"Seriously... I'm stuffed..."
"That was the best..."
I can hear the soldiers groan as they took their rest. Most of them are chatting still, but some were already in their tents, sleeping. There were a small number of them unfortunate enough to be assigned to guard the camp, yawning, wanting to sit down too and lay their heavy stomachs to rest. To be honest, they seem pretty lax for soldiers who were on a mission to risk their lives tomorrow.
"They were most probably tired, they travelled a long way after all," Jonah said as he came towards me.
"And you, Jonah-san?"
"Just fine. You saw how I rode a horse?" he sarcastically answered. "I still have the energy for that little match we promised... here!"
With those words, Jonah threw a blunt iron sword at me. He himself was holding one, seemingly prepared for a battle. We already rested a bit after we ate, so we both have plenty of energy to spare.
"At the hands of a master swordsman, even a blunt sword can still cut and even kill people. So let's be careful, shall we?"
"Can you please hold back a little? I might get injured if you don't," I nodded, reluctantly accepting his challenge.
For our match, we searched for a large open space where we can freely use our wide range of attacks. Even if we're only using blunt swords, one wrong movement could injure us, and if we're not careful, we might also get Fin and the soldiers involved. Speaking of Fin and the soldiers - they were fast to surround us, to watch us from the sidelines. Fin looked at me with concern at first, but as he felt the atmosphere of the battle that was about to start, he too appear excited and decided to watch on the front.
"Is it true that Eria-sama is having a match with commander?"
"Can that missy elf really use a sword... I'm getting worried."
I can hear the chatter of the audience get louder as Jonah and I stood on our grounds, opposite from one another. It was night already, but the torch lights planted around the camp lit up our vision, enough for us to not be hindered by darkness.
"I was surprised to see an elf who was raised to become a swordsman by sword masters... I thought you were interesting," Jonah chuckles and continues, "However, I did not asked you for this match merely because I was interested. Umu... That sword you have on your waists..." he then pointed at the sword hanging on my waists and said, "It was the only reason I wanted to have a match with you in the first place."
The short sword on my waist is my last line of defense if my magic somehow depletes. Its outer appearance is not much, but it is certainly a stronger sword than most. I'm surprised Jonah was able to see through it and recognize it was unique.
"Even when it's sheath, I can see that it's no normal sword... I've seen the sword of a hero before, and I am confident to say that it has almost the same look as the one you have. No, it's certainly differs a little, but the atmosphere around it is completely the same. It can't fool the eyes of a warrior like me. I'll say it now... Only true master swordsmen are allowed to carry a weapon like that one. I don't doubt you are one at all - after all, there must be a reason why you have it."
"I see..."
So that is why he was so curious about it when we first met.
"I challenged you to a fair fight, one without the advantage of magic and that sword, to see just how capable of a swordswoman you truly are to be allowed to own such an incredible weapon. To tell you the truth... I'm just jealous."
"I think you're overestimating me and this sword too much..."
"Bwuahaha! I am not. As I said, you can't fool my eyes," Jonah laughed hysterically. "Let us start our match... this will be a fight without the advantages of weapons and magic, only of knowledge, techniques, and physical capabilities."
With those words, Jonah took a stance. To follow through, I raised the blunt sword in my hand and also took mine.