At the north side of Synclea kingdom capital's north side, there was a mysterious space formed from a branch that stretched from the donut shaped oasis surrounding the capital. The branch was drawing a great circle that joined into the main current once more, creating sandbank between it and the main current.
If it was seen from the sky, this sandbank between the branch and main stream that could be expressed as a "lump" created from a part of the circle had the size that was about the same like the sports ground of a school.
As a matter of fact, the expression of sports ground was to the point. That spot was the training ground of the soldiers adjacent to the capital.
Actually, even the next day after the unprecedented event of hero summoning and the emergency situation where the queen was ambushed and her life fell into danger, the soldiers were still working hard like usual at the training ground.
「Put your spirit into it! Are you guys making any effort huh! The formation change is too slow-. It should be possible to do it three seconds faster! Do it again!」
The one who motivated the soldiers doing formation change training with his angry yell that sounded like thunder was the soldier chief Donar.
Chief Donar's voice resounded really clearly. It was the voice characteristic of a mander that could reach the ally clearly in the battlefield.
At a slight distance away from the formation change training, a fierce training of one against one, or possibly one against many was being carried out, but even though the people there weren't the one being yelled at, the moment they heard the angry yell of the soldier chief, their expression became stricter and their spirit surged even further.
Also, at the place nearer to the river of the oasis, the art users were performing blessing art training with similar serious expression.
「Concentrate. But not at just one point. Concentrate toward the world. Earth, wind, heat, moisture……concentrate to everything that surround you. Your self is receiving blessing from the world, be aware of that strongly.」
Even though that voice had courteous demeanor and wasn't loud by any mean, it smoothly entered the ears and coached the art users. It was the voice of art user group's head art user──Rinden Stole.
He was a man at his forty with long rust colored hair that was tied behind. From a glance he looked like a really calm and gentlemanly attractive middle-aged man. But, perhaps it was just as expected from someone who was entrusted with a group same like Spenser and Donar. The zeal dwelling inside his eyes would make anyone instinctively gulped.
The truth was this Linden was the biological father of Lilin who was selected into the most elites of the royal guards that were led by Spenser. Both father and daughter were art user that overflowed with talent.
Ahead of Linden's gaze, the art users were joining their hands together in front of their mouth while wholeheartedly offering prayer that showed so much concentration vein emerged on their forehead. At the same time, the patterns painted somewhere on their body also shined radiantly.
Countless spears made from hardened sand protruded out from the ground like wave, whirlwind that hoisted up sand launched blades of wind and sand, sphere of light that perhaps was made from converged sunlight danced wildly, or oasis's water became whip that rampaged, all those were clearly the effects of their prayer.
Whether the soldiers or the art users, all of them possessed a definite passion.
While understanding that they couldn't be optimistic or anything about their situation by any means, even so they wouldn't draw back even by a step no matter what. Such definite passion that wouldn't even lose against the scorching desert was shown from their attitude.
「……This is amazing.」
Kouki's leaked out whisper slipped and vanish amidst the spirited roar of the soldiers.
In the eyes of Kouki who was observing from a spot where he wouldn't be a hindrance, there was a color that could be taken as envy or pain emerging.
Suddenly the figure of the queen who said to him that she wouldn't "run away" even when she was already at her limit crossed inside his mind. At the same time, the voice of a young but earnest princess who said "It's fine even if you abandon everything, so at least just my big sister" also resounded in his mind.
If a coexistence with the
was unacceptable, then there was no other path to save Moana except by Kouki's assistance.
Then, would he eradicate the
in that case?
Even though he didn't even know if the rejection of coexistence was really the consensus of all of them or not? In the first place, was someone like him who was burdened with deep mental damage just by killing one being could possibly do such thing? He could save Moana and others, wasn't such thinking itself was just his arrogance?
Then, should he escape while taking Moana with him just like Koone wished for?
Even though what gave hope of "perhaps" in this hopeless situation was his existence, yet he would abandon the people? Would he betray their hope, their expectation? Not to mention despite how such thing ran counter to Moana's wish? Even though it was a choice that might sacrifice the young Koone instead?
Then, would he take away only Moana and Koone, and also the people who were especially close to them?
