Things can't go on like this. I felt a strong sense of crisis.
Since starting to live with one eye and one leg in < >, I've tried to exercise as much as I can despite my condition. From bending and straightening my left leg to sit-ups, push-ups, and any other stretches I can think of that I can do on one leg. Before my injury, I prided myself on leading a fairly healthy adventurer's life, going to bed early, waking up early, and exercising in the mornings, so lying around in bed just didn't suit me.Holy ChurchKriscles
However, I have to admit that this is as far as it goes.
—My body is starting to get lazy from spending all my time in bed with nothing to do.
The main reason I felt this way was the lazy drowsiness that hit me during the day. Even though I got more than enough sleep at night, after exercising and after lunch, I would find myself nodding off.
This has never happened before. In other words, this drowsiness is nothing but a sign of decadence.
I must resume my training immediately.
I don't have any intention of training in this body and returning to being an adventurer—at least not at the moment. I don't even know if returning in this body is realistic. Right now, all I need to do is get some exercise, or it's not good for my mental health.
From now on, I'll be living with a prosthetic leg, which will be unfamiliar, so it wouldn't hurt to maintain my physical strength as much as possible.
Stretching while lying down doesn't really count as exercise. So, I think I should resume practicing my batting swings. I can do it while sitting, and having repeated this training thousands and tens of thousands of times, I can approach it with much higher skill and concentration than stretching.
So, my mentor pushed my wheelchair to the front of the garden—
"Wolka... so it was after all...?"sword・of・Shake・ru・
"Hmm...? Oh, "too・Chi・reactor・yeah・
You're going to swing your sword? Well, that's obvious since we're going outside just for that, right...?
"It seems this is the best option for me."
"Yes... that's right. For Wolka, the sword was his best... the sword was his best..."
...I feel like you're overthinking it. Master, I just want to get some exercise, that's all. There's no deep meaning to it at all, it's just exercise.
"I know... I know..."
You don't understand that, do you?
Master? Master?
Later, as I was practicing my sword swings in the churchyard, Yurtiia spotted me and dropped the luggage she had brought to the ground. Her eyes were vacant and seemed somewhat absent-minded.
"Senpai... even in that condition, you still wield a sword..."
So it's just exercise.
Yuritia? Yuritia?
/
My first practice swing in a long time was very intense, but even so, drowsiness started to creep in by the afternoon.
Well, there's nothing I can do about feeling sleepy, so I'll take a short nap. My master suddenly seems troubled and won't leave my side, so we'll take a nap together.
As I was dozing in the sunlight streaming through the window, I sensed someone had entered the room. If it were Yuritia, she would at least say "Excuse me"... This feeling... it must be Atoli, the heavy warrior of our party.
As I was vaguely thinking about such things,
"Nsho"
"...!?"
Atori suddenly tried to jump onto my stomach. Of course, I immediately got up and firmly grabbed her shoulders just before she could mount me.
"Oh... you woke up."
"...Of course it's going to happen."
Without a doubt, it was Atori who was there.
No, what were you trying to do just now? I pleaded with my eyes, but Atori remained expressionless.
"It's okay, they were just trying to attack me."
I have absolutely no idea what's okay about it.
What does "attack" mean? An assault? Is that what he meant by trying to assert dominance? If I hadn't noticed, would he have strangled me? Hmm, what exactly are "companions"...
"Give me a break, I have these legs."
"It's okay, I'll take care of it."
That's why I have absolutely no idea what's okay about it. If you, the strongest melee fighter in the party, attacked me, I'd be reduced to a rag in an instant. This kid is seriously too strong...
Let me tell you about Atori, our party's heavy warrior and a warrior of a race capable of defeating thousands in one hand.
In the original story, he was the second character after Wolka to be written out of the story with almost no description. He had no lines, his name and personality were unknown, and he was only depicted in the corner of a panel, so even his appearance wasn't clear, leaving him with a mysterious impression until he met a gruesome end in that scene.
