Chapter: 153. Mobilization – Chris-
Just before heading out on patrol.
Even though I teased about my brother’s inefficiency, Han Abin continued her training.
It seemed she was trying to fill her shortcomings with new techniques.
Ordinarily, I’d have to stop her as a mentor because it was inefficient.
But, “Don’t think about stretching, just be natural. The flow of mana can be sorted out later. Let’s focus on your stance first.”
I gave my advice and placed my hands on Han Abin’s body.
“Uh? Ehh?”
Was she startled by the sudden contact? A squeaky voice escaped her lips.
“Twist your waist a bit more, bring your forward hand to your waist. Place one hand on your elbow. And now, inject power to forcibly correct Han Abin’s movements.”
The punch she delivered just now had a different sound than the one from earlier.
“Okay. Got it? Try again.”
“Like this…?”
What’s the problem here?
“Are you worried that my holding you will interfere with your movements? If so, don’t worry about it. Your stance wouldn’t be correct anyway. We need to fix that first.”
There’s a slim chance her posture could be right after just showing it once or twice.
That means we need to fine-tune it, but I don’t have any special abilities that allow me to see muscle movements or electrical signals in nerves.
So all that’s left is the method of sensing small movements with my own body.
Even the Thunder God Grandpa taught me like this.
While hearing the nagging that it was pointless to teach this to someone who isn’t a martial artist, he chuckled and said, “What does it matter if it’s a martial artist or not?”
That memory still felt vivid.
Back then, I never knew I would be doing this for someone else.
As I chuckled at that thought, Han Abin started to tremble and babble, “Well… But… Doesn’t the flow of mana matter more than posture? So, fixing the stance should be done later…”
The timid Han Abin was starting to quiver, as if afraid to make a mistake.
Maybe she’s gaining confidence through training, but these weird behaviors have resurfaced again. Should I give her a little boost?
With that thought, I spread my palm open.
Thwack!
I gently smacked her back.
“Eek!”
“Didn’t I say that a magical girl’s body is a mana-based life form? If the body catches up, then the flow of mana will unconsciously follow a bit as well. So, fixing the stance first is more efficient. If you understand, do it again, quickly. It’s rare for me to teach someone one-on-one.”
“B-but…”
“Aaaahhh… What should I do…”
Abin, telepathy is leaking.
Such complex worries and inferiority can be solved by moving your body.
I know well because once I was just like you, unable to do anything.
In all likelihood, the reason I am passionately passing on my teachings to Abin is that a part of my past self overlaps with her.
Those days when I sank into a sense of helplessness. I found a new breakthrough, only for that breakthrough to betray me in a pitiful situation.
Right now, Abin is probably having similar thoughts. While it took me a long time to overcome that, I eventually found the answer.
If you keep moving until you collapse from exhaustion, and continue to move, eventually that very act will become part of who you are.
Time evaporates, and all negative feelings that devour the heart disappear.
Then, one day, you’ll realize you’ve put it all together.
However, this is one answer that can’t be conveyed in words. Therefore, you have to learn it the hard way, sweating.
“Okay! Once more!”
“What do you mean ‘okay’! You need to clarify!”
Frustratedly, Abin shot me a glare despite being unable to articulate her feelings.
But suddenly, dust clouds swirled from the entrance as two magical girls barged in.
“Did you come back?”
I turned my head while maintaining my stance to greet the fool who just returned.
Two intense gazes locked onto me.
“…Is there something you want to say?”
To cut through this awkward air, I spoke up.
“Abin is being unfair! I want to play around too!”
Did she misunderstand something? Baek Sihyeon charged toward me.
Bending her waist as she accelerated, extending her hands in a strange manner.
“Annoying!”
While holding onto Han Abin’s waist, I reached out my right hand toward Baek Sihyeon.
The right hand I extended and Baek Sihyeon’s hand touched.
Thwack!
Bouncing off the first hand.
Thwack!
