*thump*
Without another word, I fell to the ground.
The cold earth slams on my face.
「You have lost the skill 'Tenacity' Lv. 4」
「You have learned the skill 'Madness Enhancement' Lv.1」
Tears fell on the ground, just within my blurry vision.
I look up, scared.
No, please
Aa always, my instincts held true.
She looked at me with contempt in her eyes.
I slowly got up, making sure not to make any sudden moves
I scratch the back of my neck and give her an awkward wave as I look at the ground in guilt.
I did nit know why I felt like so. However, I just knew that; while this was not the best action to take, it was not the worst one either.
*slap*
Heat spread on my left cheek, and I did nothing else but look down in shame.
"Why did you do that?!"
…
"I told you not to be reckless didn't I? Do my words mean nothing to you?!"
…
"Am I just a broken alarm for you or something?"
…
"Are you happy to see me acting so… emotional?"
No
"…"
…
"… Do you hate me?"
No, I couldn't do that even if I tried
"… Does my presence bother you?"
*shake shake*
"Then why?!"
…
"Why are you always so reckless?"
I…
"Don't you know other people worry for you?"
…!!
The witch's words made my head spin, a distant echo of the past knocking on my head.
I suppress it, scared of what it may contain.
She reached for my hand, making me reel back my own in response.
Still, she persisted.
She gently wrapped her fingers with mine, her soft hand touching my own.
She gave me a gaze that was filled without contempt or ridicule, but one of hope.
Color filled her dull eyes.
"I'm here."
…
"I'll always be here."
…
"So, please, don't worry about me and take care of yourself, okay?"
She said as she did her very best not to cry.
I do the same and hold back.
I give her a smile with just one single emotion behind it.
Thank you
She gave me her own, bright and genuine.
"Don't mention it."
We stood there for awhile, nobody eager to say or do anything first.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
Then something came, and before I could react, it was gone.
She gripped my hand tighter.
I guess I'll trust in her more.
…
A little while later…
"There." The witch pointed at the large creature.
I follow her gaze, gauging the creature's strength.
The beast was mighty, it's presence was overpowering. Even from just a distance, I could tell that the beast was above the Earth Wyrms by leaps and bounds.
I give her a curious look.
"That's what you call an Rock Serpent. It's two evolutions upward from your regular Earth Wyrm. Unlike it's kin, it doesn't really have any magical abilities. Aside from the constant coating of 「Hardening」 that it uses on it's scales, it doesn't have any spells." She turned back to me. "I've been observing this thing while you were off risking your life and being stubborn."
The witch squinted her eyes at me, and a pang of guilt bit me from the inside.
Ugh…!
Will she never let that go?
I give her a stiff nod.
"Good, at least you understand." She said to me with a caring smile, but her eyes said otherwise.
She went back to her lecture.
"During my observations, I've observed a few things." She held up one finger. "One, it's that those scales aren't really scales at all."
…?
I tilt my head in confusion.
What is she talking about?
"Those are plates, ones the beast has assimilated through evolution, most likely. They're being kept and strengthened by it's mana… mostly for defensive purposes."
Mostly…?
"Yes, mostly. I've only seen it happen once, but…" The witch trailed off, then returned after a bit. "It was only for a brief moment, but I saw the beast 'fire' it's scales like a projectile. I assume that it was an application of 「Conjuration」 or a skill that it has. Either way, be careful."
The witch looked back to the giant shallow cave that the beast was dwelling in.
Following her gaze, I notice that the beast was sleeping.
It was vulnerable.
"You see that cave that the beast is dwelling in? THAT is what I saw the beast blast it's scales at."
…?!
No way…
I examine the large shallow cave. It was easily 30 meters in height, and while he inside was lacking in space, the fact that the beast managed to cause that much destruction was an astounding feat nonetheless.
"I didn't see much after that. There was too much dust in the way, but I know for certain." Her eyes sharpened like a sword in an instant. " If that thing hits you even once, you're dead."
A cold chill ran down my spine.
Death has always been close to me. It's very presence was what kept me going, desperately trying to avoid it, even if that meant I had to come closer to it.
Still, to know that, no matter what I did, I would die was a weird and somewhat real emotion that I never thought I would have… as far as I remember.
The witch turned back to me.
"So, I'm going to take care of this guy by myself."
… What?
"Look, no offense, but this kind of enemy is still too far out of your reach. Judging from the beast's mana, it could even be a Guardian."
I vigorously shake my head.
"L-look… I'm not saying that you're weak, okay? I'm just saying that you're not strong enough to fight—EEP!"
That's the same thing!!
I grab the witch by the shoulders , making her flinch in surprise.
"O-okay, I get! J-just let go… okay? I'm not very well versed in 「Reinforcement」 so…"
*shake shake*
"Ahhhhhh! Stahp! Fine, I'll let you join."
I release her… for now.
"Just… wait for my signal. If you go out there from the start, the beast would wipe the floor with you almost instantaneously… and don't even think about shaking me again! That's as far as a bargain as you're going to have!"