095. Where has Philly disappeared?
Nora created this Fairy Ore Halberd using all the technology available today――I was so impressed with the ease of use of "Fairbird" that I thanked Nora, who was exhausted and told her to take it easy and rest properly.
The purpose of my visit was to check on the status of Philly's investigation.
「You said you've lost contact with Philly?」
When I said in return, Roselia nod her head with a mysterious look on her face.
「As you know, that girl was reviewing the results of the investigation into the Evil Group that I had requested of Danaf-sama. In fact, until yesterday around noon, she had a spirit send a message every eight hours, but....」
「And then it stopped, huh――Come to think of it, she said she had the "Blessing of the Forest Spirit" too.」
No wonder she could do what I do to Nemu.
「Surely she was in some kind of trouble, but―what was she researching, by the way?」
「I don't know the details, but it seems she was trying to probe Bele. Besides, in yesterday's communication, she said something about "Argos," ...... which I don't understand.」
「Argos?」
The word sounds familiar. But...
(...... Ah! I think there was a god or monster with that name in Greek mythology, but...)
That was all I could remember.
「Either way, it's too dangerous to leave it alone, and I don't intend to. Still ...... Bele, huh?」
Indeed, I was also planning to make Bele my next destination once I had the system in place.
That's why I've asked Osada-kun and Luia to gather some information for me―Though for what it's worth, I think it's better to move it forward.
「Roselia's grandma. I'm heading to Bele right now, but tell Lilyza to head to Bele as soon as she gets back. And just in case, tell Barbara and Jean. And Nora will stay in the village. If something happens, I'll leave Nemu's clone behind, so please let her know so I can react.」
「Sure. Be careful, all right.」
――I think that's the first time I've heard her say anything that sounded like she cared about me since I got here, but in any case, I have a bad feeling about this.
I am equipped with a new weapon, Fairbird, as well as armor and a shield made of a synthetic metal called "Force Ore".
On my head, I also wore a crown with a blue jewel in it, called the "Crown of the Spirit"
Despite its simple design, the crown is said to improve Nemu's resistance to abnormalities thanks to its "Water Attribute," and it is also said to improve Nemu's abilities, albeit slightly.
After packing up my sack with the other supplies I thought I would need, I left the hidden village at a brisk pace and headed for Bele.
「But still, "Argos", huh? Does "Argos" sound familiar to you?」
『My apologies. I don't know it either.」
Nemu said apologetically in my brain, but I was strangely caught up in it.
(Even though it's a different world, I hear there are a lot of people like me who are summoned here.)
I've often heard familiar words, and I'm sure that this is no exception to that rule――I have a feeling that was the case, but...
「Whoa」
I stopped myself, and right in front of me appeared a "Killer Monkey" a little over one meter in height.
It seemed to be cheekily planning to surprise me from the treetops. But...
「Ggahhhh!」
It only took one blow to end it.
It was so unexpected that I, the one who attacked it, was puzzled, "Eh?" But even after that, I could fight off the countless demonic beasts that kept coming at me without any difficulty. Finally, the beasts were so afraid of me that they wouldn't come near me.
「As expected from Nora」
I decided to check my level using [Status], which I hadn't checked recently. Then...
「Mumumu. Before I knew it, my level had reached 25?」
Just a few days ago, when I was trained by the old man Iru, my level was 23.
Despite that, I can't believe that my level has increased even more. ...... Not only my force has improved, but my overall ability has also improved, and my skill Lv has also increased overall.
「While I am "happy" and "still growing," is it my imagination that I feel like my perception, or rather my senses, are not keeping up?」
(To be frank, all I've been doing is having sex.)
With Ranier and Dora, Nemu and Jean, and in addition to Barbara, I just recently had sex with Nora.
I guess the bottomless sexual desire―and the accompanying [Soul Flow] effect―really showed itself, but...
(It's just a number.)
No matter how much I want to, I don't think my foolishness is advanced enough to forget the event that almost killed me easily by Nemu the other day. It's just that...
「――Nemu.」
When I called out her name with a certain will, Nemu appeared as I had requested―in the form of a girl, just as she had been when I first met her. And then
「...... Ah♪」
I embraced her from the front, wordlessly and silently. Then.