A heavy warrior, by definition, is someone who wears massive weapons and sturdy armor to shatter enemy defenses and draw enemy attacks. However, she is an ultra-aggressive heavy warrior who doesn't wear armor and wields weapons taller than herself as if they were extensions of her own body. Is offense the best defense? No, offense is the best offense.
So, what is my understanding of it, without considering the original work?
First of all, Atoli was not born in this country.
She hails from a minority tribe far to the south, and this is reflected in her light brown skin. Her pure white hair is styled in a flowing, shoulder-length style, and her ears, neck, and arms are adorned with foreign ornaments not found in the country's designs. Her traditional clothing, woven with numerous patterns, has particularly little fabric covering the upper body, revealing her healthy shoulders, navel, and chest in a lustrous manner, and because the fabric is thin, her undergarments are faintly visible through it, making for a very revealing appearance.Exquisiteexotic
Her lower body is also revealing, with her legs boldly visible through a deep slit skirt. Perhaps it's okay to show them because she's wearing black short leggings underneath, but in any case, young people of that age would probably be a little embarrassed about where to look.
Apparently, she comes from a race of berserkers known to those in the know as being capable of defeating thousands in a single battle. Over their long history, their genes have been heavily tuned for combat, and as a result, seasoned veterans can hold their own against even holy knights with just a single < > spell.body strengtheningStrength
She inherited that trait strongly, and is at least the strongest in close combat within our party. Even the genius swordsman Yuritia gives a wry smile and says, "Atori's level is a bit...".
She's sixteen, one year younger than me, and a little taller than others her age. Her build is slender and lithe, but she's not exactly a power type, so few people would believe her at first glance if she were a heavy warrior.
Her pale purple, blurry eyes held little emotion, and in fact, she was a very quiet and cool person. She didn't talk more than necessary, her speech was a little broken, and her facial expressions were hardly ever changed.
Of course, he wasn't completely devoid of emotions; it seemed he was quite disappointed that he couldn't assert dominance over me. Did he really want to attack that badly...?
"It'll feel great, so don't worry. Leave it to me."
"No, seriously, please stop..."
You're the only one who gets a thrill from fighting.
This kid's general emotional intelligence is a bit lacking because the knowledge he was drilled in back home is too heavily skewed towards combat and survival. The way you're talking... if someone else heard you, they'd get the wrong idea.
However, the fact that she uses the masculine pronoun "boku" is a big plus for me personally. I was really impressed when I first met her; I thought, "Boku girls really do exist!"
Whether it's the loli master or the adorable Yuritia, I still can't understand how such charming girls were so easily discarded in just one episode, only to end up with a total annihilation and death scene. That author is truly a rotten scoundrel; he cannot be allowed to live.
"No?"
"No, you can't. Look, my master is asleep."
Atori made a thoughtful gesture,
"...You're right. Showing it to your teammates right away is a high level of skill."
"Do you understand now?"
"Hmm... For the first time, I think the atmosphere is really important."
What kind of atmosphere is perfect for attacking your own comrades...?
Or rather, why did this girl even attack me in the first place...? I wonder if she sensed that I've been becoming lazy during my hospital stay and came to warn me that we don't need any weaklings in our party. Damn, she saw right through me...! I'll do my best to train hard in my current condition, so please overlook it today.
However, upon further reflection...
Is it really okay for me to end my career as a swordsman like this?
Common sense dictates that losing an eye is bad enough, but losing a leg—especially a pivot leg—is the end of the line for a warrior. Even in manga and anime from my past life, having one eye or one arm was often a sign of a powerful character, but I hardly remember ever seeing a swordsman with only one leg. Even in the free world of fiction, having two legs is a given—losing a leg is just that big of a deal.
However, if superior prosthetic legs exist in this other world, and if it were entirely realistic for me to return as a swordsman...
