The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

Everyone has a plan—until they find themselves rolling on the ground like a madman, reduced to a ragged mess.

Naturally, I turned back time several times during this training session. The training ground was inside the imperial palace, a place I’d used often and was quite familiar with. Being located within palace grounds, it was much flatter than the mountain, so, theoretically, it was easier to run around here.

Theoretically.

But that theory didn’t account for the Swordmaster with a wooden sword.

Dodging his sword strikes one by one was somewhat manageable. Once I got hit, at least I could track the sword’s trajectory, which was similar to how Lucas wielded his blade. Of course, the Swordmaster wasn’t swinging with full intent, nor was Lucas back then.

However, dodging continuously, beyond my physical limits, was impossible. Even if I paced myself carefully, trying my best to dodge, avoiding the Swordmaster’s relentless wooden blade indefinitely would be impossible without a skill level on par with his.

I tried to block with the training gun I was holding, but that only highlighted my weakness. Whenever I tried to block, the Swordmaster would simply swing harder, emphasizing just how lacking I was.

Still, it wasn’t all bad.

It had been a long time since someone like Lucas randomly swung a sword at me. The feeling I’d almost forgotten began to resurface. At least now, if Lucas were to come at me seriously...

...Well, to be honest, I wasn’t confident. If Lucas genuinely charged at me with the intent to take my head, I wasn’t sure I could evade.

But...

"No matter how I look at it, you lack talent," the Swordmaster said, looking at me. But his tone didn’t sound disappointed.

"But it doesn’t seem like you intend to give up."

I simply thought about how pathetic I’d look if I ran away now, but the Swordmaster seemed somewhat impressed by my persistence.

"I don’t dislike that kind of grit."

It was something you’d hear in a shonen manga. Considering the original game was made by a Japanese company, it wasn’t all that surprising.

"Alright! We’ll stop here for today!"

At his words, Alice and Leo exhaled deeply. At least the two of them were still standing by the end. I... Well, I didn’t think lying on the floor was quite appropriate, so I was seated on a chair.

It was too exhausting to sit up straight, so I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

Seeing me like that, Alice and Leo rushed over.

"Sylvia, are you okay?"

Not really. Thinking about spending at least two more weeks like this made regret flood over me.

Is it really necessary to search for Lucas right now?

Couldn’t I just turn back time and make this all disappear, then spend the next two weeks resting peacefully?

I considered it, but...

When I lifted my head, my eyes met the Swordmaster’s gaze, standing a bit away from Alice and Leo.

He was smiling at me. I had no idea why he seemed so pleased. Was it a look of satisfaction?

Seeing that smile made me feel that turning back time would somehow be like admitting defeat.

...Fine.

No matter what, I’ll wait until these two weeks are over before I turn back time.

At the very least, I should fulfill my responsibility to the end before considering it.

After all, having the ability to turn back time means that "too late" isn’t really an option.

"I’m fine," I replied, though my gaze was fixed on the Swordmaster rather than Alice or Leo.

I saw the Swordmaster’s lips move as if to say "Hoho," a look I’d seen maybe three hundred times during my meditation training.

If I’m seeing that expression more often now than before, maybe my training hasn’t been entirely in vain.

---

And so, I let my mind relax.

Turning back time would erase those moments where I called Jaiden “older brother” or Alice “sister.”

As for the term “sister,” well... I should probably save that as something to pay back to Alice one day. Maybe at the very end when my plans come together.

This time, I wasn’t intending to search for a relic. Though there was one in the capital, it wasn’t the type to be found by clearing dungeons.

So... I figured there wouldn’t be any surprise appearances from a masked woman in a black robe who looks suspiciously like me.

...

Or so I thought.

"...You."

In the palace training ground, I spoke to the masked figure in a black robe.

No lights were on in the open space leading outside. Especially in the training ground’s center, there was no need to keep lights on.

No one could enter here without climbing the palace walls or slipping in through the open roof of the training hall, where they would still be spotted by guards patrolling the corridors.

Normally, guards would also be stationed inside, but I’d dismissed them earlier to familiarize myself with the training ground.

The masked woman had slipped in during that time.

"How did you get in here?"

This couldn’t have been a coincidence.

If that was "me," she’d remember the timing of my actions. Even if she didn’t recall every single day, she would at least remember significant days.

Like the day I met the Swordmaster for the first time in the capital,

...or right at this very moment.

In truth, asking how she entered might have been the wrong question. Wasn’t this the very same being that once stood proudly in the deepest part of that ruin? Conventional methods and procedures meant nothing to her.

Besides, she could also block my powers.

Whether she existed in the same timeframe, causing my powers to clash with hers, or if she blocked my abilities intentionally—

Thinking about this sent a chill down my spine.

"...Why now?"

Yes, why now, of all times?

If she could appear at any moment, there would be much better timing. Unless... perhaps she was aiming for my life.

If that truly were me, she shouldn’t be doing something this cruel.

Despite my startled voice, the figure gave no response.

No, there was a reaction, of sorts.

Upon hearing my voice, her shoulders trembled.

It wasn’t out of fear or tension. If she were afraid of me, she wouldn’t have appeared here alone.

Rather, it was...

A reaction of someone holding back laughter.

Her shoulders, wrapped in a long robe, shook slightly as if stifling laughter. I was sure I was right.

"..."

I tensed up momentarily, then rushed forward.

And, almost too easily, I caught the hem of her robe.

She was still laughing. Up close, I could hear the distinctive sounds of suppressed laughter.

"Who are you...!"

But before I could say more, her mask suddenly moved closer.

Then, as if determined to convey something, she spoke through the mask.

"Sylvia."

"..."

She didn’t seem to be attacking or planning to escape. Although her voice was tinged with a hint of laughter, I couldn’t sense any hostility.

However—

"■■, ■■■ ■■■ ■."

Her words didn’t come through clearly.

It was like trying to talk to someone several meters away underwater; her voice was muffled, blocked by something.

"...What?"

When I asked, unable to hear clearly, her shoulders slumped.

It was as if she’d been disappointed by something.

"..."

"..."

For a moment, we simply stared at each other.

Her eyes, visible through the mask’s holes, sparkled. I still couldn’t tell their color. The dim moonlight was the only light we had.

Slowly, I released one hand.

I raised it toward her mask.

Even as I reached to pull off her mask, she made no attempt to resist.

But—

"...Ah."

At that exact moment, she vanished.

As if she had never been there.

...Did someone take her away?

"...No, more importantly."

As the strange feeling faded and I came back to reality, another chill ran down my spine.

Could it be, could it really be...

"N-no, surely not," I muttered, trying to calm myself.

There’s no way just encountering her would block my abilities, right?

It’s not like we even fought or anything.

I took a deep breath and steeled myself.

"Alright."

Bracing myself, I shouted, "Again!"

Then I felt something hard slam into me, and I blacked out.

When I awoke, I was back in the training ground.

It was probably the same time as when I’d first arrived; at least the position of the moon hadn’t changed.

The masked woman was gone.

Lying flat in the center of the training ground, I muttered while staring up at the sky.

"Great, just great."

Was she laughing because of this?

...Whoever that person was, whether it was me from the future or not, I swear I’ll take her down.