Chapter 333
Chapter 333: The biggest question is whether Mark II should be followed by Mark III or Z.
Day 79 – Evening, Adventurers’ Guild, Training Grounds.
Haruka-kun and company seem to have finished things early and came here. Finishing early, they went all the way to 50F and came back. Even though everyone worked so hard to end up somewhere near a 30th floor…
They are simply practicing on the Guild’s training grounds, but the spectators are very excited.
There, flashes of silver dance like a raging blizzard. Is this some sort of bullying?
Angelica sends out slashes while Nefertiri hurls chains, as Haruka frantically dodges and evades while running around. Did he get himself in trouble with them again?
Doesn’t seem to be the case though. Looks like they are giving him pointers.
As he clashes blades with Angelica, Nefertiri strikes his weak spots with her chains. Calling this training feels like an understatement, it looks more like abuse… Yet, for some reason, Angelica and Nefertiri seem to be enjoying themselves! Even Slime-san seems eager to join in, but a person capable of dodging attacks from those three at the same time, even if in training, probably doesn’t need any practice.
「Whoa! Although you keep ignoring me when I keep telling you to wait-wait-wait-wait, without stopping even once, but how about actually stopping for once? Or rather, this is just impossible, more impossible than Murimuri Castle… (*BONK*)」
Haruka-kun’s is moving like a normal person. His movements, while blurry from the excessively fast, almost instantaneous movement, can still be followed with eyes. Those incomprehensible instant motions have vanished, instead replaced by ordinary movements with rhythm and tempo. But isn’t he… Weaker now?
His movements that were impossible to follow with eyes or even mind have lost that illusion-like nature. His current movements while fast and include some instantaneous motions are just a simple swordsmanship. That’s why they can be traced and predicted. And with low Physical stats his SpE is also low, so eyes can follow them regardless of how insanely advanced or quick the technique may be.
「He is… Weaker, right?」
「Yeah… But… We now might have a chance at beating him.」
「At the very least, we could fight that, and if we fought, we might win due to the difference in stats?」
「Yeeeah~. At that rate we might~ end up hitting him~, and if we did~, he’ll die, wouldn’t he~?」
「Maybe he is injured? Or doesn’t feel well?」
「Even so, he is unbelievably strong for Lv 23.」
「「「But… We could win versus him now. We can!!」」」
He is fast and strong, but all stats receive a drastic increase one you hit level 100. That’s why if we can see and follow his movements the difference in stats will do the rest. That’s why we surely should be able to win. That Haruka-kun will end up losing to us…
Stepping forward while leaving the body behind—this single step erases the distance, closing the gap in an instant. But—it’s visible.
Then, the body returns, following a twisting motion. A perfected, efficient movement that builds up power in just a single step. And yet—it’s predictable.
In the next fleeting moment, a flash of the blade flows—a supersonic slash. Still, that’s just a sword technique, even if it’s unbelievably sophisticated, that difference in speed can be compensated with stats.
It’s simple, really, just let him attack first and then cut him down. If the attack lands properly, Haruka-kun wouldn’t be able to move. And in that instant he can be struck, he’ll end up receiving a blow…
At that rate we can win by simply ramming at him, but even more importantly, if it’s vanguard jobs we are talking about, that momentary pause is an opening they will be able to exploit with certainty.
If we fought, we can easily defeat him, we’ll end up easily defeating him. Defeating that Haruka-kun, who was so strong… So fast it was already over by the time you saw it, moving in a way impossible to comprehend, who’d beat his opponents senseless without giving them even a chance to resist, that Haruka-kun who was protecting everyone all this time… Was this weak.
Even though we knew it, he barely reached Lv23 after all.
That’s the level of an apprentice adventurer. He just finally reached the level of strength of someone who would be following a party around, learning the ropes while being protected, an of course, dungeon would be completely out of question. Although wielding absurd skills and possessing astounding technique and speed of thought, this is the physical ability (stats) of level 23.
Skillful technique, impossible for others to imitate, solid decision making ability, and sharp insight backed by rich experience, hence his title of 『Sword Master』. But he is slow and weak. Because such are the stats of a level 23. But even those movements should be faster than those of a level 30, no, he surely could keep up even with level 40, but level 50… might be too much to keep up.
「He was fighting with those stats… He wasn’t strong at all…」
「And that’s why we decided to protect him! Decided to… but… I was allowing him to fight all this time with such fragile body…!」
「We were convinced that he is strong… That those stats are some sort of a lie. That they actually bear no meaning for Haruka-kun. Even though there is no way that could’ve been true.」
「He must’ve reached his limit. His body can’t keep up with his own skills anymore…」
「But! But until now… All this time until now… Why? Why do such a cruel thing to Haruka-kun?!」
「Enough. It’s enough already. We were protected for long enough, there is no need for him to become any stronger. I’ll become stronger, so please…」
The boys have went somewhere too, they looked really pissed. They were outraged at themselves, since it was everyone’s powerlessness that has driven him so far. He kept going all this time despite being so weak… All this time…
That’s why we have to put an end to it.
