Chapter 51: Sparring [II]

"The boss and Andre are going at it huh? It looks like there will be tough competition to be the boss's number-one follower in the future!" Harlin said as he closely observed the battle.

"Naturally, the boss and Andre aren't normal characters. But it seems that this guy is talented, he goes toe to toe with the boss right now," Ansgar said as he squatted on the ground, a piece of stick in his mouth, "I'm not a bum either."

"Well, you certainly look the part at least, even if you aren't one! Though I do wonder how the boss experiences such massive growth in strength!" Harlin said. "I don't there is anyone in the world who can compare in terms of growth."

"The Boss is the Boss. It is only expected that she would be able to have such massive growth, but I say, Harlin. You have an impressive vision, to find us such a capable leader." Ansgar praised, and the others listened to them on the sidelines.

"Even I didn't know the Boss was this capable, I was only making a bet. Haha! You could say that I prayed a bit for this!" Harlin said but then he suddenly looked up to his right and he smiled.

"It seems like some people are watching us, can't say I didn't expect it."

"Hmph! For one to scry the marvelous fate of the eagle and the effortless blade, truly these peasants have grown too bold." Fischl said she gave the spectators a passing glance. "But this matters not to the mighty Prinzessin, as it seems to be her turn next."

"The battle ends with the Boss's victory as expected but Andre put up a good fight. Based on what he had shown, he could probably beat all of us here but only if it is a matter of skill." Sebastian but into the conversation and eyed Noelle who was engrossed in the battle. "But if it came down to a matter of endurance or strength, Noelle and Harlin would easily be able to overpower and outlast him."

These were Sebastian's true feelings, that day when they saved Noelle from Lynx's gang he had witnessed her strength firsthand. She was a monster in human skin, at her tender age she was already capable of carrying entire wooden boxes full of supplies like it was shopping bag.

As for Harlin...

He was capable of withstanding blows from adults thrice his age and strength and yet he only received relatively minor injuries in the process. His endurance was similarly insane, these two sworn siblings were never normal, to begin with.

'Though the rest of us aren't normal either,' Sebastian thought as he looked at how the battle ended.

Emmy blocked the sword that came for her head and brushed away with seemingly no force at all, using Andre's force to deter him. Doing so, she knocked his weapon from his arms and placed her wooden blade at his neck.

She had won.

Andre raised his hands with a sigh, "The boss is a monster but I'm not discouraged. Boss, how did I do? Was it to your liking?"

"You did good, although your footwork and breath need to be tempered, that will come in time as this training session progresses. Your hand-to-eye coordination is extraordinary and your reaction time is only second to mine, your technique is already at the advanced level."

"Advanced level?" Andre asked curiously. He didn't know the Boss could categorize their technique into grades, she seemed to be accurate as well. "Is that good?"

"It's alright for our age but when measuring the level of our talent, it isn't that impressive. Other than Andre the rest of you are already at the Novice level, though it might seem harsh, many of you have never touched a weapon in your lives."

"How strong are you then?" Noelle asked curiously, her brother always said his Boss was strong but she had only caught a glimpse of her strength. "Will you tell us?"

"Telling you will only hinder your progress, so no for now. In three months, I will turn you all into Experts with your respective weapons and make you as strong as a Mitachurl." Emmy smiled. "Then we can take the adventurers entry test in advance and become the youngest adventurers in history, Noelle will you join us?"

"I-" Noelle hesitated, after all, she wanted to become a knight, and as such, she was unable to become an adventurer. Just as she was deliberating, Emmy spoke.

"You don't have to be one permanently, only until you are old enough to take the knights test, during that time you can accompany us to gain experience," Emmy said as she twirled her sword absentmindedly. "So, what do you say?"

Noelle thought for a moment. She wanted to train with them, as from what she saw in the spar earlier, Emmy was way stronger than Andre and he had [Advanced] skill level.

She didn't know what it meant but it sounded like a good thing.

Plus, she wanted to stay with them, as they treated her very nicely.

Now she had the chance to not only train with them but was now able to gain combat experience when they joined the adventurers guild. She said they would be the "Youngest adventurers in history", it sounded extremely exciting.

So, she could get strong with them and share the title of "Youngest adventures in history" with them!

Isn't this a win-win?

Noelle's eyes sparkled, "Yes I'll join!" but then she tilted her head and Emmy raised her eyebrow in question.

"Do I have to call you Boss as well?"

The others just sat on the sidelines as they watched the little girl, who couldn't even reach Emmy's chest ask such a question. Harlin looked at his Boss and saw that she was also looking at him with a mischievous smile.

He immediately got a bad feeling.

"Ah, how can I let you call me boss, your so small but..." Emmy smiled as she looked at Harlin. "You can call me big sis."

Harlin sighed, all he could think about now was how shameless his boss was. When she said that he could see through her intentions, it appeared that his family's Noelle's cooking could even subdue a demon like his boss.

When he thought of this, he felt proud for some reason.

"Ah, sorry but only big brother can occupy my heart," Noelle said as she looked at Emmy nervously, what if she got mad? But looking closer, the girl didn't appear shocked at all.

"Hah~ Harlin is truly a lucky guy, he even has such a nice little sister. Must be nice. Well, I was only joking with you, I would train you regardless," Emmy straightened her collar and placed her hands on her sword, the point facing the ground, "It would be a waste not to."

"Thank you!"

"No need, your still a friend in the end but can just call me boss."

"Yes, boss!"

"Now..." Emmy said slowly as she raised her sword, "Fischl and Noelle step up to the plate, Its time for me to educate you all."

"Hmph!"

"Y-Yes!"

*****

"Brother it appears that they have long noticed our presence," A boy with blue hair said to a boy with red hair, a smirk hung on his lips. "Should we join them?"

"Don't cause trouble Kaeya, they don't even know us," The red-haired boy didn't even consider the suggestion, he fixed the greatsword at his side without a care. "That girl seems to be quite skilled!"

"You still no fun, Diluc. Always thinking of such boring things."

"Hmph!"

*****

A/N: Kaeya and Diluc appeared! The second arc may or may not revolve around adventuring and the third arc goes into a time skip, but it's not set in stone! I wonder if Jean is watching as well, maybe Varka?