“By the way, that’s a pretty unique spirit.”
From a distance, it looked like a small boy, but up close, the face reminded me of someone familiar.
Ash-gray hair, silver eyes, and even the scar under his eyes.
At this point, it was so identical that it was hard to miss.
“This is totally me!”
“Whoa! Ahhh!”
Adele made a strange sound and quickly covered the spirit with both hands. Of course, that didn’t erase the memory of what she just saw.
Arin, who was watching, chuckled and explained to me.
“Spirits usually take on the form their contractor is most familiar with. Uh!”
I hurriedly covered her mouth, but it was too late. I didn’t know there was such a setting about spirits in the original story.
So, I guess that means I’m the most familiar figure to Adele.
That fact made me feel a bit strange. After all, it just meant I was trusted to some extent, which made me somewhat happy.
Of course, I wouldn’t be immature enough to show that emotion on my face.
‘Have I developed some attachment to Adele?’
In the past, I would have been completely indifferent to how she thought of me. But these days, I found myself a little bit interested in what Adele thought of me.
“Uh, Abel? Don’t listen to Arin. So…”
“Adele seems to like me more than I thought.”
“N-no, that’s not it!”
“Don’t worry. I quite like you too.”
“…Huh?”
Adele asked back with a dazed expression. Her cheeks, previously slightly flushed, were now as red as a ripe persimmon.
Who knew teasing her would be this fun? I had to hold back the smile that almost escaped.
Because if I smiled here, it would be obvious I was teasing her.
When I stepped a little closer to Adele, she took a step back. When I approached her again, Adele stepped back once more.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that.
“Um…”
Adele, with her face reddened like a beet, couldn’t manage to say anything. I wondered if I had gone too far with the teasing, so I decided to speak first.
“Well, let’s stop with the teasing for now.”
“Heh, you…”
Adele glared at me with slightly bitten lips. With her considerable beauty, it looked oddly cute.
Is that why people say you have to at least be pretty?
Well, it’s not like I suddenly became interested in her appearance.
“Aryn, you know about the Monster Extermination War coming up in a month, right?”
“Yes.”
The Monster Extermination War.
Located in the northwestern territory of the House of Hardenberg, the Liman Mountains are always teeming with monsters, especially due to the dimensional rift that periodically opens there.
That rift between dimensions allows not only monsters from this world but also monsters from other worlds to invade.
The Holy Kingdom of Numen, which borders the Liman Mountains, doesn’t just sit back and watch. They’ve dispatched the Holy Knight Order to close the rift.
The goal of the Monster Extermination War was to exterminate the monsters from the other world and close that rift in cooperation with the Holy Knight Order they dispatched.
Among the monsters that pop out of that rift, there are many that are tough to deal with without holy power. So, cooperation with the Holy Knight Order is practically essential.
That’s why the Emperor publicly maintains the alliance with the Holy Kingdom.
“[Holy Kingdom Numen…]”
“It will be dangerous, this Monster Extermination War.”
“Right. It’s not like the Hunt Festival.”
Hunting monsters back then was basically just for show. It’s a historic event, but that’s all it was.
If anything, it was just an event to showcase the power of the Empire of Arye to surrounding countries.
In truth, it was physically impossible to exterminate all the monsters in the Everlasting Snow Mountain.
The first Emperor succeeded, but back then, the snow mountain wasn’t as vast as it is now.
However, the dimensional rift appearing in the Liman Mountains was different. If left unchecked, the number of monsters could increase rapidly, leading to a massacre.
“Are you going too, Abel?”
“Yeah. I plan to participate directly this time.”
Until last year, I would participate but not engage in combat directly. I did that to hide my magical abilities, but not anymore.
I boldly showcased my skills during the Hunt Festival. So, showing my strength during the Monster Extermination War would be politically beneficial.
‘Since cooperation with the Holy Kingdom is almost essential.’
To completely eradicate the Emperor, we would need the power of the Goddess Church. In the original story, the Emperor was most wary of the Holy Kingdom Numen.
If we can establish cooperation with them through this Monster Extermination War, that would be great, but it won’t be easy.
They wouldn’t simply choose a duke under the Emperor as a partner for cooperation.
