New chapter of World Teacher is out! (1/1 chapter)

 

 

Let’s Go on a Picnic (Outing)

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

“Ha!” (Emilia)

She evaded the weapon that had been swung downward, and Emilia’s knife pierced into her opponent’s throat. The knife, once embedded, was immediately pulled out and thrown, sinking precisely into the throat of another enemy approaching from behind. In that brief moment, an attacker came charging from the side.

“Wind Slash.” (Emilia)

Emilia unleashed a blade of wind, and with the gust that followed, her opponent’s neck was severed. Confirming that there were no more enemies closing in on her, she swiftly retrieved her knives from the fallen bodies.

“Deyah!” (Reus)

The sword that Reus swung down easily sliced through the club raised in defense and cleaved his opponent in two from the head downward. The sheer force of that blow caused another creature nearby to hesitate in terror, and Reus took the opportunity to strike with a horizontal slash, cutting it down. The last one standing was silenced by a knee strike to its face.

“Take this!” (Reus)

When two enemies attacked him at once, he released Scatter Break. Five slashing strikes tore through the two goblins, shredding them before they could even cry out.

As for me, I was sitting on a nearby rock, watching the two of them. This was not idleness. This was their training session. I was ready to assist if anything went wrong, but at this rate there seemed to be no problem at all.

It had been one year since the Silver Moon Oath. Whether they had sworn the oath with me or not, my relationship with them had not changed. If anything had changed, it was that they had become even more enthusiastic about their training. Through dedicated practice, Emilia and Reus had grown steadily. Though still children, they had become splendid warriors.

Their skill was evident at a glance. To be honest, goblins were no longer opponents worthy of them. However, today’s battle was designed to train them for group combat, so the weakness of the enemies was of no consequence. There had been at least thirty goblins, yet they were mowed down like brittle twigs. It almost made one feel pity for the creatures.

Let me briefly describe their conditions.

Emilia’s attribute was Wind. She usually wielded knives as her main weapons and sliced distant enemies using wind magic. Of course, I had trained her to perform it without incantation. Because she was female, goblins tended to swarm toward her, but she moved skillfully to avoid being surrounded, reducing their numbers efficiently by striking their weak points. When approached, she threw them down using the aikido techniques I had taught her, and when distanced, she cut them apart with wind magic. Even as her teacher, I found her graceful and swift movements truly beautiful.

Reus’s attribute was Fire, though he rarely used magic. He relied solely on pure swordsmanship to slaughter the goblins. His style was the Gōha Ittō School of Lior, and when I introduced them to each other at an appropriate time, Lior took a liking to him. For the past six months, Reus had been visiting Lior together with me to practice daily. You can infer his current strength from the fact that he could cleave a goblin in two with an ordinary iron sword. However, according to Lior, that level of power was still considered beginner. How deep does the Gōha Ittō School truly go?

While I was lost in thought, the final goblin fell, cut down by Reus’s sword. There was some blood splattered upon him, but he bore no injury. Anyone would see that it was a complete victory.

During battle, they both appeared gallant and reliable. Yet–..

“Sirius-sama!” (Emilia)

“Aniki!” (Reus)

They ran toward me with tails wagging and broad smiles upon their faces, resembling nothing so much as affectionate pets.

“How was it? We defeated them all without suffering injury or bloodstain. Reus is a little stained, but only that.” (Emilia)

“Nee-chan uses too much magic. You always tell me not to rely too much on magic, Aniki. But I defeated them all without using any magic. Amazing, right?” (Reus)

Though they began quarreling in front of me, it was clear they only wished to be praised. I patted both their heads.

“Hehehe.” (Emilia/Reus)

Their joyful expressions were nearly identical. However, a year had brought visible differences to their appearances.

Emilia had grown taller, and her appearance had become more mature. Her silver hair, once reaching only her shoulders, now flowed down to her waist, exuding the charm of a young woman. The most remarkable growth, for some reason, was her chest. It had begun to show a faint swell, as if her body had responded to her own wish to grow more womanly. I could guess the reason, but I deliberately refrained from mentioning it. I was prepared to accept her feelings in time, but is it not too early at eight years old?
Setting that aside, she had become truly adorable. Without doubt, she would become a beautiful woman in the future.

