Please give the novel a rating or a review on NovelUpdates
———-

Chapter 103: Martina, So Fast She Was a Blur

“Why hasn’t Martina come down to eat yet? Normally she’s the first one at the table as soon as the food is served, but now even white bread can’t tempt her.” Nora picked up a drumstick and shoved it into her mouth.

The girl had been studying the Lightning Armor Forging Spell for several days.

During this time she ate half-heartedly, slept half-heartedly, and even skipped her baths, pouring all her energy into her studies.

It was obvious she had reached the point of literally forgetting to eat or sleep in her quest for strength.

Although Reiner also loved magic, he certainly had not gone this far.

“I’ll go upstairs and call her down,” Daisy said as she rose slowly.

Reiner reached out to stop her and said, “No need; let her mull it over. It’s rare for her to be so interested in something, and as long as she doesn’t starve, it’s fine.”

After finishing lunch and seeing that Martina still had not come downstairs, Reiner carried two slices of white bread upstairs himself.

Just as he was about to knock, a maniacal laugh drifted out of the room.

“Hahahahaha!”

Reiner knocked on the door and asked through it, “What’s up with you? Why are you laughing so lewdly all of a sudden?”

Martina opened the door; azure lightning crackled over her skin, and her hair stood on end like a hedgehog.

Her movements were so fast they left afterimages.

Without a doubt she had mastered the nerfed version of the Lightning Armor Forging Spell.

Learning such a slightly complicated spell in just a few days showed that, compared to Nora, her comprehension was actually pretty good.

After all, Nora still had not learned Fireball up to now.

She could recite the incantation fluently, yet for some reason she simply could not cast it.

“Honey, I’ve got it! I feel like I have endless strength right now!” She grabbed the white bread, took a huge bite, and mumbled, “Come on, come on, let’s go outside and spar.”

Reiner wiped away a tear and said in an aggrieved tone, “Did you study magic so hard just to beat up your husband? A woman’s hands are for conquering the world, not for hitting men; I’m heartbroken.”

The main thing was, he figured he probably could not beat her right now.

Before she learned Lightning Armor Forging, he might still have used Earthquake to counter her and restrict her movement.

But now, after a running start she could probably jump more than 20 meters, so Earthquake’s effect on her had become uncertain.

Martina paused, narrowed her eyes, and said, “It’s just a spar to test the real effect. I have to be stronger than anyone else so I can protect you.”

“That line should have come from me.”

The moment fell into silence.

In the bright afternoon sun Reiner took everyone outside the city, planning to spar with Martina and also test her strength after mastering Lightning Armor Forging.

All the way there Martina kept grinning foolishly, and her inner voice kept flowing into Reiner’s ears.

(Just thinking about pummeling Reiner in a bit makes me laugh.)

Reiner glanced at her and could not help teasing, “Do you really want to beat me up that badly?”

Martina flatly denied it. “No, I only want to spar.”

Yet her inner voice betrayed her at once.

(I’ll just smack him while we spar.)

Reiner narrowed his eyes.

When they reached the spot, Martina thrust her greatsword into the ground and began to warm up.

She chanted the incantation, then let out a roar and activated Lightning Armor Forging.

Junice let out a cry, pulled Elyanna and Nora onto a tree stump at the side, and widened her eyes to watch the fight.

Nora took half a slice of white bread from her pocket, munched on it happily, and then remembered to warn, “Martina, take it easy. Don’t go overboard and hurt Master.”

“Got it, I’ll hold back.” Martina retreated dozens of meters, putting distance between herself and Reiner.

“Back up a little farther and give me some reaction time.”

Martina nodded and stepped back a few more paces.

Roughly 30 meters now separated the two.

Reiner felt that this distance should be enough for him to react to Martina’s moves.

Martina wiped the smile from her face, and a chill swept through in an instant.

Martina was rather scary when she got serious.

Unfortunately for her, Reiner had already thought up a countermeasure.

The moment he imagined what he was about to do, he could not help smiling.

(He’s actually smiling. Could he have some trump card I don’t know about?)

“Aren’t you using Lightning Armor Forging? I’m really strong right now.” Martina clenched her fists and took a poised stance.

Reiner shook his head. “No need.”

He said to Junice at the side, “You be the referee.”

“Okay.”

Reiner silently recited an incantation, already preparing to cast a spell.

At Junice’s signal he unleashed Earthquake.

Martina, however, vanished from where she stood.

Reiner instinctively cast Radiant Barrier.

The instant the barrier formed, it caught a solid punch that sent ripples across its surface.

She had almost broken through the thing with her bare hands.

Martina’s movements were so fast they blurred, and Reiner’s eyes could hardly track her.

Terrifying.

Luckily he had made her step back a few meters; had she been any closer, he would not even have had time to react.

And Martina was only using her fists; in real combat, the instant Radiant Barrier would never stop her greatsword.

Their physical strength simply was not in the same league.

Back when Reiner used Lightning Armor Forging, he had never reached such an astonishing level; the gap was just too obvious.

“So fast.” Nora’s jaw dropped when she witnessed Martina’s speed.

Martina hammered the barrier a few times; when she saw she could not break it with her bare hands, she shouted in frustration, “Turtle!”

Reiner almost did not dare dispel the barrier.

“Can’t I just surrender? I can’t beat you.”

Martina puffed out her cheeks and said, clcounty unhappy, “That’s running away without a fight!”

“Come on, I can’t just stand here and let you use me as a sandbag, can I? We’ve only been together so long and you already want to commit domestic violence?”

Martina calmed down and said solemnly, “You use this spell too; let’s trade blows for real.”

Reiner sighed. “Then back up first. No sneak attacks. Wait till I’m ready, and don’t kill me… we still have a contract on us.”

Martina nodded.

Junice and Elyanna covered their eyes.

They already dared not watch anymore.

And so the referee role naturally fell to Nora.

Reiner also activated Lightning Armor Forging.

Once everything was set, Nora gave the signal.

Martina vanished again in an instant.

This time Reiner could see Martina’s movements, but they were still a notch slower.

Seeing a fist coming at his face, he reflexively protected his head, but out of the corner of his eye he caught Martina flashing to his side like lightning.

Done for.

Reiner closed his eyes and waited a few seconds, but Martina’s fist never landed.

Instead something soft brushed gently against his cheek.

Martina had kissed him…

———-
Support the Translation! 🌐✨

Your donations not only show appreciation but also keep the translator motivated! Every contribution helps continue bringing you more of what you love. Thank you for being a part of this journey! 💖

https://www.ko-fi.com/maxoofie