How far the scope of that would reach? Only Spenser and others? Or else the servants that supported Moana in the palace too? Or perhaps all the people of the capital? Who would decide the size of the scope of the people that would be saved? How could someone like him could have the right to decide who would ride the Noah's ark……
Then, should he treat everything as never happened instead?
Ignored everything where he saw nothing, heard nothing, and knew nothing, and departed in a journey to search for the way to go home? Could he ask Moana and others to just think of him as someone nonexistent right from the beginning?
He wondered just what was right. He wondered what should he do to reach the best conclusion.
Aa, again, it felt like he was drowning inside water……
Furthermore, the drowning feeling wasn't like inside the forest spring where he was summoned, but like inside a swamp full of mud……
「Kouki-dono. What is your thought, abiut the training? If there is something that bothered you, then please give us a pointer without reservation.」
A voice suddenly called toward Kouki who was staring in a daze at the training while being stuck inside a crucible of dark thought like that.
When Kouki came back to his senses in surprise and moved his gaze, there was the figure of chief Donar right beside him without him noticing.
Kouki replied somewhat in fluster.
「N, no, the likes of me giving pointer is too……」
「You are being humble again. Kouki-dono is the hero-sama summoned by Foltina-sama. You don't need to feel even an ounce of reservation. I dare say that your advice might someday save their life.」
Kouki somehow felt gazes on him. When he directed his awareness there, several soldiers and art users were indirectly paying attention to the conversation between Donar and Kouki.
Their gazes weren't filled with anything like wariness of an outsider sticking their nose, but an expectation and curiosity toward the hero, hoping that perhaps they would be able to receive anything that could make them grow even just for a bit.
Yes, from them there was heavy feeling that was choking for the current Kouki.
While feeling conscious that he slightly leaked out strange breathing *hyuh*, Kouki took a breath, then replied with a wry smile.
「No, I really am unable to give any pointer or anything……. Rather, it's me who is affected by everyone's skill and zeal.」
「Oh, is that so! That is really something joyous to hear.」
Chief Donar smiled really happily hearing Kouki's words. The soldiers who seemed to be listening attentively were also vaguely showing pride from receiving the praise of the hero.
But, there, the head art user Linden who must be listening to the talk of chief Donar and Kouki asked a question with calm voice.
「Does the same opinion apply to us too?」
「Yes, of course. Or rather, in the first place I still don't really understand what blessing art is. Someone like me has no pointer or anything that I can say.」
Linden quietly narrowed his eyes toward Kouki whose wry smile deepened while answering that non-specialist like him was all the more unable to speak of anything about blessing art.
「I see, that's logical. However, I heard from my daughter that Kouki-san actually manipulated practical art for bat really skillfully. I assume that you have abundant experience of fighting, although the principle of our arts differ, but is there really nothing that you can perhaps ment about from that standpoint?」
From the eyes of Linden who was saying that while stroking his chin with one hand, a curiosity could be vaguely seen there. Perhaps he was simply interested for Kouki's advice, or rather at Kouki's impression and magic themselves.
「The blessing art is……a magic that seem to be extremely practical for bat. The blessing art that I had seen for real was only the art that manipulated wind and earth used by two royal guards, but the cooperation with the vanguard, the deployment speed, and the choice of art to match the situation, all of them made me went wide-eyed in surprise.」
「Hou. As a father, it's really make me happy that Lilin's skill is highly assessed so much like that.」
「Ahaha……. It was really amazing. However……that's right, if there is one thing that make me curious, it's about whether there is a blessing art that is specialized for defense or not?」
「Specialized for, defense?」
Linden went 'h~m' while stroking his chin with one hand. Perhaps it was his habit when he was thinking. He then opened his mouth.
「I think, it will be something like the stone wall that Neisan created……. Other than that, there are wall of squall or heat, and if the location is in this capital then the water of the oasis itself will bee barrier. But, the "defense specialization" that Kouki-san talked about isn't something like that isn't it?」
「Yes. Because in the end something like that is "something that can also be used as defense". For example, there is something like that among the magic I used, I also had used it in front of Lilin-san before──」
Kouki whispered his chanting and materialized a shining barrier midair. Right away, the training ground became noisy. Everyone temporarily stopped their training, or rather they were made to stop from focusing their stare at the shield of light.
