Chapter 129
The next afternoon at the training ground.
It was when I was about to start training with Luna.
"I, I'm here..."
It was Rezé.
She entered through the training ground door, fluttering towards us.
A healing scar was visible on her slightly exposed right shoulder.
Luna frowned slightly upon noticing the scar.
"Are you okay? It's fine to rest for a day."
"I, I'm fine."
"There's no way you can train in that condition."
"I'm, I'm okay. I can withstand the usual recoil!"
"No. You should rest today. Zero, you agree, right?"
Agree to rest? Of course...
"Keke, you can't skip training just because of a minor injury. My whole body is aching from muscle pain."
"Uh-huh, right. Just like this guy said, we can't just skip training because it hurts a little... Huh?"
Did she realize something was wrong?
Luna turned her head sharply towards me.
"Are you saying you want to make an injured kid train?"
"It's only the second day of training. If she skips because of an injury like that, it'll be the same in the future. I'm in pain all over but I'm still participating in the training."
"Muscle pain and a dislocated shoulder are the same? Stop talking nonsense!"
Thump, thump!
Luna punched me a couple of times in the ribs.
Added bruising on top of muscle pain.
It seems like it's not Rezé who should be resting today, but me.
"Cancel it right now! Give Rezé a break!"
Does she think I'm tormenting Rezé? Her punches are quite fierce.
This might leave me resting for a lifetime. So, before that happens.
"Keke, then I have no choice but to send her out."
"What?"
"You promised, didn't you? To participate in training as a condition of sticking together, and to leave with my permission if one wishes."
Was she recalling the promise of that day?
I took a step towards the puzzled Luna and said.
"Keke, it's not a big deal yet, as the major battles haven't started. I'll allow Rezé to leave. Now... I've kept my promise. Luna, you will too, right?"
"How petty! Just look away for one day! We can start working hard from tomorrow!"
Luna gritted her teeth.
Ah, if I refuse firmly here, those teeth will dig into my flesh.
But I have no intention of backing down.
One day becomes two, and two days become three.
And three days turn into a lifetime.
As Luna was about to charge at me, and I was about to accept my fate.
"...I said I would do it."
"Huh?"
"I, I said I would train."
"Rezé, you don't have to. It's just the second day of training. There's no need to push yourself."
Luna consoled Rezé, who stood there with her head bowed.
But Rezé firmly shook her head.
"I, I can be helpful, can't I? Even, even me..."
"..."
"If I can be of help to Luna... I'll try. No, no..."
Rezé lifted her head and continued.
"Please, let me do it."
Her words were stuttered, as if it was hard to find the right answer.
But the content was clear.
‘Impressive.’
To assert her opinion so boldly.
Considering Rezé's timid nature, this was a significant event.
‘Is it because of the power of the Magic Gun? Seems like she's gained a bit of confidence.’
Whether she's happy that she can be of help, or shooting the bow was just too hard.
Whatever the reason, it was a good outcome for me.
‘...Well, it's barely a pass.’
I had no choice but to approve.
Rezé's determination was palpable, even through her tightly closed lips.
She even looked us straight in the eye.
Though it's hard to see because of her curtain-like bangs...
It was surprising to see the timid Rezé showing such strong will.
‘Has she grown already?’
Perhaps it won't be long before.
The day Rezé becomes our true companion.
Thump, thump-.
Luna lightly elbowed me in the ribs.
"Hey, are you really going to kick her out? After she's gone to all this effort?"
"Keke, initially, it was Luna who created this situation. Trying to force a child who wants to train to rest."
"Fine~ It's all my fault. Are we done now? So, Rezé is staying with us?"
"Well, let's go with that."
"Great! Rezé! Come here! I saved you!"
"Luna! I'm so moved! To think you'd go to such lengths for me!"
Luna and Rezé embraced each other, beginning to feel their friendship(?).
It's Luna who did wrong, and I who conceded, so why are they thanking Luna?
With my sane mind, I couldn't comprehend the situation.
"Keke, friendship is good, but... wouldn't it be better to warm up first? Since we don't know when Lucia will come."
"Ah, right. Rezé, I understand you're okay but... still, don't overdo it. Got it?"
"Yes! Don't, don't worry!"
And so, the three of us began a simple calisthenics exercise.
National... no, Imperial Citizens' Exercise.
It was filled with stretching movements to relieve muscle tension.
Perfect for a bit of idle chat.
"But what about our Rezé? It doesn't seem like there's much she can learn."
"Keke, Luna. You dropped the subject, so I don't know what you're talking about."
"A friend should understand this much without saying! You get it, right?"
Luna, a friend isn't someone who can read minds, you know?
‘What, is she an alien or something.’
And if that were possible, she would surely be able to read my thoughts right now.
Right? You fool?
Suddenly, Luna's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Did you just insult me?"
...Maybe our Luna is an alien after all.
"Ke, keke... How could that be? I was just thinking how beautiful Luna is today."
