Chapter 6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Diet (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This was the first time I'd used time stop in actual combat.
Thanks to it, I learned several things.
Starting with the downsides: it required a ton of effort from the user. In fact, I had to personally swing my sword and slit the throats of every single one of those Blade Wolves.
Naturally, it took a lot of time. So much so that the time stop cooldown ticked down way too much. At least the Blade Wolves didn't have regeneration abilities, and there were no other monsters around, so that was a relief.
If the enemies had been monsters with regeneration, or if others had been left behind, I could've been the one in danger instead. But that was just the drawbacks.
It didn't mean it wasn't cheat-level. If anything, this confirmed it. The Time Stop Breeding Uncle's gift was ridiculously overpowered, beyond imagination. Objectively speaking, I was still very weak right now.
Without the time stop ability, I was just an extra who could die at any moment. Yet it let me take down dozens of Blade Wolves all by myself.
I could never lose the initiative. I could reliably kill enemies while handling other tasks too. It was a gift on a whole different level. Just with some drawbacks.
"Beyond imagination. To kill them all in one strike."
"This is nothing."
"Excessive humility can be poisonous."
"......"
The problem was that people around me were starting to form their own weird misconceptions. Well, they couldn't perceive what happened while time was stopped, so that reaction made sense.
From my perspective, it was enough to make me want to lose my mind. I'd stopped time and barely caught them one by one. On top of that, I could hardly even wield the sword properly, which made it take even longer.
If I'd really been a swordsmanship master, I could've finished way faster. But to those who only saw the results, it looked like I'd wiped them out in one blow.
"With you around, I can rest easy entrusting things to you."
"No, it's not that big a deal......"
"Please, for the sake of the people. Use that strength."
"......Yes."
No matter how desperately I denied it, it just came off as humble. But I couldn't exactly explain my ability. Revealing your powers like that was plain stupid to begin with.
No matter how invincible time stop seemed—and actually was—the user wasn't invincible. One wrong move, and I'd get stabbed in the back and die.
Without time stop, I was basically a corpse. No way was I going to flaunt the gift around in that situation. For now, I just had to handle the task at hand.
"So, when do we resume training?"
"You're not weak enough to need training from me."
"???"
Shit. This I hadn't seen coming. Andrew stopped teaching me because he thought I was way stronger than him. Honestly, it felt unfair. My skills were seriously lacking.
But I got it. There's a reason they say don't try to show off in front of a lame duck. He must've felt burdened teaching someone stronger than himself.
But the problem was that it was me. Without time stop, I'd get my ass kicked! Teach me, damn it! I couldn't say it out loud, so I just swallowed it and suffered in silence.
"Um, sir? What should I do......?"
"Just relax."
"But why the formal speech?"
"Because you're our hope."
"???"
On top of that, Brick and the other guards started speaking formally to me. When I asked why, they said it was because of the overwhelming display in the previous battle. Damn it, so that's how it goes.
In simple terms, I was getting hero treatment. With monsters rampant everywhere, people naturally pinned their hopes on a hero. It eased their minds.
If things got bad, we had a hero. The hero would save us in the end. That's how they found reassurance. Couldn't blame them for that. It's human nature.
But why me? Fuck.
Sure, it felt good. Before, they'd subtly looked down on me, but now they were crawling on their own. Still, I wasn't at a level to deserve this much respect. It was way over the top.
"What now......"
"Uncle!!!"
"......?!"
Something slammed into my back at tremendous speed from behind. My back spasmed. Damn...... what now? I scowled and turned to glare at my ambusher.
"You again."
"Hehe! Found you, Uncle!"
"How the hell do you keep finding me?"
Short red hair, filthy ragamuffin look—it was familiar. But how did this kid always track me down? Coincidence? Or something else?
"Uncle! Something wrong?"
"What're you on about all of a sudden."
"Liar! Your face looks awful."
"......"
I couldn't help but chuckle at the kid innocently tilting her head. Was my expression that dark, even a kid could tell? I shouldn't let it show like this.
"It's nothing."
"Really?"
"This uncle doesn't lie."
"Then promise me one thing!"
"Hm?"
"Don't suddenly disappear on me."
It was a heavier promise than expected. And for some reason, a red glint flickered in the kid's eyes. She soon held out her pinky to me.
"Alright, I promise."
She must have some story behind it. Otherwise, she wouldn't show that kind of face. It wasn't because I was scared of the kid. I promised out of pity.
"It's a promise, Uncle!"
"This uncle always keeps his promises."
"Uncle really is reliable."
Her hair color, her obsession with promises—it was too similar to that character. But that one was a girl. No way this kid in front of me was......?
I shook my head with a chuckle.
As if one of the protagonist's heroines would be right here.
Yeah, right. Fat chance.
[I'll definitely come back. It's a promise.]
Those words were the only reason that kid had to keep living. If she waited obediently, her parents would surely return. Just a bit longer. She kept believing and waiting.
A year taught the kid a lot. Just sitting and crying changed nothing. If she didn't get up and find food herself, she'd just starve.
There was no longer any fence protecting the kid. Even so, she kept waiting. Even as time wore down that promise. She believed and waited until the very end.
When are they coming?
You promised you'd come back.
Promises have to be kept, no matter what.
The questions echoed, gnawing at the kid's heart. Her heart wore thin, memories faded. The weight of that wait was too much for a mere child to bear.
Maybe that's why she meddled.
Bone-deep loneliness made the kid crave others' attention without realizing it. She acted like a good kid. Obedient to adults, doing lots of good deeds.
And that's how she met the uncle.
He looked plump and super shady at first glance, so the grown-ups around warned her to stay away. But that was just fools meddling.
They said that stuff because they didn't know anything.
He always saw her properly. And he stepped up for her. At least that's what the kid thought. Sure, the other guy started it, but whatever.
That wasn't what mattered to the kid.
Rowell, was it? He was always creeping around the kid. Even the kid pretending to be good couldn't stand it and straight-up refused him.
Rowell must've held a grudge, because he used everything at his disposal to torment her. Rotten food rations, all sorts of penalties under flimsy excuses.
No one stepped in directly. Because he was a pretty big-shot guard. People just worried with words. But the uncle showed it with actions, not words.
"Uncle! Something wrong?"
"What're you on about all of a sudden."
"Liar! Your face looks awful."
Promises became more important than anything to the kid. But she hadn't made any with anyone else. Because she didn't have deep enough ties for that.
To the kid, a promise carried the same weight as with her parents. And as the uncle stayed by her side, he quietly claimed her heart. She started seeking him out upon waking.
"Then promise me one thing!"
She even knew where the uncle was. The kid watched him. Not the handsomest face. But that actually put her at ease. She extended her pinky.
"Don't suddenly disappear on me."
To the kid—no, the girl—promises had become a mark of obsession.