The Academy’s Crude Pink-Haired Martial Artist

For the past five years.

I woke up in a bed with a sheer pink canopy, ran to the training grounds to sweat, and then…

After shedding all the sandbags and wiping my body with the wet towel that Sara handed me,

I entered my bedroom.

And immediately threw myself onto the bed—

Thump—

But I couldn’t do it.

“Let go.”

“No.”

My personal maid, Sara, had both hands firmly gripping under my armpits.

Not just gripping. She lifted me up like one would pick up a cat by its armpits.

Sara always does this.

She tolerates everything except for letting me lie on the bed without washing up first.

It’s also about her tying her twin tails tightly with determination.

“Ugh, why? I wiped myself with the wet towel. Let go quickly.”

I flailed my arms and legs while being held in mid-air, but all that shook was my pink twin tails. Sara’s arms didn’t budge.

“Ha… Fine. I won’t lie on the bed, so let go quickly.”

“Are you sure?”

“I really mean it.”

With a hmm, Sara cautiously lowered me down.

At the same time, with my outstanding reflexes, I aimed for the bed!

Gasp!

Thump—

“I knew it would end up like this.”

Failed again.

My light and frail body was caught once more in Sara’s grasp.

How is she this fast?

How is she this strong?

Of course, I’m fairly strong and quick compared to kids my age, especially girls…

But still, is it normal that even though I’m small and light, I can’t shake free when I’m suspended in mid-air?

Every time I shake, it feels like I’m not moving an inch!

No matter how I think about it, she doesn’t seem like an ordinary maid. If I ask her straightforward, she’ll just say she’s an ordinary human.

Is this kind of ability basic knowledge for modern servants?

“Damn, you’re fast.”

“Lady Ellie.”

“What?”

“You shouldn’t use such vulgar words, Eustetia young lady. If you keep it up, I’ll have no choice but to report it to Lady Julie.”

“Report what? Just let me go. I’m serious; I won’t lie down.”

“Yes.”

This time, perhaps convinced that I really wouldn’t lie down, Sara immediately let go of me.

If I run to the bed now, I could probably succeed this time, but I didn’t bother.

I’m not a little kid; once is enough for playing around.

“Ugh.”

So I just laid down on the floor.

Not the bare floor, but the part where the rug was laid under the bed.

Sara’s sharp gaze flinched, but soon returned to her usual expression.

“What would you like for breakfast?”

“Meat.”

“Beef, lamb, pork, chicken, veal—”

“Just anything.”

“Understood. As for bathing service—”

“I always say, it’s unnecessary. Just help me dry my hair, Sara.”

“Understood.”

I quietly watched as Sara nodded and backed out of the room.

“Sara.”

“Yes. Is there anything else you need?”

I hesitated, wondering whether to voice this concern.

If I say it, could Sara come up with a solution?

But you know, sometimes an outsider can propose novel solutions.

Just like that time with the chimpanzee.

“I have a concern.”

Sara’s eyes sparkled with interest.

Then she approached me silently yet again.

“If I may be so bold, please tell me, even if I can’t offer a brilliant solution.”

A particularly proactive response for Sara made me flinch, but I steeled myself and spoke up.

“I think my growth has stopped. No, it has stopped.”

Yeah. Right now, I’m at a standstill in my growth.

In my past life, at about 15 years old in Ronan’s body, I was stronger than even most adults.

But now, I can barely match half of what I was back then.

I understand it’s partly because of the differences in gender and my smaller frame, but that’s not the whole issue.

Skills with swords, spears, axes, hammers, shields, bows, daggers, etc.

My proficiency with various weapons hasn’t progressed. I can’t get used to them. They refuse to stick in my hands.

In my previous life, I was somewhat cringeworthy but was called a Weapon Master.

Ronan had smashed monster skulls with all sorts of weapons.

And now, I’ve turned into this feeble body, and my growth just stopped.

The memories and sensations of that time linger in me.

Even though I’ve retained all the memories and sensations from when I was 34, a renowned slayer of monsters and demons, I’m stagnating! Damn it!

My strength is weak.

And what’s this?

The Divine Blade Unity that Paulo mentioned? I can’t even feel that sensation.

Is this real?

How can I have lapsed in something that was second nature to me before?

Sure, I might look accomplished to others.

I could probably overpower a mediocre knight without much trouble.

Even with that, I can’t settle for just that.

It feels uncomfortable.

Like I’m wearing clothes that don’t fit my body.

At least there’s one silver lining.

My control over mana, my unique mana training method, is steadily improving.

Considering the speed, quality, and affinity, I’m far superior to my past self.

But even that feels oddly unsettling.

It feels like my combat skills are becoming strangely similar to Arisa’s.

