Ch.145Exam (1)

Once again, time flowed as naturally as water.

Wake up, train, take a brief rest while eating, then train again.

Too exhausted to even think about dinner, but still forcing myself to devour the meat Silvia had hunted, then immediately lying down to sleep—this cycle repeated day after day.

Amazingly… no, as if to prove that this grueling training had meaning, my body gradually began adapting to this lifestyle.

My pathetic stamina that left me gasping after just a short run, my trembling legs that required a day of rest after running all day—these were now things of the past.

Whether my legs had finally given in to the harsh training or I had simply grown accustomed to running, I couldn’t tell for certain. But the fact that I could now keep up with Silvia’s light jog without falling behind was somewhat moving.

Silvia, my training instructor and motivator, also seemed satisfied with my transformation.

Although she appeared somewhat competitive when I managed to dodge not just branches but even her massive sword one out of three times, she was clearly delighted with my growth.

Honestly, I only noticed the difference in fatigue levels, not any physical changes in my appearance.

But judging by how Silvia would caress my body with a pleased smile during our nighttime activities, it seemed clear that I had developed a more toned physique than before.

Her back arching like a bow with louder moans than before was further proof of this fact.

As you might have guessed from what I just mentioned, to get to the point, the nighttime activities with Silvia continued.

For me, it was the only way to encourage Silvia, who was reluctant to go to the Demon Lord’s castle.

Besides, it was also the only way to alleviate my guilt for forcing her on a journey that would remind her of her past mistakes.

Of course, I felt self-conscious about Pia whenever I moved my hips beneath Silvia, but even Pia showed no complaints after seeing Silvia’s vulnerable side that she had kept so carefully hidden.

Well, at least she didn’t voice any complaints.

She would make a sour face when Silvia lifted her top while breathing heavily, then quickly disappear, but she never seriously scolded me for it.

As a spirit master, I had a duty to manage Pia’s stress, so whenever Silvia wasn’t around, I always spent time with Pia, trying my best to keep her happy.

Perhaps Pia appreciated my efforts, as my spirit magic was also gradually improving day by day.

“Ash.”

“…Huh?”

One morning,

Unlike me, who was eating grilled fish caught from the lake, Silvia—who seemed to have no appetite and was only picking at a few small winter berries—addressed me with a serious expression.

I wiped the ash from the corner of my mouth and stared at her.

“What is it?”

“About Alice…”

“Sister Alice?”

Silvia nodded and continued.

“Isn’t it about time she returned?”

“Ah… I guess so? That’s right, she said a month… hmm…”

I scratched my temple.

Having spent quite some time in the forest now, and with nothing to do each day but train and have sex, it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of the dates.

I couldn’t be certain, but it felt like the month Alice had promised was almost up.

Or perhaps it had already passed.

“Sister will be back soon then.”

“…Hmm.”

Silvia crossed her arms and made a small grumbling sound, as if something was bothering her.

Surely Alice and Silvia strongly disliked each other, but was she actually worried about Alice not showing up despite the promised time approaching?

Well, they would soon have to journey together, watching each other’s backs, so continuing to growl at each other wouldn’t be very professional.

And both legendary hero Silvia and Sister Alice, the papal inquisitor, were certainly professionals among professionals.

I nodded slightly as I watched Silvia deep in thought.

“Yeah… I’m worried too. She said the outside world was a mess… I hope nothing happened to her.”

“Huh? Ash, what are you talking about?”

“Hmm?”

Silvia looked at me with wide eyes, as if she’d heard something strange.

“Why would you worry? Are you afraid something might have happened to Alice?”

“Uh… isn’t that why you brought it up?”

“No, I’m not worried about that woman at all.”

“…”

“I was just thinking that it’s about time for that annoying Alice to return, that’s all.”

I guess not.

Apparently, being a professional meant doing your job properly while still growling at each other.

Silvia slowly lowered her arms and nodded as if she had made some decision.

“That also means the day we set out on our journey toward the Demon Lord isn’t far off, Ash.”

“…Ah.”

I let out a short sigh.

Suddenly, the future that had felt so distant seemed to rush right before my eyes.

“So, about today—all training is canceled.”

“Really?”

At the unexpected news of training being canceled, I found myself beaming with a broad smile before I even realized it.

Silvia stared at my face for a moment, then let out a laugh of disbelief.

“Ha,”

“Ah… well…”

“Ash… aren’t you a bit too happy?”

“Ha, haha… well, training is tough.”

Even though I had gained stamina and some leeway, training was still difficult and exhausting.

But still, given that I had a clear purpose to become stronger, I felt somewhat ashamed that I couldn’t hide my momentary joy. My face flushed slightly.

Silvia chuckled and continued.

“Hmm… I understand the feeling, but it’s too early to be that happy.”

“What do you mean?”

“Today, instead of training, I’m planning to give you a test.”

“A test?”

“Yes. A test. To see how much you’ve grown and whether you’ll survive the journey.”

“…How?”

Silvia slowly opened her palm and chanted a brief spell.

Then, smiling at me, she asked:

“Remember this?”

A piece of ice about the size of a thumb gradually took shape on Silvia’s palm.

“…Ah, that’s…”

I remembered it clearly.

Back when I still called Silvia “Miss Silvia.”

After that day when I nearly died being chased by a monster bear, she would throw these ice pieces at me, claiming to train my magic.

Silvia tossed the ice up with one hand, caught it again, and said:

“The rules are similar. Like before, I’ll throw this at you.”

“That… really hurt, you know?”

