Chapter 35: Completely Exposed

On the fourth day since Velvet-san arrived, something unusual happened. While the three of us were working in the fields as usual, the topic of Sheila-san’s strength came up, and for some reason, this led to Velvet-san and Sheila-san deciding to have a mock battle.

I’m not particularly fond of violent things, but apparently, mock battles are common here. It wasn’t a sign of bad blood or anything, so I agreed to it. We sped through our tasks faster than usual, finishing all the fieldwork by late afternoon to make time for the mock battle.

“Alright! Fieldwork is fun, but it’s been a while since I’ve swung a sword—this should be exciting.” 

Velvet said with a smile.

“By the way, Sheila-san, are you capable of holding your ground against Velvet-san?”

“I’m not aiming to kill her or anything, so I’ll be fighting with my full strength.” 

Sheila replied casually.

She said it with such a nonchalant expression that I was taken aback. If it were me, I’d worry about injuring or hurting the other person, so the idea of a mock battle would be terrifying. But I guess this is a fundamental difference in the way we were raised—me in Japan, and them in this world.

“Why don’t you join in too, Sato?” 

Velvet teased.

“No, no, there’s no way I can fight! Velvet-san, you’ve seen my stats, haven’t you?” 

I quickly declined.

“But Sato-san, I’ve noticed you practicing with a sword every night. Effort never betrays you—you’re definitely stronger than you think.” 

Sheila chimed in.

“Wait… Sheila-san, you knew about that?”

“Of course. I’m very sensitive to the sound of swords swinging.” 

Sheila said matter-of-factly.

Apparently, Sheila had been aware of my secret late-night practice sessions. Ever since I was given a sword, I’d been practicing in secret every night, trying to get the hang of it. I’d thought I was being discreet, but it seems my efforts were completely obvious.

“By the way, I knew too. Like Sheila said, I could hear the sounds every night from your room. Oh, and the sound of you gasping for breath was loud and clear too.”

Velvet chimed in too.

“…This is so embarrassing. I’m sorry for subjecting you both to such unpleasant noises.” 

I said, feeling mortified.

“It wasn’t unpleasant or anything. So, now that you’ve been exposed, you’re joining us, right?”

Velvet reassured me.

At this point, there was no way to refuse. Surely, they’d hold back against me, and getting guidance from the two of them would probably be an invaluable experience.

“Alright, I’ll join in. After the two of you finish your match, please allow me to participate.” 

I said, giving in.

“Happy to oblige.” 

Sheila replied.

“Great! After I spar with Sheila, I’d love to fight Lime or Mash too—though I’m guessing that’s probably not allowed, right?” 

Velvet asked.

“As long as you hold back, it should be fine. But I’m not sure if Lime would even know how to fight.” 

I said thoughtfully.

Lime was more of a squishy, gelatinous creature, so it didn’t seem like it had any means of attacking. Mash, on the other hand, specialized in clever tricks rather than direct combat, so it would probably struggle in a straightforward battle.

“First up is Sheila, then Sato, and after that, we’ll see if the monsters can join in. Even just figuring out their potential as combatants would make for a meaningful mock battle.” 

Velvet said enthusiastically.

“I think it’s a great idea. Well then, Velvet-sama, let’s begin. I won’t be holding back.” 

Sheila warned.

“Of course. I wouldn’t forgive you if you did.” 

Velvet replied with a fierce grin.

The two of them exchanged a predatory smile before grabbing wooden swords and assuming their stances. For a moment, I had doubted whether a princess like Velvet could fight, but her posture exuded an aura of discipline and skill. She must have been trained in swordsmanship from a young age.

For the first time, I was about to witness a mock battle up close. Feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement, I gave the signal to start.

“Alright then—begin!”

At my cue, the two of them launched into action, their wooden swords clashing with such ferocity that it was almost frightening. It looked as if they were genuinely trying to kill each other.

I couldn’t follow the intricacies of their movements; to me, it just looked like they were moving at lightning speed, and the only thing I could clearly perceive was the sound of their swords colliding.

As the intense battle continued, the tide began to shift. At first, they seemed evenly matched, but soon Sheila started to gain the upper hand. Velvet’s attacks became less frequent, and she switched to a purely defensive strategy.

Finally, Sheila landed a powerful strike to Velvet’s side, followed by a finishing blow to the top of her head.

“Ow, ow… Sheila, you’re way too strong!” 

Velvet exclaimed, clutching her head.

“You were strong too, Velvet-sama. Are you injured?” 

Sheila asked, concerned.

“I’m fine—looks like you held back when you hit me. Still, I really thought I had a chance at the start… this is so frustrating!” 

Velvet replied, her tone equal parts disappointed and impressed.

“You were both amazing! From my perspective, everything was so fast that I couldn’t tell what was going on!”

I cheered.

Still riding the adrenaline rush, I clapped enthusiastically for the two of them. Watching their duel, I felt a renewed appreciation for the kind of combat skills needed to survive in this world.

Even though I’m still far from their level, watching them made me want to get stronger. Then again, considering how quickly I get out of breath just from light practice swings, I might have a long way to go…

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