Early one morning, Mirai headed towards Vinal’s shop. Upon entering, she found no one at the front desk, prompting her to call out Vinal's name. Moments later, he emerged from the experimental chamber, clearly surprised to see her at such an early hour.

  "Good morning, Miss Mirai. How can I help you?" Vinal asked politely.

  Mirai replied straightforwardly, "I came to speak with you," then placed a considerable number of diamonds on the counter.

  Vinal’s eyes widened in surprise at the quantity of diamonds, his expression shifting to suspicion. He glanced at Mirai, asking cautiously, "I don’t suppose you're giving me these diamonds for free?"

  "Actually, they are yours, and for free," Mirai confirmed calmly.

  Vinal, unable to believe his ears, pressed further, "But why? It makes no sense. There must be a reason."

  Mirai responded simply, "Your Healing Diamond piqued my curiosity. All I want is for you to make it."

  Despite his astonishment, Vinal accepted the diamonds. Just as Mirai turned to leave, Vinal stopped her, "Wait!" She paused, turning back towards him.

  He approached her carrying a green diamond and handed it over, saying, "Give this to Hikari. I managed to prepare a few."

  Mirai took the diamond without asking questions and left the store.

  Afterwards, she met Hikari at the guild and handed him the green diamond. Hikari’s eyes brightened with surprise and gratitude, "Thank you! What shall we do today?"

  Mirai answered decisively, "Let's go back to the dungeon. But this time, we'll go as deep as we possibly can."

  Hikari nodded thoughtfully, "Alright."

  They entered the dungeon, descending floor after floor effortlessly. Mirai eliminated monsters swiftly and gracefully, protecting Hikari so effectively that monsters couldn't even approach him.

  Upon reaching the fortieth floor, Mirai encountered the Phantom Flash once again. This time, she drew her original sword and dispatched it with ease. Sheathed her blade again, they continued downward. The deeper they ventured, the less challenging the enemies seemed. Mirai grew increasingly frustrated, longing for stronger opponents.

  Eventually, they arrived at the sixty-fifth floor.

  "Let's stop here. I think we should go back," Hikari said, hesitant.

  "Why should we go back?" Mirai questioned, boredom evident in her voice. "We can still push forward."

  Hikari appeared anxious, "The boss on this floor is extremely strong. You might not be able to defeat it."

  Mirai's interest was piqued instantly, "What do you know about the boss?"

  Hikari explained, "It's a Bone Samurai, classified as S-ranked. It possesses incredible strength and speed and is immune to magic below level ten. Although it's a monster, it exhibits exceptional intelligence and unique combat tactics."

  For the first time since entering the dungeon, Mirai felt genuine excitement. She replied confidently, "No problem. I can handle it."

  Shaking his head in disagreement, Hikari urged her, "Don’t do this. The samurai is an incredibly skilled swordsman, but you…" Hikari stopped abruptly, clearly hesitant to finish his thought.

  Ignoring his warning, Mirai stepped forward confidently. Hikari followed nervously, anxiety growing with every step, his eyes darting around cautiously.

  Suddenly, without warning, Mirai shoved Hikari forcefully to the left and leapt to the right. At that exact moment, the Bone Samurai attacked fiercely, slicing through the ground where they'd just stood.

  Drawing her ordinary sword, Mirai ordered Hikari, "Stay back and don’t come any closer." He retreated carefully, whispering anxiously, "Be careful—he's different from anyone we've faced so far."

  Mirai turned to face the Bone Samurai. It was tall and skeletal, its grayish-white bones intricately connected, radiating strength despite their fragile appearance. It wore cracked, ancient armor, giving it the aura of a legendary warrior.

  Its skull was covered with a simple metallic helmet adorned with two small horns curving backward. Its empty, dark eyes emitted a mysterious glow hinting at hidden wisdom or power. Gripped tightly in its bony hand was a long, razor-sharp black blade.

  Standing silently, the samurai’s presence alone filled the space with menace. Mirai realized instantly that this opponent was unlike any she'd faced before and that this battle would be thrilling.

  She approached cautiously, yet suddenly, the samurai charged forward with blinding speed. Mirai barely raised her sword in time; the clash of blades rattled her hand. Without hesitation, the samurai unleashed a relentless series of rapid strikes, forcing Mirai onto the defensive. Seizing an opening, she jumped back to regain composure.

