Chapter 107 – Training (4)

[“Hey, isn’t this a bit much? Are you really going to leave just like that?”]

“…I don’t know.”

[“Still, it’s been five years since you last met. Shouldn’t there be some kind of reunion? Even if it’s only been a week from Rubia’s perspective.”]

“I’m not… in the mood for that.”

Perched on a rock somewhere in the mountains, I absentmindedly fingered the bracelet Sirin had given me.

Five years. A full five years.

And the number of times I died…

How many times was it again?

[“Eight thousand. I’ve lost track of the exact count beyond that.”]

Right. Eight thousand. I died eight thousand times over the course of five years.

Even Sirin, who was always nagging, ended up praising me. Even Cartia, who never ceased to be irritating, commended me.

I endured those truly grueling years with thoughts of Rubia alone sustaining me…

[“At least Rubia had the decency to keep her underwear on. Unlike that Spirit Summoner, who was stark naked.”]

“Ugh…”

[“It was supposedly part of the healing process, so what can you do? It’s true that sensing the flow of mana or energy works better when you’re naked. Can’t argue with that.”]

Right.

According to Rubia, it was part of the healing process.

She did say that at least she had kept her underwear on, though.

She apologized, but…

“H-How… how was it?”

[“What?”]

“Serr… her body.”

[“Impressive.”]

“…Really?”

[“Yeah. Comparing someone like us to her would be downright sinful.”]

“Ah, ahh…! Stop saying such weird things!”

[“But I don’t think Rubia likes you for your body. Or does she…? Hmm… I’m not sure. Though, with how solid your lower body is, maybe…”]

Cartia’s relentless teasing made me bury my face in my knees.

[“Anyway, there’s no chance Rubia would cheat on you with the Spirit Summoner. You know that. Rubia doesn’t just like women—she likes you.”]

“D-Don’t say such embarrassing things…”

I know that already…

[“So what’s the problem? You’re strong enough to defeat most opponents, you can turn the Fragment of the End into whatever accessory you want, and Rubia still likes you.”]

And.

[“You even got an amazing bracelet from Sirin.”]

Cartia’s finger pointed at the bracelet I was absentmindedly stroking.

[“What was it called again? The Bracelet of Immortality?”]

“Not immortality… The Bracelet of Verdure.”

The name Sirin had given it was the Bracelet of Verdure.

Its effects were… well, there were quite a few.

But the most important one was this:

It removed the dissonance between reality and the space created by Sirin.

Primarily, it restored a sense of caution towards death.

After dying eight thousand times, I had completely lost that sense of caution.

Sirin had warned me never to take it off, saying it was dangerous.

To be honest, though, I wasn’t sure if it was even working.

Hmm… I feel like things were just the same as they are now, even back then.

[“No.”]

“…Huh?”

[“It was completely different. Don’t you remember? When you got irritated, you’d just kill yourself. Even if you so much as stubbed your toe or cracked a bone, you’d strangle yourself with your own hands.”]

“W-Wha… What? I did?”

[“Yeah. If we included the suicides, it would easily surpass ten thousand.”]

…It seems the bracelet is extraordinarily effective.

[“Anyway, as Sirin and I have both said, there aren’t many beings capable of killing you as you were back then. Still, you should remain cautious. Like when you first killed Sirin, you might unconsciously use all your true energy.”]

“D-Don’t keep praising me… hehe…”

I forced the corners of my mouth back down, suppressing a smile. I’m supposed to be in a gloomy mood right now.

[“Of course, I’m talking about you back then. Not the current, sealed version of you.”]

Ah… right.

The Bracelet of Verdure’s second effect was sealing, as Cartia mentioned.

It sealed away the overwhelming power I’d gained through the grueling training.

No, it wasn’t called power.

Anyway, it contained the energy that would otherwise leak uncontrollably because I couldn’t regulate it.

For instance, if I was capable of unleashing a full 100 units of strength, the bracelet restricted me to using only 40.

When I asked why such a limit was necessary, they said that ordinary people could die just from being exposed to the energy I leaked.

And… they also said that disproportionate power would gradually destroy my own body.

