Some time passed and I turned ten.

I’m still continuing my swordsmanship and martial arts training and in parallel, I’m still receiving lady education.

If I don’t attend that, I’m not allowed to train in swordsmanship or martial arts.

Thanks to learning chivalry and gentlemanly conduct as well, I’m becoming well-rounded as a noble, with no blind spots.

If I say so myself, I’m really doing my best—well, my life is on the line.

I’m currently in the middle of practical sword training.

“Alright, that’s enough for today!”

At the voice of my sword instructor, Instructor Günther, I stopped my swinging sword instantly.

“Lady Christina.”

“Yes?”

“There is nothing more I can teach you.”

“What?”

“I would like to step down as your swordsmanship instructor as of today.”

The unexpected words made my eyes go wide.

“W-Wait, please! I’m still far from enough! I want to become stronger—much stronger! I want to become a full-fledged adventurer as soon as possible and stand on my own! Please! Please continue teaching me!”

I can’t have him letting go with something like this is enough for a noble young lady.

My life and death are on the line.

“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean that with my ability, I can no longer teach you anything further.”

“Huh?”

“Honestly, I never imagined a noble young lady could become this strong. To be frank, you are already stronger than I am.”

That can’t be…

“That can’t be true. I’ve never taken a single point from you.”

“That’s because you’re wearing weights under your clothes, aren’t you? And you’ve also done something to the wooden sword you usually use.”

“Um… well…”

He knows.

“When I mistakenly picked up your wooden sword the other day, thinking it was mine, it was abnormally heavy. And anyone watching your usual movements could tell. If you removed all the weights and fought using a wooden sword of the same weight, I would certainly lose.”

“But my technique still isn’t—”

“That’s not true. After all, I don’t possess the technique to cut falling leaves using only the pressure of a sword’s swing with my eyes closed.”

He saw that…

So that presence I felt during my secret training the other day was Instructor Günther…

“I nearly let out a cry of admiration at how far you’ve come. That is why I ask that our training together end here.”

“B-But there’s still martial arts—”

“You surpassed me in that long ago as well.”

“N-No way…”

“If you remove the weights and fight, you’ll understand immediately. Your punches lately are terrifyingly heavy. If someone as strong as you struck me any harder, I would die.”

He laughed heartily.

No, no, that’s going too far—don’t make me sound inhuman.

“In truth, I wanted to recommend you as an instructor for the Royal Knight Order, but the Duke strongly asked me to never do that.”

“What? Me, an instructor?! That’s impossible.”

“No. You are training and executing things based on your own thinking beyond what I taught you. Otherwise, there’s no way you could have grown this strong in five years. I don’t know what kind of training you’ve done, but honestly, I’d like you to teach me.”

“…Does that mean I can’t receive your instruction anymore? I still need more power. I have to become stronger—much stronger!”

“I expected you would say that, so I’ve brought a new instructor.”

“What?”

I never expected he’d prepared a successor.

“I’ll go fetch him. Please wait a moment.”

Instructor Günther headed toward the mansion and returned shortly with someone else.

The person he brought was an obviously hulking, muscular, handsome middle-aged man.

He had a large scar on his cheek, which only enhanced the impression of a battle-hardened warrior.

“From next time on, he will serve as your new instructor in swordsmanship and martial arts, Lady Christina.”

“Oi, kid… no, young lady, right?”

Given my current boyish appearance, it’s no surprise he couldn’t tell.

“Yes. I am Christina Fitzering Rosenschwert.”

As always, I placed my right hand on my chest and bowed deeply.

“Wow… you really look like a boy no matter how you look at it.”

“That’s rude, Sir Gustav.”

“Oh—sorry, sorry. So I just need to train this young lady, right? …But is that really okay?”

Looking at my slender, childlike appearance, he probably didn’t know how to approach this.

“For now, have a bout.”

At Instructor Günther’s words, I quickly bowed.

“Please take care of me!”

“…Alright. Not really feeling it, but fine.”

He took a wooden sword from Instructor Günther and faced me.

“The rule is to stop just short without hitting the opponent. Begin!”

At Instructor Günther’s sharp signal, I immediately struck at Gustav.

He caught it with his wooden sword and deflected it smoothly.

I didn’t expect that to land.

I immediately changed the angle of my blade, crouched low using our height difference, spun once and swung toward his abdomen using the momentum.

Clang!

My sword was deflected at once.

But that was expected.

Using the rebound, I flipped my body, quickly switched hands and swung the sword back toward him.

“Whoa.”

Gustav dodged, his posture wavering slightly and I seized that opening, switched the sword back to my dominant hand and thrust toward his chest.

“Ugh!”

He barely leaned back to avoid it.

“That’s impressive.”

Laughing, in the next instant Gustav’s wooden sword flew toward my face.

I immediately backstepped to evade and knocked his sword aside with mine.

“Not done yet!”

As he pressed the attack, I watched his footing closely and the moment he stepped forward heavily, I ducked, slipped beneath him and thrust upward from directly below toward his chin.

