Chapter 104: Chapter 104
“Good job . ” [Ryouma]
As expected, in the last nest, other tunnel ants came pouring out after we took out the guards . the guards included, there were 15 of them all in all . I defeated 5 tunnel ants ahead of time, so Berk’s party only had to take care of the remaining 10 .
I figured that was a safe number for them, and as expected, they were indeed able to defeat them all . They tumbled a little and were bitten here and there, but none of them were gravely injured .
“Do you need water or healing magic?” [Ryouma]
“No— On second thought . Give me some water so I can wash my wounds . I have water for drinking . ” [Berk]
Wise decision . I poured water into a stone bowl using magic .
“Ah, you don’t have to use the same water . I’ll prepare some for everyone . ” [Ryouma]
“Huh? B-But it’s still clean… That would be so wasteful…” [Wist]
“If you keep using the same water it’ll get dirty . Even if it’s just a scratch, it would be bad if some bad bacteria entered it . ” [Ryouma]
“Bacteria (Saikin)? Recently(Saikin)?” [Wist]
“Oh, right . You can think of it as a kind of disease demon . ” [Ryouma]
“…Wist . He said it’s fine, so just accept it . ” [Berk]
“R-Right…” [Wist]
After washing his wounds, Berk left to pick up the corpses . Wist-kun followed after him after washing his wounds . After the remaining four washed their wounds in turns, I called my Rimel Birds and had them enter my Dimension Home .
Along the way back home…
“Ryoumkun . Why are you so strong?” [Ruth]
Ruth suddenly asked me that .
“What is it all of the sudden~?” [Ryouma]
“You easily beat the goblins back then, and today you also easily beat the tunnel ants . ” [Ruth]
“They weren’t your opponent at all …Desu . ” [Finia]
“You would have definitely beaten them faster were you alone . ” [Ruth]
It must be because we fought the same monster that they were able to strongly feel the difference between our strength .
That being said, it’s only a given I’m stronger since I trained my whole life . If I were to be just around their level, I would instead be depressed . But since I look their age, they took it the wrong way and ended up depressed themselves .
In that case…
“Well… Maybe it’s because I had a master to guide me . ” [Ryouma]
With someone to guide you, you can train without having to worry about your livelihood . I told Ruth and the others that having a master just makes that big of a difference .
“Did that master teach you how to use those twin swords?” [Ruth]
“These aren’t swords, but katanas . Also, the reason I’m using two of them is to train myself to use one with just one hand . ” [Ryouma]
“Can you become strong doing that?” [Berk]
Berk showed interest, but there’s not much meaning in just using one hand to swing your weapon .
This training is partly meant to increase my grip and physical strength, but its main purpose is for me to be able to fight even if I can’t use one of my arms anymore .
The threat of injury is ever present in battles . There’s no guarantee that I’ll be able to fight in perfect condition . If my arm is crippled in battle and I can’t use my weapon anymore, then I will die . And even if I manage to use it without training, without the skill behind the sword, I doubt I would be able to do much against an enemy that was able to deeply wound me when I was still in perfect condition . In such a situation, I would be at a huge disadvantage .
Because of that possibility I decided to start training myself to be able to use my katana with only one hand . And that’s exactly what I did just now . I used two different katanas with one hand on each and was freely using my skills regardless of if it was my left hand or my right hand . Because of that it wouldn’t be apt to call it a Nitouryuu (dual-wield katana) style that treats two katanas as one, but merely me using two different katanas at the same time .
Of course, I had to properly train before actually trying it out in live combat . If I actually tried to use a katana with only one hand without any training and then immediately tried to use two katanas, it would have been a disaster . Receiving some kind of training beforehand is definitely ideal .
Come to think of it, doesn’t Berk and the others have a master?
When I asked them, it turns out they learned the basics from a senpai, but those senpais were busy, so they mostly trained by themselves . They could ask for guidance from the guild, but they’re worried about how much they’d have to spend before they’re good enough .
“We have to save money first…” [Berk]
“C-Can I ask a question too?” [Wist]
“Sure . What is it?” [Ryouma]
“R-Ryoumkun, what do you think of when fighting? Umm… Aren’t you scared?” [Wist]
I see… Wist-kun certainly does seem to like the shy sort and when fighting he’s always reserved and unable to attack proactively .
From what I’ve seen, Berk would use the lightness of his body to suppress the enemy with a combination of his short sword and his martial arts . Martha would provide support with her wood magic, while Ruth and Rumil would suppress the enemy with their sword and spear, and then Finia and Wist-kin would use their hammers to finish the enemy off with their great strength . That was how they fought .
Although they did well by coming up with a way to deal with the tunnel ants, Wist-kun, individually speaking, was never really proactive in attacking .
