Gathering Companions III
“Well then, please go easy on me, alright?”
“Indeed, I’ll be careful not to go all out. If I lose control and unleash my full strength, well, let’s just say I apologize in advance.”
“Hehe, yes, yes. That’s perfectly fine, really.”
“Hmm, is that so… then, come at me.”
“Yes, yes… here I go!”
“Hmm, training dummies and wooden swords, is it? This should suffice… roughly this much will be needed.”
“I see… by the way, how much would it cost to repair the walls and floor of the training grounds?”
“Well, for that… it would be around this much?”
“Hmm, I don’t have that on hand… will this cover it?”
“…That’s a bit too much. If we’re talking about a Dragon Scale, especially from a fully grown specimen, even at the base market price… it would amount to this.”
“…Is it really that much?”
While glancing at the two fools—one red and one gold—who were swinging their unsheathed swords and starting to clash, I continued my conversation with a middle-aged man clad in a distinctive purple knight’s uniform, unmodified and unadorned. The topic was simply about compensating for the dummies I had destroyed in a fit of emotion, and the repair costs for the training grounds, which were likely to be damaged due to the escalating duel between the two fools.
Unfortunately, while I had enough money to cover my lodging and meals, I didn’t have enough to pay for the repairs. So, I presented the Dragon Scale I had collected, which I had originally intended to offer to the king. I had thought it would fetch a decent price, maybe in the eight-digit range, but I was taken aback when I learned the estimated base price was in the twelve-digit range. I had assumed it would be cheap since it was a common type of dragon and many humans could slay them.
As for the two fools, the golden one, Stella, was teasing the red one, Fana, about checking the new recruit’s strength, while Fana, being straightforward and earnest, accepted the challenge. They moved toward the center of the training ground and began to clash. I had no time to stop them, as I had to prioritize dealing with the man I was speaking to, who clearly lacked the aura of a fighter.
“Only a limited number of humans can slay dragons, and even among them, few can do it as cleanly as you. Besides, judging by the coloration, this is an Earth Dragon, right? You rarely see individuals with minimal injuries in this type, so it would be valuable for display or research, and many blacksmiths and knights would jump at the chance to use it for weapons and armor.”
“I see… it’s easy to obtain, yet…”
“You’re the only one who can slay a dragon as if it were a mere slime… For now, I’ll accept this as collateral and sell it on your behalf, but I’ll definitely return any excess to you later.”
“No, I want you to take it—”
“That’s impossible. Just give up on that.” …I see.
“Yes. Well then, until next time.”
“Ah… I’m sorry, I didn’t expect it to be this damaged.”
“Don’t worry, if the Commander decides to select the Knight Captain, it will get even worse. A single spot being damaged is no problem at all. Besides, about half, or rather, eighty percent of the cause is on our side.”
“Hmm… I suppose I could let you keep a little for yourself? You seem to be struggling.”
“Ah, that’s fine. I’ve been saving up my salary, though I haven’t had the chance to spend it due to being busy.”
“Hmm… sadly, I can relate to that.”
“Right? When you’re busy, you just don’t get to spend it.”
As we shared this sad truth, I entrusted the Dragon Scale to the man and turned to leave the training grounds, glancing back at the two fools who were becoming increasingly intense in their duel.
The two of them, with their red and gold auras, were clashing with apparent enthusiasm. At a glance, it seemed like they were evenly matched, but observing their footwork, weight shifts, sword swings, parries, and breathing patterns, it was clear that Fana had the upper hand, maintaining a sense of ease. On the other hand, Stella, who had just joined us today, was struggling to break through Fana’s defenses.
From what I could see, while Stella had the advantage in relative attack power and mobility, Fana excelled in defense and destructive power. However, both were holding back to avoid serious injury, with Fana not going all out to prevent damaging the training grounds.
In summary, despite their nearly equal skill levels, neither could land a decisive blow, leading to a prolonged standoff. But could Stella’s attacks even penetrate Fana’s defenses? Given Fana’s resilience, it seemed unlikely that Stella’s current offensive capabilities would suffice. In fact, Fana’s defensive capabilities were far superior to mine; she had withstood a strike I delivered with about eighty percent of my strength when I was temporarily controlled by a mushroom that emitted hypnotic gas.
But I digress.
“………Perhaps it’s time to stop this.”
Whether they were getting too heated or forgetting that this wasn’t a space for unrestricted chaos, it seemed they were about to unleash their full power. I decided to intervene. The quickest way would be to attack them directly, but that would surely turn me from a hero into a terrorist, hunted by the kingdom.
