42 Chapter 42 - Sparring

Lunoire laid out various types of sandwiches on the table.

Ace can't lie and said he doesn't have a good time with her. Lunoire personality is lively and easy to get along with. They talk about things that they love, like, and hate.

Lunoire even talks about her backstory when she is a former bounty hunter she was tasked to eliminate some people but she failed and barely escape with her life. She doesn't mention any information about her friends here in the pub which greatly improves her image.

Ace knew from watching the anime that all of the waitresses of this pub have something to hide from their past.

They talk for hours learning about each other and their dreams. Lunoire and Ace can't stop smiling all these times that the other adventurer around them feel quite bitter.

For Ace as a paladin, he thinks that he must give an image that is gentle and easy to approach, therefore the smile.

"So what type of husband do you prefer Ire?" Ace said as he gulps a glass of fruit liquor.

"Umm If possible y-you..."

"Ah, I mean like...kind or cool something like that," Ace corrected.

Lunoire pout with a hint of redness from her face.

'Ahh, she is already drunk, and I'm so full of bread...maybe I can do a quick dungeon run before going back home,' Ace thought while looking at the pouting girl.

Time passes and Lunoire seems to fall unconscious while Ace didn't feel drunk at all.

"Ahh she passes out and the winner is Ace the golden chain!" Chloe said.

"Woahhh!!!!"

"Huzza!!!!"

'I didn't know they've made a competition out of us...' Ace thought as he left the pub hearing that childish nickname makes his flesh tremble and blood boil but as a paladin, he must remain proper and compose.

Of course, he paid before leaving that was given.

Ace is still wearing his casual clothes so unlike his demon slayer outfit these clothes don't provide any protection.

'Maybe I should visit the corps and have my black Haori remade by the same fiber that demon slayer uniforms are made but I decided to go back once I've revived Aika.' Ace thought as he wanders around town at night.

Because there were no other things to do Ace decided to do some quick run around Orario to properly digest the food. He climbed the wall and starts jogging at a decent speed.

Sweat drips all over Ace's body and Face as he runs around Orario's wall multiple times. He uses the edges of the wall to improve his balance while constantly expelling his energy to increase his maximum reserves. He did not use the falna on his back in case of something that requires a battle he can still fight.

Ace did not feel the time move as he was so concentrated on running.

"Haaa Haa Haaa, Running is fine but constantly releasing my reserves are so damn tiring..." Ace said as he takes a break and laid his back onto the wall.

Having no energy to teleport Ace decided to take a quick nap on the wall.

--

"Is he alive?"

*Poke* *Poke* *Poke*

Ace woke up seeing two people are looking at him with curiosity. One of them is a blonde beauty and the second is a white hair guy with looks resembling a rabbit. They are both wearing their adventurer's armor.

They are Bell and Ais on their first day of training.

"Ahhh!!!" Bell shouted while pointing at Ace.

"You know him?" Ais question as she tilts her head.

Ace stand up and pat the dust on his clothes then said, "Nice to meet you again bunny-san."

"I'm not a bunny!" Bell shouted earning a little bit of smile from Ais.

The three of them get to know each other.

"So The sword princess is training Mr. Bunny here?" Ace questioned.

"Ais."

"Yes?" Ace and Bell asked at the same time.

"Call me Ais, Everyone does," Ais said without changing her expression.

"Noted Ais, by the way, can I join your training, perhaps some sparring will suffice?" Ace questioned as he wants to test the power of a level 6.

"I also want to know how you get strong so fast..." Ais said as she seriously looks at Ace.

It looks like Ais know about Ace, well very few don't know about Ace mainly those who are outside of Orario.

"Ehh?? Isn't this supposed to be my training?" Bell questioned.

"Don't worry Bell I won't take her from you," Ace smiled as he pats Bell's shoulder.

"Take me?" Ais questioned like a child.

"Ahahaha you even joke like that Ace-san," Bell said with a nervous voice.

Ace and Ais face each other with a 3m distance between them. Bell is watching from the side to avoid getting caught up. After all Ace is level 4 and Ais is 6.

"I will hold back so I won't hurt you much Ais-san," Ace provoke while wearing his usual smile.

Ace energy is far from full yet so technically he is not on his full power.

Ais frown and draw her sword, she blurred out of vision and appeared behind Ace then thrust her sword. Her sword made a clanging sound when it strikes into auto-guard.

Visible surprise can be seen on Ais's face but she continues her attacks. Every attack continues to get heavier and sharper as she trying to break her opponent's guard.

'Each of her attacks is taking some of my energy down,' Ace thought then spawn a sword in his right hand.

*Slash*

Ais felt the danger of attack and coat herself with her skill Ariel to avoid taking damage while flinging backward.

Ariel is Ais' wind element enchant magic. In addition to serving as a powerful offensive weapon, it has also been shown to be used as a shield, as it was able to deflect the poison from a Virga. Despite the strength, it gives her, she usually stops herself from using it against non-monster opponents, as she is fearful of accidentally killing her opponent.

'I need to break his shield first,' Ais thought then coat herself with Ariel.

The sword princess dashes as the wind converge around her and her sword then thrust Ace's invisible guard, "Lil Rafaga!" Ais called out the name of her technique as she pierces Ace's shield.

'Success!' Ais thought.

"Reflect Shield," Ace said while looking at his opponent then the wind and power that Ais used to break his auto guard returned to her.

Ace made sure that the returned attack will not wound Ais, It's just sparring after all.

Ais groans as she flies backward, receiving all of those attacks causes her armor to crack and crumble to the ground showing her slender figure.

Ace quickly place the tip of his sword at Ais's neck then said, "That settles it, I win." The sword vanished as Ace offer Ais a hand.

Ais absentminded took Ace's hands as Ace pull her up.

"One more..." Ais said going to her fighting stance. She covered herself with the wind as she ready to take this more seriously.

Ace knows that Ais also hold back to prevent harming him but now he is pretty sure that she will try to fight in full power.