073. The Big Liar
The largest mountain on the Hanaria continent. Mount Hanaria is an independent peak that rises over 3,200 meters above sea level, and its graceful appearance has been the subject of paintings and art since ancient times. However, it is also known as a lair of vicious monsters and beasts, and it requires great difficulty and sacrifice to reach it.
Just getting there and back is a risk ― and if you try to climb to the top of the mountain, you will almost certainly be attacked by winged monsters.
「......GAaaarrrghhhhhh!」
It was near the third end, far from the forest limit. Even so, the vegetation in the area seemed to be quite different, and I was swinging the sword I had been given against the man with the stubble beard as hard as I could, but...
「Ha! Don't come at me with a suicide attack like a fool!」
The old man Iru deal with my attack with such ease.
(Th-This old man ― seriously, who the hell is this guy!?)
It had already been two days since I began my training, and in that time I had not been able to land a single blow on him.
Because my attacks were handled with agile and lean movements that did not suit his large body.
「【Lighting】!」
「!?」
I intentionally repeated foolish assaults to catch him off guard and tried to blind him at the very last moment, but
「Naive」
The sword that was thrust out as if it was about to pierce his heart was dealt with such ease that it was disappointing
「D-Damn it!」
I couldn't get through this one either. ...... The timing was perfect, "I got the surprise right!" that's what I thought. In fact...
「The idea and the method were not bad, but it was indeed an "old technique". I had been subjected to many similar attacks in my younger days.」
「Ugh!」
It seems that the difference in experience, or perhaps the advantage of age, really showed itself in this area.
After that, I tried every method I could think of, or conversely, I tried to be mindless without thinking, but there was too much of a gap in our abilities to talk about. However,
「Tsk. You're not cute, you're dexterous or devious in some strange place,......, and it looks like I underestimated your abilities.」
At dinner time that day. While eating the dinner I had prepared, the old man Iru blurted boredly.
「It seems that you have been through your fair share of hardships, and it's not as if you have no talent at all. I gave you a passing grade for your force that I pointed out before, but to put it another way, your current shortcoming is that you are too well-organized and have nothing that sticks out.」
I knew this myself without needing to be told.
I thought I had sorted things out to some extent, and I don't think I made the wrong decision or choice. But.
「I wonder if "no special moves" is still a fatal flaw in killing each other?」
I asked him seriously as I stared at the soup in my bowl.
「If I had to decide whether it is right or wrong, I would say "yes". After all, it is true that a special move ― or rather, a powerful move ― can easily change the course of a battle. However」
「It is not always essential, and the risk must also be taken into account, right」
When I said this, Iru smiled and said, "Aren't you get it?"
「...... As you've probably already noticed, I've been fighting to kill the old man for a while now. But no matter what I do, I can't win or it won't work ― maybe I can't even escape from you」
How do I deal with situations like this in the future? I had no idea.
「I think of technique as a hand to take the upper hand in the battle ― but I just don't feel clear on how to do it.」
I don't think it's wrong, but I don't think it's right either. When you're stuck,
「Seriously. I don't know whether you are smart or stupid. In your case, your "premise" is shaky, isn't it?」
「Premise?」
「Ah, yes. Simply put, "Do you fight to kill your opponent? Or are you fighting to protect someone else?"」
I was so taken aback by the obviousness of the point that my mind went blank.
「What's more, you're trying to 'give full marks' to every situation. This is clearly not a good idea. It is more natural that things don't always go your way, and situations change rapidly. If you try to respond "perfectly" in such a situation, you will be wasting your time. If you're not careful, you can lose everything in the process.」
「Gunununu」
「Also, it is often the case that "the battle is already settled before the fight" or "the battle is settled immediately after the start". Such is the case with surprise attacks. Also, I'm confident that I'm reasonably good at what I do, but if I'm suddenly dragged underwater, I'm in serious trouble.」
「――Considering all these things, it is "it's wise not to fight in the first place" or "fighting itself is one of the means and cards in one's hand"?」
In Japan, there is an old saying, "Win without fighting"――It's not the original meaning, though.