In that case, I'm sure I'll keep swinging my sword. As long as this is a rotten, dark fantasy world, I can't predict what dangers might befall my comrades in the future. For me right now, my comrades are the most important thing, above all else. If I give up on everything, abandon my sword, and drop out on a different path just because I've lost an eye and a leg, and something happens to everyone as a result, I'll regret it forever.happinessHappy ending
I no longer intend to throw away my life. But if I can just maintain a body that can function at a minimum level, the possibilities for what I can do will increase dramatically.
But on the other hand, do they even need my help in the first place?
Atoli, of course, but also her master and Yuritia are all formidable fighters, so wouldn't it be more of a nuisance for an injured person to try to make a half-hearted comeback? Wouldn't it be presumptuous for an incomplete swordsman who lost an eye and a leg to try and help them? Even if he manages to reintegrate into society to the point of taking care of himself, beyond that—
"...Wolka? Is something wrong?"
Atori was looking at me with a puzzled expression. I shook my head slowly.
"I was thinking about the future a little."
"Rehabilitation?"
"No...it's further ahead."
While stroking his left leg, which had become shorter,
"This is the state I'm in now. If you feel you can't put up with me anymore..."
"Wolka"
Unexpectedly, Atori's voice was a little louder than usual.
When I looked up, Atori leaned forward and peered into my eyes from such a close distance that I could feel her breath.
"You saved me in that battle. You saved my life. I would never leave you behind."
"--"
I can't breathe.
Those purple eyes give me the illusion that I might fall into them.
"To repay the kindness of having one's life saved, one must repay it with one's own life—that is the law of the tribe."
It's neither a glorious resolution, nor a beautiful vow, nor a pure prayer.
It's as if it's clinging to the viewer's arms, trying to pull them down. A bottomless obsession, or perhaps—a desire—that even light cannot reach.
"Every single strand of my hair, every single bone, every single drop of my blood, every single part of my soul... it's all yours."
He leaned even closer, matching the amount I recoiled.
She remained as cool and composed as ever, and said this:
"I... Atori will live for you, and I will die for you. Don't worry."
"...I see..."
It took me several seconds to give that simple answer.
At times like these, I'm grateful for my staunchly unfriendly nature. Even if I'm upset inside, I can still appear calm and composed on the outside.
Gently push back Atori's body, which was almost slumped over.
"I'm sorry to have caused you trouble... Thank you."
"yeah"
At that moment, Atori had returned to her original self. Sitting down again, she looked expressionless.
"...So, can I attack you then?"
"No, that's not okay."
"Hmm... Do you prefer being the aggressor, Wolka? Actually, I'm kind of interested in being attacked by you, Wolka."
"Yes, yes"
Atori is surprisingly talkative with people she's comfortable with. Sometimes our conversations don't quite seem to connect, but more importantly, I...
I—
(...Oh, oh, aa
--Isn't that a little too heavy, Atori-san?
Just now, Atori's extremely heavy statement made me inwardly roll my eyes and convulse.
My stomach. My stomach hurts.
/
"So, why is this guy all turned to ash?"
"They lost before the fight even began."
"Huh...?"
When the man visited the guild that day, he found a familiar rookie, whom he had previously mentored at a party, lying burnt out in a chair in the lobby.
The man is a B-rank adventurer. He's a seasoned veteran in this town who could easily be an A-rank adventurer, but for years he has been refusing the guild's promotion recommendations, saying, "I'm not cut out for that." However, everyone knows about his skill and helpful nature, so he's widely admired by both his juniors and peers as a good-natured father figure.
I'm on friendly terms with the receptionist and we talk about things casually.
"Apparently, he's found a girl adventurer he's interested in and invited her to his party, but she's completely turned him down. And it's been like this since yesterday."
"Hey, you're really enjoying your youth!"
The man grinned, showing his teeth. It was a rather pleasant smile, and it was clear at a glance that he wasn't making fun of the boy.
"But was there ever a woman he'd care about?"
"Look, that's her. The little girl with the cherry blossom pink hair who's been staying in town for a while now."
