Chapter 395 : Learning A Valuable Lesson
I could no longer see the monster because its lifeless body was hidden by the numerous spears penetrating it.
He did it… That boy really killed the bastard!
「Phew…」(Mark)
After achieving the impossible, he sighed casually and descended from the air.
「Diadora, is your mama okay?」(Mark)
As soon as he landed, he turned over here and asked the pale girl.
She answered while approaching him.
「Un… Mama is alright… She thanks you… 」(Diadora)
「I see. I’m glad for her. But I’m sorry. I ruined a small part of this forest.」(Mark)
「She says it’s not a big deal… More importantly, you killed the threat… Thank you for saving my mama, Mark…」(Diadora)
The girl spread her arms and embraced him with all her might.
「You’re welcome.」(Mark)
He put his hand on the girl’s head as he replied to her.
I don’t know what they mean by “Mama”.
Are they talking about that girl’s mother? But I don’t see any adult woman here.
Also, they talked as if that monster wanted to harm this invisible woman. I don’t understand…
「Di-Diadora! A girl shouldn’t hug a boy so easily like that!」(Delica)
Suddenly, Delica shouted and approached the two.
The pale girl looked puzzled and tilted her head while still hugging the boy.
「Hm…? Why not…? Delica want to hug Mark too…?」(Diadora)
「Eh!? That’s… N, no! I’m good! I justー I just want to say… Thank you, Mark. Thank you for protecting us…」(Delica)
「Don’t mind it. Someone had to kill that monster.」(Mark)
「Did you get hurt?」(Delica)
「Nope. That monster didn’t hurt me. Though it was without a doubt the strongest monster I’ve ever fought so far.」(Mark)
「I see. I was a bit worried, but I believed you would defeat it. Mark, you’re amazing as always!」(Delica)
「Thanks.」(Mark)
Delica’s cheeks flushed red as she smiled shyly at that boy. I’ve never seen her making such a face before.
Could it be…
I see…
She loves him…
Realizing the cruel reality that the girl I like loves a boy who’s much stronger than me, I felt my chest burn as if the pain I felt in my leg had moved into my chest.
「Hahh… I’m not match for him…」(Luard)
I felt completely defeated… There’s no way I can compete against him…
I sighed and looked at Weikel, who was fidgeting, looking ready to run over to that boy anytime.
「Mark bocchan really did it! I knew he would kill that bastard! Mark-bocchaー」(Weikel)
「Say, Weikel.」(Luard)
「ー!? What’s the matter, Luard-sama?」(Weikel)
I stopped him just when he was about to stand up.
「I wonder if there are other extraordinary kids like him in this world.」(Luard)
「Ah, well, I doubt there are many kids of his level. If there were, the Adventurer Guild would be filled with kids. I’ve been in many places in this kingdom, but I’ve never seen a kid as extraordinary as Mark-bocchan and his sister.」(Weikel)
「His sister?」(Luard)
Hold on… So, his sister is also an extraordinary kid?
I shifted my gaze to the blonde girl resting her head on her arm on the table next to us.
She glanced at me and squinted as if saying, “What are you looking at?”
I flinched a bit and immediately shifted my gaze back to Weikel.
「Nicola-chan is an amazing kid too, but she’s different than Mark-bocchan. Mark-bocchan is good at combat, but Nicola-chan is good at scouting.」(Weikel)
「Scouting?」(Luard)
「She has a powerful detection ability. Even S-ranked adventurers can’t detect enemies’ positions as quickly and as widely as her. Right, Nicola-chan~?」(Weikel)
After explaining to me, Weikel looked at the blonde girl and smiled teasingly. The girl immediately looked away.
「Say, Nicola-chan, would you consider joining my party? We need someone as amazing as you~!」(Weikel)
「You’re so persistent! I said no! Not in a million years! Can you stop recruiting me?」(Nicola)
「Eeeehhh… That’s too bad~….」(Weikel)
I can’t believe a professional adventurer like Weikel would try to recruit a girl.
「Aa-ahh… She turned me down again…」(Weikel)
He sighed and shook his head.
「…..」(Luard)
That boy, Mark, and this girl, his sister. They looked just like ordinary kids who are weaker than me, but in reality… They’re lions, and I’m just a puny rabbit…
「When my father and my master praised me for my swordsmanship, I felt really good… I thought I was the best. I thought I could be the strongest, better than anyone else, but… I had no idea there was someone beyond reach. Moreover, he’s younger than me…」(Luard)
As I lowered my head, feeling defeated, I glanced at the boy.
I see him no longer as a young kid. I see him as a wall. An enormous wall that I will never be able to climb over.
Listening to my mutter, Weikel smiled gently and put his hand on my back.
「Well, Luard-sama, you’re still young. You still have plenty of time to grow and become stronger. You might not be as strong as Mark-bocchan, but if you keep training, you might become strong enough to join my party. Ah, but our party values good humor, so you might hear jokes all the time if you join.」(Weikel)
「Huh? I never say I want to join your party.」(Luard)
「Hahaha!」(Weikel)
He was trying to recruit me before I knew it, but I knew that he said that just to cheer me up.
「Thanks, Weikel.」(Luard)
He replied to me with a smile.
「I’m not usually asking this kinda question, but… Weikel, any advice to become stronger?」(Luard)
「Hmm… Keep practicing your swordsmanship, obviously. Other than that, let’s see… Perhaps you should start listening to people who are more experienced than you.」(Weikel)
「Ugh…」(Luard)
He was probably trying to scold me in his own way for not listening to him.
That monster wouldn’t have awakened if I had listened to him and stayed away from its nest.
「I’m sorry. I was so foolish…」(Weikel)
Thanks to that boy, Mark, we’re all still alive, and no one got hurt, but I’m still regretting my stupid decision back then.
Seeing me reflecting on my mistake, Weikel smirked.
「People will change quite a bit once they suffer a painful experience because of their own mistake. You’re no exception, Luard-sama. I hope what happened today will make you a better person.」(Weikel)
「Yeah. I’ve learned my lesson.」(Luard)
Weikel patted me on the back.
He almost got killed protecting me, but he looked happy for some reason.
While feeling grateful that I could see another day, I looked at Mark, who was talking with Delica while still being hugged by the pale girl.
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