It was a strange situation.

It was the sight of Marie, Eleanor, and Arrieta sitting together on the main floor and having a conversation.

Aside from Marie, it was odd that Eleanor chose to be in the same place as Arietta in the absence of Oz.

“I hate myself.”

It was Eleanor who spoke up.

She pouted as she tidied Mari’s hair, who was absent-mindedly observing the flying butterflies.

“is that so? What makes you feel that way?”

Arrieta spoke to Eleanor with a serious yet gentle smile as always.

Eleanor said annoyedly, looking at Arrieta, who could create an atmosphere that could not exist for her.

“Even in this situation, I am jealous.”

Eleanor was jealous of Baek Yang, who was still unconscious.

Oz, who came to his senses before Baekyang did, is watching the situation while holding Baekyang’s hand tightly as if he had an obsession.

It is said that she is now at the crossroads of life and death, and even knowing that, Eleanor comes to think that she is envious of her position.

I hated myself for that.

“The saintess is amazing. No matter how much I try to dislike and hate her, I can still see the greatness of the saintess.”

ugly jealousy

Eleanor knows this too. It was also the reason why she hated Arrieta.

She was jealous of Arietta, who had a bond with her that seemed several times thicker and stronger than her own.

It seemed like I couldn’t win. That’s why I was afraid.

“Well… … .”

Arrieta narrowed her brows at Eleanor’s words as she confided in her heart, then let out a sigh.

“No, Noah. It is the same for me.”

“Yeah?”

“I was jealous too. That’s why I treated it as hard as possible. Get out of bed quickly and get up.”

“… … .”

Eleanor looked at Arrieta in surprise. Arrieta was smiling bitterly.

“Noah-nim is doing well. Because I think it’s something I don’t like. It’s not just about being swept away by emotions.”

“I think this is the first time the saintess has praised me.”

“… … I would have given you more compliments if you hadn’t just had an accident.”

Arrieta scratched her cheek and looked awkward. It was because most of the encounters between the two immediately were encounters with a bad meaning.

The head of the leadership team and the problem child.

This clear relationship was the moment when the relationship between the two was sharply divided.

For Eleanor, the existence of Arietta is an enemy who interferes with everything she does.

The two were diametrically opposed, yet similar as if looking in a mirror.

The disposition, appearance, and even the situation we are in are different, but the result is the same.

The two were already aware of each other’s feelings for Oz.

Even so, I don’t bother to express it.

The fact that she is a saint chosen by God, and that she is the only heir to the kingdom.

because of those obstacles.

The wall of reality in front of both of them was too high for them to act honestly on their feelings.

They cannot make selfish choices. It was his own choice, so he thought he had to take responsibility.

That’s why I keep leaving a subtle sense of distance.

Yes, holding onto the hope that one day things might be alright, while waiting for that time to come.

To wish for such an ephemeral miracle. It’s because Oz showed the hard work. This is because they have confirmed the fruits of their efforts several times.

maybe really

maybe this time too.

The two were expecting that ‘maybe’. I had an infinitely sweet dream.

“… … Shall we do sparring?”

“Dalian? Noah and I?”

While imagining it, Eleanor suddenly brought up such words.

It was frustrating.

The more I thought about the situation I was in, the more hope and frustration seemed to tighten my heart.

“Yes, I heard that the saintess is also practicing her swordsmanship recently. Please show me this one more time.”

“With a sword… … You mean?”

“Yeah.”

Eleanor shrugged as if there was something wrong.

And immediately, he took his greatsword and came out into the yard.

This is your chance. A chance to legally harass the troublesome head of the lead department who has been hindering him.

She did not intend to miss this opportunity. Isn’t it sparring anyway?

That you can legally hit.

“like. Since it’s been a while, shall we try it? I think it would be nice if we could get along with each other.”

“Good idea. saintess. It wouldn’t be bad to taste the bitterness of the world at this point.”

Eleanor straightened her posture and raised her greatsword.

There was a new realization through the previous battle. It is an effective way to use power.

Isn’t this a good opportunity

If it was against Arrieta, it would be fine even if I did my best.

