Chapter 132

Chapter 132

Chapter 132: L I G H T

Eve finally finished tying our luggages to Slei’s body with a leather belt .

Currently, Slei was in her second form again .

The third form consumes a lot of MP .

On the other hand, she could transform into her second form with just 1000 MP .

And this form is already enough if we want to just leave our luggages to her .

I touched the perfectly fixed luggages .

[You skillfully did this . ]

[I’ve already had quite the experience in travelling after all . Well, I think even Seras could do this . ]

I still have a long way to go with these kinds of things .

I don’t have that much experience with travelling .

I really need to remember things like this later…

However, I will continue relying on my comrades for this for the time being .

[You have a special power that only you could use . In exchange for relying on that power, we would be making up for your weak points… Therefore, I think you don’t have to do everything by yourself . ]

[…Did it show on my face?]

With a m.u.f.fled laugh, Eve simply said .

[It’s unusual . ]

It seems that it’s usually difficult to read my thoughts .

▽

We continued our venture into the Demon Zone .

The sunlight illuminating our path was being blocked by trees and branches of the numerous trees in our path . Even the places we could see have been getting dimmer and dimmer .

On the way, we found some places that we could camp on .

If there’s no good place that looks great to camp on, we would go back and set up our camp around sunset .

Even so, having Eve’s map with us is really great .

Thanks to that, it was easier for us to grasp the location of our destination when we were turning back .

Making landmarks when we were going to return were also minimal .

If we had no map, it should have been necessary for us to create a map while we proceed .

In that case, it would have a considerable effect on the speed of our advance .

Liz is on Slei together with the luggages .

That girl didn’t utter any complaints, even when she was carrying our luggage while we walked .

However, it was quite clear that the one with the least physical strength here is Liz .

I’m quite thankful that Slei joined our little group because of this .

However… Liz is quite good at understanding as usual .

Although I could see that she’s still being reserved, she knows when something is appropriate or not .

Only she was the one riding the horse .

Liz was initially being reserved about it .

However, she immediately accepted .

She probably understood that it would just waste our time .

I understood it from her expression and the tone of her voice .

Looking at the other’s situation, that child is trying to determine what action she had to take .

She had an ability to naturally grow while always watching out the complexion of her so-called “guardians” .

[………………… . . ]

She’s a child who puts others first before herself .

I moved beside Slei .

[Liz . ]

[Ah- What is it, Touka-sama?]

[It was often said that it was a bad habit if someone only looked at others . ]

Liz silently listened .

[However, it could be useful sometimes too . If you were to steadily look at others, you may be able to learn various things from them . ]

[… . Yes . ]

Liz loosened up .

[Nevertheless, it’s not good if you always endure everything . If you really want something by all means, be sure to properly say it . It would be alright, we wouldn’t deny something without hearing the others first . ]

I lightly pat Liz’s small back while she’s on the horse .

Pat .

[Am I clear?]

[Thank you for looking after me, Touka-sama…]

[Also, I’m going to rely on you regarding Eve . ]

[Eh?]

[She’s dull, after all . ]

[I could hear you, Touka . ]

I grinned at Eve who glanced back towards us .

[Well, I said it knowing that you could hear it . ]

Hehe—

Riding on the horse, Liz smiled .

[Yes . Then, you could leave that part of Big Sister to me . ]

Eve looked at Liz, astonished as her mouth were hanging open .

[L- Liz…]

▽

We continued encountering monsters as usual .

I could have easily disposed of it with my Abnormal State Skill, but Eve suggested .

[I want to fight strong monsters and temper my battle instinct . ]

Fighting against strong opponents will always be the most effective way to train .

Especially, actually having to experience battles where that could decide whether you live or die is a powerful source of experience .

Seras also agreed with her suggestion .

She wants to fight monsters unless the difference between their strengths were absurdly far .

She also wished for that .

