Ch.194194. Return (5)

A green-skinned giant stomps across the field’s leaf-covered soil with heavy steps.

It’s a troll, a magical beast that attacks any moving creature it perceives as food.

Given its massive size, a direct hit from its swinging arms or legs would easily break ribs, or worse, prove fatal.

Naturally, the best strategy against such swings is to properly block or deflect them, but avoidance is optimal.

The troll swung its arm toward a boy who seemed no more than one-fifth its size.

Thwack.

The boy leapt up nimbly to avoid it. Then, using the troll’s moving arm as a foothold, he jumped higher and struck its head with precision.

Channeling magical energy, he executed a spinning kick using the troll’s arm as leverage.

The precise blow to the skull stunned the troll.

I can state without reservation that this is the best possible counter for a human facing a magical beast several times their size.

There couldn’t be a more efficient use of full-body magical energy manipulation, nor a more masterful demonstration of turning an enemy’s strength against them.

If professors saw this scene, they couldn’t help but be impressed.

It’s clear that other teams or guild representatives would come running with gleaming eyes if they witnessed this.

“Impressive indeed.”

The mock combat room serves as a training area against magical beasts, but there’s also a separate second-floor section where one can observe movements worth noting.

That’s how Goden was able to closely watch Junon’s movements from the second floor.

However, this second-floor area serves another purpose as well.

“Sixteen of them… even with a 25% synchronization rate, that’s extreme. It’s essentially training to face four trolls alone in actual combat.”

The Talbert Arc is an object designed to adjust training difficulty according to synchronization rates.

Someone might conduct excessive training, and though rare, people have collapsed because of it.

Safety is essential in training. That’s why having another person’s eyes on the situation occasionally becomes necessary.

Yet Junon seems completely focused on his training, disregarding such concerns.

These massive beasts are trolls, creatures that constantly devour prey and typically don’t form groups.

Though classified as “normal” grade since students commonly face them, they’re still C-rank.

At minimum, they require a team of D+ or C- rank personnel, or three C-rank individuals working together.

Even then, their massive size and considerable regenerative abilities make them resistant to Junon’s specialty: strike-type attacks.

Without access to their weakness, sustained damage magic, they’re truly formidable opponents. The only effective attack requires using several times one’s strength to bring them down.

Overcoming these disadvantages to take down trolls single-handedly is impressive enough, but…

‘The problem is that this isn’t the end of it.’

In Goden’s view, this training is excessive—dangerously so.

Whirr-

“Tch!”

A magic circle targets its objective. Despite having the opportunity to subdue the troll immediately, doing so would mean taking down just one before collapsing.

Junon clicks his tongue and passes on the opportunity.

The magical armor wrapped around his arm disperses an incoming flame blast from the left, then reverses the circle’s calculation to block magic missiles fired from directly above.

Meanwhile, a troll that had closed in swings its arm.

Though cornered in a tight space, he believed he could avoid it by sliding toward the troll.

And he does exactly that.

Within the troll group, he methodically neutralizes interfering spells one by one while slowly reducing their numbers.

No matter how impressive, anyone watching would be horrified and try to stop him.

Facing magical beasts while simultaneously conducting evasion and defense training—the spells raining down from all directions severely limit his blind spots.

His skill is admirable, but his training method pushes his body to dangerous extremes.

“Brother Goden.”

Ronelion arrived. They’d actually met some time ago, but Goden immediately made a request.

“Did you call Renias?”

“Yes. She should be coming up now.”

Goden had shouted at Ronelion as he passed by, suddenly telling him to bring Renias. He had no idea why.

Though he didn’t understand the urgency, he brought her anyway since Goden seemed serious.

“What is this…”

“How does it look to you?”

“How does it look? Obviously…!”

The training content was shocking.

Defensive angles and evasion ranges closing in from all directions. In the midst of this, he’s still facing twelve trolls, having taken down only four so far.

Without further explanation, Ronelion knew what needed to be done.

“…I’ll bring her quickly.”

“Good.”

Shortly after, Renias was pushed up to the second floor.

Her shrunken silver hair fully explained her condition. Rubbing her eyes, still not fully awake, the girl had clearly been sleeping longer than her twin brother, who seemed much more urgent.

“Ugh, why all the commotion so early in the morning…”

“Hurry, just walk a bit faster, okay?”

“What’s this all about? I swear, if this isn’t important…”

“Brother Goden called for you, not me.”

“Eh? Really?! Ugh, you should have said that from the beginning!”

“I told you it was urgent and to come quickly. You’re the one who didn’t listen.”

“Hmph!”

Goden interrupts the bickering twins with a cough.

“Sorry, Renias. I asked Ronelion to bring you. I need you specifically.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

As Renias reached the second floor, Goden gestured with his chin.

She followed Ronelion’s gaze toward the mock combat room.

“That’s Senior Junon… But what is this? What kind of insane training method is this?”

The girl, who had been irritable from sleepiness just moments ago, asked in shock.

It was a scene where anyone might rush down to stop him. Anyone normal, that is.

But couldn’t one have such suspicions?

“Has he set up such conditions before?”

Was Junon deliberately training like this?

