I'm Turning Into Gacha Characters?!

"I'm joining the expedition this time partly because I struck a deal with the Loki Familia, so I've decided to teach Ais a set of effective techniques."

Neither Sushang nor Ais had any idea what was going on inside the mind of the "lecherous elf," and they found her nervous demeanor rather inexplicable.

"You're going to teach Miss Ais techniques?" Lefiya tilted her head. In her eyes, Ais was already an incredibly formidable adventurer and one of her rare idols.

What kind of techniques could there possibly be that Ais, who had always possessed such a fierce desire to grow stronger, hadn't already learned?

It wasn't that she looked down on Sushang, but in the eyes of Lefiya—or rather, most people in Orario—Ais was already a grade ahead of every other swordsman in terms of skill. To call her the strongest swordswoman in Orario was no exaggeration at all.

And as everyone knew—a fact even mages like Lefiya understood clearly—"swordsmanship" was by no means just the skill of wielding a blade; one's footwork was a crucial pillar in evaluating a swordsman's strength.

Beyond simply needing to level up, did such an Ais really lack any techniques as a swordswoman?

Sushang could read the confusion in Lefiya's eyes well enough.

Perhaps it was because of the Falna—people here seemed to approach the study of technique... rather superficially.

Yet, looking at Ais's situation, it was clear that no matter how high your skill was, a difference in levels acted like a shockwave.

Not to mention that skills or magic could shift the tide of battle entirely.

Compared to technique, perhaps everyone here prioritized how to level up and how to make money.

"In any case, let's move to an open area where we won't be easily disturbed. Before we start, I need to see what Ais is capable of." Sushang didn't rush to explain; on one hand, she would understand once they began, and on the other, the one learning was Ais, not Lefiya.

Ais nodded in response: "I understand."

For someone as practical as her, real-world, hands-on experience was exactly what she craved.

Since Ais was so eager to learn, there was no better time for a lesson.

The two walked from the campsite under construction toward a nearby forest. The environment was already familiar to Ais, and before long, they arrived at a spot with uneven terrain and solid ground.

Lefiya, harboring her own little motives, asked for their consent and followed along.

Though she was struggling slightly to keep up due to the trek, she was a Level 3, after all, and by the end, she was merely left a little breathless.

"Draw your sword. Don't hesitate—just come at me." With a wave of her hand, the pendant on Sushang's belt transformed into a blue-and-white longsword.

She held it casually in her hand and smiled at Ais.

"Eh!? Miss Sushang! Miss Ais is a Level 5, you know!?"

Seeing this, Lefiya immediately looked worried. Since Ais was convinced she could learn something from Sushang, she was willing to trust in Sushang's ability, but she was also keenly aware that Sushang was a newcomer.

Just as Ais couldn't bridge the gap between levels through skill alone, it would be a disaster if Sushang suffered an injury because she didn't realize the terrifying reality of the level gap.

But, now that she thought about it... hadn't Sushang taken down a Goliath all by herself? No, no—wasn't it better to be cautious?

Compared to the overthinking elf, Ais didn't utter a word. She drew her longsword with practiced ease and charged toward the lazily posed Sushang.

Ais's silhouette was like a silver flash of lightning. She left shallow grooves in the firm earth as she moved, her blade carrying the force of a biting wind, aimed straight at Sushang's throat.

It was a strike without a hint of hesitation. No flashy tricks—just the concentrated power and speed of a Level 5 adventurer.

It was a finishing move honed through countless life-or-death battles in the Dungeon; simple, yet enough to kill the vast majority of opponents in an instant.

Lefiya's heart leapt into her throat, and she instinctively gripped her staff. Sure enough, someone as earnest as Ais would always go all out from the start.

If that was the case, Miss Sushang...

The elf's worry was nearly overflowing, yet Sushang's face remained adorned with a faint smile, not a trace of panic to be found.

Just as the tip of the blade was about to touch her collar, Sushang's wrist turned slightly. Her blue-and-white sword tilted upward, accurately catching the spine of Ais's blade.

Clang!

A sharp ring echoed, the vibration of clashing steel traveling through the blades into their palms. Ais felt a subtle, clever force surge along the steel, forcing her overwhelming momentum to shift by half an inch, causing her strike to meet empty air.

But she didn't pause for a moment. With a flick of her wrist, she swung her sword horizontally, the wind from the motion making the stray locks of hair at Sushang's temples flutter.

This strike covered a wider area, effectively sealing off all of Sushang's room to dodge.

Yet, Sushang's footsteps moved as if to an invisible rhythm.

She stepped back lightly with her left foot, pivoted on her right, and drifted like a willow catkin in the wind, spinning away right along the edge of the blade.

Her movements weren't fast; they possessed an elegant, fluid quality, yet every step landed exactly in the gaps of Ais's swordplay, as if she had predicted every move in advance.

Ais observed this as she attacked.

Though Sushang wasn't using the technique known as "Reduced Earth," the way she moved—swaying amidst the storm while remaining perfectly in control—truly opened her eyes.

"Too fast." Sushang's voice drifted from her rotating silhouette, and her blue-and-white blade entangled with Ais's like flowing water: "Your sword is fast, and you have enough power, but it's too 'straight.' Every strike is aimed at a lethal point, yet it leaves your own defenses wide open."

"It's rigid. I can see you changing moves based on mine, but it's like you've memorized a template for swordsmanship and are just fighting by that script."

Ais bit her lip.

She's amazing...

This time, she wasn't marveling at Sushang's agility, but rather at her keen eye.

Just as Sushang said, she had always fought by imitating the moves and forms of her father she held in her memory... she had done this for as long as she could remember.

As she mastered those forms, her strength had steadily increased.

No one had ever called her "rigid" before, because she had always been the one crushing others with the superiority of her technique.

Sushang's sword suddenly grew heavy. The blade slid down along the length of Ais's sword, pointing directly at her wrist.

The golden-haired girl's pupils contracted, and she rushed to turn her sword to block, but unexpectedly, Sushang's sword changed direction mid-air.

The tip aimed for her waist—a viciously tricky angle. She had no choice but to dodge sideways, leaving herself even more exposed.

However, Sushang didn't press the attack. Instead, she withdrew her sword, stepped back, and stood still.

"Sorry, I got a bit off track. After all, I'm here to teach you footwork."

"No..."

Ais's expression was somber and earnest. She glanced at the sword in her hand, then back at the brown-haired girl who seemed so relaxed, yet unfathomably deep.

"I want to hear more of what you were just saying."

--+--

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