Chapter 36 - Volume 4 (1/2)

Chapter 6 : Shia, Grand Battle of One’s Lifetime

ZUGANn! DOGHA! BAKI BAKI BAKI! DOGUSHA!

Tremendous sounds of destruction could be heard inside the Sea of Trees. Some trees could be witnessed, broken in two. There were craters scattered here and there that can be seen on the surface as if meteors fell into it. Furthermore some trees are burning while some are frozen.

The cause of such devastation against nature are two girls. Even now, the destruction is still ongoing.

“Deeyaaaa(Take this)!!”

A tree with a diameter of one meter was shot out along with the ear-splitting yell. It broke in the middle and flew into the target with great speed. With definite mass and speed. A brutal power of destruction was given to the rather mundane tree, carrying devastation across its wake.

“… … “Scarlet Spear””

It was a spear of flame that burns its target and everything in front of it into ash. Even objects with huge mass will be burned if touched by it. It countered the log that moves like a cannonball and turned it into ashes fluttering in the air.

“Not yet!”

The shockwave created by the collision between the thrown “Scarlet Spear” and log, dispersed the fog, and on the other side of the fog, a running silhouette could be seen. Immediately, a log falls from the sky like a meteor and pierces the ground with a sound of thunder. Backstepping, its target escapes from the range of the shock wave then once again the spear of flame was released.

However, the silhouette rushed out from the fog in high speed and then a strong flying kick attacked the log that pierced the ground. It’s unknown where the power came from but the log that received the kick was explosively smashed, and from it came splinters that shot at the target.

“kh! “Fire Castle””

Suddenly a wall of flame that can be called a rampart came out to block the improvised shots that come flying, not even one shot was able to reach its target.

However…

“Got youu!”

“Kh!”

At that time the silhouette already moved behind her. After shooting the improvised shots that acted as a splendid distraction, she once again slips into the fog. Her hand grasped the hammer that could be called ultraweight class, immediately, a powerful wind descended.

“”Wind Wall””

A fierce impact from the Sledge Hammer struck the ground and crushed it. From the impact, stones were shot out and scattered in every direction. However, her target was able to block that terrific attack, and scattered it using the blowing wind coming from the wind barrier, because it immediately retreated into the safe area. In addition, after activating this skill, the target fired another magic without mercy at the other party that is a goner, because of post-skill rigidity.

“”Frozen Coffin””

“Fue! W-wa-!”

When she noticed her target’s magic, she desperately cried out for it to stop, but there is no need to hear that, because the law of no-talking-is-necessary was in place. The attacker tried to get away from her location but the ice magic instantly started to freeze her feet… … and resulted in her whole body turning into a chunk of ice, except the head.

“Co-cold~, please hurry release it~, Yue-sa~n”

“… … My victory”

That’s right, the two who kept fighting without any discussion were Yue and Shia. Today was the start of their tenth day’s training, a mock combat as the final test. The rule was that it’ll be Shia’s victory if she was able to damage Yue even a little. The result…

“Uu~, that is~, eh, that! Yue-san’s cheek! There is a scratch! A scratch! My attack hit! Ahaha~, I did it! It’s my win!”

Certainly, there is a small scratch on Yue’s cheek. Probably it came from a piece of rocky debris that broke through Yue’s defense. Even though it was a really small scratch, a wound is a wound. It was Shia’s victory. After pointing that out, Shia’s face looked overjoyed by it. She revealed a big smile, although her body was cold and her nose was running. Her rabbit ears twitched happily. No wonder, there is an important promise she made with Yue in this training graduation’s battle after all.

Also, for Yue, that promise is not something amusing. Therefore,

“… … there is no wound”

It was a good thing that the wound disappeared immediately because of “Auto Regen”. She sulkily turn her head with a hmpf.

“W-wa-!? It’s unfair! Certainly the scratch… … no, even though there is nothing now! There certainly was! It’s cruel to cheat! Now that I said it, please remove the magic already~. It’s been cold since a while ago… … huh, somehow I’m becoming sleepy…”

From the cold and runny nose, Shia begins to doze off. You’ll die if you sleep! That’s her current situation. Yue, who was peeking at that appearance let out a deep sigh while thinking it must not be continued in her heart, removed her magic.

“Pikchi-! Pikchi! Auu, it’s co~ld. I almost became a rabbit that can’t return (to life)”

After a lovely sneeze, she covers her nose with a nearby leaf. Shia then looked at Yue with seriousness in her eyes. Yue made an unpleasant expression because of her gaze. Her expressionlessness collapsed because of that unpleasant expression.

“Yue-san. I’ve won.”

“… … … … … … Nn.”

“It is a promise, right?”

“… … … … … … … … Nn.”

“If, I can win at least once in the ten days… … I’ll be taken along on Hajime-san and Yue-san’s travels, right?”

“… … … … … … … … … … Nn.”

“At the very least, you’ll help to convince Hajime-san, right?”

“… … … … … … … … … … Today’s breakfast, what is it?”

“Waiiit! What’s with sudden change of topic! Moreover, it was light! Yue-san, aren’t you okay as long as there is Hajime-san’s blood! What’s with you asking about breakfast! Please be my ally already! If I have Yue-san as an ally, it’s already 90% OK”

Shia makes gya- gya- noises, Yue looked at that expression that came from the bottom of her heart.

