……Now I understand how it feels to be in the shoes of main characters during training camps.
“…that… freaking… pedophiliac sadist…” I groaned as I supported myself to stand using an iron sword. “Hey… still alive, Leon…?”
I looked tiredly at the crawling figure of the redhead. He’s in a worse state more than me considering he had double the amount of cuffs wrapping his limbs.
“…shut… up. I can… manage… by my own…!” He lashed out.
I admit I liked his guts and strong determination, but… we’re in a dangerous state as of now. I looked around and saw nothing I could recognize. In fact, I don’t even know where we are after that perverted Hermit knocked us out.
“I wonder where this is… So much trees and tall grasses it’s hard to see.” I commented and summarized the place.
Yeah. There’s almost nothing except them.The ground was quite hard but fertile. The scent of woods drifted in the air alongside untouched clean air.
But from the looks of it, it seemed like a circular area of empty lot. Oh, there’s a big rock at the center… wait, what?
“That’s… not an ordinary rock, is it…?” I muttered to myself as I walked with the sword acting as a cane.
More like, I was dragging myself using it as the anchor point. I don’t like how weak I am but this is what usually expected from a child below 10 years old. Uuu… then what should I do to reach Fei’s height…?
“Hm…?” I paused upon changing the view. “…A… cave?”
I rotated my head. Seeing how weak we were and how one of us was still crawling like a reptile, I pondered and exhaled. I approached Leon, but I saw his body going rigid.
“…what are you planning?” He asked with random insult.
…I sighed and grabbed Leon’s collar. Although he yelled and struggled, his limp legs and arms showed he had nothing left to resist. And he’s freaking heavy.
“I’m tired just by taking a hundred steps. Let’s just find some covers before nightfall.”
At that, the boy was silent. Finally, some moments for peace. At least you realized that nothing good will come if one yells, getting hurt and be defenseless in a mountain which was no different than a nest for rare and dangerous monsters.
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“Phew… that was tiresome.” I heaved a sigh in exhaustion. Lying down on the dry cavern’s floor, I settled the last of my luggage filled with supply, equipment and makeshift utensils for everyday use.
Then again, just going in and out of the small bunker-like hideout already expended everything I have left. Not to mention that it was already dark out there when I noticed. I really don’t want to do workout anymore now…
*growl~* And a cute, unrefined sound of my stomach rumbling for food echoed.
“…………”
“…………”
…okay… let’s ignore it. Please ignore me and don’t look at me with that odd gaze! I’m already humiliated as is alright!? Just stop it with that stare as if you’re saying ‘so you’re hungry, huh’!
“…hey you."
“Y-yes?!”
What? Wait, what did he just say? Did he just call out to me? I looked at Leon anxiously and we stared hard at each other. A few minutes went by, and…
“Hmph.” Leon snorted, looking away to end the ‘conversation’.
Huuuuuuhhh!? What’s the point of all the lines above then?! I really have no idea why this is happening and… Now I’m out of gas.
“Uuu… so hungry. So tired… why is this happening to me…?”
Flopping down, I rolled once to face the wall and decided that sleep was the best option for the current me. It’s dark, slightly damp and cold for my feet. I missed the hay bed at the cabin…
“……now that I think about it…”
I wonder if Fei is alright. If he woke up, then I’m sure he’d scour around to search for me. Then again, why do I think he’d do that? He’s a guard not by choice, and we’re far away from any surveillance. There’s nothing stopping him from leaving me behind.
In fact… I’m pretty certain he’d do just that. He’s got life ahead of him, and he’d do better to earn fame and wealth rather than waiting for me. Besides, I’m useless unlike him…
Ugh. Now I want to cry. All I ever did was troubling him huh…?
“…I wonder… if he ever think of me as a bother…?” I whispered to myself.
Before long, I shook my head in protest.
I must be stronger. I want to fight with him as equals. There’s absolutely no way I will allow myself to give up here when the person who swore to protect me is alone out there. Fei saved me from destroying myself. Ignoring his unorthodox method and manner, it was the truth that he helped me for so many times. To repay this debt, I will fight my way out and become stronger!
“I can do this!” I told to myself with hands clenched together.
