Before I could notice, darkness was wrapping me. I saw nothing but darkness and I felt nothing but the coldness of the ground under me.
"...Uh... Mm... ah....?"
I opened my heavy eyelids and a blurry scenery welcomed me. It was... kind of weird as if a bell was ringing in my head and it really made me knitting my brows. Seriously... what... happened...?
Using my arms to support my upper body, I looked around and saw nothing but darkness. Once my vision adjusted to it, I identified the hard ground, the wall, the hemispheric ceiling, and the humidity which led me to an answer.
"...ah. That's right. I'm in a Dungeon." I snapped back to reality. "But where am I? Where are the others?"
...this is a bit odd. Normally, would one be knocked unconscious just because of being sent through teleportation spell? It's quite unlikely and somehow, I felt my body temperature rising. Why?
Oh well. Better hold my ground and collect more information. Standing up, I checked myself for injuries and I tapped on Tyrfingg's hilt.
"Umu. It's not stolen and I'm still fine all over so that means nobody is around."
Considering how women are treated in Raumia, I guess I'm quite lucky not to be transported with other people especially boys but it's also troubling without any company. I should find my group if not finding Leon and Anise.
"Probably, Instructor also intended for us to search and make decision when leading a group huh..."
Tracing the wall, I followed my intuition and explored the Dungeon. Even though there was no light, the ceiling dimly glowed and some stalagmites gave off shines like no other. Awed by the sight, I stopped once there were some purple mosses and suspicious mushrooms growing around the corner.
"Hoh... even the vegetation looks different. This Dungeon really must have abundant mana to influence even the farthest place from the vein."
As a person from a world without magic, it was very amazing to be wrapped by the wonders of fantasy. I mean, hey, as if I can see something like this somewhere else.
Besides, enjoying life is something I always wanted way before I reincarnated. It won't be fun for me not to indulge myself in the beauty of nature—
"Now what's this...?" I frowned. My vision was immediately enhanced with mana and my perception heightened by aura.
As if noticing my action, sets of dull red orbs gleamed in the dark accompanied with low growling and groans. The forms shone by those orbs were animals with furs and some... looked like wolves if not humanoid monsters with a shape similar to ones.
"I see..." I drew out Tyrfingg. "The Instructor really has a weird hobby to put monsters confined in one place."
Spreading my legs, I lowered my hips and held the silver sword's hilt with both hands. In spite of being basked with my aura, the enemies growled angrily as if upset after being ridiculed.
Well, although monsters and magic beasts are similar they are not the same for the former aren't rational types. Even more, they have particular scent and near transparent miasma surrounding their bodies which would corrupt any unprepared living being upon contact.
Because of that, it is recommended for Warriors to coat their selves with aura and mana for Mages so that they can't be harmed by the corruption. I learned this not too long ago but Takeru was the first who forced me to coat myself in aura.
Now I understand why he threw me into a den of monsters for a year and coerced me to learn mana conversion like mad.
"Honestly, that guy never explain things like a certain blockhead."
Readying myself, I wiped out any unnecessary thoughts and settled down my gaze at the monsters. There are six without decent equipment and three with bucklers as well as head gears.
From the deep darkness a figure leaped to me. Covered with brown fur and having similar shape to a human, I confirmed my enemy as a Kobold with my eyes and setting up a stance I am most familiar with. The monster brought down a wooden mace with jagged appearance but I slid to the right and my body missed the mace only by a hair breadth.
"Naive!!" I yelled. My right hand holding Tyrfingg moved in a blur as the sharp silvery white blade sliced off the mace along with the Kobold.
Blood sprayed as the lifeless body had its upper body and lower body divided into two. I dashed forward and approached the other kobolds who could not understand what just happened and froze like statue in no time at all.
"Haaaa!!"
Twisting the hand which held the sword around, I quickly pulled the arm and unleashed a full power wide swing from the left to the right in front of my enemies. A limb was cut off, a torso was slashed and a head was decapitated.
Four out of six fell once a speedy stab finished those which were a step away from death. Meanwhile, the remaining two scrambled in action by circling around me.
"Grrah!!" One Kobold behind me roared as it drew out a knife and launched it forward. I responded by ducking and turning around, flicking the knife away with Tyrfingg and slashed the enemy.
The other attacker was using a spear and the spear was thrust with utmost agility toward my head. Right then and there, the world seemed to slow down as I could feel the malice and moving my body way before thinking about what to do.
