Afterward, we holed up in the dormitory.
Although anyone unrelated could enter the lodging, it was still a state army facility, so it attracted some attention in the town. It seemed like a good idea.
We had meals brought to us and ate together in the lounge of the lodging.
“It’s quite boring like this…”
“I’m sorry for getting you involved.”
“It’s not Sensei’s fault.”
“It’s nice to hear you say that… Oh, wait a moment!”
“What’s ‘wait a moment’? That’s not fair!”
“‘Wait a moment’, I said, hey, Nishina!”
I was playing a wooden puzzle game that Stroman-san had brought for us bored people, competing against Nishina. It was a three-dimensional connect-four game, quite challenging. There was something similar at the bar I used to go to occasionally back in Japan, so I had played it a few times before.
Because of that, at first, I was winning constantly, but after a while, Nishina started getting stronger and stronger.
I should have shown some adult dignity… but that attempt was becoming quite dubious.
“Sensei, even though dangerous people might be coming, you’re just playing around.”
Actually, Kimishima was right, but somehow it felt like Stroman’s words were reassuring, indicating that the man didn’t seem that dangerous. Hmm. Was my sense of danger numbed by that escape drama?
…No. That’s not it.
“But if that adventurer decides to stay here, they can’t hide here for many days, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
“Somehow, I’m starting to think that if it comes down to it, I should fight.”
“Eh?”
“If someone is willing to turn their blade towards others just because they want to become Celestials, not only I but also your freedom might be taken away… It’s a bit annoying.”
“Sensei… Are you okay?”
“Well… I think there’s a way to handle it. Remember when Paldomihov-san evaluated my strength before?”
“Yes.”
“He said I’d hardly lose in a normal fight. That’s what he told me.”
“I know Sensei is strong, but…”
I understand Kimishima’s concern, but we have to keep living in this world like this. Matters of life and death might come into play. It’s just a matter of my resolve from now on.
“Well, even so, I’m not planning to recklessly go out.”
“Yes.”
“If that adventurer doesn’t seem problematic, let’s go rise up the Ladder again tomorrow. Mera needs her meals too, right?”
“Yes… that’s true.”
Somehow, Kimishima seemed to relax a bit after listening to my story. Yeah, I don’t want her to accumulate too much stress for my sake.
“So, Kimishima, for now, please take care of my opponent… Nishina is too strong.”
“Hehehe. Leave it to me.”
Kimishima sat next to me and smirked confidently.
In the evening of that day, Stroman came back with information about the returning adventurers. It seemed that the workers and state soldiers had a decent impression of them. Stroman also mentioned that he had talked with the adventurers who had come to the checkpoint about buying materials.
“It seems there shouldn’t be any problems. Yazzak-san also judged that we don’t need to be too wary.”
“Oh, that’s good. Then, can we go out again from tomorrow?”
“Yes. I’ll accompany you just in case, but we’re going up the Ladder, right?”
“That’s right. Please take care of us. Mera also seems to want some raw meat.”
“Hahaha.”
Even so, that day Stroman ended up sleeping in the booth next to mine. Usually, the women slept in a separate compartment a door away, but somehow both of them ended up using the booths near me.
Well, I tried to object at first, but they insisted that it was okay since the door could be closed.
The next morning, we woke up with the sunrise and headed to the dining hall after preparing ourselves. In the dining hall, state soldiers had already gathered, having breakfast and discussing plans in their respective groups.
Today, there was no road repair work scheduled, but as usual, we would go to the pre-maintained area first before walking into the forest. Besides us, two other parties were accompanying us to rise up the Ladder and gather materials.
After finishing our meal, we headed towards the gate. There, as always, the beasts hitched to wagons were ready outside the gate. They were said to belong to an organization similar to adventurers’, but they were surprisingly well-organized, with no apparent stress in their system.
And, surprisingly, there were slight differences in the ease of riding the wagons. Differences in the width and tilt of the seats, as well as the wear of the tires, could lead to differences in tiredness after an hour of riding. Since today we were the first ones, we checked out the wagon that seemed the most comfortable.
…And then.
“Eek!”
Suddenly, Kimishima let out a scream. Startled by her urgent voice, I hastily looked at her. Kimishima was frozen, staring at something in the distance.
Shivers ran down my spine…
I also quickly turned in the same direction.
Wha… what the…
It reflected in my eyes too. A monster engraved in our memories with fear.
Behind the Sebek hitched to the wagon, there was a monster.
It was a hippopotamus-like monster with six eyes that we saw in Galal Blue.
“W-why is that thing here?!”
I quickly reached for the sword at my waist. If that thing went wild here, it would be a big problem.
But the hippo-like monster, without even paying attention to us, was drinking water from a large barrel placed for the Sebek.
No, one of its six eyes was definitely looking straight at us.
“What… what’s that?”
It was probably the first time he had seen it. Noticing the monster, Nishina approached it almost defenselessly. Kimishima, in a hurry, pulled him back.
“No! Don’t get closer!”
“Eh?”
“Stay back!”
I stepped forward, thumb resting on the guard of my sword. It was dangerous, but if I struck swiftly, there wouldn’t be any problem. Even with Galal Blue, I had dealt with them like that.
I lowered my body, focusing my mind on the sword. Perhaps sensing my killing intent, the monster turned its curious eyes towards us.
Now.
Gripping the ground with my kicking foot, I closed in on the monster. Then, in one swift motion, I unsheathed my sword and slashed.
Gyaaah!!
“Wha?!”
Just as I was about to slash the monster, my blade was intercepted by another sword. A jarring dissonance indicated that my blade had been stopped.
…W-What???
Before the stopped blade, my thoughts stalled.
It was a man who had stopped me.
He held my sword with a strangely colored blade, tinted with a shade of blue I had never seen before, while looking down at me with a puzzled expression.
“Hey, hey. What are you doing to my Jenuin-chan? Isn’t it cruel to suddenly attack like that?”
“…Huh? Your?”
“Yeah, yeah. She’s my mount, you know. She’s not a monster. Can you put away that sword?”
“Ah… uh, sure…”
What the…??? He stopped me? That strike just now?
I’m not one to boast, but I had been increasingly aware of my own skill in Iaido in this world. I thought I could move without interference in my compressed time frame, free from anyone’s interruption.
…But.
I had completely overestimated myself.
The man had long, unkempt hair tied back carelessly, and he was dressed in shabby clothing riddled with holes. Despite his appearance, he carried a sheath adorned with ornate decorations that seemed out of place, and he smoothly sheathed his sword with efficient movements.
