Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Journey (6)
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Three days had passed since we left Aruru's hometown.
We put our trust in the princess and were enjoying a comfortable journey by carriage.
That was the root of the problem.
Leaving everything to one person tends to breed strange ideas…
“There's something I need to discuss. I need your agreement.”
Esterize stopped the carriage and brought up something unexpected.
“There’s a fork in the road up ahead. If we go straight, it'll take less than two days to reach the hot spring village. If we take the long way, it'll be about four.”
“Then, of course, we should go straight…”
“It’s an area infested with A-rank monsters.”
“—??”
You didn't…
You didn't deliberately head this way, did you?
A mischievous smile played on her lips.
A subtle air of smugness.
It seemed she had no intention of hiding her true motive.
The highlight of any journey is the unexpected.
It would be a shame to miss out on some combat.
With that kind of attitude, she was forcing a choice upon us.
“We’ve finally formed a party. Wouldn't it be a good idea to get some real combat experience and work on our coordination?”
Right, that's who you were…
The sense of accomplishment from achieving something with comrades.
She clearly yearned for that camaraderie.
“If we hunt some monsters, we'll have an excuse to return later.”
She wasn't wrong.
We didn't just slack off.
We engaged in various real battles. It was a valuable experience.
That's how we'd have to write the report.
We needed achievements to get a good evaluation.
“Hmm, that makes sense. We should push through.”
“Life is about moving forward. We can't hesitate for a single moment!”
“…”
The girls strongly agreed.
It seemed they wanted to arrive as soon as possible.
Are you that eager to see my bare skin?
As if confirming it, they all turned to look at me.
The atmosphere wasn't one that would change just because I objected.
“Alright. If that’s what everyone thinks, we have no choice but to face it…”
I belatedly checked the sign.
Along with a warning of danger, there was a drawing of a large lizard.
“…”
The habitat of the A-rank monster, the Drake.
I had a feeling this was going to be a lot of trouble…
* * *
The Drake is an A-rank monster.
Excluding the few S-rank monsters, it was among the strongest.
It resembled a lizard in shape, but its size was immense.
Like a tank or a large bus…
A creature that ordinary humans could not dare to oppose.
Not all monsters are evil, but…
this one was clearly nothing but trouble.
Well, it's fine for them to live among themselves here.
But there were times when the Demon King's Army would brainwash them to increase their numbers.
If a horde of Drakes were to attack, even a division-sized force would be helpless.
Knights, mages, and the like.
While they could be stopped by mobilizing elite personnel, it would be a tremendous loss in itself.
In other words, it was best to eliminate them when possible.
But it's so big! How are we supposed to take that thing down?
The Drake's nickname was the "Crawling Dragon."
Of course, it couldn't compare to a real dragon, but it was still beyond common sense.
“Anyone here ever hunted a Drake? It’s everyone’s first time, right?”
Nod, nod.
As soon as she confirmed our reactions.
Esterize stepped forward, saying she would give a demonstration.
The princess, anticipating battle,
had changed into more comfortable clothes.
A combination of short shorts and white over-the-knee socks.
It suited her surprisingly well.
It highlighted her vibrant nature, I suppose.
If she'd dressed like this from the start, I wouldn't have nagged her.
“A Drake's scales and hide are extremely tough. Watch closely.”
Its defense is ridiculously high.
Indeed, it was strong enough to deflect a mediocre Sword Ki.
The Drake glared, its eyes twitching with irritation.
What are these things? Why are you hitting me when I'm just standing here? You're asking for it!
With that sentiment, it charged recklessly toward the princess.
“It doesn't have any particular weaknesses. Be careful not to poke its eyes, or it'll go berserk.”
The Drake was quite agile.
Despite its sluggish appearance, it closed the distance in an instant.
Of course, speed is a relative concept.
Someone A-rank or higher could handle it easily.
Its attack patterns were relatively simple: biting, headbutting, swiping with its forelegs, and tail-swiping.
Esterize dodged them all by a hair's breadth.
She was so composed, it was as if she had eyes in the back of her head.
Her senses must have been honed to their peak.
No surprise attack would likely work on her.
It was a state close to the perfection I desired.
“Tricks don't work on Drakes. So, you do this…”
Her mana surged and concentrated in one spot.
Soon, a slash effective against large monsters was unleashed.
