Training Match

When Ripper’s physical weapons were ready, precisely his sharp gauntlets, I immediately told my father. In any other case, I might have disliked doing something like putting my puppets in a fight. But this time, I wanted to try it out in actual combat. To experience what a battle truly was like. It would be a mistake to face something I had no experience of — I was expecting to fight off some enemies when I try to escape after all.

My father met up with me at a training hall. The hall was wide and tall. The walls were plain, with no decorations whatsoever. It was a hall meant for training or battles after all, so it would be pointless to add some decorations. The windows were wide and open, letting enough daylight‌ in.

There were also other knights training, wearing their beautiful and elegant armor. They were either having mock duels, training with their weapons, or working out their bodies. As the princess, I stood out, and I could sense several eyes pointed at me. I was about to show my fighting capability too, so I was feeling embarrassed already.

My father was in his formal clothing, it would seem he was not intending on trying out my puppet firsthand.

“Now then, daughter, show it to me.”

I nodded and ‌held out my hand. Red light particles appeared in the air before instantly accumulating and turning into my puppet, Ripper. It stood tall among everyone, and some of the knights gasped upon seeing it. Well, not always someone could see someone use the Puppeteer class.

My father narrowed his eyes. I felt a little anxious. It would seem he found something he disliked.

“Is it not too tall?” he asked.

“Is he? Ripper is fine as he is.”

“Ripper?” Father raised an eyebrow at me. “You named it…?”

“Of course I’d name him.”

He let out a sigh. “Well, do as you wish. But Ripper is a big target. A human-sized puppet would have been fine.”

Well, that made sense. But the bigger it is, the stronger or scarier it is, right? Besides, it was too late to change him now. It would be a waste of time.

“And gauntlets?” Father continued. “Are you sure of your weapon of choice?”

I pouted. “Of course, Father.”

“Alright then, we will see how you’ll perform.” He turned towards a knight in full armor and beckoned him to come. “Avenelle, you will fight against him. He is among our elite.”

The knight removed his helm and bowed before me. “Greetings, Your Highness.” He was a young man in his early twenties. Which was a surprise to me, an elite at this age. “I am Onesto, a knight of the kingdom.” He smiled at me. He had dark hair and brown eyes. He was good looking. If it was completely the Earth me, I would be blushing.

“Sir Onesto, I didn’t expect someone of your age to be able to achieve elite knight status.”

He chuckled. “It only takes hard work.”

I nodded. “I see.”

My father stepped beside him. “Onesto is an Astral Forger. So you will need to prepare to fight against his weapons.”

“Of course. But please do not damage Ripper too much.”

“I will try my best, Princess.”

What do you mean try your best? I swear if you damage him too much, I’ll beat you up.

These people had no idea of the work I had to put in to finish him. The designing, the materialization, the time! I’d be pissed if he got demolished.

“Not try, do.”

“... Ah, very well.”

“Daughter, don’t be like that. Anything could happen in a fight, even in a mock battle.”

I crossed my arms, giving no reply. I understand that, but this wasn’t a serious fight. It would be quite rude if he damaged him too much. Now, to what degree would be too much? Eh… Ten percent damage?

I let out a sigh. “Apologies, I’m just protective of my creation.”

“I understand, Princess.”

I nodded. “Alright, let’s get this started.”

I walked to the battle area, and Ripper floated behind me. Once I was in position, I positioned him in front of me, and his feet finally touched the ground.

“By the way, Father, am I included in this fight?”

“No, just your puppet. I want to see how effective your tools will be if it fights alone.”

Well, if I were involved, I would be able to keep disabling my opponent’s movement with my strings, even for a moment.

Onesto moved into position, his head now covered by his helm. He had no sword with him whatsoever. Normally, even with his class, he would need to have an actual sword. But not in this mock match, huh?

“Begin.”

Appearing in Onesto’s hand was a celestial sword. Ripper charged towards him, moving in a normal way, not a sign that it was a puppet on strings or anything. That seemed to surprise Onesto for a moment, perhaps he expected something else less normal.

Ripper opened ‌his metal claw and swung towards the knight. Onesto raised his sword and deflected the claws as he shifted sideways. Subsequently, he swung his blade at my puppet. Ripper stepped his leg back, shifting his body, evading the blade. At the same time, Ripper spun and did a kick at the enemy.

Onesto held out his sword to block the kick. I was not yet intervening, by the way; it was the… um, let’s just say, the AI of the puppet. Even I was a bit surprised he was reacting that well to an opponent. Onesto moved back for a moment for a reset, and leaped forward, thrusting his sword forward.

