Ch.116Chapter 116: A Pleasant Misalignment

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I took a direct hit to my side from Fafnir’s whip-like kick.

What awakened my consciousness, which had been knocked away because I couldn’t suppress the erupting pain, was…

“Ugh…”

The lingering pain in my side that still faintly tormented every corner of my body.

With my super-regeneration ability activated,

Most scratches don’t even leave traces on my body.

Most impacts don’t have any effect on my body at all.

As I continued training with Fafnir, I couldn’t help but marvel at both the impressiveness of my super-regeneration ability and his overwhelming power that surpassed it.

The impact that felt like my internal organs were being shaken when I took the direct hit still had its effects even now as I opened my eyes, and if I couldn’t admire that, who else would I admire?

However, separate from my admiration for his overwhelming power,

I was also somewhat annoyed at Fafnir for delivering blows that ingeniously exceeded my limits without being dangerous.

‘Ugh. Couldn’t you go a bit easier?’

I tried to send a light complaint to the one who had left me with this pain as I lay in bed, but…

[Seeing that your groaning has become somewhat moderate, it seems you’ve gotten quite used to taking a beating, eh?]

The tone of the voice that continued to echo in my head was flatness itself.

Hearing his voice that seemed to chide me as if asking whether I should be groaning over something like this…

‘….’

I found myself at a loss for words.

As Fafnir said, the throbbing in my side did feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Ten days ago, when I first engaged in what was essentially a beating disguised as hellish training with Fafnir,

When I lost consciousness and opened my eyes again in this fog-covered place,

I couldn’t even think about sending such complaints to Fafnir like I was doing now.

I knew very well that I would have been groaning in pain for about 1-20 minutes in bed before barely managing to get up through the power of my super-regeneration ability.

I still hadn’t achieved my goal of leaving a sword mark on Fafnir’s armor, which had an especially intense presence in the fog-filled space.

But as I confirmed that the efforts I had made desperately for 10 days to achieve that goal were showing in such small ways, I felt my spirits, which had been dampened by the pain, gradually lifting.

Of course, just being vaguely excited like this wouldn’t mean much, so…

“Hoo…”

I activated the breathing technique, Fricasa, to perfectly correct the pain in my side that even my super-regeneration ability couldn’t completely fix.

At the same time, I slowly observed my body’s condition to see how much I had improved compared to 10 days ago.

The assessment took only a moment.

I could naturally tell without much detailed observation that my basic physical abilities, such as muscle mass and balance, and the vessel in my heart that could hold fighting spirit had improved significantly compared to 10 days ago.

‘I never thought such crude training would produce these kinds of results…’

Even though it was called hellish training,

Even with the overwhelming super-regeneration ability that had miraculously taken root in my body after turning back time,

The training consisted of nothing more than being mercilessly hit by Fafnir’s hands and feet, which possessed destructive power that surpassed my regeneration.

I didn’t want to admit it, but at this point, I had no choice but to acknowledge it.

After being hit here and there by Fafnir, all my physical abilities, including my endurance, had improved significantly compared to 10 days ago.

[How is it? Are you pleased with the improved state of your body after training combined with practical combat with the great Fafnir?]

‘I would have been more pleased if you didn’t boast so much.’

[You’re not being honest. If you’re pleased, you should just honestly say you’re pleased.]

‘The effects are good, but the method of drawing them out is too rough.’

[Bah, making such complaints over that. Compared to the times when those demon god bastards were running wild, when we taught those lumps of flesh using even harsher methods, the training I’m doing with you is just a warm-up.]

…To think that the beating he gave me with destructive power that overwhelmed my regenerative ability was just a warm-up.

‘…What exactly were you doing when you were active with my ancestor?’

[Hehe… Do you want to know?]

‘No, I don’t want to know.’

[There wasn’t much difference.]

Despite my waving off that I didn’t particularly want to know, Fafnir’s voice remained calm as he said there wasn’t much difference.

[If there was a difference.]

‘…If there was?’

[Back then, I was also risking my life, I suppose?]

‘….’

[I miss it. Back then, it wasn’t just one-sided beating; there was the fun of looking for counterattack opportunities while withstanding the combined attacks of Lumen and Agrinne.]

I need to correct myself.

His voice was calm, but the content flowing from that calm voice was incredibly surprising.

Why wouldn’t it be surprising?

He was reciting in a flat voice, as if reading a fairy tale, about how he fought without losing the initiative against two legendary heroes who ended the great war caused by the demon gods who spread darkness across this land a thousand years ago.

‘…I shouldn’t have asked.’

As I heard those words, the satisfaction that had been building up as I felt myself getting stronger was about to dissipate like foam, but…

[Cheer up. From what I can see, you could probably do that much too if you try.]

Hearing Fafnir’s encouraging words in his still flat voice, I was able to gather my wavering heart again.

‘I have to try. Those guys beyond the mountains are still alive and well, ready to cause trouble as soon as the snow stops, before the new year comes.’

After ending the conversation with Fafnir like that, I slowly raised my body from the bed.

“Hmm…”

Since I had completely eliminated the pain in my side with the Fricasa breathing technique,

I didn’t feel any pain as I got out of bed.