Reus’s entire physique had grown larger, and his mental stability had improved greatly. He had begun referring to himself with “ore” instead of “boku,” and his impulsive behavior had decreased. Since the Oath of the Silver Moon, he had also begun calling me “Aniki”. Some had pointed out that it was strange for a servant not to address his master with “sama,” but for him, “Aniki” was the highest title of respect. I had granted him permission to use it except in formal situations.

His weakness lay in formal speech. Even when corrected, his casual tone quickly resurfaced, so I decided to let him mature further before addressing it again.

As for me, to be frank, I had only grown taller. It was an average growth, but with Reus’s rapid height increase, I would likely be overtaken within six months. That was acceptable, for I had developed inwardly rather than outwardly. I had learned new magic, and although preparation was required, I had become able to use elemental magic as well. My disciples were thriving, and all was proceeding smoothly.

“Is this the last for today?” (Emilia)

“Yes. It is a little early but let us end today’s training here. Time to go home for dinner.” (Sirius)

“I wonder what Dee-nii is cooking today.” (Reus)

If one cut off the goblins’ horns and brought them to the facility known as the Adventurer Guild, it would yield a small sum of money. However, the price was low, and due to age restrictions, we could not register with the guild. Therefore, the slain goblins were left behind. The wild monsters would take care of them.

Reus walked ahead with innocent enthusiasm. I followed behind, watching over him, while Emilia trailed close at my side. This was our usual formation both in daily life and in battle.

It had been a year since I was expelled from my home, and one more year remained before I would attend the academy. Though our growth was steady, I continued to ponder whether there was anything left undone.

Leaving Reus in the yard to clean his sword and wash the blood from his clothes, Emilia and I entered the house.

“Welcome home, Sirius-sama.” (Erina)

“I am back, Erina. No, please, remain seated.” (Sirius)

Erina began to rise from the sofa to greet us, but I gently restrained her.

“My apologies. More importantly, I am relieved that you have all returned safely.” (Erina)

“They are both quite capable. How are you feeling today?” (Sirius)

“Well, I feel a little languid, but it is nothing serious.” (Erina)

For the past six months, Erina’s health had been in decline. She had once always sensed our return and come to the entrance to greet us, but lately she often appeared weary, struggling even to walk that far. For that reason, I had prohibited her from greeting us at the door and persuaded her over the course of half a day to limit her duties to the minimum necessary.

“Sirius-sama, what are your plans for this afternoon?” (Erina)

“I intend to take Reus to Lior’s place. Emilia will be free, though perhaps you will instruct her?” (Sirius)

“Yes, I shall borrow her. Emilia, after lunch, then.” (Erina)

“Understood. Sirius-sama, I will change my clothes now.” (Emilia)

Emilia returned to her room to change from her adventurer’s outfit into her maid uniform. Erina watched her retreating figure with gentle eyes.

“That child grows so quickly. I had only just adjusted her maid uniform, and it already seems too small.” (Erina)

“Indeed. She is growing beautifully. It must be troublesome to make so many alterations, though.” (Sirius)

“No, it is a joyful task. Each time I work on it, I can feel her growth. Moreover, it is something I can do while seated, so it has become one of my small pleasures.” (Erina)

Of course, her eyes silently conveyed that I was included as well, so I returned her look with a smile.

Clad in the maid uniform handmade by Erina, Emilia bowed gracefully before me.

“Welcome home, Sirius-sama. I shall take your belongings.” (Emilia)

She removed the weapon belt I had been wearing. I could have easily done that myself, but this too was part of her education as an attendant, so I allowed her to perform it. Emilia was not as skilled in combat as Reus. Because she aspired to serve as my attendant, she also received attendant training from Erina in the intervals between her combat practice. Despite bearing the strain of both increasingly intense combat training and the mental exhaustion of attendant education, she had never once complained or uttered a word of weakness. Her passion and dedication were truly remarkable.

