"But you would have to defeat me before you can have access to her information." The short brown-haired girl drew her katana and did a fighting stance as she continued.

'Really...?' I facepalmed as I sighed at the cliche development.

"Excuse me, can we change the place before we start please? You are going to injure the innocent passersby here, considering the fact how crowded this place was." I raised my hand as I made a suggestion.

"Tsk. Fine then. Follow me." The short-haired girl with the name of Amai sheathed her katana and turned in the opposite direction.

"After you." I answered as I followed her.

On our way to an empty field...

So right now, Amai was a few steps ahead of me, not that I would care anyway. After all, all I have to do is to follow the damn girl.

Amai POV

"Do you remember the message you need to convey?"

"Yes, I remembered the entire message."

"Who are you supposed to convey the message to?"

"I am supposed to convey the message to the Magic Swordmaster, Guardian-san."

"However, I am the one who gets to decide the method of conveying the message, am I right?"

"Correct. But bear in mind that try not to challenge the Magic Swordmaster. He may not seem like it, but he is actually a formidable opponent. So remember not to treat him as a mere adventurer."

"I got it, I got it~"

'Man, I have wanted to meet the Magic Swordmaster for quite a while! I also got to thank the person who assigned me to this task. Not only can I witness the Magic Swordmaster in action, but also find out the distance between our strength. God, how awesome could this be...!'

And I don't know why, but Amai was fidgeting in a somewhat excited way.

'This actually reminds me of...'

"Pfft... Lalatina." I let out a soft laugh.

"What's that?" Amai turned around and looked at me with a blank expression.

"Nothing... Don't mind... me please..." I responded as I clutched my stomach due to the pain from the giggling fit.

"Huh." Amai answered with an unimpressed tone.

Now, if you ask me which one is more important, impressing a cute girl or laughing at a dum- uh, I meant elegant name. I would only give you an answer: Professionals have standards.

I have zero interest for a cute girl to stand in my way of being a man of culture.

"Alright, here we go." Amai said as she stopped.

"What is this... place?" I asked as I looked around.

"It is just a mere plateau, that's all." Amai put on a smug as she drew her katana.

"Oh well, your next line would be: 'I have waited this for a very long time!'" I pointed at Amai.

"I have waited this for a very long time! Oh wait, how did you know that?!" Amai asked with disbelief after she said that line.

"Heh." I grinned as a response.

"Anyway, here I go, prepare yourself!" Amai lunged at me at a rather impressive speed.

I blocked the attack with my sword.

"I got to be honest, that was actually close. Saki-san has taught you well." I regained my composure as I complimented Amai.

"You think so~?" Amai let out a bright smile as she replied.

"And that is why... I would have to get a little bit serious here." I continued as I channeled my mana into the sword, which blade turned blue.

"Please do!" Amai readied her katana as she answered enthusiastically.

I spun my sword like a lightsaber and attacked irregularly.

Amai blocked the hits one by one. I guess block couldn't really describe what she did. To describe this properly, she guided the hits aside naturally.

'This girl... Her skills are pretty amazing. Saki... What are you trying to convey over here...?'

Meanwhile...

'That girl... She's at it again... To look on the bright side, I think Amai can tell him a thing or two through her actions... But still...' A long haired woman sighed as she gazed at the crystal ball.

'My sincerest apologies for the impolite behavior of my subordinate, Commander Zulu...!'

"Goddamn it." I muttered as we fought after one or two hours.

"Is that all you have got, Magic Swordmaster?" Amai put on a smug smile as she pointed her katana at me.

"Nope, I have one more plan which starts with the letter 'N'." I rose as I sheathed my sword.

"Hmm~? Looks like you are going all-out this time. Finally, some real action!" Amai exclaimed as she readied her katana.

"Core change, Pegasus to Wolf." I muttered my outfit transformed into a black and purple outfit.

"So, what is that plan of yours?" Amai asked with a slightly cocky tone.

"*Run away! Advanced Lurk!" I ran in a remarkable speed as the Advanced Lurk boosted my speed even further.

"Ah, you cheeky little... Get back here!" Amai chased after me as she raised her katana.

However, she stopped abruptly, as if someone was calling her.