「He doesn’t have to fight anymore, he worked hard enough and did enough reckless stuff in order to protect everyone.」
「「「That’s right, we have to stop this. Before it’s too late!」」」
Asking Angelica-san, we challenged Haruka-kun to a spar. Naturally, the weapons are wooden sticks. But we are going to fight seriously, because we have to convey to him properly that it has been enough.
And that’s why I’m going to first. Everyone is raring to go……Since everyone wants to tell him the same thing. That’s fine already, that we are really thankful for everything he’s done… And that from now on we’ll surely protect him without a fail!
That’s why… We can’t afford to cry until it’s all over.
「Then let’s get going, or rather, are you sure you want to go one by one? Eehm, it’s 26 people today, wait, Dungeon Emperors don’t need to queue! Haven’t you beaten up me enough already?!! Fine, what about the babysitters’ squad? Haven’t come? Ah, it’s going to be Elven Sister’s first spar, I wonder if we’ll get any fortunate wardrobe accidents… Wait, she is in full armor! What a way to crush an innocent highschool boy’s hopes and dreams. Kind of?」
「Then… Here I come. Haruka-kun…」
And because I’m taking this seriously… I instantly close the distance before Haruka-kun escape, jumping with Shikuchi from acceleration. I must convey to Haruka-kun that we were able to grow this strong thanks to his protection, that it’s all fine now. That’s why… Eh?
「「「…Huh?」」」
Slow. So despairingly slow. Even with that astounding technique and reflexes the movements themselves are fatally slow… And yet… I can’t hit him?
Why?
Attacks don’t connect. They miss… by just a tiny margin. Even when I throw myself at him, resolved to land a blow at a cost of taking one myself… I can’t even graze him? I can see his movements, and they are incredibly slow, and yet I can’t land a hit?
And his counterattack is also slow. Obvious strikes, slow swings. I can see them, and above all, since they come with wind-up motions they become even more transparent. That’s why I’m evading and fending them off, and yet… I’m cornered and struck before I could even notice?
We kept taking turns but everyone ended up annihilated, even with two, or three people coming at the same time, we still couldn’t touch him. In the end, all 24 of us tried attacking him together, but still ended up getting beaten?
But he was weak. Slow and lacking sharpness, with both offense and defense transparently obvious. Everyone got beaten up completely clueless to what is going on, without anything even hinting that we could’ve lost. Even so, he has undoubtedly gotten weaker… And yet, we couldn’t win. We just got ourselves one-sidedly beaten up.
「「「Whaaat?」」」
「Good job. Yeah, that was a good practice? I mean, Armored Pres-san and Dancing Girl-san don’t know how to go easy, so survival ends up taking priority over training. It sort of went past being a practice into a serious beating with no mercy given over sorrowful eyes, or a threat of crossing to the other side, totally losing the initial intention, and mainly focusing on thorough beating. Totally didn’t feel like a spar at all. So, yeah, this time, I tried being the one dishing out beatings?」
We got beaten. Eh? Everyone was determined and serious to tell him 『Thank You』for everything until now. But they are crying now.
But we must become stronger. Although we were unable to win, there is not a shadow of a doubt that he is fatally weak.
He is definitely merely covering it up by doing something incomprehensible that never occurred to anyone before, but nothing changed since he came to this world, he is still just as weak. He kept fighting in such a state ever since the time in that forest. That’s why we have to become stronger.
I’m sure the boys are frantically training by now. We too… Will start training as soon as we stop crying! That’s why for now… Just for now…
「「「What the hell was that all about!」」」
When we returned to the inn Haruka-kun was already busy cooking. I can’t stop thinking about that, but this has my attention too. Wait, that’s not a BBQ, it’s yakiniku! I mean, he even has marinade prepared!
「I think it’s some sort of foresight and calculation-type something, but… To be unable to get him even with all of us going at once…?」
He already started rubbing marinade into the meat……Or rather, Magic Hands are working on it.
「At the very least, we made sure do dispel illusions, so that has to be some sort of martial art or technique.」
He’s placed the meat on the grill, ready for cooking, and has applied oil to ensure it’s prepared perfectly. Slowly, the smoke begins to rise… And then its moved out with 『Holding』!
「Didn’t you feel like your movements were sort of guided? I felt strangely sluggish?」
Right, vegetables are very important too. That rough, chopped-up look is the key part, and there are mushrooms in there too.
「But we also nullified abnormal status effects too? We shouldn’t have been under effect of any magic or skill.」
AAAAAAH! That sound! The juicy meat is sizzling like crazy! The meat! The meat!! The sizzling meat juices are?!
「「「Pres!」」」
I got scolded. But I couldn’t take it anymore, everyone could somewhat resist it because their stood with their backs turned, but I had to watch it all, and was already on the brink of crying from overwhelming temptation. Because it’s grated apple and garlic, that’s the secret sauce recipe from my home, that I casually mentioned to Haruka-kun sometime back in the ordinary day. But he remembered it all this time, and he made it. He once again gave me back something that I long thought to be completely out of reach by now.