“—!!”
An immense and terrifying power.
In an instant, the Drake's massive body was split in two.
Ah, is that what they call being cleaved in half?
The pinnacle of S-rank was truly on another level.
The princess shrugged and gave an awkward smile.
“See? Not too hard, right?”
“…”
It's easy, right? You can do it too!
She checked our reactions with that kind of attitude.
Hmm, maybe it is possible?
It would be difficult to do it as cleanly as she did.
But with my current strength, I felt I could probably finish off a Drake.
This wasn't baseless confidence.
I had already become strong enough to hunt A-rank monsters.
Whether this was just wishful thinking or reality, I would find out now.
I silently gripped my sword.
At that, the princess's face lit up, and she exclaimed cheerfully.
“Itching for a fight, were you? I knew it.”
“—??”
“There's no way you'd lose to a mere Drake. This will be good experience.”
She seems to have absolute faith in me.
But it looked like she was overestimating my strength.
As if she were remembering Jace in his prime…
In reality, I was mid-tier A-rank at best.
One wrong move and I could be in serious trouble.
You know what to do then, right?
If things get dangerous, you better help me right away!
“Be careful, Jace. Though I'm sure it's needless worry.”
“…”
Ceria was smiling faintly.
There's no way my man would lose to a mere Drake!
With that sentiment, she was unknowingly piling on the pressure.
“Hurry up and finish it. That one looks like it would taste bad.”
My little cutie.
You weren't planning on eating that too, were you?
She predicted my success as if it were a matter of course.
At this rate, I had no choice. I had to live up to the girls' expectations.
The dignity of a nobleman.
Having possessed this body, I would live and die by style.
Just then, a Drake approached menacingly.
Alright, I choose you.
It's time to rack up some experience points.
The secret art of swordsmanship that Jace had polished.
A technique embodying the principle of cutting through in a single stroke unfolded from my hands.
“Wow! Jace did it!”
“How can he already use that technique…”
“It still seems incomplete, but the power might be enough…”
Just as the princess said, it wouldn't be insufficient.
Trusting in Aruru's trait, I poured thirty percent of my mana into it.
Please go down in one hit.
It'd be awkward for you too if you got back up, bleeding all over the place, right?
Even if you're still breathing, just play dead! I'll pretend I don't notice.
Perhaps my wish was granted.
The Drake showed no sign of movement.
Its side was deeply gashed.
But A-rank monsters had incredible vitality, so I had to be careful.
Well, since we were just passing through, it was fine to leave it be.
“Great. Just keep doing that.”
“For how long?”
“Until we're out of this canyon.”
“…”
She grinned as if it were no big deal.
If she weren't a princess, I might have flicked her forehead…
“Ah! Multiple Drakes have appeared ahead!”
“Our rear is blocked too!”
“Hmm, I didn't expect this. What should we do?”
“—!!”
Were they enraged by the deaths of their kin?
Huh? You dare touch my friends? I'll get my revenge!
With that kind of sentiment, dozens of Drakes were approaching.
I calmly gave orders.
It was time to show the true essence of a shot-caller.
“Esterize, you take the front. Ceria, you're with me on the flanks. Aruru, drive the carriage and provide support with your spirits. We'll break through quickly.”
It was a sudden situation.
But everyone understood their positions and responded swiftly.
“Aruru, tie up their feet.”
“Okay!”
We were surrounded from the front and back.
Even an army would have to prepare for annihilation.
But this party had two asymmetrical powerhouses.
My little cutie and the princess.
I utilized them actively and gradually built up our momentum.
“Block my path, and you'll find only death.”
So get lost!
I really was taking them down one by one with a single blow.
Esterize had softened them up, so it wasn't very difficult.
Last hits are always welcome.
Being A-rank monsters, they gave a ton of experience.
With every swing of my sword, my skill proficiency rose rapidly.
I wasn't too keen on it at first.
But the rewards were so generous that my spirits soared.
“Ah! More of them popped out!”
“…”
Too much of a good thing.
The ancient sages said that excess is a bad thing.
That's enough!
The hot spring event is waiting for us!
After a hellish struggle.
We barely managed to escape the Drake's habitat.
* * *
We spent nearly half a day on the combat part.
We gained a lot, but we were completely exhausted and had no energy left.