*…thump*
…huh? I looked down. To be more specific, I was staring at my chest and stomach. Somehow… I felt like my heart skipped a beat. And what’s this weird feeling as if something was fluttering bellow my stomach?
……I’m probably way too tired. Also hungry. I guess the basic instincts of a living being will always prevail over aspirations huh? I better find something to eat once I wake up.
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“482… 483…! 484!!”
In a fine morning at a clearing where tall grasses surrounded a triangular giant rock, a flash of dull silver flew up and down repeatedly.
“489… 490…!”
A series of short huffs were let out, becoming white breaths in the cold climate of the mountainous region. Glistening drops of sweats scattered as the silver flash – also known as an iron sword weighing for several kilos swung in a rhythmic movement. The repetitive swings were counted for each overhead slash.
“497… 498… 499…! 500!!”
And once the counter hit even numbers, I stopped abruptly. My right foot a shoulder length ahead in distance to my left and the sword in my hands pointing at the imaginary image of an opponent’s neck in front of me. My vision was slightly narrower and blurry, my blood running hot and my heart throbbing almost three times faster than usual.
As I breathed out a long one, I released my posture and sheathed the iron sword which had gone through harsh weathering and heavy punishments daily.
“Phew… finally, half of a thousand swings.” I said to myself as I wiped the sweats from my forehead with my sleeve.
Still, it took me what? Almost 4 months long just to restore my daily routine and my morning practices could only finish half than what I usually did. Even though I never slacked off…
“…this is bad. I haven’t improved much.” I grieved with a head hung down.
Still… these heavy-duty bracelets on my wrists and ankles are ridiculous. I couldn’t take them off so I had to resort in walking for the first month, bathing by dipping myself in the river for the next month, picking herbs from the low ground and not doing any aggressive movement such as raising my hands up during the third month.
I couldn’t run even when my life depended on it so I earned myself quite a beating more than a few times.
“Ugh… If this keeps up, as if I can ever hope to reach Fei.” I lamented over the dark future in front of me. It’s not like it was impossible but it’s not so easy than I thought it would be.
“Then why don’t you just give up already?” A voice familiar to me rang out from the dark entrance of the cave.
“Oh, be quiet, Leon… Do you think you can move me when your bedhair looks like a furball?” I retorted with half-lidded glare.
The redheaded boy with dark green eyes and serpentine pupils scowled. Looks like he didn’t like my throwback huh? Another point for me then.
“You’re just a frail human… What do you think you can achieve with that weak body anyway?”
Ow, straight to the heart. Now you’ve done it, huh? It’s not like I’m not going to thank you for nursing me when my illness relapsed for the second time this month.
“Do losing three times in a row upset you so much, Leon? I can help you earn your fourth defeat if you want now.” I replied in a similar manner. Again, the boy scowled but seemingly having enough of the banter, he walked away from the clearing.
Arara, he ran away. I couldn’t help as our relationship stayed the same as always. For the past months, we decided to agree in cooperating to survive here. After all, we were handicapped and I knew nothing about the mountain. Fortunately, I was backed with knowledge over herbs for both cooking and medical department.
So it became a give-and-take pact. I got myself some nice food and medicine to make while Leon got helpful items to extend his hunting time. I wondered why he didn’t want to use poisonous herbs against possible threats stronger than him but he said it like this.
“If I can’t defeat my enemy with my own hands… As if I have the right to live.”
…while I can’t refute his way of thinking, that sounded sad. I mean, there are something that couldn’t be defeated when being alone. Once, I saw Leon returning with grave wounds because he encountered a monster that was outside of his expertise and he desisted me when I suggested to take it down together.
Honestly, why are all men so stubborn?
“Eh. Then again, I was also a man before.” I muttered in realization over the irony.
Well, whatever. If Leon’s up and out, that meant he would be back in the evening. Today seemed a perfect weather so might as well going out for some herbs gathering.
“Hm… I wonder which sword I should bring with me…” I paced around the clearing, going through the fruits of my handicraft over the past stay in this dangerous mountain.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
There were various swords scattered in this place. Be it long ones or short ones, straight bladed, curved, thick or thin. All of them were stabbed to the ground like reminder of graves of fallen knights. However, their forms were incredibly crude in shape, flawed in balance, jagged at some parts and didn’t look like swords at all.