Turning my gaze toward the window,

The sky, tinged with faint rays of light visible even through the heavily falling snow…

“…Morning has passed quite a bit.”

It was telling me that morning had arrived, with only a few days left until the end of the subjugation festival.

#

It’s morning.

Although it’s difficult to determine the exact time just by looking at the sky due to the snow covering the world in white,

The clock hanging on the wall of the lodging indicates it’s 10 AM, so it’s morning.

It was quite late, but there was no need to rush around to complete a schedule.

“Because it’s Sunday.”

Because today is Sunday.

Except for the minimal personnel taking shifts to guard the fortress,

It’s a day when even knights who are focused on self-discipline rest their bodies, tired from duties and training.

[You’ve worked hard, so take a rest today.]

How bad must it have been for such words to come from Fafnir, who had been mercilessly pushing me even on the previous holiday a week ago?

‘That’s what I plan to do.’

So today, taking advantage of the holiday, I was going to change into comfortable clothes first, as I hadn’t properly changed after collapsing following the hellish training with Fafnir, in order to give rest to my tired body and mind without moving an inch from my room.

First, I took off my top and then…

Creeeeak-!!

…Wait? What’s that sound?

Startled by the sound of the entrance door’s hinge turning when it shouldn’t, I turned my head.

“…”

There was Shizu, staring at me slowly with her eyes wide open like a rabbit.

She remained motionless with a face full of smiles.

“…”

I, with my upper body not properly covered, couldn’t move as I stared at Shizu.

“…”

And the same was true for Shizu.

After a moment that felt like an eternity,

Changes were gradually occurring in Shizu, who had been standing still like a broken machine, unable to comprehend the situation that had suddenly unfolded.

Embarrassment crept into her expression, which had been adorned with a subtle smile.

Her smooth, snow-white face turned so red it reminded me of a volcanic eruption from Dragon Claw Mountain, which was at a reasonable distance from the fortress.

Even just this change was quite significant.

But Shizu showed prominent changes not only in her face but throughout her entire body.

She flailed her arms around, not knowing what to do.

Then she stopped flailing and started fanning her face with both hands.

Her appearance, which unreservedly revealed how flustered she was right now, was truly…

‘Cute…’

She had a cuteness that would be unmatched even if compared to all the cute things in the world.

If time allowed, I would have loved to continue watching her flustered appearance, but…

“S-Sorry!!”

Shizu’s urgent voice, which indicated she had finally grasped the situation, didn’t allow me to continue my appreciation.

Was it a struggle to escape the awkwardness?

Shizu hurriedly turned her body, trying not to look at my exposed upper body.

“I’ll come back a little later.”

With these final words,

Patter-patter-!!

Starting with the disorderly sound of her hurriedly walking toward the entrance door,

Creeeeak-!!

The creaking sound of the hinge turning with obvious haste, and…

Slam-!!

With the loud sound of the entrance door closing,

Silence returned to the lodging once more.

The time we awkwardly faced each other was just a bit long.

Once Shizu came to her senses, it took only one breath for her to turn around and escape from my lodging.

Of course, in that brief moment,

I could see that the fire that had spread across Shizu’s entire face only grew more intense as she hastily retreated from the lodging.

It was clear that Shizu was at fault for entering without knocking despite sensing someone’s presence.

But she didn’t enter with any malicious intent,

And she immediately apologized and left, so there was no reason to be angry about it.

“…Let me just finish getting dressed.”

Instead of the casual clothes I was planning to wear to stay in my lodging all day according to my plan,

“…I wonder if she went far?”

I hurriedly put on clothing suitable for outdoor activities.

I thought it wouldn’t be easy to bring back Shizu, who had left the lodging, if I dawdled.

Somehow, the current situation where Shizu made the mistake but I was cleaning it up felt quite unfamiliar, but…

When I recalled her appearance from before my regression, when she couldn’t take care of herself because she was trying to fix the world that had gone wrong due to my incorrect choices,

I didn’t even want to chide her, let alone get angry, over such a trivial matter.

[How does she manage to time her entrance so perfectly?]

Even hearing Fafnir’s words, which I couldn’t tell whether they were teasing or admiring her,

‘It’s largely because I was too relaxed on my day off and let my guard down. If it had been a normal day, I would have been properly dressed even if I was quietly staying in my lodging.’

If this was my immediate response, there’s no need to say more.

[You seem to have a tendency to always blame yourself when it comes to matters related to that young lady.]

‘…I sometimes think my very existence might be the mistake.’

[What does that mean?]

‘Just talking to myself. Don’t worry about it.’

By the time that brief conversation with Fafnir ended, in which I essentially attributed everything to my fault, my clothing suitable for outdoor activities was fully prepared.

As I hurriedly moved toward the entrance door, there was only one thought in my mind:

“I need to find her before she goes too far.”

That was all.

But, very fortunately,

There was no need to go far.

“Ah…”

As soon as I hurriedly opened the entrance door, I could see Shizu not far from outside the lodging.

Even though she was directly facing the very chilly outside weather due to the snow that had continued for nearly two weeks, though the snowfall itself had weakened…

“…Ugh.”

Her face, from which she faintly let out a voice tinged with embarrassment, still had unextinguished flames dwelling in it.