Chief Donar and head art user Linden who saw the magic of another world for the first time opened their eyes wide altogether. But, the next instant they spoke 「Oo! This is!」 while scrambling to approach the barrier with great curiosity.
「Oo, it's not hot or cold! Even though this should be only light yet it's hard like this!」
「It's similar with blessing art of sunlight but……that art literally carry heat. But this is really only light……. Donar, please try to cut it a little.」
「Leave it to me.」
The sword of chief Donar that was swung halfheartedly was repelled back while making *gakin* sound. Just from that cheers of 「Ooo!」 were raised from the outsiders too this time.
「How about this then!?」
The soldier chief became a bit worked up. The head art user was also watching attentively with really excited look.
Chief Donar let out a slash that was sharper and heavier than before. The sword shined and drew a beautiful trail of sword slash in the air that could make someone instinctually be charmed. This time a small crack entered the Light Severance with a snap.
「Hou! Although it was done without reinforcement, I put about seventy percent of my strength into it. It's only cracked with that! What a marvelous barrier!」
「Yes, yes! It's extremely interesting! Just what kind of principle is behind it? The very light itself is possessing weight? No, however……」
The two middle-aged men were seriously excited. Even while feeling slightly creeped out against the soldier chief and head art user who were continuously approaching forcefully, Kouki answered with a troubled face.
「About the principle's detail, even I don't……. But, this is an art principle that is called magic, various phenomenon can be caused by using magic power, magic circle, and then chanting. The energy's property is different with blessing art, and the point where the very energy itself is materialized as art is different from blessing art, but I think the two's operation procedures are really similar.」
「H~m, really interesting. The very blessing power itself is used as protective wall or attack……. H~m, can that be replicated? H~m──」
Linden was thinking with a difficult expression like a researcher wracking his head in front of a difficult problem. On the other hand, chief Donar's really serious appearance was now looking like a child, staring at Kouki with sparkling gaze.
For some reason, recently the positivity level of middle-aged man and animal toward Kouki was raising up excessively.
While feeling a bad premonition for some reason, Kouki asked with his gaze 「What's the matter?」. Chief Donar then suggested immediately as though to say that he had been waiting for Kouki to ask.
「Kouki-dono. Let's do a mock battle!」
「Eh? What did you say?」
His heart that had no enthusiasm unconsciously caused a line like a deaf main character to appear. However, the chief Donar who seemed to have his soldier's soul lit up didn't pay any mind about that at all.
The feeling of wanting to see magic that was actually used practically in battle, and the curiosity toward Kouki's skill as swordsman that he heard from the story were ing out in his face. At the same time, 'Most thing could be understood by exchanging sword, exchanging sword is the quickest way' such feeling also showed through.
「……Ryutaro type exist in any world huh.」
「Hm? Did you say something?」
Kouki unconsciously whispered while recalling his best friend who boasted 'Anyway, I'll surely manage somehow if we exchange blows!'. Chief Donar tilted his head.
Kouki who wasn't motivated wracked his mind to somehow avoid doing mock battle. But, Linden who seemed to e back to reality from the sea of his thought before Kouki could think of anything then smilingly dealt an additional blow.
「Indeed, a mock battle will be the fastest way to have other people to know about Kouki-san better. Kouki-san, can I please ask you to do that?」
「Eh……yes……」
Even though he thought that this person was a researcher type, but unexpectedly head art user Linden was also in the active people faction. His words caused Kouki to unconsciously nod against his better judgment. The mini Kouki inside his heart yelled angrily 「You are swept by the flow, me!」, but it was already too late.
A spot was emptied right away while the audiences were clamoring.
His opponent of all thing was chief Donar and Linden at the same time.
「……Excuse me, the mock battle, is against the two of you?」
「Hahahah, don't mind it!」
「Fufufuh, please don't hold back!」
The opponents were the tops of each group that must be the strongest fighting force of Synclea kingdom. Furthermore, they had nice balance of a vanguard and rearguard.
There was no more doubt that these two middle-aged men were hobby friends with similar personality, but it seemed that it was also an undoubtable fact that they were considering the existence of Kouki as an opponent was at the level that ought to be faced by top class warriors.