I grabbed the remaining hand.
“Eeeek!”
As expected, I rotated around Han Abin with her as well.
“Sihyeon, didn’t I tell you several times?”
Thwack!
I tripped Sihyeon’s foot as she rushed at me.
Normally, she would lose her balance and fall, but with one hand still gripped, Baek Sihyeon slid helplessly across the ground.
Thud!
Making a weird noise, she landed on the earth.
“To pay attention below, didn’t I tell you repeatedly? How many more times do you want to be caught off guard by foot techniques?”
I dropped my advice.
“Uh… until I don’t get caught?”
Hundreds more times, probably.
Sighing, I released my grip.
Thud.
Was Baek Sihyeon barely staying up because I caught her? I heard a heavy sound coming from her head, but thinking that something might go wrong with this tough gal didn’t cross my mind, so I quickly spoke.
“So, are you going to do this?”
“I’m doing what Han Abin and the master did!”
What’s ‘Han Abin’? Did she hit her head or something?
Oh, she always thought like that.
“Did you think it was me and Abin fighting?”
“Wasn’t it sparring?”
“It wasn’t.”
“Then what do you mean?”
“Mur.. oh, never mind. Abin.”
As I called her name, I let go of her hand.
“Yeah! Why?”
Suddenly, Han Abin distanced herself from me, brimming with energy.
What is she avoiding something scary again?
“Wait, Sihyeon, for a moment let me teach you formally. I’m too lazy to explain it again.”
“Understood! Sihyeon! Get up!”
“Baek Sihyeon! I will get up!”
With Han Abin commanding like a commander, Baek Sihyeon responded with a perfect echo and rose without resistance.
What a strange relationship it’s becoming.
“Well, teach her well. Oh, just give her a theoretical explanation. After all, she won’t be able to use the techniques properly anyway.”
Of course, due to Baek Sihyeon’s characteristics, she would learn quickly if taught, but considering her current situation, there’s no guarantee that simply increasing her skills would significantly improve her.
“What about you, senpai?”
Me?
“Look, there’s one left, isn’t there?”
Saying that, I moved toward the last one left.
Even though the age gap is three times, she’s roughly the same size as me.
“Okay, Chris. Let’s see your skills.”
“Your attack is too linear.”
As I swung the hammer wide against the incoming bright flash,
Boom!
With the sound of the core attack exploding, feathers scattered everywhere.
What remained in the hammer’s trajectory were just a few feathers and blue particles.
The path was cleared, so I tried to charge toward Chris, but—
“Roar!”
A brown-furred bear charged in quickly to block my advance.
That sight reminded me of Misa’s transformation form.
But comparing that is indeed an insult.
That bear could split hills with a kick and tear the air with its joints.
As I slightly lifted my body, my feet grounded.
A shockwave that was unimaginable for an ordinary bear resonated through the ground, and the dust soared up.
That said, this bear isn’t weak either.
“Your stance collapsed! Smil, hold on!”
No sooner had that terrifying bear’s kick ended, I heard Chris’s voice, and once again a blue flash rushed toward me.
Hmm.
Animals are indeed immortal as long as they are alive.
Seeing Smil, who clearly exploded from my hammer just a moment ago, flying toward me again confirmed that.
At least that’s a relief.
No need to adjust my strength now.
Boom!
Once more, an eagle surrounded by blue flashes exploded and scattered everywhere.
Even though I was told I didn’t need to hold back for Chris, just in case I had thrown a few reasonable attacks.
However, the number of times Chris’s so-called ‘animal friends’ were summoned was numerous.
“Saaah!”
“Roar!”
“Eeeek!”
Several animals surged forward.
Bears, felines, snakes, deer.
I need to organize this.
“It’s distracting.”
I casually remarked, extending my right arm.
Then, with my shoulders fixed, I quickly twisted my waist.
Muscle tensing. Twisting of hands.