"...Ah, that girl! I saw her on the street a little while ago."
"...What?! Hey old man, what's going on?!"
The boy rose from the ashes in an instant. As he strode towards him, the man grinned again.
"I think that guy was one of the party members; he was out for a stroll pushing a wheelchair. He was having a bit of trouble at the bottom of the stairs, so I just lent him my shoulder."
"Oh, ah... so that's what it is..."
The boy looked visibly relieved. The man's smile grew even wider, and he roughly ruffled the boy's hair.
"Hey, hey, are you guys really experiencing your youth?! That's great, that's great, that's how it should be when you're a kid!"
"Don't call me a kid!"
The boy barked loudly, but then quickly lowered his head.
"Nothing's good... I got rejected."
"No way D would team up with A. This isn't babysitting."
"Guh..."
The boy almost collapsed when he was met with such a perfectly logical response.
"If she says yes, that's a sure sign she's interested. Go and pin her down right now."
"Hey, that's sexual harassment, you perverted old man!"
"Shut up, shut up, when you go for it, a real man goes for it with full force, right?"
The man shooed away the nagging receptionist and knelt down to meet the boy's gaze.
His carefree, somewhat loose voice suddenly becomes a little more serious.
"Well, it's fine, isn't it? ...You were probably thinking that just because you completed three or four requests with your party, you could somehow manage, right? Even though you're an adventurer, what you're really doing is dealing with monsters and risking your life. It's not so easy that you can just get by on a whim."
"..."
"If you're not strong, you're as good as not being an adventurer. You can't get back at those who underestimate you just because you're a kid, and you won't even get the attention of one of the girls you're interested in."
The boy, while not exactly idolizing the man, did recognize him as a trustworthy mentor.
That's why the man's words carried a certain weight and reached the boy's heart.
"So you've got a goal now? Then the rest is easy, just charge ahead without looking left or right. Feel the bitterness, feel the pain as if you're spitting blood, the kind of strength a man can reach with pretty hands is rubbish."
The man continued,
"Hey, that bastard's hands were in worse shape than mine."
"...!"
"He's probably had countless blisters popping, been covered in blood countless times, and each time he's tried to cover it up with some clumsy healing magic. His arms were cracked and scarred all over, and covered in hardened calluses. The way his right and left arms were built was different too. He's the kind of idiot who's thought of nothing but swinging a sword his whole life. ...It looks like he's lost an eye and a leg, but that's the kind of guy you're partnered with right now."
"Uh..."
The boy clenched his fists tightly. At that moment, the man saw a red flame ignite in the depths of the boy's eyes—a small, flickering flame like a bonfire, yet undeniably real.
She probably looked like a receptionist too. She spread her arms shoulder-width apart and sighed in exasperation.
"Men are so simple, aren't they?"
"Yeah, it's really simple. After all, you can become any strong you want for a woman."
"Is that based on personal experience? Or is it just an ideal?"
"That's from personal experience. Back in the day, I was quite the ladies' man."
"I'm going to the training grounds."
It was a quiet, resolute statement, like breaking out of his shell. When the man turned around, the boy had already turned his back and was about to run out of the guild.
Having found his destination , the boy no longer wavered. Watching the boy's slightly larger back disappear into the distance, the man roughly scratched the back of his head.topThank you
"...Well, in the end, it was a good experience, wasn't it? It really makes you grow. A man needs to have his nose knocked down once in a while to be a better man."
The receptionist smiled only with the tip of her mouth and her breath.
"So you were like that too?"
"Of course, I've always been a failure, both now and in the past. He's definitely going to get much stronger. Maybe it's time for me to retire."
"Yes, yes, even a veteran who makes so many mistakes has work to do today."
"Hey, you're working people too hard. Show some respect to your elders."
"Oh, then may I ask why you came all the way to the guild?"
"You're still as unattractive as ever. I bet you're not popular with girls."
"What?! That's none of your business!"
"Hey, it's started again, someone throw some water on it, water!" the nearby male adventurers said, their faces contorted in disgust.