“How is it?” (Emilia)

“There is no problem. You have improved.” (Sirius)

“Yes, you removed the weapon smoothly, and your bow was perfect.” (Erina)

“Ah, thank you very much.” (Emilia)

Her natural self tended to show when she was praised, but that could not be helped at her age.

“You might have more talent than Noel. Well, perhaps that is a bit of an exaggeration.” (Erina)

At Erina’s words, a wooden tray rolled across the floor behind her with a clattering sound. When I turned around, I saw Noel, who had been preparing the meal. She was frozen in disbelief, eyes wide open. Silence filled the room. I merely thought to myself that it was fortunate she had set down the dishes beforehand.

“D-don’t worry, Onee-chan. I only do well when it comes to Sirius-sama. I am hopeless with everyone else. I could never compare with you, Onee-chan, who can handle anyone.” (Noel)

“Ah, ahaha… yes, that’s right. As your older sister, I cannot lose. I have been working hard after all.” (Erina)

How sad it was that she was being comforted by someone nearly ten years her junior.

“If only she were not so easily carried away, she would be truly excellent.” (Erina)

Her quiet mutter reached no one but me.

 

—

 

After lunch, the setting was the home of Lior. I had entrusted Reus to Lior and had gone to a small hill some distance away to practice magic.

“Nuoooooh!” (Reus)

“Take this!” (Lior)

Amid the distant sounds of their combat, I was sniping at a target far ahead using gun magic. In my previous life, I had performed sniper assassinations on specific targets many times. Then, the maximum distance I had achieved was two thousand meters, but the target I aimed at now was at least twice that, around four thousand meters away. The image I pictured was, of course, a sniper rifle. I aimed in a kneeling position and although it was not exactly at the center, I still managed to hit the target. Normally, such a shot would be impossible, but this was a world where magic existed.

“Hahaha! What is wrong, boy?” (Lior)

“Hey, that is impossible!” (Reus)

Through the use of magic, the fired bullets possessed far greater power and range. For the sighting scope to look into the distance, I was using a handmade magical tool. Indeed, I was now capable of crafting simple magical tools.

I had carved water-based magic circles into the inside of a hollow wooden tube and used transparent water shaped like lenses to create two focal points, forming a structure similar to a telescope. Since telescopes did not exist in this world, this was something entirely of my own invention. I looked forward to attending the academy, where they were said to teach various techniques concerning magic circles.

After firing several more times, I finally struck the exact center. Now I would try aiming a bit farther.

“You endured this far! Then, take this!” (Lior)

“Ah, Aniki, help me!” (Reus)

Normally, bullets would slow and veer due to air resistance, but bullets formed from mana barely encountered any wind resistance. They did not slow easily and were difficult to deflect. I truly thought magic was omnipotent. Yes, a hit.

“Hahahahahaha!” (Lior)

“Gyaaaaah!” (Reus)

It seemed Reus had been defeated. It was about time to wrap up here.

“Ah… Aniki…” (Reus)

“Oh, it is you. This boy has finally endured up to 30 percent of my strength.” (Lior)

When I approached the two of them, I found Reus lying collapsed and battered on the ground, while the old man laughed heartily. I stroked Reus’s head as he reached toward me tearfully, picked up a wooden sword from the ground, and faced the old man.

“Well done, Reus. You have worked hard. Now I shall give this inconsiderate old man a good lesson.” (Sirius)

“Aniki…” (Reus)

“Calling me inconsiderate is rude. I only hardened my heart to train him.” (Lior)

“Silence. You were laughing out loud while calling yourself a demon.” (Sirius)

“It could not be helped. It was far too enjoyable.” (Lior)

“Do not make excuses.” (Sirius)

From the very first move, I charged the old man with my full strength using Boost. As a result, by employing attacks I usually refrained from using, I achieved a complete victory. Even so, the old man merely laughed, satisfied.

 

—

 

And the following day, I looked around at everyone gathered for breakfast and spoke.

“Let us go on a picnic.” (Sirius)

The attendants glanced at one another in silence, until Noel raised her hand as their representative.