Something about “essence-body-mind harmony” or something… They explained it in detail, but there were too many unfamiliar terms, so I just tuned it out.

“W-Well, it’s still me, whether it’s then or now…”

[“That’s true. But don’t overestimate yourself. Even with Frey and your heightened rank reducing your weaknesses, you’re still in a regular human body. Beating someone like the Masters would be difficult.”]

“…But you’re not saying it’s impossible. Hehe…”

[“I haven’t seen those Masters, so I can’t say for sure… but I think you’d win.”]

“But… Sirin is a Master. I had to die about 800 times to kill her once…”

At the mention of Sirin being a Master, Cartia chuckled faintly.

[“Do you really think Sirin is just a Master?”]

Cartia’s mocking tone made me go silent for a moment.

A Master… Indeed, it did feel like something was… off.

“…I don’t know.”

I mumbled, stretching out on the rock.

Even though my abilities were sealed, my memories weren’t.

Well, I don’t remember what happened during the times I blacked out, but I still recall most of it.

Yes… I remember.

The techniques Sirin used. Words of power, ancient magic, breaths of destruction.

[“She’s a dragon.”]

“…Yeah.”

[“Not just any dragon… probably one of the Primordial ones.”]

“Probably…”

A Primordial Dragon. The sealed ancient dragon. Sirinias.

At first, it seemed like she was hiding it thoroughly. But toward the end, I don’t know why she started making it so obvious.

And why was a dragon, supposedly sealed, freed from its binding? Why was she adventuring in human form? Why was she using an unfamiliar greatsword? Why did she know me? Why did she destroy the Tower?

Why. Why. Why.

Why does she call herself my teacher?

I don’t understand any of it.

“Ugh… My head hurts…”

[“Just think of it this way. For you, she’s your teacher and your strongest ally, isn’t she?”]

“Yeah… Though calling her a teacher feels… a bit much. Maybe… mentor?”

[“Mentor? Are you kidding me?”]

“W-Well, regardless… she’s our strongest ally, that’s true…”

But still… It makes me uneasy.

Because the final condition to progress to the endgame was to defeat Sirinias.

Anxiety, worry, fear.

Why are these feelings surfacing?

Is it because I’m afraid I can’t win if we end up fighting?

Or…

Because we’ve become too close?

[“Why are you making that pathetic face again?”]

“…Cartia.”

[“Yeah?”]

“If you were in your prime, could you have beaten Sirin?”

[“If I used my unique ability, absolutely.”]

The immediate and confident reply left me momentarily dumbfounded.

“Uh… R-Really? Then, what was your unique ability, Cartia?”

[“Victory.”]

“…Sorry, what?”

[“Absolute victory.”]

I couldn’t see Cartia’s expression since she wasn’t holding the greatsword, but her slightly subdued tone conveyed her emotions well enough.

“Victory…?”

[“Yeah. By offering up something of mine as a price, I could secure victory.”]

“Uh… isn’t that an amazing ability…?”

[“It might sound great in theory, but… there were a lot of shitty catches.”]

Cartia let out a deep sigh, her voice drawing closer.

[“What do you think victory means?”]

“Winning…?”

[“Hah… Exactly. Winning. In the end, it’s all about the result, whether it’s a fight or a war. The outcome of an event.”]

“Oh, wow…”

[“When it came to straightforward things, like beating an enemy into submission to claim victory, it worked fine. But for more ambiguous situations, there were significant issues.”]

“Ambiguous situations…?”

[“For example, let’s say you and I bet on who will live longer.”]

Her voice carried a hint of self-mockery.

[“It wouldn’t mean I’d live longer—it would mean you’d die sooner.”]

“…Oh.”

[“Once wished for, it was irrevocable.”]

Cartia’s tone became even heavier.

[“Absolute but twisted victory. That was my manifestation. It meant I could win, no matter what.”]

“Uh, uh… I see…”

Maybe I shouldn’t have asked… Something bad must have happened…

What do I do now…?

[“Anyway, that’s how it was. The price was a hassle, and it pissed me off, so I didn’t use it often. But near the end, I used it quite a bit. Because I didn’t want to die.”]

The price? I was curious. Really, really curious.

