Rebirth: Childhood friend of the heroine

Under bright daylight, two young men could be seen currently engaged in a brutal war against a horde of Minotaurs as a part of their training.

Eric stood aside, his back resting against a boulder as he closely inspected the duo; noting what could be improved.

On one side,

Edric leaped like a blur, his wolf form crashing into the first Minotaur. His steel knuckles crunched into its snout, shattering bone. The beast reeled back, but Edric followed with a vicious uppercut that sent it flying.

Another Minotaur charged from his blind side, swinging a colossal axe. Edric ducked low, swiped its legs out with a sweep of his claws, then slammed his fist into its throat. The beast's bellow turned into a choked gurgle as it collapsed.

Snarling, Edric tackled two more at once. He ripped through their defenses, his claws tearing flesh and his fists smashing ribs. A third Minotaur lunged from behind. Without looking, Edric spun, catching its horn and twisting violently. The sickening snap echoed as the beast fell lifeless.

While Edric fought like a storm, Alex was a whirlwind of precision. His blade cut through the air, slicing into the first Minotaur's chest. The beast swung a spiked mace, but Alex sidestepped, his movements sharp and measured. He delivered a lightning-fast diagonal slash, severing the creature's arm.

A second Minotaur tried to overwhelm him with brute strength, its war hammer crashing down.

Alex met it with Sword Art: Linear Slash. His blade arced in a fluid motion, deflecting the hammer and slicing deep into its side in one smooth strike. Blood sprayed, but Alex was already moving, his sword glowing faintly as he unleashed Quick Silver. Three Minotaurs fell in quick succession, their bodies cleaved with surgical precision.

"Alex left!" Edric shouted.

Alex pivoted as a charging Minotaur came into view. He crouched low, his sword flashing upward in a deadly crescent. The Minotaur's momentum carried it straight onto his blade, and it crumpled.

"Behind you!" Alex called back.

Edric didn't turn. Instead, he leaped backward, slamming both fists down on the Minotaur Alex warned him about. The ground cracked under the beast's weight as it collapsed.

The horde surged again, and Edric shifted into his elf form, his speed doubling. His strikes became even more lethal—blurs of knuckles and claws that left Minotaurs staggering and disoriented. Alex, in tandem, activated Consecutive Slashes, darting between enemies like a shadow. His blade found every weak point: throats, joints, and hearts.

The last wave came, but Alex and Edric didn't falter.

Edric grabbed a Minotaur by the horns, hoisting it into the air before slamming it onto another, crushing them both. Blood painted his fists as he roared, tearing through the remaining enemies with savage efficiency.

Alex faced two Minotaurs wielding shields. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed Tempest Dart The force of a small stone strike blasted through their defenses, shattering their shields and killing them in one fluid motion.

He winced slightly but that didn't stop him from advancing towards the last standing beast.

Being done with his target as well, Edric also lunged at the remaining beast.

The figure of two warriors, possessing immense blood lust and covered in their comrades' blood and filth, broke the Minotaur from within as the hammer from its hand dropped.

Alex's figure vanished just meters away from the Minotaur, severing its head with a precise cleave, and Edric shot like a cannonball and pierced the beast through its chest, creating a gaping hole in the process.

THUD

A dull thud resounded as Edric and Alex stood side by side. One of them looked unaffected and still quite fresh despite the fact that he dispatched over thirty Minotaurs just now.

Edric looked quite nasty, with his body coated with blackish-red blood and the innards of the beasts hanging down his neck.

"Gross."

Edric wryly smiled hearing that remark, "Without a sword, you would have looked just like me."

Alex shook his head, "Nothing can make me as disgusting as you. I am elegant and precise."

"Oh, yeah? Like a princess?" Edric purposely slammed his body into Alex to taint his 'oh-so-magnificent' form.

Alex clicked his tongue and began walking meters away from the disgusting being.

Edric took his chance and again planned to slam into his friend—however, this time Alex simply paused in his track and raised his foot, which was enough to make the guy trip.