  "Impressive. Your speed, strength, and agility—you're truly unlike the others," she murmured, then smiled faintly, "I'll finally enjoy a worthy fight."

  She attacked again swiftly and skillfully, but the samurai calmly retreated, easily parrying and evading her increasingly fierce strikes.

  Then, in a calculated maneuver, the samurai deflected her blade to the right, exploiting an opening to land a direct hit. Mirai was forced back, startled.

  "It's been a minute already," she whispered to herself, frustrated. "I'm faster than him, yet I haven't even touched him."

  She lunged again, yet despite her clear advantage in speed and strength, she couldn't land a single strike. Instead, Mirai suffered multiple wounds. The samurai's reaction speed and swordsmanship surpassed hers immensely.

  Acknowledging her opponent, she stated, "You're a worthy adversary. Let me reward you for this fight."

  She discarded her ordinary sword and drew her true blade from within her kimono. Instantly, her power and speed surged dramatically. Closing her eyes, she gathered intense focus and whispered, "This is a perfect opportunity to test that attack."

  She reopened her eyes, unleashed a devastating, wide-range slash. The samurai couldn't evade; he tried to block, but the overwhelming force shattered him, leaving behind fragments of his armor scattered on the ground.

  Hikari stared in shock. Meanwhile, Mirai stood breathing heavily, murmuring quietly, "I expended half of my energy for this attack. Hopefully, I won't need it again."

  Hikari quickly approached and began healing her injuries. After finishing, exhaustion overtook him. He advised urgently, "We must return immediately. We can't continue any further."

  Mirai agreed. Hikari picked up a fragment from the samurai and took out the green diamond. He murmured cryptic words he'd learned painstakingly. The diamond glowed brightly, and as the ritual concluded, they were teleported outside the dungeon. The diamond disintegrated into dust in Hikari's hand.

  Mirai glanced around, confused. "How did we end up here?"

  Hikari explained, "The diamond Vinal gave you is a Magic Diamond, enchanted with teleportation. It allows us to instantly exit the dungeon or travel to specific nearby locations, but it's consumed entirely once drained."

  "Luckily, Vinal gave it to us," Mirai remarked. "Returning on foot would've been tedious."

  As they walked back to the city, Mirai pondered her fight with the samurai, whispering to herself, "He wasn't stronger than me. My power and speed were far superior, yet why couldn't I land a hit?"

  Remembering Hikari’s insistence on leaving before the fight and his hesitation earlier, her curiosity took over. She turned sharply toward him.

  "Hikari, before entering the sixty-fifth floor, you seemed convinced the samurai was stronger than me. Have you fought him before?"

  "No," Hikari replied cautiously, "but I heard that highly-ranked adventurers struggled against him."

  She scrutinized him closely, questioning further, "Then why were you so sure of his strength compared to mine?"

  Hikari hesitated briefly before replying softly, "Because, honestly... you have no real skill with the sword."

  Mirai stopped walking abruptly, staring at him, stunned. "What do you mean?"

  Taking a deep breath, Hikari spoke seriously:

  "You must have realized by now that you were stronger and faster than the samurai—but that alone isn't enough. I've closely observed your combat style against every opponent we've encountered. You rely too heavily on brute strength and speed alone. The monsters you've fought until now didn't stand a chance, but the samurai was different. He doesn't depend solely on strength; his advantage comes from his swordsmanship and his ability to anticipate his opponent's moves. He knows precisely when to attack, when to defend, and how to adapt quickly to your actions. To defeat opponents like him, you need more than raw strength—you need skill, precision, and tactical thinking."

  Mirai was genuinely surprised by his words, yet she recognized their truth. Whispering to herself thoughtfully, she admitted, "I never considered that before. Hikari is right, I’ve always relied solely on my magic, never truly learning sword combat."

  A brief silence fell between them until Hikari broke it, this time with newfound confidence:

  "Maybe... maybe I can help you improve your sword skills."

  Mirai eyed him skeptically, replying, "You? Teach me?"

  Hikari smiled awkwardly, trying to mask his anxiety.

  "Yes, me. I might not possess exceptional powers like yours, but I've trained in swordsmanship since I was young. I can show you how to use your strength and speed more effectively—how to integrate them with genuine combat skills to become unbeatable. I'll teach you offense, defense, and how to predict your enemy’s movements."

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Mirai stared at him, seriously considering his offer, before finally agreeing. "Alright. Let’s start tomorrow."

