As expected of you, Kanami. Oh no, you go by the na Christ now, dont you?
A voice ca from above my head. Just like with Tidas case, my attention to places above was lacking. That bad habit was quite pronounced, especially after I put all of my focus on a battle.
I was on high alert, my eyes glaring at her, when Lastiara jumped down from the roof of the tavern.
Its been a while. Have I kept you waiting?
She approached , her long golden hair flowing. She wore the sa outfit as the night she had assaulted a light outfit made of fine cloth.
With only one stark difference: a silver sword at her waist.
My eyes et Lastiaras.
Not really I cant say I waited for you at all.
I retorted dauntlessly, continuing to look directly into her deep, golden eyes.
I was a different man than I was on my first day there. I had grown accustod to how the world worked and acquired the abilities to fight it. I didnt feel as much pressure from her as I did before.
I focused on her, fully prepared for all hell to co loose.
Status
Na: Lastiara Whoseyards
HP: 670/689, MP: 312/315
Class: Hero
Level: 15
STR: 11.01, VIT: 10.56, DEX: 6.78, AGI: 7.89, WIS: 12.38, MAG: 8.78, APT: 4.00
Constitution: n/a
Innate Skills:
Ard Combat: 2.12
Magic Combat: 2.27
Swordsmanship: 2.02
Blood Arts: 5.00
Pseudo Gods Eye: 1.00
Holy Magic: 1.03
Acquired Skills:
Reading: 0.52
Body Principles: 1.00
Celestial Sword Noah
ATK: 7
Consumption Rate: -99%
Details about Lastiara that were unknown to before flowed into my mind.
Her level, her Skills, her weaponthey were all first-class.
However, it was still within the tolerable limits. Indeed, Lastiara had been ten tis stronger than when I was at level 1. However, with the way I had grown, I would be able to fight her pretty well.
How cold of you. I have always waited for this day, you know?
Cold, you say Are you not aware you just threw into trouble
But that much of hiccup was nothing to you, was it, Kanami?
H-hiccup?
Lastiara likened a sword duel with one of the strongest of humanity to a hiccup.
More importantly, your tone. Lets not be strangers. Were supposed to be lovers, after all.
Lastiara smiled, saying that there was no need to have a distance between us. Thats whats been established, she added, her smile brazen and imposing.
I grew warierthat self-centered deanor of hers had gotten thrashed around one too many tis.
Sure. I never wanted to be courteous to soone like you either.
Fufufu. Look how confident youve beco after your level has risen Ah, I suppose I should shift my tone as well. Such ostentatious mannerisms arent appropriate when Im talking to you, is that right, Kanami?
Ill make it clear: I will not play by your book. Ill no longer lose, even if you attack .
I wont attack you, no. I always treat others with virtue and goodwill, you know?
And thats how you got Radiant-san attached to you?
Quite useful, isnt she?
Lastiara spoke as if there really was nothing wrong.
There wasnt the slightest sign of distress in her. She seed to genuinely believe that the duel was no more than a hiccup.
My position in the tavern, the fundantal danger of dueling with swords, the impression the knights would have of She thought nothing of it, nothing.
Hell, if she is
If you truly perceive this as falsely accusing you of a cri you didnt commit, then you would have chosen to patiently explain your innocence, no? And yet, Kanami, you chose to accept the duel. This Celestial Knights lot is no more than a hiccup, not a threat for . At most, theyre convenient to test powers on, is what you thought, or am I wrong?
?!!
Those golden pupils. That Pseudo God Eye or whatever Skill must have seen through all of . At the very least, I was sure it read my thoughts to so extent. I felt like I had been dealing with people with eye-related Skills a lot lately.
It was hard to do anything with them. I missed Diahe was so pure and innocent.
Seeing that I didnt deny what she said, Lastiara continued to talk.
Exactly. You and Serra-chan are completely different. The density of the soul dwelling in her body is different from yours. A gap between levels is nothing to you. I wanted to teach you that, and I wanted to share this feeling with you. I, too, feel that she is soone convenient.
Lastiara spoke with her cheeks taut and her nostrils flaring. While her eyes, they were brilliant with madness.
Her tone beca more and more theatrical, revealing that she was intoxicated with herself.
