第３７１堀：学長と竜騎士とその他の大本命 (Part1)
### Chapter 371: The Principal, the Dragon Knight, and Other Main Candidates
**Side: Amanda, Lancer Magic Academy, Dragon Knight**
Ah, the sky is so blue.
It’s hard to believe that until just recently, I was on the battlefield.
The sunlight feels wonderful.
...I think I’ll just sleep right here, okay?
"Hey now, what are you doing sleeping? Do you want to be crushed?"
Hearing that voice, I didn't even bother to check who it was; I simply rolled to the side, shifting my body away from where I had been lying.
The very next moment, a *thud* echoed, and the ground where I had been sleeping caved in.
"Geez, you *are* trying to crush me! If I had kept sleeping there, I would’ve died!"
"Nonsense. People don't die that easily. You’re built sturdier than you look."
"That only applies to you, Master Deryu!!"
I shouted that as I pushed myself up. Standing there was one of the people training me—a stunningly beautiful woman with an incredible figure. Her name is Deryu, and she’s one of Yuki-san’s wives and a mother.
The world is so unfair. How in the world does someone manage to shatter a giant boulder with a single punch?
"In the first place, it’s your fault for sleeping during our sparring practice."
"Wait, why is it even sparring? I’m a Dragon Knight, so shouldn’t we be training with swords or lances? And besides, I’m a mage, for heaven’s sake!"
"What are you talking about? As Principal Popuri says, everything starts with moving your body."
"Well, I know that, but..."
*It’s just that the way you move your body, Master Deryu, is on a completely different level!* I wish I could say that out loud. But if I actually did, I’d be in for a hellish special training session, and since I’m still a newlywed, I don’t want to die just yet.
Speaking of my newlywed partner, Eoid is...
"Look, if you’re going to hold a shield, do it firmly and be conscious of its durability. If you do it like that, you’ll get cut through."
"No, Taiki-san’s attack was a *Great Slash*, right!? That’s impossible!"
"It’s not impossible. I explained it, didn't I? It’s sharpened by magical power, so you have to dull that edge..."
A little ways away from us, he’s training with Taiki-san.
*Sigh*, I’m jealous that he gets to train with Taiki-san.
At least he’s still standing.
"Since your mouth seems to be moving quite well, I suppose I don't need to hold back."
"Wait—!? Eek!!"
Before I could call for a timeout, my body suddenly folded in half and went flying sideways.
My side hurts.
Ah, I see. I took a kick.
Master Deryu was already turning toward me, clearly intending to follow up.
*This is bad. If she hits me again, I’m actually going to die.*
"Darn it all!!"
I used fire magic as a brake to stabilize my posture.
My side was throbbing, but I couldn't afford to stop moving. Master Deryu was right in front of me, fists raised.
If I took that punch head-on, I’d be spending the rest of the day unconscious.
I had to dodge it and survive long enough to earn a word of approval. To do that, I had no choice but to use the maneuver Yuki-san taught me—the one utilizing fire magic!
*Whoosh! Fwoom!*
"Guh!?"
*What is this!? This unnatural weight pressing down on my body!?*
I had heard that you could move by casting fire magic in the opposite direction of your travel to ride the blast, but I never imagined it would put this much strain on me.
"Haa... haa... th-that was... bad..."
My stamina, which was already low, was drained in an instant.
Come to think of it, did he mention something about G-force?
I didn't have a clue what he was talking about back then, but I guess this is what "G" feels like.
While I was catching my breath, Master Deryu didn't pursue me; she just watched me with an amused expression.
"That was quite the brute-force maneuver. Though, I suppose we’re all using brute force in our own way. Still, it seems your body couldn't quite keep up, Amanda."
"Haa... haa..."
I couldn't get my breathing under control at all. It was brutal.
"Let's take a break. There’s no point in training in that state. While there’s no harm in training under extreme conditions, that’s a story for much later. Here, sit."
She tapped my forehead with her finger, and I slumped down onto the ground. I still didn't have the energy to speak.
"Hmm, I see. You used up a ton of magical power, too. Well, for that kind of emergency stop, having the talent to pull it off unconsciously is impressive, but your foundation is still lacking. Usually, you wouldn't be able to balance during such rapid acceleration, and since you wouldn't have enough magic left for the braking, you’d just end up crashing somewhere in mid-air."
*Wait, what?*
*That was such a dangerous thing to do!?*
"Judging by your heavy breathing, you can only manage that once or twice from a full state. Any more than that and you’ll end up immobile like you are now, so stop doing it until your foundation improves."
"Y-yes."
As I was resting, Vice Principal Lara walked over.
"Deryu-san, could you please come to the Principal's office?"
"Understood. Amanda, that’s it for today. Rest well. Tomorrow, we’re going to drill the basics until you drop."
"......Yes."
The basics are incredibly grueling, too...
Master Deryu headed toward the Principal's office, and Vice Principal Lara called out to Taiki-san as well. It seemed Eoid had been told to take a break, too, as he collapsed right where he stood.
Watching them leave, I waited until my breathing settled down a bit before heading over to Eoid.
"Phew... *inhale*..."
Eoid was so exhausted he didn't even notice me approaching, just focused on deep, rhythmic breathing.
"Watching from the side, it didn't look like you were moving *that* much..."
"Ah, Amanda. I didn't move much, but maintaining my equipment with magical power drained all my stamina and mana."
"I see."
So he was in the same boat as me. That’s rough.
Thinking that, I sat down next to him. After a while, Eoid’s breathing finally calmed down, and he spoke to me.
"Phew. It’s tough, but I can feel myself getting stronger, so I’ll keep at it. To protect you, Amanda."
"Yeah. I’ll do my best, too."
We were undergoing this grueling training to protect ourselves.
The various nations were still restless, and Yuki-san and the others were constantly flying around dealing with them. We asked them to train us because we never knew when the sparks of war might fall on us.
"If it weren't for what happened in Roday and August, I don't think I would have taken this so seriously."
"Yeah."
I had heard about the conflicts between nations, but until I saw it with my own eyes, it felt like someone else's problem. I hadn't thought much about it when I became a Dragon Knight, either.
But when I was sent to another country under the Principal's orders, that feeling vanished.
That’s why I’m apprenticing under these strong people, trying to become even a little bit stronger.
For the sake of the children who will be born in the future.
I think that’s the meaning behind me becoming a Dragon Knight.
"Well, my breathing is back to normal. Shall we head home?"
"Yeah. I’m all sticky with sweat."
I smelled like sweat. I wanted to get home and wipe myself down as soon as possible.
I had considered going on a date with Eoid like this, but I really couldn't stand the smell.
So, we went home and wiped ourselves down.
"Ugh, I have to wash these clothes right away. They smell like sweat."
The clothes I had taken off were damp, still slightly warm, and pungent.
The worst. *I hope Eoid doesn't hate me for this.*
Fortunately, I had been given "training clothes," so I was glad I could avoid getting my school uniform or my favorite outfits soaked in sweat.
"Was it called gym wear? I don't know why the bottoms come in two types—bloomers and spats—but they’re easy to move in, so I guess I should just think of them as training gear."
I’ll wash them right away.
Oh, by the way, I wear the spats. The bloomers look like they might show my undergarments.
I certainly don't intend to show those to anyone but Eoid.