"Princess, are you sure?"
"Yes!"
In the Stronghold's hall, Jody faced Princess Joan's determination and had no choice but to pick up a Longsword and stand before her. "Princess, get ready to block. I'm going to attack!"
The Freedom Gang had recently ignored the Oyster Gang's demands. That meant a clash between them would break out before long.
They had little time, so Joan would have to learn whatever she could.
Joan gripped her Longsword with both hands and watched Jody closely.
She didn't want to hide behind everyone else.
Apart from selling things, she couldn't do anything. The more time Joan spent among these people, the more she felt like a fraud and a burden. Rather than suffer at the rear, she would go to the front line.
Even if she died fighting, at least she would die on the battlefield and have her name carved in the Free City's Cemetery!
Jody moved, thrusting his sword in a simple attack. But Joan's mind had wandered, and she reacted a beat too late. The stick he had carved into the shape of a Wooden Sword struck her chest, sending her stumbling backward until she landed on the floor.
"I..." Jody froze awkwardly in place.
Joan climbed up. "Again!"
A dozen seconds later, Joan fell again, then sprang up as though she had sat on a spike of ice.
"Again!"
"Keep going!"
"I'm still good!"
When Illymoyas walked in, Joan was bruised and covered in dust, while Jody didn't have a mark on him.
After landing on her backside yet again, Joan stayed where she was, panting. "Why can't I hit you?"
"Uh... your technique is a little rusty." Jody tried to put it gently.
"I don't know any technique at all... Never mind. Keep going!"
Fortunately, Joan was a genuine