Chapter 356: How To Awaken A Seika? (1/2)

”Seika, I think he's dead for real this time,” Rosa muttered as Gruen didn't stand up again. ”There was a breaking sound earlier.”

”His bones may be broken, but not his spirit!” Arthur tried to patch it up, but this was beyond simple patching. This matter was full of holes. As he wondered if the dwarf died, the man in question rose again while coughing dirt.

”I'll bake you!” The dwarf roared as he stood up and ran toward the machine.

”Oh damn, he's alive?” Rosa muttered as the dwarf passed by them. Arthur slapped his back lightly as he passed by, and the dwarf's body glowed. ”What did you do?” The assistant asked.

”Oh, just healed his broken bones. He's pumping with so much adrenaline that he can't feel a thing.” Arthur looked at Gruen, who was hugging the arm of the mecha with amazement.

”Are you... a spellcaster?” Rosa asked with a frown, and Arthur turned to her with puzzlement. ”The fairy tale,” Rosa's cheeks blushed. ”The one about that spellcaster, capable of teaching others magic.”

”That's just a fairy tale.” Arthur shook his head as he turned toward the dwarf, who was getting calmer and more creative. He pulled Rosa back and threw up the barrier. ”There's no such thing as spells.”

”I see... why don't you give Gruen a barrier too?”

”I want him to face his death,” Arthur said, which made Rosa look at him with shock. ”Of course, I want him to live. It's just that awakening can't be achieved through a normal mindset.”

”What sort of mindset can it be awakened through?”

”You see,” Arthur's voice was distant. ”Pain is a powerful incentive to change.”

”AGH!” Gruen screamed as the mecha waved its arm. The giant machine slammed him to the wall, where he let go of the mecha and fell.

”It's futile. He can't win.” Rosa shook her head, her black ponytail swinging along. ”He'll just die if he keeps trying.”

”He doesn't need to win but to awaken.”

”Can't you see his body covered in wounds?” Rosa snapped at him. ”I'm going to help him.” She said as she dashed forward before something ethereal wrapped around her body, making her fall.

”Don't interfere.” Arthur walked toward her and crouched beside her. ”You might not believe in him, but I do.”

”You just believe what brings you benefits.”

”That's also a way to look at it. I'm an optimist, after all.” Arthur nodded with a grin. ”Just sit back and let the guy have a go at it.”

”You're grinning now?” Rosa looked at him with distaste. ”You're enjoying this, aren't you?”

”You have a sharp tongue for an assistant.” Arthur sat in a lotus shape and looked at the battle. ”And it doesn't sit well with your idealistic beliefs about peace and battle.”

”If we can avoid battle, why choose it?”

”Because it makes us grow stronger. Look at this guy. He's standing up livelier the more he gets beaten up.”  Arthur pointed at Gruen. ”Didn't you notice that he never tried to run away or ask for help? The greenhorn knows he can't stay like that forever.”

”Foolish,” Rosa said with a complex gaze. Arthur turned toward her with interest.

”These ideals of peace don't stem from an ideology, but an experience.” He stared at Rosa's frowning face with squinting eyes. ”From a traumatic experience.”

”It doesn't change anything,” Rosa said as she struggled to break free but gave up when she realized she could not. ”This is your choice, Seika. You either save him or let him die.”

”And it would decide whether you'll work for me or not?” Arthur asked with a hint of amusement.

”Yes,” The blacksmith apprentice nodded without hesitation. Arthur didn't pay them cheaply, so such determination was beyond his understanding.

”Suit yourself,” Arthur said and turned toward the fight. The mecha was turning Gruen into a bloody pulp. Without his mana, the dwarf would have kicked the bucket long ago. Yet, even with his body breaking and his cowardice, the dwarf's will didn't break.

'I chose well,' Arthur was satisfied by Gruen's unbreakable will. He looked at the ground and saw metallic bits shake. 'It's close.'

However, his disappointment wasn't late to arrive. After the mecha slammed the dwarf for what seemed like the hundredth time, Gruen didn't stand up again. He passed out without awakening.

***

”All for nothing,” Rosa spat as Arthur placed Gruen down on the bed in his house. ”He just suffered for nothing. You were wrong, Seika.”

”What happened to your timid personality? I liked it better.” Arthur grumbled as he kept healing the dwarf's wounds. Even though they were healing rapidly, some of his bones were broken beyond recognition.

He didn't even look like the same person.