Even if you get hurt a little anyway, you’ll recover right away.

“Noah, what about my hair?”

“I’ll do it in a little while, Marie. It won’t be long.”

“Well… … .”

Marie tilted her head.

She fidgeted with her hair, where only one side of her hair was tied, and then lay down quietly.

In Marie’s opinion, it probably wouldn’t end anytime soon.

‘If it’s the saintess, she won’t get tired or faint.’

She knew how amazing Arrieta’s divine power was.

Her sea-like divine power cannot be dried up unless it is a large-scale battle or a strong [Myeongwang] level.

Just because you use a sword doesn’t mean that you don’t use magic.

The new technique, based on overwhelming divine power, will grant you more power than most warriors and purify all attacks.

“Then shall we begin?”

Arrieta grinned and pulled out her weapon.

“… … What is that?”

Eleanor was straight.

It was a bit unexpected. Her greatsword was the same, but not as much as the one Arrieta is holding now.

Arrieta’s strength is weak.

It is said that it can be strengthened through magic, but even that will inevitably be low in efficiency as long as the basic base is weak.

That’s why I chose light weapons at first. It was a small sword, a weapon that even she could handle.

But that wasn’t a very good weapon for Arrieta, who couldn’t move fast.

So, she looked for ways to make use of her strengths.

“It’s a trade called a plain sword.”

She has a realm of divine power that controls space and senses her surroundings. If so, a weapon of the type that dominates space would be good.

“… … You chose such a hideous weapon well.”

“It’s a weapon that was in the church’s warehouse, so wouldn’t it be sacred?”

The weapon, which connected pure white blades with divine power, drew a pure white trail, but even so, it could not erase its hideous appearance.

“… … well, that’s okay Even though the weapon looks hideous, it seems to require considerable skill.”

Eleanor raised her greatsword.

“I will teach you a lesson.”

I ran into Arrieta.

* * *

After the Dalian ended.

“uh… … ?”

Eleanor muttered strangely as she lay on the floor.

He looked like he didn’t know what had happened to him.

“uh… … . That’s why I’m talking to the saintess right now… … .”

Is it Gin?

It took her a long time to accept her defeat.

lost.

That, too, is a crushing defeat.

It was impossible to even get close. If that was what she pushed away with her overwhelming divine power, I would have understood.

However, Eleanor lost her stamina after being tossed around by Arrieta’s bizarrely wielded sword.

All of Eleanor’s erratic movements were detected, and blades flew like whips in the direction she moved without fail.

Eleanor had no choice but to be consistent in defending the attack that seemed to take over the space itself.

“Ouch… … . It hurts.”

Lying on the floor, Eleanor slowly looked up at Arrieta, who was looking down at her palms.

Her palm was bleeding from the grip of the sword.

“What… … ?”

Lost in finesse? it could be.

Eleanor has no intention of making excuses for losing because she was lacking.

But look at that. Seeing blood dripping from your palms.

Arrieta’s palms were so weak that blood flowed from just a few sword strikes.

It is said to be a smooth hand without a single callus.

“It’s really too much… … .”

I lost to someone who had just started learning the sword.

Eleanor knew she didn’t have much talent.

That’s why I thought I should try harder.

But I have no choice but to feel it.

How overwhelming talent can turn people around you into bridesmaids.

I was still confused, but even my confidence was destroyed.

“Kuk!”

Eleanor gnashed her teeth and ran out, fearing that she would spit out something she didn’t like because of her rising inferiority complex.

* * *

The direction she arrived at the end of her run was the wide open space Alexios was using for training.

angry so pissed off

More than the fact that she herself was weak, she was too upset that she might not be able to help Oz on his journey.

I shivered every time I thought about whether Oz needed only her power, not her.

I knew there was a difference in talent, but I didn’t know it would be to this extent.

Then, if Arrieta was like that, how would Oz be compared to him?

He’s probably farther away than Eleanor thinks.

But it didn’t seem that way until now. It’s definitely great, but I didn’t feel this wall.

‘because of me… … .’

