NOVEL WEB Chapter 57
57. Someone Precious
Bitta Forest—
In the dense forest on the outskirts of town, Luca had summoned me.
“Last month, in the battle with Demon General Gairasvlim, I was defeated. If it weren’t for you, I would have been killed.”
Luca said this right off the bat.
Her usual expressionless face.
However, she was slightly biting her lip, perhaps out of frustration.
“The Demon General told me that my slashes lacked weight.”
“Weight…”
I know Luca is a top-tier swordsman.
Her specialty is her superhuman speed.
Using the unique properties of her sword, the War God Dragon Sword Forsgreed, which combines both physical and magical traits, her movements reach near-light speed.
The fastest and strongest swordsman—
That is the image I have of Luca.
“Since then, I’ve been searching for a way to deliver a heavier, stronger blow. Hart, I want you to be my practice partner.”
“Practice partner?”
“As far as I know, no one has better defensive abilities than you. Even including Rank S adventurers. If I can unleash a sword strike that breaks through your defense, I’ll become stronger.”
Luca’s eyes were gleaming.
Despite her lack of facial expressions, she had a lively air about her when it came to fighting.
I felt that way before when we fought in a mock battle.
“Alright. I’ll help you as much as I can.”
I activated my defensive skill.
“Thank you.”
Seeing me enveloped in a multicolored glow, Luca drew her sword.
A long, single-edged sword with a beautiful curve.
The pommel was adorned with a dragon’s face.
It was her beloved longsword ‘Forsgreed.’
“…But if I cut through Hart along with the defensive magic, that would be bad.”
Luca paused.
Judging by her slightly furrowed brows, she seemed troubled.
She’s basically an expressionless girl, so reading her expressions is quite difficult.
“Then, how about this so you can go all out without worrying?”
The light surrounding my body gathered in my right hand.
I directed the light ball towards a nearby tree.
I used my treasure skill [Wing Sphere] to project my defensive skill.
“What is this…?”
Luca asked suspiciously, looking at the tree wrapped in a rainbow glow.
“It’s remote defense. My defensive magic is protecting this tree. Now you can cut it with all your strength, right?”
“…I didn’t know such a technique existed.”
“It lasts about five minutes.”
I explained to the surprised Luca.
“Got it. I’ll attack with all my strength for five minutes.”
Luca, holding her beloved sword, attacked the tree protected by my defensive skill.
The silver blade flashed at an incredible speed, delivering countless slashes.
Eventually, five minutes passed.
“…No good. It didn’t budge.”
Luca sighed softly and sheathed her sword.
“I need to learn stronger, heavier slashes…”
I might have caused her to lose confidence even more.
My defensive skill is divine power after all.
“You don’t have to feel down just because you couldn’t break through. Even the Demon General couldn’t break my defense.”
“I want to be stronger than that Demon General.”
Luca’s eyes were unwavering.
“Strength is everything to me. I have no value if I’m weak.”
“No, you do have value.”
I couldn’t help but interject.
“Strength isn’t everything. Luca, as a person, not just as a warrior, has value too.”
“As a person, not just a warrior…”
“Just from what I know, Lilith, Alice, and Sarome all think of you as a dear friend. And so do I, of course.”
“Even you, Haruto…?”
Luca stared at me.
Her clear eyes made me catch my breath.
“Do you think of me as someone precious—”
No, that phrasing might be misunderstood.
“Do you think of me as…”
Luca’s face turned slightly red.
“Huh, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Suddenly my cheeks feel hot…”
Luca looked puzzled.
“Haruto, when you called me precious, suddenly… my heart started racing… it’s a strange feeling.”
No, that ‘precious’ phrasing can sound different.
Luca sighed passionately and said,
“No, now is not the time to be distracted. Hart, can you continue to help me train?”
“Y-yeah. Let’s continue.”
Despite the awkward atmosphere, we resumed our training.
Two days later, a black hole appeared in the sky above Mills City.
An interdimensional passage connecting the demon world and this world—Syrega.
Thanks to the guild’s warning, the townspeople had evacuated to the town hall.
Although I couldn’t officially assist Luca and Ivy, I stayed close to them in case of emergency.
The two of them stood boldly on the main street ahead.
“Really. You should have evacuated with the townspeople… Don’t blame me if you get hurt.”
Ivy glared back at me.
Luca silently looked up at the sky.
Eventually, a dazzling light burst from the black hole in the sky.
Two streaks of lightning struck the town.
Two figures appeared on the main street.
One was a knight-like figure with four arms.
Each of its four hands wielded a different weapon: a longsword, a short sword, a spear, and an axe.
The race was called Hellsarm.
The other was a small demon wrapped entirely in a tattered robe.
It held an enormous black staff taller than itself.
This race was called Mystic.
A warrior type and a mage type—two different types of demons began to advance slowly down the main street.