[However, we will let Touka-dono have the finishing blow as much as possible . ]

[I understand . ]

I can’t really do anything but help them improve their fighting ability .

And if they look like they’re struggling in their fight, I could stop the monster with my skill .

Seras fought with the monsters while cooperating with Eve .

It seems they’re trying to build up their combination .

Seras’ footwork and the way her body moves reminds me of an elegant dance .

Her movements were smooth and there wasn’t any wasted steps .

She easily evaded the monster’s fierce attacks .

Her forte is her ability to properly interweave the power of spirits within battle .

Also, she would sometimes use her Regalia of the Spirits when she could see that she’s fighting against a strong enemy .

She wants to test out how much strength a monster could have before she would use it .

On the other hand, you could say that Eve moves like a ferocious warrior .

Even when she looks like a wild beast as she fought, you could see that her movements were thoroughly refined .

Compared to how Seras fights, her way of fighting has a tinge of severe wildness in it .

Once she swings her sword, her slashes will severely cut through the monster’s flesh .

Strength, agility, reflexes, technique, and a wild perception…

There is not a single fault among those aspects .

You could even say that she’s a true warrior gifted with natural talent .

Even if I were to take them as my master to improve my combat abilities from hereafter, all I could say was that the ability of these two doesn’t have any shortcomings anymore .

▽

For three days, we went on with our search for the witch’s home .

We still haven’t encountered any Human-Faced among those times .

▽

We arrived in a ruined area filled with debris all around the place .

It seems that there were some buildings built in this ruins back then .

The building has been destroyed after countless years of standing in this place .

There’s no roof on the top of the building anymore .

Only the walls scattered about in the area were left as proof that they existed .

Though I say that, it was enough protection for us .

It seems that this is good enough to include as a place where we could camp in for the time being .

Looking up to the sky, I could see that the skies had already been light dyed in a tinge of red .

A plain that was surrounded by an area filled with trees that blocks the sun .

However, we should also be careful since this area isn’t obstructed from the sight of the monsters lurking within the forest .

Though I say that, there’s no presence of any monsters around at the moment .

Sitting down, I checked Eve’s map .

[It seems like we’ve considerably drawn near towards her . ]

[Umu . It seems that we’ve already travelled two-thirds of the distance we need . ]

I glanced at the black horse that’s eating gra.s.s beside Liz .

The speed of our advance had greatly increased when Slei joined us .

Moreover, Slei has never been scared of monsters .

It has quite the courage huh .

Or is it because Slei doesn’t regard those monsters as a threat because of her third form?

Anyway, our concerns regarding that have disappeared .

That’s only for now though .

[It seems that we’re pretty close to the witch’s home . ]

With her hands on her knees, Seras is leaning forward and peeked at the map .

Sitting next to me with her hand propping her chin, Eve nods .

[Umu, we should be able to arrive there in one go from here . ]

I looked towards the sky .

I also checked my pocket watch .

[For the time being, let’s advance for another one or two hours today . ]

Eve stands up .

[Touka, I’ll be scouting a little further . ]

[Be careful . ]

[Umu . ]

Eve melts into the dark forest that has begun to be filled in dusk .

She has the ability to search just like a sensor and that’s why she’s good at scouting .

Seras wryly smiles .

[Fufu, Eve is quite energetic—]

Thud .

Seras trips forward .

She immediately pressed against the wall beside me and stopped her fall .

On the other hand, I look like I was about to hug Seras .

[—————–]

Our faces were close to each other that our noses almost touched .

[…It looks like you suddenly staggered, are you alright?]

[Y- Yes… I’m sorry . ]

Seras calmly smiles .

[H- However, I’m alright so…]

[That looks like a lie . ]

[I- I certainly am a bit tired . ]

[………… . ]

It was my blunder .

I didn’t notice Seras is fatigued already .

I was just paying attention towards Liz’s physical strength .

I found out that Eve’s physical strength wasn’t a problem .

She is easy to read based on her face and behaviour .

