“Ha... haha....”
A weak laugh escaped Alex’s lips. He swung his sword with all his might to create distance, then spoke while trying to catch his ragged breath.
“Are you toying with me?”
To Alex's question, his opponent answered calmly.
“No. How could I commit such a disrespectful act in a sacred duel?”
“Then what is this you're doing now?”
“It is simply because I find it regrettable.”
“What did you say?”
“In my eyes, you possess a fine talent. A talent so excellent it is a waste for it to be in a small, weak nation of the eastern continent.” ......
“When I see such a shining talent, isn't it only natural to want to help polish it?”
“... You? Me? Here?”
Garcia nodded and said.
“Even if we belong to different places, if we are comrades who polish the same sword, and if I am a forerunner walking a more advanced path, isn't it natural to bestow teachings upon those who are behind?”
“There is no need to be ashamed. You possess a sufficiently excellent talent. It is just that, for now, I am a little further ahead.”
"..."
“Those ahead pull up those behind, and they polish each other. In the end, isn't that how the sword has developed for ages, by helping one another?”
Alex stared at his opponent with a dumbfounded expression. The more he looked, the more ridiculous it was... At first, he thought, what kind of novel mockery is this?