"Yes, Amai here." Amai stopped as she talked.

"Are you sure, ma'am?"

"Acknowledged." Amai answered with a darkened expression.

'Did I get out? But just in case, maybe I should call reinforcements...'

"Zulu to India, Alpha, Lima and Yankee. Your assistance is required-"

Before I noticed, a thick fog surrounded me.

"I've found you... Magic Swordmaster." A sickly sweet voice called out.

I looked up and found a silhouette in front of me.

"Ara, did you forget who I am...? I am the Mist Swordswoman." Amai said as she had a yandere look on her face.

"Fk. Guess I would have to do that, huh?"

"Finally. But it's too late. Get ready to die." Amai still had that yandere look on her face as she raised her katana.

I closed my eyes due to the reflex action.

Oh wait...!

I opened my eyes once again as my outfit transformed into a set of brown and green armor.

A laurel wreath appeared on my head as the black mask disappeared.

They were replaced a brown colored breastplate and green suspenders; and were quickly covered by a bronze breastplate afterwards.

A bronze spiked ball and chain appeared on my hip, while a pair of sledgehammers appeared on each side of the belt.

"Well, it's time for a Round 2." I said as I draw the pair of sledgehammers.

So Amai and I started fighting once again as Round 2 begins.

It is true that Amai is skilled with her katana, yet the chances of her guiding my attacks decreased drastically.

However I couldn't help but having the thought of Amai was holding back, considering the fact she wouldn't just back down easily.

I should advance with caution, since I couldn't get rid of the thought that Amai has a trick up her sleeve.

And it turned out I was right, Amai begin to attack with vigor.

By the time I took a look at Amai's attack pattern, I realized the reason that her decreased capability of guiding attacks is due to the fact her attack pattern turned irregular; to put it short, her attack style became more aggressive, but straightforward.

However, this also indicates that Amai's attack pattern is getting even harder to predict.

Come to think of it, what was the material for her katana? Why didn't it break after I pounded it with my sledgehammers?

Maybe her katana was made of some sort of rare metal no one ever heard of? I don't really know, but it is most likely to be the answer.

Ah.

I got cut by a razor-like object all of a sudden in the back, a place which I didn't expect to be hit.

But then, I felt the wound became damp and my body became a little bit heavier than before.

Could it be... the mist?

Considering the fact how thick and hard the Earth Core Outfit is, this is the most logical explanation for that.

When I looked up, Amai had a smug smile on her face.

"I bet your next line would be: 'What good does it do for you to know my secret?'"

"What good does it do for you to know my secret?" Amai laughed.

Amai looked at me with a stunned expression.

"How..."

"Let's go!" I said vigorously as I raised my hammer.

"Go..." However, that vigor didn't last long I dropped one of my sledgehammers.

"Where did your verve go?" Amai taunted as she brought down a tempest of strikes.

I had no choice but to back down, in order to stall some time for reinforcements to arrive.

"India, report your location." I muttered as I kept on fending off Amai's attacks.

"Commander Zulu! We are close to where you are. Please hang on until we arrive!" Iris's voice rang through the communication device.

"Heh. It would be too late!" Amai shouted as she brought her katana down and broke the other sledgehammer into halves.

"Onii-chan!"

I took a step back.

"Partial change. Aries to Phoenix!" Three large swords appeared on my back as I muttered the sequence.

"What a stubborn guy." Amai sneered as she readied her katana.

"Like I said, I wouldn't back down from a fight like this. Professionals have standards." I answered as I pulled out my nodachi.

"Now, give me all you have got!" I planted my nodachi on the ground as I pointed at Amai.

"Damn it. How are you still standing?!" Amai sounded extremely agitated as time goes by.

"I certainly have zero idea about this!" I answered without thinking as I swung my nodachi.

Our blades collided mid-air as sparks flew in all directions.

"Just go down already!" Amai yelled as she raised her katana.

"Not a chance!" I replied as I swung across with my nodachi.

And the nodachi flew out of my hand with a clang.

As a result, I pulled out my pair of slash blades as a response.

I advanced as I unleashed a storm of slashes.

Amai kept moving back and put on a smile.