Kouki spontaneously put his hand on his stomach. It felt like he was feeling throbbing pain. The surrounding was overflowing with expectation and curiosity, if he exposed something unsightly here, how much grief and disappointment would be created then……
(……Heavy……)
In addition, it was a battle against people. Although it was a mock battle, for Kouki who had only experienced murder this was something that felt even harder. Hesitation and fear quickly assaulted him, it took a desperate effort for him to suppress his trembling and hyperventilation.
「? Kouki-dono? Are you not feeling well?」
It seemed even though he was hiding it, but a veteran warrior could somehow sensed Kouki's bad condition. Chief Donar asked him with a worried expression.
For a moment Kouki thought to answer 「Exactly!」, wondering if it wasn't still too late for him to excuse himself from this mock battle.
(But……if I cannot even do mock battle, then I……. Don't run, don't run me.)
He shook his head. He scolded his heart. Kouki made a small smile and answered 「There is no problem」.
Chief Donar looked slightly dubious, but he accepted it for the moment and pulled out his sword. Linden took several steps back.
「Then, I'm ing you know?」
「Anytime.」
A sudden gust blew instantly. No, more accurately it wasn't wind. A pressure that felt like that attacked Kouki. It was without a doubt the pressure from Donar. It wasn't pressure that was tilting at the negative side like killing intent. If he had to say then perhaps he should call it a pure fighting spirit.
It was too stern, it was too striking. Against that pressure of fighting intent that was heightened until the utmost limit, Kouki gulped unconsciously.
The disorder of his breathing might be seen through.
When he noticed, the soldier chief was right in front of him. At the same time a silver flash that approached to split him vertically into two was reflected in the corner of his sight.
It wasn't a movement with speed like Ground Shrinker. The chief's first movement was too natural that Kouki's awareness couldn't judge that he was being approached.
「-!?」
Even while feeling shaken against that terrifying technique, Kouki's body reflexively moved. He pulled back his right foot and shifted half his body behind while activating Ground Shrinker without going against his center of gravity that was tilting slightly behind.
The sword passed before his eyes, and next he backstepped in high speed to evade the pursuing attack that leaped at him like a living thing.
But, there,
「──」
A prayer resounded. The ground below the retreating Kouki's left and right flowed and the sandy land opened a large mouth.
The earth was molded and a huge thing like a bear trap was materialized, it must be a blessing art for restraining the target. Even if for example Kouki could dodge it, it was created by moving the surrounding sand so the ground below crumbled and broke his balance.
It was a plain and small scale blessing art, but it was actually unpleasantly effective.
Perhaps having anticipated that, chief Donar charged forward. He understood Linden's intention perfectly. They were truly in harmony.
Although,
「──」
「Muh」
There wasn't really any problem if he cut it apart all together. The Jaw of Earth that was closing on him from left and right was bisected right into two by light element mid-level magic
that had its cutting power increased explosively.
Chief Donar who saw Kouki's holy sword that could even be said to be fantastically clad in light raised his voice spontaneously, but even then as expected from the soldier chief, he unleashed his attack without even the slightest pause or hesitation.
*gakin* A high pitched sound of clashing metals resounded. Kouki felt stunning impact spreading through his arm and the area around his eyes warped slightly.
It was a heavy attack. More than a mere physical strength.
The gaze of Kouki and chief Donar who was locking sword with each other met in very close range.
「……?」
Chief Donar knitted his eyebrows dubiously. But, that too was only for an instant.
「──」
What was produced right after that was twelve sand disks rotating in high seed. They were deployed to surround the taqrget and assaulted violently from every direction, at the same time chief Donar leaped back at the only path of escape that was behind him.
The encirclement of the sand disks was tight, it didn't look like it could be broken out from. It was clear to see that the back of the target would be attacked using the opening when they dealt against one disk.
And so, Kouki escaped to above.
「──」
Five layers of shining barrier materialized. One was used as foothold, and the others became floating shields around Kouki and blocked the attack of the sandstorm disks.
Considering that Kouki leaping up to the air was convenient, the other sandstorm disks attacked. It was clear that Kouki was thought to be unable to move midair.
Of course, Kouki used
to dodge that so there was no problem.
「Oo! Amazing!」
「He's flying!」
He wasn't "flying
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