilrei Dynasty. If I understood correctly, this land is entirely ruled by what they call ‘Demi-Humans’. Elves, Dwarves and other creatures that are human-like but not human live there. This nation, while not a one hundred percent neutral one like the Roria Kingdom, is on the neutral side — with the only real conflict being with the Revenant Monarchs forces.

  After those two, were two allied nations – The Guckled Province and the Marquishire Empire. My Mentor called these two nations the least trustworthy. Well, at least he called the Marquishire Empire untrustable, as apparently they have crude methods of doing things.

  Guckled Province he described a bit more favourably, stating how the Roria Kingdom and the Ilrei Dynasty have both tried reaching out to it and asking for them to drop their allyship with the Marquishire Empire, telling them that this allyship would only lead to ruin and potentially a war between the nations.

  However…

  All attempts to reach them have ended in failure – or at least, that’s what my Mentor told me.

  But that’s enough about politics – I want to also write down what I’ve experienced during my five days of training so far!

  I guess I can start with yesterday, where my Mentor…

  A knock came from Aiharas room, before the door opened and Earl poked his head inside. “Lady Aihara, are you all ready?” Aihara looked up from her notebook before smiling and nodding.

  “I am!”

  “Good.” Earl leaned away. “Then please, come down to have something to eat. The food won’t stay hot forever.”

  “I will be downstairs shortly!” Earl nodded and closed the door, the sound of his heavy footsteps echoing in the hall as he walked away. Aihara exhaled, closing her notebook and placing the pen to the side.

  The young lass stood up, running over to the closet in her room and picking up her boots, putting them on and tying their laces tightly closed. Afterwards, she picked up her sheathed sword that was propped up against the wall, next to the door of her room. After placing it onto her waist and securing the sheathed blade onto her belt, the girl ran out of her room and gently closed the door after herself.

  In the hall, she saw Raito exit his room as well.

  Their eyes met for a second — Raito and Aihara remained silent for a bit.

  Then, Aihara gave a cheerful, bright smile. “Goodmorning Kagawa.”

  Raito remained silent for a bit, before looking away. “...Good morning.” Then, the boy left, not giving Aihara any other gazes or lingering stares. Aihara sighed.

  “Even though we’ve been living under the same roof for five days already, it feels like that boy only grows further and further away from me… It’s like he is purposely distancing himself.” She thought, before following after the boy and moving down the hall and then down the stairs.

  Downstairs, at the breakfast table, Sarah was already seated, happily stuffing her mouth with the food that Earl had prepared. Next to her, the aforementioned Earl was sitting, gently drinking a mug of tea while reading a paper.

  Apparently, there was such a thing as a mailman in this world as well. Every morning, he’d come by and greet my Mentor as well as Miss Sarah, before handing Mentor what I could only assume to be this world's equivalent to a newspaper.

  While I haven’t had a look at the stuff that he reads, going off of my Mentors facial expressions while he read the papers that he received, they must not have contained any good news.

  “Goodmorning Mentor! Goodmorning Miss Sarah!” Aihara greeted the two cheerfully, before taking her seat at the table and next to Raito, who was already eating the prepared breakfast. Earl lifted his eyes from his papers and smiled, placing them down.

  “Goodmorning – again, Lady Aihara.”

  Sarah, with a stuffed mouth, looked at Aihara and smiled brightly. “Ghoot Mornin!” She said, all the while chewing the food in her mouth. Earl glared at her.

  “Sarah, don’t talk with your mouth full. It’s rude.” The man stated, before rolling up his paper and hitting Sarah in the back of her head. Aihara chuckled, before picking up the porridge that had been prepared for breakfast and starting to eat herself.

  As always, Earl's cooking was immaculate.

  The porridge was so sweet, yet didn’t feel like it would cause a spike in sugar within the blood vessels. It’s taste was rich and fulfilling – It felt like eating a basket of all sorts of fruits with an added light aftertaste of grains.

  While eating together at the table, Earl placed his cup down before exhaling.

  “Alright, listen up you two.” He spoke up, with Aihara and Raito picking up their gazes and looking at the man. “Today's training will occur within the woods nearby. You two will be practicing your swordsmanship in the forest against some weak monsters that me and Sarah have scouted out.”

  Aihara choked a bit on her food from surprise, coughing lightly before looking at Earl with slight shock. “M-Monsters? But Mentor, I thought we hadn’t even begun to grasp the basics of swordsmanship…”

  “That’s exactly why you’ll be practicing against monsters. Sarah and I are too powerful to spar with you and if you just stay here and swing your sword all day in the air or at a dummy, you will never improve or learn.” Earl closed his eyes and then crossed his arms. “Battling against monsters will be a good way to learn, as it will be an opportunity to fight a target that not only will not stand in one place, but actually fight back. Besides…”

  He narrowed his eyes a bit on the duo. “We also need to start getting you two to level up, even if by a little bit. After all, training will only take us so far — the Heroes System was designed for you to gain power easier.”

