novelraw Chapter 63
Chapter 63
Chapter 63
To be honest, I'll admit it.
I can't fully control my own body.
When I leaped behind the goat demon, I overshot way more than I expected and panicked quite a bit.
Even when I hurriedly jumped toward the goat demon's neck, which was about twice my height, I thought the height and angle were perfect, but it was faster than I anticipated.
While I was trying to look cool, saying things like adding something to the armor, I was floundering, realizing that if I waited to finish my sentence, I'd overshoot the neck.
When a tentacle guard unexpectedly blocked my downward swing, I was more shocked that my sword passed through without any resistance than by the fact it was blocked.
Before the goat demon's head fell to the ground, when I landed in front of Shara, it was after I'd overshot above her head and kicked off a tree behind her.
I'm really glad there was a tall tree there.
"Shin came down from the sky!"
I managed to give Shara, who was surprised, a confident smile, probably because my face had been twitching with nerves right before.
The reason I deliberately and slowly sheathed my sword was that I didn't trust my body at all.
Seal it! Seal this!
Impossible! I can't handle this! Impossible!
For some vague reason, thinking it should be on my back, I deactivate the additional physical enhancement magic circle I'd constructed there.
I feel relieved as the shirt woven from threads taken from some minor monster called Black-something finally feels like a normal shirt again.
Ever since I constructed the second physical enhancement magic circle, it felt like I had an uncontrollable wild horse on my back.
I now understand why the number one cause of death for adventurers who've just started using proper physical enhancement is losing control of their body and causing an accident.
This could definitely kill me.
And I realize how carefully my mentor had guided me, regardless of the methods.
"That was a splendid movement."
That's probably why I shuddered when Erika, who had seen and perceived every move of this physical enhancement that I could barely control, said so.
I recall her battles up until now.
Surely, after leaving the academy, she's finally able to go all out, and even now, she's still getting used to her full strength.
From here on, she'll become even stronger.
I'm not sure if she's aware of it herself, but Erika Solnzari achieves this effortlessly, without anyone's guidance.
I tremble now, realizing the hardship of standing beside her.
"So, how was it? Can I get a passing grade?"
That's why I say it especially lightly.
If I could give up due to my own mediocrity, I would have done so long ago.
Even if I tremble, it's far too late for that now.
"Indeed."
Erika answers thoughtfully while twirling a strand of her red hair around her right index finger.
"Well... it was wonderful."
In other words, in the end, it's a simple matter.
She's a genius.
I'm terrified of myself with the intensity of physical enhancement I can't control.
I'm astonished by her, whose depths I still can't fathom.
I didn't fear the question of how much recklessness I'd have to push through to keep standing by her side.
Even so, I chickened out a little.
That's probably why.
"One more word."
My cowardly heart greedily sought words to rouse itself.
Specifically, I wanted to be praised by Erika.
"One more word... you say?"
Erika looks at me with a puzzled expression.
I was confident that if Erika had been exasperated with me here, I would've broken, but she lowered her eyes and thought seriously.
Erika, letting out a small "Hmm" as she seriously considered her words, was incredibly cute.
Specifically, the way she thought with her index finger, still twirling a strand of hair, resting on her chin was the best.
Erika glanced at my face, then quietly averted her gaze and responded to my request.
"Well, I found it interesting that you tried to gauge the opponent's intelligence by speaking to it at the start. I didn't quite understand it myself, but it felt like Shin could read the opponent's expression. Judging whether they had intelligence from that—could that be the difference in experience as an adventurer? Also, while speaking, you subtly positioned yourself between us, blocking the shortest path while maintaining eye contact. That was very thoughtful."
The one word I hoped for turned out to be an unexpectedly long speech.
Whether she got carried away once she started talking or simply enjoyed reviewing the battle, Erika's voice began to liven up.
"And what was truly remarkable was that physical enhancement."
Erika closes her eyes, recalling the memory.
"I never imagined you still had such a hidden ace up your sleeve. Is that a secret technique of the Longdagger family or something? That speed was not half-hearted. For the first time in my life, I witnessed a speed that made everything blur."
My throat feels a bit hot from Erika's unexpectedly straightforward words of praise.
I remember the first time my mentor praised me.
That's probably why.
My voice trembled a little as I told Erika that it wasn't a secret technique of the Longdagger family but something I came up with just now.
"Is that so? If that's the case, isn't it even more amazing?"
Erika's voice brightens.
To come up with something on the spot and turn that idea into reality—how much effort and dedication must lie behind that?
Please, I can't take it anymore.
Overwhelmed by Erika's praise, I cover my face with both hands.
I'm aware that my face is bright red.
When I lower my red face, for some reason, Erika's voice becomes even more lively.
She says, that speed.
She says, the sharpness of that sword's trajectory.
She says, my dear husband.
Stop! I'll die, I'll really die.
Erika's voice grows even more excited, and now she's praising things like my footwork and posture—things even I'm not sure about—saying they were wonderful, and I don't know what to do.
A calm part of me briefly surfaces, wondering if this is the time for such things in the middle layers of the Demonlands, but it quickly retreats when Erika praises the line of my neck from the side.
While thinking that this has nothing to do with the earlier battle, I can't bring myself to say it's enough.
Honestly, I'd be fine staying like this forever.
I half-seriously thought that, but Shara's exasperated voice wouldn't allow it.
"I don't know what kind of ritual this is, but could you both return to your senses?"
When I lift my lowered face, I see Shara with an exasperated expression and, for some reason, Erika covering her face, muttering, "I've done it."
"If Erika gets embarrassed here, it'll undo everything, so bear with it. Besides, praising your husband isn't something to be embarrassed about, right?"
Shara cuts Erika down bluntly.
I see, so Erika is embarrassed for praising me too much.
I think it's because the tension after the battle loosened and she got too excited, but if even a tenth of those compliments were sincere, I'd be happy.
I feel ashamed for focusing only on Erika's strength and forgetting that she was once a marquis's daughter.
As someone raised as a noble young lady, it should have been entirely predictable that Erika, still not fully accustomed to battle, might say things she didn't mean in a heightened state after a fight.
And I, having chickened out, egged her on by asking for one more word.
Because of that, I made Erika feel embarrassed.
I truly hate my own weakness.
"I don't quite understand why Shin looks so serious when Erika gets embarrassed, but will you listen to me?"
Shara looks at us with eyes that seem to say, "What is with this married couple?"
Having witnessed Erika praising me excessively in the strange post-battle tension and me being unable to even lift my face from those compliments, I have no excuse.
Shara says while pointing.
"I'm not exactly knowledgeable about monsters or demons, for that matter."
My gaze follows Shara's finger toward where the goat demon's corpse lies.
"Is that what happens to a dead demon?"