Estimated reading time: 6–8 minutes
Chapter 13
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On that day in the guild’s training grounds, Eris touched the tip of her sword with her hand.
However, it will still take a long time before she can freely use the sword techniques from that time.
Her swordsmanship has reached a pinnacle.
A sword technique that combines the fierce onslaught of steel with the softness of water.
In other words, it is a sword technique that sublates the contradiction between ultimate hardness and supreme softness.
I named it the 《Zenith of Double-Edged Swords》, while Eris insisted on calling it 《Double Edge》. Neither of us will compromise.
「What kind of disciple doesn’t defer to her master’s opinion?」
I questioned.
「You know, our relationship as master and disciple isn’t some simple, run-of-the-mill, dime-a-dozen bond that you can find lying around anywhere. It’s a special relationship where we’ve pledged a deep, profound future together.」
「You sure talk a lot.」
Now, I think those of you reading this will understand, but Eris and I have never once pledged any future together.
Anyway, her swordsmanship has been refined to the point where it can be called a completely original style. To put it coolly, it could be referred to as the 《Gladius Style》 or 《Eris Style》.
It’s pretty darn cool, if you ask me.
It’s not like I’m envious or anything. Definitely not. Not at all.
○○○
One day, after finishing our training, the two of us went out to buy some food.
The sun we had climbed was about to set, casting its light on the two of us.
「Eris, do you have any goals beyond mastering the sword?」
I asked casually, without much thought.
「Goals, you say?」
「Yeah, like… For me, it would be returning to Earth. What about you, Eris? Don’t you ever think about joining the knights or something?」
「Well, joining the knights was once my dream.」
「’Was’? So it’s different now?」
「Yes. Before I met you, Master, I aspired to become a knight surpassing my father, to one day become the Knight Commander of the Arcana Knights, and to be a sword that protects the country.」
She looked into my eyes and said,
「I wish to spend my life with the one I deem worthy of my loyalty, and if possible, to serve them for a lifetime.」
Her gaze was too dazzling for me to handle.
「I see. Ah, by the way…」
I knew it was a sudden topic change.
But even someone as dense as me could sense her feelings.
I couldn’t give her a half-hearted response.
So, even though it didn’t quite fit the flow of the conversation, I decided to share a plan I had been thinking about recently.
「I’ve been focusing solely on your training lately, Eris. I think it’s about time I go and conquer one of the nearby dungeons.」
Upon hearing this, Eris smiled and asked,
「When shall we depart?」
「I’ll prepare tomorrow, and I’ll leave the day after. I should arrive three days from now.」
「Then let’s take a break from training tomorrow and make preparations for the dungeon exploration!」
「Hey.」
「Yes!」
「Not a response, but…」
「Yes! What is it?」
She tilted her head slightly.
She may be a klutz, but these little gestures of hers are really cute.
「Don’t tell me you’re planning to come along?」
「Huh? What are you saying out of the blue, Master? Could it be that you have a fever or something?」
「I don’t have a fever… Well, I’m not telling you not to come. But the dungeon I’m heading to now is called the Newly Constructed Most Challenging Dungeon, and it’s on a completely different level of danger compared to other dungeons. I can’t guarantee your safety 100% if something happens.」
「I am aware of the dangers. I can protect myself.」
「But still…」
「Wherever I am, that’s where you are, Master! And wherever you are, that’s where I am! This is a law, a law of nature!」
And above all, she continued,
「I don’t want to leave you alone…」
She declared it clearly, with a dignified demeanor.
○○○
The inn where Ryūgūin’s party was staying.
Thinking about them made me want to claw at my chest.
So I kept my message to them brief.
「I’m entering the dungeon at noon three days from now. Come if you want.」
I wrote just that on a piece of paper and handed it to the innkeeper to pass it on to them.
I managed to avoid encountering them, which was my biggest concern.
Once I was away from the inn, I, the cowardly one, realized I felt relieved.
I found myself inexplicably longing to see Eris’ face.
○○○
「It’s been a while, Yamada. Let’s fight together for the sake of this world!」
Ryūgūin laughed unnecessarily, his unnecessarily hot guy voice echoing.
He was the same as always. He didn’t feel any inferiority towards me.
Even when Puffy, Mika, and Angie, who used to be close to me, looked at me with an indifference that was unthinkable before, he didn’t think anything of it.
He treated me as if it were only natural.
Angie, who clung to Ryūgūin’s right arm, exclaimed, 「I will destroy any and all who stand in the way of you, O Hero!」
Having struggled alone for so long, Angie was seeking comrades who would stand by her side.
Isolated and oppressed, she was the loneliest of them all and cherished her companions more than anyone else.
Mika, who stood by his left arm, declared, 「Then I shall protect you, O Hero, from all the suffering that afflicts you,」 fueling her competitive spirit.
Her innate compassion—something I lacked—was something I admired about her. Mika was a woman who could give her all for the sake of complete strangers.
「Now, now, both of you are so cute! Don’t fight over me! Harmony is a beautiful thing!」
Ryūgūin said, his words ringing hollow despite having two women by his side.
He casually turned his gaze towards Eris, who was standing next to me, looking at her from top to bottom as if appraising her.
「This is perfect.」
「Perfect?」
I asked, momentarily unable to grasp his intention.
「Yes, perfect. Don’t you think it’s perfect too, Yamada?」
I was about to ask what he meant when I caught a glimpse of a vulgar glint in Ryūgūin’s eyes.
「Hero. Saint. Mage. Sword Saint… It’s just like a hero’s party straight out of a story!!」
Ryūgūin exclaimed in an abnormally loud voice, spreading his arms like a bad actor and laughing hysterically, as if something was incredibly funny.
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