Chapter 104 – Training (1)

“…I need to go out,” I said hesitantly.

“Hmm?”

Sirin, who had been stretching with her greatsword planted in the ground, tilted her head.

“I need to… go out quickly.”

“And why is that, all of a sudden?”

“Um… the restroom.”

[For heaven’s sake, you idiot. Can’t you just say you’re worried that crazy spirit summoner might make a move on Rubia and you want to check?] Cartia’s voice echoed in my mind.

‘P-please stop.’

[Why stop? You know I’m right. When I’m directly linked to you like this, I can sense things, you know.]

‘…They’re both women!’

[Oh, right. Because when two women are involved, nothing happens, huh?]

‘W-we didn’t—nothing like that ever happened between us!’

[Didn’t happen? I overheard everything when you tried to get cozy back in Cartia.]

“A restroom? Don’t worry about that. I’ll make one for you right now,” Sirin said.

With a chuckle, Sirin snapped her fingers.

Boom—

[See that? She actually made a restroom. You’re in trouble now.]

“It’s soundproof too, so take your time.”

Sirin, still smirking, waved her hand with an exaggerated grin, as if she knew exactly what was going on in my head.

“Uh, um…” I stammered.

“What is it? Are you worried about Rubia?”

[Wow, she’s doing this on purpose, isn’t she?]

“…Yes.”

“Do you think Serr would do something strange to her?”

“Well, um, I… don’t know…”

Sirin chuckled softly, gripping the hilt of her greatsword and continuing her stretches.

“Well, it’s true that Rubia’s appearance could be captivating, even to a woman. I get it.”

“…Huh?”

“Even without makeup, her skin is smooth and radiant. And her scent is pleasant, don’t you think?”

“That’s… true…”

Smooth skin, I understand. And her scent… it’s calming, comforting…

“And her chest is full, her waist impossibly slender, and her hips are perfectly shaped.”

[Exactly. She’s in a different league from flat-chested folks like us.]

“Come to think of it, even Serr, who doesn’t typically like women, might find her appealing.”

“…That’s why I need to go out.”

“I can’t let you.”

[Hey, did she just smirk?]

“…Why not?”

“There’s not enough mana to send you out.”

[Don’t fall for her nonsense. There’s no way she’s low on mana.]

“Do you have any idea how much mana it takes to maintain this space?” Sirin asked.

With an enigmatic smile, Sirin gestured around the area.

“A space completely severed from the outside world. Where time flows differently, injuries heal, death doesn’t exist. A space where you can live forever without eating, sleeping, or using the restroom.”

She turned her gaze back to me.

“Do you have any idea how difficult it is to create a place even the gods cannot look into?”

[Wait… is she serious?]

“Of course, I have just enough mana to send one person out, but I see no reason to strain myself for that.”

No reason?

I told her earlier—didn’t I?

“Don’t you trust Rubia?” Sirin asked.

“I do…”

“Then you can start your training.”

Sirin grinned as she drew her greatsword.

“But that’s not the—”

[You don’t trust that spirit summoner, do you? Who knows what she might do? Even if she’s unwell, taking down one person like Rubia would be easy for her.]

“Fine. Let’s assume that happens. Do you think you could stop her?”

Sirin’s tone grew sharp, her words carrying weight.

“Well… I’d at least try—”

“How arrogant. You’d fail miserably. I’ll guarantee it. There are only a handful of humans in this world capable of fighting Serr, and you’re not one of them.”

[Yeah, she’s right. You wouldn’t even touch her right now. You’re not ready.]

Grind—

I gritted my teeth at the undeniable truth.

“Then… what do you want me to do?”

Without realizing it, my voice grew sharp.

[Look at this brat. Talking back to adults now?]

“To be honest, Noah, you’ve survived up until now not because of your skills alone. Surely you’ve noticed that, haven’t you?” Sirin said.

“That’s…”

“Don’t take these fortunate events for granted. Don’t assume your luck will hold forever. As I’ve told you before, don’t rely on your stats to compensate for your recklessness.”

The smile disappeared from Sirin’s face.

“You’re only alive because of luck and the sacrifices of others. Because someone lived a wretched life in the background so you could survive.”

Mana flared from Sirin’s body.

“That’s how you’ve made it this far.”

The air grew heavy with suffocating pressure, oppressive with an overwhelming killing intent.

“Stop being so pathetic and draw your sword.”

I bit my lip, trying to shake off the suffocating pressure, and drew the greatsword from my waist.

“If you can cut my cloak again like last time, I’ll let you go. But the conditions won’t be the same.”

Raising the greatsword, it felt heavier than usual.

“As I said, you won’t die here, even if your body is torn apart. Everything will reset.”

Sirin pointed at the bracelet on my wrist.

“I will kill you. So, fight with everything you’ve got.”

[…No. You can’t do this.]

“You can.”

[This is dangerous.]

