Amatsukuni Castle Keep.
The top floor, 『Kitsune-dono』.
From the Kitsune-dono, which usually gives off a solemn and sacred atmosphere, the sounds of combat have been echoing down to the lower floors quite frequently lately.
The people working in the castle were surprised at first, but now they have naturally come to accept these sounds that continue day after day.
「……Today the sounds are even louder than usual. Oh, I need to give instructions for lunch soon. Today…… perhaps we should prepare a little more than usual.」
I serve as attendant to Kukuri-sama, the fox-shrine-maiden and guardian deity of Amatsukuni, but it seems I have become a fan of that small white girl who fights with my lord.
In fact, everyone working in the castle has probably become her fan.
「「「Tachibana-sama!」」」
When I enter the kitchen, everyone straightens their backs and lines up, but I raise my hand to tell them there is no need to be so formal.
……I am not that important, but for some reason they often react this way, as if they feel pressured.
Do I look that scary?
「It is almost time to prepare lunch.」
「「「Yes! Understood!」」」
「Today as well…… the fox-shrine-maiden-sama will likely eat quite a lot, so please prepare a large amount.」
「Oh…… Is that so? Then my skills will be put to the test. Lately she has been eating much more, so I feel even greater pride and joy in this work.」
「That is a good trend, but since you are the fox-shrine-maiden-sama’s cook, you should have held that pride strongly from the very beginning.」
「Of course. However, as a cook, one cannot help but feel joy when the food one has prepared is eaten in large quantities.」
The cooks nod in agreement.
The fox-shrine-maiden-sama has a small appetite, so I can understand the feeling, but your work is also special, so please do not forget that……
Well, feeling more motivated and rediscovering pride and joy in the work is a good thing……
When I see how happy the fox-shrine-maiden-sama looks, I too feel even greater pride and joy in my own duties.
For some reason, it also feels like she has been talking with me more often lately.
……This change was surely brought about by Shiro-san as well.
「……Then, please take care of lunch. Once it is ready, bring it to the fox-shrine-maiden-sama.」
「「「Yes! Leave it to us!」」」
……It really is a good trend.
Just seeing them cook with such energy makes me think so, and even when I taste-test, the flavor has clearly improved.
※
I came to Amatsukuni again today after being sent off by lord.
Lately I have been coming here almost every day to play with Kukuri.
Wendy said it would be a bother if I visited too often, but since Kukuri says it is fine, then it is fine.
Shakoujirei* or whatever, Shiro is a child so I do not understand.
TN: It’s polite lip service. In Japanese culture, this refers to things people say just to be polite or to keep the peace, even if they don’t 100% mean it.
「……It seems we can end this level soon.」
「Hmm. I’m used to it now. Next!」
Kukuri’s fists fly at high speed, each strike heavy.
If I cannot dodge them, even blocking sends my body flying all the way to the wall. These heavy blows come raining down irregularly like a storm.
But at this speed, I can handle them even while talking.
I do not miss the small openings Kukuri deliberately creates, switch from defense to offense, and now rain the same kind of rapid strikes on her.
If my attacks are too soft, she mercilessly reverses the flow again, but the training is easy to understand and very educational.
……Or rather, Kukuri’s ability to adjust the level is amazing.
The fact that she can keep fighting while maintaining a fixed level of strength shows just how strong she really is.
「Haa…… Your growth speed really is frightening…… At this rate, we may soon be able to call it actual combat…… Fufu. The learning ability of children is terrifying……. Very well. I am also looking forward to seeing just how strong you can become.」
Hmm. Shiro will keep working harder and harder.
Lately every day has been fun. Of course, spending time with lord is especially fun, but it is also really enjoyable to feel myself growing stronger with every visit to Kukuri.
And besides…….
「Still, you seem especially motivated today.」
「Hmm. I’m doing a rematch.」
「A rematch?」
「Hmm. Hayato is at lord’s place right now. Last time I could not do anything. So this is my rematch.」
Last time…… the difference was so huge that it was hard to even compare. Shiro was simply too weak.
Just like with Kukuri, the gap was so enormous that I could only stand there in a daze.
「Hayato…… you mean the current hero, right……? You did say before that when you sparred with him you could not even put up a fight. I have heard the rumors, and I believe he is still an opponent you cannot defeat yet.」
Hmm. I know that.
I think I have become stronger than before, but I am still far from reaching the power of a dragon or species like Kukuri.
If Hayato possesses strength close to that level, then it is only natural that I cannot win.
「But I want to know how much closer I have gotten.」
「I see…… Fighting only against me makes it hard to tell, doesn’t it? Then…… for the sake of your rematch, shall we raise the intensity of training a little more?」
「Hmm! Please!」
「Yes, I will keep you company. As much as you want, until you are satisfied.」
Kukuri smiles happily.
