Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Hypnosis of Courage (3)
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"Sightseeing~! Indeed! Even if it's still a ways off! Stepping foot in a place we'll hit up later ahead of time isn't bad at all~!"
Smoothie caught on that Kalt had switched up his words while glancing at Nellis and nodded along enthusiastically.
"Then, Kalt~! Catch you at the auction~!"
Smoothie turned and headed back to where her own party was waiting.
After finishing up with the guild exchange, Nellis—who could barely hold back any longer—finally asked Kalt.
"Kalt! You're really going to the auction house?"
"Yeah. It won't hurt to swing by and check it out."
"Nellis, are you that excited about the auction house? There's nothing all that special there."
Scarlet, who had experience at auction houses thanks to her noble background, found Nellis's reaction pretty unfamiliar.
"It's an auction house! You know, legendary swords or promising gear might show up! Just browsing around sounds thrilling, doesn't it?"
"Yeah?"
Scarlet still didn't quite get it when Aria chimed in to back Nellis up.
"I'm a little excited about the auction house too. They say rare items come up, so I'm curious what'll appear."
Scarlet's reactions as a former noble differed inevitably from those of Nellis and Aria, who hailed from ordinary village life.
But.
"Well... if you two are that hyped about it, no harm in checking it out."
Scarlet didn't mind seeing her companions so eager and happy.
With the decision made to attend the auction in a week, Nellis brought up what she hadn't gotten to say yesterday to Kalt.
"Kalt! You know Tridia pretty well since you've been here before, right?"
"Somewhat?"
"Then... could you show us around some good sightseeing spots in Tridia?"
"Of course."
"Yay!"
And just like that, Nellis got her wish: Kalt guided her around all sorts of spots in Tridia.
First up, since lunch was nearing, they ate at a spot Kalt recommended. Then street performances in the bustling square, a jewelry shop that didn't help much in combat but caught the women's eyes, and more.
By the time they'd wandered everywhere, evening was already creeping in.
Satisfied with their tour, Nellis's party returned to the inn and went through their usual routine.
Before dinner, Kalt slipped into Scarlet's room to consult and double-check her training progress.
Once Scarlet's turn was done, he headed to Aria's room for consultation, progress on overcoming her trauma, and the new training added yesterday.
Ten minutes of getting used to Kalt staring directly at her intimate areas.
"Let's try getting accustomed to being viewed from behind this time."
"Yes... Kalt."
Aria turned around, sweeping her long nun's veil and the fabric covering her rear to the side, exposing her rear fully covered only by her bodysuit tights to Kalt.
"Aria, your butt has such a pretty line too."
"R-Really?"
Staring in silence for a full ten minutes was tough on both of them, so Kalt's occasional compliments about Aria's figure kept things going.
During those ten minutes of the new special training, Aria listened to Kalt's words and felt a subtle heat building in her body.
It was embarrassing, sure, but since it felt like her issues were steadily resolving, she had no desire to quit the special training.
If anything, she started wondering if there was something else that could make it even more effective.
Up to this point, it was no different from Kalt's usual training.
But starting today, Kalt planned to add a new step.
After dinner together.
Knock knock knock.
"Nellis."
Creeeak!
"Kalt?"
Kalt had come to Nellis's room.
"Mind if I come in for a bit?"
"O-Of course!"
Tridia, a commercial city where you could run into not just kobolds but other rank monsters.
This was where Kalt intended to begin Nellis's consultation.
"What's up, Kalt?"
"Figured it's about time we got started with you, Nellis."
"Started what?"
"The consultation."
"Ah..."
'It's finally my turn...!'
At the word "consultation," Nellis felt excitement bubbling up.
Aria and Scarlet had both undergone consultations and were visibly better off now, clear as day to Nellis's eyes.
But Kalt hadn't given her that sudden fix yet.
If anything, the training tips and advice he'd shared so far had her quietly assuming that was the consultation.
And now, an actual consultation!
Nellis convinced herself it was finally her turn and that she'd earned the right to one.
'Probably because I fight up front, he couldn't consult until I built up some skill!'
She'd come up with her own reasons for why her consultation had been delayed and accepted them.