"Why bother thinking about something so obvious? Being too pretty is also a problem, I tell you."
Luna mumbled for a moment before continuing.
"Anyway, it's because of the personal instruction. It doesn't concern us, but... I wonder if Lucia knows about Magic Guns? It would be nice if she could give some helpful advice to Rezé..."
It was then I realized what Luna was worried about.
Lucia uses a sword as her main weapon, but she's one of the Empire's Ten Swords.
She would be able to handle most weapons at a knight's level, and both Luna and I could greatly benefit from her help.
'The problem is, that doesn't include Magic Guns.'
It hasn't been long since Magic Guns appeared, but it was evident from her handling it with one hand yesterday.
She was a complete novice.
Destroying two wooden dolls at once?
That was merely obliterating the entire area with an overwhelming amount of mana. Moreover...
'Rezé should be the one teaching Lucia, right?'
Rezé's shooting skills are close to divine.
It should rather be Lucia who receives a lesson or two.
Thus, Rezé cannot expect guidance from Lucia.
But that doesn't mean there's no help to be had.
"Keke, she must know how to increase mana efficiently. Let's ask for advice on that."
"Ah, that would work! It would be a great help to us, right? To think of something that benefits all three of us, including Rezé. I'm such a genius, aren't I?"
"...??"
Luna, do you not realize something's off with what you just said?
How can you be so shameless?
"Um, excuse me..."
While continuing with the exercise, Rezé mumbled timidly.
Oh, right. You noticed something's off too?
Go on, point out what Luna got wrong!
"Um... What have you been talking about since earlier? Why is Lucia..."
"Huh? She came yesterday."
"I know that, but... guidance? What do you mean by that?"
It seems Rezé hadn't heard any of our conversation with Lucia.
She must have been too hurt and out of it.
"Lucia will be helping us with training from today. She'll teach you something useful too. Hehehe! Lucky, right?"
"Heeek!!"
Was Luna's killer smile too murderous?
The idiot hair above Rezé's head began spinning wildly, then she started screaming.
Then she took out a box and hid inside it.
"It's impossible...! This is too much!"
Bang!
Rezé closed the box lid and disappeared in an instant.
What's with this damn rabbit acting up all of a sudden?
I've always wondered, but never more than now, what goes on in that head of hers.
"What the! What did you do again! Anyway, you pervert. You never give me a moment's peace, do you?"
"...You were the one talking, Luna."
That's right. I didn't say a word.
The culprit who made Rezé hide in the box was Luna.
"Hemhem! Is that important now? Finding Rezé is what matters. Hurry up!"
With those words, Luna started rummaging around.
Nagging me to find her quickly was just the icing on the cake.
I wouldn't be surprised if she was angry, but I wasn't upset at all.
'Because that's the kind of girl Luna is.'
A child who knows the value of friendship and cherishes it more than anything, but is too shy to express it.
So she resorts to teasing as her way of showing affection.
'Acting like a young boy... Anyway, isn't it cute?'
That's exactly the situation now.
"What did I do wrong? Was my laugh too loud? Did I talk too much? Maybe my tone was too rude..."
Worrying about losing a newly made friend.
That's just who Luna is, and why I'm not mad.
'Because it's cute.'
Me, being teased?
To me, it's like being bitten by a playful kitten, not even a child... a feisty little kitten.
Just a cute act.
What if it wasn't cute? Well, obviously...
'I would've slaughtered them all.'
Whoa-.
It was when an unknown energy began to gather in my hand.
[Hyper Sense] activated.
Meaning Rezé was hiding nearby.
Soon, I found the box where Rezé was hiding.
Tapping the box lightly, I asked.
"Keke, Miss Rezé, what are you doing here?"
"I, I'm not Rezé? I'm just box number 138 that's commonly found in the training ground?"
I see. So now the training ground has talking boxes.
Then I should just pass by... not likely.
Click-.
"Keke, hello, Miss Box 138?"
Rezé's face turned pale.
Why has she been acting like this?
It's not because she's scared of my face... Ah, it's Luna's killer smile that scared her?
That's possible. I'm sometimes scared of Luna too. Especially her face.
"Keke, I understand being scared of Luna's face... but Miss Rezé, isn't she the friend you chose? Even if you dislike it, you have to endure."
"It's not like that! Luna is cute and beautiful, and pretty!"
Rezé yelled from inside the box.
Then why act like this?
"If you make eye contact with strong people... you, you die!"
...?
What kind of novel idea is this?
"Keke, I don't understand. Why would Lucia want to kill Miss Rezé?"
"With energy! You die from the energy! Being close is hard enough, but if you make eye contact...!"
Thud-.
Perhaps imagining that scene, Rezé collapsed inside the box.
Dying from making eye contact with strong people.
At this rate, she's not a rabbit but a pufferfish, a pufferfish.
What did I say earlier? That she's grown?
That she might soon become a true companion?
Cancel that.
'This pufferfish rabbit...'
Hasn't grown at all.
--TL Notes--
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