If she is tired, I could immediately recognize it .

And I myself probably hardly get fatigued thanks to the status correction .

However, Seras doesn’t have that much physical strength .

[My bad… I should have looked at you a bit more . ]

Seras almost usually look quite composed .

However, she is also quite good at keeping a poker face .

Just like Eve said that it was hard to read my emotions .

Unexpectedly, Seras is also the type whose emotions were hard to read .

[It should be no problem for me if it was just an hour or two—]

[That’s no good . ]

Grasping both of Seras’ shoulders, I lightly push her back as I stand .

[We’re going to rest here for the day . ]

[…I’m sorry . ]

[Don’t apologize . It was my fault that I didn’t notice it . It’s unacceptable as the leader of our group . However—]

I pat Seras on her shoulder .

[Don’t overdo it . Okay?]

[…Yes . ]

[How is it?]

My lips distorting to a smile, I asked .

[Were you impressed by your Captain-sama’s kindness?]

Seras’ eyes were filled with happiness as she looked down and placed her hand over her chest .

[Yes, very much so . ]

[……………… . ]

It was just a joke to lighten the atmosphere though .

It seems that she’s too tired that she couldn’t understand a joke .

[Touka . ]

Eve finally came back .

[What is it?]

[A few distance from here, there’s some kind of huge ruins-like building . ]

▽

Pa.s.sing through the area filled with large trees again, I could certainly see a huge ruins standing before us .

Probably because of the large trees blocking it .

We didn’t see it even when we looked at it from a distance .

[That’s really large . ]

There’s hardly any destruction around .

The shape of the building kind of resembles a pyramid .

That’s right, it would be that .

It’s like the ruins of the Mayan Civilization .

Its appearance kind of reminds me of that .

I could see a door on the end of the long staircase .

We began climbing the stairs .

Slei skillfully climbs along with us .

It’s almost time for the sun to set .

[…………… . . ]

If we can’t camp in this place, we would go back and camp in that ruins earlier .

We finally arrived on the top .

I look towards the surroundings .

If there weren’t these huge trees around the area, I could have seen far on the distance .

However, the curtains of the night is already falling down .

Therefore, the darkness began encompa.s.sing the skies .

I then turned towards the door .

[This is—]

There was a jewel on the door .

Ah, it’s the usual jewel huh .

I then noticed something .

[Hmm? There’s some magic energy filled in the gauge already…]

[Actually, I’ve tried injecting my own magic energy before I called all of you . ]

Eve could also inject magic energy .

[However, this was all the magic energy that I could acc.u.mulate . It seems that I have to ask you to do this . ]

[Leave it to me . ]

Status Open .

I displayed my MP .

You could say that we’re on a high ground .

It would be troublesome if a monster approaches if this jewel were to illuminate .

Turning towards Seras, I asked for a large piece of cloth from our luggage .

I then covered the jewel with the cloth .

This should minimize the amount of light that leaks out of it .

Touching the jewel, I started pouring my magic energy into it .

Loud rumbling rang out as the door began opening .

[As expected of you, Touka . ]

Seras steps into the building and illuminated the front with the power of the Light Spirit .

[Hmm… It doesn’t seem to be that s.p.a.cious inside . I also couldn’t feel the presence of any other creatures nearby . ]

[Then, we could use this place to stay on tonight . ]

With Seras leading the way, everyone stepped into the building .

I incidentally looked behind me .

In a far away distance, I could see a flickering light .

That light flickered several times .

At this distance, I think that place should be within the Demon Zone but…

What is that?

Are those just monsters killing each other?

[………………]

I remember our location based on the map .

If Urza is in the south, the direction where the light was intermittently flickering about came from the northeast .

Ah, so that’s how it is .

Now I remembered why I strangely felt nostalgic .

Now that I think about it, that direction is where—

[—The f*cking G.o.ddess I hated so much lives . The direction pointing towards Alion huh . ]