c19 (1/2)
CHAPTER 19: HEART TO HEART
Some tens of minutes after Suimei and Lefille were reunited, the caravan set off without delay
Their journey was off to a good start If the rest of the trip could continue without any unwanted surprises, that would be fantastic
What was left to the an eye on the caravan When it caated the hly beforehand
Traveling between Mehter and Kurand was roughly a six or seven day trip Due to the proximity of the capital city Mehter to the western border, the time it took to travel between these cities could still be seen as relatively short Nevertheless, for a child of thefor an entire day was fairly rough going
During this tih forest and plateau,their destination
For the trip, Suimei had been positioned at the rear end of the caravan
Those uild and career mercenaries – led the hile Sui watch over the cargo
Because human lives were seen as the priority, they’d been infor to occur, they were to prioritize the safety of the wagon drivers over the cargo itself On a different note, Suiside Lefille, who had si the caravan goods
Perhaps owing to the earlier aardness, as the trip first began, Lefille ons, horses, and their surroundings, only occasionally breaking the silence
Slowly but surely, however, because their ages were so close as well as the fact that they were colleagues engaged in the sarearmer
Accoainst the road, the turning of the wagon wheels, and the gentle breeze blowing across the plains, Suimei and Lefille chatted with one another
”--And the Goddess Arshuna?”
”Ah, she is the creator of heaven and earth, the one who maintains the existence of this world This is what the Church of Salvation teaches She is the Most High, standing above all others”
”I see…”
Suimei pondered as he listened to Lefille’s words
As they walked, Lefille explained the doctrine of the Goddess Arshuna At their first uild, they’d already had a short discussion about the church, and Suie when it came to the beliefs of the people in this world At some point unknown to him, Lefille had become aware of this situation
Suimei had thus decided that this was a perfect opportunity to have her teach hie
On that note, it looks like pretty much everyone in this world is a h Goddess, Arshuna
In other words, it didn’t seem like there were any deities other than Arshuna
Transforin into the current world was the work of a God
Borrowing the power of the eleic with said poas equivalent to borrowing the power of the Goddess Although the Mazoku worshi+ped a similar existence in the Evil God, the Church of Salvation utterly rejected the notion that it was a God
”Furthere the existence of the Goddess Arshuna, whether it be the spirits, the dwarves, the beastonmen)”
”Hmm--”
Lefille had unconsciously raised a point of interest for Suimei, who reacted
”Is so?”
”No, it’s just that from what you’ve said, demihuman tribes exist as well”
”Well, of course …Wait, do they not appear where you’re from?”
”Only in conversation”
Although it s, it wasn’t false When it ca if not expected These tribes seemed to be a normal part of life in this world, and so Suimei’s ansas likely fine
That said, I certainly didn’t see any in Mehter--
”Well then, you’ll get your first chance to see the pot of races Spirits and dragonewts are a bit rare, but there are a lot of beastotten a bit off-topic Did you have any other questions about the Goddess?”
”Nope This is plenty for today Thanks; I’ve learned a lot”
Respectfully, Suiratitude to Lefille who had earnestly taught him without the least manifestation of impatience
Lefille s that her efforts had been worthy of thanks
”It’s nothing On that note, does that mean the Goddess Arshuna doesn’t exist in the east?”
”Hahaha, well, you could say that…” Suiuely
”Existence” was a word for things that were concrete Putting aside an observable, accessible concept like elements, as far as the people of this world were concerned, the Goddess Arshuna was not souous concept, but rather a certainty
Given this, it was perhaps most appropriate to view this existence as a natural, if unique, phenomenon
Froely just a conceptual existence, an external force that interfered with the world In practice, this view seemed to be more or less on point
That brought an end to that topic
Sui beside him Unlike the first tie
The girl carried on her back a pack just large enough to fit the are
”…Is so the matter, Suimei-kun?”
”Oh, I was just thinking that that bag you’re carrying is pretty huge”
”Oh, this?” she replied, looking back
On the back of this girl, of a height roughly on par with Suier than she was tall – wrapped in cloth
Moreover, judging by the shape, was it perhaps--
”It’s been pretty eye-catching right froht?”
”Yep”
Lefille nodded acknowledg was indeed a sword
Its size was stunning even at first glance, and closer consideration only reinforced that feeling It looked like it was the kind of weapon that was iant bears in two
Without a doubt, however, by far the th, able to carry such a burden on her back as she walked, all the while never showing the least sign of strain or sweat
Even though he’d previously seen her carry a slender sword, the cognitive dissonance created by the sight of this enorerated Along those lines, how could those slender arht of such a thing? That said, if she was bringing it, she was definitely capable of using it Perhaps she had a reinforceic similar to the ”Burn Boost” Reiji had used back in the palace
”Why would you choose so like that for your weapon of choice?”
Even setting aside the issue of whether or not she was capable of wielding this massive sword, it didn’t see woman
In response to his words, Lefille gave the weapon on her back a loving glance
”This is a family heirloom Its previous oas my father, from whom I inherited it”
”Does that mean you used a different type of weapon at first?”
”No”
If it was an inheritance from her father, then there had to have been some period of time before it’d come into her possession Lefille refuted this idea, however, swinging her arh the sere in her hands
”I’ve immersed myself in swords of the day that I’d be able to swing a sword like this”
”I guess thatit,” Suihtly ill-naturedly
Lefille’s response was candid
”Hehe Unfortunately, it’s for that very reason that I’ but the sword”
”Not at all I think you’re pretty a or two about swords a sword like that, I haven’t the least confidence”
Lefille’s self- words were met with a tone of respect
Swords weren’t soth When it cath was a key factor, but actual battle skills were another thing altogether Effectively wielding a sword in battle didn’t just require a certain ath, but also the bodily control to flourish it as desired
Anyhen Suimei spoke of his inability to use such a weapon, the priht and size were beyond his body’s ability to support
It was likely because of Lefille’s mastery of a sword like this that she had chosen it as her primary weapon
That was also likely the reason that she uttered the words that came next
”--It’s nothing special With a little practice, anyone’d be able to chop a seiant in tith this”
”…”
I misheard her just now MISHEARD Lefille had just said so insane with a casual tone Seriously, there’s not a chance in hell you could learn how to chop a se a city ith its fists – in tith just ”a little practice”! Her earlier words, that she had taken down the seiant only with the aid of her coht but hollow modesty
Thatall out in her ranking battle Co her ability with the master swordsmen of his world put her on an entirely different plane of existence
As Suimei shook his head, Lefille took the opportunity to ask a question of her own
”Suimei-kun, can I ask what you’re best at?”
”I didn’t hear anything I HEARD NOTHING! --Eh?”
”Suiht?”
”Eh? Oh, ohhhh I, well… pretty much this”
Finally realizing that the topic of conversation had shi+fted, Suimei showed his answer, rather than spoke it
To make it easy for her to understand, he concentrated mana in the palm of his hand
That made the answer apparent Lefille, who had asked without really thinking, showed an expression of understanding
”Magic, right? Well, I guess since you’re a e, that should have been pretty obvious”
”Although it has to be said that when I first started, there was a period when I was pretty much clueless”
”Clueless?”
Lefille’s question caused hi, a somewhat perplexed smile on his face
”Yes Lefille, when you first started to learn how to use a sword, what did they tell you?”
”--H, drawn-out lectures that always started fro up to the reason why it was necessary that I wield a sword, etc My ears practically bled I heard it so ly
That even the origin of swords was a point of instruction showed just what history lay behind it all
As Suimei envisioned that scene in his mind, he remeic
That was a thing already , his father had brought him to the one room in their house where entry was forbidden, and there--