“Sigh...” I sigh again, while my sword cuts through a red-black striped insect, looks a bit like a bee, just larger with less fur and more bristles. I run up a cliff to get a better angle: “[Crescent Moon]!” My skill kills five more of those monsters.

While my body moves like always, I'm not that much into the fight. Just a hive built into a wall. Kenta found it before and we decided to attack it. It's good to have fewer monsters around, but I'm tired. I don't know why because I didn't move much, but somehow I feel drowsy.

Maybe because of what happened today... Kenta has willingly risked my life to save it. It's so strange, both shouldn't get along with each other. What was it called... a discrepancy? A contradiction? I only know that something is off.

During the last weeks, I tried my best to look at Kenta properly and to understand him. Yet this caught me off-guard... I used to think that Kenta is like Uncle Ludolf, yet... What would have Uncle done?

I try to remember some of his long-winded explanations about tactics. “Kati, the world is a dangerous place. We have to fight to be safe, and every fight will claim their victims. The question is how to minimize them. Sometimes I have to send a single soldier into certain doom, as one fallen soldier can save a dozen or more. This is also a decision you will make at times when you ascend to the throne...” Now that I think about that, he looked sickish when he said it. Especially the last part...

Maybe it's because Kenta is smart. Wait, Kenta also said that I shouldn't just assume about him, so maybe I just believe that he's smart? Ah, this becomes so complicated. Also, evading all the monster-guts makes it so hard to think about things so complicated.

Ah, Kyou is about to be ganged up, so I better help her. One, two, three, eight, this should be enough. There is another one on Ara's head, let's take care of it, a fist to get it off, a slash to kill it, fine. Where is Kenta? Ah, he's there... why is he moving in a circle? That will only allow them to surround him. “[Rising Point]!” Ah, that's why.

Hm... this may be the difference between Kenta and me. Kenta thinks ahead, while I... I don't believe I do that much. Other than about the far future. Is there a trick to think just a few seconds ahead? …Kenta said that the world revolves around me, so maybe that's why I can't think ahead?

Complicated!

The last of the monsters is slain and I fall on my butt and groan. “I'm tired.” My head feels so heavy!

“Take a break.” Kenta starts dissecting the bees. “Hm...” He proves how hard the stingers are and starts cutting around it with a knife. “Like I thought, no toxin.”

This! “How did you know?”

“Rine, other people aren't capable of evading almost every hit. In this fight I was stung at least ten times. Still, no swelling or something like that, so it was unlikely that they use toxins. Stabbing people with that sting is deadly enough, I guess.”

“There is a toxin in a bee?”

“...Ara-san? Are this world's bees toxic?”

Ara lifts her head from her notes. “I assume.”

“What, you assume!?”

“There are no bee-heroes, so why should I have a remote interest in any kind of insect?”

Kenta turns to me again while doing his facepalm. “Phew... well, in my world they have. In simple words, the toxin causes a sting to swell.”

“Ah, I never thought about why it swells.”

“...” Ah, I disappointed Kenta again. “Phew, let's take the needles and the wings.” Wings are processed into water-repellent paper and can be melted into glass for a yellow-brownish color. Needles are used for sewing needles, nails, and weaponry, like those needle bombs alchemists sell.

This reminds me of the alchemist I went to when I was on a date... No, please. Not that precious memory, please don't turn bleak...

…

… … I'm so tired...

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No, I can't give into it! I massage my cheeks for a second, I need to do something. I'm glad that I decided to work with Ara for this, so I go to her. “Ara? I feel all bad, I'm tired, have small aches all over my body, and I'm afraid to think about something happy, because it might not be as great as I thought before...”

She's not even looking at me while she writes down her numbers. “Your problem is?”

“I don't want to feel like that anymore.”

“Did you consider intoxicants?”

“No...”

“Will you?”

“Erm...” It may make me feel better? Yet it sounds like escaping... “No.”

“Hm... maybe you're experiencing melancholy? Depression or dejection. Gloom?”

“Ah, that's a good word.”

“I'm glad that I was able to help you.”

“Thanks, Ara! … Wait, that doesn't help.”

“...you're becoming smarter.”

“I am?”

“You can be proud of yourself.”

“I can?”

“Yes.”

Having Ara's approval makes me feel better. A warmth is enclosing my heart and somehow the gloom I felt before isn't that bad anymore. “Thanks, Ara! I really, really needed that.” Hearing approval from her feels so different compared to Kyou.

“You're welcome.”

“Then there is another problem.”

