Vol 5 Chapter 40

The stick hanging at the waist of the robed man who continued to follow at the very back vibrated and emitted a small light, but none of the people walking ahead noticed it.

[ Did you hear that? You're completely hated. ]

Superior's words were seemingly concerned, yet full of playfulness.

[ She says she'll speak up if you keep acting like this. Scary, isn't it? ]

"If someone hadn't kept making me talk and just let me stay quiet, at least I wouldn't have been pegged as a crazy person muttering to himself."

[ That's true. Who's that guy? ]

"..."

When Kapros remained silent and closed his mouth, Superior, who had also gone quiet, spoke again after a moment.

[ Are you really going to keep following from behind like this? ]

"Then what?"

[ You could at least take down one monster to reassure them. ]

"They're doing fine on their own, so there's no need for me to step in. I'm in charge of the rear area anyway."

[ Hahaha, I really like that personality of yours. ]

Is that something the guy who just suggested reassuring others should say?

While inwardly feeling dumbfounded but thinking it wasn't bad to have some entertainment, Kapros was exchanging various jokes when suddenly a scream erupted from the front.

"Ah, behind, behind too...!"

"That's great! Leave it alone! Hey, you! We absolutely won't help you, so get out of there on your own!"

When Kapros heard the urgent voice and sharp shout bursting out simultaneously towards him, he turned around wondering what was happening, and discovered a large branch flying towards him.

'A tree monster, Woodroka...'

The Woodroka, which they had encountered quite often until now, was a monster that pretended to be an ordinary tree normally but suddenly raised its branches to attack its target. Hearing the woman's voice shouting that they wouldn't help, it seemed that those who hadn't liked him from the start thought they had finally gotten a chance to witness his skills.

'Well, I prefer working alone anyway, so I'm grateful.'

To stop the incoming branch, Kapros firmly grasped the Superior stick dangling at his waist and pulled it out, beginning to pour in the technique of infusing magic into a sword that Ilumine had taught him, applying it to the stick in the same way.

'Is this how it was supposed to be done?'

- Ziiing!

Hmm, it seems this is the right way.

Fortunately, as if the method had worked properly, a transparent magical blade rose up along the stick, forming a long sword shape, and exclamations of shock erupted from behind.

"What is that?"

There was no time to answer. Kapros swung down to cut the flying branch right in front of him.

Behind the blade that passed through smoothly with almost no resistance, he saw the branch splitting in two with a crack and falling away above his head. Thanks to the pressure, his hood stretched taut as if it might tear and fell back, but it didn't matter since he wasn't hurt.

"...This is quite usable when actually wielding it."

[ You're using it pretty well for your first time. Well done. ]

Superior's voice echoed in his head.

The tree monster also seemed surprised that the branch had been cut so easily and showed no movement for a moment, but soon a gloomy and sharp scream, as if a tree was falling after being cut by an axe, rang out, and the branches could be seen retreating with a rustle.

It had decided to prioritize survival instinct over attack instinct after one overwhelming attack from its opponent.

After the brief battle ended so anticlimactically, Kapros slowly turned around and gazed at those who had been shouting at him earlier.

"What were you saying just now?"

"Ah... nothing... Your skills are... really impressive."

A timid-looking swordsman muttered, forcing a smile. The rest of the people also had pale, ashen expressions. Kapros nodded, fumbling to pull his hood back up, and pointed forward.

"Thank you. Then shall we continue? I'll keep watching the rear."

It was after seeing the memory of the Electric Knight in Rezul and being tested by Superior that Kapros had received this stick containing Superior, which had just been reborn as a sword in his hand.

After going through the physical test using a sword, there was only one question Kapros had to answer.

"What do you think is the primary condition for a great mage?"

For Kapros, that question had an obvious answer.

"Of course... isn't it digging?"

"...Digging?"

"Ah, I chose the wrong word. I mean... repeatedly making efforts."

"Why do you think that?"

"Well, that's how I've gotten this far until now."

When Kapros answered without a moment's hesitation, Superior remained silent for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

"Hahahahaha! This is a real gem, a real gem."

The laughing face, though it was Superior's changed appearance from 10 years later, looked very similar to the younger Superior that Kapros had been more familiar with until now.

Superior, running his hand through his short red hair a few times, opened his eyes softly with a hint of laughter and beckoned to Kapros with his hand. Although Kapros didn't like the gesture that seemed like calling a puppy, he approached right in front of Superior, who then grabbed Kapros's hand firmly.

"...What is it?"

While Kapros was frowning and hesitating whether to pull his hand away or not, Superior spoke.

"Good. That's the right answer. You got it perfectly. I'm glad the person I met after such a long wait is you. If I had disliked you even a little, I would have been very disappointed. You'll do fine. I hope you keep digging as you have until now. So, I look forward to working with you."

As Kapros was thinking, "What does he mean?", light burst forth from Superior's entire body, which was holding Kapros's hand. What remained after that was this stick with the noisy, talkative Superior inside.