The fixed shoulder irresistibly conveyed the force of my upper body that is rotating, and that energy headed straight toward my right arm.
The hammer, situated at the end and receiving all that force, swung widely.
Boom! Bang! Bam!
Everything nearby exploded.
The rocks bouncing up from the charging animals.
The deer that was rushing in.
Even the bear that swung its arm to block the hammer.
All were equally blown away, vaporizing into blue particles.
“Miyaa! Kun! Roya! Gishina!”
Various names echoed as they tried to summon their forms again, and blue particles began to gather around Chris.
In about two seconds, reconstruction would be completed.
However.
“It’s too late.”
I was already finishing my charge and thrusting my hammer next to Chris.
For me, two seconds is an eternity.
Having charged all my forces at once acted negatively for them. In my combat style, there’s nothing below a certain skill level.
“Uwaah! Too fast! I surrender!”
“Eeeek!”
“Very neat; I like it.”
Thinking of Baek Sihyeon’s incident, I thought I’d put a little more effort into my aggression.
Yet, Chris and Smil raised their hands and expressed their surrender.
“Wait, even you, Smil?”
Turning back in surprise, a hawk was in mid-air, wings raised high.
…How is it floating like that?
As I thought while holding my hammer, I momentarily got lost in contemplation.
But, who cares? It’s probably some magical power.
Quickly coming to terms with it, I reversed the summoning of my hammer.
“Ugh… You’re too strong, brother.”
“Eeeek!”
As soon as I reversed the summons, the two beings reached out, looking despaired.
Where had the lively atmosphere gone? One magical girl looked dejected.
Instead of the hawk that was nibbling my hair, now there was a pitiful hen on the verge of death.
If that were my disciple, I’d give her a good scolding.
“Don’t be so glum, Mirra. You’re strong enough.”
“Really?”
Upon hearing my words, Chris’s expression brightened as if she had never looked like that before.
“Sure. You’re probably stronger than any ordinary heroes!”
“That’s a relief! Smil? We’re strong!”
“Eeeek!”
“I was worried about being a burden since I’ve never seen other hero sisters or brothers!”
“Eeeek!”
“Isn’t it a burden? Yawhe…”
“Eeeek!”
What on earth is that…
“0十회”
“Eeeek!”
They seem thrilled.
With the two beings, a person and a hawk twirling in an elaborate dance, holding hands and wings.
It’s certainly a rare sight.
Well, whatever my feelings regarding it, Chris is considerably among the stronger heroes.
Because most of her power lies in summoning, her base form is just around the C-rank level.
But each summoned entity possesses the abilities of A to B-rank monsters. Although each is weak individually, their sheer number and perfect coordination, not to mention the endless summons, make this a strong combination.
Taking that into account, their effective combat power is on par with the higher B-rank.
If the compatibility is right, they could even go against lower A-ranks.
I can’t precisely articulate the nature of that bizarre animal friend, but it’s likely a peculiar unique magic, a blend of summoning magic and the Infinite Architect’s abilities.
These beings are born strong from the start.
The Librarian’s words come to mind.
The concentration of Otherworld’s Power around us is growing more robust, and along with that, heroes’ basic strengths will amplify, with the number of their abilities increasing.
Though I had only theorized it, seeing it with my own eyes elicits an indescribable feeling.
They’re beings who are born with power from the get-go.
Children who don’t know the calm, peaceful past, seeing the current world as the norm.
Awakening of children who were submerged in Otherworld’s Power since birth.
Can we even call them entities similar to us?
From the very beginning, they were born under the influence of Otherworld’s Power…
This is a topic that shouldn’t be thought about.
I shook off these thoughts.
They too are heroes meant to protect humanity; such thoughts shouldn’t linger.
With that, I took a deep breath, swallowing down the negative thoughts that had been resurfacing since devouring Nanjido.
“Chris.”
“I expect great things from your growth ahead.”
“Yes! Thank you for the encouragement, brother!”
Okay.
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