All of these swords were just materials I salvaged from some random monsters. Unexpectedly, when I dismantled (a process which I still couldn’t get used to) a few of them, they had strong backbones and razor sharp fangs and considering how I had been a part of Kendo Club back on Earth, of course I knew how to arrange my own shinai (bamboo sword for kendo uses).
It became the norm for me to harvest the spoils of war and modify them as I liked.
“But seriously, it feels as if I was thrown into Unlimited Blade Works.” I commented at the awe-inspiring sight.
All I needed left would be cogs floating in the twilight sky and a barren wasteland. It was real genius of me to refer to Haru’s Visual Novel recommendation. To think you can shape up fantasy in reality baffled me very much.
“I hope I won’t have the need to phrase out Archer’s quotes. That’d be a violation of copyrights.” I said as I pulled out a slim one-edged sword and a set of fang daggers.
Hm. The best ones I could salvage were the tail of Blade Salamander and Fangs of Alpha Orthrus. They were extremely hard enemy to deal with but their drop items were the best among the bests.
Lo and behold! A nodachi that could withstand heat to extreme degrees and daggers that could tear through iron!! I had to waste a lot of swords just to kill those monsters without breaking these babies! The downside would be the fact the nodachi was actually a single elongated tailbone of a lizard while the daggers were made from fangs hallowed at the base to stick in the wooden handles.
Of course, I don’t have any protective gear with me other than dry leather armors strapping my torso and waist. In all, it certainly looked risqué and I didn’t like how breezy it was at night, not to mention my long hair was left unattended quite a while. I had no choice but to tie them to the sides since it felt like a waste to cut it off.
…I look like some Genderbent Twintail Lover but with mismatched color of hair and eyes. I will become Twintail – or so the source novel title said, right?
“Well, enough with the trivia. Today, let’s challenge myself again.” Twirling the weapons and sheathed them into a leather belt made from various animal pelts, I went out with a confident grin plastered on my face.
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The day ended quite eventfully.
When I returned with a bountiful harvest in my rucksack, the great sun in the sky – Solaris had already vanished at the horizon. The twin moons Irnia and Linia prevailed while being surrounded by an ocean of stars.
Huh, quite poetic. I didn’t know I had the talent to spin my words like that. Sad to say, I dislike the faces of the moons as of lately. It’s as if they’re badmouthing me for whatever thing I have never done.
“Well, today I learned something new anyway. I guess it’s a good night to have a feast then.”
After all the grueling battles against those raptor-like monsters, I realized I severely lacked offensive skills. I didn't mean the swordsmanship I learned under father was useless but most of the techniques I obtained so far were double-edged.
In short, they were suicidal attacks that could harm me more often than harming my enemy.
Also, this undeveloped body will never be able to grow properly if I don't take an extra care. Not when people like Melinda aren’t around. I don’t want to be shorter than my previous self and I hated the possibility of having to live with disabilities.
Still, no matter what to say, my body does not have the capability of a mage. I wondered if it’s related to my soul but for now, I have nothing to say. I have gotten used to the heavy strains coiling my body every day.
“Hm…? He’s not here?” I stared at the interior of the cave. “It can’t be helped. I guess I’ll start preparing first then.”
I ignited the bonfire in the empty cave, taking out cooking utensils like pot or flat bedrock as chopping wood.
Still, nights are terribly cold around here. Late night at summer is chilly when located a few hundred meters above the sea. Thinking back, I have been living a life full of troubles. Either a Misfortune God was tailing me all the time or maybe I held the same level of luck like a certain Level Zero. But he still got himself in a harem, and I’m prone to make a reverse harem.
Damn. My life is really miserable……
“……why are you still awake?” A sudden voice brought me back to reality.
“Eh… L-Leon…?” I stuttered as the fiery boy I cooperated with finally returned without as much as light injuries than before. “Welcome back… wait, you’re wounded!”
Leon scoffed. “This is nothing to me.”
