Volume 9 Chapter 4 Arm Testing
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The next morning.
After embracing Ms. Mor and sharing a long, passionate kiss, we headed to the guild. There was Mikhail, just as we had arranged the other day. After silently observing our party for a while, he finally muttered as if he had gathered his thoughts.
”…Quite a diverse group, isn’t it?” he said quietly.
”Yeah, as expected of an elf. A mature response,” I replied with a wry smile. The party leader looks to be in her mid-teens (but is actually 47). A Southern girl in her mid-teens. A half-elf girl who hasn’t even reached a hundred. And, of course, a beast girl also in her mid-teens.
From any angle, it looks like a party that doesn’t inspire much confidence, almost like child’s play. If I had no prior information, I would surely refuse to associate with such a crowd.
”Well, they’ll have to see our true abilities firsthand, and we’ll have to see his strength later as well,” I added, voice steady.
However, there’s something that must be confirmed before that.
”Hey, Mikhail. I think you know since we met yesterday, but Vera is a half-elf. If you have any thoughts on that, I’d like to clarify it now,” I said firmly.
”Yes,” he replied thoughtfully. “Essentially, elves do not recognize half-elves as equals. You can understand this from what my master went through. It cannot be said that this elf wouldn’t hold a negative impression of Vera, or worse, refuse to cooperate. Therefore, this is an important matter that must be settled first.”
”That’s true. As an elf, I shouldn’t normally be associating with half-elves, but since I’m the one requesting assistance from humans this time, I should adhere to your customs. And personally, I do not hold any negative feelings toward half-elves. I consider most half-elves as victims of sorts,” Mikhail said with surprising openness.
”Oh, how flexible for a stubborn elf,” I muttered under my breath. While it’s quite clear he intends not to recognize half-elves as proper elves by calling them ‘half,’ that in itself shouldn’t be a significant problem.
”Good. I’m relieved to hear that. Then shall we proceed?” I asked, ready to move on.
However, as I urged him forward, Mikhail shook his head and said firmly, “No, before that. I don’t mean to doubt you, but could you show me your skills?”
Ah, I see. This elf is even more impatient than I am. I had only considered showing our skills to one another against monsters on our journey, but to have it come up so directly feels rather refreshing.
…Well, the honest truth is that he’s probably anxious about our appearances.
”Sure. Then let’s borrow the guild’s training grounds,” I agreed.
* * *
And so, an impromptu arm wrestling match turned into a mock battle. After borrowing the training grounds from the guild, bored adventurers began to gather. For some reason, the branch manager volunteered to officiate.
”Listen, this is just a mock battle for testing skills, okay? Don’t actually try to kill each other. I think you understand, but no poison or anything like that is allowed, right? You understand, right?” he warned nervously.
”I don’t really get why you’re saying this to me so carefully, but it’s fine,” I replied. “The point is just to show that we can fight properly, and also to see if he can fight properly.”
The branch leader still looked uneasy but seemed convinced for now. Honestly, he worries too much—that’s why he’s going bald.
”So, it’s fine if we use training wooden swords, right? Magic is allowed, but no direct hits, okay? I won’t use poison or medicine either,” I added.
”That’s fine, but is this good enough for my weapon?” Mikhail asked, holding a rope that was about twice his height.
”Oh, you’re using a whip? When I think of elves, I usually think of bows and short swords,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
”I was also considered strange in my village,” he said calmly, letting the rope droop to the ground. Just by his stance, it was clear that this elf was no ordinary practitioner.
”Interesting. Well then, let’s begin,” I said, glancing at the three behind me.
After a brief look from the three, Mikhail turned to the branch leader. The bald guy made a face that looked disgusted for just a moment before he said, “Then, begin.”
He gave the order.
In an instant—
Snap!
A sharp crack echoed, and dust billowed from the spot where I had stood moments before.
