47. Fam's Sword and Myra's Melancholy
The journey had entered its third day.
Training started again this morning as usual. I'd thought Aver might ban me after yesterday, but the moment she saw me, she grinned. Had she awakened to the joys of exhibitionism or something?
The group was the same as yesterday. Ira was there again in case someone got hurt. I'd only asked her for yesterday, but it looked like she'd keep watching over our training from here on out.
"Today, it'll be Mash and Fam versus Mizuki and Beers."
Aver announced.
"Master, the day has come to settle the score for all those daily grudges."
Even Fam saying that to me was a pretty shocking accusation.
"You hold a grudge against me too...? What the hell kind of guy is your master?"
"I was imitating Mizuki. I do harbor a little resentment, so allow me to vent it."
"..."
Maybe I shouldn't let Fam get any closer to Mizuki if it's for her own good.
"Just kidding. I want you to see the results of my daily training."
"From today on, you're wearing these."
Aver handed me an iron helmet and gauntlets. I'd only ever equipped leather armor before, so this was my first time with iron gear.
The helmet wasn't a full-face type. It was similar to the hard hats construction workers wore back in my old world. When I put it on, it felt heavy, and my neck didn't sit right. The gauntlets restricted my wrist movement, making everything feel sluggish. But with these, neither giving nor taking hits would cause any real injury. I wished she'd given them to me yesterday. Then I could've beaten Mizuki for sure.
"They don't suit you, Master," Fam said.
"They don't suit you either."
She looked the same—wobbly, almost comical. Like the helmet was walking on its own.
"Hmph, you're laughing."
She took up a wooden stick in a proper guard stance. Middle guard, just like me. She planned to fight in the same style.
"Alright, today I'll settle my own daily grudges too."
I mirrored her stance.
"Eh? You hold a grudge against me?"
"Heh heh heh, it's a secret."
I closed the distance in a flash, stepping into one-foot, one-sword range.
Fam thrust her stick's tip to check my advance and pin my weapon.
I ignored it and pressed closer, ramping up the pressure on her.
Fam got impatient and committed to her strike.
I circled my tip counterclockwise, wrapping and disarming her weapon.
It landed perfectly timed—her stick flew from her hand and hit the ground.
"Eh?"
Stunned and defenseless, I gave her helmet a light tap.
The match was decided.
"I don't really get what happened."
Fam muttered.
"That was after-blow. You got hit first by me. I timed it for that opening and wrapped your weapon away with my tip."
I demonstrated the motion again.
"Like a sword master. So cool!"
Fam was thrilled. I was happy to be praised too.
"If we're wearing armor and fighting in the same style, I might actually be stronger right now."
Her swordplay was too honest—no feints, no mixing real and fake moves. She'd catch on eventually and surpass me soon enough.
"I've got plenty of little tricks like that."
"Teach me!"
"Well, not sure if they'll work in real combat."
As I chatted with Fam, Aver approached.
"You're used to this kind of sparring, huh?"
Aver said.
"Yeah, I've done it plenty. But it's not really practical for real fights."
"Good. Then spar with me today. I'll drill you until it is."
Aver swung her wooden stick around, testing its feel.
"Wait, I just finished a match."
"You'll be fine. You haven't swung once today, right?"
Aver grinned.
"Come to think of it, I never asked your class, Aver."
"Warrior. Level 52."
"..."
No way I could win. Was there even a goblin out there that could make her yell, "Ugh, kill me!"?
After that, I sparred with her and got pummeled until I was battered and bruised. I targeted her bikini armor's weak spots relentlessly, but never even grazed her.
Felt like she had it out for me.
The caravan pushed through the forest. The usual rattling sway.
Nothing happening. Boring. At this rate, I was half-tempted to raid the caravan ourselves.
Myra and I sat at the back of the wagon, keeping watch on the rear.
I looked up at the sky. Overcast today. Rain might be coming soon.
I spread my arms wide toward the clouds. Storm, come forth! But if it really did, it'd suck, so just kidding.
"...What are you doing?"
Myra asked. Her tone felt a bit chilly.
"Does it rain in this world?"
"Of course it does."
Her words carried a frosty edge, or so it seemed.
"...You mad or something?"
"Extremely."
"..."
"I was supposed to be your second girlfriend after Fam. But without me knowing, you went after Mizuki, Cecily, Ira... and even kissed Claire. I just want to cry."
"Sorry."
No excuses, so I apologized straight up. Mizuki wasn't around now, so maybe I could grope her chest?
I scooted closer to Myra. She noticed and scooted toward me too. Our shoulders to hips pressed tight. Her body heat felt so good.
