"Hyaaaa—"
With a wooden sword in hand, Artoria took a charging stance.
And her target was none other than.
The Ian who stood before her.
However, unlike the young woman who was holding a weapon.
The boy, at this moment, was empty-handed.
This seemed to be a duel that was destined to be unequal.
However—
When the two figures crossed, the result was the complete opposite of how it appeared on the surface.
Artoria, the one with the wooden sword, was the one who fell to the ground.
And Ian stood there, holding a victor's pose.
"I lost again..."
Artoria lay on the ground, a frustrated look on her face.
"Honestly, how are you so strong!"
It was just as the young woman was complaining about.
Although Ian was a dragon, and not a knight-in-training like her.
But—
His performance in swordsmanship (or perhaps, combat in general) far exceeded Artoria's imagination.
At first, she was worried that this kind of sword-versus-fist practice would hurt him.
Later, she discovered that this was a completely unnecessary worry.
That's right.
She couldn't hit him at all.
It was like a child being completely unable to harm an adult.
"Do you not like this?"
Looking at Artoria lying on the ground, Ian asked.
"Of course I don't!"
"This is too frustrating!"
"It's like you're saying I'm not like a knight at all!"
Artoria vented her feelings without holding back, but then she saw an unexpected scene.
Ian took her hand.
"What are you doing?"
Artoria was a little confused.
"Making you happy—"
The boy said, and then guided Artoria's hand, along with the wooden sword she held, to tap himself.
"Ah—"
"Artoria is so strong."
"I lost."
Thump.
Ian copied Artoria's earlier action and fell to the ground.
"You..."
"Hahahaha~"
The young woman was amused by this rather simple and unpretentious act.
"Honestly, isn't this just tricking me?"
"But you laughed."
Ian said with a serious expression.
"Artoria, you look very beautiful when you smile."
"Eh..."
Being complimented by Ian like that, Artoria became a little shy.
Her fingers gently twirled her golden hair.
"Do I?"
"Mm."
Ian nodded.
"You smell especially appetizing."
"..."
Artoria shot Ian an exasperated glare.
She appreciated his directness, but at the same time, felt utterly helpless about his tendency to ruin the mood.
Seriously!
He's so handsome, why does he have this kind of personality!
"Again!"
Artoria scrambled to her feet.
"I'll definitely defeat you today!"
"Okay."
Ian was indeed an excellent training partner.
As long as she told him beforehand, he would adopt the most serious attitude.
Of course, that also meant he would become an extremely difficult opponent to defeat.
But...
Artoria knew that this was the kind of opponent she needed.
On the path to becoming king, there was no room for a lax attitude.
And so—
At dusk.
Artoria pouted.
Ian was very responsible.
So much so that...
She had lost so many times her head was a little numb.
It probably wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this 'education by frustration.'
But just then—
Ian bent down in front of Artoria.
"Get on."
"You must be tired today—"
"Eh..."
Before Artoria's mind could figure out how to respond, her body, as if wound up, had already climbed onto the boy's back.
Under the setting sun.
The two of them walked along the dirt path between the village fields.
Ian's back was warm.
That was what Artoria felt at this moment.
And the hands resting on her waist were so reliable and strong.
"Thank you."
Artoria whispered into the boy's ear.
"Not having to walk back myself... it really makes me happy."
"Then from now on, I'll carry you everywhere."
"That's not necessary!"
Artoria quickly rejected Ian's words.
Because she knew that if she really agreed, he would actually do it.
"Just once or twice is fine."
"Okay."
"..."
"..."
The atmosphere became a little silent.
Feeling that this wasn't quite right, Artoria quickly spoke up again:
"By the way, is your mother also a dragon?"
"Yes."
Recalling the image of his mother soaring through the sky, Ian nodded.
"She is very powerful, even more powerful than me."
"But, she is also a very good mother."
"That..."
Artoria thought for a moment. After confirming that she couldn't quite imagine a dragon more powerful than Ian, she continued to ask.
"Well, if that's the case—"
"Won't she be worried about you being out here like this?"
"Of course she'll be worried."
"And..."
The image of his mother, Tiamat, standing at the edge of the Sea of Life, reflected in Ian's eyes.
She looked as if she had lost her most precious thing and had gone completely berserk.
"She... actually didn't want me to leave."
"So, you actually left without her knowing?!"
"You could say that—"
"..."
This was the first time Artoria had heard about this.
She had no doubts.
Because Ian had no reason to lie to her about such a thing.
"Then, Ian, do you like it like this?"
"I like it very much."
The boy answered without hesitation.
"The outside world is even better than I imagined."
"Mm..."
"It would be even better if you were a girl. My mother said that 'girls are the most dangerous beings in this world'."
"She was especially worried about me interacting with girls, afraid I would be deceived."
"..."
Artoria felt a little awkward.
The reason she had said she "wasn't a girl" before was because the old knight who raised her had told her never to reveal her gender, no matter what.
She hadn't expected Ian to actually believe it.
Which meant...
He had been thinking of her as a bro this whole time?
The moment she realized this, Artoria actually felt a tinge of sadness.
But she quickly said:
"Well, what a shame..."
"But, even if I'm not a girl, I can still help explain things for you when the time comes, right?!"
"Really?"
"I think so..." The more Artoria spoke, the less confident she sounded.
"Forget it! Don't worry about that, maybe I'll become a girl by then!"
"Is that possible?"
"Who knows!"
Chatting and joking all the way, Artoria was carried home on Ian's back.
And it became a microcosm of the young woman's life for the days that followed.
Train, and then defeat him!
Everything seemed so simple.
Until...
The prophecy of the new king was interpreted in detail.