But I was sure it wouldn’t be a happy story.

I didn’t have the courage to endure an even darker mood than this…!

“S-So, I see-“

[“The price for victory against three dragons was my womb.”]

“Gah…!”

[“It stole the dream I cherished the most. All for victory.”]

“That must… have been upsetting…”

Upsetting? Upsetting?! Of all things, was “upsetting” the best I could say after hearing that?!

[“Still, wasn’t it a fair trade? A cheap leather-armored, bargain-bin greatsword-wielding mercenary like me… beating dragons.”]

“…Even so.”

[“It’s fine. It’s all in the past anyway, and it’s been a thousand years. I’ve forgotten most of the emotions tied to it.”]

A heavy sensation pressed on my head.

A rough, careless, and ungracious touch.

It was Cartia’s hand.

Sometimes, she’d drain my mana to take form like this… but why now?

[“Your manifestation… No, I mean, your unique ability is something that blooms for what you desire most.”]

“…That seems to be true.”

[“Even someone connected to you like me doesn’t know what you want or desire. So I can’t give you advice or nag you about it.”]

That… might actually be a relief?

Thwap!

“Ow, ow!”

[“Brat… I was trying to have a rare heartfelt moment here. Anyway, brace yourself before facing the trials. Unless you want some half-baked ability you’ll regret.”]

The trials… According to Rubia, they were based on past memories.

Would it be the past of the body I now inhabited?

Or perhaps…

“Whew! Whew! Hah!”

I shook my head violently, stood up, and stretched my body, trying to shake off useless thoughts.

[“What’s with you all of a sudden… Oh, hey. Grab the greatsword.”]

Cartia’s voice suddenly sounded urgent.

“Huh? The greatsword?”

At the same moment—

Clatter—Crack-crack—

I heard the sound of the greatsword falling away from where it had been leaning to my right.

“What…?”

[“Damn it… I see about forty knights and thirty mages nearby.”]

“W-What’s going on all of a sudden…?”

[“Noah. Calm down and listen carefully.”]

Before Cartia could continue—

Rustle—Rustle—

“Servant of the Evil God.”

The crunch of withered leaves accompanied the sound of a middle-aged man’s voice.

“I am Mern, the Eleventh Master.”

[“…That thing is a Master?”]

“Eleventh…?”

“I have come to reclaim the Tower Master you kidnapped, along with our priestess.”

Who…

Who are they here to reclaim?

Priestess. Rubia?

Our priestess? No, my priestess.

[“Master, my ass. Hey, hey. Try to calm down. Listen carefully. You need to control your power. If you’re not careful, you’ll take down the entire mountain, including Sirin’s barrier.”]

“You are blind without your greatsword, aren’t you? And there are two more Masters following behind me. If you hand them over now, I will ensure you are killed swiftly before you’re sold as a breeding slave.”

A slimy laugh echoed through the mountains.

[“What’s with this verbose bastard? Is he begging to die before finishing his speech?”]

I extended my hand forward.

“Ha, surrendering without a fight, huh? How spineless—”

Thunk.

The wave of mana I had expected when I first grabbed Frey did not ripple out.

It wasn’t as dramatic as when Sirin drew her greatsword either.

It simply appeared, quietly, as though it had always belonged in my outstretched hand.

[“Alright. Let’s just kill that bastard. We can leave one of the others alive to interrogate.”]

“That cursed greatsword… What is it…?”

Finally, through my perception, I saw the man—Mern or Melon or whatever his name was.

His weapon was dual swords. Judging by appearances, he seemed weaker than Kalt, perhaps because he was a newly minted Master.

As for his unique ability, I couldn’t tell yet.

Behind him, there were dozens of mages and knights arranged in formation.

[“Two moves.”]

Cartia chuckled darkly.

I shook my head and replied.

“No, one.”

I raised Frey slowly above my head.

“You—!”

At that moment, the dual swords lunged forward, the magic circles activated, and the knights charged behind him.

I brought Frey down.

Cleanly.

Slice—

[“Of all things, they dared to bring up Rubia. Idiots.”]

Cartia’s chuckling voice echoed in the background.

Half the mountain was gone.