  Aihara turned a bit gloomy.

  Training was tough as is – as she wasn’t used to handling the sword that she had been given, especially since it was quite heavy, but now she had to face monsters as well? The thought of what may happen if she didn’t manage to defeat them terrified.

  She knows that Earl wouldn’t allow harm to befall her, however at the same time…

  With the way he acts while training her, it felt like he would definitely just leave her and Raito at the mercy of monsters. Raito finished his food and stood up.

  “I see… Then I will head outside and wait already.” He bowed before abruptly leaving the house, the sword on his back clinging lightly against his back. Unlike Aihara, who had her sword on her waist, Raito insisted on placing his sword on the back – despite his sword being pretty much the same as hers — a regular longsword.

  Sarah exhaled, also finishing her food. “Alright.” She stood up, facing Earl. “I have to head back to the city – Lady Alicia had some business with me.”

  Earl sighed. “Again…? She really is a pain sometimes…” The man then nodded and looked at Sarah. “Very well. I will take care of Lady Aihara and Sir Raito.”

  “Thank you, pa…. Earl.” Sarah then turned around and picked up her helmet, before leaving the house, waving the two remaining individuals in the house a goodbye.

  One thing I have noticed about Miss Sarah is that she doesn’t like to show off her soft side much – at least, not around me or Kagawa. However, I have overheard them speaking when neither of us are around and…

  Well, Miss Sarah, despite her tough and perfect appearance, she is like any other jolly and mischievous daughter. She calls Mentor her ‘papa’ and always acts like a carefree, young and small girl around him.

  It’s honestly such a contrast to how she acts around me or Kagawa – where she appears a lot more formal and educated.

  Earl then looked at Aihara. “Have you finished your breakfast as well?” Aihara snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Earl, nodding. “I have.”

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Earl smiled and nodded, standing up and picking up the dirty dishes. “Then please, head on outside and join Sir Raito. I will place these dirty dishes in the sink and then we’ll be off.”

  “Okay!” Aihara stood up and left the house immediately.

  She didn’t feel good about leaving the dirty dishes all to Earl, however, over these past five days, she has learned that Earl doesn’t like when others go through the trouble of helping him with cleaning up the dishes or utensils – and while Aihara has been dying of curiosity behind why Earl didn’t like it, as per Sarah's suggestions…

  “It’s better to not ask…”

  She didn’t question it.

  Outside, she walked over to the back of the house, where she found Raito practicing sword swings. While both of them trained swordsmanship together for the most part, Raito was always putting in more effort than her – training from as soon as he got out of the house and only stopping after dinner had been made.

  Occasionally, she’d find him like this — silently training by himself.

  It was… Admirable, just how dedicated he was to learning swordsmanship. However at the same time, Aihara couldn’t help but feel like he was pushing himself too much.

  Exhaling, she joyfully walked towards the boy.

  “I see you’re hard at work training already Kagawa.”

  The boy stopped, turning his eyes over at Aihara before wiping off the slight sweat he had built up. “...Shouldn’t you also be getting to training as soon as possible, Rikako?”

  “I will start training when we arrive at the forest that Mentor was talking about. If I exhaust myself now, then I won’t have any energy left to face the monsters in the forest that we’re supposed to train against.” Aihara replied, turning away and looking at the bright morning sun that shone in the sky. Raito remained silent for a bit, just gazing at Aihara, before looking away and exhaling – sheathing his sword back up.

  Aihara smiled. “You know, I admire that hard work you put in. It’s been only five days since we’ve arrived in this world and begun our training, however you’ve already adapted so easily to this world and our circumstances.”

  Raito looked at Aihara, a bit puzzled, while the girl just gave him a cheery smile. “I wish I could adapt as fast as you～”

  Raitos eyes widened a bit, before he looked away – his cheeks slightly flushing red. Then, Earl approached the two from behind, his armour clanging against itself. “Alright you two, ready? If so, we’re departing immediately.”

  Aihara and Raito turned to face Earl.

  “Ready Mentor!”

  Raito gave a small nod.

  Earl smiled and then turned away to the side, before beginning to move. “Then, follow me. Our destination - the Roria Dark forest.”

  Step…

  step…

  step…

  Chirp, chirp…

  Rustle… rustle…

  As the three of them entered the forest, the sounds of nature around them filled the air. The gentle sound of wind, the rustling of forest animals, the chirping of the birds around them — they gave off a peaceful atmosphere. Earl was in front of the two students, his gaze fixated on the path ahead of them.