“May I ask a question?” (Noel)

“Yes, go ahead.” (Sirius)

“What is a picnic?” (Noel)

Ah, so that was it. Judging by their expressions, everyone else seemed equally puzzled and waited for an explanation. I had assumed the word would be understood, as it resembled the one from my previous world. That was a mistake.

“It means we shall all prepare boxed lunches and go out together to relax. In other words, we shall go out to have fun.” (Sirius)

“All in favor!” (Reus/Emilia/Noel)

The children of the household… although one of them, a cat-eared adult, was among them, raised their hands enthusiastically in agreement. Dee already seemed to be thinking about the lunch menu, yet only Erina shook her head regretfully.

“My apologies. I fear I lack the stamina to go, so I shall remain at home. Please, enjoy yourselves.” (Erina)

“Oh, no, we cannot just leave Erina-san behind.” (Emilia)

“It will not be fun without you, Erina-san.” (Reus)

“You two… I would like to go as well, but if I overexert myself, I will only become a burden.” (Erina)

“It is all right. I have prepared this.” (Sirius)

What I produced was a chair made of interlocking wood designed to be carried on the back. If Erina sat in it, either Dee or I could carry her so that she would not need to walk.

“You went so far as to make such a thing. I cannot refuse now.” (Erina)

“Then, it is unanimous. We shall go on a picnic.” (Sirius)

“Yay, a picnic!” (Reus)

“Do not get too excited. But I am looking forward to it as well.” (Emilia)

Since it would be their first time playing together purely for fun rather than training, the two were more delighted than I had expected. Their innocent smiles as children pierced my heart painfully. I resolved to include more recreation in the future.

“Now then, everyone prepare. Dee and Noel will handle the lunches. Emilia and Reus will prepare the mats for sitting. Erina will wait here. That is all, dismissed.” (Sirius)

“Understood.” (All)

Everyone dispersed to their assigned tasks, and I remained behind to make final adjustments to the chair. Erina, who had also stayed behind, addressed me.

“Sirius-sama, why this sudden event? We have only one year left.” (Erina)

“Precisely because of that. I wish for us all to create joyful memories together.” (Sirius)

As she said, our time was limited, and there was hardly any leisure to spare. Still, although I was fine, I could not be certain what would become of my attendants a year from now. Therefore, I wanted to leave them at least one or two happy memories. That was why I planned this picnic.

“Let us set the serious talk aside and simply enjoy the day.” (Sirius)

“Yes, you are right. I shall rely on you for the transportation.” (Erina)

“Leave it to me.” (Sirius)

After several test runs carrying Erina to ensure stability and safety, I confirmed that there was no problem. Preparation was complete, and we set out immediately.

 

—

 

Our destination lay in the mountains behind the house, about a thirty-minute walk away. I had found it while flying through the sky. It was a wide meadow with no magic beasts in sight, a perfect place to relax.

With the sharp-sensed Reus leading the way, I followed behind carrying Erina on my back. After us came Noel, Emilia, and lastly Dee taking the rear. The only dangerous magic beast that could appear in this area would be goblins, but since we had exterminated their group only a few days ago, the possibility of encountering them was low. Even so, we carried our weapons just in case, and the three men maintained vigilance as we advanced toward our destination.

“Sirius-sama, are you not feeling heavy?” (Erina)

“It is fine. I could even run like this without any issue. More importantly, Erina, are you feeling all right?” (Sirius)

“There is no problem here either. It is strange. Even though my body is being moved up and down, I hardly feel any burden.” (Erina)

“That is because of this walking method. It is also a form of training.” (Sirius)

“If it is training, then I will do it too!” (Reus)

“You are supposed to be the one clearing the path ahead. The harder you work, the less burden Erina-san will have. So, work hard and cut the way open with your sword.” (Sirius)

“Oh, that is right! Leave it to me!” (Reus)

This child was, in truth, rather airheaded. Watching his back as he swung his sword to cut through obstructing branches and bushes, I could not help but feel a little anxious about his future.

