Trial

Trial

We slowly made our way through a forest wrapped in a pure, pristine atmosphere.

There was none of the eerie atmosphere one would expect from a dungeon. If anything, that seemed to emphasize the sensation of killing the Crazy Boar even more.

As I walked, I tightened my grip on the sword. I wanted the hard feel of its hilt to overwrite the sensation of flesh being torn apart that had reached me back then.

I respected the people who worked at pig farms. I had felt the same way with the Black Rat, but I really couldn't handle this sensation.

"Yahiro-san."

"Hm?"

I turned when Takanashi-san called out to me.

Her lapis-lazuli-like eyes gazed straight into mine.

"Are you all right?"

"...Yeah. I'm fine."

Fortunately, monsters turned into black mist when they died. That proved they weren't genuine living creatures.

Apparently satisfied with my answer, Takanashi-san nodded.

"That's good."

"I mean, you can tell? Even from behind?"

"I've seen many soldiers who fought humanoid monsters give off a similar air. It's only natural to feel guilty after killing something that resembles a living creature."

"I see..."

As expected, her experience was on a completely different level.

Speaking of which, 'humanoid monsters'...

"When you say humanoid, are there monsters that look indistinguishable from humans?"

"Yes. There have been cases where such beings infiltrated human communities. Some were not only physically indistinguishable from humans, but had human-level intelligence or better."

"So that could be happening in Japan right now too. Give me a break..."

"Yes. However, the existence of highly intelligent monsters has also helped us in some ways."

"Huh?"

I stopped in surprise and turned back toward her.

"The fact that there are multiple individuals with intelligence equal to or greater than humans means they will fight among themselves."

"Ah..."

Put that way, it made perfect sense.

For animals, fighting members of their own species is an everyday occurrence. And the more intelligent they are, the larger the scale of those conflicts becomes.

"I heard before that intelligent monsters would launch invasions."

"Yes. Even in the era I came from, the high-ranking monsters were each fighting for supremacy. Thanks to that, humanity escaped dire straits several times."

"I see..."

So monsters weren't united under a single banner, either.

In that case, perhaps we could cooperate with monsters friendly to humans... But if something like that were possible, the era Takanashi-san came from would have been in much better shape.

The magical knowledge about my Unique Ability to create scrolls, which had somehow lodged itself in my mind.

Even that told me coexistence with monsters was impossible.

If these were genuine monsters from the age of the gods, that would be one thing. But the monsters of today were merely shadows. In a sense, they were robots imitating the monsters of that era.

Since they had to eat people to replenish their magical power, reconciliation was all but impossible.

"We've chatted too much. Let's focus on exploring."

"Ah, right. Sorry."

"No. I talked too much too."

After apologizing to Takanashi-san, I turned forward and resumed walking.

As we continued, I detected a source of magical power different from our own. Judging by its movement and size, it was unquestionably a Crazy Boar.

"Takanashi-san. One at one o'clock. There's one. It hasn't noticed us—no, it noticed us. It's coming this way."

"Understood."

At my words, Takanashi-san readied the bola.

The Crazy Boar paid it no heed and charged between the trees straight toward me.

A bola flew past beside me. The throw spun through the air as it approached the monster...

"Ah."

It missed and struck a nearby tree.

'Bvvvvvoooaaahhh!'

"Crap...!"

With a roar, the monster came charging at us.

Takanashi-san should have been out of its path. Rather than try to stop it head-on, I dodged to the side as the Master had told me.

The Crazy Boar passed through the spot where I had been, then turned around after going a dozen or so meters. Kicking up an impressive cloud of dust, it glared at me again, swinging its tusks as though brandishing them.

"You bastard!"

Before its hooves could kick off the ground, I charged. My physical abilities were superior to its own, at least.

I closed the distance in a single breath and brought my sword crashing down on its head with all my strength.

The Crazy Boar thrust its tusks upward to intercept the blade, but it was a fraction too late. My single-edged hand-and-a-half sword struck the monster squarely on the crown.

'Bgyah!?'

The Crazy Boar let out a short scream and sprayed blood everywhere. On the backswing, I tried to slam the sword into the side of its head.