It’s not just because he’s scared, but also because he’s too gentle that he never really put enough strength in his attacks and had to attack the enemy 2 or 3 times to finish them off . If he attacked with full strength right off the bat, he should’ve been able to finish them off with a single blow .
Since he’s asking me about my state of mind, then he’s probably aware of his own problem .
“Didn’t I tell you to stop being such a coward?
Just hit them will all your strength . ” [Berk]
“Yeah… But when they stand in front of me like that, I just…” [Wist]
As expected, it seems this isn’t a recent problem for him . But what should I tell him?
“I’m… Not really thinking of anything, to be honest . ” [Ryouma]
“Huh?” [Wist]
“When I fight, I fight . My focus is solely in the enemy’s movements as well as my own . ” [Ryouma]
Volume 3 Chapter 104 part2As a person trains, he will gain confidence in his own strength . Saying this to him might cause him to blame himself, but I don’t feel any fear when fighting tunnel ants .
“To that end, you really need to train and accumulate experience . ” [Ryouma]
A politically correct opinion . It would be great if I could say something better, but I’m just not that good at talking . I know he went out of his way to ask me, but sadly, this is the best I’ve got . Sorry .
“Ryoumkun, don’t blame yourself! Even the adults tell me the same things…” [Wist]
“Hmm? Is there another problem you’re dealing with?” [Ryouma]
“No, but…” [Wist]
“Wist was told that adventurer work doesn’t suit him . ” [Berk]
“!” [Wist]
When Berk interjected, Wist went quiet . Bullseye, huh?
“Who said that?” [Ryouma]
“The others . We’re not the only kids in the slums doing adventurer work . ” [Berk]
“Anyone can become an adventurer and it’s easier to find work when you have ‘former adventurer’ in your resume . ” [Martha]
“Everyone… is wary of the people from the slums . So they’re more at ease when dealing with former adventurers… Desu . ” [Finia]
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“It’s because adventurer work is proof that we’ve done honest work . ” [Ruth]
After Berk spat that out, the girls followed up with those words .
Meanwhile, Wist-kun was standing on the side with his shoulders dropped . Ruth tried to console him, but…
“Don’t you get along with them? Those kids?” [Ryouma]
“It’s not that we don’t get along with them, but they’re really good at fighting . They also make more, so lately they’ve been making fun of everyone else who does nothing but gather herbs . Especially, Wist, since he has a strong body, but his personality is like that… Seriously, Wist . Quit being so hesitant already! They’re them and you’re you! Besides, compared to them, isn’t ‘this’ way stronger?” [Ruth]
I see I’m being used as a point of comparison . But don’t you kids think it’s a bit cruel to be referring to me as ‘this’?
Still, these children sure have a lot going between them…
“But… If I keep working as an adventurer, the day will come when I have to kill people too . ” [Wist]
“That’s then! Even those guys haven’t killed anyone yet!” [Ruth]
“But didn’t Berk say it too?” [Wist]
“What!?” [Berk]
“You said that if I just attacked properly!” [Wist]
“Idiot! I didn’t mean it like that . ” [Berk]
…Isn’t Berk getting too heated?
“Stop . There’s no point even in arguing here, you two . ” [Ryouma]
Blood seemed to be getting to their head, so I stepped in .
I wanted them to calm down a little, so I listened to them while walking .
1 . Just as they mentioned, those kids definitely told Wist-kun that .
2 . Just as Berk said, there are many things they’re talking about that aren’t related to their current situation just yet .
3 . It’s also true that if Wist-kun were to continue working as an adventurer, he might find eventually himself up against a wall .
4 . Wist-kun is seriously thinking about things and wants to quickly become an adult to help his friends .
5 . It’s good that Berk is looking at the long term perspective, as that also goes to mean that he’s planning to stay with them that long .
These are the key points .
Wist-kun is aware of his own problems, so although he’s a bit of a coward, he is trying to improve himself . That’s why he’s so panicked and he feels like he’s not improving . Berk seems to have realized that, but this is a personality issue . And Berk recognizes the problem on the level of ‘don’t worry about it, just laugh and send the monsters flying’ . Because of that he has a hard time understanding why Wist-kun is so worried about it .
…This is difficult .
“If you don’t mind me giving my opinion on the subject, I personally think you’re worrying too much . ” [Ryouma]
“Right?” [Berk]
“But…” [Wist]
“Listen until the end . It’s true that there’s no reason for you to be so worried about it now . But it’s also important to think about the future . Not wanting to hurt other people or other living things is an important thing . ” [Ryouma]
“So which is it?” [Berk]
“It’s not an issue of ‘which’ . Let’s put it this way… Right… Let’s say you’re in town and you’re hungry . What are you gonna do?” [Ryouma]
“Obviously, I would eat my fill . ” [Berk]
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Berk immediately answered . No hesitation whatsoever . But what if you don’t have any food at hand?