Just as I was about to draw Cartia’s greatsword, her voice stopped me.

[This is a mental battle. Your body might recover, but if your mind breaks, you’re finished. This is too risky. Listen to me.]

The bracelet trembled on my wrist.

[I don’t know how we got from stopping Serr to this, but I’m telling you, this is a terrible idea. You’re not ready. Trust me.]

I felt frustrated.

Yes, I know I’m weak.

In Alrba Village, without Hermilla, I would’ve died.

In the eastern ruins, without Luchi and Heinzel, I wouldn’t have survived.

In Roholon.

The same.

At Carpeng. Luchi.

At Kalt. Rubia, Charlotte, Yuria, Hephaestus.

Even in situations I don’t remember, like the avalanche or Tylant.

It wasn’t me.

It was never just me.

Even so, I’m alive.

Because Hermilla happened to find me. Because Luchi and Heinzel were there. Because of luck.

Just luck.

Yes, I worked hard. I struggled. I fought desperately.

But so what?

It wasn’t me who achieved anything.

I’ve never accomplished anything on my own.

No… no, that’s not what’s bothering me.

It doesn’t matter if I’m weak. It doesn’t matter if I’m lucky. Forget all of that.

What annoys me most right now is—

[Hey, I said no. Listen to me.]

Ever since coming to Cartia—

[No matter what you do, I won’t let you. There’s no way you can pull—]

It’s that there are too many people eyeing Rubia.

That’s what infuriates me most.

[Huh? What the…?]

I hate how everyone in Cartia seems to judge Rubia. I hate the eyes that feel like they’re constantly watching her every move.

[Wait… what’s going on?]

Vishur testing me through Rubia pisses me off.

Not knowing what Serr and Rubia might be doing irritates me even more.

“Hoo…” I exhaled deeply.

I slammed the greatsword into the ground and stretched out my empty hand before me.

I unleashed the emotions I had locked away deep in my heart.

The feelings I experienced in Ursphere. The emotions I encountered upon entering Cartia. The sensations I felt when I first held Cartia’s greatsword. Every vile feeling I had endured since arriving in this world. The dark, twisted thoughts I could only allow myself to entertain when Rubia wasn’t around.

[…What… what the hell is this…?]

I embraced it all.

[How… how are you not dead? Are you even sane? No, are you even human?]

The mana within me stirred.

Something dormant deep inside awoke, feeding on those vile emotions.

[Dear god… my partner is worse than the spirit summoner. Welp, guess I’m screwed too.]

I chuckled faintly at Cartia’s exasperated voice and clenched my hand.

Boom—

Mana erupted, shaking the space around me.

Discordant energies mixed, twisting and tearing at the fabric of reality.

I felt the weight of something settle in my grasp.

“Hahahaha! Legendary sword, holy sword, blade of salvation—so many names for a weapon like this. But this sword you’ve forged… it feels like you’ve gathered every unspeakable horror and shaped it into a greatsword. I love it!” Sirin exclaimed.

I conjured the image of the greatsword in my hand.

There was nothing extraordinary about it—just an ordinary greatsword. Its color was imperceptible, but I knew.

[Kidding me… my dazzling gold finish… ruined…]

It was a dark, bloodstained red.

“How differently does time flow here?” I asked.

“Roughly one day here equals an hour outside,” Sirin replied.

I nodded and gripped the greatsword with both hands.

[Screw it, kid. Do whatever you want.]

I adjusted my stance.

[At least do it right. I’ll try to keep your mind from breaking… though I’m not sure it’ll matter at this point.]

Taking a slow breath, I opened my mouth.

“You said… I wouldn’t die, right?”

“I guarantee it.”

“Good to know…”

“The average person lasts two attempts. A decent one might make it ten or twelve. Serr… lasted 392.”

Sirin, who had been standing idly, straightened her posture.

“I’m curious to see how many you can endure.”

“Hmm… but.”

Feeling the weight of emotions coursing through me, I asked:

“Sirin, if you die… you’ll come back too, right?”

I opened my eyes.

***

[■he is a ch■■■■■r from a g■■e.][The ■■ is a chara■■■ ■rom a game.][The ■■ is a ■ chara■■er from a game.][The ■■ is a ■■■■■■r from a g■■■.][The ■■ is a ■■■■cter ■rom a game.][The ■■ is a ch■■■■■r from a g■■e.][The subject is a ■■■■■■ ■rom a game.][The subject ■ a ■ chara■■er from a game.][■he ■ is a ■ chara■■er from a g■■e.][■he is a ■■■■■■ ■rom a game.][■he ■ is a ■ character from a g■■e.][The ■■ is a ■■■■cter from a g■■e.][■he is a ■ame ch■■■■■r from a g■■e.][The ■■ is a game ch■■■■■r from a g■■e.][The ■■ is a ■ chara■■er from a g■■e.]

***

[■■. ■ou a■■ ■ot a game ch■■■■■r.]