  Aihara was looking around, admiring the beauty of the forest they were in. It was so large and vast, and yet, wasn’t super dense or hard to move through.

  “Watch your step two – the wildlife in this forest tends to suddenly leap out and rush past. We wouldn’t want to trample them, now would we?” Earl said, throwing a gaze back at the two students.

  Both Aihara and Raito gave a gentle nod.

  Then, Aihara scratched her head. “Mentor, I am curious.”

  “About what, Lady Aihara?”

  “You said we would train by fighting monsters within this forest, but it seems so peaceful so far and I don’t see any obvious signs of any monsters around… So where are we going to find any to fight?” Earl laughed lightly at Aiharas question, which made the girl put on a dumbfounded expression.

  Then, Earl stopped. “Well, it’s simple really.”

  The two students also stopped and looked at the knight in slight confusion. Earl gestured to the two to remain silent and in place, before carefully walking over to a nearby tree and leaning against it. Then, he took out a small wooden whistle and gently blew in it.

  …There was no sound.

  Aihara and Raito looked even more confused. “Mentor, what did—”

  “I suggest preparing your weapons.” Earl smiled, before leaping up and into the tree he was leaned up against moments earlier. “There are some monsters coming this way.”

  The echoing sound and rushing movement then came from further down the path. Both Aihara and Raito prepared, drawing their swords as they waited for what may come. From further down the path, where they would have headed, a group of small green creatures ran up to them both — handling rough and damaged spears and small daggers.

  Aihara shed a sweat, narrowing her eyes on one of the creatures.

  [ CREATURE ]

  Goblin

  Rank: E

  Level: 3 (0)

  The most basic form of the ‘Goblin’ species.

  This particular kind is not very strong, however can be quite cunning.

  [ CREATURE ]

  “Goblins? They’re just like the ones in games…” Aihara commented, gripping her sword. Before she gotta say anything else, Raito charged in against the creatures, swinging his sword at the first one and slashing it across its chest, while sending it back as well.

  “Well, Lady Aihara?”

  “Eh–?” Aihara looked up, while Earl laughed.

  “What? Hesitant? If you hesitate so much, Sir Raito will finish off these green critters before you get the chance to even move.”

  Eh–?

  Aihara looked at the Goblins that Raito was busy fighting. Then, she shook her head and charged in as well, swinging her sword at the green creatures. The goblins weren’t particularly strong – just like the description about them had stated – however they were way more resilient than she had expected.

  Despite her sword placing what looked like deep cuts on the creatures, they just kept standing up and continuing to fight – slowly pushing back the rookie Knight.

  Earl observed the two students from above, his eyes sharply following their movements. “Interesting… Sir Raito is swinging his blade around like his life depended on it while Lady Aihara has an ever so slight hint of hesitation still lingering in her. I can tell that she doesn’t want to kill these green guys.”

  Aihara pushed one goblin down onto the ground, before pinning it with her foot and lifting her sword up above it, however hesitating to finish it off. She stared at it, panting slightly while the goblin looked at her with desperation and fear in its eyes. She grit her teeth, lowering her sword.

  “Rikako, behind!”

  Raito shouted. Aihara turned around as a Goblin with a long spear charged at her. Earl narrowed his eyes, thinking whether he should step in – however Aihara sighed, before blocking the strike and swinging her sword with enough strength and force to slice the goblins head off. Then, she looked down at the goblin she had pinned with her foot, before putting it out of its misery as well.

  [ ALERT ]

  You have levelled up.

  1 > 2

  [ ALERT ]

  Aihara panted lightly, before stepping off of the green creature. This had been the first time she had taken another creature's life… yet, oddly enough, she didn’t feel anything. Perhaps because these things weren’t human.

  Shaking her head, she immediately rejoined Raito in battling off the rest of the goblins.

  After slashing apart the last one, Aihara breathed heavily.

  [ ALERT ]

  You have levelled up.

  3 > 4

  [ ALERT ]

  “Phew…” Aihara dropped down next to a tree, while Raito leaned against it, crossing his arms. Earl hopped off his spot and approached the two with a smile, while clapping.

  “Good, good! While it took a bit, you managed to gather your composure and take those goblins down. Well done.” Earl praised them. Aihara smiled back, still breathing a bit heavily. “Thank you… Mentor.”

  Raito exhaled, however didn’t say anything.

  Earl smiled. “Alright, prepare – I will summon a second wave.”

  Aihara stood up in a panic. “H-Hold on, shouldn’t we rest?” Earl glared at her, which was enough to send shivers down Aiharas spine. “In a battlefield, the Revenant Monarchs army won’t give you a second to rest. If you’re not ready to fight till your last breath, then you won’t survive.”

  So strict…

  Mentor can be scary at times.