My puppet held out his arm, parrying the blade with the back of his left wrist. With that slight opening, Ripper took a step forward, and thrust his hand towards him. However, Onesto held out his left hand, and conjured a shield, and he deflected Ripper’s sharp hand away.

Ripper swiftly retreated as Onesto regained control over the situation. My puppet was way taller than him, but Onesto was still responding so well with an enemy of that size. As they exchanged attacks, Ripper swung his claws, Onesto attacked with his sword, and defended with his shield. Onesto dodged Ripper’s fist as he moved forward, and he slashed Ripper’s ankle.

My eye twitched the moment I saw the cut. However, he made a mistake. He assumed that something like that would work. Ripper was not human. He didn’t have any tendons or flesh or muscles. His movement was not based on his body part, it was not those that were making him move. It was my strings.

Ripper took the chance to swing his right hand backward towards Onesto, slamming it against him. Onesto blocked with his shield, but the impact was so strong that he staggered back. Taking the chance, Ripper attacked with his other hand, grasping the enemy’s shield and pulling it violently. Onesto instantly let go of it so he wouldn’t get dragged along.

The celestial weapon was thrown into the air and landed on the floor with a thud, gradually disappearing. Ripper swung his hands again, and Onesto seemed to have changed his tactic. Instead of recreating a shield, he conjured another sword in his free hand, and deflected Ripper’s attack.

Keep up the attack…

Ripper curled his hand and thrust his fist at Onesto, staggering him again after a block. My puppet swiftly moved to his back, intending to strike him down. However, as Ripper’s hand struck, a floating sword appeared and blocked his hand.

The floating sword then started swinging at him. I knew something like this was going to happen at any moment.

Onesto let go of one of his swords and sent it flying towards my puppet. Onesto had finally decided to use the Astral Forger as it was supposed to be. Therefore, I’d use how my puppet was supposed to be. I waved my hand, and Ripper suddenly moved in an inhumane way, now like a puppet. His body bent and curled at strange angles to swiftly evade the attacks. His feet barely touched the ground.

Surprised by the sudden change in the puppet’s movement, Onesto glanced at me, seeing me waving my hand, like a conductor to a choir. Unlike the puppet, I could see more of the enemy’s movement from here.

Onesto became more serious. He charged towards Ripper along with his floating swords. His swords swung and thrust and were thrown like spears. And I made Ripper dodge and dodge the attacks while keeping a charge forward. Ripper attacked with his gauntlets, even kicking with the legs. His movements were inhuman.

However, with every passing attack, Ripper was getting more cuts on his body. But I was relentless and kept on charging forward. There was no pain to be felt, after all. Until eventually, Onesto leaped upward. He suddenly dispelled a weapon and conjured a spear. It shot towards Ripper’s left arm, a little away from the gauntlets, and it pierced through the arm and impaled it on the floor.

I tried moving Ripper, but he was stuck. My eyes widened.

Onesto then followed by impaling Ripper’s right leg, locking him to the floor. I quickly went on to have Ripper remove the spear in his hand, but Onesto pierced it with his sword, through the elbow. He then proceeded to punch Ripper in the face with amazing strength. Ripper's head swayed back from the impact.

Ah!

I was shocked.

“That’s enough!” My father shouted, putting the battle to a stop.

I took a deep breath, feeling a bit frustrated.

Onesto dispelled all his weapons and stepped back. I rushed to check on Ripper’s condition and let out a sigh. At least they weren’t too bad.

“Thank you for keeping Ripper’s damage to a minimum, Sir Onesto.”

He removed his helm, showing his smile. “You fought magnificently, Princess. You were a difficult opponent.”

“Surely not,” I giggled. “You were holding back a lot, weren’t you?”

“Well, I had to resort to using more of my magic. So you were a troublesome opponent.”

My father walked up to me. “And yet you lost, daughter. Not unexpected. But was it you who took control of it in the last part?”

“Yes.”

“You may have been able to respond to attacks much better, but your puppet’s attacks became more rash and impatient. You did not withdraw when you had to. Next time, be calmer and be in more control of yourself. Don’t just attack and attack and attack. Better to be smarter than to let impatience and emotions get the better of you.”

“… Yes, Father.”

“And your weapon, your gauntlets, it’s not enough.”

Of course it would be… I still had my Astral Forger that I didn’t get to use.

But of course I would never use it in front of everyone.

“I understand, Father. I will make improvements.”

He was right, though. It was not enough. I needed to do more.

***

I arrived back in my room and materialized Ripper. I let out a sigh.

“I need to repair you. And afterward… I’ll give you an upgrade.”

A weapon upgrade.

No, not only his physical weapon, but him as well.