“Katarine-san, sometimes you need a break of solving every problem you see. It's fine to wait and save energy, even if the problem at hand is urgent.”

Solving the argument between Kenta and Kyou seems very urgent. “But-”

“Katarine-san, you have just overcome an obstacle, so take a break, let yourself go a bit, embrace the powers of the universe.”

“What does this mean?”

“Do what I do.”

“Do you mean the super-complicated stuff or doing nothing?”

“Nothing.”

“How is that supposed to help?”

“It would help me finish my work without any more distractions.”

“But...” Kyou is glaring at Kenta who sometimes looks over his shoulder while having this really irritating expression. “Kenta and Kyou...”

“It's their problem and they need to solve it by themselves. If they ask you for advice, you can give it, but don't interfere.”

“Why?”

“Because they're sexually frustrated, given that they're pubescent humans, so everyone who might come between them might be mercilessly humped by either of the two.”

“Is this really the case? I doubt that.”

“You better do!” says Kenta from his position. It seems that he overheard our conversation. This reminds me of how Kyou often complains about Kenta's and Ara's good hearing.

“Kenta-kun,” Ara lifts her head and looks at him: “I'm having a conversation with Katarine-san.”

“You've just done everything you can to cut it short!”

“This is this and that is that?”

“...phew...”

I'm a bit worried: “Ara, is it a good idea to start fighting with Kenta as well?”

“You don't need to worry, Kenta-kun can't be so easily dismissed.”

“You know him so well...” I feel some envy, because I want to learn about Kenta. Yet he's so... we talk a lot, but it always ends up with me doing the talking.

“I'm finished.” Kenta stows away two long and narrow bags. “It's soon dusk. Time to look for a camping spot.”

―○●○―

“HAAAAAAAAAAA!!! HA! HA!” Hoshibashi-kun hacks at the giant bear-like monster like a madman while being crushed time and time again, yet his wounds heal while his fighting spirit remains unbroken.

“[Treesplitter]!” Daichi is standing on top of its nape, his axe opens the crack there even wider. “I have flesh!”

“Splendid! Inoue-san!”

“Yes!” Masahiko is on the back and starts running, only to jump at the fleshwound: “[Drillkick]!” His kick causes the giant bear to twist.

“Kitamura-san!”

Following Yoshimura-kun's order, Katsuo draws his bow: “[Powershot]!” It hits the created weak spot and vanishes into the flesh.

Suddenly, the goliath stops moving, falling like a dead tree. Masahiko lands on his feet. The pain crawls up his legs while Daichi makes a judo-roll despite being in full armor. “Hoshibashi-kun!”

The one who attacked the giant bear from below must be... the bear moves a bit and Hoshibashi-kun comes from under the bear. The anger that seemingly overcame him in battle is gone. So this is the [Berserker]-class...

““Good work, everyone!”” Masahiko and Yoshimura-kun say this at the same time, both of them look at each other for a second, then start grinning.

The fight started off good enough, yet it took forever. Eri is resting on her staff as she had to heal for almost an hour. Teruko was taking a break after she had pushed herself so that Masahiko and Hoshibashi-kun could take their break and refill their health. The whole moving-earth-and-stone-ability in addition to the thick stone fur made this a battle of endurance.

“Kitamura-san? Did you get any XP?”

“...yes, a lot. Five levels.”

“Good. This is always a good way to confirm a kill. Its size was problematic though.”

“No joke, man.” Daichi rubs his sore muscles, he hasn't even taken any breaks. “Good that you came up with taking shifts.” While it was possible to hurt the goliath, it was via powerful spells at first, something that couldn't be repeated. The whole quaking made it nigh impossible to do any good attacks, so Yoshimura-kun made alterations to the plan. “Sorry for before. You're alright.” Daichi says that while taking off his helmet. “Without you, this might have gone awry.”

“This monster was more powerful than I thought. I also might have looked down on you.” Yoshimura-kun admits his own failings.

“Don't worry! Never thought you had the guts, I believed that you were just an arrogant ass. You, too, Hoshibashi. I hate to admit it, but you're now stronger than I am.”

“...you're also good.”

“Hey there!” Correo comes close to all of them, broadly smiling. “That was fantastic! A battle of attrition, using what makes heroes so special! Also, this teamwork! I have found a nice spot for a rest, then we'll look whether we stay the night or not.”

In the end, they decided to use the remainder of the day to find a way through the debris and rock-slides that were caused by the battle, using Eri's earth magic that was the solution against being caved in. Then they'll take a good, long night's rest.