Ch.176175. Time Without Her (2)

# 175. The Time Without Her (2)

[Skill, [Transcendence] has been used.]

[The user becomes a transcendent being beyond human limitations for a fleeting moment.]

[One stat (Strength) increases by 2x for 5 minutes.]

One stat.

I chose strength among them.

Nothing beats overwhelming power when facing a giant like that.

“By the way… this is amazing.”

As an unimaginably enormous power flowed into my body, I felt a confidence that made me believe I could say anything.

And the giant before me must have noticed this aura, because after initially being unfazed by the pressure, it suddenly began to show caution.

Of course, that only lasted for a moment.

-UOOOH!!-

It wasn’t intelligent enough to speak human language.

This brute, who seemed to possess nothing but raw strength, must have sensed danger from my aura as it suddenly charged toward me.

-BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!-

So heavy was it that the ground sank with each step, creating sounds reminiscent of earthquakes.

It truly seemed to possess mindless, overwhelming strength.

However, the same could now be said of me.

I pointed my greatsword at it as it swung a club as large as its own torso.

-CRASH!!!-

A collision of two forces.

The shockwave from that collision made the surrounding air vibrate and trees bow their heads.

A scene as if time had stopped.

Within that scene, I looked at my opponent’s face.

“As expected… you’re scared.”

Yet, with some inexplicable stubbornness, it continued to withstand my sword.

Just like me about half a year ago.

That appearance and this current situation reminded me of that battle.

However, there was a difference from back then.

This creature wasn’t as smart as I was then.

And…

“I’m not as gentle as Marco.”

Until just now, the Abyss hadn’t worked.

Those monsters, despite their status, had already recognized the power of the Abyss and tried to avoid it somehow.

But this one didn’t seem to have such intelligence.

No, it definitely didn’t.

As usual, I infused another monster into the sword that was in the midst of collision.

-Grooowl…!-

An excited howl.

It seemed thrilled at the appearance of prey on a completely different level than before.

Like pure evil resembling a child who had found a toy, I gave that child a signal.

“Eat.”

At that moment, the child instantly flew and pounced on the giant.

Then it savored its meal very slowly.

-Uuuurgh..!-

The giant finally seemed to realize something was wrong, but it was too late.

A scene like a snake’s hunt.

But it was incomparably more cruel than that.

“Ugh….”

I watched that spectacle.

For a very long time.

***

“Commander, what are you doing?”

“I told you not to call me that.”

She had been promoted to Major General in recognition of her achievements so far, and her contributions in the battle about a month ago, and if that wasn’t enough, she was also appointed as the commander of the reinforcement corps.

Of course, she still felt the position was too much for her and found the title of commander unfamiliar.

Even now, after sitting in that position for a month.

“It’s pretty good, isn’t it? Sounds cool too.”

“Be quiet.”

“Then should I call you Crown Princess?”

“I don’t like that either.”

Although she was appointed as commander and crowned as the Crown Princess at the same time, she didn’t particularly like that title either.

“Just call me comfortably…”

“But then you complain that other people will follow suit.”

“Then just… call me Commander…”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Concerned about Riel’s exaggerated reaction, she asked in a low voice.

“But then won’t people talk behind my back, saying I’m showing off despite being a parachute appointment?”

“That can’t be helped, and besides, people who would say such things have probably been saying them already.”

“I guess… you’re right.”

Her worrying about such things.

Riel found her behavior puzzling.

“But… it’s a bit unexpected.”

“What is?”

“I thought you wouldn’t worry about such things, Commander.”

“I worry about those things too. I just didn’t talk much originally.”

“But what made you bring it up this time?”

When Riel asked that, she stared blankly at her phone and said.

“He’s not answering his phone…”

“He’s probably clearing a dungeon at this time.”

“But he answered at this time yesterday…”

“If you wait, he’ll contact you. Just wait.”

“Okay…”

“By the way, I’m grateful.”

“To whom? Albert?”

When she asked that, Riel nodded.

“Why?”

“Thanks to him, our commander now talks to me like this.”

