The night of the fight with Leona.

I was still training alone at the training ground.

The training was not very strenuous, but quiet, slow, unlike the way we had done it before.

 

"Hit without wasting force"

 

Keep your legs half a step apart, tighten your armpits, and make sure that your fists stick out with your entire body, not just your arms.

He mutters to himself, slowly and forcefully thrusting his fist.

 

"Lord Usato, you must start by fully grasping your power."

 

Alc and Leona told me that I was putting too much effort into it.

Certainly, I was swayed by power.

Until now, I haven't had a problem with it, probably because I've been defeating opponents with pure physical ability alone, but against an opponent like Leona, who only uses pure technique to toss me around, I'm just a good duck.

 

「...... No matter how you look at it, it's just a fist thrust."

 

In the end, I ended up in a stance similar to the shoken thrust used in karate, but according to Aluk, this is the position where the strongest blow can be made.

 

"Keep your feet on the ground, huh?

 

With the twisting of the body, the image of transmitting force, and finally slamming with a fist.

Mr. Alc likened my fist to a mallet.

It's big and powerful, but it's a strong attack that blows you away.

And what I should aim for from now on is a spear-like blow that pierces.

It is not a spread, but an attack that "sticks" to the core of the opponent.

 

"Don't just fly, it's a one-hit wonder, that's all you should want."

 

He reliably distracts his opponents and easily breaks down even their defenses...... My ideal attack right now is Sore.

 

"Whew......"

 

But it's hard.

It is impossible to change what you have been doing in a short period of time without changing your consciousness.

Of course, I don't think I'll be able to do it right the first time.

In the first place, I have an average talent for fighting and swords, and what I have to do steadily is the same as before.

 

"Well, there is only a challenge in everything...... That's it."

 

There are no shortcuts to training.

There is no waste in the training that has been accumulated.

The muscles I train don't betray me.

In other words, what I can do now is to keep training honestly.

I took another deep breath and was about to raise my fist again when something fell from the sky onto my shoulder.

 

"Hmm? Is it Nea?"

"You've been training for a long time."

 

Looking over his shoulder, he saw Nea, who had transformed into a black owl.

I glanced sideways at her with her wings folded, and after a pause, I put my fist back in place.

 

"What's wrong? You're going to go to the library after dinner ......."

"Ah, well, yes, I found Usato's figure on the way, so I came to see him. I'm sure you're training alone."

"I'm sorry, I'm lonely."

 

He replied with a slight hint of a mockery.

 

「...... And what were you doing?"

"What's that, training?"

"Instead, I asked him what he was training for."

 

It's unusual for Nea to show interest in my training.

Normally, I didn't seem interested, but I wondered what kind of wind was blowing around.

 

"Straighten your posture...... Is it training? He goes back to the basics to learn the mystery of victory, the single-point concentrated healing magic shoken...... Feeling"

"What a trap and that ostentatious name...... If you concentrate on one point, you're going to die, to put it mildly. Specifically, there was a hole in the place where I hit it. What, is that a technique that kills the opponent once and resurrects him?"

"No, it's not!!"

 

What a technique that seems to transcend everything!

It's too scary!

 

"It's also a training that doubles as force control, so it's also to eliminate that worry."

"It's a lot of power control...... The order is a mess. From my point of view, isn't that the first training you should learn?"

「...... Well, when it comes to me."

"My eyes are swimming so much......

"Whew......

 

I was more of a trainee to run, not to fight, so I just couldn't come up with the idea of controlling my power.

Inwardly, he excuses himself as he takes a deep breath and clenches his fists into the waist.

Take a step forward with your left leg and take a half-body stance.

 

"Whew!"

 

As he exhales, he thrusts his right arm, which has been drawn to his waist.

The fist unfolded from the waist makes a half-turn, cutting the wind.

 

「......」

 

I slowly pull my fist back and pull my foot back to release the tension.

Nea, who was watching me on her shoulder, nodded meaningfully.

 

"I'm not sure, but I'm sure it's not brute force."

"I hope so, but it's still a long way ......."

 

What I'm doing now is mainly about correcting my posture. Eventually, you'll have to be able to do this in combat.

 

"Haha, how strong does Usato want to be in the end? It's time to weigh yourself or you'll become a monster above the monster."

"What's a monster above a monster......

 

Or rather, I'm already a monster......

I never thought about it eventually. My goal is to grow to the point where Rose recognizes me, but if I have to match it with my current training, I .......

 

"I want to be able to push and reason according to the situation."

