157 153. Once you meet twice, you cannot understand everything (2/2)

”And?　If you're going to do any more, it's going to be a joke, but what are you going to do?

”You say that?　I'm making it look like they're going to cut at me at any moment.

”That's the emotional part of me. Hold up. This is the rational part of me we're talking about. You fought and found out. If you do any more, one of you will definitely get hurt badly. I'm not denying that. But we have important work to do, too. I know it's a bad idea to take risks where we don't have to.

There could not be a better time to stop the fight than now.

You can be sure that any more damage will be done to each other.

If it's a small wound, or a wound that can be reversed, that's fine.

But I know it from fighting.

This is the divide, and the next time the battle starts, we'll have a real shot.

Hmmm, I'd like to fight, but if the situation doesn't allow it, then backing off is a good idea....... Yes, let's stop here. The dark elf lady and the scary fallen angel sister behind you are about to get numb.

”You seem to be very understanding. Couldn't you have been the first one to get that understanding?

As you said, emotion and reason are not the same thing. I was still in a position to put emotions first, so this is how I fought. Isn't that a good way to introduce myself?

”Huh?　How. I get it, you're a battle-hungry hedonist.

I can't help but hear a strident voice coming out of my mouth, but Yuuji smiles and says that's enough for me, and sheathes his rapier.

He gestures that the fight is over and says he has nothing in his hands to show for it.

You can't cut into it, and you suppress your feelings of incompleteness because your reasoning knows that any more fights are dangerous, so you cluck your tongue to show some annoyance at the gesture in front of you and put the mineral tree behind your back.

You've seen my sword, too.　I think I got a good stab at it, if I do say so myself.

”What we eat is what we get.

I can't tell you how many times I've tried to break my wrist, too.

”Well said, it would have been a clean break.

We'll exchange sarcastic remarks, cool down the heat of battle, and finally be able to have a decent conversation.

You're still making a bad first impression because of all the crazy things you've done since the beginning, but you're still not going to fight someone who doesn't want to fight.

And then?　Are you going to call yourself that?

If you don't have it, go home,” he said, and clapped his hands as if to say, ”I remember now.

I've never heard of your name.

”Well, some a**h*le just said to me that he was introducing himself and then cut me off.

Yes, and I think you're pretty fond of me for going along with it, too, right?

Yuuo's words were a bit reluctant, but I won't deny it.

Whatever happened, I was enjoying that battle.

That fact is unwavering.

So, I will neither deny nor affirm it by remaining silent.

With a smile on his face, the man put his right hand on his chest and slowly bowed his head and began to say his name.

I'm Carter Isperio, deputy knight commander under the Earl of Calicetera.

I'm going to be the one to respond to the gesture of a nobleman who is well versed in civility, and I'm going to respond in my own way and say my name back.

I'm Jiro Tanaka, I'm a dungeon tester for this company.

I would never say hello to you.

That's how bad the first impression is, but there's another reason to be blunt.

That in itself is my personal problem, so I won't say it here, but I'm not going to change my attitude.

”And then?　May I ask how the vice knight-errant master made the mistake of cutting down to a commoner?

I'm aware that this is not the way to behave with someone you have just met, but I know that this is someone you can't trust, and I think it's not right to make up for someone who is showing their true colors, so I'll just go with it.

It is natural to be curious about the skill level of your rival for the position of general.

”What?

You should understand the value of your existence a little better. I was recommended by the Demon King and the Immortal King, who are both martial arts experts in the Demon King's army. And it's impossible to not care about them when you know they're human. It's still cute if you're like me and come to the front to confirm its existence.

The vampire, who called himself Carter, aka ”the enemy combatant,” said.

He even warned me about my attitude.

Be careful. This place favors humans more than you might think. But everyone in the demon king's army is less friendly to human kind than you might imagine.

”......

Do you think they will let you become a general in the first place?

”......

Like you, I'll take your silence as an affirmation.

The walls between races are thick.

Especially if it is a being that has been fighting for years. ......

I'm not going to argue with you because I've been naive in my thinking.

But I'm wondering what he was thinking when he gave me this advice.

Whatever the reason, from this vampire's (Carter's) point of view, it's definitely like sending salt to the enemy.

”...... What do you think you're doing?　What's in it for you to go out of your way to advise me?

”Is it too bland to call it good intentions?

Of course.

If every word out of my mouth turns out to be a lie, I'm not going to give you any more information. After all, you and I are rivals for the position of general. I will leave before I give you any more advantages. I'm still a latecomer.

”Then be more patient.

There was a murmur of discontent around the word leave from Carter, but the vampire in front of me was great as he chastised it with a smile.

I let my sarcasm slide with a smile, and finally bowed to Suela, ”Well, thank you for your time.

”Well, sorry to bother you. I look forward to seeing you again.

Carter left the training camp in a leisurely, light-footed manner.

Jiro, are you hurt?

”Lord!

The storm was gentle and habitual for a storm, but as soon as it left, Suela and Himikku rushed to my side.

Relieved that they were concerned about me, I wondered how the vampire Carter Isuperio would affect me in the future.

Thinking about this, I switched my mind from being in a state of battle to thinking about how the vampire Carter Isperio would affect me later.

Word of the Day

It's hard to see a person's true intentions, even over a long period of time.

Especially if it's a first meeting.