Part 265: Long, Endless Training

After that, the training—astonishingly, from my own perception—lasted for an entire month without so much as a single moment of rest, stretching on endlessly.

In this world, it seems I can fight forever without ever tiring or experiencing a "magic depletion."

Yet during that time, I never once managed to draw my blade, let alone land a single strike on my former self—something that was utterly out of the question.

But not everything was in vain.

I’ve now fully mastered the demonic transformation, and it seems I’ve managed to eliminate most of the unnecessary habits that once plagued me.

Still, there’s room for improvement.

If I were to compare it to a video game, I’d say I’ve just reached the point where I can move my character exactly where I want it to go.

To reach the level of mastery from here, I must continue with extraordinary dedication and practice.

Looking back on my life, I’ve never been so deeply devoted to a single thing.

As someone who’s always embraced the motto of “broad but shallow” hobbies, I’ve never committed myself to a single genre to the point of achieving profound expertise. In part, this was because I secretly feared getting too deeply involved in any one thing.

"Hah, hah, hah, hah…………"

Yet it was also true that I felt unsatisfied with myself like this.

If I could have been someone who could say, "Leave it to me, ○○!" with confidence, would I have felt more self-assured? Would I have been more proactive in approaching others?

"Stop pretending to be tired. In this world, stamina is endless."

"Even so… this kind of mental exhaustion…"

Think about the moment you faced the villain who raped and killed a companion you felt as close as a sister—after going without a bath for days and barely sleeping at all.

I hate it when you pull out extreme examples to push someone who's already weak and tell them to "keep going"!

The "I" who was called "sensei" unleashed every technique I had at my disposal.

Most of them were skills I'd never seen or heard of before.

It seemed this person had killed numerous "players" and stolen their skills, resulting in an incredibly diverse array of techniques.

They could use not only basic skills like those of a "warrior" or "magician," but also fundamental abilities from classes such as "fighter," "slave master," "guardian knight," "archer," and "beast tamer."

Moreover, as expected from a world of imagination, anything goes. My other self brought out all sorts of outlandish "monsters," like giant pigs, praying mantises, and tigers, turning the battle into a chaotic melee.

Even as a "ranger," my other self proved highly skilled, being relentlessly fired upon with firearms I'd never seen outside the game world.

"Wait, isn't this world a bit too advantageous on your side?"

"If you need to, you can use a rocket launcher too."

"I don't know how to use it."

"Just read the instructions, then."

Ugh.

You don't give me time to spare, yet expect me to learn this?

Still, I knew full well that this was an incredibly valuable experience for someone who fought in battle.

If players ended up killing one another, they wouldn’t be showing off their techniques one by one like this.

Through relentless training, I internalized countermeasures against every skill and evasion techniques for every attack—yet all the while, I was drawing closer to a single truth.

The intense shadow of melancholy that clung to my past-life self.

As a "teacher," my "self" is... sadly, nearly devoid of the will to live.

I understand, just a little, the reason behind this.

Like a character in a shonen manga, understanding each other through battle.

She truly is strong—stronger than anyone else, even surpassing the "players" of my past life. She realized early on that those with weak power can't protect anyone.

That's why I relentlessly pursued strength—no, I became obsessed with it.

Now I understand.

That was her greatest mistake.

"Can't you even draw your blade from its sheath?"

"To be honest, I've felt capable of doing it for quite some time."

"Then why...?"

"Stubborn pride. Just like you, I'm stubborn too."

"………………"

Though she was called "Teacher," she trusted her companions hardly at all.

Believing herself the strongest, she had decided to handle everything alone.

She pursued the ideal of being "omnipotent."

But that was ultimately an unrealistic dream.

No matter how much power one sought, a single person could only do so much.

She failed to realize that basic truth...

She had come to believe she was the chosen one, a Mary Sue, by divine will.

"——Lately, I haven't been meeting any resistance from you. Are you even serious about this?"

"If you truly think that, then just kill me already."

"…………"

And then, one day, she must have realized it.

That her path had been a mistake.

That she had dragged others into that error, resulting in countless lives lost beyond recall.

More lives than even the clumsy "hostile lifeform" had stolen.

▼

Before I knew it, the fleeting world filled with precious memories had turned into a desolate plain.

My dreamed-of kingdom, once cherished in my heart, had been trampled underfoot, and now there was nothing but two shadowy figures dancing in crossing paths.

And after what felt like an eternity—so long that even my sense of time had vanished—

a soft, muffled sound.

I seized the less-than-plump breast of my former self, taking advantage of the opening.

"...hehehe."

"What's this? Are you harassing me?"

I smirked sarcastically,

"Just exploiting a weakness. People aren't nearly as careful about everything as they think they are. I waited for the moment your attention wavered, then pinched your breast."

"Who the hell do you think you are, touching me like that?"

"Haha, but I've finally got the hang of it—'The Empty Flash.' I felt like a lightbulb went off in my head, *ping!*"

"……Hmph."

She wouldn't disagree with that, either.

If she could gently touch the *boin* (archaic term), then she could also strike with full force.

"You…"

At the same time, the face of her past self grew stern.

"So, you're really going to fight me seriously without drawing your sword even once?"

"Yes, well..."

"Are you seriously underestimating me? Or are you trying to provoke me?"

"No."

It was simply a declaration of intent.

I—would never become the same kind of person as you.

That's when I realized that this must also be her wish.

The other "me" who had been called "teacher" let out a faint, weary smile... and for the first time, she subtly distanced herself from me.

"Fine....I was getting tired of it anyway."

"I agree."

"Keeping our promise. — From now on, let's be serious."

"Yes."

The two with identical faces prepare their weapons.

After an endless period of training, the duel was finally about to begin.