The children are silently watching the meat cook, swallowing their saliva as they wait. Kakizaki-kun and the others are already holding out buckets, waiting.
I’m sure no amount of thinking will help to understand this, and even if we tried to ask him, he would just dodge the question. After all, when Haruka-kun is suffering he just puts up a nonchalant front and doesn’t say anything, I mean, he doesn’t make any sense even when things are alright. So he certainly won’t reveal anything.
If we really want to get it out of him, there is no other way but to beat him. Until that day, until we can beat him, and tell him that it’s alright, that we’ve became strong… He definitely isn’t going to give up. That’s why he definitely won’t reveal anything to us.
「The meat’s cooked, so you can all fight over it, but this one’s for the orphans, so don’t take it! Hey, raccoon! You share is over there! You can have as much rice as you want from the pot, but there’s only 100kg of meat… So, scramble for it? I guess?」
「「「「Let’s diiig in!」」」」
Kyaaaa! ………..NOMNOMNOM…..MUNCHMUNCHMUNCH……………NOMNOM, GULP…NOMNOM.
Everyone was too busy crying for happiness to say anything.
And now, completely stuffed, we were floating in the bath. I guess it’s one more set for us later?
「That was great~.」
「「「We didn’t expect BBQ-san!」」」
「Rice and BBQ-san’s combination (coordinated consecutive attack) totally got us.」
「Now that I think of it, for 1kg of meat per person to be not enough…」
「「「We were too absorbed in fighting for it that we didn’t notice! ONE MORE SET!」」」
「「「ONE MORE SET! ONE MORE SET! ONE MORE SET!」」」
「「「One moar set, one moar set?」」」
The children don’t have to do it though? It’s a bit too early for them.
After the bath, a wave of surprised delight erupts. Angelica and Nefertiri are handing it out.
Haruka-kun had sent everyone a set of upgraded underwear, and by testing it and providing feedback, there was a chance he’d consider holding a second bra fitting session.The current version was already so comfortable that not only did it make you forget you were wearing a bra, but even in battle, you could forget your chest existed altogether. And now, an even more improved version. But if they could suggest further refinements, an even more advanced evolution of the bra could be created! It would surely be a bra that, just by wearing it, would wrap the wearer in pure bliss.
「He diligently improved on the design, and frills, too, have gotten more intricate, it’s super cute now?」
「This lacework goes beyond modern technology, it’s a work of art at this point.」
「It’s so dope! The fabric’s elasticity has been adjusted in every area. Even the way it’s layered allows to move more freely……」
「Even straps are entirely lace……It’s 『Battle』Underwear!」
「Well……The other party is monsters though? In a way it’s certainly a battle every day…」
Along with new and improved Bra Mk II, they also handed out matching panties, both of which with magical barrier effects for emergencies. And what an amazing quality. They look cute, gorgeous, and also have a luxurious, rich feel. And the comfort is beyond ultimate—it was an innovation that surpassed everything! At this point it’s a divine artefact, combining cutting-edge magical technology, sewing craftsmanship, and science!
However, it seems that the technology from Bikini Armor was used here. In exchange for lowering the strength of the barrier, it became possible for the underwear to just barely survive intact. But clothes and armor would be destroyed anyway. …In case of an emergency it could save one’s life, moreover, at least underwear should remain. …But even so?
But they’re cute, wonderful, and even come with spares, two tops and five bottoms in various patterns, all in Multicolor. Moreover, if there are any complaints, it seems an Mk II Revised is already being considered. Even so, Angelica-san and Nefertiri-san’s Mk III, created with 『Wisdom』‘s revolutionary technological insight easily surpasses the Mk II. But the measurement technology has also been revolutionized, with Magic Hands pushing all the way to the peak of true heaven beyond hell and into the afterlife? Review based on actual experience.
But right now, everyone is so happy that a show-off contest has started. Along with the new nightgowns, that everyone kept requesting non stop.I mean, it’s not fair that Angelica and Nefertiri are getting all the fun stuff!
I see. This is daily life in the Frontier. We are back to the ordinary days where you come back and say “I’m home”. Delicious meals, bathhouse girl talk about underwear, then do your best exploring dungeons the next day. Everyone made it back.
「Wow, shorts fit so well, it’s like they are fusing with my butt. Even though there is also a lift-up effect, I can’t feel it at all?!」
「「「That’s some real magic!」」」
The magic of the wizard who was transported to this world is delicious meals, cute clothes and underwear, and a warm bed. It is magic meant to bring happiness to everyone.
That’s why we want to be able to tell him that he doesn’t have to fight anymore. Because using such marvelous magic for something as silly as fighting is just a waste! We can’t let him to keep fighting… Because his limit was already there.
That’s why we’ll become strong enough that Haruka-kun, who always pushes past his limits, can finally feel at ease. That’s all that matters. From the very beginning, that was the goal of our girls’ group. After all, Haruka-kun originally just wanted a peaceful retirement… though, if we actually let him retire, he’d probably end up wandering the land and causing some grand massacre or something?
NEXT CHAPTER
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