That is why I can come to play without holding back.
I will play a lot and become even stronger.
For lord’s sake, I can become as strong as I need to be.
「Well then, Shiro? If you think it is too much, please stop right away, okay? This is different from before, understand? If you space out or let your guard down too much…… you will die, you know?」
「Hmm. This is still training. I will not push too hard…… just enough.」
「Au au…… Please have some leeway. It is also important to know your own condition early and pull back.」
「Hmm. If I get hungry I will stop for a while, so it is fine. Until Tachibana comes…… I will go right up to the limit.」
「Haa…… Understood. Then……」
「Hmm.」
Kukuri smoothly extends her palm and holds it vertically.
The moment both of us take our stances, Kukuri attacks faster and more sharply than before. I instantly switch my mind to calm mode and deal with it.
To avoid moving disadvantageously, I mix in moves that stray from standard defensive patterns while blocking her attacks, maintaining a fifty-fifty balance even while being pressured.
Not with wild instinct, but with reason.
Not with pure instinct, but with theory.
I continue moving so that every action leads to a result, constantly creating a more favorable situation for myself.
When the level rises, the unfamiliar speed will be harsh at first, and it is probably a field Shiro is weak at, but once she learns it, I believe she can climb even higher.
Because I know that…… it is unbearably fun.
「……You smile too. Really, how frightening……」
「Hmm?」
「No, it is nothing. Come now, do not lose focus.」
「Muu, Kukuri is the one losing focus.」
「I am not losing focus, you know? See, as you can tell, I am not letting Shiro land any attacks.」
「Uuu…… annoying.」
「Ah, you lost focus. You lost focus～. See, see, you are going to get hit?」
「Annoying—!」
Uuu. Just as Kukuri says, it is amazing that she can stay focused even while thinking about other things.
It is amazing, but still annoying……
「……Even though you were turned into a melted mess by Lord.」
「!」
「Hmm. You lost focus. My turn.」
「Th-That is unfair!」
「There is no such thing as unfair in battle. The one who shows an opening is at fault.」
Fufufu. As expected of lord.
Lord is the strongest against beastkin.
No matter when or where, he never wavers.
「Gunununu! Fine! I will focus and beat you to a pulp—!」
I thought I would not let her…… but that was childish of me!
She has the same build as Shiro but has lived many times longer, yet she is still childish!
I will definitely raise the level by one!
Muuu. One more time! I will reverse offense and defense one more time!
I will make her do it one more time before lunch!
-0-
「Fox-shrine-maiden-sama, Shiro-san. It is almost time for lunch…… Oh my, Shiro-san, you have been thoroughly beaten.」
「Gunununu……」
I could not turn it around……
「Fuu. I may have gone a little too far. Tachibana, please treat Shiro’s injuries before the meal.」
「Yes!」
「Not necessary. It will heal after I eat lunch.」
「Is that so? At the end I also got a bit worked up, so it would be better not to push yourself, you know?」
Hmm. I know you got worked up.
It was fierce…… but it was a good experience.
「It is good because battles cannot always be fought in perfect condition.」
「The mindset of always being on the battlefield…… Well, if Shiro says so, then it is fine. In that case, Tachibana, please prepare lunch.」
「Yes. It is already ready.」
「Today…… I am a little hungry, so I might end up eating quite a lot.」
「We have prepared plenty, so please eat until you are full.」
「Hmm. I will eat a lot today too. After eating, we will train again.」
Hmm. The food here is delicious.
There is not much meat, but it is tasty so it is fine.
Still, Wendy’s and Mizera’s cooking is more delicious.
Lord’s cooking is even more delicious.
If I told Wendy that, she would look happy, but she told me not to say it out loud here, so I will not.
「By the way, how is Shiro-dono’s condition?」
「Hmm. Pretty good?」
「I see. You have definitely become stronger. At this rate, perhaps once every tens of thousands of attempts, if you use your skill, you might even have a chance to defeat me.」
「That much……」
Tens of thousands of times, muu…… I want to say, but it still makes me a little happy.
The gap with Kukuri was so vast that I can accept it as real growth.
「Then, shall we have lunch and continue our spar afterward? I quite enjoy watching Shiro eat. It is a charming sight.」
「Hmm. Feel free to get drunk on Shiro’s eating style.」
「Fufufu. Indeed. Please eat plenty today as well.」
「Hmm! Eat deliciously, then play a lot! And then get my rematch with Hayato!」
One cannot fight on an empty stomach.
Eat a lot, and today Shiro will become stronger once again!
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