”You dodged that? I see, as expected from someone recommended by the guild,” Mikhail murmured in a calm tone, almost like talking to himself. This guy, with a cool face, really tried to hit me for real, didn’t he? If I had taken that hit, even with a training rope, I would’ve been seriously hurt.
”Yeah, this is really interesting. Lena! Vera! Georgia!” I called out.
After summoning the three slaves (wives) quickly, Mikhail charged at me. They could already judge what they needed to do. They’d grown up well enough for that.
”Hyaa!” I feinted an attack, but instead of swinging the wooden sword, I jumped back and threw a training dart. Mikhail swatted it away with his whip, and in that moment, Lena and Georgia attacked from both sides while Vera summoned an earth spirit (Gnome) to block my feet.
However—
”Wind spirit (Sylph)!” Mikhail called out sharply.
”Ahh!?” Lena gasped.
”Gyaaah!” Georgia cried out as the gust of wind summoned by the Sylph blew them away, scattering Vera’s Earth Spirit (Gnome).
As expected of an elf. His spirit magic was stronger than Vera’s, and that gust of wind scattered my teammates like leaves in a storm.
But that moment was the perfect opportunity! If only I had a sword made of magic-infused mithril to cut even spirits… Oh wait, it’s just a training wooden sword right now!
”Magic enchantment!” I shouted, refocusing and enchanting the wooden sword with magic, preparing to strike.
But instead, I threw it!
”What!?” Mikhail exclaimed, clearly surprised by this ambush. For the first time, he let out a flustered voice.
Then, in the instant he swiped his whip to block, I closed the distance, slipped inside its range, pulled a dagger from my waist, and thrust it into his defenseless abdomen.
”Stop, Soyuz!” the branch leader and onlookers shouted desperately.
No, I really won’t stab him, okay? What’s with this lack of trust in my credibility?
Before I even needed to stop, Mikhail, without hesitation, discarded his whip and stopped my dagger with a concealed weapon he must’ve pulled from somewhere. Yeah, this elf really is strong.
”…Hey, how about we stop here? If we go any further, I might really have to kill you to win,” Mikhail said, breathing steadily.
”I agree. As expected of someone who learned under Lucia. We’ve seen enough of your skills, and there’s no reason to fight further… though I would like to try,” I said with a faint smile.
We simultaneously retracted our weapons and sheathed them. Then, we shook hands. With skills like these, I felt I could really rely on him, and I’m sure he felt the same.
Turning around, I called out to the three who were sulking and looking disappointed.
”That was a good lesson. As you’ve just learned firsthand, there are strong opponents in this world, and there’s no shortage of them.”
These kids, especially Lena and Vera, had only fought lower-tier opponents like thugs and mercenaries’ private soldiers, so they had a bit of an overconfident air about them. That’s why Lena and Georgia made such reckless attacks, and Vera even made the blunder of using spirit magic on the elf himself.
I had expected this to happen, though. After all, they hadn’t fought strong opponents other than me, and they didn’t understand the terror of fighting an elf. In that sense, fighting him was a valuable experience for them.
By the way, as for me, I’ve learned the terror of this kind of thing all too well.
Now that I think about it, it’s a miracle I didn’t die after being trained by that master (the old hag) for ten years.
…Come to think of it, Mikhail (this elf) also mentioned that he trained under that same master with Volodya. So, no wonder he survived those teachings—he must be strong.
Notes:
• Mikhail – Volodya’s brother and a guest of the guild, seeking to defeat Volodya for destroying his village.
• Lena – Female. A young slave girl in her early teens. Her appearance is emaciated with brown skin, long black hair, and grotesque scars across her face, including one that blinds her left eye. She wears a black collar and tattered clothing. Her relationship to the protagonist is that of a rescued victim. She is silent and appears to have endured severe physical and emotional abuse.
• Volodya – A mysterious and powerful elf, never seen by Soyuz before, who seeks to purge Lucia. He exudes killing intent and is strong enough to intimidate Soyuz.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply