Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 56: Time for Growth

"Ugh. Olivia."

"Zzz... Zzz..."

"She’s got some wild sleeping habits too."

When I opened my eyes, Olivia’s arm was draped across my face. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thought she’d be a quiet sleeper, but her tossing and turning was right up there with a drunken Yuria.

Maybe it’s because she finally feels at ease.

I washed the face of the half-awake Olivia, helped her dress, and headed out. Today, I planned to take her to the Bard Academy. Holding her hand, I walked through the streets and entered a building where the sound of music drifted out.

This was the Bard Academy—the hub where all the musicians of the Labyrinth City gathered. We managed to get an audience with the academy’s director.

"I’d like her to learn the lute."

"A blind girl? That’s a bit difficult."

"Are you looking down on her because of her disability?"

"No, it’s not that. Teaching the blind requires close physical contact. To guide someone who can't see, you have to physically hold their hands."

"Close contact, huh..."

"Exactly. From the looks of it, this slave girl is your... what do you call it? Lover? Something like that. It’s a bit awkward for another man to be that close to her. Feelings aren't that hard to spark, you know. A spark can fly just from touching hands."

"Wait, what are you saying?!"

Preposterous! To think the Bard Academy was a den of homewreckers.

"Hey now, why are you shouting? I’m giving you a serious warning. A good voice is a basic requirement for a bard. If a man with a beautiful voice is whispering in her ear while pressed right up against her, do you think her heart will stay closed or not?"

"Hmph."

The conversation with the director was horrifying. He explained that the fundamental requirements for a bard were good looks and a pleasing voice. Male bards who met those two criteria were essentially walking cuckold-makers.

Those bastards. So these were the sons of bitches responsible for the epidemic of cheated husbands in the Labyrinth City.

"Dammit."

"U-Um..."

"Huh? Oh, sorry. No, it’s just... it makes me mad. Hearing that they go around hitting on women using their faces and voices. Doesn't it make you mad?"

"I... I won't fall for another man."

"Oh, I know that. I trust you. I trust you, Olivia, but I don't trust those thirsty bard bastards."

The director was right. When a man and a woman are in close proximity, sharing a musical connection, it’s only natural to want to hold hands, kiss, and eventually sleep together. Singing and dancing are the most fundamental forms of courtship in human history. The desire to have the child of someone who sings and dances well is hardwired into human DNA.

I could order a slave not to look at another man, but I couldn't control her heart. I didn't want to give her a reason to harbor feelings for someone else.

"Sigh. The Bard Academy is out. I can't leave you in a den of men like that."

"Are you... worried about me?"

"Of course. You’re mine. It pisses me off to think of some random guy touching what’s mine."

If some nameless bastard touched a brand-new slave I bought for 22 gold without my permission, there’d be one more corpse to count ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the Labyrinth City. I didn't want to have to clean up a body. More importantly, if I decided to kill someone, I could make them disappear without a trace. I could just toss the evidence into my subspace pocket and forget about it; no one would ever find the body.

"Hehehe..."

As I fumed, Olivia clung to my arm even tighter. I wasn't sure ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠what she found so amusing, but she seemed happy, so I suppose that was a good thing.

"Hmm. If you’re dead set on teaching her an instrument, there is one other place I know."

"Really? Where?"

"They don't specialize in instruments, but they have the skills to teach."

"And where is that?"

"The Druid Club."

"The Druid Club?"

The word 'club' made it sound a bit underwhelming. Not a circle or a guild, but a club?

"Yes. It’s a group nearly as large as the Witch Coven. Various races gather there to exchange culture and techniques. There are many druids there who know how to play instruments."

Given the nature of druids—who tend to avoid deep human relationships—it made sense they’d form a 'club' that could be disbanded at any time.

"Is it safe there?"

"Most guys who want to be bards are ultimately after women. Druids are different. They’re... refined? Or perhaps just socially awkward. That’s just how druids are. They’re closer to nature than the human world. They value spiritual connection over physical relations. Even if a spark flies, it usually ends at a spiritual level."

It sounded like a much safer place to have Olivia taught than the Bard Academy.

Horaru didn't have much interest in romance or human relationships either.

Horaru was only interested in honey. Thinking that even someone like Horaru was a member of the Druid Club gave me some peace of mind. If he hadn't been mind-controlled by that Warlock, he would have been a perfectly harmless bear.

"Alright, I understand. I’ll check out the Druid Club."

"Good. Safe travels. Oh, and try to avoid the slums. I heard there was a gruesome murder there."

I nodded at the director’s words and left the academy. In a way, that man was a lifesaver. He’d prevented a disaster before it could happen. If I had unknowingly left Olivia among those bards, something bad might have happened to her, and I might have ended up killing a bard.

"This must be the Druid Club."

"What does the building look like...?"

"It’s covered in trees and plants. It’ll probably have a lot of bugs in the summer."

I didn't know this area well since I rarely visited, but I was surprised to see such a building. Actually, rather than a building, it looked like a house carved directly out of a massive tree. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Trees grew out of trees, and flowers and plants were overgrown everywhere. It was a structure that felt completely detached from the surrounding architecture.

"Ooh? Sion!"

"Oh! Horaru!"

"Hellooo. Who’s the girl next to you?"

"Ah, this is Olivia. I brought her along this time."

"Aha."

Horaru nodded after seeing the collar around Olivia’s neck. Even without saying it, the collar made it clear she was a slave.

"What brings you here? Hiring a druid? Want help?"

"No, it’s not that. I want to teach this girl an instrument."

"Ooh? An instrument? Don't you know where the Bard Academy is?"

"Well, I don't really trust those bard guys."

"Aha... because she’s a girl. I get it. I understand. Follow me."

