(Heartfelt thanks to 'Mikuni SQ', 'Qiqi's F', 'Book Friend 141124215719721', and 'Wufeng Haotian' for their tips!)
"Clang—!"
The crisp sound of steel striking steel rang out.
It was the sound of swords colliding.
In the not particularly spacious courtyard, two figures wielded sword-like weapons, cutting at each other as though dancing.
"Clang—!"
The rather pleasant ring of swords echoed without end.
"Clang—!"
The swords collided once again, striking amid the sword marks that had yet to fade and sending out another sharp sound.
Sword edges crossed.
Sparks flew.
A brilliant spar was taking place in the small courtyard.
Everyone watched the most direct clash between sword and sword, all of them struck with amazement.
The ones fighting were a man and a woman.
As companions, the members of the Loki Familia present naturally recognized both of them.
Not to mention that the two were famous in many ways.
One was a female swordswoman who had long been the goal pursued by everyone in the Familia.
The other was a newcomer who had only joined yesterday, yet already possessed the strength of Lv.4.
Under the gazes of the Loki Familia members who had gathered without anyone noticing, Noah and Ais engaged in a spectacular exchange of offense and defense.
Ais was the one on the offensive.
Holding the sword she normally used for practice, Ais dashed forward. With an unprecedentedly serious expression, she unleashed a silver slash at a speed so great that no one present could see it clearly.
There was no need to doubt the swordsmanship of the girl whom the gods had bestowed with the title of Sword Princess. Even in a city filled with factions and adventurers, it was absolutely among the very best.
Almost everyone present had seen her slashes carve monsters into pieces in the