"Haah~stop playing around," Eric told them as he held Edric by his collar before he could hit the tree and pulled him back.

As the duo stood before the young master of the Steelhouse clan, they were met by a shocking announcement,

"Your internship concludes here."

That surprised Edric as he asked, "But there are still fifteen days left?"

"I am talking about Alex; he has to go for a task and I cannot prevent it from happening. So yes, his internship is over."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Alex frowned, "What do you mean task? Who assigned me for it?" During the internship this was unexpected. And there were things Alex had to learn while being here.

His growth within the Steelhound's territory was moving exceptionally well. But now this…

"I have no information regarding the said task. I just received the orders from the central ministry to send you to Ownhorg today."

Alex was completely clueless about what this was about, but since this concerned national importance, he couldn't ask for more.

Heaving a sigh he nodded, "Okay, when do I leave?"

"I have arranged a carriage which would leave in an hour. Go pack your bags."

Alex nodded and began walking away and following him, Edric also began to walk nonchalantly.

THUD

However, a groan escaped his throat as Eric brought his hand on his shoulder and said, "Where do you think you are going?"

…

Alex returned to the mansion and went to take a bath.

Celestria often sends him letters, and she never mentions anything regarding this sudden task, implying she has no idea about it as well.

But well, he has somehow achieved what he aimed for. His stats have grown, and now they look like this,

[Name: Alex]

[Age: 17]

[Str: 44] (Avg: 30)

[Spd: 61] (Avg: 30)

[Int: 81] (Avg: 25)

[Skill: Storage, Sword Arts, Rapid regeneration, Heightened comprehensibility.]

[Soul Energy: 2201]

[Upper limit: 500]

[Lower limit: 25]

…

As of now, he could easily fight against multiple wolves and utilize several sword arts without causing much damage to his body.

He has made progress in Moon Dance as well; now he can dance in a full semi-circle, and not even once has he released a bit of his presence.

As a spy and assassin, this skill would have helped him greatly in his previous life. But well.

About Tempest Dart, then Alex no longer tears off his muscles while utilizing that attack…but if only he remains mindful of his movements. Slight miscalculation and boom.

"Haah~" Climbing out of the bathing pool, he wiped his body and tied the towel around his waist.

Walking inside his room, he was surprised to see Rebecca sitting on his bed with a mischievous smile on her face.

"You…I thought you were gone somewhere." After that day when Celestria returned, Rebecca seldom appeared before him.

"I was told to hunt to keep my mind away from you. But when I heard you were going, I couldn't resist." She slowly got up, as she said so.

Each step of hers rang in his ears, her waist swaying sensually as she stepped closer to him. Her scent was overwhelming as she stood near him.

She slowly brought her arms and rested on his shoulders.

With her red ruby eyes shining with a tempting glow, she said, "You know I can give you everything right? Love, money, power, protection. You won't need to lift your blade again if you just promise to stay by my side."

Bringing her face closer she whispered in his ear, "Just accept me, darling. I promise to keep you happy for the rest of your life."

Alex looked into her eyes, a soft sigh escaping his lips.

He didn't scold her or push her away this time.

Very calmly, he told her, "Look, Rebecca, even if I want to, I can't stay idle and stop doing what I have been doing. There is something I must do to ensure a better future for myself…and for others. So no, I can't accept your proposal."

Rebecca never stopped smiling as she tilted her head and said, "So you are never going to accept the fact that I love you?"

"I do…but I don't think I can reciprocate your feelings…but yeah, if you want you can have my blood." Alex tilted his head and offered his neck.

Alex remained silent for a few moments, expecting her to bite into his neck just like that day…however, all he felt was her tender lips on his cheek.

Alex opened his eyes and looked at her in surprise.

Rebecca was slowly retreating with her hands attached behind her back, as she said,

"Without love, the blood won't taste sweet. I will wait for you to fall for me."

Alex asked, " What if that day never comes?"

"Then it would be my loss…bye~"

He still can't understand what that girl thinks.

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