The Bored Noble Lady's Fresh Diversion! (3)
“Whoa whoa whoa! Amazing! So damn fast!!”
“Ehehe! Don’t stand up!”
After trading some petty barbs, Cecilia climbed onto my back, whining that we were wasting time. What an incredible lady she was. She’d flicked my horse balls earlier, and now here she was, riding me so brazenly. Turning her into my bitch only to end up getting dragged around like this? Yeah, that scared me off. Not my style at all.
Of course, a personality like hers had its charms, but she needed to be a meek little bitch around me, at least. Yeah. Still, it wasn’t just shameless looks she showed me—there were those glimpses of a bashful noble girl blushing here and there. My goal was to make that her default expression. Time to step up my game.
“How’s the speed, milady? Not too fast for you?”
“It’s fine! Haa... incredible~!! Way faster than that sick salamander Leo oppa let me ride~!”
What the hell? That sounded like something out of a villainess heroine’s script. Salamander? Sounded like some lizard monster from the name alone. Comparing me to a pathetic lizard...? That was too much.
Essentia’s monsters weren’t exactly built for riding in the first place—barely any could even carry someone, and the ones that could were all slow as shit. And she was comparing me to those losers? I didn’t know what Leo had her ride, but don’t lump a mere monster in with Jeong Sema! Cecilia! Whatever that Leo guy gave her, it couldn’t have shocked her more than I would!
“Already this deep into the forest... incredible...”
“Puhuhu. Like it, Lady Cecilia?”
“Hell yeah! Hey, Sema! Skip training from now on and just take me sightseeing other cities, yeah!?”
“Even I can’t go that far... If you want it so bad, beat me in a bet duel first.”
“...Tch. You’ll just run away like last time! Fight me with swords!”
“All tactics. Tactics.”
Huh? I figured she’d strut around all cocky, claiming she could win, but she was surprisingly compliant. Come to think of it, aside from our little spat today, she hadn’t been that arrogant. Hmm... Maybe that gut punch taught her I wasn’t a pushover?
“Oh yeah, you’re calling me by name now, huh? I figured you’d just brush off the bet as invalid or whatever.”
“What do you take me for? I’m a noble, even if I say so myself. I’m not gonna welch on a bet that petty.”
Well, damn... She actually honored her word. Starting to look better in my eyes, Cecilia. No more whining after losing bets, then. Perfect.
“...Hmph. Sounds like you’ve got no intention of losing.”
“Can’t just hand you the win. A whole month as your personal mount? That’s a big deal.”
“A month’s too short... Haa. Fine, whatever. I’ll just keep winning.”
How long do you think I’ll be your trainer? Not that I planned to quit until you became my bitch anyway... Jeez.
“...But damn, Divine Beasts live up to the name. Pretty impressive.”
Oh? What’s with Cecilia today? Did she like the ride that much? Wasn’t expecting this reaction.
“Well, yeah. Strength’s one thing, but this body’s built tough.”
“...Yeah, you don’t see muscles like that on humans... Not even Leo oppa the hero has ‘em.”
“That’s why all my clothes are custom-made. Regular stuff? Size aside, I can barely squeeze an arm in.”
“...Y-yeah... Your arms are crazy thick... Uh-huh...”
Huh? That subtle reaction. The way she squirmed. No way...?
...Heh heh heh. Yeah. She’s a grown bitch, after all—she couldn’t just brush it off. You’re no different, Cecilia. Just wait a bit. Once Seres is fully mine, you’re next...
“...Hey. About next training.”
“Yeah?”
“...No weapons... How about unarmed combat?”
“Huh? Unarmed?”
Whoa, didn’t see that coming... Unarmed? She’d just been admiring my muscles, and now she wants to spar without weapons?
Even with her level, a spar between a slender girl and a jacked monster? Unarmed? No contest.
“For real? Wait, Lady Cecilia, you got some martial arts training or something?”
“N-no, not that... I just... wanna learn how to fight monsters without weapons...”
“Heh... You were all ‘let’s bet’ earlier. Sounds like you’ve got no plans to win.”
“...I’m still betting! I could win!”
As if. Cecilia. My forearm’s five times thicker than yours. You, untrained? Against me? Body size alone puts me up against damn near anyone in Essentia unarmed. You’re average height—160cm or so—no crazy muscles, just a lean, toned athlete vibe from workouts.
Sure, Essentia’s got stats and skills, but without weapons? It’s all about weight class. What’s she banking on?
“Next duel’s looking like a sure loss for you. Can’t see myself going down unarmed against you, no matter how I slice it.”
“Ugh, just try it and see. I’m just curious how big the strength gap is with monsters.”
“Oh? Betting on an easy matchup like that... Feels like free lunch.”
What’s her deal? Some secret prep? Nah, doesn’t seem like it... It’s so stacked in my favor, it’s almost suspicious.
“...F-fine! But no using your hooves! Just stand there and use your hands!”
“There it is... Even then, I don’t see myself losing...”
“Shut up! You in or not!?”
“Puhuhu. If I win, we drop the formalities when it’s just us. Get ready.”
Yeah, she had something in mind. But oh well, Cecilia. Without weapons, your punches’ll just tickle. You haven’t grasped how tanky I am yet? Fine by me. I’ll take the easy win.
“...F-fine... It won’t be as easy as you think...”
“Think it over till next training. Unarmed seems a bit much... Anyway, time to head back?”
“Y-yeah...”
Putting her weird proposal aside, we’d looped Radia on our drive, and the sun was setting. Dropping Cecilia at the lord’s castle would hit perfect dinner time. Maybe hit Horse Hof and handle some work tonight...
Wait.
“...Huh? Lady Cecilia, what’s that?”
“Hm? What... Huh?”
Turning to exit the forest, something dark caught my eye on the ground inside. A massive pit-like mark standing out against the green-and-earth tones. Up close, black energy like rotting soil wafted up amid snapped trees. Like something huge had crashed and left a mark...
But the weirdest part? That smoky black aura rising...
...Feels like demon beast energy...
“...Demon beast energy. Why the hell’s it here...?”
“Kinda figured...”
But what made this massive crater? Too big for multiple beasts, too weird for one. Sure, there was that Jörmungandr last time, but that was special. My Demon Eye saw nothing—no beast, just traces?
Like a huge demon beast collapsed and vanished...?
“...Let’s head back fast. Gotta report this.”
“Yeah. No weapons on me right now anyway.”
Too risky to poke around. No bitches with me. No beasts nearby, but no slacking. That size... If it’s one beast, it’s a big bastard.
...If it’s a Hero Eater...?
A Hero Eater would buy us about 100 years, gut feeling. Gotta hunt it. 100 years? I could quit adventuring and live easy. Stockpile time early. Yeah. Grab weapons, soldiers, adventurers—come back geared. If it’s a Hero Eater, don’t run far. For my happy isekai life, I’ll smash you.