This was lucky. Having an acquaintance made things much easier. Olivia and I followed Horaru to the room at the far left of the second floor of the Druid Club. As we approached, I heard the sound of the lute Olivia had mentioned. It was a very soothing performance. While bards played somewhat flashily to draw attention, the person in that room seemed to play simply because they loved the music.

"Tiny. It’s me."

"Hmm? Horaru?"

When the door opened, a small badger was sitting in a chair. It was my first time seeing a badger beastman. The ratio of beastmen among druids was overwhelmingly high.

"Here. This guy is a master of string instruments."

"Nice to meet you. I’m Sion. This is Olivia."

"Wait... Horaru. Who are these humans?"

"This blind friend wants to learn an instrument."

"And so you introduced her to me?"

"Yeah. You’re good at string instruments."

"...Look, Horaru... I’ve already greeted two new people this month. Expanding my social circle any further makes me dizzy."

"Sion here is my savior. I would’ve died in the labyrinth if not for him. Please help him out."

"Haaaaah..."

The badger beastman named Tiny set down the lute he was holding and reached out toward Olivia and me.

"If you’re Horaru’s savior, I suppose I have no choice. I am Tiny. Just a commoner who knows a bit about instruments."

The moment we shook hands, I knew. He was no 'commoner.' This guy was a hidden master.

"So. I just need to teach this blind lady an instrument?"

"Yes. She’s quite a good singer."

"Is that so? Hmm. Could you sing a short verse for me?"

"Olivia, can you?"

"Yes... Um, what song should I sing...?"

"Your favorite one."

"Okay...!"

Olivia cleared her throat and sang High Hops a cappella. It was a song in a language no one but Olivia and I knew, but Tiny and Horaru immediately closed their eyes and took in the melody.

"...."

"How was it?"

"Was that a song from your homeland?"

"Uh... yes..."

It was a song from Earth, so technically, it was from her homeland.

"We shall begin lessons immediately. She has excellent talent."

Tiny nodded and declared the start of the lessons. He seemed to have taken a real liking to Olivia’s singing. He even said he wouldn't take a tuition fee, claiming he had a pure desire to teach her.

"Fufu. I’ve never seen Tiny react like that."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He’s a blunt person who doesn't show much emotion. He must have liked it. She sings well."

"I’m glad."

Horaru also praised Olivia’s singing. I knew she had potential.

"I’ll come pick you up later. Study hard."

"Yes...!"

With Horaru there and Tiny being the blunt, craftsman type, I felt I could trust them. Still, I felt a bit like a father. Why did I feel so good just because Olivia was being praised?

Now then...

It was time for me to head to the Martial Arts Hall. I had to receive warrior training from Gon, the muscular barbarian who looked like he’d be suspiciously good at Rock-Paper-Scissors.

"Sion! You’re here."

"Rika. You’re here today too."

"My body was itching for a workout; I couldn't help myself."

When I arrived at the Martial Arts Hall, Rika was in the middle of lifting weights. Judging by how soaked in sweat she was, she’d been at it for a while.

"Is your lesson starting today?"

"Yes. I need to train hard starting today. But it looks like Gon isn't here yet. I guess he’s still eating."

"I see. Then do you want to work out with me for a bit?"

"Should I warm up?"

"Good, good. Here, take these dumbbells."

Rika seemed happy to have a workout buddy and started showing me the proper form. Since I had zero gym experience, I followed her instructions, and soon my back and side muscles were screaming.

"Good. Very good. Back muscles are important. If your posture breaks, the enemy will get you. That’s it. One more. Good. One more!"

"Gaaah...!!!!"

"That’s it! Can you feel the muscles tightening?"

"They’re... they’re tightening...!"

"That’s it! That’s exactly it. Good. Sion, let’s increase the weight. More. More!"

"Are you crazy...!!!"

Rika was insane. She was trying to push me to my absolute limit!

"Hmm. Not bad. Female Knight, have you been training long?"

"Huh? Oh. I’ve been trained since I was a child."

"I see. Very good. Yes, Sion. That’s it. One more from there."

"Ugh... Gon... you too..."

Before I knew it, Gon had returned from lunch and was standing with Rika, observing my movements. The two of them were perfectly in sync.

"A warrior must have plenty of muscle. Only with muscle can you endure being stabbed by a sword."

"Exactly. Gon is right. With enough muscle, you have the underlying strength to endure even if your bones break."

"Precisely. As this knight says, the most important thing is overwhelming muscle. Technique? Your muscles have to keep up first. Let’s build your stamina too. Thirty laps around the training ground after this."

"Fuck...!!!"

Exercise, and more exercise.

"The only thing better than muscle is bigger muscle!"

"Move. Even if you fall, get back up and hit the weights."

"Hey. Is this brat resting right now?"

"Is this why you paid money to come to the Martial Arts Hall? It’s a waste of gold. Stand up."

"Kuaaa...!!!"

"Endure it with grit."

"This is the path of the warrior you chose. Bear it."

"How about we increase the weight?"

"Sion, you can do it, right? No need to answer."

"You bastards... stop it!!!!"

"Muscles only grow when they're torn."

"It’s important to push them until they’re on the verge of destruction. We are specialists."

"It hurts, doesn't it? That pain will make you strong."

"Pain that doesn't kill you will ultimately elevate you to a higher level. Pick up the dumbbells."

"Sion. You can do it. Just one more."

"Stretching is important too. Let’s loosen those muscles."

"Kuaaaaaaaa!!!!!"

Pain.

Agony.

And muscle.

At some point, the voices of those two were replaced entirely by the word 'muscle' in my ears. Was this even exercise? This was torture.

"Isn't it?"

"What are you babbling about? You’ve rested for five minutes. Stand up."

"Ugh."

Tears fell. Or perhaps it was just sweat.