Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Hypnosis of Courage (4)
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No matter how embarrassing the position was, the menacing aura radiating from Kalt was all too real.
"Haa, haa, haa."
Just the killing intent alone made it feel like she'd suddenly been thrown into the heat of an intense battle, and the realization that Kalt—someone far stronger than her—was now facing her off head-on gripped Nellis's heart tightly.
A normal person might panic, get startled, or freeze up in stunned silence at such a sudden shift in this kind of pose, but Nellis was different.
Her inherent mental issues triggered the same reactions she'd have when facing a superior opponent, even in this position.
Normally, she wouldn't run from a strong foe, but being this close up made the fear surge even more overwhelmingly.
"Eek! Ugh!"
Overwhelmed by the urge to flee and the desperate wish to escape this state, Nellis tried to break free from the position right away.
She pushed against his arm and kicked her legs, struggling to get away from Kalt.
But Kalt didn't budge an inch.
The hand gripping her wrist, and the thigh pinning her leg down, held her fast with unyielding strength, not letting her escape even a fraction.
"Nellis."
"Eep…!"
"I know it's tough right now. But you need to get used to this sensation and build the resolve to overcome it."
"K-Kalt… s-sir…."
Kalt's voice carried a cold edge somewhere in it.
But the words themselves were still the caring Kalt, thinking of her.
'R-Right. This is tr-training. Training to face someone stronger than me without getting scared, and to properly unleash my power…!'
Her teeth chattered uncontrollably from the relentless exposure to his killing intent, cold sweat poured down, and her heart pounded like a drum.
"Stay like this, Nellis. Get accustomed to the feeling until you can muster your courage."
"C-Courage…!"
Nellis clenched her teeth hard and nodded.
"Yes!"
And so the special training directed at Nellis continued for five minutes.
Kalt stopped only when he judged that five minutes had pushed her to her limit.
Her courage was growing bit by bit, but this was still just the first try.
Kalt figured this was enough for now.
"Haa, haa, haa, haa."
After the training ended, Nellis was drenched in sweat.
Not from vigorous exercise, but purely from cold sweat.
Even the bedsheets were soaked on the surface from her perspiration.
"Nellis, you okay?"
"Y-Yes, I'm fine, Kalt sir."
Nellis was grateful that Kalt was checking on her.
At the same time, it hit her again just how severe and pathetic her issues were.
I can do this.
She'd resolved to push through Kalt's special training, and yet here she was, right after.
'C-Can I really overcome this with Kalt sir's training?'
It wasn't doubt in Kalt, but self-loathing at her own pitifulness.
Still, she had no intention of giving up.
"Nellis, go wash up first. I'll tell the innkeeper to swap out the sheets."
"Yes. Thank you, Kalt sir."
Two days later, the Nellis Party set out not for the tentacle boar's subjugation, but to clear out the lizardmen infesting a dungeon near the commercial city of Tridia.
"Hoo…."
Arriving at the dungeon entrance, Nellis exhaled a tense breath.
'Finally, fighting a Difficulty C monster.'
The thought of battling a monster she considered stronger than herself made her nervous.
On top of that, Nellis had bad memories about Difficulty C monsters.
When she'd partied up with Scarlet and Aria before, thinking she'd gotten stronger, she'd taken a Difficulty C monster subjugation request.
But after taking just one hit from the Difficulty C monster, Nellis realized immediately.
Oh, this monster's stronger than me.
The moment that clicked, her mental issues flared up.
Luckily, Scarlet had noticed something off with Nellis from the rear and unleashed a barrage of spells to finish the monster.
Thinking back on it still made her shiver, but Nellis steeled herself.
'Kalt sir's here now. And the training's showing progress.'
Yesterday's second session, she'd lasted a full minute longer than the first.
Nellis could definitely feel courage budding inside her compared to that initial training.
That's why, at the dungeon entrance, Nellis psyched herself up and shouted.
"Let's go!"
And the Nellis Party ventured into the dungeon.
The dungeon.
It was a place called one of the world's mysteries.
A wondrous site that periodically spawned infinite numbers of certain monster types.
Not only that, but stepping inside unfolded a space perfectly suited to those monsters—a true enigma.
At the deepest part of each dungeon lay a chamber housing a powerful monster known as the dungeon boss, sealed off by a door.
Why the doors existed, and why every dungeon had a boss, remained unsolved riddles.