As Shia said, Yue had promised her. That is, Yue said to Shia, only if she was able to damage her in the mock combat even with a small injury within ten days. If she did it, Yue must acknowledge and allow Shia to travel along with her and Hajime. Also, Yue must help Shia persuade Hajime when she asks him.

Shia seriously wanted to come along with Hajime and Yue. Half of it because she didn’t want to become a burden to her family, while the other half simply because she wanted to be together with Hajime and Yue, and to get along with the two.

However, her wish was refused coldly. Even now that can be seen from Hajime and Yue’s attitude. At that time, what Shia thought of was the promise from before.

In Shia’s eyes, Hajime somehow pampered Yue by fulfilling her expectations. Above all, Shia is a woman. She understood Yue’s feelings toward Hajime. Naturally it was because she also has the same feelings. So, the reverse is also true. Yue also understood Shia’s feelings. That’s why, first of all it was necessary to make Yue acknowledge Shia Haulia’s existence.

It’s not like Shia wanted to take Hajime from Yue. She didn’t think about that at all. What she wanted from Hajime was to acknowledge her existence just like Yue, even a little. That was probably because of the world’s influence that made them the “same”. In other words, she only wanted to be “friends” with them. So that there’ll be someone she love and a friend who also love that person by her side. That’s the kind of future that Shia dreamt of.

On the other hand, about why Yue exchanged that promise to Shia, even though there were no merits in it for Yue. 20% of it was because she felt sympathy to her. When she heard Shia’s story for the first time inside the Raisen Grand Canyon, even though she developed complex feelings because her circumstances were comparatively better than her own, somewhere in her heart she can’t deny the feeling that they are the “same” that sprung up. Because she thinks of her as a comrade even if a little, she “pampered” Shia.

The other 80% was… … woman’s obstinacy. Yue was able to grasp Shia’s promise. That is,

“Please see it for yourself if I’ll just be a burden. Even if it’s impossible, please notice that I’m able to be beside Hajime”.

It was a challenge to fight over the man she loves. She didn’t think such a woman could exist near her. However, when she thought Shia who was the “same” as her as an opponent, along with Shia’s enthusiastic appearance and terrific concentration, in the depths of her heart she thought it was impossible to keep silent.

As a result, the match of promise was won by Shia.

“… … haa. I understand. I’ll defend the promise…”

“Really!? As expected, the~re is no need to stop~! Please defend it well!”

“… … … … … … … …Nn”

“Somehow, I think there was a strange pause… Will you really take care of it?”

“… … persistent”

Reluctantly, tru~ly with reluctant feelings, Yue admitted Shia’s victory. Shia was a little uneasy about Yue’s answer but left it behind and continued with expressions of relief and joy, because she knew that Yue was the same as Hajime in the fact that she won’t abandon her promises.

Slowly, the training of Haulia tribe by Hajime came to an end. The gloomy Yue and cheerful Shia were returning to Hajime and the others.

* * *

When Yue and Shia arrived at the place Hajime was at, Hajime had his eyes closed, and arms crossed while leaning on the nearby tree.

Maybe because he noticed the two’s presence, Hajime slowly opened his eyes and turned to them. While dubiously looking at the two with completely opposite moods, he raised one hand and called out to them.

“Yo, both of you. Did the match end?”

Hajime had heard there was a bet between the two for the match. Hajime was the one who prepared Shia’s ultraweight Sledgehammer. The Shia who, with an eager expression wanted to defeat Yue, and asked him for a new weapon still fresh in his memory, because Yue herself didn’t object to it. Although the contents of the bet weren’t known and they wouldn’t tell him anyway, also because it wouldn’t be a disadvantage for Yue, he made it.

Actually, Hajime thought, if Yue and Shia fought 8-9 out of 10 cases would end up with Yue’s victory. He already understood Yue’s ability in the Abyss. No matter if Shia was able to directly use magic, she who was immersed in peace until now is different from them.

However, from their expressions, Hajime was internally surprised that his expectations were overthrown. Shia cheerfully talked to Hajime.

“Hajime-san! Hajime-san! Please hear me out! I, was finally able to win against Yue! It’s a big victory! Well~, I want to show it to Hajime-san~, my magnificent fight! The time when Yue-san admits def-hebu!?”

Shia tried to explain how their match settled with gestures. But because she got too into it, Yue’s jumping slap came and with a “dosha” she was blown away, and crashed into the ground while spinning. It was so strong that she could only twitch without any signs of getting up.

Yue turned around with hmpf in a bad mood, then Hajime asked her in a wry smile.

“Well? What happened?”

Rather than the match’s result, Hajime was asking about the content. Honestly, the fact that Yue was defeated is not something he can believe easily. No matter who looked at Yue and Shia, without knowing what had happened, would only think that it was a lie.

Yue who exude the aura that she doesn’t want to talk about it didn’t want to hide it, reluctantly she answered Hajime’s question.

“… … her magic aptitude is steady like Hajime”

“That’s good, or else it’ll be waste of a treasure… … then? That’s not all, right? To be pestered by a Sledgehammer of that level…”