 

If you can't break through with force alone, you can see the opponent's attack with your eyes and hit the best blow, and if the opponent can't understand with logic alone, you can screw it down and hit it with force.

In other words, you just need to be able to use them differently and fight.

At my words, Nea puts her wings to her mouth as if to pull back.

 

"It's never supposed to be compatible......

"It's not impossible, is it?"

 

In order to do that, I need to be able to do another training with Leona well.

It's not difficult for that person because I've experienced it a few times.

　

"Well, maybe that's what you have to do to that dragon man called Charon."

"Yes, but I don't think I can win on my own."

 

I'm not arrogant.

No matter how far I go, I'm just a person who deviates from my physical abilities. For me, there are more things I can't do.

 

"I have friends I can rely on."

"Does that mean I'm in it?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? That's a pretty new question, that's it."

"Huh?"

 

After putting it into words, I regretted it fiercely.

Because I realized that I had said something quite embarrassing to Nea.

Why does my mouth move like this, a spinal reflex?

 

「......」

「...... Ne, Nea?"

 

Nea, who had been a little dazed by my words, stepped down from my shoulder and looked straight at me in the form of a vampire, a dark-haired, red-eyed girl with light.

 

"What's wrong?"

"I thought I had to say ......."

 

...... What?

I wonder what they will say about such a change. I have no idea.

No way, Nea didn't even think of me as a friend, or something like that? If that's the case, I'd be quite shocked, .......

 

"Thank you."

 

However, contrary to my imagination, the words she muttered were gratitude to me.

I don't understand the meaning of her words and make a crazy voice.

 

"What?"

"Even though I was the cause, they took the blame and took care of me."

 

......。

Ruminating on her words in my head, I silently approached her and put my hand on her head.

 

「......」

"Usato ......?"

 

Leaving her confused, I poured my healing magic into her head with a stern expression.

Her cheeks were slightly reddened, and Nea's eyes lifted.

 

"What! I don't have a fever or anything! You're really rude sometimes!!"

「...... What!?"

"Don't be surprised!!"

 

Nea, who shook off my hand, resents the anger that has nowhere to go.

Could it be that he really said his words of gratitude obediently ......?

 

"No, I'm surprised that you were able to thank me honestly...... Maybe something is wrong with ......."

"The way they worry about it makes me very angry......"

"No, I'm sorry."

 

When I apologize to her for being rotten, she crosses her arms and turns to me, as if she has returned her mood somewhat.

But I don't think the day will come when Nea will be grateful.

I didn't think she would ever say those words because she's not an honest child, but I guess that means she's grown up as she travels.

 

"Or rather, did you think I was the kind of person who would abandon you with impunity? That's a bit out of my mind."

"Not really, but Usato has an important journey to do, and Amako has a purpose to help her mother...... Abandoning me would have been the best thing ...... the moment."

"That's a bad move, and I'm not going to move forward until I'm going to cut off my traveling companions."

 

If I had abandoned Nea at that time, I would have definitely regretted it.

I probably feel guilty enough to drag it out for the rest of my life.

I don't want to do that, and I think of her as part of my travel companion.

 

"And I think Mistress Falga knew all about it, right?"

"I knew that, too, because it seemed almost pointless to hide in front of him......

 

Falga-sama let me choose.

I don't know what his intentions are, but what I can say for sure is that he didn't force me to fight to the end.

 

"Well, if you poison me, I'll take care of you, and now that I'm your lord, I'm going to have to take responsibility."

"What's that...... Am I poisonous?"

"It's about putting all the problems and all that into account and accepting you."

 

When she says that, Nea is speechless, as if she is at a loss for words.

That? Is the meaning different in the first place?

Well, I'm sure the nuances were conveyed, so it's okay.

Stretch your back on the spot and relax your arms. Even though we had dinner in between, I was tired of doing the same training in a row from noon.

 

"Hmm, it's time to finish, let's go back to the castle."

「...... Eh, yes."

「?」

 

Tilting my head at Nea, who is not sharp for some reason, I walk towards the castle.

Then, before I knew it, Nea, who had transformed into an owl, flew silently onto my shoulder. I have a few doubts about her, but I don't care that much, so I enter the castle with Nea.

As he walks through the corridors of the castle in silence for a while, he finds a maid holding a wooden box from the front.

 

"Oh, Usato-sama, and Nea-san, isn't it? Good evening."

"Good evening, what are you doing?"

 

We exchanged greetings and looked at the crate she was carrying.