So, I would simply step in between them, absorb their momentum, and bring them down to the ground. Fortunately, Stella had been keeping her distance after each exchange.
Alright then, here I go.
“That’s enough! You’re getting too carried away, you fools!”
“!!”
With a light step, I interjected between Fana and Stella, who were about to clash swords again, and caught the sword that was raised above them. I redirected the force from their repeated exchanges and threw the sword aside.
With both of them frozen in place, I reached out and grasped their foreheads, lifting them slightly while applying just enough pressure.
“………!!!!”
“This is the royal castle’s training grounds; in other words, it’s someone else’s property. This isn’t a place for you to run wild at full strength. Look at the ground and walls; they’re all battered and scarred. I’m not saying you can’t unleash your power, but at least be mindful of your surroundings and adjust accordingly.”
“Got it, got it! Just let me go! This is seriously painful!! Look at Stella! She’s practically unconscious!”
“Huh? …Hey, wake up.”
“……Huh!”
“Normally, I would slam you down to the ground for this behavior, but doing so would shatter the ground twice as much as you already have. So let’s call it a day for now.”
“Understood!! I won’t do it again!!”
“Yes! I promise I won’t do it again!!”
“Good. If you do it again, the next trip will be a journey through the skies.”
“Yes!!”
With Fana screaming and Stella waking from her faint, I secured their promise not to repeat their reckless behavior before releasing them. The two of them landed on the ground, one holding her temple while the other placed a hand on her chest, gasping for breath. I left them to catch their breath and went to retrieve the swords I had thrown aside, returning to stand before them.
By the way, I hadn’t used even ten percent of my strength. So why did Fana scream while Stella fainted? It was a matter of how I channeled my power. I had learned to focus my strength inward to ensure a clean kill against golems and those with exceptionally hard exteriors. I applied that technique here, directing the pain that would normally affect the skin and bones directly inward, causing Fana to scream and Stella to faint.
If I had no intention of causing suffering, I wouldn’t have needed to go that far. However, considering the need for discipline, especially with Fana, it was necessary. I admit I miscalculated a bit with Stella.
“Here, put your swords away.”
“Ah, uh… why does it hurt so much?”
“The mechanism is the same as when I blew apart a golem from the inside. I carelessly applied that technique to channel the pain directly into you.”
“……? Oh, I remember now. That.”
“………??”
“I’ll explain the principle to you soon, combining it with practical demonstrations. For now, just put your swords away, stand up, and grab your things. We need to find an inn where we can stay.”
“Is it already that time?”
“It’s better to move quickly and find a place. Oh, Fana, if you’re going to stay at your family home, that’s fine too. Stella, if you already have a place in mind, you can head there.”
“Ah, I lived in the knight’s dormitory, so I have no place to go. I’ll stick with you.”
“I see, then let’s start searching for an inn.”
Although it was just beginning to get dark, travelers and adventurers from outside would soon start finding lodgings, and space would become scarce. Plus, we would need at least two rooms, so it was best to start looking as soon as possible.
I was curious about what Fana would do, but she seemed to have a strange expression on her face.
“Um, well…”
“What is it?”
“When I went to report, um…”
“Oh, what happened? Did they tell you to return home and receive training as the heir?”
“No, that wasn’t said. But…”
“………? What is it?”
“Um… my mother said she wants to talk about various things, so I should come home.”
“……What happens if you don’t go?”
“…I will probably be captured and unable to move.”
“…………Huh… Alright, I’m taking Stella with me.”
“Huh!? Me too!?”
“Since it’s your mother calling and not your father, it sounds like a troublesome matter. It’s likely to involve some annoying discussions about engagement or something similar. I need someone to help divert the conversation, and if possible, someone I can use as a shield. Stella, you were a former attendant knight to a princess and a Knight Captain… you should be accustomed to such stiff atmospheres. Come with me; I’ve been avoiding that kind of thing.”
“I’ve been avoiding it as much as possible too!?”
“Hey! Can you stop treating my mother and family like they’re worse than facing a monster!?”
“You brought the troublesome matter upon yourself! Nine times out of ten, the reason you were called is related to you! Fine, once we reach your home, I’ll spill all your embarrassing secrets to your family during our first chat!!!”
“Stop it!?”
“………Slowly, slowly.”
“I won’t let you escape, Stella. You’re coming with me.”