Today, Master was scheduled to visit the wealthy merchant Gouki-san in Amatsukuni. Normally I would of course accompany Master, but……
「……Wendy, you didn’t have to come along.」
「I’m worried. Both about Master and about myself…… You always come back completely exhausted, don’t you?」
「Hmm. Was this Master’s idea?」
「Idea…… No, it isn’t like that. I simply received permission. We have known each other for quite a long time, so it is only natural that I would be concerned, isn’t it?」
I have known Shiro longer than anyone else, since we first met at Yasis-sama’s trading house.
At first, she was quite the handful, but because she was clever she quickly settled down…… Well, she still slipped out often, but compared to before she had become much calmer.
I was the one who took care of her.
I am confident that within that trading house I was the one she was most attached to, and even after she became Master’s, we have always been together. So, it is only right that I worry about her.
「Hmm. Well, whatever. But it might be boring for you.」
「That is fine. I brought plenty of lunch with me.」
「Hmm! That makes me happy. Very happy.」
She really does show the cutest face only when it comes to food.
It makes me glad that she enjoys it so much, but I wish she would listen to what I say a little more often on a daily basis……
Also, she looks very happy when she is sleeping.
Seeing her curled up on Master’s stomach does make me a little envious, but both of them wear such gentle, loving expressions while they sleep that simply laying a blanket over them brings me a small happiness of my own.
-0-
「Good morning, Shiro-sama. Wendy-sama has come with you today as well.」
「Hmm. She said she came to observe.」
「I’m sorry for the intrusion. Thank you for having me.」
「Not at all. I believe fox shrine maiden-sama will be pleased as well. Lately she seems to be enjoying herself more than usual whenever Shiro-sama visits.」
It was Tachibana-san, the attendant.
She is quite bold, always leaving her armpits wide open like that.
Every time the gap opened, Master’s gaze would sharpen, but perhaps more exposure is indeed better?
Or is it that alluring slit that is truly captivating……?
To return to the topic, although only Shiro was told she could come to play, it seems there is no problem with me coming along as well.
This is most likely thanks to Master’s virtue and good character.
「Ah, that’s right. I heard that you always receive lunch here, so today I prepared some……」
「Understood. Then, shall we not prepare anything from our side today?」
「Hmm. If there is any, I will eat it.」
「Shiro…… That is not proper. You should show a little restraint.」
「It is fine. Understood. I will adjust the portions accordingly.」
With that, Tachibana-san began walking ahead to guide us to the room where Kukuri-sama was waiting, so we followed.
「Honestly, Shiro? You must not cause too much trouble.」
「Hmm. My stomach is endlessly empty, so it cannot be helped. I will eat in between.」
Treating it like snacks, huh……
Still, it is enviable that she can eat so much without gaining any weight……
I exercise too, you know? But no matter what I do, I just cannot seem to lose the meat……
Aina-san has the same chest size as me, yet her waist and bottom are so firm and toned. It is unfair……
The ingredients here are all of the highest quality, with plenty of meat, and everything is so delicious. That must be the problem……
If I do not want to disappoint Master, I will have to start running in the training room again……
「Then, I will wait here. Please call me if you need anything.」
「Yes. Thank you very much.」
So Tachibana-san will not be entering the room.
Does that mean Shiro and Kukuri-sama usually play alone together?
If it is as she says, then they are simply two small children playing with each other……
「Ah, welcome, Shiro-san. And……」
「Please excuse me, Kukuri-sama. Allow me to introduce myself again. My name is Wendy Tiercrown.」
「Welcome, Wendy-san. Will you be joining us today as well?」
「No. I am only here to observe. Combat is a little……」
「I see…… Wendy-san…… Um, excuse me, but are you a Greater Fairy……?」
Being called a Greater Fairy caught me slightly off guard, but the other party is the guardian deity of Amatsukuni, said to carry the power of a god.
In that case, it is only natural that she can tell with a single glance.
「……Yes. As you say, I am the Greater Fairy of Water.」
「As I thought. This is from Nanaka of the seventh tail’s memory, but it seems she has seen you before. If I recall correctly…… there is a shrine in the city of Laquamare in the northeastern part of the empire, is there not?」
Laquamare…….
The name brings back memories.
I wonder how it is doing now.
