Chapter 43 : Archer Barnaba (3)

Pop, the egg burst satisfyingly.

“Sigh…”

I think I’ve gone through at least 10 cartons of eggs.

As if to tease me, Cled, covered in egg yolk, drank a raw egg and said, “You’re planning to eat all the eggs in the food storage by yourself, aren’t you?”

“…Eggs are too heavy compared to bird eggs. They shake around during the fight, and I can’t concentrate…”

“You chose this training. Endure it with grit.”

Hearing that from him made me feel dizzy for some reason.

“Come to think of it, I heard they found out the components of the liquid that Julius drank that night.”

“What was it…?”

Julius, just before his neck was cut off by Luna’s sword, drank a purple liquid from a strange bottle. As a result, his body was transformed hideously, as if it had merged with a Sarkas.

“Commander Violet told us not to tell the students, but it’s better to tell you guys.”

He spoke to me in a low voice so that others around us wouldn’t hear.

“It’s the blood of an ancient species of Sarkas.”

“Ancient species…!?”

Normally, components like Sarkas’ blood would oxidize as soon as they die, so how could the blood of an ancient species, which has disappeared from the current world, remain?

‘No, if you freeze it…’

Come to think of it, Julius froze a Sarkas that day, collected its blood, and sprinkled it on us to temporarily block magic.

But even with common sense, it seemed unlikely that such a large amount could be preserved. Moreover, the liquid he drank wasn’t frozen at all—it was completely liquid.

Does the corpse of an ancient species not oxidize even after death…?

“Saya, concentrate.”

While I was lost in thought, Cled spoke to me.

“I’m sorry. I have something to think about.”

He glanced at me, shrugged, and said, “…You protected two this time. Your growth is quite fast.”

“Are you praising me now?”

“Don’t be conceited. You’re still far from being a skilled beastman warrior.”

‘He never says anything nice.’

However, he is a great instructor when it comes to training. To the point where I felt ashamed of myself for doubting that he was a combat instructor, even for a moment.

“For your information, when I was your age, I fought and won against beastman bandits. You should be able to do that.”

“Aren’t I at that level of skill? Beastman bandit? Anyway.”

I almost accidentally said Black Dog Bandit.

“If he heard that, Heukrang would laugh.”

Today’s training seemed to be over, and he lowered his fist.

‘…Heukrang?’

“…Who is Heukrang?”

“Hmm?”

“You just said that. That Heukrang would laugh.”

“A colleague from my mercenary days. He’s the one who taught me beastman martial arts.”

‘…Heukrang, Heukrang.’

That intuitive name and the fact that he was a beastman—I couldn’t shake off the feeling that it was somehow familiar.

“What is he doing now, that person called Heukrang?”

“…That guy? We worked together as mercenaries, and then he suddenly left, saying he was going to create a bandit group. A few years later, I heard he was killed by a Spirit Master.”

This confirmed it. The person who was his former colleague was Heukrang, the founder of the Black Dog Bandits.

“…I’m sorry, I asked something I shouldn’t have.”

“It’s nothing to be sorry about. We just chose different paths.”

A beastman bandit leader from Luden with the name Heukrang—there’s only one person I know of. So, I was now indirectly learning the techniques of the first captain.

Cled’s friend was him.

“Soon, you won’t have to bring eggs here anymore. It’s a shame—it was free alcohol every day.”

“…That’s what you’re sad about?”

“Yes. If you were a little slower, I could have gotten alcohol for a month or a year. You learn fast. Even faster than I did back then.”

His hand was placed on my head.

“…What are you doing?”

“Sometimes, wear clothes with a different atmosphere. You’re still a girl, aren’t you?”

“What’s wrong with my clothes…”

“Are you going to advertise that you’re a member of a bandit group all over town? You brat.”

“…!”

What, he knew…?

“When I go on missions to eliminate bandits, they’re always wearing the same clothes as you, Saya.”

I felt strange because I felt like I was being fooled.

‘…Clothes with a different atmosphere.’

Come to think of it, I’ve only been wearing the two sets of bandit clothes, and I haven’t tried to wear anything else.

If Cled, who wears the same clothes every day, says that, how much more…

“Well, the reason I brought this up is… the ball that will be held soon. You know about it, right?”

“Yes. I know, but… why?”

I wondered why Cled suddenly brought up the ball, and then he mentioned a mission.

“A mission? But the only person in our team who’s fine is me, so what can I do…”

“It’s a personal mission. Commander Violet asked me to guard the ball. And, students who will be mixed in the ballroom with weapons.”

Normally, weapons aren’t allowed at events like balls for security reasons, but it seems that the commander made an exception for the students in charge of guarding.

“So, I’d like you to take care of it.”

“Yes…?”

