Thot 76.1
Chapter 76: Proving One's Strength
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :
R1[1-2], R2[3-5], R3[5.5- 7]
Part 1
The third morning since Meltya and the others arrived in the village.
「Guh...! HAH!」
Forcing my listless body into motion, I swung my sword beneath the still-dim morning sky.
That’s because when I woke up this morning, I noticed the pain in my body had eased a lot compared to yesterday.
Besides, it was better for me to get used to the white sword I received from Mia.
Lately, thanks to Mia’s constant nagging and watchful eyes, my body’s been getting a bit sluggish. Thus, I need to snap myself back into shape.
Today, I’ve decided to go through my usual routine, a careful set of 500 practice swings.
And then, when my count reached 300 swings.
「hey, what do you think you're doing?」
「Huff! Huff! Morning, Mia.」
Tch, she found out.
Mia was glaring angrily at me.
Well then, what should I do now?
「Yeah, likewise, Sheena. So? Can you tell me what you're doing just now?」
Damn, she was really scary when she looked like this.
Haa~h. I guess it was impossible to finish it before she woke up.
I mean... This girl had always been an early riser.
「As you can see. I’m feeling pretty good this morning, so I’m getting my sluggish body moving again.」
「I see... So it’s just because you’re feeling a little better, eh? It should be thanks to me working hard every single night to massage and treat you. Do you realize that you’re already pushing yourself too far?」
Mia stood tall with her arms crossed, wearing a smile on her face.
But after all the time we’ve spent together, I could tell.
She was so pissed off right now.
The level of her anger was incomparable to her past anger.
「Yeah. I really do appreciate it. Haven't I really been showing you enough gratitude?」
「Oh really? Even though I’ve been this worried about you, you go and push your body like that? Seriously, who do you think you are? I’ve been holding back, trying my best, not even letting myself lean on you… And you just go and do this?」
「...」
What should I do now?
If she ever found out I was using that as a free pass to bypass her attempt to tempt me, I’d be done for.
We still... Couldn't continue what we were about to do that night.
「Good grief… you really don’t get how I feel, do you? That’s not even the reason I lent that sword to you, I didn’t give it so you could push yourself too hard, you know?」
Mia said that while looking at the sword in my hand.
「That's, well that's make a sense... My bad.」
There was no way I could argue back, so I simply apologized like a good child.
Seeing me apologizing properly, Mia heaved a sigh.
「You're sweating quite a bit, even though it's this cold.」
「Well... That seems to be the case.」
Mia took the towel she brought with her and began wiping the sweat from my face.
... What a thoughtful girl she was.
「Look, It’s not like I’m just angry, you know. I’m worried about you. I can see how you're trying to do your best, and it makes me happy that you’re willing to push yourself just to protect me… But still.」
She was absolutely correct, I just wish she didn’t go acting all self-aware about it!
And please don't say it aloud, it was so damn embarrassing.
「You shouldn’t do any straining training for the time being. Just take a break for the time being. If something happens to you, then it's like putting the cart before the horse. Come on, if you understand, get over here. I’ll wipe your sweats.」
「Ah... Yeah.」
After being scolded like that, I quietly sheathed my sword without protest.
As I followed Mia’s small figure walking ahead, I suddenly realized something.
Eh?
Since when did I...
Became like the henpecked husband of Mia?
===
「Hah! HEYAH!」
「What kind of sword form is that!? That’s a mess!」
Once again, I arrived at Meltia’s camp before breakfast and watched her subordinates diligently training.
「Sheena.」
Suddenly, Meltya, seated across the table lined with tea and sweets, called out to me, drawing my gaze.
「What is it? Ah, be it time we commenceth? I have brought with me the book thou didst request yestermorn.」
「…Hmm. So long as you understand, that’s fine.」
Meltya gave a nod, stood up, pulled back her chair, and came over to sit beside me.
「What is it? Why have you come closer?」
「Hm? Speak not such nonsense. 'Tis plain as day, 'tis far easier to learn when seated at one’s side, is it not?」
That makes sense.
I reached into the bag placed at my feet and took out the book from inside.
「Well then, shall we begin with this one?」
「Hm? A rather thin tome, is it not?」
「It’s a book of fairy tales for children. Since it’s borrowed from the village chief's house, try not to get it dirty, alright?」
I borrowed it from my gramp’s collection.
In this world, paper itself was expensive, so it had to be handled with care.
「Aye. I understand. I shall take heed.」
「For the time being, just have a look through it. I’ll read it aloud to you later, once in your language, and once in mine.」
「Oho… That shall be most helpful indeed. Now then, mayhap I shall first endeavour on mine own.」
As I handed her the book, Meltya immediately opened it and began studying it intently.
She probably couldn't read it straight away, but at the very least, her enthusiasm seems genuine.
「KYAAAAAAAAAA!?」
A loud scream suddenly rang out, and I turned my gaze in that direction.
Shirayuki was wearing a grim expression.
「Get up! Or are you at your limit already!? Pathetic!」
With a sharp and commanding tone, she pointed the tip of her sword at the nose of the female demon crouching at her feet.
「At this rate, you might lose your life at any moment! The enemy won’t wait for you! You saw it too, didn’t you!? The warriors of this world possess physical prowess equal to that of the strongest race, the dragonkin… Meltya-sama herself! And on top of that, they wield strange and mysterious powers! The rest of you as well! What’s with that half-hearted sparring from earlier!? Get your heads in the game!」
「Hiiii...」
Shirayuki was truly merciless… Or rather, she seems downright desperate.
Nevertheless... That woman who crouched in front of Shirayuki.
If I remember rightly, wasn’t she one of the three who came to my house back then?
「Argh… Geez! It seems you lot need to be reminded once again of your own incompetence!! Oi, Sheena!」
「Uhm?」
Suddenly, Shirayuki snapped her head around and called out to me.
I’ve no idea why I’ve been suddenly called, but… She was glaring at me with quite a terrifying look on her face.
「Watch closely, you spineless lot. I’ll show you firsthand just how terrifying the foes you’ll be facing from now on truly are!」
Uhm... Hnn?
What did she mean?
I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
「Come now, Sheena! Face me! You look well enough this morning, I take it you’ve recovered from your fatigue!?」
So it comes to this.
So she hadn’t given up after all.
「No, it’s not about being tired or anything… I’m an injured man, you know?」
I tried to make an excuse, but Shirayuki snapped her eyes wide open with a fierce glare.
「What are you talking about!? You were able to move that night, weren’t you!? It can’t be that serious anymore, can it!?」
Dammit, it was hopeless.
She was all fired up.
I've got no choice then. I’ll have to ask for help.
「C'mon Meltya, stop that girl.」
「What’s this? Don’t tell me you’re losing your nerve, over a woman like me? Hah! And you still call yourself a man!?」