Chapter 63
To be honest, I'll admit it.
I can't fully control my own body.
When I leaped behind the goat demon, I overshot way more than I expected and panicked quite a bit.
Even when I hurriedly jumped toward the goat demon's neck, which was about twice my height, I thought the height and angle were perfect, but it was faster than I anticipated.
While I was trying to look cool, saying things like adding sothing to the armor, I was floundering, realizing that if I waited to finish my sentence, I'd overshoot the neck.
When a tentacle guard unexpectedly blocked my downward swing, I was more shocked that my sword passed through without any resistance than by the fact it was blocked.
Before the goat demon's head fell to the ground, when I landed in front of Shara, it was after I'd overshot above her head and kicked off a tree behind her.
I'm really glad there was a tall tree there.
"Shin ca down from the sky!"
I managed to give Shara, who was surprised, a confident smile, probably because my face had been twitching with nerves right before.
The reason I deliberately and slowly sheathed my sword was that I didn't trust my body at all.
Seal it! Seal this!
Impossible! I can't handle this! Impossible!
For so vague reason, thinking it should be on my back, I deactivate the additional physical enhancent magic circle I'd constructed there.
I feel relieved as the shirt woven from threads taken from so minor monster called Black-sothing finally feels like a normal shirt again.
Ever since I constructed the second physical enhancent magic circle, it felt like I had an uncontrollable wild horse on my back.
I now understand why the number one cause of death for adventurers who've just started using proper physical enhancent is losing control of their body and causing an accident.
This could definitely kill .
And I realize how carefully my ntor had guided , regardless of the thods.
"That was a splendid movent."
That's probably why I shuddered when Erika, who had seen and perceived every move of this physical enhancent that I could barely control, said so.
I recall her battles up until now.
Surely, after leaving the academy, she's finally able to go all out, and even now, she's still getting used to her full strength.
From here on, she'll beco even stronger.
I'm not sure if she's aware of it herself, but Erika Solnzari achieves this effortlessly, without anyone's guidance.
I tremble now, realizing the hardship of standing beside her.
"So, how was it? Can I get a passing grade?"
That's why I say it especially lightly.
If I could give up due to my own diocrity, I would have done so long ago.
Even if I tremble, it's far too late for that now.
"Indeed."
Erika answers thoughtfully while twirling a strand of her red hair around her right index finger.
"Well... it was wonderful."
In other words, in the end, it's a simple matter.
She's a genius.
I'm terrified of myself with the intensity of physical enhancent I can't control.
I'm astonished by her, whose depths I still can't fathom.
I didn't fear the question of how much recklessness I'd have to push through to keep standing by her side.
Even so, I chickened out a little.
That's probably why.
"One more word."
My cowardly heart greedily sought words to rouse itself.
Specifically, I wanted to be praised by Erika.
"One more word... you say?"
Erika looks at with a puzzled expression.
I was confident that if Erika had been exasperated with here, I would've broken, but she lowered her eyes and thought seriously.
Erika, letting out a small "Hmm" as she seriously considered her words, was incredibly cute.
Specifically, the way she thought with her index finger, still twirling a strand of hair, resting on her chin was the best.
Erika glanced at my face, then quietly averted her gaze and responded to my request.
"Well, I found it interesting that you tried to gauge the opponent's intelligence by speaking to it at the start. I didn't quite understand it myself, but it felt like Shin could read the opponent's expression. Judging whether they had intelligence from that—could that be the difference in experience as an adventurer? Also, while speaking, you subtly positioned yourself between us, blocking the shortest path while maintaining eye contact. That was very thoughtful."
The one word I hoped for turned out to be an unexpectedly long speech.
Whether she got carried away once she started talking or simply enjoyed reviewing the battle, Erika's voice began to liven up.
"And what was truly remarkable was that physical enhancent."
Erika closes her eyes, recalling the mory.
"I never imagined you still had such a hidden ace up your sleeve. Is that a secret technique of the Longdagger family or sothing? That speed was not half-hearted. For the first ti in my life, I witnessed a speed that made everything blur."
My throat feels a bit hot from Erika's unexpectedly straightforward words of praise.
I rember the first ti my ntor praised .
That's probably why.
My voice trembled a little as I told Erika that it wasn't a secret technique of the Longdagger family but sothing I ca up with just now.
"Is that so? If that's the case, isn't it even more amazing?"
Erika's voice brightens.
To co up with sothing on the spot and turn that idea into reality—how much effort and dedication must lie behind that?
Please, I can't take it anymore.
Overwheld by Erika's praise, I cover my face with both hands.
I'm aware that my face is bright red.
When I lower my red face, for so reason, Erika's voice becos even more lively.
She says, that speed.
She says, the sharpness of that sword's trajectory.
She says, my dear husband.
Stop! I'll die, I'll really die.
Erika's voice grows even more excited, and now she's praising things like my footwork and posture—things even I'm not sure about—saying they were wonderful, and I don't know what to do.
A calm part of briefly surfaces, wondering if this is the ti for such things in the middle layers of the Demonlands, but it quickly retreats when Erika praises the line of my neck from the side.
While thinking that this has nothing to do with the earlier battle, I can't bring myself to say it's enough.
Honestly, I'd be fine staying like this forever.
I half-seriously thought that, but Shara's exasperated voice wouldn't allow it.
"I don't know what kind of ritual this is, but could you both return to your senses?"
When I lift my lowered face, I see Shara with an exasperated expression and, for so reason, Erika covering her face, muttering, "I've done it."
"If Erika gets embarrassed here, it'll undo everything, so bear with it. Besides, praising your husband isn't sothing to be embarrassed about, right?"
Shara cuts Erika down bluntly.
I see, so Erika is embarrassed for praising too much.
I think it's because the tension after the battle loosened and she got too excited, but if even a tenth of those complints were sincere, I'd be happy.
I feel ashad for focusing only on Erika's strength and forgetting that she was once a marquis's daughter.
As soone raised as a noble young lady, it should have been entirely predictable that Erika, still not fully accustod to battle, might say things she didn't an in a heightened state after a fight.
And I, having chickened out, egged her on by asking for one more word.
Because of that, I made Erika feel embarrassed.
I truly hate my own weakness.
"I don't quite understand why Shin looks so serious when Erika gets embarrassed, but will you listen to ?"
Shara looks at us with eyes that seem to say, "What is with this married couple?"
Having witnessed Erika praising excessively in the strange post-battle tension and being unable to even lift my face from those complints, I have no excuse.
Shara says while pointing.
"I'm not exactly knowledgeable about monsters or demons, for that matter."
My gaze follows Shara's finger toward where the goat demon's corpse lies.
"Is that what happens to a dead demon?"
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