  Hikari exhaled with relief. "Tomorrow it is, then. We'll meet at the city entrance."

  Though Mirai found it somewhat strange that Hikari chose the meeting place outside town, she decided not to comment. After parting ways, Mirai returned to her room at the inn, deep in thought about Hikari's words and the upcoming training session.

  ***

  Early the next morning, Mirai arrived at the city gate, where she found Hikari already waiting for her.

  "Good morning, Miss Mirai. Ready to start?" Hikari greeted her eagerly.

  Mirai nodded. "Yes. Where are we going now?"

  "Follow me to the forest. It’s better to train somewhere private," he answered.

  Together, they moved deep into the forest, far from prying eyes.

  "Alright, Miss Mirai, we can begin," Hikari announced once they reached a secluded clearing.

  Mirai asked curiously, "What should we do first?"

  "Start by swinging your sword," Hikari instructed firmly.

  Mirai raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Really? That’s it?"

  Hikari nodded with certainty. "Trust me, this is crucial. I want to confirm something."

  Holding her ordinary sword, Mirai began swinging it for a full minute while Hikari carefully observed her movements. He finally asked, "Miss Mirai, have you ever formally trained with a sword before?"

  Mirai thought briefly, answering, "Not exactly."

  "I thought so," Hikari replied knowingly. "It appears you were born with exceptional strength and speed, but you've never had any actual combat training."

  He stepped forward, adopting a fighting stance with some distance between them. "Let’s begin with a mock duel," he suggested. Then he took out a purple-glowing diamond, hesitating slightly, "Listen, I—"

  In a split second, Mirai lunged forward, placing her sword gently against his neck. Silence fell for a few seconds before Hikari nervously muttered, "Ah, Miss Mirai... Could you please back up a little?"

  Mirai stepped back calmly. "I assumed you'd have quick enough reflexes to respond to my attack."

  Hikari smiled wryly, "I'm not that extraordinary. Actually, I wanted to use this diamond on you."

  Mirai sighed quietly to herself, "Will I really benefit from this?" But she asked openly, "What kind of magic is in the diamond?"

  "It's a slowing spell," Hikari explained. "It will reduce your speed closer to mine, as my body is naturally slow. I might not be great at theoretical explanations, but through actual combat, you'll grasp the techniques more clearly."

  Mirai considered this carefully, thinking, "Even if the diamond’s magic is harmful, I can always draw my original sword immediately." Deciding, she said confidently, "I agree. Go ahead."

  Hikari started chanting quietly, and a violet aura surrounded Mirai, making her body feel unusually heavy.

  "Alright, let’s begin," he said. "And remember, restrain your attack power."

  Mirai moved toward Hikari but instantly noticed the drastic drop in her speed—less than half her usual agility. Raising her sword, she swung down at him.

  With smooth ease, Hikari sidestepped her attack and parried effortlessly. "If your opponent matched your speed and strength, they'd have easily taken advantage of your overly straightforward attack. You're so used to overpowering opponents that you neglect technique. Watch how this works."

  In a swift, gentle movement, Hikari redirected her sword aside and lightly placed his own blade against her neck, easily bypassing her defenses. "Just like this—a single decisive strike can defeat you."

  Mirai’s eyes widened in astonishment. She stepped back, then attacked again with a flurry of quick strikes, yet Hikari casually blocked every blow.

  Soon, Mirai felt her speed returning. Hikari explained, "The spell weakens gradually over time. Now your speed is slightly above mine—similar to your duel with the samurai."

  As Mirai’s speed fully returned, she resumed her fierce attacks. Hikari continued blocking effortlessly, instructing her after each strike on how he predicted her moves through subtle cues in her eyes and shoulders.

  "You're practically announcing every move," he explained patiently. "Stop staring directly at your target—instead, sense your opponent’s presence. Your focus on speed and power makes you neglect your hips and body alignment."

  After some time, Hikari grew fatigued and stopped the session. "That's enough practical training for today," he said, catching his breath. "Do you understand now? You're strong and swift, but your reflexes and combat skills are lacking. With proper training, you can dramatically multiply your current capabilities—even your speed can improve significantly."

  Mirai felt excitement stirring inside her. "Incredible," she whispered eagerly to herself. "I never imagined I had so much room for improvement."

  Something still puzzled her, so she asked Hikari bluntly, "If you're this skilled, why don’t you fight with a sword yourself?"

  Hikari smiled slightly, "Because my body is naturally slow, and my attack power is extremely weak. I'd never stand a chance in actual combat."