  Afterwards, Earl once again blew into the whistle, before leaping into some trees. Again, a group of goblins appeared before Aihara and Raito – only this time, the group was about twice the size of the previous one and the average level of the goblins had increased by one.

  Exhaling and having no other choice, the two students leapt into battle against the newly summoned group of goblins.

  One after the other, the two students fought against goblins that Earl kept calling over using his whistle. Throughout the entire process, they also managed to keep levelling up, with Aihara reaching level seven and Raito reaching level eight.

  Not so long after, the sun had begun to set.

  Aihara and Raito were both panting and breathing heavily while sitting at a tree. “My entire body is aching in pain… It feels like my muscles will rip apart…” Aihara groaned, while Raito just gently massaged his right shoulder.

  Earl laughed. “Good work today. In total, you managed to slay around forty seven goblins. Not bad at all.” He stated, while Aihara and Raito looked at him, with Aihara looking at Earl with a gentle smile. “At least… We didn’t do poorly…”

  “That you didn’t.” Earl turned away and began moving. “Come on, let’s head back for today. Sarah is probably waiting for us back at the house.” Aihara and Raito watched Earl leave for a moment, before Aihara exhaled and hopped up onto her feet, before extending her right hand out to Raito, who looked a bit taken back.

  “Come on Kagawa, let me help you up.” She gave the boy a gentle, friendly smile.

  Despite her rough and beaten up appearance, there was a certain radiance that shone off of her body. Raito looked away, flushing red a bit, before taking her hand and getting up. “...Thank you.”

  “No worries!” She replied, before quickly running after Earl, who was already beginning to create quite the distance between him and them both. “Mentor, wait for us!”

  Raito watched Aihara run off, before looking down at his hand that had touched hers. Her hand had been so soft and warm… And yet, it felt firm and sturdy as well. Was it because of their training? The boy stared at his hand for a bit, smiling lightly before quickly running after Aihara and Earl, so he wouldn’t get left behind.

  After they all returned, Sarah was waiting for them all at the house, having started to prepare food. Earl told the two students to head upstairs and distribute the stat points they had earned from their training today – while also adding that of course, if they didn’t know what they should place them in, they could wait and it would get sorted out at the dinner table.

  After washing up and leaving her sword in her room, Aihara had dinner with the others. This time, a pot of mashed potatoes had been served, with salad and seared boar meat. While eating, Aihara received aid from Earl while Raito received aid from Sarah in distributing their stat points in the most optimal way for their classes.

  After that, they all discussed their days, with Aihara enthusiastically telling Sarah all about how she and Raito faced the goblins that Earl called for them, all the while Raito remained silent and just ate his meal, occasionally throwing gazes at Aihara, which Earl picked up on, smiling lightly while sipping his tea.

  After dinner, Aihara had returned to her room.

  Laying in her bed, her face was illuminated by the gentle light given off by her status window, that she was just staring at.

  [ STATUS ]

  Rikako Aihara

  Gender: Female

  Level: 7 (0)

  Rank: E

  Class: Knight

  Stat Points: 0

  Health: 130 / [3]

  Magical Energy: 80 / [1]

  Strength: 70 / [3]

  Defence: 60 / [3]

  Agility: 50 / [2]

  Skills;

  [Interpreter]; Common Skill

  [Swift Step]; Unique Skill

  [Silver Sword]; Class Skill

  [ STATUS ]

  “...More and more, it all feels like some sort of game.” Aihara commented, looking at the stats that were displayed – her stats. Earl had helped her distribute the stat points in a way that would be the most beneficial for her as a Knight, which was by emphasizing mostly strength and defence stats, as those were the most crucial for a Knight, followed by Agility and lastly, magical energy being the least important, as a Knight mostly relied on their physical strength and not any sort of magic.

  “Those goblins we faced today…” Aihara closed her status window, sighing before rolling over onto her left side. “They were the first creatures I’ve ever killed… I remember how I hesitated ever so slightly to take out that one I had pinned, which almost resulted in me getting injured.”

  The girl's eyes narrowed a bit. The harsh words of her Mentor that had been said after she and Raito dealt with the first group of goblins echoed in her mind.

  “In a battlefield, the Revenant Monarchs army won’t give you a second to rest. If you’re not ready to fight till your last breath, then you won’t survive.”

  …

  Mentor is fully right.

  I shouldn’t hesitate to take down my opponents nor expect them to allow me to rest or recover my strength. In a real battle, where I will be on my own, it will be a life or death question.

  I will have to fight to survive – or I will be turned into nothing more but monster food.

  Aihara closed her eyes, exhaling lightly before lifting her head up and looking out of the window, narrowing her eyes slightly as she looked up at the full moon in the sky, that shone down at her, through the window.

  “...Mister, are you still holding up?”