I tilted my head to the left and the whooshing sound accompanied the spear which grazed my cheek and shoulder. I frowned at the cut wound opening on my cheek but I quickly grabbed the spear's shaft with my left hand. Then I rotated again while pulling the shaft in with the Kobold exasperating in surprise as it flew to me—
First Step: Tail Smash!!
With another wide swing of sword and the monster was slashed into two. The flesh spewing blood with one part of the body flying over me and the other bouncing off the ground several times.
The scent of rust permeated, silence filled the air once again. Then I stood up and exhaled. The battle was won. However... I'm afraid I don't even know where I'm going to.
"This is bad...though it's not like those monster were strong, I don't think their cunning methods mean they are weak either."
Did I go down to the deeper floor of the Dungeon? I proceeded onward yet I encountered packs of monsters which seemed like scouts and those which tried to find my blind spot. Even more, while I was fighting a couple of hell hounds appeared from the darkness trying to kill me with pincer attack.
Because of the recent fights, my uniform is now black like soot with several jagged parts. Though the fabric defended me well against the fireballs those hell hounds breathed out, I doubt I could stay alone for a long period here.
"...as expected, I'm still way too immature in terms of live combat. How the hell am I supposed to attain what I want if cleaning up this Dungeon by myself takes me a lot of works and pain?"
My train of thought halted, and I quickly shook my head in protest. I can't be weak here...! I must become stronger!! Otherwise, the efforts I have done until now will be wasted for nothing!
Still... I don't think I can do this without any help... Uuu... just why am I so weak like this...? Am I really this hopeless? I took a left turn after encountering a fork road then putting a hand under my chin.
"...gah. Now I wonder why I haven't died yet."
It's just incomprehensible. Me, a regular human with illness which always ate my physical strength and interfering with my mana flow can't be alive like this.
Some things aren't adding up. It's impossible for me to defeat Ivory. It's impossible for me to defeat Bravzgaim. It's also impossible how I can still live even though my illness could may as well be a Curse which should have killed me way before I reached five years old.
I can say it with confidence that those feats are impossible for I tried to fight with Leon in all seriousness. I couldn't see his attack and before I knew it I was already on the ground breathing heavily. Though demons are non-human, I’m no match against Leon much less against Fei.
Well, maybe because I've been fighting with ridiculous opponents for five years humans seemed to move slow like snail in my eyes but again, that's just when compared to ordinary humans with half-baked skills. I severely lacked strength, having no quick wits in addition of low stamina. I'm not even capable of pulling a grand self-invented techniques except Blade Arts which suddenly came to me for no reason.
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......I stopped my feet. Raising my head, I gazed at the dark ceiling which looked like the abyss. My heart ached and my body seemed so heavy I couldn't breathe well.
However... my quivering lips opened and I asked myself.
"...Why am I still alive then?"
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-Leon's POV-
"Damn. Everyone’s separated huh?"
"It really is... to think we're all separated from the beginning. Instructor is really damn strict."
"......"
"Ah, but! I'm with Leon now so it's a great advantage! Maybe we can team up with Charl and knock out the Kerberos too!!"
"......oy."
"Hm? But that means I have little chance to hug Leon... hmm... maybe we should walk around first? Ah, but..."
".........oy."
"No no, even if it was me, doing this and that is a bit... Kyah! Leon, how bold of you--"
*SMASH!* In a speed faster than sound I struck the human's head from behind and she flew drawing an arc like a rock thrown to the sky. Then I heard a crashing sound and appearing from the clouds of dust was...
"Hey! Just what is your problem!?" Anise shouted.
"My problem is the way you are thinking. Just what the hell are you trying to do huh?" I replied.
The girl gasped in shock and her cheeks turned beet red.
"Uh-that, well... Umm...! That's... a secret!!"
"Right. I guess that you're really a delusional human then."
Don't call me delusional, The girl roared but I ignored her and walking past her. It won't end well if I conversed with humans. Most of them are irritating and they even shamelessly schemed while trying to gain favors. Big sister's words were true that I must be cautious if I wanted to live among them.
However—I couldn't believe myself being teleported with this foolish girl.
The moment I woke up, I found myself on her laps and she smiled like some animal in heat. Though I heard humans' mating season stayed all-year around but big sister didn't seem like that at all.
Hm... I don't get humans. Such feeble race with many complexes surviving to this date can be said as mysterious. Then again, I'm half-human so it's very probable that my judgment is biased.
I glanced at the girl who was humming and skipping around a little behind me. Her hand flew like a snake trying to bite its prey which was actually my hand. I dodged at the last moment, and the girl pounced on me again and again and again.
"What are you doing?" I asked after watching Anise exhausting herself.