  Mirai pressed further, "Then why haven't you trained to increase your speed and strength?"

  He sighed quietly, "I've tried, but I’ve never been able to improve significantly. So, I gave up fighting directly and became a supporter."

  Mirai pondered this, curiosity piqued. "You know, something intrigues me. You're weak in combat and can't even heal yourself effectively. Why did you become an adventurer at all? You could've become a doctor and lived comfortably without danger."

  He smiled softly and sincerely answered, "Because I love adventure. That's all there is to it."

  Mirai remarked thoughtfully, "You're lucky you've survived this long." Then she asked seriously, "So how should I continue my training from now on?"

  "It might seem tedious," Hikari admitted cautiously. "But we must start with the basics—like swinging your sword." He hesitated slightly before adding, "I apologize—I don't mean to offend, but honestly, your sword technique and stance are worse than most beginners."

  Mirai gave a faint smile, unoffended. "That's alright." Looking directly into his eyes, she spoke earnestly, "Listen, I've never trained in swordsmanship. As you said, I've relied purely on my raw speed and strength. That samurai was the first opponent I ever seriously fought with a sword. So, if you're truly skilled, train me from the very beginning. Treat me as a total novice—or even less. I won't be offended; in fact, I'll be grateful if you point out every flaw you see."

  Relieved by her sincere acceptance, Hikari smiled warmly, "Alright, when do you want to start?"

  Mirai responded instantly, "Right now."

  Inspired by her determination, Hikari nodded approvingly. "Then let’s start with the basics again."

  Mirai steadied her stance, gripping her sword firmly, awaiting his instructions.

  "Ensure your stance is balanced. Your feet must be shoulder-width apart for stability, knees slightly bent for flexibility. Your grip should be firm yet flexible. Imagine the sword as an extension of your arm. Don't be stiff or hesitant in your movements."

  Mirai executed Hikari's instructions with precision. He continued guiding her carefully:

  "Now, move your sword. Every movement should originate from the center of your body, as if your energy flows from your heart, through your arm, and into the blade. Don't rely solely on your arms; let your entire body direct the strikes. Remember, strength and speed come from properly using your weight, not just muscular force. Your sword should flow smoothly—effortless, like breathing."

  With a nod from Hikari, Mirai began performing the movements under his sharp supervision. He quickly corrected each of her errors, steadily refining her technique. Day by day, Mirai’s sword skills steadily improved.

  ***

  For weeks, Mirai tirelessly practiced the fundamentals until Hikari judged she'd mastered them thoroughly.

  "Alright, Miss Mirai," Hikari announced confidently, "Now we'll move on to the second stage: improving your reaction speed."

  Mirai eyed him curiously. "How will this training go?"

  Hikari retrieved a small rubber ball from his bag and handed it to her. "Hold this."

  Taking the ball inquisitively, Mirai asked, "What do I do with this?"

  "This ball is enchanted," Hikari explained. "If you throw it with force, it’ll return to you. But be careful—its return trajectory is random. It might target your face, leg, or arm. Even if you dodge, it'll attack again from behind. The ball will continuously target you for a full minute unless it hits you. And beware—it retains its speed upon returning, making it perfect for sharpening your reflexes and learning to evade rapid strikes."

  Mirai stared at the ball, intrigued. Readying herself, she hurled the ball forcefully forward. It streaked away at incredible speed, nearly invisible even to Hikari’s eyes. It returned swiftly, aiming at her leg. She narrowly dodged, but on the next pass, it struck her from behind, knocking her onto the ground.

  Hikari quickly approached, concerned. "Are you alright?"

  Mirai stood, rubbing her back. "Yes, though it surprisingly hurt despite being rubber," she muttered. "I saw the ball coming, but I couldn’t react in time."

  Determinedly, Mirai stood and grasped the ball again, throwing it even harder. She dodged twice before it struck her again. She continued tirelessly despite Hikari's urging to take breaks.

  Observing closely, Hikari noticed something peculiar: Mirai seemed oddly pleased every time the ball struck her, as if the pain motivated her to improve further.

  She continued until nightfall, though her best time avoiding the ball was only fifteen seconds. Exhausted, she lay on the ground smiling broadly. Hikari approached and healed her injuries; frequent collisions had left her body covered in bruises.

  Standing, Mirai handed the ball back to Hikari, smiling contentedly. "Today's training was genuinely fun. Thank you."