Wait, why was she smiling...? That made zero sense! How could a person continue smiling when the tide was turned against him/her?

Well to be honest, it would a her in this case.

Ah shit! I forgot she had Misdirection!

And now I actually felt like an idiot for having the thought of me gaining the upper hand when she was just toying with me.

"I can't lose... I can't afford to lose...!" I ran towards my nodachi.

"Oh no you don't!" Amai kicked me in the back.

I stumbled and fell face-first on the ground.

Before Amai can go for the killing stroke, I kicked her in the stomach and continue to head towards my nodachi.

"Stop!"

I put the pair of slash blades next to the nodachi, and they combined into a large two-handed sword.

'I will get out of here alive... I will get that to Iris...! Absolutely!'

The fight was getting more heated (literally) as the overhead sun shone in all its glory. But that didn't affect us that much considering the fact we were shrouded in a thick fog.

Just then, Iris's voice rang through the communication device.

"Onii-chan! Onii-chan! We got stuck in the fog and we couldn't get out!"

"Onii-chan!"

Iris called my name continuously as I continued to move back.

"Hang in there, Iris! I will be there soon!" I answered as I pressed on the reply button on my communication device after I created some distance by kicking Amai.

"Please stay safe, Onii-chan!"

"My apologies, Magic Swordmaster. But I would to tell you that fun time is over. It is time for you to go down here."

"Make me." I answered with a grin on my face.

Iris POV

I rushed towards the scene with Alicia and Loby while the sound of swords clashing echoes the beating of my heart.

However, judging from the sounds, it seemed like Onii-chan is in serious trouble this time.

What am I thinking? I should believe in Onii-chan! After all, he is the one who saved me from every tricky situation I have met.

"Loby-san, how much more further do we need to go and meet up with Onii-chan?"

"Guardian is about a few hundred metres away."

Wait for me, Onii-chan, we are coming!

After resisting the abduction (technically an abduction) with everything I could, I ended up lying on the ground with blood trickling out of my wounds.

"You have put up an amazing fight, Magic Swordmaster. This is something I would like to recommend you for, but it is time to accept your fate."

"Heh... But I refuse." I smiled as I struggled to get up.

And then, I ran in hopes of meeting Iris there.

Nevertheless, it seems like I used up my energy as I collapsed with a small box flew out of my hand a few steps later.

"I'm sorry, Iris..." I uttered before I went out of cold.

Iris POV

It took a few minutes before the mist scattered and disappeared.

Onii-chan was completely out of our sight. However, we can see a small blue box in the distance, so we headed towards where the box was.

Sure enough, apart from the blue box, there was a broken sledgehammer and blood stains on the ground.

So I believe that was where Onii-chan was at.

The blue box has a letter on top of it.

"Let's see what is this supposed to be..." I mumbled as I opened the envelope.

"Dear Iris, happy birthday! Congratulations on being 12 years old. No I actually mean it, since I believe being a princess isn't a piece of cake. So I would like to express the fact you have worked hard in becoming a good princess. And so, I have prepared a few gifts with one of them as a birthday present and the rest as rewards for your hard work. Lastly, I wish you a happy birthday and have a nice day!"

I opened the blue box and the following items: a cupcake with blue icing, another box, a dagger and a green hairband.

"What could this be?" I thought to myself as I opened the box.

A dog face popped out of the box.

As a natural response, I yelped in shock.

"Is this a handmade Jack in the box?" Alicia asked as she eyed the box.

"Guardian-san really is creative." Yunyun continued as I finished the cupcake.

"But what are we going to do?" Loby asked.

"Isn't that obvious? We are going after Onii-chan and get him back home." I turned my attention towards my party members.

*Note 1: The romaji for Run away is nigerundayo (逃げるんだよ), which is from a certain wise old man. (I am pretty sure you know who I am talking about.)

*Note 2: The day this chapter is posted is 6/9, which is Iris's birthday.

A/N: Today is Iris's birthday! I am glad that I managed to finish the chapter before her birthday ends. Remember to wish our lovely heroine a happy birthday!

Like always, constructive feedback are appreciated through reviews or PM.

Stay tuned for the next chapter!