"Well...! Doesn't it feel like a date? I'm super excited now, you know?" Anise replied.
"...so?"
"Let's link our hands!!"
"I refuse."
The maroon headed girl puffed her cheeks. She quickly launched a series of well-practiced movement in order to realize her silly delusion but I could never be bothered by it. I evaded to the right, side stepping and twirling around to the point of jumping and doing somersault just for me not to be used as a hug doll by her.
"D-damn it! Stop making things harder!!"
"You're the one who started it and I'm not your pillow."
"Can't you at least give me a hand!?"
"Nope."
The two of us continued to play around like this. However, it wasn't long until I sensed a foreign presence looming in.
"Stop," I said as I slid my right foot to make Anise tripping herself. "We've got company."
The girl knitted her brows but soon there were screams. From the dark path in front of us, some students with wounds and ragged uniforms appeared and they went by us.
"I want to go home!!" A snotty boy shouted.
"Get off me! Get off me!!" A prick who tried to release himself from a fear stricken classmate said before kicking him off.
I saw many got wounded and several were showing pale complexion like corpses. However, I then saw a human who fell flat and he turned his head around...
"Hiiiii! They-they're coming!! Help! Somebody heeelp—agyaaaaaaah!?"
...well, now one student has his head crushed by a mace. The gore scattered and I identified the repulsive being that emerged from the darkness.
"Aah... a Troll? No, maybe some variant but it does look angered." I commented.
"Yuck. That face sure is morbid." Anise added. "I wonder who their faces resemble to."
Isn't it obvious that they resembled their parents? I really wanted to say it but that would mean I accepted myself as that guy's son. No way will I ever recognize him even if he turned over a new leaf.
Then again... she's right. The creatures with thick muscles bulging from their dark brown bodies were giving off hideous smells. They had horrid faces with upturned tusks protruding from their lower jaws and their violet eyes were filled with nothing but irrational instinct.
"Hm... ah, now that I think about it."
"Huh?"
"Trolls have extremely high reproduction rates, powerful vitality like orcs which are their distant relative and they have intelligence almost rivaling humans."
I exhaled once again in resignation and I heard Anise asking what the point of my explanation is.
"Well. They breed by violating females from other species, preferably humans."
"........"
"And so—would you like to be their wife, Anise?"
The girl quietly looked at me before a punch came flying to me. I quickly parried it and I saw Anise’s face showing a creepy smile.
"That. Joke. Isn't. Funny." The girl said.
"Hmph. If that is so, then go ahead and exterminate them." I nudged at the rushing Trolls as I set a stance. “If not, you’re next after them.”
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The girl was in a glee and I'm feeling nothing but goosebumps seeing her stupidly overexcited mood once she massacred the trolls. She could die anytime here yet she's so happy like a kid after battling her way out.
Well, not like the other students would want to follow her who is drenched with blood and having pieces of flesh stuck on her hair.
"…How long are you trying to trick others with that smile?"
I expected no answer but Anise suddenly said, ‘Oh my, what do you mean, honey?’ with a still smile.
......I locked my gaze to hers yet the girl cowered not even for a second. I snorted at her terrible joke.
"It's way too easy. Starting from when we first meet, you and that Aqua Mage seemed to scheme something."
Her gaze narrowed. "Ho... and you never said it because you intended to observe us?"
"At first I'm wondering why. But it's pitiful how you have nothing to support your lies. Even that spirit you often showed is nothing but forced facade lower than a clown's."
Anise stood in front of me with the same smile plastered on her face. Even though her trick was revealed, the girl did not wipe it off.
"I see," the girl said in understanding. "You're a very sharp person unlike your sibling, Leon."
"Did you think she hasn't noticed?"
"Hm…? So Charl also noticed. Now that, I didn't expect."
I knew that big sister isn't very sharp but her intuition is beyond mine. She must have felt something was wrong with these two but she couldn't put up a word for it. Still, she's a human.
Naivety was her weakness like her brethren has though I'm not the same. I have thrown away hesitation and mercy ever since the day that man murdered mother in front of me. Also...
"You're not like the brat and the mage. Your smell is giving off deception, wench."
"Ouch, that's a horrible way to say it, Leon. I haven't done anything bad right?"
"Right. You haven't," I paused. Then I emitted murderous aura which forced Anise to take a step back, "But that doesn't mean you won't do something in the near future."
The girl did not say anything. She did not move, yet she never backed away even though I am emitting murderous aura which could have knocked out Warriors with a decade of experience. I watched her every movement when her lips slowly formed a crescent shape.
"…you really is a half-demon, Leonhardt."