Turner's face was flustered, but she soon shook it off and looked at Ellen.
"Under the premise of using Magic Body Strengthening on each other, it's impossible to take the opponent's life with a mere shove. Of course, it was a bit startling, though..."
Initially, Turner hadn't anticipated that Ellen would resort to a shove, and even if it had been a real battle, she knew that such a move wouldn't have been particularly effective.
If Turner had been using her Magic Body Strengthening properly, Ellen's shove would have been a reckless and desperate tactic, placing her in the hands of a more skilled opponent.
Turner stuttered, taken aback when Ellen suddenly used such a lowly tactic.
What to say...
Despite being a brave younger sibling with exceptional abilities, could she really do that?
It was a sort of complacency born from trust.
"...I thought I wouldn't stand a chance unless I tried something like that."
At those words, Turner closed her mouth for a moment.
She had come up with this plan because she felt she had no other choice and would have lost with one hundred percent certainty otherwise.
Indeed, she had managed to land a hit.
'Uh...'
'Well, I guess so...?'
She seemed to reluctantly agree.
"Your attempt to exploit my weak point was good. After all, I couldn't counter it. But don't rely too much on such tactics. That being said... it was an excellent move, and I can't deny I fell for it."
Although it had been an unexpected attack, she acknowledged Ellen's cunning with a tone of admiration.
It was the epitome of an adult's response.
"I apologize."
Ellen bowed her head to Turner, seemingly believing her action had been rude.
She had done it because there seemed to be no other way to handle the situation without resorting to the element of surprise.
What to say...
It was somewhat surprising to see her pull off such a cute stunt.
Of course, if it hadn't been Turner, the shove would have broken her nose.
"There's no need to apologize. Discovering tactics to deal with opponents you can't face head-on is also a skill."
"...Yes."
Though Turner's words were kind, they ultimately grated on Ellen's nerves. Of course, Turner seemed unaware of this.
From the start, someone of her caliber wouldn't need to adjust her level to converse with others, let alone spar.
"Let's try again."
As if implying that such surprise tactics wouldn't work this time, Turner pointed her practice sword at Ellen.
"Yes."
As though vowing not to use such shallow tactics again, Ellen began her standoff with Turner.
Unsurprisingly,
Ellen was defeated.
Of course, there are degrees of defeat.
Ellen's performance wasn't as pitiful as being toyed with like the three of us.
—---
In contrast to the first round, where Turner had been caught off guard by Ellen's shove, neither of them attempted such a move again.
Therefore, the outcome of the five practice duels was a series of defeats for Ellen.
Of course, a fierce exchange of blows ensued. Turner wasn't giving it her all to gauge Ellen's ability, but that only made it harder for her to find an opening in Ellen's defense.
After five practice bouts, Turner looked at us.
"Everyone except Ellen and Reinhardt, leave."
At her words, Cliffman and Ludwig looked slightly bewildered, but seeing that Turner wasn't joking, they left the training hall.
She sent them away, leaving me behind.
I had an idea of what Turner was planning.
"Now, bring 'that' out."
"…"
"I want to see your true skills."
This was the first time Saviolin Turner would witness the abilities of Ellen Artorius.
Ellen hadn't participated in the tournament, and she wasn't an official fencing instructor.
A practice match was just that. Just as Turner couldn't get serious, Ellen wouldn't fight with gritted teeth either.
As the current strongest swordsman in the empire, she seemed intent on determining Ellen's true abilities.
Without a word, Ellen summoned Lament into her right hand.
Ellen possessed another sacred artifact, but she had only told me about it and hadn't brought it out yet.
Blue magical power gathered around the wooden practice sword Turner wielded.
The wooden sword would shatter or be cut upon contact with Lament.
The mark of a Swordmaster. Aura Blade.
Ellen stared intently at the magical power flowing through Turner's sword.
She was a being who transcended even Swordmasters. Saviolin Turner, with a serious expression, stared back at Ellen as if to say this was no longer a game.
"Fight as if you intend to kill me."
The situation was very similar to what had happened with Cliffman not long ago, but it was entirely different.
It was fine to fight with the intent to kill.
Because you could never actually kill me.
That was the meaning behind it.
"Yes."
Ellen took a deep breath as she stared at Saviolin Turner.
She wouldn't hesitate. Even if she fought with all her might, Ellen knew Turner would stand a chance.
Surrounded by magical power, Ellen charged at Saviolin Turner with Lament in hand.
-Clang!
The sound of the Aura Blade and Lament colliding echoed through the training hall, creating a shockwave that seemed to rip through the air.
But it wasn't just the shockwave.
"!"
