Ch.204Chapter 204: Just Keep Walking Forward

I opened my eyes.

“…”

Carefully opening my eyes without a word, I checked my surroundings.

Realizing I had returned to my room rather than the mist-covered space where I had been sparring with Fafnir.

“Phew…”

I finally let out a sigh of relief.

For three years, I had consistently continued my sparring sessions with Fafnir.

Compared to this time before my regression, not to mention the period when I was acting as the Demon God’s agent.

Although other aspects might still be lacking compared to back then.

In terms of swordsmanship, I prided myself on achieving a level incomparably higher.

I had now reached a point where I could somewhat keep up with Fafnir, who barely showed any leisure when facing me.

But lacking that decisive blow, our sparring sessions always concluded with me being knocked down by Fafnir’s single strike.

It was satisfying that I increasingly received subtle praise from his usually stingy mouth, saying I had become “somewhat useful.”

Yet apart from that satisfaction, it was burdensome how the intensity of training Fafnir demanded from me grew stronger day by day.

Previously, our sparring would end when I lost consciousness and I would return to where I had been.

But lately, since matches ended quickly with a single decisive blow, Fafnir thought my body hadn’t been properly worked.

So he either left me unconscious until I regained consciousness, or frequently forced me awake.

This was why I felt relieved to be back in my room.

I was worried that Fafnir, not satisfied with his workout, might be quietly waiting to continue our sparring session.

I was no longer a student at the Cradle with unlimited time for self-training.

Exhausting too much energy in sparring with him would hinder the rest of my day.

[Of course. Today is an important day for you, youngster, isn’t it?]

As if reading my thoughts, Fafnir’s voice echoed in my head, returning to his usual slick tone unlike during our sparring.

Seeing that this ancient dragon, who often acted on his own whims without asking for my opinion, was now considering my schedule.

I was simply delighted that Fafnir finally seemed to show interest in my obligations as a member of society.

[…What are you talking about? Don’t you remember begging me a few days ago to let you go quickly today even if the sparring wasn’t satisfactory because it was such an important day?]

His confused voice kept settling in my mind without pause.

But the overwhelming emotion I felt in this touching moment didn’t give me a chance to savor his words.

[You fool!]

Ah, how startling. He should give me time to appreciate such a touching moment, but instead he interrupts with a thunderous shout showing no tact.

I was about to think that when I meet him this evening, I should give him a brief etiquette lesson on maintaining the mood during a conversation, but.

[Aren’t you going on a date with the Proxian lady from the morning on your day off? Aren’t you getting ready?]

My somewhat impertinent thoughts were cut short by Fafnir presenting a few very important words.

Upon hearing these important words, I reacted reflexively.

“…”

Silently turning my head toward the wall clock to check the current time.

After confirming the desperate reality that only 30 minutes remained until my date appointment with Shizu.

“…Ugh.”

Letting out a tiny scream close to a death rattle, as if stabbed in a vital point.

I hurriedly left the bed and began preparing to go out.

In my rush to get up, I forgot my usual post-sparring ritual of using Fricasa’s activation to manage the pain that even my super-regeneration ability couldn’t completely handle.

As soon as my feet touched the floor, a scream threatened to burst from my lips.

But I quickly realized that the tension from urgency had a more powerful effect than any painkiller.

It was a valuable realization, but I didn’t have time to savor the intellectual satisfaction from this insight.

So after hurriedly completing my preparations, including washing up.

I meticulously examined myself in the mirror, dressed in a neat suit that took more effort than my usual work uniform.

Getting to the meeting place quickly was important.

But my mindset that I shouldn’t be careless when going to meet Shizu, whom I hadn’t seen often lately due to work.

Gave me the composure to check my appearance before heading to our meeting place.

And that composure led to self-objectification of my reflection in the mirror.

A suit based on red and black that matched my hair color.

And a neatly folded coat draped over my left side, prepared for the unusually chilly weather uncommon in the seasonless Solarium District—I looked impeccable for any occasion.

Why am I not wearing the coat if I said it’s cold?

Obviously, because I didn’t prepare this coat for myself.

I prepared it to put on someone else.

I trust there are no fools asking who I prepared it for.

“Hmm… Good.”

With that, I finished my brief self-assessment with satisfaction.

[Look how your movements speed up when you’re going on a date. Normally, you’d just be finishing washing up and leisurely getting dressed now.]

‘People should always adjust their behavior according to the situation.’

Casually countering Fafnir’s teasing remarks.

Click-!!

I quickly left my lodgings.

“I need to hurry.”

Although there was still time until our appointment.

Considering the personality of the person who was probably looking forward to this moment as much as I was, she was likely already at the meeting place waiting for me.

Since my desire to see her quickly was just as strong.

I continued walking rapidly with the coat still draped over my side.

At 21 years old, facing a somewhat chilly winter.

With still some time left before the Demon God’s disturbance that would shake the world begins.

Though I’ve been constantly preparing for the future.

Today, I just wanted to forget about that for a while and spend time with someone precious.

So my steps only grew lighter and lighter.

#

Three years was a long time.

But for me, who vaguely knew how the future would unfold, it was quite overwhelming just preparing for it.

The most important point was to undergo training after training to gain the strength to remain unbroken in any situation.

As mentioned earlier, I had achieved remarkable progress.

But to stand against the Demon God who sought to cover this world with twisted values, my strength alone was insufficient.

It was extremely difficult to get the world to prepare accordingly.

There were too many overwhelming events to recall one by one while walking to the date location.

Still, my efforts weren’t in vain.

I ensured that Night Haven wouldn’t be devastated like before when the Demon God awakens.

Securing a strategically advantageous bridgehead against a magical beast that had regained its prime power was a satisfactory achievement.

How was that possible, you ask?

“Karl!!”

I’ll explain later, as right now I need to meet Shizu, who is happily greeting me with a wave of her hand as soon as I set foot at the meeting place.

I’m a bit busy at the moment.

“Did you wait long?”

“No, I just arrived myself.”

Though she spoke energetically, I couldn’t help but smile slightly as I looked at her.

Just seeing her shivering slightly despite wearing thicker clothes than usual due to her sensitivity to cold.

After first offering warm words to Shizu, who was making light of having arrived much earlier than our appointment time to wait for me.

“Are you cold? I thought you might be, so I brought this.”

I needed to put the coat I had prepared on her.

As I took out the coat from my left side, Shizu’s eyes, which had been pretending to be fine despite shivering slightly from the cold, began to sparkle.

The light in her already beautifully sparkling blue eyes intensified.

Making me feel as if the bright streets of the District were shining even more brilliantly.

In the somewhat early morning, our precious sweet time together began with me putting the coat on her.