As soon as I said it, he said, "Kehh. That's why I hate honor students".
「When you factor in "luck", "compatibility", "terrain", "weather", "physical and mental condition", "trouble", and many other factors, "you never know what will happen", and there is no way you can always give a perfect answer.」
「............」
「Well, I can only give you the usual answers of "always think," "gain experience," "play your cards right," and "don't choose the means to achieve your goal," but I'll give you one service.」
「A service?」
「Yes. Hypothetically. If you've done everything you can and you still can't help yourself――You cheat.」
「Haaah?」
I don't get it.
「What the hell does that mean?」
「You're on your own after that. Honors student.」
It seems that the question time is over. I was not allowed to talk to him, so I just shoveled the food in my bowl into my stomach...
「By the way, I'm going to change the subject―You. Did you really lose your erection?」
「Bufgg!」
I was about to spew out the contents of my mouth when he suddenly ask something strange.
「I don't know, I just don't feel right about it. Especially if you've got "gynophobia," how did you manage to stay by Philly's side with no problem――Oi, why is that?」
「A-About that...」
I don't understand it myself.
But when our bodies actually touch, I get an unidentified sensation ― it's true that I pass out or worse.
「Well, in a word, the symptoms are all over the place. It's possible that I'll stay that way for the rest of my life, but......」
Iru, who had been holding a bottle of sake before I knew it, drank it down vigorously and exhaled loudly, "Puhaaahhh!" and then said,
「You big liar」
I was told, and at first I wondered what I had been told? I could not understand.
But little by little, my brain started to understand the meaning. ......
「I-I'm not lying!」
I told him as if I was bluffing, but he asserted, "your attitude itself is 'proof'".
「I see. It's true that you've been traumatized ― but it's no big deal. It's like 'black history' in my opinion, right?」
「Well, that's...」
「And you're faintly aware of that, too ― it's not because of your mental illness that you have an excessive reaction to women. It's because of something else, isn't it?」
When I was told that, I was, so what? I realized that I had given an answer ― unable to utter a single word, all I could do was look down.
Just how far could this old man see into my heart?――I raised my head and looked straight into his eyes, but there was a huge "something".
It was a completely different being in human form.
I turned my eyes away as if to run away and exhaled.
「!」
「............」
Almost at the same time, when the old man and I noticed "it", we turned our eyes and a woman appeared from behind the darkness.
Is she in her late 20s or so?
A gorgeous woman with waist-length black hair ― she wears light clothing and carries no weapons of any kind.
She is not the kind of person who would appear alone in a place like this, and the bells that have been ringing inside me since a few minutes ago, tell me that I am in danger.
「Oh, um. I'm sorry to interrupt you suddenly. I'm a fixer, and I got separated from my friends.」
「【Energy Bolt】」
To the suspicious woman who walked up here, the old man Iru. released a folia without asking any questions. Then
「W-What the fuck are you doing all of a sudden, you piece of shit!」
She easily revealed herself. But...
「Houu? Even though I went easy on you, I can't believe you were able to survive even after being hit by my folia... Come to think of it, old hag said something about "Demon race has settled here" or something like that.」
「So that means, as expected...」
「Yeah. She may be of a lower class, but she is a genuine demon race.」
I drew my sword when I saw the real demon race for the first time, but
「What a misfortune ...... the timing is right, Yuuto. Show me how you can handle this guy on your own.」
When he said one sidely, the old man Iru stood up slowly――and he went away just like that.
「Ha, haaahh!? A-are you for real!?」
What on earth was he thinking? I couldn't figure it out, but...
「I missed one, but ― well, whatever. You look pretty tasty too♪」
The demon race licked her tongue.
「My name is Verine. Though, I've recently arrived in Hanaria―I'm going to enjoy your force to the fullest♪」
As soon as she said this, she spread her eagle-like wings, which she had been hiding until then, and attacked me.
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