Simply making contact with the Aura Blade caused Ellen's hands, gripping Lament, to be flung upwards as if being launched into the sky.
Her chest was left wide open.
Turner didn't miss the opportunity.
-Swoosh!
"Argh…!"
Ellen gasped as Turner's left fist drove directly into her solar plexus.
"Guh… Huh…!"
As Ellen clutched her chest, gasping for breath, with her Magic Body Strengthening dispelled, Turner looked at her calmly.
"The Aura Blade isn't just a sharp sword. It can freely manipulate magical shockwaves, so merely making contact can cause a powerful counterforce."
"Ugh… Ugh…"
"I meant to make you lose your grip on the sword, but you held on. I'll commend you for that."
It was a given that Ellen would be no match, but I was still shocked to see her reduced to such a state in a single blow.
"Huff... huff..."
Turner looked down at Ellen with cold eyes.
"You are strong and will grow even stronger."
"..."
"Just as the foundation of swordsmanship must change the moment you use Magic Body Strengthening, it must change once again the moment you use an Aura Blade. Therefore, you cannot face your opponent in the same way as before if they are a Swordmaster."
"..."
"I will teach you how to confront a Swordmaster when you are not one, how to confront an Archmage, monsters, demons, demonkin, and even armies."
Up until now, Turner had spoken to Ludwig, Cliff, and myself at our level. She had taught us what we needed to do.
But now.
For Ellen, Turner suddenly began teaching her how to face a Swordmaster.
This must be because Turner had discovered potential in Ellen during their sparring session.
"Rise, Ellen Artorius."
"..."
Ellen kept her gaze fixed on the floor of the training ground, catching her breath.
"You have no freedom to be weak."
One must be strong.
In order to protect what is precious.
If one has taken on a burden, they must endure any level of cruelty.
Slowly, Ellen stood up. The light in Ellen Artorius' eyes had not died.
The Empire's strongest knight was sincerely trying to teach her something.
Her eyes were filled with the determination to learn.
Saviollin Turner stared expressionlessly at Ellen.
'If only it wasn't these youngsters, but me instead.'
'How wonderful that would be.'
'Why did the gods choose you as the adversary of the Demon King...?'
'Why must you be the ones to get hurt...?'
'Do I still have no role to play...?'
Such emotions could be read from Turner's expression.
"Let's begin."
"...Yes."
In the midst of sorrow.
She seemed to sense a sad fate for the two of us.
—---
Turner appeared anxious. As if she believed that if we didn't get stronger quickly during any moment of respite, we might be killed in vain when we truly needed our strength.
In the original work, Turner took charge of Ludwig and Ellen, the holders of sacred artifacts, after the Gate incident had already occurred. At that time, Turner had been rough with Ludwig, but she had no choice but to pay less attention to Ellen. Back then, Ellen was already quite complete, and Ludwig had many shortcomings.
However, at this point in time, there was a sense of urgency, but still some room to breathe.
That's why Turner was focusing on Ellen, who had even greater potential for growth. Moreover, the current owner of Alsebringer had not yet been determined.
Turner had informed Ludwig and Cliffman of what needed to be corrected at this stage.
However, she told Ellen that she would teach her how to fight.
Swordmaster, Archmage, Demonkin, Demon, and the art of battling armies.
I intend to teach the method of killing something.
"Reinhardt, come here as well."
And I too possess a sacred relic.
As if to say that I am no exception, Saviolin Turner stands Ellen and me in front of her and speaks.
"What is a Master Class?"
"Someone who can use an Aura Blade."
"Then, what is this Aura?"
"I understand it to be the ability to do Magic Body Strengthening beyond the physical body, even up to the level of a battlefield aura."
"I see."
She nods her head as if it's an ordinary answer and there's nothing wrong with it.
"Then, if your main weapons are fists and feet, would you be considered a Master Class if you could wrap magic power around your fists and feet?"
If one can enhance their primary weapon with magic power, they are considered a Master Class.
So, if a close-quarters combatant specializes in enhancing their magical power, would they become a Master Class the moment they can do so? Since they know how to enhance their main weapon with magic power.
"... I don't think so."
Of course, it's not.
"That's right. Usually, if one can do Magic Body Strengthening on objects other than their body, they are considered a Master Class. However, in reality, it's a little different."
Saviolin Turner, with her practice sword laid down, gathers blue mana. Both Ellen and Turner are clad in Magic Body Strengthening.
While both of them are enhancing their bare bodies with Magic Body Strengthening, the appearance of Ellen and Turner is slightly different.
Ellen, who initially used a very explosive Magic Body Strengthening, can now use a more refined one. However, Turner's enhancement felt extremely controlled.
