Chapter 14 (1/2)

Helium, 14th Chapter: What Power is

With the sun completely set, the area was illuminated by the meagre light of the s.h.i.+ning moon and the light of some burning twigs.

White smoke was wafting into the sky. The stars in the night sky were clearly visible through the widened interstices of the trees.

“The cosmos is as usual…”

‘Is Earth somewhere among these stars? Or somewhere beyond?’ s.h.i.+n mused, deeply moved.

Because a fire would attract beasts and monsters, they decided to take turns at night watch.

There would be plenty of spots where he could sleep if he were traveling by himself, yet he was now here gazing at the usual sky and thinking of the Force Hacker members he had left behind on Earth.

Suddenly, rustling sounded from behind. Frey must have woken up.

It was the sound of a rug made of some beast’s hide rubbing against gravel.

“I can’t really sleep after all. It’s been so long since I last slept out in the open with someone else.”

“Are you uneasy because it’s me? If some big monster comes out, the first thing I’ll do is wake you up.”

“Fu… I’m not too worried about that; but yeah, wake me up when that happens.”

Exchanging those frivolous words with s.h.i.+n, Frey sat on a somewhat large rock facing him.

Her bare legs, s.h.i.+ning under the moonlight, engendered quite a charm.

Troubled for where to look in the presence of such a sight of Frey, s.h.i.+n withdrew his gaze and turned his face to the riverside.

“s.h.i.+n, you won’t come ‘attack’ me, right?”

Hit so suddenly with such crazy words by Frey, s.h.i.+n unintentionally turned his head.

“No, I mean… traveling together with a man, and sleeping out in the open… those kinds of things tend to happen.”

“I see… and what would, er, you do?”

s.h.i.+n didn’t comprehend as to what Frey’s words implied.

‘Is she really seeking insurance against an ‘attack’? Or is she a woman with ‘that’ hobby?’

Even on Earth, such occurrences were not uncommon.

Abusing one’s power to satiate one’s l.u.s.t.

It could happen regardless of gender. This might also be a natural providence called the law of the jungle.

“Frey would be fine. Well, I would beat the c.r.a.p out of them.”

“…Well, well. You’re not just pretty, you’re strong, too.”

“You think I’m pretty?”

‘What’s her aim? I don’t get it at all.’

“Well, you fit the bill. Without a doubt.”

“You think I’m strong?”

“I guess…”

“But it’s something I was born with. No matter how great, it’s not mine.”

He couldn’t get what she was saying at all.

Granted, her looks were something she inherited, so she was not off. However, wasn’t Frey’s power something she acquired on her own?

If anything, s.h.i.+n’s power, which was something that could only be achieved through the technology that exceeded the bounds of science, was not his.