 

—

 

“Wow…” (Emilia)

“Amazing…” (Noel)

The thick forest came to an end, and before our eyes spread a vast field of flowers in full bloom. The land was uneven, as though the forest had been scooped out with a spoon, but after examining the area with Search, I sensed no presence of magic beasts and felt relieved. Leading my moved attendants, I spread a cloth at the base of a single large tree that stood alone in the middle of the field of flowers.

“The flower field is amazing, but why is this tree standing here all by itself?” (Emilia)

“It must be the master of this place. Look, it is much larger than the other trees.” (Erina)

“You are right. Then perhaps we should ask to borrow the shade of its roots.” (Noel)

“I will do it too.” (Reus)

Noel and Reus placed their hands together in prayer toward the tree. Most likely, this tree had monopolized the surrounding nutrients, preventing other trees from growing. Because there were fewer trees, sunlight had reached the ground, allowing the flowers to bloom in abundance even with limited nourishment.

“Hmm, we have arrived, but it is still a bit early for lunch.” (Erina)

“Then, let us play a little. I actually brought something for that.” (Sirius)

“Play!” (Reus/Emilia)

Their ears and tails perked up as they looked at me expectantly, just like dogs who had heard the words “walk”. What I took out was a flat, round disk with slightly curved edges. It was a Frisbee. Since plastic did not exist here, I had carved it from light but sturdy wood.

“What is that? Should I hit it with my sword?” (Reus)

“Do we shoot it with magic?” (Emilia)

“Hey now, do not assume from the start that it is meant to be broken. This is a toy called a Frisbee, and you throw it like this.” (Sirius)

I threw it lightly. Because it was handmade, the balance was somewhat off and it wobbled a little, but it flew almost like the real thing. Ah, I should not have thrown it in a direction where no one was standing.

“Haah!” (Noel)

However, Noel leaped and caught it in midair, returning it to me. She had been preparing the baggage behind us just a moment ago.

When did she move so fast?

“I wonder why. My body reacted before I even thought.” (Noel)

Looking puzzled, she returned to her place. Cats were known to react instinctively to moving objects, and it seemed that her feline instincts as a cat-eared woman had taken over. When I looked at the two younger ones, their eyes sparkled as they watched the Frisbee intently. The game was simply to throw it back and forth, but I decided to play a little trick.

“Here, fetch!” (Sirius)

“Wait!” (Reus)

“Ah!” (Emilia)

When I threw it a bit harder, the two of them eagerly started chasing after it. I thought it would be impossible to catch it at that speed, yet they both used their well-trained legs to close the distance, and it was Emilia who caught it.

“Oh, well done. Now throw it back.” (Sirius)

“Sirius-sama!” (Emilia)

Before I could even finish asking them to throw it back, they both came running toward me, handing the Frisbee over.

“Aniki, throw it again! I will catch it this time!” (Reus)

“I will not lose! Sirius-sama, please throw it harder!” (Emilia)

They were making such a racket that I threw it even harder this time. At that speed, even a well-trained dog from my previous life would have found it difficult, but unfortunately for me, these two were my disciples who had undergone relentless training. With impressive bursts of speed and reflexes, Reus succeeded in catching it midair, and before long, both of them were running back again.

“Aniki! More, more!” (Reus)

“This time it is my turn! Sirius-sama, please!” (Emilia)

Strange. I was fairly certain that a Frisbee was meant to be thrown back and forth between players. I had said “fetch” only as a joke, yet they were enjoying it wholeheartedly. Were they dogs? Well, in Reus’s case, he practically was.

“Oooh…” (Noel)

Then, I noticed Noel standing beside me with an intense gleam in her eyes. That was the look of a cat just before pouncing on its prey. As an experiment, I tossed the Frisbee lightly nearby, and she leaped instantly to catch it.

Hmm, instinct could not be resisted.

“Sirius-sama, what are you doing… ah, there she goes again! Haah!” (Noel)

The beastkin were truly fascinating. They possessed greater physical ability than humans, and many of them were kind-hearted. I still could not understand why they were treated differently.

