Multiple thrusts are executed with the magic energy infused club.
I deflect them with the staff, block, and move back.
Number Two closes in while thrusting.
I power out of moving back, and advance. Number Two looks surprised, like he didn’t think I’d close in.
I look at him like I’m criticizing him for being surprised by everything, and he has no time to react, because I grab him by the collar and throw him to the ground.
“Kaha!?”
I force him up, heal him, and square off again.
I gave him the club I took from a demon.
By infusing it with magic energy, it can be made lighter and enveloped in lightning. It’s also a magic weapon that’s good even without magic energy, as it combines sturdiness with flexibility.
Unfortunately, Number Two isn’t used to it.
Use its abilities, don’t rely on them, master them. If your skills aren’t suited for combat, make up for it with something else.
“Yes!”
Number Two nods strongly, uses Physical Strengthening, and moves out after infusing the club with magic energy.
He’s faster and sharper than before.
I hold up the staff without any carelessness, but an intruder appears.
“Kyurah!!”
A beautiful boy with blonde hair comes flying down. Or beautiful girl.
Hinata lands in front of me, and blocks Number Two’s hard trust with its sword.
Blocking it just like that would lead to an electrical discharge, but Hinata deflects and nullifies that too.
How… You evolved this much… No, what are you doing? Don’t get in the way.
I’m training Number Two, so I tell off Hinata for bothering.
“Kyui!”
Hinata points at itself with its thumb, like it’s saying leave it to me.
It’s like a cool guy from a story, so I’ll do that… Or not, I control plants to wrap around Hinata.
“Kyu!?”
Hinata has a shocked look on its face like it was betrayed, but sadly, I won’t let it do that.
Before, I let Hinata face Number Two, but it misjudged how much it was holding back and gave him a near fatal injury. He would have died if I didn’t heal him immediately. To be more precise, his head physically flew.
For better or worse, maybe because it was so frightening, Number two forgot that happened.
“Sorry, but I’ll have to pass on you, pipsqueak. After all, I shake every time I see you, hahaha.”
He doesn’t remember, but the fear was carved into his body.
So no, Hinata.
“Kyu~.”
Hinata seems really sad, tied up in the plant.
I leave Hinata, and continue Number Two’s training.
“Kyuh!?
◇ ◇ ◇
Totaro has been strange lately.
It seemed to be feeling bad that time when it shed its skin, so I’m wondering if it’s the same, but I end up checking up on it because I’m worried anyway.
“…Gua.”
Are you okay? Don’t overdo it. I’ll leave some food.
“Guu…”
After making that sound, it lays its head on a rocky area, and falls asleep.
“Brr.”
“Kyui.”
I’m not the only one worried, Fuuma and Hinata are too. Especially Fuuma, who is with Totaro a lot and gets along well with it.
I rub Fuuma, saying it will be all right.
I say it’s shedding its skin like before, and it will be full of energy again, like I’m convincing myself.
“Is Totaro okay?”
“It’s sleeping, so let’s leave it be.
“I see. I feel like I should stop using Healing Magic.”
Number Two drags himself over here after training, and casts Healing Magic on himself.
He hasn’t been here long, but he looks worried, because one of the few inhabitants of this place seems unwell.
I’ve told him about the shedding, but he’s worried that it’s not that, and uses what’s left of his magic energy to cast Healing Magic on Totaro.
But if that did anything, I would’ve done it.
I checked Totaro’s body with Trace when it seemed unwell.
There were no abnormalities, and it was the picture of health.
That’s why I think it’s shedding, but I’m worried.
Number Two is getting kind of strong, so I’ve been thinking about continuing to explore, but I’ll hold off on it until Totaro is better.
Totaro has been good to me, so I can’t abandon it when it’s unwell.
Sorry, I’ll have to delay the return to the surface.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m worried about Totaro too, we can’t leave it alone.”
Then let’s hang out in the mansion until it’s better.
Number Two trains, Hinata grows, Fuuma stays with Totaro, and I encroach on the magic energy in me.
Last time, the shedding ended after a day and night cycle, but it’s been three.
It’s strange, so I use Trace again, and see something black inside it.
I try to clear it with Healing Magic, but once gone, it appears from somewhere. I try again and again, with the same result.
Dammit, I say as I infuse more magic energy.
But then, or maybe because of it, the world turns monochrome.
Ah, this is the worst.
Before I know it, what I’ve been ignoring is here.
I just sort of figured out what kept us in the forest. I wondered why it was.
But if I knew it would end up like this, I should’ve finished it a long time ago.
Totaro. What do you want me to do?
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