A few days had passed since we arrived in Oudiria.

No missions yet. We've been digging through documents or surveying areas hit by those white monsters. According to Azazel-sensei, the regions attacked by the monsters still show traces of their power, but Zemria—hit directly by the God of Destruction—still has lingering energy even a month later. He's holed up in a room, analyzing it.

Did he seriously bring analysis tools? That guy's always prepared.

That's the state of things for now.

As for me…

"Issei, these documents too, please," Alice said.

"Big brother, this batch as well," Nina added, piling more papers onto my desk.

Somehow, I got roped into helping with Alice's work.

Why me!?

"Some things we investigate just don't yield answers," Alice said. "Might as well tackle the work in front of us."

Fine, but why am I doing your job? And why's there so much!? This is ridiculous! Show some restraint!

"Why's there such a mountain of this stuff?" I groaned.

"Because big sis was slacking!" Nina chirped, her smile way too innocent for such a bombshell.

Her slacking caused this? Give me a break! There's no way I'll finish this in a day!

Someone save me! I'll pay three hundred yen!

Knock knock.

"Come in," Alice called.

Morris stepped in. "Oh, there you are, Issei… looks rough."

He shot me a pitying look.

Don't just sympathize—help me!

"What's up?" Alice asked.

"Right," Morris said. "Issei, that blonde guy and blue-haired girl in your group—know where they are?"

Kiba and Xenovia, huh? Gasper's blonde too, but Morris wouldn't have business with him.

"What about them?" I asked.

"They're swordsmen, right? I wanna train 'em. Saw them move the other day—decent skills, tons of potential."

Makes sense. I'd seen Kiba and Xenovia training in the castle courtyard, and Morris must've spotted them.

"Got it," I said. "Gimme a sec to call them."

Training with Morris, huh? I went through that myself. Wonder how those two will handle him.

I activated a communication magic circle to contact Kiba and Xenovia.

We met up and headed to a spacious training ground used for the knights' intense drills.

"Didn't expect to train under a top-tier swordsman in this world," Kiba said, eyes gleaming.

"Yeah," Xenovia agreed. "A comrade of Issei's? I wanna see his strength."

Both were pumped, gripping their Holy-Demonic Sword and Durandal.

The rest of the club, Tiamat, and even Azazel-sensei, fresh from his analysis, gathered to watch, curious about Morris's skills.

Morris strolled in, dual swords at his hips. "Sorry for the wait."

"Took you long enough," I said. "What were you doing?"

"Bathroom," he said. "At my age, things don't flow like they used to."

Shouldn't have asked… You're not that old—late forties, right?

"So, Yuto and Xenovia," Morris said.

"Yes, thank you for today," Kiba said, bowing.

"You heard from Issei—come at me full force. Anything less, and this ain't training," Morris said.

"Understood," they replied, smirking confidently.

They drew their swords, closing the distance cautiously. But Morris didn't even reach for his blades.

Everyone except me, Azazel-sensei, and Tiamat looked puzzled.

"Why isn't he drawing his sword?" Rias asked. "I can sense his strength, but facing Yuto and Xenovia at once without a weapon…"

I got her point. Kiba and Xenovia are no slouches.

But before I could answer, Tiamat spoke. "Still got a ways to go, Rias Gremory. Can't you feel it? That overwhelming presence—the aura of a seasoned warrior. Those two are frozen by it."

Rias gasped, noticing Kiba and Xenovia, poised to strike, hadn't moved. Kiba, who usually blitzes with speed, was stuck in place, sweat beading on their faces.

Morris grinned. "Watch closely. This is 'Sword Aura.' A true swordsman can dominate without drawing a blade. You two wannabe swordsmen? Remember this."

He faced them calmly, but Kiba and Xenovia stepped back, pressured by his presence alone.

"Come on," Morris taunted. "No attacks, no training."

"Fine… here we go!" Kiba shouted.

They charged, Kiba at top speed from the side, Xenovia slashing head-on with Durandal. They had Morris pinned.

But he just smiled, unfazed.

As their blades neared—

Clang!

Both swords were blocked by Morris's, drawn in a flash.

"When did he…!?" Kiba gasped, his sharp eyes missing the draw entirely.

They backed off briefly, then attacked again, Kiba's speed and Xenovia's power weaving a flurry of strikes.

Morris parried every blow with ease.

"To block Durandal and a Holy-Demonic Sword…" Rias said. "Is his sword special? I don't sense any unique power."

"It's just a sharp, ordinary sword," I said.

"No way!" Rias exclaimed.

Yeah, it's shocking, but that's normal. Morris is the abnormal one.

"Kiba, fall back!" Xenovia yelled.

Kiba dodged aside as Xenovia unleashed a holy aura blast from Durandal, carving the ground as it roared toward Morris.

Even he couldn't tank that!

"Nice, spirited attack," Morris said, still smiling.

He thrust one sword into the ground and sheathed the other.

"Slice—Gale Slash."

Cling!

A metallic ring echoed, and the holy aura split in half, exploding far behind Morris.

Xenovia froze, and Kiba stopped, stunned.

"What… was that?" Xenovia muttered.

Her charged aura, sliced by a shockwave from Morris's draw—with a regular sword. Only his insane skill made it possible.

I could never pull that off. My sword would shatter first.

I once told him to use a better sword, but he said it was his late father's, so he sticks with it.

Still, the guy's nuts.

"You thinking I'm nuts, Issei?" Morris said.

How'd he know!?

"I'd say you're crazier," he added. "You took down Sirius."

Look who's talking! You're parrying two swords while glancing away—your blades should've snapped by now!

"Now I get why Issei-senpai's so weird," Koneko said.

Don't blame him, Koneko!

Morris's training session continued, relentless as ever.

"Ugh… didn't expect this…" Kiba groaned.

"Way beyond my imagination…" Xenovia added.

Both collapsed on the ground, panting, while Morris looked unfazed after facing them both.

He handed them water, chuckling. "Not bad, you two. Good potential. Wanna join our knights? I'll whip you into shape."

That's Morris—already recruiting.

"Thanks, but we serve someone already," Kiba said.

"Shame," Morris said. "You're staying a while, right? I can keep training you."

"Please!" Kiba and Xenovia said, shaking his hand.

If they're training with Morris, I can't slack either…

A soldier came sprinting, panicked. "Knight Commander Morris! Trouble! Those creatures appeared in the Oberu district!"

A chill ran through us.

The monsters had reached Oudiria.

The situation was moving.