A thick metal rod was instantly sliced in half.

"Tanya, it is finally the end of the first semester, why are you still training? You need to relax every once in a while." Penelope remarked upon finding Tanya in the training field.

"Penelope, I need to progress faster if I am to become a d.u.c.h.ess! My next ascension will be coming up soon enough, I will relax then." Tanya replied.

"As always, your swordsmans.h.i.+p is amazing, so training can wait. You will ascend again soon enough. If you want to train something, train your mind! Fighting is only half of the game."

"Just give me a moment, I swear I am about to make an important breakthrough."

DING

[Level up: Magic Knight 9]

"Did you just gain a level?" Penelope asked.

"Yes. That is the culmination of my hard work over the semester, please praise me~" Tanya walked over to Penelope and warmly smiled.

"Of course, come here and let me reward you…"

Penelope sat down on the gra.s.s and allowed Tanya to rest her he'd on the former's lap. Quietly, Tanya embraced the comfort and relaxed her head.

"I am so close to that spot, are you not afraid that I will touch it?" Tanya smugly asked.

"Of course not, you wouldn't do anything stupid in plain sight."

"I'll have you know that my tongue is as agile as a snake. No one would be able to spot it." Tanya boasted.

The sky was slightly cloudy today, bringing the vibrant colours of the day without flas.h.i.+ng the sun in one's eyes. The perfect day for two lovers to meet.

"I heard you had a small party with your 'friends' last night. Why was I not invited?" Penelope asked, dragging her fingers through Tanya's long vermillion hair.

"Mmm… obviously so I could hear you say that… I love it when you are jealous~" Tanya pulled Penelope's face down towards her own and gently kissed the jealous maid.

"You hurt my feelings…" Penelope let a single tear drip from her left eye.

"Penelope…" Tanya forgot for a moment about the feelings of her maid. An ache erupted from her heart, and sweat started to drip down as she was a.s.saulted with anxiety.

"I am sorry, please forgive me… I will give you whatever you want." Tanya embraced Penelope and attempted to comfort the latter.

"[Dome Cloak]" Penelope casted, sending a ripple of blue light to encircle them.

"Was that perhaps an invisibility spell?"

"You are correct, it's a high 3rd tier. You are not the only one that has been making progress." Penelope deviously grinned upon saying his, s.h.i.+fting her position to crawl on top of Tanya.

"I created it myself… just for this." Penelope moved her lips towards Tanya and pa.s.sionately bit the latter's lip.

"You have been very naughty, Penelope. How could you go and develop magic for the sole purpose of sneakily kissing me? Have you no morals?" Tanya giggled as she felt Penelope's lips trail down her neck.

"You are not getting out of here until I have had my fill. Sit tight and do your part as well." Penelope continued and ignored Tanya's comment.

Meanwhile, approaching the training field were Erina and Charles. The two of them seemed unlike a couple, rather, rivals in the art of swordsmans.h.i.+p. Today, they had decided to test their blades and find out who was the greatest after an entire semester of cla.s.ses. Erina seemed rather confident in how she presented herself today, wearing her academy uniform well and a sword sheathed on her hip. Charles was much the same, however, he brought two shortswords for the occasion.

"Charles, I trust you understand how hard you are going to fall today?" Erina confidently spoke, clearly attempting to good her opponent.

"Yes, I won't be falling. You will, or should I say you have already? You seem rather enamoured with Lady Vermillion~"

"KILL YOURSELF!" Erina immediately responded by drawing her sword and slas.h.i.+ng at Charles with the rage of a bull.

"Wow wow… wait for me to draw my sword too!" Charles barely parried Erina's blade before das.h.i.+ng backwards to create distance between Erina and himself.

"Did I hit a soft spot? I know you even asked for her techniques… If I remember correctly, that is the equivalent of proposing a date in your household. Quite bold of you, no? To make things funnier, you offered to pay for the techniques. Treating Lady Vermillion like a mere prost.i.tute, my my… no wonder she hasn't spoken to you lately." Charles continued chuckling as Erina repeatedly slammed her bald against his swords.

"Charles! I want you dead!" Erina rushed at him and landed a swift drop kick.

"Aah!" Charles fell to the ground, flat on his behind.

"Not so fast!" Charles directed his sword in a stabbing motion, sending Erina dodging backwards with all of her stored energy.

"I will show you the difference between a [Warrior 1] and a [Warrior 3]."

"[Slash]!" A red wave followed her sword as she cut down on Charles with a diagonal motion of her blade.

PENG

Charles barely blocked the sword and dashed to the left.

"Stop running-" Suddenly Erina disappeared as she ran around to flank Charles. Just like turning off the lights, she vanished.

"AH!"

CRASH

Two large, soft and spherical objects now occupied Erina's hands. Her sword was on the ground behind her, and a much more terrifying thing was below her.

"Ms Erina? You are so daring today, jumping on top of me when I am already doing something important with Penelope? So naughty."

"You sneaky pervert! What are you hiding here with your maid?! Have you no shame?!" She did not let go of Tanya's chest.

"Ugh…" Penelope rolled over and latched onto Tanya's arm.

"Ms Erina, you are the one straddling me and fondling my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. You really cannot say that I am the pervert right now…" Tanya confidently smiled.

"I can explain! This is um… This is a special combat disabling technique of my house."

"Wouldn't it be better to choke me then?" Tanya smugly grinned.

'Choke me, mommy.' These words echoed in Erina's mind.

"!!!"

"I have a duel to attend to… bye!"