Yulina!


    There''s only one person in the world who calls me by my "chan".


    Elena-san.


    I turn around and call out the person''s name.


    ''You want me to train with you!''


    Yes, please.


    Ms. Elena Millwood.


    She was the only senior member of the Order that I admired and respected.


    The first time I met her was during my first year as an apprentice in the Order.


    The fastest way to get into the Order was two years, but most people take longer than that.


    There are really only a few who make it into the Order in two years.


    But I was determined to get in in two years, I was absolutely determined to get in.


    I couldn''t do magic, but I was confident in my sword skills.


    When I was an apprentice, I lost in a mock fight with the Commander and Vice Commander, but I never lost to my peers, seniors, etc.


    It had isolated me.


    Perhaps my personality was another reason for my isolation.


    I know that I can''t be described as sociable, even though I''m flattered by it.


    I was eating alone in a large cafeteria.


    It was Elena-san who spoke to me there.


    ''Do you have a seat next to me?''


    ''What?　Oh, yeah, it''s free, but...


    Thank goodness it''s getting late, I didn''t think I''d be able to sit down.


    Elena sat next to me as if we had been friends before.


    ''You''re Yulina, right?　Oh, I''m Elena Millwood, nice to meet you.


    Hi, nice to meet you...


    ''I''ve heard rumors about you, Yulina. I''ve heard you''re strong, even though you came in this year. That''s great, did you train before you joined?


    Elena-san talked to me with a smile on her face, and I responded to her with a tazzy smile.


    ''''Yes, you''re right. I hired a teacher to teach me the sword and train me.''


    ''Oh, really? How old were you when you started?


    Five years old.


    I thought he was probably older than me, but I didn''t use respectful terms.


    This was because I had decided then that I would only speak respectfully to those I could respect.


    But Elena didn''t look uncomfortable and seemed to enjoy talking to me.


    ''Oh, I guess the lunch break is over now. Why don''t you come and train with me later, Elena-san?


    Okay.


    I fought Elena for the first time that afternoon in training, one-on-one, when I fought her for the first time.


    She was one of the strongest people I had ever fought, but I was stronger than her.


    ''''It was...''''


    I offer my hand to Elena, who is falling on her buttocks.


    Elena says, "Thank you," as she takes my hand and stands up.


    I knew I felt as light as I looked.


    ''''No, Yulina-san, you''re strong.''''


    ''Elena was stronger than I thought she''d be too. I think it''s honestly amazing how she fights with a dagger in both hands.


    Yeah?　Thank you.


    After that day, Elena often got involved with me.


    We did most of our training and other things together.


    There were times when I thought Elena-san was a little depressing, but inwardly I was more pleased.


    ''''Elena-san, why did you get involved with me?''''


    I had asked Elena that question a few days after we had known each other.


    That''s when I started to speak to her in a respectful manner, thinking that she was a respectful senior citizen when I came in contact with her.


    ''I''m a boring person and not very amiable, so...''


    Doesn''t everyone like me?


    ...Yes, I didn''t want to be too clear about it, but...


    Ha-ha, sorry, sorry.


    After laughing a little, Elena answered.


    ''Hmm, because I wanted to talk to you in a normal way, I guess?　I talked to this girl who''s amazingly strong and has a lot of buzz, and I wanted to fight her.


    Then why don''t we just fight it out?


    Yeah?　I didn''t think that was the end of it, because it''s interesting and fun to talk to Yulina.


    Well....


    Unlike me, Elena-san is a popular person.


    She has a good charm and is quite strong, so it''s said that she can get in after three years of graduating as a Knight''s Apprentice.


    I didn''t understand why such a person would talk to me every day, as I was boring and without charm.


    When I wasn''t convinced, Elena-san continued with a smile.


    ''It doesn''t matter who is around you when you''re having fun talking with Yulina.


    Huh!


    ''I''m getting involved because I want to get involved with Yulina. Yulina-chan also has people around her saying, ''Don''t get involved with this Elena guy! But will you come and get involved?


    Yes, of course.


    Phew, thank you!


    Elena said that to me with a very gentle smile.


    I remember I was a little on the verge of tears.


    ''Speaking of which, I''ve been wondering for a while now, why does Elena-san use the first person, ''I''?''


    What, because I''m a guy?


    "...What?


    What?


    I''m a little embarrassed to remember now that I thought I was a woman all the time, even though I''ve been in contact with her for a few days.


    Oh no..........


    She''s so kind and has a constant smile on her face........


    Such a beautiful personality, Elena-san.........


    --A slave..........