Kanami and I, we both are at a higher stage in this world, much closer to the spotlight of this story. We are loved, we are gifted, and we are blessed by the world. We are chosen beings. Soon we will be alone, and we will only have each other by our sideSo, let us join hands. Thats all I am saying.
Lastiara finished her speech and extended her hand to . I spun my words carefully and resolutely so I wouldnt be swallowed by her madness.
Maybe you have a point, but thats so narrow-minded narrative you just said. So, in the end, what do you want?
H-huh? Thats a flat reaction. Im pretty sure my invitation was pretty thought-provoking.
When I gave my response without being carried away by her montum, Lastiara displayed her confusion.
See? Youre doing this half for the fun of it, after all. Thats why I only listened to half of what you said.
Nn~, right, I admit that half of the words I said I picked for my own taste But I want you to believe that the other half is fully serious. With all honesty, I am looking for soone to party up with. To sum it up, I want you to add to your Labyrinth exploration Will you please let be your companion?
Nope. Nuh-uh
I didnt even give it a thought; my mouth moved on its own.
Thats quick. Eeh, give it more thought. You replied too quickly.
Lastiara waved her hands in panic. On the other hand, I was calm when I dealt with her.
Isnt it obvious? Youre too big of a mystery for .
Being a mystery from the start is much more interesting, right? Like, the more ti we spend together, the more you reveal who I am, isnt that what youd call interesting?
No, Im not really chasing after what is interesting, you know
Eh? Then why do you delve into the Labyrinth?
Well its to go ho.
There was nobody in the vicinity. Nevertheless, I wouldnt be surprised if even the ground had ears, so I didnt specify where I would go ho to. Lastiara, however, should have known that there were two worlds, so the aning behind my words should have gotten through to her.
Eh, you want to go ho?
Her response implied she didnt expect my answer.
Obviously, I do. Thats all Ive ever thought about, this whole ti, ever since that day.
Huh Hmm. Then all the more the reason you are going to need .
I understood what she ant.
Indeed, the exploration would be much easier if I had Lastiaras help. On top of her talent which was on par with Dias, she had the abilities suited to be a vanguard. To be frank, I wanted to have her strength so badly that it was unreal.
After recognizing her value, my words to her naturally softened.
Youre right. Having you as a companion would be reassuring, but youre too much of an enigma. I cannot accept you unless I know that your interest is aligned with mine.
Interest, huh I think our interests are aligned, you know?
Tell yours then. What is your aim?
* * *
* * *
Lastiaras aim On my first day, she had healed my body, and then she had gone through the trouble of assailing in the middle of the night to forcibly level up. Then the Celestial Knights hunted because of her, and she had even made duel a knight nad Radiant, basically selling off to her.
Unless I knew the reason behind her actions, I would forever perceive Lastiara as an enemy.
Perhaps she could sense my determination not to back down; Lastiara's expression changed drastically before she dropped a few words.
My aim is only one thing: I want to have it an Adventure.
Her eyes were, as ever, straightforward and mad. However, unlike before, there was human longing dwelling in them.
You want to have an adventure?
Yep, a heart-throbbing adventure. If possible, one where I can have fun exploring the Labyrinth with these things called companions. Ah, while I do say companions, I wont accept anyone who treats like I am special, okay? Also, I cant accept anyone who cant get up to my standard either. Those two points are important.
Right, and I fit both criteria
Ive always been bored, you see I had always been in my cage since I was born. No stimulation, nothing. It was a prison where I had to be given everything by hand, so I envied those heroic tales, those adventure stories, and most importantly, the people in them. I was jealous of the lives that could be lost or gained depending on the strength of ones willI wanted this so bad it hurt .
Lastiara spoke with unstoppable emotion. Her words were clear and straightforward. Her voice sounded like a cry from the hearta cry of childish and naive envy.
It was no more different than a child throwing a tantrum, and I couldnt help but feel that there was nothing false about her sentint, and she also sounded pretty similar to a certain soone.
I understand what you ant, more or less.
If you do, then I want you to take responsibility. I used to be able to curb this feeling before I t a delightful fellow like you, you know? And yet, not only do you have the Skill Foreigner, you were riddled in wounds, you were one foot in the grave, you were all alone in the Labyrinth, and you were at just level 1My envy of you made lose control of myself. Just what protagonist of what kind of story are you? What kind of adventure will unfold before you? All these questions haunted . So please, I want you to include in your story. Im begging you, please
What started as a request ended up being a plea. It was as if her standing was never consistent. It was obvious that Lastiaras emotions shifted with every second that passed.
