Chapter 47

“Remember that sensation just now.”

Hiresia let go of her hand.

But the vivid feeling of that sensation still remained.

I Focused my mind as much as possible to remember the feeling.

However, the golden line that had been before my eyes had already disappeared.

“I thought I remembered the sensation quite well………….”

“Do you want to recreate it?”

“Yes.”

“Then, try to elevate your Focus as much as you can by following that sensation.”

“Um.”

I tried to raise my Focus like when I’m immersed in something, but it was different.

It wasn’t that feeling.

“The final destination of that Focus is the visual aspect.”

Hiresia explained the core of it.

Then it seemed like I could understand a bit.

‘Visual, huh. So that’s what it was.’

A Focus beyond the limit that is exerted through sight, reading each trajectory of the arrow in detail.

‘Alright.’

I tried hard to recreate that sensation, raising my Focus as much as possible.

While doing so, I tried to draw that sensation toward my vision.

‘It’s not easy.’

How many times did I repeat it? Maybe dozens of times.

After countless trials and errors, finally, the path began to come into grasp at my fingertips.

The appearing golden line.

“Oh, I see it! I see it, senior!”

My excited exclamation.

“Hmm, faster than I thought, not bad.”

Hiresia threw a comment as if it was unexpected.

I grinned.

Teaching is more fun when the student picks things up well.

Who knows.

Maybe later, I could gain another trick up my sleeve.

“Then try shooting it.”

That was my intention anyway.

The first shot with my pure Focus.

I placed an arrow on the bow.

And calmly composed my breathing.

The arrow that had hit the bullseye earlier,

There was a line visible there too.

‘Is that even possible?’

The very technique that only the insane masters of archery could do.

The so-called docking, splitting the previously embedded arrow,

I decided to give it a try.

Twang!

I released the bowstring right at the beginning of the line.

Swoosh!

The arrow flew through the wind.

And then.

Crack!

Thud!

The arrow perfectly split the first one and embedded itself into the target.

It was a perfect docking.

Even I was surprised.

A mere novice still learning the basics of archery had just executed a technique thought only possible by masters.

This was the power of Focused shooting.

If only I had this…

Huh?

Suddenly feeling dizzy, I squinted my eyes and sat down.

This wasn’t usual for me.

Therefore, I couldn’t help but think, ‘Could it be?’

As if Hiresia had read my thoughts, she explained.

“Focus is something that gets consumed. Especially when shooting with Focus, there’s no need to say more.”

In other words, ‘It’s a technique that seriously drains Focus, got it?’

Of course.

There’s no technique in the world that exerts great power without a price.

The fantasy of shooting Focused shots wildly and taking down everything with arrows is now just a dream.

“Phew, so that’s why you said to use it only in emergencies.”

I barely gathered my scattered thoughts and spoke.

“Yes, to you, this body can shoot thousands of Focused shots a day, but for you, maybe two shots a day is the limit?”

…….It’s really nice to have such a skilled senior.

“Hmm, enjoy it as much as you like.”

Her words made me genuinely happy, and being with her somewhat distorted my sense of conversation.

Not that it’s a bad thing.

Anyway, it’s two shots for now.

I had to remember that.

It was necessary for the archery assessment and could be a lifesaving piece of information at a crucial moment.

“That being said, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I want to increase the time I spend learning archery for a while.”

This was my wish, but the intention of the teacher is most important.

If she doesn’t feel like it, it’s simply over.

“Why?”

“The archery assessment is just around the corner.”

“Ah, the archery assessment.”

Hiresia looked at me with an understanding face.

“Come to think of it, you must be nervous.”

“……What do you mean by that?”

‘I’m not nervous at all.’

Being the best shooter among all the students at the academy, it would be strange if I was nervous.

Honestly, I’m curious whether I’m ranked first or second in the game’s world.

“Yes, I’m nervous, so please teach me more.”

“It’s a hassle.”

“What about the meat I’ve treated you to so far?”

Hiresia, seemingly having a conscience, flinched.

But in the end, she didn’t readily agree.

“Still, I can’t do it empty-handed.”

“Do you want me to buy you more meat?”

“I didn’t say that!”

Hiresia rolled her eyes.

Apparently, she wanted something else.

“Then what is it?”

“Assignment.”

“Huh?”

“If you help with the assignment, I’ll consider your request.”

Assignment?

I tilted my head,

And a window appeared before my eyes.

[A sudden quest has occurred.]

-A High Elf facing a challenging assignment asks for your help. If you help, something good might happen?

‘What’s this now?’

I looked confused.

A sudden quest?

Aren’t those supposed to be rare?

And this is already the second time for her.

It’s as if she has a honey jar that attracts sudden quests,

And what’s with that odd phrase?

Something good might happen?

Are you telling me to do it or not?

“What are you going to do?”

Hiresia urged for an answer.

“Well…… let’s do it.”

I responded.

After all, to get what I initially wanted, I had to help.

Plus, a sudden quest I had never seen before popped up, so there was only one choice.

‘This is completely unknown territory.’

Especially the relationship with Hiresia.

Choosing an untried play must be causing these phenomena to unfold.”Ha ha, then that’s settled.”

Hiresia chuckled.

“Come out by Lake Aria by 10 a.m. tomorrow.”

Tomorrow is Sunday.

