Ren watched the girl whose legs had gone weak, yet who stubbornly refused to retreat, as though he were teasing a little beast that had been scared out of its wits,
but still insisted on baring its teeth, and asked with a smile.
"Want to keep going?"
Yamashiro Ren's legs were still trembling.
The shudder born of survival instinct could not be suppressed through willpower and backbone alone.
Her knees shook, and the cold sweat seeping down her back had already soaked her shirt.
But the girl who refused to admit defeat gritted her teeth.
Her purple eyes fixed on the man before her, their rims reddening from the strain.
"Yes! I! Do!"
Even if you're stronger than me.
Even if I can barely stay on my feet.
I still have the courage to attack.
Besides, it's not like you can beat me to death, right?
Exactly.
This is just a student asking her teacher for guidance!
As one of the Island Nation's outstanding talents, Yamashiro Ren quickly adjusted her mindset.
Her legs were still weak? No matter, she just had to stand straight. Her back was still sweating? No matter, her uniform was dark anyway.
She lifted her eyes toward the faintly smiling emperor, blinked, and tilted her head slightly.
Her legs, clad in black stockings, pressed neatly together, and her hands folded in front of her.
Her entire demeanor shifted from the troublemaker declaring, "I'm challenging you," to a well-behaved child saying, "Please take good care of me."
Seeing this, Ren could not resist teasing Yamashiro Ren a little more, and increased his pressure slightly.
The girl before him seemed to have been engulfed by something indescribable. She froze for a moment, then cried, "Waaah!" The face she had been trying so hard to keep obedient turned pale,