202 201. New party.txt (1/2)

I was thrown into chaos by the appearance of the guardians of the sixty layers, but I managed to regain my composure over the course of the night.

Then I rested my body for the next labyrinth search, and the next morning--

Good morning, Miss Uzumi.

What--?

When I opened my eyes, I saw Nosfi at a distance so close that our noses were touching.

I almost screamed at the sheer proximity, but I managed to swallow it. Because if I moved even the slightest bit, our lips were about to touch each other.

'...... Oh, good morning, Nosphy.'

When he returns the greeting in a trembling voice, Nosphy takes it with a smile and replies at a distance.

''It is my pleasure to be presumptuous, but I have prepared breakfast for you.

By moving my eyes only, I find breakfast on the table in my room. Apparently, Nosfi had prepared it for me.

Thank you. I'm getting up now, could you move out of the way of that ......?

Oh, I'm sorry about that.

I take those words with a smile, and Nosfi pulls away from me.

Finally, I am able to sit up, and I can clearly see what the breakfast is. Carefully cut bread, warm soup with red and green vegetables, salad with steamed chicken, and fruit water poured into a wooden cup.

It's definitely not a sumptuous meal that Lord alone could have made.

I was speechless with surprise.

What surprised me wasn't the sumptuousness of the food, but the level of secrecy with which he had arranged all this food while I was asleep. Even with this, my nerves are more sensitive than most people. Ever since I came to the other world, I've always paid attention to what I'm doing even when I'm asleep.

Yet, the full breakfast course was prepared right beside me, and on top of that, I was approached nose to nose.

It's probably because they were preparing it so that they wouldn't wake me up when I was sleeping, but the only thing I can feel from that action is fear.

''Uzumi-sama, do you not like it ......?

Nosfi, who was looking at my mood - her unfathomable ability gave me a chill.

There was no doubt that she was also a talented person in the road class.

'Yea, no, I'm just surprised at how gorgeous you are. Thank you, Nosfi.

Ha, that's a relief. I'm glad. I hope it's to your taste: ....... Then please sit here.

Nosfi invites me to the center table. I sit down as I'm told, overwhelmed by the power of this oddly hard to refuse. Then, Nosfi sat down in front of me and, with a fluid motion, scooped out a spoonful of soup and held it out to me.

Then here you are, Uzumi-sama.

............

What do you want me to do: .......

Am I supposed to continue to suck on that spoon ahhhhh?

I wasn't supposed to be doing anything wrong, but I had the illusion of some kind of guilt building up. All of the skills that have a keen eye for this kind of thing are warning me not to do it, seriously.

Trusting the skills that have helped me many times, I make an escape move.

'Hey, I have to wake up Ryner before breakfast ......!　Also, since we're on the subject, let's call the road too: ......!　After all, meals are better when we eat together. ......!

...... Right. Yes, since we're here.

While the words agreed, there was no doubt that Nosfi was frustrated. He lifted the spoon he had lifted into the air and returned it to the plate of soup, his smile twisted a little.

'Well, then, Nosphy, go get Lord. I'm waking up the liner over there.

Yes, I'll get him right away.

Nosfi walks out of my room.

After confirming this, I quickly approach the bed in the corner of the room. There, a meditating Ryner is lying on it.

I mercilessly grab its head with both hands.

'Ryner, why aren't you awake ......!

But my hands are blocked by Ryner's two hands.

'--Oh, can you get up?!'

I knew he was going to fall asleep at ......!

Ryner wakes up and argues just as desperately as I do.

'Can you get in the air now? ......!　I don't like that one. I hate that one!　Call me if we start doing chores or killing each other!　Then I'll gladly sacrifice myself!

The air that seemed sweet and actually bad for my stomach earlier seemed to be Ryner's weakness.

But it's the same for me. That's why I'd rather have help at a time like now than when killing each other is easy.

'You're my friend!　We're supposed to help each other when we're in trouble!

I was going to, too, but ....... Just not that girl. I felt like if I interrupted you two, it would be terrible!　I'm scared of that guy!　He looks tiny, but he's a doozy on the inside: ......!　Honestly, I don't want to get involved: ......!

While pushing back my arms, Ryner honestly revealed his inner feelings to me.

I know that feeling. I agree with that assessment.

