Ch.565565. Childish Provocation (2)

“Tasha, since when could you handle Divine Power like that?”

“Hmm. I think using a lot of Divine Power last time really helped. Once you’ve experienced squeezing it out completely, your body naturally remembers how… something like that.”

As Tasha stretched her hand toward the empty air, a faint silver energy floated out.

“Still, apart from making this light, I don’t have any special techniques I can use yet.”

Well, I somehow inherited a useful technique by chance, so I’m an exception.

The people of our County seem to have dormant potential for special usage methods thanks to the bloodline passed down from our ancestors.

Tasha’s case is definitely different.

‘Since she doesn’t know about the past.’

I don’t know if Tasha was chosen by the Status Window because she had an ancestor related to this.

“You don’t need to rush. Eventually, time will solve how to use that Divine Power.”

Based on the ancient text research gradually being conducted at the County. If we continue our efforts. Someday we might discover various applications for this Divine Power.

And so, much faster than Tasha’s usual return to the lord’s castle. We returned to the lord’s castle together.

“Lord, your wife urgently requested your presence.”

“Sione?”

I wonder what’s happened this time.

Just like the person who informed me earlier about Tasha and the church clergy having a battle of nerves. I received a call from someone who looked quite troubled and urgent. I couldn’t help thinking that there were unusually many incidents today.

While I was away resolving Tasha’s issue, what could have happened here? I wondered why Sione was urgently looking for me, and after asking, I was able to hear a rough explanation.

“Well… it’s certainly a joyous occasion. But everyone present agreed that you, Lord, need to see the situation at the scene for yourself.”

“…Do people normally use phrases like ‘checking the situation at the scene’ for joyous occasions?”

“Umm…”

No, until just now she was quietly focusing on basic practice. What on earth did she do in that short time?

“Let’s head over there. Should we go to the shooting range?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll call for you later, Tasha, so you can go rest first.”

“Then, I’ll go ahead. I’ll be waiting.”

After sending Tasha, who had clashed with the church, ahead to rest.

As I headed to the problematic shooting range, I could see that the place, which usually only echoed with the sound of arrows from quiet training, had transformed into a noisy atmosphere mixed with various chatter.

It felt quite chaotic, but since they said it was a joyous occasion. With more joy than anxiety or worry in my heart. As I stepped into the shooting range, Sione approached me as if she had been waiting.

“Ray!”

Without me having to ask, her expression clearly showed that she had been itching to tell me something.

Like a child who received an award at school and approached their parents with awkward, barely concealed movements hiding the prize. That was exactly Sione’s face right now.

I listened to her proud announcement.

“I did it!”

“Did what?”

“That power used by the first lord. I finally succeeded in using it myself…!”

“Ah—”

I was curious why she was so happy, but hearing the reason, I couldn’t help but smile naturally.

‘If it’s the power used by the first lord.’

During the Dungeon conquest operation, didn’t I witness with my own eyes how amazing that power was?

The trajectory swept by Sianella’s sword strike would leave clear sword marks, as if a dragon had carved with its claws.

Moreover, beyond blocking dozens of lesser Demons simultaneously by herself. She was a monster who even managed to carve a path through them. Wasn’t that special power she wielded what Sione is calling the starlight power?

‘I thought it would take more time for Sione to handle that power.’

Perhaps helping Sione get accustomed to Divine Power every day had an effect.

Well, good is good. For now, it’s better to be purely happy about it.

“So that means you shot powerful arrows like the first Count did?”

“That’s right. Suddenly I felt that Divine Power rushing out of my body. And the arrow shot out differently than usual.”

“How did it feel?”

“What you first taught me. You said when I believe in myself, the arrow draws the most satisfying trajectory.”

I wonder how long ago that was.

She somehow remembered what I said back then.

And Sione, who uttered that sentence. Explained how the arrow containing that starlight felt different in an easy-to-understand way.

“This is different. Even when I’m not confident in myself, it makes me shoot in a way that confidence inevitably comes.”