The lively atmosphere of the guild, filled with fireside chatter, suddenly became chaotic.
"Oh, speak of the devil—"
The man turned towards the entrance and raised his eyebrows.
A dark-skinned girl dressed in a foreign style, a sight rarely seen around here. She's apparently part of a party with the aforementioned girl in cherry blossom pink, and is probably the most talked-about adventurer in this guild right now.
Her name was... Atori, I think.
There are two reasons why she has suddenly become the talk of the guild.
Firstly, she's incredibly strong. According to those who have witnessed her battles by chance, she wields a massive weapon with such ease that it seems like a mistake, and she can take down monsters that even B-rank monsters struggle with in a single blow. It's widely rumored that she brings in mountains of weapons so large that an adult couldn't carry them , causing the receptionist to scream.large spear axHalberdSpoils of wardrop
However, his fighting style was—or so it is said.Na・to・mosquito・to・Tori・the law of nature・possession・mosquito・re・Ta・
And one more thing. The traditional clothing they are wearing is so small that if you look closely you can faintly see through to their underwear, which is a real feast for the eyes—or rather, it makes it difficult to know where to look.
Among the many eyes following her were quite a few, and the receptionist had a slightly frightened look on her face.So・cormorant・stomach・cormorant・
Atori, the girl who had become the talk of the town, went to the reception desk, the furthest point from the men, seemingly oblivious to the commotion around her. The new receptionist, who had only recently started working there, began to greet her with a slightly nervous expression.
"—Actually,
The man lowered his voice to the receptionist at the front desk so that Atori wouldn't hear him.
"Those guys are the ones who recently conquered Gowther again, right?"
"..."
The man said it with 100% certainty, and the receptionist, who had guessed correctly, showed no surprise. She sighed quietly and lowered her voice in the same way.
"You noticed after all?"
"Well, I'm not the only one who's perceptive; everyone else is saying the same thing."
I recall that the dungeon Gowther, located not far from this town, was conquered more than a month ago. Then, two weeks ago, a notice was suddenly issued stating that the true boss monster had been defeated and the guild was currently investigating the details. In other words, the initial approval for its conquest was incorrect.
Just two weeks ago, there was this sighting: a group believed to be Atoli's party rushed into the Holy Church carrying a blood-soaked young man.Silver-gray journeySilvery Gray
"Normally, a party that manages to conquer a dungeon gets a lot of recognition. Even the boss monster is publicly announced, and adventurers get excited in taverns, saying things like, 'Wow, you guys defeated something like that, that's amazing!' For us, it's one of the highest honors."
"...But this time, we have absolutely no information about who completed it, or what the boss monster was. Why are they trying to hide it?"
"I'm not happy about this either."
The receptionist's voice was visibly frustrated. But it wasn't directed at the man in front of her; it was frustration at something much bigger, something she couldn't do anything about.
"If I were allowed to make it public, I would do it right away. Those kids really... really tried their best. ...Listen, I'm only telling you this because it's you. Don't ever tell anyone out loud."
Faced with the receptionist's undeniable gaze, the man thought for a moment before silently nodding.
"...The real boss monster"
Having said only that, the receptionist scribbled the name in small letters on a piece of paper in her hand.
< >ExterminatorGrim Reaper
"—I see, that's it..."
The man, uncharacteristically, was speechless. This was more than just amazing. If true, it was a monumental feat that would surely be etched in history. An absolute being that could take the lives of adventurers. If you ever encountered it, you should focus all your energy not on how to defeat it, but on how to escape.
Even if you trace back through history as far as you can go, you'll probably only find a maximum of ten officially recognized records of monster extermination.
And those kids did it.
"I don't know why they haven't made it public. All I've heard is that it's because the people involved don't want it."
The "Death-Taker," a scarred young man who has lost one eye and one leg, and his three companions who are perfectly healthy and unscathed. In the man's mind, these two figures vaguely begin to connect with each other.
