Chapter 53 - Lighting up the flame inside their heart.
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(Next Day)
My next plan and the last step before we set out to the 『Jungle』 is to light the fire to the girls in which I asked Rina-san to have a spar with me.
Today, all of us are in the pond near the Villa which will be the place as our sparring location. The place was wide enough for the two of us to freely move whatever we want.
Lily, Luna, and Seia were in the sidelines watching our sparing about to unfold. I have Akari to be the referee of this match since it's unnecessary for her to watch this. She's a mage after all.
"Sorry for taking your time like this Rina-san. I can't just let the girls come with me with a half-assed resolve coming from a dangerous place" I spoke apologetically.
"Haha, no need to be reserved. I'm bored anyway. Also..." Rina-san displayed a cunning smile. "I'm kind of curious how strong our lady-killer here"
"Lady-killer...?"
I frowned in response to Rina-san's sarcastic joke. Also, seems like she still has her warrior's mentality. Just looking at her being pumped up kind of hyped me a little.
"Well then, on your stance"
Akari raised her hands upward and announced us to ready up. I and Rina-san fixed our posture and displayed our fighting stance.
"Start!"
After Akari's signal, I immediately ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ at Rina-san as my head start. Rina-san already expecting my moves backstepped about a few meters and starts to bombard me with her arrows.
"!!"
In this fight, I have Rina-san borrow Lily's 『Uriel's Quiver』 while I only use the 『Hellsing Blade』 so that this fight would be more interesting for both for us and the spectators.
As expected, 『Uriel's Quiver』 is too powerful even for me. Even just parrying and dodging Rina-san's arrows is taking a toll on my body. I have no choice but to go on defensive unfortunately.
"What's wrong Sai, too much even for you?" Rina-san mockingly said.
"Haha, I'm still adjusting but don't mind me"
After a bit on the defensive, I can finally read the tempo of Rina-san's attack. With a plan in mind, I move sideways and have Rina-san move herself into the tree.
By positioning myself parallel to Rina-san's spot, she will position herself opposite of mine to distance herself from me.
The moment Rina-san positioned herself near the tree. I quickly ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ at Rina-san. Well, what do I say, sure Rina-san is strong. But her movements are too repetitive.
Anticipating that Rina-san was about to Backstep, I grappled at the tree near her and ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ sideways to propel myself into an Arc.
"Wha—?!"
Rina-san was surprised at my unusual use of the grappling hook. I'm sorry Rina-san, no matter how fast you backstep, my grappling hook pulling me over is faster.
"It's over, Rina-san"
The moment I move at Rina-san with a sharp turn, I took my 『Polarity Shotgun』 and bombard her with it.
"Guh—!!"
Rina-san groaned in pain as she covers herself with her arm as her defense mechanism. My bullet was only made out of rubber but of course, it will still hurt nevertheless.
As expected, an Archer will try to escape no matter what happen when they get cornered. To Rina-san's action, she tried to escape by propelling herself upward using her superhuman strength thanks to her stats.
"Unfortunately for you Rina-san, I already anticipate that" I told.
"!!"
I propelled myself by grappling on the tree branch upward. And with the help of my ⟨⟨Double Jump⟩⟩ skill, I immediately passed Rina-san upward.
I quickly took out the 『Spore Staff』 and release it downward. The hovering spore hit Rina-san which lose her momentum in the process.
I grappled at Rina-san herself for her not to drop on the ground too hard then let it go after I removed the momentum on her... Is what I'm supposed to do but.
At the spun of the moment, Rina-san spin herself and dodge my grapple midair. She then pulled the grappling that passed into her which pulled me into her closer.
Rina-san then pulled my hem for me to get close into her and aimed her 『Platinum Bow』 into my chin.
"This is payback"
"You're kiddi— Guh!!"
Without letting me finish my sentence, Rina-san fired her bow into my face which made me spin and flew away midair because of strong force coming from the 『Uriel's Quiver』 increased speed and velocity.
Haha, as expected, her title isn't just for show huh. But I also wouldn't go down easily.
With another planned in mind, I tried to grapple to her again.
"You didn't learn your lesson huh"
Rina-san who already know how to counter my plan shoot my grappling hook. Little did she know...
Suddenly, something flicked Rina-san's head so hard it flew her a bit that it staggered her movement. That's right.
By the time she shot my grapple, I snipe her head using the 『Musket』 I took in my inventory. She was concentrated on the hook that she never saw me snipe her in front of her.
I grapple her again, this time it was successful since she was stunned for a moment. When I managed to closer myself into her, I quickly pinned her down on the ground and thus finishing the sparring match.
"Mhm... I lost..." Rina-san timidly said and spread her arms out in surrender.
"Nice fight, Rina-san"
While I pull up Rina-san to support her, I took a glance at our spectators which is Lily, Luna, and Seia. Everyone was showing their broad smile indicating their astonishment. Especially Lily who was clapping cheerfully and was the only one so moved on our sparring.
I'm satisfied to their reaction which is a compliment for me, but the purpose of this sparring is to light their passion. I guess, it's better than nothing.
I approached the trio to know what they think. They all look all satisfied either way especially Lily who was a bit too enthusiastic.
"That's so cool Sai! For you to beat my mother who was considered one of the strongest elves..."