That chimpanzee, oddly enough, couldn’t wield weapons. When it picked something up, it’d just break it.

What that chimpanzee was notably good at was the manipulation of mana.

That fine control was something even the strongest among us, Paulo, couldn’t replicate.

And that’s exactly how I feel now.

This, this… this mana movement and control ability feels uncomfortably similar to Arisa’s.

Of course, it can’t be true.

It absolutely cannot be.

With or without the side branch, the Eustetia family has many capable fighters.

With a family clan producing masters of swords, spears, bows, axes, shields, etc., why would I, of all people, show talent in hand-to-hand combat?

No way. That can’t happen.

Let’s put those chilling thoughts aside for now.

Anyway, that’s my current concern.

And it’s a concern that’s been ongoing for quite some time.

So what will Sara say in response?

I gently turned my head to look at Sara.

Sara was scanning me with an extremely rare, tense expression.

It’s true. To enhance physical abilities, looking at muscle shape, flexibility, and elasticity makes sense.

Surely, Sara is not an ordinary maid.

“Ha.”

As the silence stretched, Sara gulped audibly.

And then, in her usual, dry tone, she spoke.

“If I may boldly suggest… Lady Ellie is still doing exceptionally well.”

“I don’t feel that way.”

“That may be so, but from my perspective, that’s how it is.”

As Sara took a deep breath while choosing her words, she continued slowly.

“There’s a need to focus on uncovering your strengths rather than comparing yourself with others. I believe that over time, you will find satisfaction… I also once had concerns like those of Lady Ellie, so my advice may be somewhat helpful.”

She had worries akin to mine before?

So Sara must have some hidden past, huh?

Then her words must hold some weight.

Even just glancing at them makes them feel loaded with meaning.

Not comparing myself with others but finding my own strengths could be a good idea.

Hmm.

You’re right. That doesn’t sound too bad.

So far, I’ve been comparing myself to my past self, relying on those sensations and memories from that time.

Now that my body has changed, it might not be a bad idea to try a different approach.

And considering that, I’m plagued with mana skills much superior to those of my past life, I should train focusing on those.

So, what would be the best way to do that?

This one doesn’t need pondering.

The best training for mana usage is…

Dueling!

As for opponents? There’s an abundance.

Just ten minutes away, there’s a separate building where the Eustetia Knight Order stays.

However, one concern lingers: I’ve never seen them in training.

Oddly enough, every time I’ve gone there, they’ve been taking a break.

But still, they’re called the Empire’s spear, so their skills ought to be sharp, right?

Feeling like I was onto a solution for my worries, I smiled brightly as I looked at Sara.

“Thanks! Because of you, I feel a lot clearer now.”

To which Sara returned a brighter smile and bowed.

“I’m relieved to hear that. Now, I shall prepare breakfast.”

“Oh, right. Just give me half of what was served yesterday. Prepare a salad too. As for the dressing, you choose, Sara.”

Eating a lot and then dueling might make me throw up.

But if I don’t eat enough, I won’t have the energy.

During such times, filling my stomach with a clean salad is the way to go.

With that, Sara silently withdrew with a small smile.

*

Five years ago.

After Lady Ellie suffered a high fever,

she changed completely thereafter.

It started with her losing all her cuteness.

What replaced it was a hearty laugh similar to that of a general who’s trudged through numerous battlefields, rather than a sweet smile.

Choosing durable shirts and pants rather than a cheerful dress.

And instead of adorable underwear, there were times she wore the most ordinary kinds, even skipping a bra.

Rather than sitting and reading books or strolling through the garden, she swung weapons in the family’s training grounds, wearing sandbags as she ran.

Ah, and she’d even gotten a bit more coarse in her speech.

Except for having changed into the look of adventurers who hunt monsters, nothing else had changed.

It’s not like that’s a bad direction to take either.

The young lady has matured a bit more, become deep in thought, and developed tremendous drive in whatever she does.

But she has merely shed the appearance of a noble young lady.

So I thought.

Lady Ellie has been aspiring to become like the hero in those stories she loves.

She must want to resemble the founder of Eustetia.

To see such a lady,

“I have a concern.”

To hear that delicate voice say she has a concern made alarm bells ring in my head.

In that instant, I stopped my steps and approached her.

“If I may be so bold, please tell me, even if I can’t offer a brilliant solution.”

What could her concern be?

I hoped it was something that would remind me of the past Lady Ellie.

As I thought this, Lady Ellie voiced her disappointment.

“I think my growth has stopped. No, it has stopped.”

In that moment, a powerful wave surged within my heart. That wave swept over my feelings and completely unraveled my thoughts before exiting.

Her growth had… stopped.

