The proficiency with Strength Enhancement Magic still wasn’t maxed out, and after only a few days of hard training, I was forced to enter the battlefield—like being thrown into the fire.
For Xiadam, not dying from her muscles tearing apart was already the best possible outcome.
“Good thing the Third Company Commander didn’t try to drag out a prolonged fight with me, or else I’d be finished. Ouch, ouch.”
Though she couldn’t move, Xiadam was grinning from ear to ear.
If Osiris ever found out about Xiadam’s secret, he’d probably die of anger.
After all, the Great Company Commanders had spent decades developing that Ordinary Man Slash specifically to counter her, but it was exactly why she lost yesterday.
Because, when Xiadam used Mana to enhance her strength, she was nothing but a little weakling.
There’s just no way I could fight for long periods!
“But it looks like I can only convert Mana into strength for a short while…” Xiadam gazed at the ceiling, letting out a helpless, bitter laugh.
Hehe! That old man Third Company Commander likes using the single-sword technique? Fool!
But I have to admit, that sword was genuinely dangerous to me.
If that Ordinary Man Slash hadn’t been delivered by a hundred-year-old man, but by the fifty-year-old Third Company Commander, I might not have reacted in time.
I can only say, as expected of my old comrades—they know my weaknesses best.
Their whole approach must’ve been designed to counter the flashy swordplay and unpredictable footwork of the Nameless Hero.
So, let’s just train until we have the strongest, fastest, fiercest slash, and pierce straight through his skull.
“Interesting, really interesting.”
Xiadam started replaying last night’s battle in her mind, her sorrow turning to delight as she broke out in a broad grin.
At some point, the former self had lost the burning blood for battle.
Maybe it was back when the Nameless Hero was unmatched beneath the heavens, or maybe when the Rebellious Knight turned against the Kingdom—high atop the summit, all there was was endless loneliness.
But sparring with her old friends had rekindled her Swordmaster’s Heart.
I became weaker, I became a girl, but instead, I rediscovered the original joy of travel and adventure.
Is this the nature of the Human Race?
Whatever, now isn’t the time for philosophy. Better to think about how to get out of bed.
“Sheffield, help me out,” Xiadam called to the person beside her.
“Haruu~” Sheffield was sleeping like a dead pig.
She was definitely not the type to wake up automatically at six in the morning.
Xiadam gritted her teeth in frustration, wishing she could slap her, but her hands wouldn’t cooperate.
Actually, every morning, Sheffield needed Xiadam to gently pat her on both cheeks to wake her up—a couple of soft slaps, otherwise she just wouldn’t get out of bed.
There are two beds, but she insists on crawling into mine. Once she’s here, I can’t wake her up. What’s the point of having such a big-glutton dragon queen around?
“Gah!”
But the Fat Little Dragon sleeping at the head of the bed woke up right at six, rolled over, and tumbled off the bed.
Despite being round as a ball, its movements were surprisingly agile, no longer as sluggish as when it first hatched.
Has Sheffield’s recent intensive training made the Fat Little Dragon stronger? Who knows.
But it certainly has become much more disciplined, no longer napping all day long.
“Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!” The sound of fists slicing through the air.
The Fat Little Dragon climbed onto the tea table and actually used its tiny claws to perform a set of combination punches.
“Huh?” Xiadam stared in astonishment.
Just what had the Fat Little Dragon experienced during these days when I was meditating and bitterly training?
Why does it seem like it’s the one who’s truly mastered cultivation, and I’m just here to make up the numbers?
Then!
Xiadam saw the Fat Little Dragon practicing the Rotating Butterfly Step!
That round body spun and darted across the tea table—it was the most agile fat creature she had ever seen.
“What’s this?” Xiadam was dumbfounded.
It wasn’t that she was shocked by the Fat Little Dragon practicing boxing and footwork.
After all, it was an Ancient Dragon Hatchling—nothing it did could truly surprise her.
What stunned Xiadam was that the Fat Little Dragon was practicing the exact same evasive move she’d used last night to finish off Old Lord Osiris!
During that battle, ninety-nine percent of the border Knights present couldn’t even see the moves between the Old Lord and herself.
They only saw flashes of sword light and afterimages, and the rest was left to the imagination.
But the Fat Little Dragon had understood how she dodged the Old Lord’s Ordinary Man Slash.
In fact, it was simple: a Fat Flash Rotating Butterfly Step, instantly circling around the opponent.
Her own movements were just too quick and smooth, and with the white mist interfering with the centenarian’s vision, it made the Third Company Commander see endless sword flashes as an illusion.
“So noisy first thing in the morning!”
Sheffield was awakened by the Fat Little Dragon’s footsteps, and with a wave of her hand, unleashed a beam of White Dragon Breath.
In the blink of an eye, the Fat Little Dragon dodged the White Dragon Breath with a perfect Fat Flash Rotating Butterfly Step.
“!”
Xiadam’s eyes nearly popped out.
“?”
Even Sheffield was bewildered.
Fortunately, she quickly dispersed her Mana, and the White Dragon Breath didn’t blow a hole through the sofa.
“Gaga!” The Fat Little Dragon happily danced atop the tea table.
But in the next instant, it was blasted off by a sudden Dragon Breath Airburst, sent flying onto the soft sofa, where it stuck out its tongue and didn’t dare act up again.
“Got happy too soon, little thing,” Sheffield snorted.
This time, she didn’t fall back asleep. Noticing the awake-but-not-getting-up Xiadam beside her, she tilted her head, showing a hint of confusion.
“Why aren’t you getting up?” Sheffield asked.
“The side effects of Strength Enhancement. My whole body is sore. Think of something to help me out,” Xiadam replied.
“Mm-hmm?” Sheffield smirked playfully.
“What’s with that expression?” Xiadam sensed trouble.
“You can’t move now? That means you can’t karate chop my head anymore, right?” Sheffield folded her arms, a mischievous grin on her face.
“What are you planning?” Xiadam was horrified.
“Ancient Dragons have no gender, but now, because of the curse, we do. Of course I want to try out some of the… special features only ordinary creatures have,” Sheffield pressed her face closer and closer.
“Xiao Xiao Hei, save me!” Xiadam cried for help.
“Hahaha, I’m going to get handsy~” Sheffield laughed gleefully.
“…Gah?” The Fat Little Dragon was completely uninterested.
(Girls’ tickle-fest in progress.)
And so, with Sheffield’s attentive care, Xiadam barely recovered her strength after three full days.
Three days later, she could finally get out of bed and walk, but her legs were as shaky as a newborn deer.
Thus, the two girls and one dragon freeloaded in the Lord’s Mansion, eating and drinking for free for an entire week.
Old Lord Osiris had also fully retired.
After handing his Dark Armor and Campaign Knight Sword to his son, he began enjoying his senior years.
“Why are you still here? I said you could treat this place as your home, but you aren’t really going to sponge off me forever, are you? I was kidding. Brother, I can’t afford to keep you.”
He spent every day basking in the sun, drinking tea, raising fish, and cultivating peace of mind in the Central Courtyard, but the sight of Xiadam, still refusing to leave, drove him to endless rants.