Re:Zero: No Job, No Magic, Just a Stupid Romance System

Allen's pupils shrank. The blade in his hand, which hadn't been turned in time, was too late to block Paul's sword. He stretched out his palm, exposing a section of the handle, and used the Water God Flow—Flow Secret—to neutralize Paul's attack.

"No! There will be no improvement this way!"

Allen pulled back the Flow Secret that was already at hand—and was immediately struck by Paul at the end of the handle.

The blow, mixed with fighting spirit, sent him flying. He tried his best to adjust his posture and step on the ground, but even so—without the neutralization of the Water God Flow and with inertia—his body still plowed a half-meter rut into the ground.

But the moment he stabilized, he suddenly used his fighting spirit and the rebound force to strike fiercely at Paul!

Clang!

The blades screamed, locked at a junction just centimeters apart.

Paul raised his sword to guard his neck, glaring at Allen—who subconsciously looked downward—and shouted:

"Just focus on my neck! That slash looked good—but where are you looking now?!"

Gritting his teeth, Allen retracted his blade. It flashed through the air, cutting toward the other side of Paul's neck.

But at that moment, Paul's sword was already just a few centimeters from Allen's throat.

"No! His Sword God Style is faster!"

Allen stepped forward, twisting around Paul's side. While dodging the blade, he countered with a slash aimed at Paul's ribs—but Paul's sword struck his blade first, shaking Allen away.

Allen backed off, ready to charge again—but Paul raised a hand to stop him.

His usual playful look faded, replaced with calm focus.

"Allen, adjust your breathing. Calm down."

He pointed a finger at a point just in front of his neck.

"Just focus here. Forget the idea of follow-ups. Maintain the sensation of swinging and slashing."

"Then—just slash. That's all."

Paul narrowed his eyes.

"I'll count to three. Then cut me down. Got it?"

Allen took a deep breath and steadied himself.

He looked at Paul solemnly, nodded, and closed his eyes.

He whispered in his heart:

'Faster than thought.'

Allen opened his eyes and locked his gaze on Paul's neck.

'Okay.'

Paul watched his stance with interest, licking his lips.

"One!"

Allen lowered his waist and squatted, gripping the blade with both hands.

"Two."

He angled the sword diagonally behind him, body turned slightly, his focus pinned on the spot in front of Paul's neck—mind and breath as one.

"S—"

Amid the sound of Paul's tongue brushing his upper palate, Allen's pupils shrank to needles!

At that moment, light and shadow around the courtyard dissolved into a wisp of mist. The fluttering leaves vanished. The sound of wind faded into nothingness. Paul's burning gaze disappeared into the dust.

Then—

Only Paul's neck remained lit in the surrounding darkness.

The silence rippled. A voice shook through the stillness.

Paul's voice.

And from a great distance, Allen heard his own.

Clear.

Certain.

'I see.'

'I cut it!!'

The next moment, the world exploded back into color.

Screams from Senis and Lilia burst out from the second floor.

Allen blinked.

That light from earlier—it felt like a dream, a hallucination, an illusion formed in the blink of an eye. A sudden, inexplicable trance.

He instinctively looked at Paul's neck again.

A trembling blade was there.

So vivid, it seemed an illusion.

No—not an illusion.

The knife was truly there.

Allen's eyes followed the blade down—to his own hand, gripping the hilt tightly.

It was real.

He looked at Paul in astonishment. Paul grinned, flicked the thin tip of the blade with his finger, hugged Allen tightly, and thumped him on the chest.

"Very good! Very good! This is the Sword God Style! Remember this feeling—it's the sensation of slashing! This is the Silent Sword!!"

Just then, Sylphy's hesitant voice came from the courtyard gate.

"Um… Rudy's ready. Allen, shall we go?"

Allen turned toward the voice. Sylphy blinked at him intently.

The wind fluttered through her green hair, which had grown down to her chin over the past two months.

Her expression wasn't shy or timid anymore. She simply looked at Allen quietly, her reddish-brown eyes filled with curiosity.

Allen blinked.

Then—Paul gave him a nudge from behind.

He staggered forward, caught his balance, and looked back.

Paul smiled, stretched a hand over his neck, and turned Allen's head.

"Go. Be careful, alright? Don't slash so close next time when deciding a match. Rudy's body isn't protected by fighting spirit."

Allen turned back and nodded.

"Got it! I remember—we agreed I'll win if I get within one meter."

A relieved sigh came from upstairs—clearly from Senis.

Allen looked up and waved his sword toward her.

"Don't worry, ma'am! I'll sheathe the blade if I get within one meter! I won't hurt him! But… you should worry I'll be blown away by his fireball!"

Senis smiled and waved goodbye.

Allen returned the wave, nodded to Paul, and left the courtyard alongside Sylphy.

Once Allen had walked away, Paul's face turned serious. He lowered his hand and looked at his neck.

A red mark was there—faint blood speckles visible.

'Such strong fighting spirit… it nearly broke through my own. Can this really be the aura of a nine-year-old child? And to grasp the trick of the Silent Sword so quickly…'

He looked toward Allen, who was patting Sylphy's head in the distance.

She stood stiffly at first, but soon a sincere smile bloomed on her face.

'Philip… you really raised an incredible genius. I wonder when you two will recognize each other…?'

When Allen reached the usual hillside, Rudy stood at the base with arms folded, confidence flashing in his eyes—even though the tall grass almost reached his waist.

Allen looked at his stance and chuckled.

"Ready?"

"I'll definitely give you a surprise this time."

Allen turned to Sylphy.

"Wait for us at the top of the hill."

Sylphy blinked, hesitating. Then she looked at Rudy.

"Okay… just be careful, both of you. Don't overdo it."

Allen was a bit surprised. Sylphy's tone implied Rudy held the upper hand.

He couldn't help but grow curious.

Sylphy walked up the hill and leaned quietly against a tree.

By then, Allen and Rudy had already distanced themselves by a full 100 meters.

Seeing they were ready, Sylphy gave a nod.

Her soft voice drifted down on the breeze.

"Begin!"