In other words,

Lady Ellie,

is actually experiencing a very girlish worry.

And just look at that profoundly gloomy expression.

It shows that it’s a concern she has been struggling with for a long time.

I have to reply well.

To ensure the lady doesn’t get hurt.

To wipe away that gloomy expression.

So that Lady Ellie can smile sweetly once more.

I must provide the perfect answer.

Feeling the cold sweat trickling down my spine, I gulped nervously.

Then, slowly, I lowered my gaze to inspect my own body.

My white apron bulged as though I might tear it, showcasing an extraordinarily well-developed mountain compared to others.

Beneath it lay nothing visible.

This time, I glanced at Lady Ellie.

Little puffs of breath escaping—

So minuscule that they wouldn’t even amount to a handful, compared to the small hillocks, the tiny, cute sandcastle swaying there.

Atop it are her pitiful shoulders and graceful neck.

What about down below?

Due to five years of intense training, she has a smooth waistline and hips that elegantly flare out just like Lady Julie’s.

Her thighs, which look soft, are more developed than her upper body, strong yet slim at the calves.

At the very bottom are her cute, tiny feet— astonishingly lovely for someone who has trained for such a long time— and her wiggly little toes.

It didn’t take long to scan her completely.

Lady Ellie,

still looked exceptionally small for a 15-year-old girl.

So how in the world am I supposed to convey this?

“Ha.”

A deep sigh escaped my lips unbidden. Upon hearing it, a glimmer of hope flickered in Lady Ellie’s eyes.

I had no choice but to steel my resolve and speak.

“If I may be so bold… Lady Ellie is still—”

Pretty. Beautiful.

Lady Ellie wouldn’t have expected such words.

Then, as her loyal servant, what should I say?

It’s clearly predetermined.

“Doing exceptionally well.”

“I don’t feel that way.”

Cringe. I expected this counterattack, but the impact isn’t overwhelming.

I naturally continued speaking.

“That may be so, but from my perspective, that’s how it is.”

Here, I assert my opinion firmly.

And next,

It might come off a bit cocky, but it’s time for me, who has lived a decade longer than her, to step in. Not just as Maid Sara, but as a human, Sara.

“Therefore, rather than comparing yourself with others, I believe it’s best to first identify the wonderful attributes you possess. I believe that as you do this, you too can find satisfaction… I also once had concerns similar to yours, so my words may indeed help a bit.”

Right. I went through that too.

When I was 15… No, even younger, I had a body very much like that of the lady.

But look at me now.

I possess a body that is exceptionally excellent.

Thus, if Lady Ellie stays hopeful, she will surely one day have a marvelous body like Lady Julie’s.

I wonder if my answer is satisfactory.

I cautiously gazed back at Lady Ellie.

She wore a much brighter smile than before.

Perhaps it was even more loving and alluring than smiles she had worn in the past.

“Thanks. Because of you, I feel a lot clearer now.”

Instantly relieved, I lowered my head.

I wanted to hide my expression.

This kind of smile would be shameful for the lady to see.

“I’m relieved to hear that. Now, I shall prepare breakfast.”

“Oh, right. Just give me half of what was served yesterday. Prepare a salad, too. As for the dressing, you choose.”

Lady Ellie asking for less food?

And volunteering to eat a salad?

This means she’s planning to keep an eye on her appearance, even though there’s no fat to lose on her.

I gladly responded and stepped back.

I couldn’t wait to share this good news with Lady Julie at the earliest opportunity.

*

Noon.

In the Eustetia Knight Order’s training grounds, a bright red warning light, which had never flickered before, blazed ominously.

In a sequence of green, yellow, orange, and red lights,

the cherry blossoms of the Eustetia Duchy illuminated.

Every time Eliaernes Eustetia approached, it would light up,

but never had it been as red as today.

Nonetheless, every knight in the order knew exactly what that red light signified.

And they were well aware of how critical the situation was.

“Commander! The red light is on!”

“I see it too! Quickly, stow away all weapons! Take off your armor! And you, you, you! Use magic to mend the floor! You, treat the injured; no, just douse them with the highest-grade potions! And you! Contact the lord immediately! Lastly, Yurasia, you go out and bring Lady Ellie! Your role is the most vital! We have ten minutes remaining! No, five minutes!”

—Yes, sir!!

In a hurry but with smooth efficiency, the knights sprang into action.

At their helm, the commander of the First Knight Order, Karon, was dripping with cold sweat as he gazed into the magical device that reflected the scene outside.

There, against the backdrop of cherry blossoms danced Ellie, her pink twin tails flowing.

She was approaching the training grounds, excessively emphasized by the short wooden sword in her hands, alongside an array of other gear.

She was beaming brightly as she made her way closer.

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