But because I agree, I want Ryner to do something about it: ......!

'No, you don't, ......?　Nosfy, you're a crazy kind girl from all angles, aren't you ......?　So why don't you talk to Nosfi instead of me!

Christ, look at your face in the Dimension!　You don't look like you're talking about some crazy sweet girl!

I suddenly looked at my face in the Dimension.

A very nostalgic expression stuck to me.

It's the same expression as when I was traveling with my friends in the enclosed space called the Living Legend ship in the past.

''-- Hahaha ....... Hey, this is my normal and ......

With a shaky voice, I insist that this has been my normal (default).

Looking back, the last few days have been easy on the stomach.

They were truly restful enough that I could forget my true self: .......

'Normal?　Your sweaty face?

'Yeah. It's been forgotten these past few days, but this was the norm in my otherworldly life. It was normal, Ryner: ......

...... That's right. If that's your daily routine, you can handle Christ alone, can't you? Okay, I'll leave the Nosfies to Christ to deal with.

'You're telling me this because it's not okay: ......!　Please, get between me and Nosfies and be a buffer: ......!

Buffer!　Isn't that crushing me?!

...... Honestly, I can't guarantee your safety.

”Ugh--!

Ryner also returned to his old expression.

The spare expression he often showed on the ground - that is, his usual face.

And with a cold sweat, Ryner makes a decision.

--the decision to use magic.

'...... and I still don't like it!　I don't want to die a victim of a lover's entanglements, not even for me!　It's not knightly!　--WIND!

You're not getting away!　--magic 《difault》 Oh!

The fight begins to be non-negotiable.

Ryner uses the force of the wind to his advantage, trying to break free of my restraints and escape to the window of the room. However, I read through the move. I immediately use my dimensional compression magic to shift the distance and pull the fleeing Ryner closer. Then, I grab both of his arms again and bring them back to a muscle power contest.

We've already figured out each other's muscle strength numbers in the 'display'.

If it's a simple shoving match, I have the advantage.

Oh, I have no hesitation in letting Ryner be a roadblock at this point--!

You can't make me do it!　--Ixwind!

'Ha, I knew it!　Don't think you can win a one-on-one magical battle against me, lineaaaaah!

Ryner tries to detonate his trapped arm with the magic of the wind. However, I've experienced that self-destructive strategy many times. I'm grasping the timing of the magic with the 《Dimension》, I let go of my hand just in time for the wind of the 《Ixwind》 to be generated - and immediately grab it back.

”d*mn, seriously--!　You're a woman-crying piece of junk, and you're so strong for nothing!

Don't tell me you're crying girl!　I don't remember making you cry!　Because I can't remember!

'That statement sounds scummy!　I know the Walker lady and all that crying!

'It was Snow's fault!　And while Snow may have made me cry, Nosfy didn't!　--That's right, maybe!

”Blame shifting and changing the subject--!　The quintessential Christ!

I'm honestly heartbroken by the evaluation of me that Ryner had deep down in his heart.

But I keep my heart strong and don't let Reiner go.

If I let him go, I'll be back to living alone with a hole in my stomach. I don't want to do that.

I won't make that mistake again.

That's what I thought many times during my life on the boat.

I definitely have friends of the same s*x: ......!　They're there: ......!

Let me go, Rainer...!

I'm running away!　Let's get out of here!　Christ-o--!

Ryner and I are both beyond the 20th level of existence.

If we were on earth, we would have reached a realm where we would be feared as 'monsters' rather than 'heroes'.

Hence, even though it's a skirmish in a small room, it develops into a fierce battle.

It's not just a matter of how fast they grab you, it's also an exchange of insults using advanced body techniques. When super-fast magic construction is carried out, the best way to deal with it is to use your super grasp to detect the magic.

The divine deeds fly at god's speed.

The shameful thing is that there was no doubt that this battle was at the highest level in the world.

From this fact, one feels a strange sense of emptiness and sadness.

But at the same time, I also feel a strange sense of relief. Ryner's self-sacrificing spirit is eased in an unexpected way. But I didn't want to feel Ryner's growth through this.

I would have liked a cooler scene - for example, when he was in a pinch after fighting a strong enemy in a labyrinth search.

And when the battle between the Wind Knight and the dimensional wizard was about to reach a climax.