"Look at me more."
Myra whispered.
I was about to poke her chest with my index finger when Cecily rode up from the reserves to the tail end.
"Hmph." The timing was so bad, it slipped out.
"'Hmph'? What?"
Cecily caught it with her sharp ears and protested.
"Nah, just checking if your motion sickness is okay."
"Yes, thanks to you. Aver said rain might come, so be careful. That's the message."
"Got it."
Was it because I jinxed no rain? Or that pose earlier?
I glanced at the sky. Still cloudy but bright—no rain imminent. Though it felt a bit darker than before.
Cecily hung back a little at the rear.
"Still, it was strange. I'd heard men like Mash, who go after one girl after another, lose interest once they've had sex with them. I figured my turn would come eventually."
Myra murmured.
"Hey! You okay with a guy like that?"
I worried for her future.
"But you're always so attentive to the ones you've slept with."
Like the saying about not feeding a caught fish? Nah, I wanted to keep 'em all. Letting any go? Unthinkable. Impossible.
"...Don't wanna be hated. Cecily and Ira had no choice but to tag along, but I still don't fully get why Fam or Mizuki stick with me."
The day they got fed up terrified me. Myra sighed deeply at that. Come to think of it, she might be the only one with a clear reason to follow.
"I want to be treasured as much as Fam or Mizuki."
"Nah, you're the one I treasure most."
I hadn't even touched her yet.
"...That has nothing to do with romance, does it?"
Myra eyed me suspiciously.
"Wanna go on a date sometime?"
"R-Really?!"
"Any preferences?"
"Well... somewhere without... no, away from Fam, Mizuki, Ira, or Cecily. Maybe dive into a dungeon only my level can reach...?"
An ominous vibe settled in. Where was Rishel church's sweet big sis?
"...Hey, no scary places like that. Town. Town's fine. Fulft's a port town—bound to have something."
"Right. They have two-person rowboats. We could take a tour. Promise?"
"Yeah. Looking forward to it."
If it was a swan boat, it'd be embarrassing, but her mood seemed to lift, so I kept quiet.
"Fulft has river fish. I'd love grilled skewers with ale."
"You drink?"
"Better than Ira, but not much."
"..."
I recalled the dwarf guy. Aidan's influence? And Ira chugging booze like water on our last day in Rishel. Hope she was the cheerful type.
"Oh yeah, something to tell you, Myra."
"What?"
"Next village or town with an inn, I'm summoning Rakushel."
"F-Finally meeting Lady Rakushel?!"
Myra nearly jumped up and fell off the wagon. I grabbed her arm to steady her. It stung a little that she was more excited than about our date.
"S-Sorry. Is it really true? Can I join?"
"Yeah."
"Thank you!"
"No need for thanks."
Summoning a total sleaze. Her image of the goddess might shatter. Really no thanks needed.
"Gotta ask Rakushel some things."
"Right. Like what the Demon King is. Why we have to defeat it. Any deadline? What happens if we do? Why do transferred heroes have to fight each other...? That stuff?"
"Spot on. Count on you."
"Why me?"
"You can resist Rakushel's charm."
"...Yeah."
She nodded after a pause. Sensing something off, maybe.
"If possible, her location, weaknesses, invincible cheat codes, exploits, or overpowered glitches to beat it easy."
"...Some of that makes no sense, but you're not turning me into your errand girl?"
Busted.
"Ask whatever you want too."
"Okay. Like the war of the myths. Why summon heroes from other worlds at all?"
Fair point. Just give special skills to locals and mission accomplished.
"After summoning, I'll sleep till noon next day, so handle Fam's support too."
"No mana potions?"
It felt off—depletion and recovery sensations clashing creepily. Natural recovery felt like it boosted total mana, like super muscle recovery.
"Emergencies only. Can't resummon for a while anyway. Useless post-summon, so ignore me."
"I see. How long between summons?"
"Feels like days till mana or stamina returns. Should test it though..."
Poor Rakushel, but worth trying.
As we talked, the wagon stopped.
"Lead's halted up ahead."
Cecily called from the rear.
"I'll check it out."
She spurred her horse forward.
Myra and I hopped off. Whistle for emergencies—no signal, so not that.
Couldn't see much from here.
Rain started falling.
"Let's go see."
Myra nodded.
"I'll tell Fam and the others inside."
We dashed to the lead wagon.
Aver and Beers stood there.
Cecily glared down hatefully from horseback.
Trees blocked the path. Area ravaged—like something huge had gouged it out.
There lay a black panther beastkin woman.