It looks like there are a lot of empty bottles in it...... Could this be a potion?

The maid gives me a slightly embarrassed look at my question.

 

"It's an empty potion bottle, and I'm getting rid of the one that the Norn used."

"Are you okay, Norn?"

 

Only the Norns can be responsible for maintaining the Miarak Barrier.

I used my healing magic to give him first aid, but it wasn't perfect.

 

"He's a more responsible person than anyone else...... I'm going to say it, but I'm never going to throw it out. In fact, even the effect of the potion was insignificant. Before Usato-sama came, I was really close to my limit."

"Really......

 

Yesterday, when I first met the Norns, they were indeed in a terrible state.

His face was lifeless, he could see circles under his eyes, and he was so exhausted that it was strange to be able to stand.

 

"I can't do anything about it, Norn is determined...... So all I can do now is take care of myself."

「...... Why did you stay here?"

 

Why didn't this person run away like the others?

The same can be said for the people who remain in this castle except for the maid.

 

"It's just that the Norns and Leona couldn't leave them alone...... Right. I was told to run away with them, but before I knew it, I was here."

"I ...... that Norn and Leona were going to fight here alone at first."

 

There's also Falga-sama, so maybe three to be exact, but it's still reckless.

Did Falga know we were coming from that point on? ...... It's possible, he could have waited in advance.

 

"You two are too stubborn, and you said that you could rely on us a little bit because you are the only one who can do everything...... As for Leona, she is doing more than the Norns......

 

The maid is so angry that she can almost hear an onomatopoeic sound such as a popping. But his anger was genuinely concerned for Norn and Leona.

...... Is Leona overdoing it?

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Mistress Falga called her "Leona the Brave" yesterday. Why did Leona, who has the title of Hero, say that Charon was "supposed to be a hero"...... At the moment, it's a topic that I, as an outsider, can't get my head around it...... Well let's see.

 

"Oh, yes! There's something I was going to ask you the next time I see you!"

"Yes? What is it?"

 

The maid looked at me as I groaned in distress, and asked if she remembered something.

Nodding for the time being, she smiled and pulled a piece of paper out of her skirt pocket.

It is a slightly brownish paper.

The letters are written tightly, and in the middle of them is a large letter, and it is a big ...... Something?????? But.......

...... This is...... Huh!?

This "article", which is unmistakable, had a great impact on my heart.

 

"Well, I'm a little sick, so I'm going back to my room......!?"

 

Amako's precognitive magic also grasped the situation at a high blue speed and tried to retreat, but at the same time, my body was bound by the restraint spell activated by the nea on my shoulder.

Suddenly, I couldn't move, and I was so upset that I couldn't break the spell of restraint and stiffened.

 

"Let's talk a little bit more, hey, Usato."

"Nea, nea...... You've betrayed ......!"

"What? What are you talking about? So, what do you want to ask the maid there, Usato?"

 

If you look up on your shoulder, you will see an owl with a sullen face.

The maid tilted her head at our exchange, but she smiled back at Nea's voice and showed me the carefully folded paper.

 

"I found it this morning! This is about Usato-sama, isn't it? A healing wizard who swore a future with a hero! The caricature was completely different, but I'm personally very interested in it!"

 

The words of the maid, who did not make me feel any evil soul, pierced my spirit deeply.

What I was shown was an example article of my seniors and me.

- When I was shown it head-on, I was so shocked and embarrassed that I repeatedly turned blue and bright red in the face.

 

"Haha...... it's just a rumor, there's no way I'm going to be a hero."

「...... Well let's see. Is that right?????? Let's leave it at that."

 

I barely made a mistake, but the maid still looked at me suspiciously, and the next moment she was smiling again, and carefully put the article in her hand.

Did you cheat ......?

As expected, I'm a senior, and I ...... that you would attack me directly from a distant land.

What's more, there are some strange rumors such as "pledging to the future" to each other!

What is this, is it already known all over the continent? I'm so embarrassed that I have the urge to roll around in place!

I wonder what my seniors who are far away think of this article.

After exchanging a few words and parting with the maid, I walked down the aisle illuminated by the light of the magic tool with a small sigh.

 

__________________________________________

At the same time, "Kurmia......!" It seems that there was a senior who was rolling on the ground and writhing with a grudge voice.

 

Sorry for the delay in updating.

I've been working on this and that for the next volume, so I've been late in updating this one.

I've had a lot of leeway in the past week, so I think I can revert to the update.