However, the blade struck one of its tusks. I didn't care. I swung through anyway.

With a sound like a dry branch snapping, the monster's long tusk broke. The impact knocked the Crazy Boar onto its side.

I immediately stomped down on the side of its head with my heel and drove my sword into its neck. As the monster thrashed in agony, I moved the blade sideways.

It was truly an awful sensation. Even so, I saw it through.

The moment the Crazy Boar stopped moving, its body turned into black mist. My foot came down onto the ground, and I staggered slightly before regaining my balance.

"Pheeeew..."

Keeping watch on our surroundings, I let out a breath. Somehow, it seemed I had managed it.

"Yahiro-san, are you all right...?"

Takanashi-san approached with a slightly worried look, holding her staff in both hands.

I gave her a small nod.

"I'm fine. I wasn't hurt."

"I'm sorry. I missed."

"No, it's fine. This is practice too."

After giving Takanashi-san a casual wave, I picked up the magic stone.

Rather, I should be glad that I got to practice the normal way as well. We were still beginners. Experience took priority over everything else.

"...Yes."

Perhaps she had switched her mindset, because Takanashi-san saluted me. I wondered if that was one of her habits.

The massive breasts that swayed when she did made my reason sway as well. My gaze moved up and down too.

"Help me, Riko-senpai...! My reason is crying...!"

While feeling as though my reason were creaking audibly inside me, I retrieved the bola and resumed exploring.

After walking for about five minutes, we saw a sheer cliff ahead.

It was about ten meters high. It seemed even taller when I stood beneath it.

Its rugged surface looked as though it offered footholds, but I had never gone rock climbing. To make matters worse, moss grew sporadically across the cliff face. If I accidentally placed a hand or foot on it, I would obviously slip.

I was pretty sure the Agency for Spiritual Affairs' website said to go around if there was no way to get past an obstacle using a Unique Ability. We shouldn't try to climb it with our bare hands.

"Let's use a 'Float' scroll here."

"Yes. Even ability users are in danger if they fall."

As she said that, Takanashi-san put away the gun-shaped staff she had been holding at the ready just in case.

"Why?"

"Then, please."

But I quickly realized what she meant. I see—she could manage without magic.

"Oh, then I'll climb first and lower a rope. Should we tie the end around a nearby tree just in case?"

"No. Please take me with you using Float."

"...Huh?"

Takanashi-san held both hands out toward me like a child asking to be picked up.

My gaze slid down from her impassive, beautiful face, taking in her voluptuous breasts, impossibly slender waist, and the high-cut appearance of her crotch made visible by the sheer material.

With sheer effort, I brought my gaze back to Takanashi-san's face. She remained expressionless.

"What is this? Is she trying to set a world record for destroying my reason?"

"...Why?"

"I've climbed cliffs and mountains using Kenning, but I've never done so in the flesh. Considering that we don't have specialized equipment, there would still be a danger of falling even if we used a rope."

"...Then Takanashi-san can go up first with magic, and I'll follow using the rope."

"Yahiro-san, do you have extensive mountaineering experience?"

"...No. Not at all."

"Then let's climb together using magic."

Takanashi-san stepped closer to me as though urging me on.

I stepped back by the same amount. She knit her brows slightly in puzzlement.

"Why are you reluctant?"

"No, it's just... embarrassing."

I could feel my ears turning red.

"I felt like my heart wouldn't survive carrying such a beautiful woman in my arms."

"This isn't a situation for embarrassment. This is a dungeon."

"I know, but..."

"Besides, it's only a short distance with magic. It will take only a moment, so please bear with me."

Takanashi-san moved closer to me.

This was difficult. She was right.

Since we'd just been talking about conserving scrolls, she probably wouldn't agree if I suggested that we each use one.

I had no choice but to accept this as a perk—no, as something unavoidable.

It definitely wasn't because I had been defeated by the cleavage rapidly approaching me!

I had to tell myself that, or my reason wouldn't survive! I'm going to cry! My reason is going to cry!

"...All right."

"Then, please."

Takanashi-san hugged me.