"Yes! Let's start!"
Kalt sat right beside Nellis and said,
"Nellis, as you know, we'll be facing stronger monsters soon. Some of them C-rank ones you're still uneasy about."
"Yes."
"You're still scared to face off against foes stronger than you, right?"
"...Yes."
No matter how hard she tried to muster courage and fight through, this was one thing she couldn't shake.
Nellis sighed inwardly, lamenting how pathetic it was for a hero.
And toward such a Nellis.
"Nellis."
Kalt held out his hand.
"From now on, answer my questions honestly."
"...Yes."
Kalt decided to probe the root of Nellis's mental block first.
"Nellis, why are you scared when facing opponents stronger than you?"
"Because I might... get hurt. What if my blessing doesn't work... That fear creeps in, and once it does, it loops in my head, making my body shake..."
"I see. Is that still the only reason...?"
Kalt figured that since Nellis cherished her comrades so much, some new factor had layered onto her original issue.
And he was spot on.
"No... There's another reason now too. At first it was just me, but... now I imagine things after my blessing fails, and that terrifies me."
"Like what?"
"If I can't win and my blessing fails... gets pierced through, I'm scared Scarlet or Aria might get hurt..."
Normally, that fear and terror could fuel courage.
In fact, when they faced the Kobold King, Nellis thought of the villagers getting hurt and didn't back down.
But refusing to retreat was different from fear locking up her body.
And that overwhelming fear preventing her blessing from working properly was the core issue.
So.
'I can just use hypnosis to help her overcome that fear.'
Nellis had talent for it.
She just trembled in fear and couldn't fight properly.
She never actually fled.
That's why Kalt's hypnosis would amplify her courage and vividly remind her of the ones she wanted to protect.
Kalt shifted his hypnosis method so Nellis wouldn't remember his words and continued.
"Nellis, every time you repeat the special training I describe, you'll gain more courage."
"Cour... age..."
"Courage to stand against foes stronger than you. As that courage grows, your body will stop trembling. And you'll strongly believe your blessing can definitely protect you and your comrades."
"Protect... comrades..."
"That's right. You're a hero. Courage born from wanting to protect others becomes your power."
"Courage... is power..."
After implanting the hypnosis to resolve her core issue, Kalt let her remember his words again and continued.
"Nellis, now I'll teach you the training method. Repeat this, and you'll gain at least a bit more 'courage.'"
"Yes... Kalt."
"Your problem boils down to feeling fear when facing someone you think is stronger. And that fear grows the closer they are, right?"
"Yes..."
"Then let's do special training where you're pinned down up close by a powerful foe and resist, mustering courage. We'll build your 'courage' through the training I came up with. Got it?"
"Yes... Kalt..."
Kalt withdrew his hand.
"Good. Now I'll explain the special training. Listen closely, okay?"
"Ah... Yes! I'll pay attention to every detail, Kalt!"
Remembering only that Kalt was giving her special training to boost her 'courage,' Nellis burned with enthusiasm.
And.
"Uh, K-K-Kalt. I-Is this... the special training?"
"That's right."
Nellis was utterly flustered as she underwent the special training Kalt was demonstrating.
Special training to build courage while pinned down up close by a powerful foe.
To Nellis, the only powerful being around was Kalt, of course.
So she'd imagined it'd be something like Kalt restraining her arms while she lay prone.
But what Kalt did was different from her expectations.
Well, up to grabbing her arms, it was similar.
She'd pictured both her hands bound together in a restraint hold.
What Kalt did looked more like a thug pouncing on a woman.
Lying on the bed, Nellis's both wrists gripped firmly in Kalt's hands, her legs splayed frog-like, Kalt's thighs clamping down hard to fix her in place.
Not pressing into her intimate areas, sure, but it looked plenty embarrassing from the outside.
"I-Is this really special training!?"
"Stay still just like that, Nellis."
Kalt flashed his usual gentle smile.
Then.
He unleashed a chilling wave of killing intent.
"...!"
The ferocious aura pouring from Kalt transformed Nellis's flustered mind in an instant into pure terror of being utterly helpless, pinned by a superior predator.