Chapter 28: Resolution and Growth

Chapter 28: Resolution and Growth

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It’s been one hour since we parted with the beginner party.

「Double?Slash!」

「GYAGAGE!」

「ShuGYOGAー!」

〈Fran's Level has risen to 9〉

「It rose.」

『Yes, yes. We’ll confirm the changes later.』

We’re currently at war with a crowd of Goblins.

I didn’t particularly intend to find their den, but we eventually became surrounded by Goblins after hunting them for EXP for a while. There’re ~100, probably. Furthermore, multiple Highbreeds are leading them.

『Middle?Heal!』

「Saved.」

『Here they come again!』

*hyuh hyuh hyuhyun hyun!*

A myriad of stones are thrown towards Fran through the gaps of trees. It seems that it’s not just stones, however. Wood chips and such are mixed within.

The Goblins in the surroundings are all throwing such things in unison. Because the attack is from all sides, avoiding would be impossible.

「Teacher!」

『Aah, leave it to me. Fire?Wall!』

A dome of fire covers Fran’s body, protecting her from the projectiles. But their attack wasn’t over.

『They’re approaching!』

「Nn!」

Fran takes a stance with me in her hands, and when the wall of flames disappears —

「GORURAA!」

「GyoGYOga!」

「GiyARUー!」

Ten Goblins attack Fran simultaneously. Two of them jumped too early, and crashed into Fire?Wall, causing them to be engulfed in flames and writhe along the ground.

「Heavy?Slash!」

We pass through the crowd exchange blows with the Goblins. Doing so, 5 Goblins were immediately defeated.

「Gyaha!」

「KU......」

「Teacher: guardian.」

Amazing. Unlike living snugly in Japan, readiness is different from being overprotected here.

Alright. I’ll also show my resolve. I’m prepared! No more hesitating! Let’s abandon my easy-going protective spirit! Even without my protection, she isn’t a weak kitten. She’s a fierce child — a predator sharpening her fangs!

『Leave the recovery to me!』

「Nn! I’m going!」

With that, Fran sprints. She plunges into the crowd of Goblins and swinging me to her heart’s content. And as for me, I put my heart and soul into supporting Fran as she accumulates combat experience.

In that way I noticed a change in Fran.

「Ha! Rah!」

Haven’t her movements become a bit amazing? Even though she isn’t using Sword Techniques, her thrusts almost match the speed of Triple?Thrust. Even now, with Double?Slash — no, its movement exceeds Double?Slash.

I had thought Fran was utilizing Sword Arts, but...... That doesn’t seem to be the case.

No, wouldn’t that be natural? Suddenly getting Sword Arts at a high level one day, it would be impossible for her body and mind to so easily adapt. So far we had been finishing off small fries and concluding out battles in an instant, so it wasn’t a problem... But now, fighting to her limit, her Skills and body have begun working in unison.

Until now only the sharpness of my blade could be admired, but that was only then. Now, things are different. Sword and Body are one. As the number of Goblins increase, the accuracy and ferocity of her attacks does as well.

◇◆◇

Two hours have passed.

「Ha...... Ha......」

『Fran, you’ve done well!』

「Nn......!」

The corpses, blood, and bodily fluids of the Goblins are littered across the ground; it was a disastrous scene that seemed to have come straight from hell. At the center, using me as a cane, Fran barely stands. There’re no wounds thanks to Recovery Magic, but her endurance has been stretched to the limit, as can be seen as her shoulders raise and fall intensely.

She’s covered in blood, dust, and mud to the extent that not a single surface of her skin is clean. Even the newly bought protective gear was dyed dark red. The damage of the armor in particular is quite terrible, so repairs will be necessary.

If I had attacked more proactively we probably wouldn’t have had such a hard fight... But it was necessary for it to be difficult.

Only 6 levels were gained, but the growth that Fran has shown exceeds such things. During the middle of the fight Goblins were defeated exclusively through smashing their Magic Stones — in other words, during the melee her skill had reached the point where I would pierce into the exact area of the opponents’ vital areas.

『-Stamina?Heal』

I cast a Magic used to recover one’s endurance, but mental fatigue won’t be cured through it.

『Rest a bit. I’ll remain vigilant of the surroundings.』

While I do so, I suppose I could secure any usable materials an absorb any remaining Magic Stones...

「I’ll help.」

『Oi. Are you really alright?』

「Finish quickly: leave quickly.」

『I see...... The King didn’t show up in the end, so we should finish before reinforcements come, then.』

「Nn.」

『Alright. Take care of their equipment and horns. As for me, I’ll focus on the absorption of Magic Stones.』

「Understood.」