So thought Eleanor.

I wondered if the reason he looked so close was because he was deliberately stopping to keep pace with Eleanor.

She is holding onto Oz’s ankles. Oz is tied up.

Thinking so made Eleanor feel unbearable resentment.

Upon discovering Alexios, Eleanor immediately bowed her head.

“Here, King Kwon. Please help me.”

“This guy and that guy… … .”

Alexios clicked his tongue as he saw Eleanor naturally asking for help as if he had left it to himself.

“What the hell do you guys think of me?”

Alexios has no reason to help her. In the first place, isn’t it that there is almost no one-sided relationship?

To put it mildly, it is only to the extent of knowing through Oz.

But would it look nice to suddenly ask for help?

No, it couldn’t have been.

Until now, there were many bugs flocking to the name [King of Fist], and Alexios hated such people.

“I lost to the saintess.”

“Oh yeah? Did you ever think I would be curious about such an obvious result? I’m not curious about anything, so go off.”

“I fought with swordsmanship and lost… … .”

“… … .”

Alexios frowned.

The face of one trampled by talent. I’ve seen it until now, but this time I was out of breath.

‘Lena… … .’

Because I had just checked the result a while ago.

“this… … !”

Alexios tried to swear as usual, but he couldn’t bear to ignore Eleanor.

If you said a word, if you tried to understand each other.

‘Wouldn’t it have been a little different?’

Such thoughts held Alexios’ ankles.

“… … The reason you lost is not because of the difference in talent.”

Alexios finally said, touching his face as if he was blaming himself.

But he wasn’t looking at Eleanor. It was as if he was looking back on his past.

It was as if he was looking back at the memories of the day he left Lena behind.

“In the first place, Arrieta’s efforts are not visible. No matter how much he trains, he can’t get any better.”

Arrieta is a person who can be said to be an incarnation who does not possess mana itself and only possesses divine power.

For her, it was impossible to train her body.

Because of the divine power that heals the body naturally, no matter how much you practice, your muscles can’t stick together, and no matter how much you swing your sword, you can’t get calluses.

“He can’t grow up. So, there is only skill.”

“I fell for that trick.”

“Is that greatsword a decoration? Why do you want to fight with a greatsword?”

“… … .”

“The great sword is a weapon that uses its weight to crush opponents. In fact, technique is not that important.”

“Is using a greatsword itself a problem?”

Alexios shook his head.

He grabbed the greatsword Eleanor was holding and swung it wide.

It was an attack wielded with strength and weight without any special technique.

“The great sword has weight and strength. Strike is an important weapon. Fighting with finesse as a weapon for a short-term showdown? Are you ill?”

“… … .”

“To properly fight Arietta, you should have dragged her into your realm. You should have pushed it with force.”

“Did I mean to?”

Alexios threw the greatsword back. When Eleanor accepted the sword, Alexios said with a sneer.

“You were not struck by Arietta’s technique, but by the enormous divine power hidden behind it.”

“Well… … .”

“In the first place, it is normal for a plain sword to be smashed at the point of head-on collision with a normal greatsword. It was just suppressed with that unfair force.”

Eleanor looked down at her greatsword. It was not a sword-to-sword fight, but a collision between what each had trained in their own domain.

That fact made Eleanor feel that she couldn’t help it. But the resentment did not improve.

The result is that she loses anyway.

I can’t say I’m not angry.

“Then, how can I defeat the saintess?”

“under… … !”

thud!

Alexios snorted and kicked Eleanor.

Eleanor was struck by Alexios’ kicks and rolled several times on the ground before rising again and raising her sword.

“Train up your basic physical strength, asshole. A guy with no basics is already looking for a shortcut? It’s not even funny.”

“What happened is that I don’t like all of the teachers’ friends! After all, I’m going to have them all break off and let them only play with me!”

Eleanor proudly declared and rushed towards Alexios.

“… … No, but Oz, why is there only this weird kid around? hey! Oz, I don’t intend to be friends with that bastard, so just get out of here!”

Alexios shouted in disgust at the sight of Eleanor rushing at him.