Oh, come on! Even Haru isn’t all that stubborn in holding back his pains!! Besides, why are all the men I encountered so far liked to scoff and never cared a damn thing about their own condition? As a former male, I AM very disappointed at your Badboy-Tough-Ass attitude!!
“You!” I almost roared and still made Leon to flinch. “Get down here and show me where you’re hurting. And I mean it now.”
The red-haired boy looked up to the cave’s ceiling for a while. He grunted, then sat near me. Between us was a campfire which was burning calmly with an iron pan devoid of any elegance filled by ingredients for stew on top of the flame. Well, stew always take a long time since the meat must be broiled first… and I’ve got zero idea in doing that when the campfire itself can’t reach the required temperature.
As I took out dry and clean cloths I stored for emergency, I also reached for the healing ointments and a jar of clear water. Leon showed his right elbow first so I took a glance and cleaned the arm from the dirt, grime and the dried bloodstains. Seriously, is this guy nuts or something?
“…you’re putting that face again.” Leon spoke when I rubbed the ointment on his wound.
“Huh—“
His lips forming a scowl and he said in an irritated tone. “Don’t you know that your expression is easy to read, human? You always looked down and sighing as if something wasn’t right… no, you thought of something bad right?”
“…how did you know what I was thinking?” I asked with a weak glare.
“Like I said, humans are easy to read. In fact, I’m more surprised that you haven’t noticed so far.” He replied only to grunt as I tightened the bandage wrapping his elbow.
Ugh… you’re saying that as if I am an idiot. And am I really THAT predictable? I didn’t know that.
“So? What idiotic thing are you thinking about?” Leon asked.
“…are you worried, Leon?” I asked back.
“Shut up. I’m tired of seeing that face. You really look like a bandit that is in need of a few good punches.” He lashed again.
Ow. If I were my previous self, Haru would be the first to say that. And not only saying that, he would really punch me at the face before explaining his reasons. But his punch was so legendary I almost saw River Styx three times out of five.
While I did not expect Leon to say all that, I was also astounded that he took the initiative in conversation. So much that I broke out a tiny laughter.
“What’s so funny?” The redhead questioned as if offended.
“Aha… well, nothing. It’s just, sometimes, there would be people that have similarities in the world… eh?” In between my laughing fit, I said. “Well… let’s just set that aside for now. Look, it’s done.”
Pointing at the stew and the drifting aroma that’d make the hungriest man alive to come running from a hundred miles away in a blink of an eye, Leon decided to play along. I didn’t miss his low rumbling stomach and I grinned from ear-to-ear.
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I shifted position and hugged my knees. I tried hard to hide my smile but nostalgia was too much for me who have no one that truly knows who I am in this world.
“Say, Leon. Have you ever thought of the future?” I began as the darkness of the cave robbed me of my vision.
Late at night and after cleaning up from dinner, we were about to end the day had this hothead forgot what he was supposed to know about me.
“…what’s with that, all of a sudden? Are you alright in the head?” He replied. I’m sooo enthralled by your kind words, sir.
It’s not like I tried to be so overly conscious of the matter you know? I pouted like a child and half-glared at the brat who was sitting at the other side of the cave, near the entrance for security measure.
“As I said, have you ever thought of it? About what you will do after this training ended. After you achieved your objective, where you will go to? When the time comes, there would be nothing to do for you. If that time truly comes, what will you do?” I asked.
“……I don’t get it. What do you mean?” The idiot finally said that.
It took me a few moments to calm myself down. And it took me another dozen of seconds to recollect my thought. After clearing my throat, I raised my head and spoke.
“……After you reached your dream, what will you do next, Leon?”
The boy in front of me became silent.
Did he expect it? Who knows?
Does he have an answer? I wanted to know. Then…
“Hmph. I will do what I must. Anything after that… I’ll think about it when the time comes.” Leon said and he soon closed his eyes.
Muu! That’s cheating!! “Can’t you at least tell me what you want to do? You know… some hints or something.”
Silence ensued. After what could be considered as a good five minutes passing by in total waste, the boy moved his lips… and froze me with his answer.
“I am going to kill the bastard claiming as my father when all he did was decapitating my mother.”