When I heard Nina say that she was friends with Elena, I couldn''t bear to go outside.


    I didn''t want to let the emotions that were inside this body get out in that house.


    I came out with my sword to vent it outside, but Tina, who had followed me, suggested I do so.


    ''Let''s fight, Yulina,''


    ...What?


    He sounded too abruptly out of tune to speak, but Tina didn''t care and said with a smile.


    ''I''m in the mood for some physical activity too, now.


    And we began to fight.


    "d*mn...!


    I was blown away by the impact from the front and I was blown away.


    I was blown up enough to float in the air, but I managed to regain my position and land.


    ''I''m still going!''


    Tina said, and then set up her magic again.


    This is the first time I fought Tina, and she''s stronger than I expected.


    Normally, a one-on-one between a swordsman and a wizard would be an overwhelming victory for the swordsman.


    They would end up being cut down before they could activate their magic.


    But first of all, Tina has a very short time to activate her magic.


    I think I''m one of the fastest at closing the distance myself, but the magic is released at a faster rate than that.


    It''s also moderately powerful.


    And I''m good at avoiding it.


    Even if I get close enough to swing my sword, he can avoid a single sword, and even a second sword.


    Once I was able to avoid that much, Tina also released her next magic and I was sent flying.


    Even if it''s not as usual since I''m wielding it in my scabbard, it''s not something I can avoid that easily.


    I wonder if he was trained because he was from the same village as Eric.


    ''''Huh...!


    I managed to avoid the magic that sent several fist-sized rocks flying at me by flicking them with my sword.


    ''''Ha, ha........''''


    I''m definitely being pushed.


    If this continues, I will lose.


    Was there this much of a difference in ability between me and Tina?


    No ... it would be a little different.


    If I was calm, I would have been able to hit Tina with two swords.


    I''m in the middle of such a last-minute fight, but I''m thinking about something completely different.


    Elena-san.........!


    How could someone so kind be enslaved!


    Before I was born, the Kingdom of Begonia had a system called slavery.


    However, the slavery was abolished because they made people work in such a bad way and treated them in such a bad way that it was unthinkable that they could do it to others.


    When I was at home, I had a tutor tell me about that treatment and others.


    I was skeptical that such a thing had really been done.


    When I heard about it, I was so scared that I couldn''t sleep at night.


    Slavery in the Kingdom of Harzion may not be as bad as in the old Kingdom of Begonia.


    But to be enslaved even by a kidnapper........


    ''''d*mn........!


    I run towards Tina.


    There are dozens of ice debris flying at me, but I pop them appropriately.


    ''''I........!


    I groaned in pain when I hit several of them, but I didn''t care about that as I approached.


    I didn''t notice.


    I didn''t realize that Elena-san was a slave.


    It never occurred to me.


    I still can''t believe that someone with such a beautiful, gentle smile is a slave.


    The emotion swirling in my chest is anger.


    The kidnappers who kidnapped Elena, and those who still treat her as a slave.


    And - against myself.


    Why hadn''t I noticed it?


    That such a cruel past was hidden beneath that beautiful and gentle smile.


    ''''Shameful...!


    Elena-san has always been a great help to me.


    If it weren''t for her, I would have spent my time as a trainee, alone and isolated.


    She would come to me for advice when I was in trouble.


    You took me out into the city when all I knew was training.


    I loved to see your smile.


    ''Huh!''


    I approach and swing my sword.


    Tina is halfway down and just barely avoids it.


    She quickly moves to the second sword and swings her sword to the side.


    But it''s also used magic, and I can jump backwards to avoid it without a call motion.


    He kicks the ground and gets close again.


    If he gets out of range, he''s back at a disadvantage.


    He slashes into a kesa-kake, aiming for the moment of landing.


    Tina just barely avoids it again, but she avoids it in an unreasonable position, so she falls on her butt.


    Elena-san.........!


    I''ve been helping you all the time and I haven''t been able to give anything back.


    You have suffered so much in the past and I never realized it.


    No, I didn''t even try to know.


    Are you suffering now?


    Are you back in your country and being treated as a slave?


    Why didn''t you tell me?


    If you are suffering right now....


    I''ll be the next one to help you.


    Even if you think I''m depressing, I will.


    Because that''s how I felt about you, too, at first.


    ''''Oh!''''


    With anger, sadness, and determination....


    I swung my sword at Tina, who fell down.