"Good work, today. Though I guess we really aren't making much progress without using that cursed skill..."
Coming home after making things right with Stella, I was still so full of energy that it felt like a waste to go to sleep. Instead, I opted to join sub-me in our venture for combining [Materialize] with our element, but even after spending another two hours, we hadn't come far.
"Yeah, it's like we first thought. It's too inefficient to use. For offense, it's a lot more potent to just use [Detonate] and for defense, we wouldn't be able to hold out for long. I guess there's a world where we will be forced to use it to cover a larger scale than any skills we have learned, but that does seem quite unlikely."
As sub-me raised a flag, I could only nervously laugh, "Ahaha... Yea, that's... unlikely, right?"
"Haha... sure is... Cough! Anyway, we are going back to the normal classes next week, aren't we?"
"Why are you asking me this as if you don't know the same things I do?"
"Well, excuse me, 'Saint Zero', I didn't mean to get on your nerves. Please do forgive me for my sins, your holiness."
"You're so fucking annoying."
"Ditto."
After arguing a bit with myself, I started thinking about the fact that I honestly had a pretty good night, all things considered. From eating good food to hanging out with Zero's friends, it was all in all pretty nice.
'I just wish I could have gotten that bottle of whiskey...'
****
[Sophie's Pov]
Leaning back onto my man while watching some stupid horror show on my laptop in the bed, I thought back to the girl who I had once again sparred with.
Even if she wasn't on the same level as James or Arthur, there was no doubt she was a very talented girl, even more so because of her extremely unique Manual.
Though she didn't want to tell me exactly what it was, it made it possible for her to move her shield at insane speed around herself, almost making it look as if the shield was the thing dragging her arm and not the other way around.
Also, the way she kept going without hesitation and always listened to every little comment I made about her way of fighting, I could envision a future where she would also become a future powerhouse.
"Aaahh!"
Arthur couldn't stop himself from flinching when the scary ghost on the laptop suddenly showed up, the arms he had wrapped around my midriff flexing because of the jump scare. "Haha, seems like no matter how strong you get, you're still the same, aren't you?"
Pouting a bit, he didn't seem too happy with my comment, "Tch! You are the weird one! Did you see that ghost? It just jumped out of the tv out of nowhere! How can you remain calm after seeing that?"
Letting my head rest its full weight on his shoulder, I couldn't stop myself from teasing him some more, "Well, unlike a lightbulb like you, a dragon wouldn't get scared by something like that!"
"You...!"
Not wanting to lose, I felt him suddenly leaning his own head forward, his mouth dangerously close to my neck, "What are you doi... Ahn!"
His attack had been swift and precise, accurately attacking one of the weak spots we had discovered together on my body. As he was carefully letting his lips touch my neck, I 'tried' my best to get him to stop, "Ah, wait... Ngh! We arengh... still watching..."
Then, somehow, with his insane agility and strength, he managed to turn us both around, with him above me with a bright smile.
"I think we have watched enough, haven't we? I think there's something better we could pass the time with. Don't you?"
"Hmm? And what could that, ahh!"
The hero didn't let me talk anymore, as he had fully set his sights on defeating the evil dragon before him, a dragon that didn't mind his rough ways at all.
****
[3rd person Pov]
Looking through the papers where he had recorded all the information about his subjects, the principal's research had yet again led to nothing.
"Hmm, another failure, is it? Such a shame... I guess I really have to get my hands on some of the forest dwellers."
Looking up from his papers, albeit just for a moment, his eyes weren't looking at the door to his office, but at a time long ago, a time that would never return. The next second, he was right back in the present again, once again finding his resolve to keep going.
"Lilie, please come out."
From the shadows of a corner, a woman fully dressed in black stepped out, her face hidden by a black shawl. "Yes, Frederick?"
"Would you mind keeping me company for a bit? Even an old man like me gets lonely sometimes, you know? So if you don't mind, would you consume a glass of wine with me?"
Bowing down, the woman spoke with a clear tone, "Order accepted."
==========
Sitting in the tent he was using as his accommodation, Aksel's face was warped in worry as he read through the reports he had asked for. Every page he read through made his opinion about the situation worsen, as he realized that the threat of the monsters wasn't as small as the rulers of the kingdom made it seem.
"Hmm... this is worse than I thought. But why are they acting like this, all of a sudden? What could possibly have happened out there in the wastelands for them to feel comfortable approaching Mensch?"
Monsters weren't by design inherently evil, nor were they all stupid. Outside of dungeons, there was almost always a constructed hierarchy between monsters, where the older ones would make sure that the younglings wouldn't needlessly give their lives just for the excitement of fighting.
However, something appeared to have changed in the wastelands outside of Schiltach, and the reckless movement of the monsters seemed to be showing signs of them having a new leader.
A leader that didn't follow the normal common sense of their race. A leader that was determined to increase their territory.
As a result, several patrols had returned with their body in tatters, as well as making reports of many others losing their lives on the field.
Although Schiltach had quite a powerful military force, something that was needed to keep the border safe, at this rate, it wouldn't last. Despite this, the leaders of Mensch weren't showing any signs of sending reinforcements.
"Haa... Are they hoping it's a false alarm, even after receiving all of these reports? Captain Lavigne must be losing his mind at this point, but I guess he can at least feel calm knowing his daughter is in the capital."
"Hmm? Come to think of it, shouldn't she be about the same age as Zero?"
In the end, there was nothing else for the experienced priest to do but try his best and heal as many as possible, hoping that he wouldn't have to assist in case the monsters break through to the inner sectors.
So far, they had only lightly penetrated the B-sectors, but he knew that it wouldn't be surprising to see them nearing the A-sectors in the near future. Still, he knew that he couldn't sit around and do nothing, even if there were two promises he had to break.
Because he couldn't call himself the father of Zero if he didn't try at least as hard as him.
****
[Sarah's Pov]
Once again, I was spending my Saturday night alone, merely passing the time by sitting in my bed and watching some stupid show about a hero and a princess. Just like every night, I had to try my best and distract myself so as to not allow myself to think about what could have been.
Yet, once again, I failed.
"Sniff..."
I wanted so badly to believe in the vision that Zero spoke about, a world where there would be no need for killing and hatred. A world where my fate could have played out differently.
But here I was, and just like every night, I was alone to face the cruelty that was reality.
Looking out of my window, the moon seemed to share my emotions, seemingly alone in the sky as it knew that it would never meet with the sun that had already taken its leave. Even though it had the stars around it, it was not the same.
Because, even if it looked like the stars were dancing around the moon, they were always far away. They were distant and unknowing of the pain of the lonely celestial. And despite all of this, the lonely moon had no choice but to continue its work, as it knew that if it decided to disappear, a lot of people would get hurt.
Though the moon wanted so badly to just give up, it would never be an option. No matter how much it wanted to. "Sniff... Guh! I-I... I miss you..."