Even from that position, Gustav moved with surprising flexibility, avoiding the blade and leaping sideways.

“That’s enough!!”

Instructor Günther suddenly called a stop and we both lowered our stances.

“This is amazing!! Günther!”

“Don’t call her this! Even you should show respect to a ducal young lady!!”

“Well, well. I heard she was a duke’s daughter, so I thought it’d be more like play-fighting. Even if Günther trained her, I figured he’d hold back out of deference to the Duke. Honestly, I’m insanely surprised!! Hahahahahaha!! This’ll be worth training!!”

He slapped my back hard with his huge hand.

Ow, ow.

“S-Sir Gustav! That’s far too rude!!”

“Oops, sorry, sorry. You look like this and you’re so strong I just forgot myself. Alright! Got it! Leave it to me!! I’ll raise you into the world’s greatest swordmaster!!”

“That’s not really necessary—”

“Please, I’m counting on you!!”

Instructor Günther and I spoke at the same time.

“Hahahahaha!! Looks like the young lady wins that one!”

Gustav laughed loudly while Instructor Günther pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation.

“Sir Gustav… honestly…”

And so, with the change of instructors, I was relieved that I could continue training.

* * *

Since then, the one-on-one tea party with Prince Alex has been held without fail once a month.

Today as well, I sit across from him in my male attire, sipping fragrant tea brewed from what must be high-grade leaves.

“So? What have you been learning lately?”

Since the room is always cleared during our tea parties, His Highness speaks casually as well.

“Well, nothing unusual. Oh, but my instructor changed—from Instructor Günther to someone named Gustav.”

At my words, Prince Alex’ eyes widened in shock.

“Gustav?! That Gustav?!”

“Yes. That’s how Instructor Günther introduced him when we met.”

“Do you mean Gustav of the Roaring Thunder Holy Sword?”

“Roaring Thunder Holy Sword? What is that, some kind of cringey nickname?”

“C-Cringey?!”

“Sorry, forget I said that. I don’t know about roaring thunder, but my new instructor’s name is definitely Gustav.”

“…He’s one of the top swordmasters in this country.”

“Oh, really? That explains why he said he’d raise me into the world’s greatest swordmaster.”

“What?!”

Prince Alex slammed the table and stood up abruptly.

“Huh?”

“That’s not the point!! Why would Gustav say he’d raise you into the world’s greatest swordmaster?! That’s insane! You’re a ducal young lady! I assumed you were just learning some basic swordsmanship in case of emergencies!”

“Of course not. I’ve told you before—I intend to make a living as an adventurer. A little basic knowledge wouldn’t help at all.”

Prince Alex went pale, then collapsed back into his chair.

“…I didn’t think you were training that seriously.”

“What are you saying? I’ve been training for five years already. Basic swordsmanship ended in the first year.”

When I laughed, he slumped forward.

“Don’t tell me… you’re stronger than me?”

“That’s impossible! Haven’t you been learning swordsmanship and martial arts all this time too? Instructor Günther was excellent, but not someone you’d personally seek instruction from, right?”

“What are you talking about? Günther is the commander of the First Division of the Royal Knight Order—the pride of the Kingdom of Dianadyl.”

“What?!”

I had no idea.

The Royal Knight Order consists of thirteen divisions.

The First Division is the elite, composed of the strongest knights.

Their main role is as a royal guard, directly protecting the King and royal family.

The Second Division guards the castle.

The Third and Fourth patrol the capital.

The Fifth through Tenth are stationed throughout the kingdom’s territories.

The Eleventh is a covert intelligence unit, similar to public security.

The Twelfth and Thirteenth guard the borders.

I had no idea Instructor Günther was such an elite.

My human connections are basically limited to my family, my instructors, Rob the dog and my potted plants.

Unless someone introduces themselves, I have no way of knowing their background.

“By the way, Gustav is the vice-commander of the Royal Knight Order.”

“Ohh, that explains why he’s so ridiculously strong.”

“…How long are you planning to keep dressing like that?”

“Forever.”

“That’ll be meaningless once you enter the academy.”

“Meaningless?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know about the academy’s barrier and forced magic cancellation.”

“Barrier? Forced magic cancellation?”

“Of course. Disguise magic like yours is automatically dispelled when you pass through the academy gates.”

…Seriously?

That means this disguise is useless.

But if I leave at fourteen before enrolling, it won’t matter.

I quickly composed myself and smiled.

“I see… but that won’t be a problem.”

“Won’t be?”

“Yes.”

Before he could ask what I meant, a royal guard hurried over and bowed.

“Forgive the interruption. His Majesty requests your immediate presence.”

“I understand.”

“I apologize, Lady Christina. Let’s speak again.”

I bowed silently and watched him leave.

* * *

Feeling that the game’s forced mechanics were far stronger than expected, Chris revises her plans to leave the country as soon as possible.

If things continue like this, she risks being swept along the game’s scenario step by step.