This mansion made from wood belongs to the House of Gremory.
Usually it is hidden from humans by blending in with the scenery by using demonic powers, but it has appeared since we will be using it. I can smell the scent of wood after getting inside.
I went to the living room to put the bags away and slept on the floor after drinking a glass of water. The girls went upstairs to change into clothes in which they could move more easily.
"I will also go and get changed."
Kiba went to a room located on the first floor carrying a blue jersey.
"Don't peek."
Kiba says something messed up jokingly.
"I will seriously punch you, bastard!"
I didn't have the strength to stand, so I glared at him with eyes filled with killing intent.
Geez, if girls from our school saw us, then they will cause an uproar again. It's already bad since the BL pairings of "Me x Kiba" and "Kiba x Me" are getting popular lately.
It got popular because it was the "Beauty and the Beast" pairing. I don't understand what's going on in their heads. Wait, that means that I'm the beast. I won't forgive them!
I got changed in the empty room after I rested for a bit, and my stamina restored a bit as well. Even the empty room comes with a bed and equipment necessary for everyday use. But it doesn't come with a television.
By the time I finished getting changed, everyone had already gathered in the living room. Buchou, who is wearing a red jersey, smiles and says it after she sees me.
"Now then, let's start our training outside right away."
•••
Outside, the Gremory mansion revealed its training courtyard. A wide patch of cleared earth lay just beyond the back door, with several wooden targets and a single log propped upright like a sparring dummy. The sky was still bright, the air clean. Birds sang, but the aura here was different—focused, sharp.
Rias approached Kiba and me. "First: sword training." She tapped each of our shoulders. "Kiba, show him."
Kiba drew his sword—a sleek, long blade that gleamed even in daylight. He pulled into a ready stance, smooth and practiced. I drew my own—an elegant katana he'd given me for practice when I first joined the peerage.
Kiba attacked—
Slash, dart, block. I matched him with every move, feeling my muscles wake as steel rang against steel. Block, parry, thrust. He pivoted, slicing down. I sidestepped and thrust forward. We traded move for move. Each strike built tension, speed, and coordination.
A sharp crack rang out as metal knives whizzed through the air, close enough that heat brushed across my face with each swing. Akeno stood to the side, arms crossed, watching. Rias was analyzing every posture, every breath. Asia and the others stood quietly off to the side, the two of us in the center of the courtyard.
Even the ground under my feet felt alive, feeding energy up through me.
Kiba accelerated—short, powerful strikes aimed for my sword arm. I raised my weapon and absorbed blow after blow. He was pushing me; I felt it. My arm started to shake, but I held my ground.
Then I changed it up. I feinted left, then lunged to his flank. He stepped back—but not far enough. My blade grazed him across the shoulder. He grunted and jumped back.
"Nicely done," Kiba acknowledged, voice low. "That was good."
I didn't smile. Instead I focused on my breathing—steady, even.
"You've improved a lot," he said. "Your speed and accuracy—they're right there with me."
"Thanks," I replied. "But I'm not going to stop until I beat you."
Kiba laughed. "Bring it."
He charged again with renewed vigor. Now it was more intense. I raised my foot and feinted a kick—catching him off guard. We exchanged quick strikes in close quarters, blades clicking like lightning. Every strike we traded resonated through our arms, reverberating into our shoulders and core. Sweat trickled down my neck, and adrenaline flared.
It all built like a pulse.
Then Kiba launched a spinning slash that came too fast even for me to block completely—a hint of steel flashed across my forearm. I winced, but I blocked as much as I could. A stitch of pain mingled with pride. I could take it. It was not a serious cut.
Kiba stepped back, nodding. "Man, you almost took my arm off."
I flexed my sword arm, unsmiling. "Wouldn't stop me next time."
Rias approached and tapped a finger to my arm. "That was effective. But next, we add magic."
"More?" I asked, breath heavy.
~~~
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