"Unfortu—fortunately, the breastplate of my 'Spirit Armament' kept me from feeling her breasts."

But the heat from her ear against mine, the scent tickling my nostrils, and her long, beautiful hair in my field of vision were wreaking havoc on my thoughts.

"Could you support my waist with your left hand?"

"Y-yes."

As instructed, I wrapped my arm around her delicate waist.

It was so slender that I wondered whether it really contained internal organs. I couldn't feel it well through my gauntlet either, but I could still sense it faintly pressing back against my arm.

If I touched it with my bare hands, it would surely be soft despite being so slender. That thought arose, but I bit the inside of my cheek to drive away my impure thoughts.

She had permitted this because it was 'for exploring the dungeon.' Harboring lewd thoughts under those circumstances was utterly unforgivable. It was incredibly disrespectful.

I understood that rationally, but my heart still wouldn't stop pounding.

"I-I'm riiising!⤴"

My voice rose high enough that even I could tell.

I activated the scroll attached to my sword belt and began to float. My feet left the ground, and I felt the strength in Takanashi-san's arms increase.

The breastplate surely kept her from hearing my heartbeat. But could my burning ears give away how I felt?

That made it even more embarrassing. Especially since she didn't seem to care.

Just as Takanashi-san had said, we reached the top of the cliff in no time. My perception of the passage of time was another matter.

And yet, the moment she pulled away, that time began to seem terribly short.

What a terribly inaccurate internal clock.

Feeling exasperated with myself, I gently removed my left hand from her.

"There don't seem to be any Crazy Boars nearby."

"Yeah, you're right."

I nodded at Takanashi-san's words before thinking. Then I hurriedly looked around and confirmed that there really were no enemies nearby.

Relieved that I couldn't sense any magical power from monsters, I looked toward her.

"Then shall we continue exploring, Takanashi-san?"

"Understood."

Looking toward Takanashi-san, I noticed something.

Her expression was the usual blank one, but... her ears seemed faintly red.

"Is something wrong?"

"Ah, no. Nothing."

I shook my head in response to her question, then turned forward again.

I wondered if Takanashi-san had been embarrassed too. Or had she merely felt my heat through our contact?

I didn't know. But I would be a little happier if it were the former.

My cheeks naturally loosened into a smile. It was a good thing my 'Spirit Armament' had a face guard. Then again, she was behind me, so she couldn't have seen my face anyway.

A warmth wholly unsuited to a dungeon filled my chest.

"...Ah, one at eleven o'clock. It's approaching."

"Understood."

───As it turned out.

Before we reached the exit gate, we encountered and fought more than twenty Crazy Boars.

They were excellent for both making money and increasing our spiritual ranks, but the sheer number of them quickly exhausted our bolas, so naturally, we had to use magic to fight.

Conserving scrolls was looking difficult after all.

＊　　　　＊　　　　　＊

After returning from the dungeon, we headed to the café.

After we gave our report and handed over the magic stones, the Master spoke to us with a serious expression.

"Today, we gave Ishiyama-chan her membership test. She passed. As I thought, she didn't seem like a bad person."

"I went along too, and although she's strange, I thought she was a good person."

"...I see."

Takanashi-san paused for a moment at the Master's and Riko-senpai's words, then nodded.

"I'd like to arrange a chance for everyone to meet this Saturday. Is that all right with both of you?"

"Yes. I have no problem with it."

"...I'm fine too."

Ishiyama Iwako. In the future Takanashi-san came from, she was spoken of as some sort of evil fiend.

The sight of her trying to protect the evacuation shelter while shedding tears from the pain didn't fit that image at all. That was precisely why I was interested.

What kind of person was she, really?

"At that time, I'd like to hold a welcome party for you two and Ishiyama-chan as well."

"Huh?"

"Assessing her is important, but I'd be happy if she became friends with everyone in the clan."

"Huh?"

The Master smiled brightly, looking delighted.

Beside the small nod from Takanashi-san, Riko-senpai patted my rigid shoulder.

"Giving up is important too, Otaku-kun."

Somebody, please help me.

The trial I thought was behind me bared its fangs once more.