“No fair, Noel-nee! It is my turn now!” (Reus)

“Onee-chan can go easy, but please throw harder for us.” (Emilia)

“Oh? If you insist, then I will go all out. I shall show you your Onee-chan’s true ability.” (Noel)

The noise increased even further, and I simply kept throwing the Frisbee over and over. It was fun, so I did not mind.

“You know, I just realized something. There is no reason I need to be the one throwing it. Why don’t you all take turns?” (Sirius)

“No!” (Reus/Emilia/Noel)

“Why not?” (Sirius)

In the end, they had reached a level of performance that even the most experienced dogs of my previous life could not match. They were even using Boost, which I had taught them, just to play. Were they not getting a little too carried away?

“Everyone, shall we have lunch now?” (Erina)

“Yes!” (Reus, Emilia, Noel)

The beastkin gathering at Erina’s call resembled kindergarteners on a field trip with their caretaker. Chuckling to myself, I sat down with the others in a circle around the boxed lunches Dee had laid out. After we all said Itadakimasu together, Emilia handed me a sandwich and a drink. Since as the master I had to eat first before my attendants could begin, I took a small bite, though it felt slightly troublesome.

“Yes, this is delicious. The seasoning is a little strong, but this much is not bad.” (Sirius)

“Really?” (Emilia)

Emilia wagged her tail energetically with delight. Hmm, for something made by Dee, the appearance was rather clumsy. Could it be?

“Did you make this, Emilia?” (Sirius)

“Yes, I made it!” (Emilia)

“I see. For your first attempt, it turned out quite well. Do not just stare at me—eat some yourself.” (Sirius)

“Yes, understood. Ah… I am so relieved.” (Emilia)

“You worked hard, Emi-chan.” (Noel)

“I am glad for you.” (Reus)

She was praised by the two who had been watching over her cooking, and with a look of satisfaction, she bit into her cutlet sandwich. Although there was a small accident where Reus, who had been devouring his food without restraint, choked, the meal proceeded in a peaceful atmosphere.

After lunch, I expected them to immediately resume the Frisbee game, yet the flower field was wrapped in a truly quiet time. The cause of the earlier commotion, the three of them, were lying side by side under the shade of a tree, sleeping soundly. Well, after playing so much and filling their stomachs, it was only natural that they would grow sleepy. Since Dee was sitting nearby to keep watch, there would likely be no problem even if a magic beast approached. Following their example, I also lay down and rested my head on Erina’s lap.

“Fufu.” (Erina)

“You look as though you are enjoying yourself.” (Sirius)

She gently stroked my head with a face full of motherly affection. It was the same expression she had shown me ever since the day I awakened in this world, and though the years had added wrinkles to her face, that kindness had never changed.

“Yes, I am truly enjoying myself. Sirius-sama has grown so much, and our family has increased. I am very happy.” (Erina)

“Happiness, is it? Yes, I wish to create more happy memories like today.” (Sirius)

Wrapped in Erina’s warmth and in the pleasant sunlight, I too began to feel drowsy.

“You can accomplish as much as you wish. I am fine, so please, rest well.” (Erina)

“Ah, then I shall do just that.” (Sirius)

She began to hum the lullaby that I had heard countless times before. My consciousness slowly sank into that comforting rhythm.

 

—

 

“…sama… Sirius-sama!” (Emilia)

When the call reached my ears and my consciousness returned, I saw Emilia and Reus peering down at me.

“Mmm… how long was I asleep?” (Sirius)

“About an hour.” (Emilia)

“I see. What happened to you two?” (Sirius)

I thanked Erina as I sat up and stretched my stiffened body while watching the two. Since they had gone out of their way to wake me, I thought something must have happened, but neither of them looked particularly panicked.

“We woke up a little while ago and went for a walk, and on the way, we found something strange. Reus said it felt suspicious.” (Emilia)

“Yes. I do not know what it is, but it gives me a weird feeling.” (Reus)

“So we asked Onee-chan and Dee-san to keep watch, and we came to consult with you, Sirius-sama.” (Emilia)

I see. They had left people behind to monitor the target and had come to report and seek advice. That was commendable. Incidentally, in my previous world, such practice was called Hō-Ren-Sō, an abbreviation of Hōkoku (report), Renraku (contact), and Sōdan (consultation). It was an essential principle for conducting business or any group activity efficiently. I recalled sighing as I once had to explain this to a disciple who had not known it.