“Ah—”

As expected of a technique using Divine Power.

The power that showed the ability to even avoid Ainel’s death.

It seems to help the arrow’s trajectory and impact move in the most positive direction possible.

Following my curiosity, I asked a question.

“Then what about the power?”

“Ah, the power… umm…”

Suddenly Sione started stammering, unable to speak as easily as before.

She slightly turned her body to look at the shooting lane she had been using.

“Even when I just shot for practice, it easily… came out about that much.”

From her reluctant voice and attitude, I could finally see the reason why this joyous occasion couldn’t be purely celebrated.

“……”

Not only was the shooting lane on either side in disarray.

The upper part of the target, which had been reinforced with magic for durability, was blown away and tattered.

Moreover.

“…Was it stronger than expected?”

Since there were many archers who knew how to infuse Mana into arrows. Just in case, at the end of the shooting range, a fairly thick earthen wall had finally served its purpose. The earthen wall on her shooting lane was in shambles after being hit by her arrow.

For a moment, Sione and I silently looked at the scene beyond.

In that subtle and awkward atmosphere, a brave person stepped forward and carefully reported.

“Ahem… Lord, I’m reporting the damage to the shooting range.”

“Ah, please do.”

“Thanks to the earthen wall blocking it, the arrow didn’t reach the annex building, but as you can see—”

“It really bounced up from the impact.”

At those words, Sione awkwardly began to smooth her hair.

“…We need to clear away the scattered soil and rebuild the earthen wall, and as you can see, not only lane 5, but also lanes 4 and 6 on either side will need time to repair.”

Indeed, proving that the power of this starlight was extraordinarily strong.

Thinking of Sione who would be firing such attacks at Demons in the future.

For her sake, we would eventually need to rebuild the Baronial shooting range like the County’s, or prepare an entirely new space.

“Since it’s come to this. It would be good to make it nice enough for both Sione and me to use comfortably.”

Rather, this situation could be used as an opportunity.

“Anyway—”

At this, I declared confidently.

“The money for building a new one will all be provided by other houses.”

We still have plenty of money to collect from the houses that lost in the territory battle.

After everything that happened at the shooting range was finished. Just when I thought this eventful day was finally coming to an end.

Sione, who had been sparing her words and watching me all day, perhaps feeling sorry for destroying the shooting range.

She checked my drowsy state before bed and opened her mouth.

“So, Ray. About what happened during the day.”

“…?”

“You can’t do that, can you?”

“…What can’t I do?”

“No, I was just thinking that you have even more Divine Power than me, but I learned to use starlight first. So I was just saying.”

The way she was playfully provoking me while poking my arm that she was hugging tightly.

Finally, feeling my drowsiness fade away, I gave a firm warning.

“…Let’s see when the new shooting range is completed.”

Me and Sione.

Let’s have a match.

* * *

Ainel’s blue eyes sparkled.

The friction with the church at the Barony. And upon hearing that a new religion had been proclaimed, she raised the corners of her mouth.

“Since the Barony has moved in that direction, I too must accelerate my pace.”

Gripping her blunt iron sword more firmly, she slightly revealed her hostility toward her sparring partner, signaling an imminent attack.

“Don’t you think so, Diolia?”

“…Lord, this is already the 7th sparring match today.”

“Didn’t we used to do more than 10 times a day before? It’s unlike you to show weakness.”

“At least back then, you were still at the expert level, Lord. My bones ring every time I receive your sword, my bones.”

The astonished Diolia looked at the sword marks left all around her and Ainel and continued.

“Moreover, with each increasing number, you’re getting closer and closer to the technique shown by the first lord.”

Zealously, each sword strike delivered. Ainel was already racing toward the mastery level, immediately correcting each mistake and readjusting anew.

Though perhaps not as good as the first lord’s, but enough to imitate it similarly.

“How could I possibly endure any more than this?”

Ainel, whose skill had risen instantly, had long since become an even greater monster than before.