The receptionist's voice was unusually weak.
"I'm not trying to make excuses, but while we were the first to receive the report of the dungeon's completion, it was the Holy City that sent people into the dungeon and gave the final confirmation that it had definitely been completed. So, I'm sure it caused quite a stir over there. Investigators rushed over immediately to try and talk to that party."
Sigh,
"You said you just lent your shoulder to that boy in the wheelchair, right? He was seriously injured, it's a miracle he survived. He lost an eye and a leg... If something like that happened to an important member of your party, you know."
The investigator said he was turned away by a nun at the church. She said they weren't in a state to talk right now... not the boy, but his friends."
"..."
"It took two days before we finally got permission. But even then, the youngest wizard child apparently started crying halfway through... and was chased away. ...It must have been tough for him."
"...That's a really disheartening story."
The man knew that he was currently frowning with anger. He was a fairly experienced adventurer, having mentored many young people, including that boy, and watched them leave to go on their own. Perhaps that's why, whenever he heard stories like this, he felt an overwhelming anger welling up inside him.
If we're going to look for someone to take responsibility, the guild will almost certainly be the one to blame.
It's not unprecedented for a dungeon that was thought to have been conquered to turn out not to have been. Some people tell blatant lies for the sake of fame, while others genuinely make a mistake. That's why the guild has a system in place to dispatch investigation teams to give final confirmation that the dungeon's activity has definitely stopped.
But this time, the same mistake happened again.
Was there some mistake in the investigation, or was it really a pack of lies?
Regardless, the blunder of adults has robbed a young man of his future. Even if he miraculously survives, having lost a leg, his path as an adventurer is practically doomed.
The receptionist looked at the man with pleading eyes.
"...Hey. Hey, that boy..."
"Yeah, he protected them, didn't he? His comrades, literally willing to die for them."
The young man is the only one who has lost an eye and a leg and is hovering between life and death, while his three female companions are alive and well. ...That must be it. Yes, that must be it. If I were in the young man's position, I would make the same choice without hesitation.
But for the girls, it might be like a curse. They were merely protected. They survived comfortably at the cost of the young man's eye and leg.
He received the honor of defeating the "Death-Taker," earned a reward, and was promoted to S-rank—so what? Will that restore the young man's legs? Will he regain his sight? Will he be able to relive the past? Nothing will change. It's all meaningless.
It was only the young man who risked his life, yet he was praised as if it were the achievement of the entire party, and he couldn't bear it.
Yes, perhaps they are tormenting themselves by blaming themselves.
"...I wonder why."
The receptionist's fist was trembling slightly.
"I tried so hard, I tried so hard, and I made it back alive..."
"..."
At that moment, Atori, having finished her conversation at the reception desk, turned on her heel. She was probably going monster hunting in this area again today. Normally, it would be unthinkable for a young girl to hunt monsters alone, and there would surely be guys with ulterior motives trying to approach her hoping to make a move.
But in this moment, all anyone could do was watch her retreating back. No one could utter a single word. Atori, too, paid no attention to any of the other adventurers around her.
—It's as if he's possessed by something.
This isn't a case of despair stemming from regret over failing to protect his comrades. It's a case of finding his own path to martyrdom, vowing to God to dedicate his entire soul—a kind of acceptance that swallows even regret .Faith・upright・
What exactly did she see?
What did I imprint on my memory?
"...It's really a heartbreaking story."
"..."
An insatiable curiosity that leads one to contemplate the unknown, or perhaps the courageous determination of that young boy—such glorious emotions should be what drives young adventurers.
A young girl, almost the same age as the boy, is quietly deciding how to use her life and is preparing to sacrifice herself.
Neither the man nor the receptionist had the words to reason with the girl.
Even we, who have lived for many years, have never once thought about how to use our own lives.
Tips for Atori:
An exotic, tanned tomboy. It seems she saw "something" in that battle, and is now completely determined to die for Wolka. She's incredibly strong.