“Well… this time,”

At that moment, I felt a sharp gust of wind brush past my face.

It felt like a sharp, heavy wind had slashed across my cheek.

My hair, now longer than before, fluttered violently.

When I slowly turned around, there was a small hole in the wall.

Though I hadn’t seen the movement, it seemed Silvia had thrown the ice piece past me.

“If you get hit, it won’t just end with pain.”

“…I could die.”

“As long as it’s not instant death, it’s fine. I’ll somehow keep you alive, and when Alice arrives, you’ll heal completely.”

Silvia casually uttered these terrifying words.

I slowly recalled the scene I had witnessed before—how a bear’s corpse had exploded upon being hit by just one of her ice pieces.

Soon, in my mind, the bear’s corpse was replaced with my own body.

Needless to say, taking a direct hit from that power would mean instant death with no chance to react.

“…Huh,”

“Ash.”

Silvia spoke softly to me as I sat there dumbfounded.

“If you truly want to go to the Demon Lord, you need to be able to handle this much without breaking a sweat. You need to be strong enough to easily defeat a bear like the one that almost killed you that day.”

“…I suppose so.”

Honestly, the Demon Lord was such a massive and powerful entity that it felt distant.

I knew how terrifying this being was, but I couldn’t really imagine its strength, which might be why I could maintain a vague sense of courage.

But if that bear from that day appeared before me again, could I defeat it?

I couldn’t be certain.

However, Silvia seemed to notice my doubt and spoke with a resolute voice:

“The current Ash definitely can.”

“…I can tell my stamina has improved, but I don’t think I could defeat that bear,”

“I understand. You don’t yet have that powerful image of success created by the experience of victory.”

Silvia slowly stood up and continued.

“So I’ll create that image for you. If you pass my test today, it means you’ve already surpassed that bear.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, because today’s test will be that difficult.”

I nodded.

“Certainly… it would be hard to melt something flying at that speed…”

“Oh my, who said anything about melting the ice?”

“…Huh?”

Silvia approached me slowly, bent down, placed her hand on my shoulder, and said:

“The passing condition for today’s test isn’t melting or avoiding the ice pieces. Since you’ve improved in running, reflexes, and spirit handling since then, your magic must have improved too—that would be too easy.”

“…Then, what exactly is the passing condition…?”

Silvia laughed.

It was a light, trilling laugh, as if asking why I would even question something so obvious.

Her snow-white skin, eyes and lips gleaming like red flowers, curved into a crescent shape.

Somehow, it looked ominous.

After a moment, Silvia stopped laughing and said to me:

“Obviously, it’s to defeat me.”

“…What?”

I unconsciously reverted to formal speech.

“Of course, I won’t use my sword. All I’ll use is this ice magic—no, not even ice magic, just throwing magically created ice at you with all my might.”

“…Are you insane?”

“If you can defeat me, a mere bear would be nothing, right?”

“Silvia…”

That’s obviously true.

Even if Silvia doesn’t use her sword, if I could defeat her, a bear would be no match at all.

But I could confidently guarantee that I couldn’t beat Silvia with just that handicap.

Unlike the vaguely perceived Demon Lord, I knew better than anyone just how strong Silvia was.

I muttered with a trembling voice:

“…I can’t do it.”

“Giving up so early is a bad habit, Ash. Of course, completely subduing me won’t be easy.”

“It’s not just ‘not easy’—it’s impossible.”

“…Your mind is rigid again. That’s another bad habit of yours.”

“What do you mean?”

Silvia lightly tapped my head and said softly:

“It’s not like I’m trying to have a life-or-death battle with you.”

“…Huh?”

“The passing condition is simply to subdue me. That means knocking me down, immobilizing me, or creating a situation where I can’t attack anymore… something like that would be enough.”

I suddenly realized how foolish my thinking had been.

Realistically, neither Silvia nor Sister Alice would expect me to directly defeat the Demon Lord.

My role was to support those two.

Even if I just managed to bind the Demon Lord’s feet or make it stagger momentarily, I would be fulfilling my part more than adequately.

Realizing Silvia’s intention, I slowly looked at her.

She noticed that my trembling had stopped and smiled slightly as she continued:

“In actual combat with teammates, that alone often decides everything. Someone else can finish the job. In reality, you’ll probably help us in that way more often than defeating enemies yourself.”

“…Yeah, you’re right. I was thinking too foolishly.”

“Ash is smart but can be surprisingly silly at times.”

With those words, Silvia slowly walked out of the hut.

Just before the door closed, she said quietly:

“Come out when you’re ready. The test begins then.”

“…”

I sat on the floor, organizing my thoughts for a moment.

Or rather, I was formulating a strategy.

But no good ideas came to mind.

Of course, while the test wasn’t about fighting Silvia like a madman but rather putting her in a temporarily incapacitated state, it was by no means an easy test.

Subduing someone sounds simple, but she was a being beyond common sense who could withstand a tumble spell that knocks people down and still remain standing.

Considering the magic I could use and the movements I could make, no suitable answer was readily apparent.

As I was pondering how to defeat Silvia,

“Ash.”

Pia, who had appeared out of nowhere, grabbed my hand tightly and said:

“Ash, let’s do it.”

“…Pia?”

“Let’s do it. We can. Ash.”

I looked at Pia who had suddenly appeared.

With her ears perked up and tail standing straight, she looked almost like a dog or wolf showing aggression.

“…Pia, why so sudden?”

“…Just once,”

“Huh?”

“That woman, I need to hit her at least once.”

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