Had he attempted such reckless challenges before for some purpose?

Such suspicions.

“He’s trained under ridiculously harsh conditions many times, but…”

Renias couldn’t finish her sentence. Something seemed to occur to her as she immediately headed down from the second floor.

In her absence, Ronelion continued.

“If he’s always trained this way, it wouldn’t be strange. He’s quite an unusual person.”

“I thought so too.”

Goden had considered that possibility. That’s why he’d been watching without going down.

‘But I’ve been watching from here for over 20 minutes.’

Which means he’d been at it even before that—before Ronelion went to get Renias.

It’s not hard to guess why.

Such excessive training stems from feeling inadequate.

He hasn’t moved past the recent incident. That’s why he’s pushing himself even harder.

If that’s the case…

‘That’s the wrong answer, Junon.’

That’s what he would tell him.

Though Junon is classified as a vanguard position, his true value lies elsewhere.

The recent hostage crisis with Demian was a precarious tug-of-war.

With time dragged out by Cave and hostages inside, could the same result have been achieved even in a simulation?

Goden suspected that even if Tembris had immediately gathered to resolve the situation, there would have been numerous casualties, possibly even deaths.

It was truly the best possible move in the worst possible scenario, with no alternatives.

In other words, Junon is better suited for command than physical combat.

He belongs in a leadership position, assessing the entire battlefield and issuing orders.

Yet…

‘Why do you insist on the vanguard position instead of being at the center?’

Goden could only sigh at this incongruous sight.

***

Whoosh!

The troll’s attack grazed him. He hadn’t dodged perfectly.

Ping ping ping ping!

Four magic arrows hit their mark. Unable to intercept them all, his left leg and right arm were injured, restricting his movement.

The electric attribute seemed to activate a paralysis effect, making things even more difficult.

And finally.

A jack-o’-lantern the size of a troll and wind blades struck simultaneously. This, he couldn’t avoid.

Whoosh.

The trolls summoned by the Talbert Arc and the prepared magic circles disappeared.

Training complete.

Ten out of sixteen. That was his limit.

‘This isn’t… enough…!’

He gritted his teeth, recalling events from just hours ago.

Knock knock.

-‘Who is it?’

-‘I’m here about the request. I heard you needed someone to plow your field.’

-‘Ah… is that so?’

As a farmer tending to her fields, this woman had posted a request for help.

Yet when the helper arrived, she seemed hesitant, her expression less than welcoming.

-‘I’m sorry. I’d prefer someone else.’

And with that, she closed the door.

-‘…’

One might think he was dangerous. But why such a reaction when he didn’t even have a threatening appearance?

It was obvious.

The recent commotion in front of the hospital.

-‘Haah.’

He couldn’t help but sigh.

With Adel as a victim, strong prejudice was inevitable.

Who would entrust a request to someone who had failed during an operation? It wasn’t incomprehensible.

But to think it had already spread throughout Levrant. At this rate, he wouldn’t even be able to set foot there due to ranking issues.

He’d been asleep in the hospital for four days. For the next three days after recovering, he’d been conscious of this issue, but this was the result.

He’d spent hours today trying to accept requests, but…

The distrustful gazes had already spread far and wide.

“Damn it.”

If you don’t move, everything becomes distorted. Just like in this recent incident.

He had been arrogant, complacent, and powerless.

The very thought that he could handle it was arrogance.

This complacency born of arrogance had turned Adel into a vegetative state.

Powerlessly, he could do nothing afterward.

It was none other than himself who had put Adel in that state. He was insufficient, foolish, and weak.

Among all the nonsense Demian had spouted, there was one thing that wasn’t wrong. He realized it painfully.

Power.

Overwhelming power makes everything possible.

That, at least, wasn’t wrong.

Yes. He just needed to become stronger.

What had held him back was ultimately his own insufficient capabilities.

What had been lacking in rescuing Adel was also power.

Otherwise… that past would repeat itself. A nightmarish reality where those around him die one by one.

By gaining strength, becoming stronger.

He needed to acquire power that wouldn’t hold him back, to stay one step ahead.

“Huff.”

The boy sighed, reaching for the Talbert Arc again.

But the Talbert Arc he was about to use had already been snatched by a quick-moving tomboy.

“You didn’t train this intensely before, did you? Hmm.”

The silver-jeweled girl narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Upon facing this brilliantly shining girl, he immediately erased the expression he’d just worn.

“I need to increase the intensity for proper training. It’s only natural.”

“For that kind of thing, Senior, this was too much. This isn’t an increase; it’s more like a jump in difficulty?”

“What are you talking about? Stop joking around and give it back.”

“Hmm.”

The suspicious girl hid the Talbert Arc behind her back and began to run away.

“Huh? Renias? Hey, release this!”

“I’m not giving it back~. Your training quota for today ends here, Senior!”

“What? Why are you deciding that?”

“Well, Senior, you’re quite exhausted now, aren’t you? Even that binding is hard to neutralize.”

“Huh…”

“Nyah! You want it back that badly? Catch me and I’ll consider it.”

The mischievous girl sticks out her tongue and makes a teasing expression, provoking Junon.