「Hmm? A shrine?」
「Yes. Each Greater Fairy has their own shrine that they govern.」
「Ooh…… That sounds important. Is it all right for a Greater Fairy not to be there?」
「It is not that we must be there at all times…… Besides, I have left the majority of my power inside the orb.」
「Hmm…… So that is why even though you are a Greater Fairy, you could only use lower-grade magic, and your big spells had strange output?」
「……Exactly.」
I can use lower-grade magic without any issues, but when it comes to large-scale power like during the fight with Reagaia-san, my magic control does not work properly. The spells become unstable. Sometimes I cannot use them at all, or they fail to produce the desired effect.
Even when Hayato-san kidnapped me, if I had been able to use my full power, I could have handled it without trouble……
「I see. Wendy was weird, so that makes sense.」
「Calling me weird is a bit harsh……」
「Hmmー It is like having a luxurious big plate with only a tiny bit of food on it.」
「What kind of comparison is that…… Shiro really loves food, doesn’t she?」
「Hmm. I love it.」
Indeed…… I do have the formulas and vessel needed for greater magic, but I simply lack the matching amount of magic power. So she is not wrong…… but the comparison still ends up being about food.
「Now then, shall we begin? Wendy-sama, please stay near the edge by the entrance.」
「Hmm. It is dangerous, so move back.」
「Understood.」
「You are not allowed to stop it, okay?」
「I would prefer that you do not do anything that needs stopping……」
Even so, she probably will not stop.
I understand. I know what she is doing and who she is doing it for……
「Then…… today we will start at level 5.」
「Hmm.」
The moment the two of them took their stances, a brief silence fell.
In the breath-stopping tension, the only sound was the soft exhale of breath. At the same instant, both of them vanished.
「!」
「Too slow.」
「Still!」
By the time I could see them again, Kukuri-sama had already thrust her fist right in front of Shiro’s face.
Shiro’s knife had not made it in time by a hair’s breadth. Even though it was only a stopped blow, Shiro could not hide her surprise. Immediately the two disappeared again and began exchanging blows at terrifying speed.
「Very good…… Very good indeed. Has your body warmed up?」
「Hmm. My eyes have adjusted too. The review was enough.」
「Then let us raise the level. However, always stay conscious of maintaining your perfect condition, all right? If the opponent can kill with a single strike, the moment you lose the initiative, it is already over.」
「……Nn.」
When Kukuri-sama announced that they would raise the level, she moved even faster than before and vanished from sight. The next instant, she had slipped behind Shiro and thrust her fist toward the back of Shiro’s head.
Shiro, without even looking, crouched down and dodged it.
「That was good. You saw it, didn’t you?」
「Of course.」
So it was not purely instinct……
In other words, she is moving with full awareness.
She is training her reason rather than relying on wild instinct, sharpening her dynamic vision and accelerating her thought process.
She is learning movements that allow her to control her opponent more efficiently in order to reach greater heights.
This must be the pinnacle of martial arts.
「Next, we will stop moving and exchange blows directly.」
「Hmm.」
The moment their voices were heard, the two figures that had been constantly circling and almost impossible to follow became clearly visible.
They fought at a distance where fists and knives could reach each other. Even if the movements were too fast to see clearly, one could tell what they were doing.
They parried, deflected, and evaded each other’s hands while launching attacks.
Although Shiro had the advantage of longer reach thanks to her knives, none of her strikes landed on Kukuri-sama.
Kukuri-sama maintained a cool and composed expression the entire time, while in contrast Shiro’s face showed clear signs of impatience.
I cheered for her in my heart, but it seemed the match had already been decided……
Kukuri-sama stopped her fist perfectly right in front of Shiro’s eyes.
Both of Shiro’s knives remained lowered. She simply had not been able to react in time.
「……Toward the end, your impatience made your attacks a little reckless. That is no good, you know? You must always stay calm. If you do not disturb the opponent’s breathing first, it will become a fatal flaw.」
「Haa…… Nn.」
「However, your movements were very good. You have become far stronger than you were just a few days ago. In fact, there were a couple of moments earlier that were slightly dangerous.」
「Hmm. That is good.」
「At this rate…… once you use Cloak of Black Shadow, you should be able to fight quite well.」
「Hmm.」
Come to think of it, Shiro has not used Cloak of Black Shadow at all……
Yet her speed just now felt almost like when she used Black Weasel before……
「We will continue to raise your base strength. The best way to strengthen your skills is to strengthen your foundation first.」
「Hmm. I know.」
「Then let us raise the level further. Next…… I will actually hit you. I will pull my arm back right before contact, so the strikes will not hurt too much, but there will still be impact. If you let your guard down, it will be dangerous.」
「Hmm.」
So they raised the level again…… Does that mean it is now level 7?