“Don’t say things like that… it’s cringeworthy.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“More importantly… are there any problems?”

“If you’re referring to the enemy, there are no problems. Their movements have been sparse recently.”

After that battle a month ago, the Demon King’s army had once again become less active.

Still, they couldn’t let their guard down as they might attack again at any time.

“Work hard, even if it’s tough.”

“Of course, but more importantly…”

Suddenly changing the subject with a mischievous smile, Riel.

She asked such a Riel.

“What now?”

“It seems your popularity has increased even more lately… how does that feel?”

“Don’t ask me about that, it’s annoying.”

“I heard you’re rejecting everyone. As expected! Unwavering loyalty!”

Recalling past events upon hearing those words, she sighed deeply and looked at the ring on her finger.

Then, caressing that ring, she asked.

“I always wear this! Everyone probably knows I have a boyfriend! Why do they all act like this? Do they think I’ll accept them?”

“Polygamy is legal, so they all think there’s a possibility.”

And the people confessing to her were quite decent.

If they weren’t compared to Albert, that is.

“It’s ridiculous…”

“I heard people with abilities and high status like you can have up to 10 spouses. You’re the unusual one, Commander.”

“Albert also has abilities and high status, doesn’t he?”

“That’s true. Oh! Could it be the reason he’s not answering his phone is…?”

She scolded Riel for making such unpleasant remarks.

“Don’t say things like that… I’m already anxious because I can’t see him…”

“What would you do if he really cheated?”

“If that happens… I really won’t sit still.”

With those words, her eyes flashed momentarily.

Seeing those eyes made Riel feel scared for no reason.

“Oh… that’s a bit scary. It feels like you’d imprison him so he can’t cheat again and purge all the women who flirted with him.”

“Did you learn mind reading without me knowing? That’s exactly what I was thinking…”

“What…?”

Riel seemed genuinely surprised by the unexpected answer.

“Are you serious?”

“I really was thinking that.”

A tone and expression too serious to be a joke.

That appearance proved that her earlier words were sincere.

“….”

“What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing…”

Riel, now truly frightened, deliberately avoided her gaze and picked up his phone.

Then he left a message for Albert, who would still be in the dungeon.

-You, NEVER! NEVER cheat. Not if you want to avoid spending the rest of your life imprisoned with your limbs tied.-

Just as Riel sent that message, her voice, quite different from before and now excited, was heard.

“Oh! A call! Hello!?”

***

“You seem really excited.”

-D-Do I?-

“Yeah, something good must have happened.”

-Not particularly… I’m just happy Albert called…-

She had called first, but I was too busy to answer.

In such a situation, it was only natural for me to call back.

Yet she was happy about such a natural thing.

“That’s only natural. By the way, is work manageable?”

-It’s okay I guess… except for dealing with people…-

Hearing that dejected voice, it was clear something had happened.

“Did something happen?”

-Well… there was just some conflict of opinions…-

“That must have been tough.”

-But it was resolved amicably. Is Albert having any difficulties?-

“I’m always having a hard time.”

-Why…?-

A voice as if expecting certain words.

Hearing that voice made me not want to say what I had originally intended.

“There’s something, it’s quite trivial… it’s nothing.”

-Oh…-

“Just kidding… of course I’m having a hard time not seeing you.”

-Hehe… Ah! Did I just laugh stupidly? Riel! Stop laughing!-

“Talking with you is really the most fun.”

It felt like an empty space in my heart was being filled.

I felt an indescribable satisfaction from that feeling.

“I want to see you soon…”

-You can’t come during this vacation either, right?-

“Yeah… I should have gone during the last vacation…”

If I could have gone during the last vacation but didn’t, then I couldn’t go this time.

Partly because the only train heading there had stopped operating due to the second Eden battle, and partly because there was no one to protect Luna at the academy during the vacation.

Last time, Amelia was there, but this time, Amelia had also gone to the front line like Marco, so it couldn’t be helped.

-It can’t be helped…-

“I really want to just quit school and go there!”

-That doesn’t sound bad at all?-