Ariel once again climbed the ridge behind the academy. Today, however, he wasn’t with Iria.

The clashing of two swords echoed through the area. These were not ordinary fighters; each strike tore through the air and cut the earth below. The duel was intense. Their sheer power altered the landscape, with trees falling and starlight spilling across the ground.

Ariel took a labored breath after a particularly fierce exchange. He had anticipated this, but there was no holding back.

His opponent, Preah, moved with a new intensity. Was this her full power? Even Ariel, who had sparred with the Sword Saint countless times, had never seen this side of her.

Though Ariel had surpassed a certain threshold, he still found himself slightly overwhelmed by Preah’s strength. However, for her to engage him so earnestly meant that Ariel had finally earned her recognition.

Wrapping his sword with starlight, Ariel executed a technique he had learned from Preah. It was a strike too powerful for most opponents, but he trusted she would be able to withstand it.

He swung with all his might, and Preah twisted her blade to parry, but the sheer volume of starlight overwhelmed her. A faint scratch appeared on her pale cheek, leaving her momentarily stunned.

She reached up and touched the wound, her fingers coming away red.

“We’ll stop here for today,” she said, sheathing her sword. Ariel immediately collapsed where he stood, having expended his last reserves of strength on that final strike.

Usually, Preah would have left as soon as their sparring session was over, but today she lingered. She perched herself on a fallen tree stump, seemingly content to rest.

“Your thoughts seemed to wander. Is something on your mind?” she asked, brushing sweat-soaked hair from her face and casting her gaze toward Ariel.

He looked contemplative for a moment. He recalled the recent incident with Iria, where he had inadvertently hurt her feelings.

Just because her eyes were red didn’t mean she wasn’t human. There were countless other explanations. He had let the star’s whisper get to him, and it had been a mistake he now regretted.

But he decided against bringing it up now. Changing his expression, he shook his head.

“No, I’m fine.”

“I see. That’s good.”

Preah’s usual formal tone held a hint of surprise. The boy who had once struggled to keep up was now meeting her in battle. His growth had been nothing short of remarkable.

“You’ve grown stronger, more than I expected.”

“Still, I’m far from your level.”

“No, I was surprised. I didn’t expect you to show such progress.”

She now understood what Sertia had meant when he spoke of hope for this generation.

“I suppose the previous incident served as a catalyst. I regret that I couldn’t intervene in time.”

“It was unavoidable.”

When the academy had been attacked by monsters, Preah had rushed to assist. But the thick barrier surrounding the academy had delayed her. By the time she managed to break through, much of the damage had already been done, and she and her knights were left to clean up the aftermath.

Even though she had done her best, she seemed to feel a lingering sense of responsibility, likely due to her strong sense of duty.

“None of us could have prevented that disaster. It wasn’t your fault, Preah.”

“…”

Though typically reserved, Preah’s silence now seemed especially heavy. Ariel sensed she was still grappling with guilt over her inability to act in time.

Hoping to lighten the mood, Ariel shifted the topic.

“By the way, Preah, can I ask about that scar on your face? I don’t remember seeing it before.”

Ariel had known Preah for a long time, having reconnected with her in his second year at the academy. When they met again, she bore new scars.

What kind of creature could leave such marks on the empire’s greatest swordsman?

“Who gave you that scar?”

For a moment, Preah seemed lost in thought, gazing up at the sky.

“Have you ever heard of the Back-Alley Monster?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not just a rumor. The monster exists somewhere in the empire, even now.”

Whenever she felt the sting of that scar, she was reminded of that unforgettable battle. Yet, oddly enough, she couldn’t recall the monster’s exact appearance. She remembered the fight vividly, but not the creature’s features. Her memory had likely been taken from her.

“It was the strangest entity I’ve ever faced. Despite its immense power, it moved clumsily, as if it were new to combat.”

“…”

“As you know, great power doesn’t always equate to great skill. Initially, it was easy to injure the monster.”

It possessed incredible regenerative abilities but seemed to lack the skills to match its strength. She had thought she could slay it, but then...

“I couldn’t defeat it.”

“Why not?”

“The more we fought, the more it improved. It was like battling someone who was learning as they went, constantly adapting and growing.”

Its movements became sharper as it learned which tactics worked best in battle. What she had initially dismissed as unrefined instincts soon turned into sophisticated strategies.

The duel, which began with Preah clearly dominating, eventually became an even match. And in the end, the monster began to mimic her moves.

It was like fighting a living, breathing weapon of war.

“Beware of the Back-Alley Monster.”

“If you truly intend to hunt down all seeds of the Demon King, you’ll encounter it sooner or later.”

Preah had let the monster go over a year ago, and she could only imagine how much stronger it had become since then.

“Remember, the real adversary you must face is not me.”

Today, Ariel had earned Preah’s acknowledgment. As the empire’s last hope, his true challenge lay beyond her.

The Sword Saint had left him with one final piece of advice, perhaps the last she’d ever give him. Once he surpassed her, she could no longer offer him guidance.

Despite the reconstruction efforts, the academy was in disarray.

Some classes resumed as normal, but with many professors missing, students of all grades ended up attending the few lectures available.

This meant the lecture halls were unusually crowded.

And then…

“Did you hear? Apparently, during the monster attack, there was a student who walked off on their own.”

“They say the person had striking red hair. Anyone know who that could be?”

“Someone said that person even killed one of the giant monsters. Sounds like Iria from first year.”

“Must’ve been her. Who else is strong enough, other than Ariel? And it was definitely a girl.”

Sitting in the middle of the lecture hall, Iria felt the weight of all the stares directed her way.

“…”

She suddenly felt an urge to go home early today.