She could barely handle level 6 just now, yet they are already moving on…… Quite the Spartan training……
「Then…… after you experience level 7, we will return to level 6. Today, please focus on mastering level 6. However, I believe you may even be able to reach level 7 by the end of today.」
「Hmm. I will do my best.」
「Then…… here I come.」
Kukuri-sama’s figure suddenly vanished like smoke.
The next instant, she unleashed an invisible fist right at the tip of Shiro’s nose. The moment it connected, Shiro was sent flying backward as if the very space rejected her presence.
「!」
「That was the first strike…… Do not let the pain and impact make your body stiffen. Learn to move with firm will and remain unshaken. Consider even a single instant of hesitation as giving your opponent ten opportunities. Well, the best solution is still not getting hit at all.」
「Shiro……」
「Uuu…… sniff. Nn……」
「Next…… I will press the attack.」
It looks like blood is coming from her nose, but the actual damage does not seem too severe……
However, just as Kukuri-sama had warned, Shiro was being blown away again and again, right, left, up, down, in a relentless barrage. The sight unfolding before my eyes was almost too painful to watch……
Even so……
「……Nn. Fuu…… fuu……」
No one could stop Shiro as she rose to her feet once more, her eyes burning with fighting spirit……
I will not ask why she pushes herself this far.
Because I already understand exactly what she is fighting for.
And Shiro is not simply taking the beating.
Little by little, her expression regains its calm, and although it is only slight, she is beginning to dodge some of the attacks.
「Very good. Excellent. You have grown accustomed to this speed in no time at all. Wonderful. In that case, let us confirm your progress at level 6.」
「Hmm!」
Shiro…… is trying to become stronger for Master’s sake, isn’t she?
So that she can respond to any situation, no matter what happens……
It is surely because I was kidnapped and caused Master so much pain……
Because I am weak, I am forcing Shiro to push herself like this……
She would probably say it is for her own sake.
That protecting Master, both in heart and body, is something she does for herself……
Because Master’s everything is also Shiro’s everything.
Of course, I feel the same way……
……If that is the case, then I cannot stay as I am now either.
It seems I will need to make a request to Master in the near future.
「……Your movements are slowing down. Shall we take a break?」
「Hmm. Haaaa…… I’m hungry……」
「Good work, Shiro. You must be really tired……」
Shiro is sweating far more than she usually shows, and she is leaning against the wall to rest, so she truly must be exhausted.
I wipe her body so the sweat does not cool her down, and apply potions to the injured areas to heal them.
「……You are pushing yourself quite hard.」
「Hmm. But I am definitely getting stronger.」
「That…… I can tell just by watching……」
When she fights with tension almost like real combat, it is only natural that she becomes far more exhausted than usual……
She may grow much stronger because of it, but…… I am sure Master would tell her not to overdo it.
「……It’s fine. Wendy, Master, and everyone’s happiness. Shiro will protect them all.」
「Shiro……」
She must have noticed the worry on my face……
She really is a kind and strong child……
「……I am counting on you.」
「Hmm!」
「But…… I have no intention of placing the burden on Shiro alone.」
「Hmm?」
「Please let me protect you, Master, and everyone as well.」
「With the power of food?」
「Why would you say that…… Honestly.」
I too…… must face myself properly.
I will go to Laquamare…… and regain my power.
The protection over Laquamare should have ended quite some time ago, so there should be no problem.
However…… the one thing that scares me is the possibility that regaining my power might also bring back the parts of my memory that are missing.
I have no certainty. But if this is some kind of curse or seal, then once I regain my power, there should be nothing I cannot overcome.
Why was I in Yasis-sama’s trading house……?
Why did I remain there even though I had not formed a slave contract? What exactly happened……?
The thought of learning the truth frightens me a little, but I will gather my courage.
Because I also…… want to protect this happiness together with you.
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