  Surprised by her enthusiasm, Hikari accepted the ball silently. As she turned to leave, Mirai added cheerfully, "Let's meet again early tomorrow morning." Watching her walk away, Hikari smiled faintly, deeply admiring her resilience and determination.

  Early the following morning, Hikari arrived at their usual training spot to find Mirai already eagerly awaiting him.

  Over the next month, Mirai continued diligently training with the enchanted ball, significantly improving her reaction speed. Additionally, Hikari sparred regularly with her, teaching her advanced sword techniques.

  Eventually, Mirai managed to dodge the ball consistently for a full minute. To confirm her progress, she repeated the exercise several times, successfully evading each attack.

  "Amazing," Hikari remarked, genuinely astonished. "It's incredibly difficult to achieve this level of skill so quickly."

  Mirai gazed at the ball with immense satisfaction. Excitedly, she asked, "What now? What's the next step?"

  Hikari smiled gently. "Now we'll begin actual combat."

  Mirai tilted her head, "Combat against whom? You?"

  "No," Hikari replied. "You'll fight the samurai again."

  Understanding immediately, Mirai nodded, "I see. I'll apply everything I've learned so far."

  "That's correct," Hikari affirmed, "but this time I'll use the slowing diamond on you."

  Surprised, Mirai questioned, "Why? Wouldn't it be better to fight him at my full power?"

  Hikari shook his head firmly. "No. Although the samurai is strong, he doesn't use magic. However, there are unbelievably powerful swordsmen who integrate magic into their attacks, giving them a distinct advantage. If you can defeat the samurai comfortably even when slowed down, you’ll be able to confidently face magical swordsmen."

  Mirai agreed resolutely, "Understood."

  "We'll meet tomorrow at—" Hikari began, but Mirai cut him off firmly, "No, let's go now."

  He hesitated, concerned. "Are you sure? You've just finished today's training."

  Mirai responded resolutely, "In real combat, the enemy won't wait until I rest."

  Hikari nodded approvingly. "You're right. But if you're in danger, I’ll intervene using the teleportation diamond."

  "That's fine," Mirai reassured him.

  Together, they proceeded to the dungeon. At the entrance, Hikari explained, "We’ll teleport directly to the sixty-fifth floor using the diamond."

  Mirai nodded appreciatively. "Good idea. That'll save us a lot of time. But won't the diamond shatter after teleporting?"

  "Don't worry," he replied confidently. "I have two this time. We'll only need one. Now, let's go."

  Hikari activated the diamond, and instantly, they arrived on the sixty-fifth floor.

  As they moved cautiously through the dim corridors, the Bone Samurai suddenly emerged from the shadows ahead. Hikari calmly took out the slowing diamond, instructing Mirai, "Alright, we'll begin now. Get ready."

  He activated the diamond's magic on her.

  Drawing her sword with measured precision, Mirai remembered everything Hikari had taught her: stance, control, and movement.

  She initiated combat with a powerful strike, but the samurai skillfully blocked and swiftly counterattacked. Thanks to her rigorous training, Mirai anticipated and smoothly evaded his lightning-fast strikes. Each exchange heightened her experience, teaching her the crucial value of timing and strategic positioning.

  Watching attentively, Hikari remained ready to intervene if necessary, though he trusted Mirai’s newfound skills.

  Increasing his attack speed further, the samurai relentlessly pressed her, but Mirai deftly countered every strike. Finally, spotting a gap in his defense, she delivered a precise blow directly into his weak point. Under the impact, the samurai staggered backward, his bones shattering and armor falling apart, leaving behind only a lifeless heap.

  At that moment, Mirai felt something stir within her—unexpected satisfaction. Her expression remained stoic, without a triumphant smile, but deep inside, pride and fulfillment surged at having mastered swordsmanship.

  Whispering softly to herself, she reflected, "I didn’t even need to use my true sword. I never imagined that basic training could strengthen me this much."

  Sheathing her blade calmly, she turned appreciatively toward Hikari, quietly saying, "That training—I enjoyed every second."

  Despite her steady voice, it clearly conveyed genuine gratitude.

  Hikari smiled warmly, nodding with satisfaction, "I'm glad you benefited from it. You've made incredible progress."

  He then activated the teleportation diamond once more, transporting them safely outside the dungeon. After returning to the city, they exchanged a quiet nod before going their separate ways.

  (End of Chapter.)