“Everyone worked hard. Get plenty of rest today.”
“…”
The princess was still full of life, even after all that chaos.
As expected of a Hero candidate, she had surpassed human limits.
“We should be able to arrive by tomorrow afternoon.”
She hummed as she prepared dinner.
This time, I had no desire to help.
I was so tired that just staying conscious was a struggle.
I did a mental calculation of my gains.
All my skill levels had risen dramatically.
Mind's Eye was level 8, and Unity of Sword and Self was level 6.
Even Contempt for the Weak had reached its max level. But more importantly…
[Spirit Affinity (Intermediate)]
[Lv 1/10 Owned Spirits 2/5]
[Lesser Fire Spirit Exp 9999/9999 new! Promotion Available]
[Lesser Wind Spirit Exp 9999/9999 new! Promotion Available]
My Spirit Affinity had changed to Intermediate.
The weasel and the baby phoenix could now evolve.
With this, I'd shed the title of a Lesser Spiritmancer.
It wasn't urgent, so I could deal with the spirits later.
Anyway.
All my abilities had increased significantly across the board.
Should I attribute this to the princess?
Well, when you get down to it, I basically got carried by her.
The ride was pretty rough, but the rewards were massive.
“Mmm, this smell…”
My little cutie, who had been dozing off, woke up.
Ceria, who had been meditating while holding Aruru, also opened her eyes.
They seemed drained from the long battle.
It was probably the first time they had pushed their bodies so hard.
“Are you okay?”
“I'm fine. Just a little tired…”
I wasn't in great shape myself, so how much worse must she feel?
I was still weaker than her, but the gap wasn't large.
“Actually, it was nice to see you looking so cool.”
Ah, wait a minute…
I have a conscience, you know!
If we were to calculate contributions for this battle.
My contribution barely surpassed ten percent.
The princess did almost everything, and Aruru provided solid support.
Well, I was uncannily good at landing the last hits.
Other than that, I gave appropriate orders. To be frank…
“That's what was amazing, you know?”
“—??”
“You handled an unexpected situation so calmly.”
She added that she felt very reassured by me.
That's Jace for you! This is why I can't help but trust him.
With that look, she smiled with her eyes and leaned her head against me.
“…”
She might think that, but the truth was quite different.
Esterize's performance far exceeded my instructions.
-Stall them for a bit. Just kiting them is enough…
-Pentakill! Dominating. An ally is on a rampage. Legendary.
That was pretty much how it went, right?
In other words, the outcome would have been the same no matter who was giving the orders.
I ignored that fact.
I put my arm around Ceria's shoulder and pulled her slightly closer.
I'd managed to score some points, so I decided to just let it be.
“You two always look so affectionate. It’s nice to see.”
The princess smiled brightly as she handed out the food.
Even after unleashing all those shockwaves, she was still full of energy.
We finished our meal in a cozy atmosphere.
A moment later, Ceria stood up, hugging our little cutie.
“Mmm, sleepy…”
“It seems Aruru is tired too. We'll go to bed first.”
I should get to sleep soon too.
My whole body would probably ache when I woke up, but it would be fine since I planned to soak in the hot spring.
Thump, thump.
Just thinking about it made my heart swell with anticipation.
How would a boy's fantasy unfold?
Probably nothing special would happen.
But the unique atmosphere of a hot spring was good enough for me!
Just as I was too excited to sleep, Esterize came closer.
“I have something to say.”
“…”
“I'm sorry. I know you're tired, but I feel like I have to say it now.”
I had a strong feeling.
She was clearly about to reveal her identity.
This was a little earlier than I expected.
Nothing particularly special had happened, right? It couldn't be because of the battle…
“The truth is… I’m…”
“W-wait a minute!”
The saying goes that birds hear daytime words and mice hear nighttime words, but in this case, a fox beastkin might.
As a beastkin, Aruru had excellent senses. She was probably fast asleep, but I had to consider the possibility…
“It doesn't matter. I've put up an invisible barrier with mana.”
“…”
She said our voices wouldn't leak out.
Seeing her thorough preparation, it seemed she was completely determined.
The princess's confession…
How would our relationship change once she revealed her identity?
I had already made my decision.
Nothing would change. I planned to treat her as I always had.
If my guess was correct, that's what she would want as well.