That’s why this Monster Extermination War is crucial.
“And how do you feel about this?”
“Huh? Me? Wasn’t I supposed to go with you?”
She looked confused as if wondering why that wouldn’t be automatic.
I shook my head.
The Monster Extermination War is literally a battle to exterminate monsters from another world and close that rift.
There was no specific reason for her, my fiancée, to go to such a dangerous place.
“I repeat, it’s far more dangerous than the Hunt Festival.”
The monsters coming from the other world are quite strong. The very fact that they survived the rift proof of their strength already.
It means that those disaster-level monsters we faced during the Hunt Festival will swarm there.
Of course, it’s not that the Holy Knight Order’s strength is too weak to protect Adele, but it’s true that the Monster Extermination War is dangerous.
“I see…”
Adele crossed her arms and closed her eyes in thought. After a while, she opened her eyes as if she had made a decision.
“I want to go with you.”
“…Really?”
When I asked again, she nodded with a determined expression.
“Yes. I want to become stronger.”
It seemed her earlier resolve in my office wasn’t a lie after all.
This might become more dangerous than during the Hunt Festival. Yet, saying that means she’s already prepared to grow stronger.
“Alright. Then I’ll set one condition.”
“Huh?”
Adele looked at me with a questioning gaze at my words.
Just because she wanted to become stronger, I couldn’t just take her along without thinking. As I mentioned, the Monster Extermination War frequently involves disaster-level monsters.
If she wants to grow stronger in such a place, she needs to at least possess the skills to survive.
“If you win against me in a duel one month from now, I’ll take you with me.”
“…Does that mean you’re not going to let me go if I lose?”
Adele tilted her head in a feigned pout, and I chuckled.
“Of course, there will be penalties.”
First, no magic use.
Second, no aura use.
If these two restrictions apply, it should be a condition that’s worth a try. As I expected, Adele was lightly smiling.
“That sounds good.”
Well, that means it’s worth trying, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy. A chess master can still defeat a novice even without rooks or bishops.
“Aryn.”
“Yes, my lord?”
“If Adele manages to beat me this time, I’ll grant her one request.”
“Really?!”
Aryn’s voice rose in excitement.
Personally, it was a promise made in the hope that Adele would be allowed to participate in this Monster Extermination War.
Because I want her to grow stronger as well.
§
“Do you think I can beat Abel?” Aryn asked seriously.
“Right now… it’s impossible.”
Aryn stated the obvious without hesitation.
I already anticipated that. No matter how much I don’t use magic or aura, Abel is already a grand sorcerer.
Honestly, saying I could win now would be deceitful. The real question is whether I can win against him a month from now.
“If I become stronger in a month?”
[That seems hard.]
Silphy sighed, muttering that beside me. Aryn nodded in agreement.
“I think so too.”
“Really?”
…Well, maybe it’s only natural.
Abel is not only a grand sorcerer but also possesses considerable power as a knight. Even without using magic or aura, his physical abilities would still be extraordinary.
“There is one method, though.”
“What is it?”
[Is there something?]
When both Silphy and I asked, Aryn slightly looked away. She hesitated for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.
“It might be a bit tough for you, but are you okay with that?”
“Yes. I’m ready.”
When I said that, Aryn faced me with a determined look and walked over to the weapon rack on one side of the training hall. It was a rack holding various types of wooden weapons.
She picked up a wooden sword and aimed it at me. I was, of course, surprised by Aryn’s sudden action.
[What, what’s going on?]
“From now on, I’m going to imitate the way you fight, my lord.”
“What do you mean…”
“Yes. Just like learning by doing.”
Just hearing it sounded like an incredibly foolish method.
But if I didn’t do this, I would struggle to pass the test in a month. Silphy was clearly unhappy about it, but I didn’t care.
“I’ll do it.”
[What? Then what about the injuries?]
“I have plenty of potions. Plus, I’ll make sure you get enough rest.”
[But it will hurt…]
“It’s fine.”
As I interrupted, Silphy let out a deep sigh.
Though she seemed dissatisfied, she eventually nodded in agreement.
[..Fine. If that’s what you want, do as you like.]
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