If the sensation emanating from Ellen's body is a blue light, only a hazy glow could be felt from Turner's body.
Extremely refined Magic Body Strengthening.
The faint light minimized unnecessary consumption, giving the impression that the Magic Body Strengthening itself was optimized.
"A Master Class refers to cases where the activeness of Magic Body Strengthening has developed to the utmost extreme. Come closer and try maintaining your Magic Body Strengthening."
At Turner's command, Ellen stands in front of her.
Turner had called her over as if she was going to show something amazing, but what she ended up doing was a bit surprising.
She placed her right middle and index fingers together, then aimed at Ellen's forehead.
It was a flick, commonly referred to as a forehead flick.
"???"
Questions flooded Ellen's expression.
A Grandmaster's forehead flick, of all things.
Did she intend to kill Ellen?
-Thud!
However, Turner's flick did make a sound on Ellen's forehead, but Ellen didn't seem hurt at all. Her head was just slightly pushed back.
But.
The sound of that flick was a bit strange...
"It must have felt like metal striking metal, right?"
"Yes."
Ellen nods her head.
"That's the Magic Body Strengthening you guys do. Forming a powerful protective barrier, and enhancing physical abilities."
At our level, it doesn't amount to much more than that.
"Now, try taking this."
Turner prepared for another flick of her fingers.
This time, it was different.
Ellen stared at the flick Turner aimed at her forehead.
"..."
No.
Is this the first time I've seen her so frightened?
Look at her eyes trembling as she pretends not to be scared!
Ellen, scared out of her wits!
It's odd that a finger flick would be scarier than a punch.
I'd be scared of that too!
"..."
As Ellen's shoulders began to tremble slightly, Turner looked my way as if she couldn't continue.
"Uh... me?"
Am I really going to die?
My face turned pale as well.
Then.
"I'll just take the hit."
Suddenly, Ellen stopped trembling and spoke calmly. Her eyes were wide open, as if she'd made up her mind.
No.
Hey.
What does that make me?
"No, Miss, I'll take the hit and die."
If you take the hit for me, I'll have no choice but to do this!
I'm not sure I won't die, but I said it anyway. Turner looked back and forth between Ellen and me before lowering her finger.
"...On second thought, there's no need to hit you that hard. And it's not like I'm going to kill you."
Turner let out an embarrassed sigh and lowered her hand.
Both Ellen and I unknowingly let out a sigh of relief at the sight of that lethal finger.
"It's just, like that."
She flicked her finger into the air.
Bang!
Instead of a sound, a fierce noise like an explosion of gunpowder echoed from Turner's finger.
What did I just hear?
"The difference lies in the power of a Master Class Magic Body Strengthening."
"..."
Now, were you planning on applying that to my forehead?
Ellen stared at Turner with a questioning gaze.
"Um, well. I didn't do it, did I... Um."
Embarrassed, she avoided Ellen's gaze.
"How did you do that?"
"It's an offensive application of Magic Body Strengthening."
"Offensive application...?"
"Yes, you and Reinhardt are proficient in Magic Body Strengthening, but only to the extent of physical enhancement internally and obtaining defense through external magic discharge. This is the next level."
The mana gathered in her right hand seemed refined, but suddenly surged explosively from just her right hand, repeating a blazing, explosive-like appearance.
"Once you reach a certain level, it'll be possible to explosively release magic throughout your entire body. And then it becomes more specialized. From your whole body to just your right leg, your right arm, only the lower half of your right arm, and then just your hand, and then only your fingers."
Turner showed her index finger, and from it, a blue flame-like flicker of magical power danced.
Starting with defense, one becomes capable of explosively releasing magical power.
The range gradually narrows, starting from the entire body.
The more the magic is concentrated rather than radiating outwards, the greater its destructive power will be.
From Turner's fingers, seemingly enveloped in blue flames, the fire begins to gradually focus into a single point.
"Slowly, from your entire body to smaller units, become accustomed to concentrating the Magic Body Strengthening to an extreme point."
"Meticulously."
"Concentrate."
As Turner speaks these words, the flickering light around her fingers gradually begins to gather at her fingertips.
"Eventually, you'll be able to concentrate the Magic Body Strengthening only at your fingertips like this."
"Right. And beyond this stage."
She grasps the practice sword she had set down.
The practice sword in her hand becomes gradually engulfed in blue flames, as if the concentrated magic at the tip of her finger has ignited it.
"When you reach the pinnacle of Magic Body Strengthening manipulation, such feats become possible."
A refined Magic Body Strengthening ability, so precise that it can strengthen with magic beyond the body's boundaries.
"That is the condition of the Master Class."
Once you can do that, you will have reached the Master Class.
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