「Noie.」
「……Yes.」
In a movement that felt almost like teleportation, she appeared right in front of me.
I gently took her left hand and led her to one of the small dragons lying crumpled on the sand.
I raised my hand over a relatively intact small dragon and used the blessing.
As always, I couldn’t see any exact numbers for the amount or distribution… so a light wave of dizziness hit me as it drained a moderate amount of my stamina.
「……Noie.」
「Yes.」
「Throw this with all your strength… and then handle the rest, please.」
「Yes.」
She hoisted the lightly blessed small dragon onto her right shoulder. With a casual flick of her left hand, now infused with the blessing, she gave a little wave, then walked across the sand with strangely cheerful steps. She built up a short run-up and hurled the small dragon.
It flew not in a gentle arc but in a straight, vicious line. The small dragon slammed into the large one and exploded into fragments.
This was absolutely not footage suitable for children.
The kind that would flood the station with complaint calls after airing.
The large dragon, now splattered unevenly with the small one’s bodily fluids and blood, charged straight toward Noie without a moment’s hesitation.
「Argusta-sama～」
「Hmm?」
「Isn’t this place kind of dangerous?」
「Ahaha. You’re so silly～」
「Huh?」
「Actually, this spot is the safest one.」
I placed my full and absolute trust in her. From the bottom of my heart, I swore to believe in Noie.
That’s why I would never do something as cowardly as sensing danger and running away.
I set aside Lutte, who had come rushing over in a panic, and reached for the snacks hanging at her waist.
「Where does that confidence come from?」
「I’m just hungry.」
「……Are you really sure this is okay?!」
The charging dragon was met head-on by the girl Noie.
Of course, she didn’t possess monstrous strength like that giant woman from the Empire. It was simply that her left arm was invincible right now.
With masterful control of that left arm, Noie rained blows on the large dragon.
The overwhelmingly massive creature was the one being overwhelmingly overpowered.
「Is the captain… really human?」
「If you speak badly about my wife, you’ll regret it later.」
「……But after seeing that…」
Well, I understand how you feel. Size-wise, it doesn’t seem quite right.
「If she hadn’t been made five years younger, maybe there wouldn’t have been a problem.」
「……The fact that thought even crossed your mind, Argusta-sama… maybe you really were destined to marry the captain.」
Don’t praise me like that. When we get back to the capital, I’m going to treat you to an all-you-can-eat session at a fancy sweets shop, you know?
「But you know…」
「Yes?」
「Noie really is an ordinary human being. Sure, she can punch a large dragon flying and dominate it like that, but that’s only because she traded an unimaginable amount of pain, more than any normal person could endure in a lifetime, for that strength. Lutte, if you were willing to pay the constant price of having your body torn apart by agony, you could do something like that too.」
「……」
She swallowed hard, the word 「impossible」 written clearly across her face.
Perhaps anyone could fight like Noie if they truly wanted to. The only thing stopping them is the price they would have to pay.
I couldn’t do it either. I could never fight that way.
I stared at my clenched right fist.
I can’t fight like that… but if I used the blessing, I could probably come close.
Still, I won’t. It would be the same as stealing something precious from Noie.
She taught me herself.
That she can use the powers of the companions who were in that “facility” with her.
That she is using those powers on me.
It might just be my selfish assumption, but Noie is so honest that her feelings show in everything she does.
Right now there is no ahoge on her head… but if there were, it would surely be bouncing and trembling with joy.
「Noie looks happy.」
「……To be able to say that while watching this, Argusta-sama really is something else.」
Is that so? Sure, Noie’s left fist is piercing straight through the dragon’s thick hide like it’s nothing.
「Well then. Looks like it’s almost over. Go call Konsuro-san.」
「Yes.」
I watched her dash off with quick steps, then started walking toward Noie.
She noticed me approaching and ran over, throwing herself straight into my arms.
「No.」
「Hm?」
「Still moving.」
「I know. That’s why, Noie…」
I gently peeled her arms away and took both her hands in mine.
Will this be enough? …There really is nothing more dangerous than an unfamiliar blessing.
My vision blacked out completely. I nearly collapsed.
If Noie hadn’t caught me, I would have fallen flat.
Leaning on her support, I sat down on the sand and left the cleanup entirely to her.
「What should I do?」
「I heard crushing the head is enough.」
「Understood.」
Two heavy thuds shook the ground. Then Noie came running back and forcefully shoved her knees under my head.
A rather aggressive lap pillow, but her kindness made me happy, so I let myself indulge.
「Arg-sama.」
「Hm?」
「Go home now?」
「……」
The Muscle Prince had said, 「Finish up and come straight back.」.
But that would mean forcing Noie onto another ship journey.
What a cruel order to give a wife who just finished slaying a dragon!
「I’m tired already… so let’s soak in the hot spring, eat until we’re stuffed, sleep, and then head home.」
「……Yes.」
Noie reached out and stroked my face.
Is she expressing her happiness like this?
「Hey, Noie.」
「Yes.」
「……thanks for your hard work.」
「………Yes.」
She tilted her head slightly, but at least she gave a reply.
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