「U-Umm ...... Yuuto-sama. Would you like to eat me?」
Nemu said in a troubled――and embarrassing way, but...
「That's a wonderful offer, but we'll have to do that another time―I'm sorry. Can I hold on to you for a while longer?」
「I-I don't mind that――but why?」
Nemu said, but I didn't dare answer.
(Well, if it were Lilyza, she would have guessed somehow. ......)
A faint "feeling" welled up in my heart.
I had a feeling that a big, unexpected wave was waiting for me in the future, and I couldn't help but feel that something I usually ignore and let pass by, but at this moment (when it happened) it just showed its face.
I held Nemu silently in my arms for a while, and then, with a "Thank you", I let go and let her return to her usual assimilated state.
「Now then. If we go as fast as we can to Bele, can we get there by the end of the day?」
Normally, it would take me several days to get there, but fortunately, Nemu is there to lead and warn me, so I can focus all my energy on moving around using my [Physical Enhancement].
I'm not in a hurry, but I have plenty of force, and how fast can I increase my speed? Because I wanted to try it out,...
「―― [Physical Enhancement]!」
I filled my entire body with force and sprinted through the forest at a speed faster than the wind.
◇◆◇◆
――Same time. A certain place in the Sea of Trees.
For several days, I had been training to overcome the "Defect" that Yuuto had pointed out to me―I was training to overcome my "weak heart," which was misled by the words of others and made me feel depressed, while I was exterminating demonic beasts, but...
「No! I can't grow at all like this!」
I, Lilitha, spat out in frustration.
Five days had already passed since I began my training. During that time, I had pushed myself to the limit, but my level remained at 19 and showed no sign of moving.
During that time, I continued to exterminate countless demonic beasts that attacked me day and night, but there was no result that I could obtain with certainty.
「――I haven't changed. I haven't changed at all.」
Haah, haaah, Breathing heavily on my shoulders, I stared at the ground and revealed my weakness.
As Yuuto had pointed out, I was still "weak" and unable to grow―it had been a long time since I had felt nauseous because I was so incompetent.
「......It's kind of nostalgic」
In a bad way, though, it reminds me of when I was back home.
I have been a "failure" ever since I can remember, but I left my hometown at the age of 12, and after many twists and turns, I am here today, but...
「I ...... I wonder if I really want to be next to Yuuto.」
Even such weak words come to mind, but...
「No! I have to believe it! I have to believe in myself ...... and in Yuuto!」
If I doubt, I will never be able to really move forward.
I will surely reach level 20―Nay. I will grow beyond that and stand where I want to be. With this as my goal, I devoted myself to my training, but....」
「......Goodness gracious. I can't watch this.」
Suddenly, I heard someone's voice. I turned my head and saw a man standing on a branch of a tree that grew a short distance away.
He seemed to be rather small in stature, but when I saw him standing there, I gasped slightly.
(He hides his face behind a mask――but he's skilled.)
Despite being so far away, I could feel a strong spirit that stung my skin. And then...
「!?」
Just when I thought he had suddenly disappeared, he closes the distance between us, and his fist was slammed into my stomach.
「Gofuhh!!」
I was hit directly and was sent flying backward, hitting the trunk of a tree.
(F-Fast――!)
His movement.......I could not feel any sign of it.
A master class, no doubt over level 30―As I glared at him while enduring intense pain,...
「Fumu. Enduring the current blow, huh? Even though I took it a little easy on her, I wouldn't be surprised if she had died if she were an ordinary idiot―but it seems that she just can't break out of her shell.」
He said whatever he want ...... I thought so, but when I couldn't quite put it into words,...
「Very well. Then I'll give you an "opportunity".」
「O-Opportunity?」
「Correct. Or you can call it a "Trial", but if you can overcome it, you will grow exponentially. But...」
「――I will do it.」
I answered immediately.
「My bad, but I don't have time. Besides, I myself am aware that I am in a hurry. And on top of that, I can't shake my anxiety and despair――but I'll do anything rather than remain stagnant like this!」
As I stood up, holding my throbbing abdomen, the masked man stroked his long, unkempt beard and nodded his head, "Hmm".
「Very well. Then I will give you ...... the "Trial of the Tosen".」 [TLN: 闘仙の試練]
The masked man muttered in a deep, heavy, resonant voice.
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