An outsider running away with a Talbert Arc prepared for training in the mock combat room? Junon could only stare blankly at Renias with a dumbfounded expression.

“Can’t break free, can you? Right? Hehe.”

“Come on. Of course not, since you’ve drained all my energy.”

“Then you need to rest properly. Just like you told me to rest in the physical training room.”

She punctuates each syllable of “break time” by poking her cheeks with her index fingers to tease him.

Junon immediately thought, Ah, this is revenge.

“Excuse me, junior? This is different from you overexerting yourself by running.”

“How is it different? It’s exactly the same.”

“How can this be the same as you forcing yourself to run until you laid eggs? Huh? I carefully chose the right intensity for myself…”

“Blah blah blah- I can’t hear you~! Anyway, this is confiscated until you rest properly!”

When he tried to point out her mistake fair and square, Renias now pretended not to listen and continued teasing.

If he continued this conversation, he was certain he’d lose in terms of rhetoric or eloquence, so she employed the strategy of playing dumb.

What could he do? In a situation where he couldn’t move, she wouldn’t return it until he properly rested.

With both hands and feet up, he had to give up for now.

“Alright. I won’t do it anymore, so release me. Let’s go eat.”

“Planning to take it back? That’s not it, right? I won’t believe you until we pinky promise.”

“…Here.”

Though his arms were bound, he was sitting, and it wasn’t a state where he couldn’t extend a finger.

Renias sat down to match his eye level and hooked her finger with satisfaction. Only then did the bands of light binding his body disappear.

“Here you go, Senior. Let’s go eat quickly, shall we?”

Renias extended her hand with a fresh smile. She offered it to help him stand up.

“…”

“Wow, Senior must be really tired? You’re leaning on me quite a bit?”

“That’s just your imagination.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

Renias curiously opened and closed her hand. In fact, her intuition was correct. When she helped him up, more force was required because Junon was quite exhausted.

To notice such a subtle difference.

‘She always was a quick learner.’

Even the training that began out of stubbornness in the physical training room—she could now handle increased difficulty.

Renias’s learning ability was considerable, to the point where she could manage her own condition and body care. To think she’d become so attuned to such sensations.

‘This won’t do.’

He needed to advance further. Faster, more definitively.

Junon realized that if he didn’t grow, the people around him would suffer due to other variables.

Renias was occasionally perceptive in unexpected areas. So he deliberately spoke first.

“Are you going to keep standing there?”

“Ah, we were going to eat… right?”

“Yes. Come on quickly. Otherwise, I’ll leave you behind.”

He had to hide it well so she wouldn’t suspect. Now, to ensure she wouldn’t step forward.

To prevent a situation like yesterday, where an innocent girl was criticized because of his influence.

And… to keep this kind junior from getting involved because of an inadequate senior.

“Hey, Senior! We should leave the Talbert Arc behind!”

Renias quickly returned the cube to its place and followed with hurried steps.

Junon breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he hadn’t been caught this time.

But.

‘Senior…’

The girl of integrity was far superior at hiding her true thoughts behind a natural face.

Contrary to what he thought was fortunate, everything looked different from Renias’s perspective.

“Senior, you hesitated when I offered my hand earlier, didn’t you?”

“Do you have a secret that makes it difficult to accept someone’s outstretched hand? Or were you wondering if you deserved to take it?”

“Wouldn’t you normally pat my head while saying I’m incorrigible? You always accepted it as cute.”

“Why didn’t you pull my cheeks as soon as you were free, telling me not to play such pranks? You used to give appropriate warnings when my jokes went too far.”

“I thought you’d smile a little and say thanks for worrying, but why don’t you? I only got to see your smile on rare occasions…”

Glancing at Junon walking straight ahead, Renias could pinpoint these changes precisely.

Fortunately, perhaps, these were only replayed in Renias’s mind, not spoken aloud.

“Renias?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Do you have something to say? Your mouth has been opening and closing like a carp.”

To the senior’s question about whether she had something to say, the girl answered:

“A carp? That’s too mean!”

Nothing at all.

This wasn’t simply childish whining or complaining. Knowing Junon well enough to be proud of it, she felt this change acutely.

Something had disappeared from him.

The flustered reactions. The indulgent acceptance. The kind smile hidden beneath his gruffness.

It all seemed erased.

Just like when she herself wore a mask, showing the same face to everyone.

So, sensing something ominous, the girl tried genuine childish whining.

“Why won’t you…?”

“Calling my mouth like a carp’s is too mean. I’m upset. Maybe patting my head would make me feel better?”

“Uh, um… sure…”

***

Two other people watch as Junon awkwardly pats Renias’s head.

Though not as much as the girl walking beside him, they’ve seen enough to be quite concerned.

“…Will he be alright?”

“We have to hope so, kid. There are more than just a few people who don’t want to see that guy break.”

“What? What do you mean? Are there others who’ve seen this besides us three?”

“There are.”

Within the Tembris party, how many people respond to his name? Goden knew that his party members were concerned about Junon.

Even if it’s difficult to bring him into the party, that man is the empire’s finest uncut gem.

He must not fall. Junon.