“Well, you can wear anything you want. You don’t really care anyway, do you?”

“…I understand.”

I don’t know why I feel displeased when I hear that.

Anyway, I decided to take weapons and mingle in the ballroom as he requested.

In the shooting range located in the corner of the training ground, I practiced archery while receiving posture correction from Chris.

Every time I pulled and released the bowstring, his ash-gray hair next to me swayed in the wind.

“Hmm… I’m still not used to it.”

I put down the crossbow I usually use and have been practicing the short bow that he recommended the other day.

The power is far less than that of the crossbow, but the weight and portability are overwhelming compared to the crossbow, so each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

“But you’re hitting it pretty well now. It’s just that you’ve been using crossbows for a long time.”

“How many years will it take for me to shoot like Chris?”

Speaking of Chris’s archery skills, he’s a skilled person who can recreate the arrow-on-arrow shooting that you only see in movies.

From the small bow I’m using now to the longbow that’s as tall as a person, I think there’s nothing he can’t handle.

“Hmm… Considering the process of changing and training the muscles themselves, and considering the physical differences such as gender…”

“Never mind, I was just joking…!”

“I’m sorry. I got carried away again.”

I quickly stopped him as he started to calculate for real.

As expected, people who are serious about something are different.

“By the way, you have a different atmosphere today. How should I put it, a little more feminine…”

“…Is that so?”

I was told that I wear the same clothes every day, so I just tried wearing a normal white dress that came down long, but it’s so uncomfortable to move.

I keep tripping over my feet, and it gets dirty easily.

“Right. Chris, did you tell the princess that you wanted to dance with her at the ball?”

“No, I haven’t even mentioned the ‘b’ of ball yet…”

“Why don’t you have more confidence? You’re guarding the princess, and you’re handsome.”

If you say he’s handsome, he’s on the handsome side, and when I look at him, I naturally get annoyed.

This annoyance is a sure guarantee, yes.

“…Even so, I’m just a commoner, Saya.”

“…Chris, you’re a commoner?”

Because of his brilliant career that didn’t fit his age, I naturally thought he was a nobleman, but it was an unexpected fact.

“Yes. Because of that, there are still many people who don’t like me being an escort. If I, dare to ask the princess to dance…”

“…So what? I’m sure she’ll like it.”

“…You’re kind, Saya.”

Honestly, I enjoy imagining the faces of the noblemen who are watching the princess and Chris dance with envy.

They must have put a lot of effort into getting into the princess’s eyes, so how exhilarating would it be to see that.

For him, who was disheartened, I introduced myself a little.

“So what if you’re a commoner? I’m an orphan. I don’t even have a last name. It’s embarrassing.”

“…That’s not all.”

“…Yes?”

When I made a puzzled face at his answer, Chris hurriedly continued.

“So… That part of Saya isn’t something to be ashamed of, is it?”

Who is comforting whom now?

“Anyway, even someone like me walks around proudly, so Chris, have more confidence.”

“…Thank you. I feel a little more courageous thanks to you.”

“That courage should come quickly. The ball is only a few days away.”

The ball was only a few days away, and I just hoped he could safely make a proposal to Isabel before then.

“Come to think of it, the theme of this ball is masks, right? Have you decided what kind of mask you’ll wear, Saya?”

“Yes? Did you know I was coming too?”

“…Weren’t you?”

“No, I’m going… but no one asked me.”

I didn’t even know until this morning that I would be attending the ball, so I was flustered when he suddenly asked me.

My teammates are all lying sick, and one is in a state that I can’t say is good.

It feels a little weird to go to enjoy the atmosphere alone.

Anyway, this is a mission.

“…That’s a relief. If Saya didn’t come, I would have been bored because there were no familiar faces.”

“I’ll be alone there anyway. Don’t worry about me and enjoy yourself.”

‘By the way, what about the outfit…?’

Besides, since it’s a ball, a dress is of course the standard, but this time I can’t even ask Yuri for help.

“Anyway, next week will be the last at the ballroom, Saya.”

Next week is the ball, and this is the end of taking archery lessons from him.

“…Honestly, I don’t know if I was helpful to Chris. I just learned archery.”

“No, you helped me organize my thoughts.”

“I’m glad if that’s the case. I hope you achieve what you want, Chris.”

“…Thank you. I’ve made up my mind.”

He said that and held out one hand to me.

I stood there staring at Chris’s hand.

“…What is it?”

Is the outstretched hand a sign of gratitude?

I also accepted the handshake with a sense of gratitude to him, who had been my archery teacher for a while.

“Will you be my dance partner, Saya?”

“…Yes?”

I thought I heard wrong, so I asked again.

“Excuse me, I didn’t hear you well…”

“I asked if you could be my dance partner.”

So…

What?