The more we talked, the more it was revealed how unstable Lastiaras character was. So terribly unstable. She was no more steady than a card tower that could collapse at any mont.
A very immature mind unbalanced to her ripe body and grown level Should I guess it from her story, it was probably the typical girl locked in a box syndro. The gap between her ntality and her actual strength gave the impression of a child crushing ants under her boots for fun.
Haah, at least now I know very well how childish you are.
I am serious, Kanami. I will help you in your aim to go ho, so I want you to help achieve my dream too. Please.
Hearing my frank opinion of her, Lastiara was indignant and continued to bargain with a serious look on her face. Appearance-wise, I could confirm that she was also of age.
It was clear that Lastiara remained a danger to . However, as mysterious as she was, I had many uses for her in my mind. The bargain itself wasnt bad. If I could control Lastiaras childishness, then there was no one better than her, and that was a fact.
On the contrary, the disadvantages of letting her go would be much greater. If I let her to her own devices, there was always the possibility of her leaking information about which ant it was only appropriate to keep her where my eye could see her.
In that small window of ti, I quickly weighed the pros and the cons before I slowly chose my words.
Youre right. A collaborator is always welco. I can put you in my party on a probation
Yay, thank you!
Before I could finish my words, Lastiara joyfully shook my hand. While I let her do whatever she pleased with it, I laid out the conditions for her to follow my party.
But no funny business, or else you will talk to my fist. I will make you unable to move and kick you out of the party right away.
The mont I judged I couldnt control her, I would silence her. That was the one thing I had to make up my mind to do. However, I wasnt sure how much I could do to keep her mouth shut.
Thats fine, thats fine. All I want is to play in the Labyrinth with you, Kanami. I wont do anything funny.
Also, clear up the misunderstanding you made with Radiant-san and the other knights.
Eh? Hmm, lets keep that one brewing. I think if we establish our relationship as lovers, they'll be less likely to send pursuers after us. Those people deify the concept of love, after all, so its more convenient this way.
Deify the concept of love? True, I also thought that love was precious and noble. However, I also thought that such a way of thinking simply didnt suit this world.
thinking brings nowhere. That was not what was important. The pursuers that was what was important.
Hold on, so you and the pursuers are already a set?
But its get, and it cos with sparring partners too! Wait, Kanami, Im not so discount sales, you know?!
They were going to keep coming, it seed. She was right; at my level, opponents at the caliber of Celestial Knights could only be regarded as sparring partners.
I felt like I was being taken for a ride by Lastiara, but well, I had to exhaust all options. If push ca to shove, I wouldnt mind throwing everything behind .
Above all else, it was already proven that dueling with a knight was a real learning experience. They were neither far too weak nor far too strong and yet they possessed a lot of expertise. We would be protected by rules, so there would be no killing. I had chosen to have a short duel in my fight against Radiant-san, but perhaps I could take my ti observing my opponents arts when the ti ca.
Haa whatever
There! You nodded! You definitely nodded! Dont say you didnt later, okay!!
Seeing that I vaguely accepted her, Lastiara took the opportunity to grasp my hand tightly and wave it around.
Lastiara Whoseyards has Joined Your Party
Party Leader is Kanami Aikawa
And there ca the Display indicating that Lastiara had joined my party. I had been using the party system for a while, but it seed like the conversation we just had fulfilled the conditions for her to join my party.
I wouldnt know the detailed conditions until I tried it out, but for the mont, it seed like it was enough if both of us vocally agreed that she would join.
There were then four people in my party.
I gained two more mbers in just two. Perhaps having more wasnt necessarily a bad thing, so that was okay Maybe
Now, let us go to your base of operation, Kanami. Oh man, I cant wait to start the adventure tomorrow.
Wait, hold on, you want to go to my house right now?
I do why?
Lastiara responded as if it was the most obvious thing, with a smile to boot. That was one damned feminine smile if I ever saw one. It wasnt androgynous like Dias, nor was it childishly innocent like Marias. It was of a girl of my own age, about the sa height as , no less. I couldnt possibly be conscious of it.
W-wait a second! Let think!
