The Silent One ④
What appeared were Kobolds.
They are mineral monsters that, for some reason, resemble werewolves and move in packs.
Their bodies are harder than the average monster.
And despite being minerals, they display agile movements.
There are six of them—I really don’t want to fight them alone.
“Can you really fight, Wof…?”
“Don’t worry. I guarantee it.”
“Even if you guarantee it…”
“This guy is the Witch’s disciple.”
“Eh?”
“Eh?”
Eh?
Ax-san seemed bewildered by my reaction.
“Hm? No, you are her disciple, right? The Witch said so.”
“Y-Yes. That’s right.”
I nodded instinctively, telling a lie.
Mineha-san said.
“Here they come.”
This is the first I’m hearing about being a disciple.
Sigh—I’ll have to have a proper talk with the Witch about this later, among other things.
VVOOOOOHHH
The Kobolds howled and charged. Their growls trembled.
How are they even making that sound? Since they’re minerals, maybe they’re striking parts of themselves together to vibrate?
They didn’t attack immediately, their steps cautious.
“Both of you, Kobolds are hard. Be caref—”
Before Ax-san could finish, Mineha-san grew larger, readied her Spear, and charged.
She thrust towards the nearest one.
“Haaaaaahhh!”
When the tip of the Spear hit, the Kobold was gouged out and shattered.
Relic: Spiral… What terrifying destructive power. It’s like an invisible drill.
“What?”
Mineha-san turned around with a smug look.
Ax-san drew his sword without a word.
Kobolds are moving minerals.
How is he going to fight them with a normal sword?
“Watch, Wof.”
“Y-Yes.”
While Mineha-san defeated the second one out of the corner of my eye.
Ax-san dodged a Kobold’s claw attack and decapitated it.
“Eh?”
The headless Kobold crumbled.
Next, Ax-san parried the claw attack of the second Kobold and cut off its head in the same way.
Wh-What in the world? How is this happening?
Kobolds are mineral monsters.
Decapitating one with a sword… that kind of feat. It’s like cutting the head off a stone statue.
He can do that? And so easily…?
“Listen up. Kobolds are hard. But they have a weak point. The joints. A Kobold’s joints need to be movable, so they’re softer than the rest.”
“To ensure flexibility?”
“That’s right. You know some big words. Aim for those joints.”
What he’s saying certainly makes sense.
And since he’s doing it without difficulty, he can’t be wrong.
But it’s not easy.
He mentioned joints, but I can’t see them.
I can’t see them at all.
Ax-san probably isn’t seeing them with his eyes but knows them by feel.
And even if the joints are softer than the rest…
They’re still mineral. Cutting that with a sword?
Slicing it off so cleanly?
Is it the difference in experience? Or talent?
Ax-san. He’s plenty strong even without a Relic.
“Not bad, Ax.”
“Thanks for that.”
“…”
I can’t do that.
So I’ll defeat them my own way.
The remaining two Kobolds let out a roar and charged.
They’re fast. I activated [The Silent One] and first readied my Knife.
The first one, Kobold A, unleashed a claw attack.
I aimed for the precise point where I could parry it strongly, and did so.
Kobold A staggered greatly. A chance.
I feinted a thrust with my Knife and hit it with 【Vanish】.
A hole opened in Kobold A’s body, and it crumbled.
Ah, what I really want to do is overlap it with the Knife, cutting and erasing simultaneously.
I want to unleash a technique like that.
But overlapping is impossible without OOPArts.
After watching Mr. Agaro fight, there was something I absolutely had to try.
Because of that—I accidentally erased the blade of a 20,000 Oro Knife once.
Not 2,000. 20,000.
That night, the tears, regret, humiliation, and various other things wouldn’t stop.
And I’m still dragging it around now. It will probably remain in a corner of my heart forever.
That’s why I’m careful not to erase my Knife.
I don’t even want to count how many Knives I’ve lost since the start of this year.
VOOOOHHH!
The last one remaining, Kobold B.
I attacked first. My aim was—to grapple!
I grabbed both of the Kobold’s arms. I hooked its leg and threw it.
“Did you get it?”
“What are you doing? A throw like that won’t shatter a Kobold.”
Right, that’s why as I threw it down, I feinted stabbing it with the Knife.
I slammed 【Vanish】 into Kobold B’s abdomen.
That part vanished in a clean circle.
The Kobold crumbled.
“Heeh… Not bad.”
We had wiped out the Kobolds.
“How was that?”
“Good job. As expected of the Witch’s disciple.”
“So you really can fight. And you’re the Witch’s disciple.”
“See? The Witch’s disciple, right?”
“Yes. That Witch’s disciple…”
“…”
I wish they’d stop repeating “the Witch’s disciple.”
(Still, Ax’s swordsmanship… It’s exactly like Master’s. Even though he wasn’t taught… They really are parent and child, huh?)
“? Mineha-san. Did you say something?”
“What?”
“Weren’t you just saying something?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
(Wof just now… Looked like he didn’t use his knife, but oh well.)
“…”
This time, I heard Ax-san’s voice.
But Ax-san hadn’t said anything.
(—Maybe I really should tell Ax about that.)
Now Mineha-san? What in the world is going on?
And what is that she mentioned?
(It’s okay to talk about it now, right Master? About that thing from 10 years ago—)
10 years ago? The voice suddenly cut off.
At the same time, [The Silent One] entered its cooldown.
I immediately realized.
Voices. It mentioned hearing voices.
It was a mystery, but is this what it meant by voices?
Voices that seem to emanate from the soul and resonate within the soul.
Could it be… inner voices? Telepathy!?
I gasped.
Relic [The Silent One] can also read people’s inner thoughts.
No, it’s too early to jump to conclusions.
I’ll use it again after the cooldown and make sure.
If that’s the case, then this Relic is also an incredibly dangerous item.
In a way, even more so than that Relic [Generous].
“Shall we get going?”
“Right. Wof, any enemies?”
“No reaction right now. It’s okay.”
We started walking.
I wonder how far this goes.