The environment of this dungeon, where the Nellis Party had entered and lizardmen primarily spawned, was a swamp.
Trees dotted the area, but the ground was damp and soggy.
Squelching mud welcomed the adventurers.
"Nellis, I'll handle the lizardmen first, so get ready. Got it?"
"Yes, Kalt sir!"
"We'll take turns fighting again?"
"Yeah, Difficulty C isn't something we need to swarm all at once."
After moving a short way in, the Nellis Party encountered two lizardmen with green skin, yellow eyes glinting, clutching spears in both hands.
"Nellis, watch closely!"
As promised, Kalt kicked off the squelching ground and charged at the lizardmen.
Hearing the squelch, the lizardmen whipped their heads toward the incoming enemy.
Their thrusts came hurtling at Kalt.
Two spears lanced toward him, but to Kalt, the attacks were laughably slow.
He could dodge and sever their necks in an instant if he wanted, but his goal now was to demonstrate model combat for Nellis.
Given Nellis's Blessing power, a more rough-and-tumble style suited her.
Kaang!
Kalt first swung his sword to deflect one incoming spear.
Then he grabbed the shaft of the remaining one and yanked it inward.
The lizardman couldn't resist Kalt's strength and was pulled forward as Kalt swung again.
Sslash!
'Nice feel to it.'
The old man's sharpened blade sliced effortlessly through the lizardman's hide, even as a Difficulty C monster.
The surviving lizardman readjusted its grip and tried to thrust again.
Kalt released the spear shaft, closed the distance before it could attack, and swung.
The second lizardman collapsed into the mud without even a chance to counter.
"Wow…."
Watching from behind, Nellis couldn't help but marvel at Kalt's skill.
Using the enemy's weapon as a tool to take it down—who'd have thought?
For Nellis, who usually dodged or blocked first before swinging in normal fights, it was a fresh approach.
While mining the magic stones, Kalt asked Nellis.
"How'd my fight look just now, Nellis?"
"Amazing!"
"Anything else?"
"Um… I didn't know you could grab the monster's weapon."
"Remember it well. You can adapt this in all sorts of ways with your skills."
"A-Adapt it?"
"Yeah. With your Blessing, you can grab and pull even sharp or pointy weapons."
"Ah! That's what you were showing me!"
"Might be scary or impossible now, but think hard about how to apply your abilities. Alright, your turn next."
"Yes! Kalt sir!"
'Great, I'll show Kalt sir something awesome!'
Moments later, by a stroke of luck for Nellis, they ran into a lone lizardman.
"Hooo…."
Standing before it herself, Nellis's hands trembled.
Facing a monster not remotely weaker than her, she still felt the fear.
But.
I can face it…!
The power gained from Kalt's training.
The courage to confront stronger monsters and wield her Blessing was now within her.
It wasn't quite enough yet.
The fear was still fear, her arms still shaking.
But she could endure it.
Hold out.
She wasn't helplessly powerless like before.
For Nellis, who knew full well how bad her symptoms had been, this situation brimmed with hope.
"Haaah!"
To steel herself further, Nellis let out a spirited shout and advanced.
Kalt stayed ready to jump in if needed.
The lizardman snapped its head around, spotted Nellis, and thrust its spear.
I can dodge!
No matter how Kalt had shown the adaptation, that worked best once she'd fully overcome her fears.
Nellis decided to fight in her most confident style first.
Thanks to never skipping Kalt's daily training, she sidestepped the visible spear thrust.
Right after dodging, she charged in to close the gap and swung her sword per Kalt's teachings.
Sslash!
-Kyaaah!
Nellis's blade pierced the lizardman's scales and gashed its belly.
'Shallow! But… it connected! My attacks work on this monster! I can take it down…!'
Her newfound courage, combined with her growing skill, fueled her further.
Nellis traded blows with the lizardman several times.
She focused fully, dodging attacks and swinging her sword.
She didn't finish it quickly.
It wasn't an easy win.
Still, her new Alexcaliber Neo reliably carved through scales and flesh alike.
"Haa! Haa!"
Finally, Nellis felled a Difficulty C monster on her own.
"Y-Yes!"
Nellis cried out in.
Watching the scene, Kalt felt a swell of pride.
Seeing the fledgling hero Nellis absorb his lessons and grow step by step was deeply rewarding.