I panicked and tried to keep my emotions under control.
Lastiara wanted to make my house our base of operations. I had no idea how other people of the sa party stayed with each other in this world. Was it common for all mbers to share the sa roof to sleep under? It made sense if it was so novice explorer with no money to spare. Saving money was essential. With companions, helping each other was pretty self-explanatorybut if she could afford it, wouldnt it be natural for her to stay in other places instead?
I an, I did say that I would make her my companion, but I wanted to keep her away as much as possible in my downti. She wasnt soone weak like Maria was.
Not yet, Kanami?
I was just taken aback a bit But can you not stay at my house? I dont know how relationships work in this world, but in my world, its embarrassing for boys and girls of age to sleep under the sa roof. Why dont we sleep in different places? You have the money, dont you?
Well, I dont know how this world and your world works, Kanami, but in the books I read, companions always sleep under the sa roof, you know? I think its more fun that way, and its not like my money is infinite. A copper saved is a copper earnedthats what I think.
Lastiara didnt seem to know the common sense of an adventurer either. However, she seed to have learned so things from the books she read. If that was how adventurers do it in the tales of this world, then that was probably how the adventurers of this ti did it too.
A copper saved is a copper earned. The very sa monetary sense I had.
Is is that so Thats how it works, then?
She had assailed in my sleep before, but she hadnt taken my life. I wouldnt have to worry about being killed by her in my sleep then, probably.
If that was the case, then it should be okay to lend her a place to sleep.
The rest was a matter of my embarrassnt. The main problem was I would be in the proximity of a beautiful girl nad Lastiara for many hours a day. As a man, sure, that brought joy, but it was also the truth that such feelings were useless for right then.
Is it really sothing to worry about? Cant you just take it more casually?
Lastiara interjected, unable to understand why I kept agonizing over it.
fine. Just follow . Ive got a lot of empty rooms.
Eh, rooms? Its not an inn?
No, its a house. I just bought it yesterday.
Huh, thats lucky for . Although, I was looking forward to so rundown inn like in those adventure tales. Like the one I found you in before, Kanami.
By before, you an my first day? Thats the most expensive inn around, you know?
Hou. You an there are even more cramped and rundown places than that one? That sounds fun.
Lastiara seed to have a yearning for a life of poverty. If people who were truly suffering from poverty heard what she said, they would surely be outraged. That kind of insensitivity must have been one of her shortcomings.
We concluded our conversation and started our walk to go ho.
Aah, and lastly, stop calling by the na Kanami. I go by the na Christ Eurasia in this world.
Hmm. I got it, Christ. By the way, whats the aning of that na?
Its the na of the most famous teaching and the na of a continent in my world. It will surely trigger anyone who recognizes it.
I see, so its a convenient na to look for soone from your hotown. Fufu, coincidences can be funny. My na is also the sa.
Now that you say it, your surna is the na of the country of Whoseyards. Does that an you have the blood of royalty? Id rather not be with you if you do.
Hmm. While thats true, having the na of ones country isnt that rare for people of the Allied Nations. After all, there are over a hundred powerful people and nobles who adopted the na of King. The Allied Nations have a lot of kings who run the governnt. Its a bit of a remnant of the past when the Allied Nations took in a heck of a lot of small countries like crazy.
Huh I dont really know about this world, so it sounds interesting to .
The bellwether of the Great Nation Whoseyards at the ti was a fool beyond helpits amusing. His story was one of my favorite epic tales. After stealing the whole country, he didnt kill the king; he extolled him instead. Because of that, he kept failing ti and ti again, but this fool never gave up. He fought on for decades on end, hoping only to make the people smile. And then
Lastiara seed to be enjoying herself a lot when she began to talk about heroic tales. We walked ho as I listened to her storytelling.
She wasnt tired of talking, even on her feet. Learning more about the history of this world didnt sound like a bad idea, so I continued to listen to her story for a long ti.
And then, I thought about what to do once we reached ho. After all, Maria was waiting back at ho.
While indeed, the party beca a party of four; Dia, Maria, and Lastiarathey all thought that they were in a party of two with . It got a little too complicated, so I imdiately halted all thoughts about how to explain it to each of them.
They would probably end up lightly introducing themselves to each other anyway. It was no big deal. Thus, without any hesitation, I walked to the house where Maria was waiting for .
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