Chapter 28: Resolution and Growth

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It's been one hour since we parted with the beginner party .

「Double・Slash!」

「GYAGAGE!」

「ShuGYOGAー!」

〈Fran's Level has risen to 9〉

「It rose . 」

『Yes, yes . We'll confirm the changes later . 』

We're currently at war with a crowd of Goblins .

I didn't particularly intend to find their den, but we eventually became surrounded by Goblins after hunting them for EXP for a while . There're ~100, probably . Furthermore, multiple Highbreeds are leading them .

『Middle・Heal!』

「Saved . 」

『Here they come again!』

*hyuh hyuh hyuhyun hyun!*

A myriad of stones are thrown towards Fran through the gaps of trees . It seems that it's not just stones, however . Wood chips and such are mixed within .

The Goblins in the surroundings are all throwing such things in unison . Because the attack is from all sides, avoiding would be impossible .

「Teacher!」

『Aah, leave it to me . Fire・Wall!』

A dome of fire covers Fran's body, protecting her from the projectiles . But their attack wasn't over .

『They're approaching!』

「Nn!」

Fran takes a stance with me in her hands, and when the wall of flames disappears —

「GORURAA!」

「GyoGYOga!」

「GiyARUー!」

Ten Goblins attack Fran simultaneously . Two of them jumped too early, and crashed into Fire・Wall, causing them to be engulfed in flames and writhe along the ground .

「Heavy・Slash!」

We pass through the crowd exchange blows with the Goblins . Doing so, 5 Goblins were immediately defeated .

「Gyaha!」

「KU......」

「GushIHAA!」

「AU!」

Striking the Goblins, Fran's small body dances while being colored bright red . Swords tear at her shoulders and Spears bore into her back,

but Fran bears the pain and continues to hold me in her hands . I wanted to suggest setting Pain Reduction, but losing ones' sense of pain might adversely lead to even more damage .

「KAAH!」

The usually quiet Fran lets out a war cry and attacks the Goblins . With that, 10 more are defeated .

This battle of offense and defense has repeated several times, leading to the corpses of a little less than 40 fallen Goblins laying around Fran . Still, the number of Goblins surrounding Fran don't seem to have decreased .

『Middle・Heal!』

「Fuu... Haa...」

『Oi, Fran! Are you alright?』

「...... Alright . 」

『We should escape soon . There're other methods of gaining EXP, ones even more efficient than this . 』

We made light of their numbers... The numbers that the Goblins would put to war .

My body feels neither pain nor fatigue, and is repaired as soon as I sustain damage . For better or worse, I'm able to fight without struggling against strong Demonic Beasts .

But as a result... My sense of danger had been dulled . Things like it's too dangerous, or that Fran wasn't ready yet hadn't even come to mind . I had thought from the bottom of my heart that we'd manage somehow with my power .

And yet, we're now in a hard fight against the Goblins... But it's too late to regret now .

In Recovery Magic is an auto-recovery spell that resurrects the target when their HP becomes 0 — although the Spell is only works once per chant . It's difficult to die when one has this technique, and it makes victory only a matter of time .

But... How much pain would need to be endured, and how much blood would need to be shed until then? Fran still isn't ready to endure such things . Remembering this fight might breed a trauma, so we should withdraw before that occurs .

『They're coming again! We can still escape!』

If it's through Floating and Aerial Jump, making our escape through ascent would be possible . The wall of Goblins would be easy to break through, too .

「Not running . 」

『W-What are you saying?! Getting hurt any more than this is pointless! If we go hunt larger Demonic Beasts we'll gain even more EXP!』

「Not pointless . 」

Muttering so, Fran takes a stance with me once again . A look of strong determination appears on her face as she does so .

「With Teacher: I won't die . Without dying: pain can be known . Can be used for battle . Then, experience is accumulated . 」

『 ! 』

「Fighting to the limit: necessary to be strong, I think . This is... The perfect battleground . 」

Saying so, Fran has a ferocious smile .

Ah, I made light of Fran . She had resolved herself long ago . It was only me who wasn't prepared .

My resolution to see Fran hurt wasn't strong enough . Aren't I too naïve? Certainly, if she's led by me her level will rise . But would that really make her『strong』?

Experience and strength of will . Enduring pain can only happen in battle, so isn't there no meaning in just having one's level raised?

Fran understood that firmly .

「Teacher: guardian . 」

Amazing . Unlike living snugly in Japan, readiness is different from being overprotected here .

Alright . I'll also show my resolve . I'm prepared! No more hesitating! Let's abandon my easy-going protective spirit! Even without my protection, she isn't a weak kitten . She's a fierce child — a predator sharpening her fangs!

『Leave the recovery to me!』

「Nn! I'm going!」

With that, Fran sprints . She plunges into the crowd of Goblins and swinging me to her heart's content . And as for me, I put my heart and soul into supporting Fran as she accumulates combat experience .

In that way I noticed a change in Fran .

「Ha! Rah!」

Haven't her movements become a bit amazing? Even though she isn't using Sword Techniques, her thrusts almost match the speed of Triple・Thrust . Even now, with Double・Slash — no, its movement exceeds Double・Slash .

I had thought Fran was utilizing Sword Arts, but...... That doesn't seem to be the case .

No, wouldn't that be natural? Suddenly getting Sword Arts at a high level one day, it would be impossible for her body and mind to so easily adapt . So far we had been finishing off small fries and concluding out battles in an instant, so it wasn't a problem... But now, fighting to her limit, her Skills and body have begun working in unison .

Until now only the sharpness of my blade could be admired, but that was only then . Now, things are different . Sword and Body are one . As the number of Goblins increase, the accuracy and ferocity of her attacks does as well .

◇◆◇

Two hours have passed .

「Ha...... Ha......」

『Fran, you've done well!』

「Nn......!」

The corpses, blood, and bodily fluids of the Goblins are littered across the ground; it was a disastrous scene that seemed to have come straight from hell . At the center, using me as a cane, Fran barely stands . There're no wounds thanks to Recovery Magic, but her endurance has been stretched to the limit, as can be seen as her shoulders raise and fall intensely .

She's covered in blood, dust, and mud to the extent that not a single surface of her skin is clean . Even the newly bought protective gear was dyed dark red . The damage of the armor in particular is quite terrible, so repairs will be necessary .

If I had attacked more proactively we probably wouldn't have had such a hard fight... But it was necessary for it to be difficult .

Only 6 levels were gained, but the growth that Fran has shown exceeds such things . During the middle of the fight Goblins were defeated exclusively through smashing their Magic Stones — in other words, during the melee her skill had reached the point where I would pierce into the exact area of the opponents' vital areas .

『-Stamina・Heal』

I cast a Magic used to recover one's endurance, but mental fatigue won't be cured through it .

『Rest a bit . I'll remain vigilant of the surroundings . 』

While I do so, I suppose I could secure any usable materials an absorb any remaining Magic Stones...

「I'll help . 」

『O-Oi . Are you really alright?』

「Finish quickly: leave quickly . 」

『I see...... The King didn't show up in the end, so we should finish before reinforcements come, then . 』

「Nn . 」

『Alright . Take care of their equipment and horns . As for me, I'll focus on the absorption of Magic Stones . 』

「Understood . 」