Being led by the two, I was guided to the location in question, and indeed, something mysterious was there.

“…A jewel?” (Sirius)

A golden jewel, roughly the size of two adult fists, protruded from the ground. Because it was a jewel, one would be tempted to reach out and touch it, but its suspicious nature caused hesitation.

“It is beautiful, is it not? But Reu-kun told me not to touch it.” (Emilia)

“Reus’s instincts are sharp at times like these. However, if we had this…” (Sirius)

“Shall we try taking it?” (Emilia)

“It seems extremely suspicious, but let us give it a try. I will handle this, so everyone step back.” (Sirius)

To be safe, I had them pack up our belongings, and after confirming that everyone had retreated to a safe distance, I extended my String and wrapped it around the jewel, giving it a light tug. The jewel did not move, nor did anything change.

“It will not budge. It seems it is not simply placed here, but attached to something.” (Sirius)

The moment I applied more force, the earth around the jewel swelled, and with a cloud of dust, a massive object emerged.

“That is… a Jewel Turtle.” (Dee)

It was a giant turtle that stood at least five meters tall. The jewel we had seen earlier was glowing at the peak of its shell. Its entire body was covered in rock, giving it an extremely solid appearance. From its shell extended six tentacle-like appendages that waved threateningly in our direction.

“You know of it, Dee-san?” (Sirius)

“Yes. It is a very hard magic beast, but it is famous as one from which great wealth can be obtained.” (Dee)

“Really? Then, let us defeat it!” (Reus)

“However, it is extremely ferocious and unbelievably hard. Unless one is an advanced magic user or a high-ranking adventurer, they will surely be struck down instead.” (Dee)

At Dee’s explanation, I recalled the information that I had once read in a book.

The Jewel Turtle.

Its body is fused with stone, and its entire form possesses hardness surpassing that of steel. Because of this, it moves very slowly and can easily be escaped from, but to engage it in battle requires firm resolve. Its defense is so high that half-hearted attacks are useless, and if one carelessly approaches, the tentacles that extend from its shell will seize and crush the opponent. However, the jewel growing upon its back is traded at a high price, and due to the rarity of encountering such a creature, finding one is said to offer the chance of instant wealth. Even so, countless adventurers have perished, lacking the strength to overcome it.

“If we intend to flee, we should leave at once.” (Dee)

As someone with the most battle experience, Dee seemed to judge that this was not an opponent we could defeat. Surveying the surroundings, I simulated the battle in my mind and reached a decision.

“No, we can manage this. Both of you, prepare for battle.” (Sirius)

“Yes!” (Emilia and Reus)

At my command, Emilia took position beside me, and Reus stepped forward, raising his sword high. The Jewel Turtle advanced, sinking the ground with each step. Though its movements were slow, the sheer pressure emanating from its enormous form caused Erina and Noel’s voices to tremble.

“S-Sirius-sama!? A-Are we truly going to fight it?” (Erina)

“Please stop this! There is no need to force yourselves to fight when you can still escape!” (Noel)

“It is all right. We can win. Dee, I leave those two in your care.” (Sirius)

“Understood. I pray for your victory.” (Dee)

“Dee-san!?” (Noel)

Noel seemed shocked that Dee, who was the most experienced among us, would agree so easily. However, Dee simply tapped her head lightly as if to calm her and smiled faintly.

“Sirius-sama is far stronger than I am, and he understands himself well. If such a person says he can win, then there is no problem.” (Dee)

“Yes, that is true. He has always been so composed, no matter the situation. All right, do your best, Sirius-sama, Emi-chan, Reu-kun!” (Noel)

“Sirius-sama…” (Erina)

Originally, I would have preferred to send the three of them home, but they likely would not listen even if I said so. I asked them to retreat to a position far enough to avoid any harm, and then we faced the Jewel Turtle.

“Begin the battle!” (Sirius)

 

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