Some time has passed since the mansion by the lake was built and we started living here. I think.
I stopped counting meals, and counting days and nights. Counting them didn’t lead to me understanding anything, so it was pointless.
My only measure for the passage of time is Hinata’s growth.
“Kyuih!”
Hinata swings a short sword.
It’s about as big as a three year old, but after seeing me swing a sword, thrust a spear, swing an axe, and dance with twin swords, it asserted it wanted to do it too.
It’s not like I don’t think it’s too early, but the monsters in The Abyss are strong enough for me to think they’re bugged.
I handed Hinata a sword thinking it would be nice for it to be able to defend itself as soon as possible, but it’s better than I thought. A little more, and we could start sparring. I’d hold back, of course.
I correct how it swings, and also train.
I’ve been training after waking up since we started living here.
I could do it for a certain amount of time if I knew the time, but I don’t, so I do it until my stamina and magic energy are spent.
I fall when that happens, hasten the recovery of magic energy with Magic Energy Circulation, and stamina with Healing Magic, before preparing food. This is my routine.
After swinging my weapons for a bit, I grab the longsword and kneed magic energy.
This is then channeled into the longsword.
There’s a faint light, and its power overwhelms its surroundings.
The trees rustle, and the lake begins to ripple.
It’s the magic sword I used to defeat the oni monster.
I can do it this far, but it doesn’t go well after that.
Is it because of the weapon I’m using? I feel less resistance than when I used the katana, but can’t send out a projectile slash.
I send one out to the sky to test it, but the light dissipates as I swing. And the projectile slash that flies out is just a regular one.
Hm, it doesn’t work.
The silver-haired guy released a flash of light to the sky. I named this attack Amadachi, because it looked like the sky was being severed.
I want to reach that point too, but it doesn’t go well.
Hm hm, as I think and think, Hinata pulls my sleeve.
“Kyurukurururu.”
It points at itself and gestures like a sword swing.
It’s probably saying it wants to do Amadachi.
I see, I think as I take cloth from the Storage Space and hand it to Hinata.
Hinata tilts its head, but pays attention when it sees me holding the same type of cloth.
I infuse the cloth with magic energy and change its shape.
Things change one after the other from Fuuma to Totaro to the trees to the mansion, and Hinata’s eyes sparkle as it sees this.
That’s nice that it’s paying attention, but a question mark appears on its head when I say what this is and what we’re going to do.
Hinata can’t control magic energy.
It has a lot of magic energy, but can only use it based on emotions. It has no technique.
I’m fine because I have the Magic Energy Control skill, but Hinata doesn’t. And so, I’m using this technique of shaping the cloth with magic energy to polish its control of magic energy.
Changing the shape of cloth is surprisingly difficult. If I have the Magic Energy Control skill and feel that way, it must need technique. Especially if you’re trying to make something intricate.
So I say we’re starting, and…
“Kyururu!?”
It points at me and says it’s not fair.
Hinata wants the Magic Energy Control skill.
Don’t be unreasonable. I haven’t seen a single skill orb here.
All you can do is learn the technique.
“Kyuu~ uuuh!!”
It’s stamping its feet like kids are prone to do, and its magic energy swells.
I tell it to stop, and swing my arm to dissipate the magic energy.
But Hinata is still doing it, so I pat its head, tell it to be patient, and go back to training.
Hinata fixes its golden hair like it’s relenting, and infuses the cloth with magic energy.
And as we wrap up training, the world turns monochrome.
Again, I say with a sigh. I look at Fuuma to tell it to look after Hinata…!
Hey horse! Are you just going to read manga!?
An enemy is coming! Get Hinata to safety!
What? You’re almost done reading it so I should wait?
Shut up! Go already!
I was impressed because it looks cool now, but it’s the same.
It’s still crazy about manga, and there’s a pile next to it.
I’m sure it’s Fuuma’s fault that Hinata likes manga.
It grabs Hinata with its mouth and goes into the mansion, and looks back at me along the way.
Do you need help, is what it’s asking with its eyes, but I say no.
I grab the longsword, and head to where I assume the enemy monster is.
I’ve experienced this monochrome world several times since I came to this forest. Whenever it switches to black and white, something comes. Most of the time it’s a powerful monster, but rarely something else.
The first time, I picked up Hinata. The second time, there was the oni with the powerful staff. The third time, a giant that seemed like it would destroy everything. The fourth time, a centipede monster with a nasty poison that melted everything. And even after that, something appeared every time the world turned monochrome.
These monsters don’t have trouble approaching the lake. I don’t know if it’s the lake itself or if they’re scared of Totataro, but other monsters don’t get near.
I’ve fought and defeated them multiple times.
There were only two times when this didn’t turn into a fight, when it was Hinata, and when some kind of corpse fell into the forest.
I don’t know what that corpse was, but there were marks caused by something slashing it hard.
I put it in the Storage Space to prevent it from regenerating, but it might be a good idea to have a good look.
There’s a good chance whatever did it is out there, so I should be ready to fight it.
Leaving that aside, I should focus on what’s coming this time.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
<<Previous Chapter Index Next Chapter>>