Since there are no classes, there shouldn’t be a problem coming out by 10 a.m.

But why Lake Aria?

I was going to ask, but Hiresia changed the subject.

“Then pick up the bow again, there’s an evaluation and I’ll have to be even stricter.”

“Yes, yes.”

And so the archery training began again.

————————————————————————————————————————

Does 10 a.m. mean she wants to have lunch together, too?

Thinking so, I prepared a lunchbox.

A luxury lunchbox filled with meat dishes.

Of course, I didn’t make it myself.

I had Dolph go out and buy it.

I stuffed it carelessly into my backpack and headed out to Lake Aria.

Lake Aria.

It was a lake located to the west of the academy.

It wasn’t big, but it was a beautiful lake with a nice view.

It wasn’t too far, so it was easily within walking distance from the academy.

I came out of the west gate and walked along the forest path.

The forest path was quiet.

Since the only luxury the academy students could afford on a holiday was sleeping in, there weren’t many people around in the morning, neither on campus nor in the vicinity.

“…I want to sleep in, too.”

I let out a short sigh.

Becoming an extra meant I didn’t have time to indulge in such luxuries.

Every day was just a series of busyness.

But even so, it wouldn’t be bad to take a break and relax at times like this.

How long did I walk?

I could see Lake Aria.

Hiresia was already there by the lake.

A high elf who was unusually punctual about time.

Ah… is that suspicious?

Correcting myself, I approached Hiresia.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No, I just arrived.”

It was a cliché phrase, but when she said it, it was true.

“Oh? Is that a canvas?”

I noticed the canvas Hiresia was holding.

In her other hand, she held a small basket containing a water bottle, paints, brushes, charcoal, and a palette.

There was no need for an answer.

She intended to paint.

It seemed like an art assignment.

“Yes. I’m going to paint a little.”

“Aha, a landscape painting?”

“Yes. I have a spot in mind.”

With that, Hiresia turned her back as if to tell me to follow her.

I followed her.

The place she arrived at had a quaint little pier.

Several small rowboats were placed there.

“Are you planning to go into the lake?”

“Yes, that is the plan. Do you see any problem with that?”

“No, there’s no problem, but… Senior, do you know how to swim?”

I asked knowingly.

Normally, elves are familiar with water and swim well.

But high elves, who live only in a closed space called the Forgotten Forest, seem to be rather distant from water.

Hiresia was also terrible at swimming.

Yet she came to such a place on her own?

I couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

“I don’t! Is that a problem?”

Hiresia seemed offended that I had poked at a sore spot and made a sulky face.

“No, just in case an unexpected situation arises…”

“If you steer the boat properly, there should be no problem.”

It meant she had brought me along as a rower.

But why me, of all people?

“Why me? Is it because I am an outcast?”

“An outcast, you say, yet you manage to say things you can’t normally say.”

She understood the term ‘outcast’ well.

Anyway, as she said, she was obviously the popular girl.

“Then why me?”

“It would be rude to ask them.”

So, asking me meant she didn’t feel particularly sorry.

Should I be happy or not?

It means she feels comfortable enough with me, which is good, but it also means she sees me as an easy mark, which feels like being taken advantage of.

“We had a deal, didn’t we? That’s what I mean.”

It made sense when she said it, but I felt she would have approached me even if I hadn’t asked her to increase my training time.

“Ah, I see.”

Anyway, I agreed.

She was the named heroine who was currently the biggest help to me.

There’s nothing wrong with getting closer through such an incident.

And thinking about it again, the fact that she, who couldn’t swim, had brought me to the lakeside meant that she trusted me.

It might not be far-fetched to interpret it as having a reliable person even in potentially dangerous places.

“Then let’s get on.”

“Y-Yes.”

We got into the rowboat and entered the lake.

Hiresia seemed very tense at first, but as time passed, her expression relaxed.

Splish, splash.

I rowed hard and asked.

“Where should we head to?”

“Towards the very center.”

“Ah.”

I nodded as if I understood.

Splish, splash.

I set course for the exact center of the lake.

“But you marked this place?”

“Yes. It seemed like a view I would be satisfied with would appear over there.”

She referred to a somewhat troublesome assignment that had popped up in a sudden quest.

Now I could understand.

What was easy for others was a big deal for her, requiring great resolve to venture into the deep parts of the lake.

‘Ah, that’s what it was.

Now I finally understood why this quest was coming up for the first time.

When playing as the protagonist, I had never been this close to her at this point in time.

Even now, to be honest, it feels more like a relationship of friends of different races than a male-female relationship.

But that was less burdensome, so my mind was at ease.

“Here we are.”

I stopped the rowboat.

The wind was calm.

If the boat rocked, it would be difficult to paint, but fortunately, it seemed there would be no such problem.

“Oh, indeed! I was right!”

Hiresia exclaimed with satisfaction, her eyes shining.

Flowers in the field spread out on the other side of the lakeshore.

The colorful beautiful wildflowers boasted harmonious beauty.

A slight mist over the water added to the charm.

“It’s lovely.”

I chimed in.

The scenery was so beautiful it made me want to take a photo.

If she could capture this scene in a painting, it would surely be art.

“Hu hu, right? Now, let’s start painting.”

Hiresia unfolded the canvas and picked up the charcoal.