“Then I’ll buy from the store . ” [Berk]
“Right now, we’re already well off enough to be able to eat at a store…” [Wist]
“Eating outside is expensive, though . If you can endure it for a bit, you should go out to the fields and look for food there instead . ” [Martha]
“You could also try trading with the neighbors… Desu . ” [Finia]
Everyone gave their opinion one after another .
“You could also plant some crops and harvest them when the time comes . If you’re willing to do some bad things, you could also steal . ” [Ryouma]
“Stealing is bad . ” [Everyone Else]
The six of them said .
“…You say that now, but didn’t you try to take away the monster corpses my party threw before?” [Ryouma]
“Uu . ” [Berk]
“T-That’s…” [Wist]
When I pointed that out, their expressions immediately turned for the worse . I might have teased them a bit too much there .
“I’m not criticizing you . You seem to have turned over a new leaf, and I don’t really think much of that incident anymore anyway .
…Let’s go back to the topic . It’s true that stealing is bad, but it’s one method you can use . What I’m trying to get at is that there are many ways to accomplish something . In the same way, there are other answers than the ones Berk and Wist-kun gave in response to my question . The two of you are too extreme . ” [Ryouma]
“T-Then what would you do? If you had to fight with a monster…” [Wist]
“It’s ‘necessary’ to take a life . ” [Ryouma]
In order to eat . In order to dress oneself . In order to find work . It’s ‘necessary’ that’s why I will take life .
And if they attack me, regardless of whether it’s a monster or a human, to protect myself, I will take a life .
That’s all .
“It sounds complicated, but basically, don’t worry about stuff that will get in the way when fighting . ” [Ryouma]
Whether it’s a biting louse or a human, that’s one life all the same .
“In peace, even insects are treated like people . But in war, even humans are cut down like insects . ” [Ryouma]
In a situation where worrying can cost you your life, it’s better to stop worrying altogether or find a solution to it .
It’s a family precept handed down in my family since days of old .
I don’t think it’s wrong .
I haven’t gone as far as to think of other people as insects, but at the very least, when the time comes, I won’t hesitate to take a life .
…I believe that won’t be a problem for me .
But…
“That’s precisely why it’s important to have some hesitation in hurting others, regardless of whether it’s another human or something else . Wist-kun, as a human, I can resolutely tell you that there’s nothing wrong with the way you think . I won’t ask you to solve that issue right away, but don’t you think it would be good if you could find a place to compromise?” [Ryouma]
“…Yeah . ” [Wist]
…That might have been a bit too deep . Everyone’s reaction is a bit slow . It’s not like I gave a clear answer either . Problems like this can only really be solved by the person himself .
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“And in order to do that… Berk!” [Ryouma]
“Me!?” [Berk]
“Well, the others too, but from time to time, try talking to each other calmly, will you? Without getting all hot blooded . There’s a lot of things you can do if you hear each other out and talk calmly like adults . And Wist-kun, you can still continue being an adventurer for the time being even if you don’t panic, right?” [Ryouma]
“Y-Yeah! It’s scary to fight, but it’s only been a year and I want to keep working with everyone…” [Wist]
“Then just take your time to think . From what I’ve seen today, unless you do something reckless, you shouldn’t suffer any major wounds . ” [Ryouma]
No matter what answer he comes up with, I’ll accept it .
If he decides to give up adventurer work, I could ask him to come work at my store . But I won’t say that for now… Oh .
We’re at the gate . After showing our guild cards, the guards let us through .
“Are you going to the adventurers guild?” [Ryouma]
“Yeah . We have to give a report first . ” [Berk]
“I’ll be going to the tamer guild, so we’ll part here . ” [Ryouma]
“Got it . Thanks for today . ” [Berk]
“T-Thank you for taking care of us . ” [Berk]
“You really helped us out… Desu . ” [Finia]
Each one of them thanked me, and then we parted ways . I went to the tamer guild by myself .
…I did something out of character…
Why did I say something like that?
I wanted to encourage him, but maybe I was meddling needlessly .
I’m a beginner myself . What was I acting so experienced for? I feel like I’m starting to turn into a preachy person…
“Boss!” [Fina]
“！ Ah, it’s Finsan and Leelin-san . What’s the matter? Why are you here?” [Ryouma]
“We went out to buy some things . ” [Leelin]
“We ran out of seasoning after cooking one trial dish after another . Also, we needed to buy some miscellaneous consumables like paper and stuff . What about you boss?” [Finia]
“I’m on the way back from a job . I just got back, actually . ” [Ryouma]
“Did something happen? You look like you’re thinking something really deep . ” [Leelin]
“Really?” [Ryouma]
“You looked worried . Is there something troubling you?” [Fina]
“That’s not it… I was just wondering if maybe I’ve started putting on the years…” [Ryouma]
“What?” [Fina and Leelin]
Their face said they had absolutely no idea what I was talking about .
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