"As expected of Aruji-sama, you're very good"
"Thanks, but I had a hard time, you know? I only managed to beat her because he still didn't know about my fighting style"
"Is that so? Well, you still won so it's cool" Lily said and beamed a smile.
"Jeez... that was very crafty of you, Sai... Ow..." Rina-san said.
"I'll take that as a compliment"
"Looks like your ambition of becoming the strongest is starting to clear now, Master"
"Hehe, thanks"
"Amazing Sai. The way you use your gun is so cool" Seia cheerfully said. "It was so precise and very creative. I hope I can do it too!"
Oya? I guess it kind of move them even just a little. That's the reaction I was waiting for.
"Thanks. Cool right? You can do it too if you practice" I told.
"Really? Hehe, then if we ever had the time, please teach me"
"Leave it to me"
"Me too! Me too!"
Lily was enthusiastically raising her hand like kid. W-wow.... maybe this plan of mine might be a success after all?
I guess the only person left was Luna huh...
"..."
After the sparring, I return the Villa and went into the bathroom to take my showers.
After I'm done, I saw Luna who was folding clothes in the living room.
"Hey Luna, where are the others?" I asked.
"Ah, they're outside. Apparently, they got excited to master's performance earlier that they asked Rina-san to practice with them"
"Eh...? Really?"
Man, what do I say... I didn't think it would work that much...
"What about you Luna, you're not going with them?"
"No Master, I still have obligations to do here" Luna said wryly.
As expected of Luna, diligent and responsible and ever. But—
"Luna, I'm glad that you feel that way but you're not the Crimsonheart family's maid anymore"
"But..."
Suddenly, Luna's mood changed, and her body drooped down. She is feeling an anxiety.
"What's wrong Luna?!" I asked in concern.
"It's just that... I'm scared...." Luna continued. "That if I stopped being your maid... you might go far away and left me..."
Ahh, I see. Luna is currently facing Abandonment Issue that's why she's acting like this. Now, how do I make her trust me...
"You don't need to overthink about it. I'll be there for you" I patted Luna's head. "That's why, for now, think about only yourself"
"I doubt it" Luna continued. "Just before, you we're gone for many days and then came back covered with blood... did you know how worried we were about you?"
Luna was being so emotional right now that her tone of speaking towards me had changed. That's how she was worried about me...
After a moment, Luna finally realized her tone towards her master which made her anxious.
"Ah! I didn't mean to say that! I'm sorry Master, I—"
"No, you were right. I was thinking about you girls that I forgot to take care of myself"
"Master— Guh?!"
I pinched both Luna's cheeks which made her cry in pain.
"M-master...! What are you...!"
"Hehe, if you want to be by my side, then you also need to be strong. Set aside your anxiety and follow your heart for now. It might be insensitive of me, but I assure you that I won't leave you"
I removed my hands on Luna's cheeks which is currently red right now. Luna rubs her hand on her cheeks in instinctively to lessen the pain.
"Go with the others. Activities are fun when you do it with others" I told.
"If that's okay with you..." Luna said, seemingly convinced. "And what about you Master?"
"I still have things to do here so you should go with the other first. I'll try to follow after I'm done here so..."
"Yes"
The convinced Luna happily went outside and joined the others. I who was left in the Villa alone instead took over Luna and starts folding the clothes while pondering.
The thing is, since the capital is often mentioned in the game, it didn't take me long to memorize the entirety of capital and the secrets it hides within the area in game. An example is a certain 『Dungeon』 that is hidden within the capital in which no one hasn't saw yet.
That's right, that certain 『Dungeon』 is my next target as one of my preparations.
I just recently remembered that there is a certain 『Dungeon』 in the capital that hides a certain sword in its location.
As for that 『Dungeon』, the irony of it is that, that dungeon where you can attain the sword was actually housed by a diseased legend who is said to be the strongest gunslinger in her era.
That sword is the last item I need to craft the strongest sword before the 『Chaos Mode』 has begun. And since because it was the former strongest, it will make me easily traverse what the 『Chaos Mode』 will give to me.
"I guess it will also be better if I take one of the girls with me..." I said while I fold the remaining clothes in the living room.
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[Seia POV]
All of us with the exception of Sai were having a blast doing a sparring with Rina-san that we didn't notice that the sun was about to set.
"We should call it a day. It's already so dark that I'm having a hard time seeing the surroundings" Rina-san said.
"Right. Everyone, we should return to the Villa"
"Right..."
After a bit of rest, we all head back into the Villa. To our surprise, our dinner was already served on the large table in the kitchen. Don't tell me...
"Ah everyone, it's already late, so eat your fill here"
Sai who cooked our dinner cheerfully gave us our towels one by one. After a while, Sai noticed our reaction.
"W-what's wrong everyone...?"
"No, it's just that... you're really diligent huh. No wonder the girls fell over you"
After Rina-san casually said such insensitive things. The girls with the exception of Akari had turned into a tomato caused of embarrassment. Of course, I'm also included on that group. I would lie to myself if I said that I don't feel anything about Sai who's very reliable and always help and supports us whatever we were doing.
Nonetheless, we all went back to ourselves again and starts to eat our dinner. It was so fun eating with everyone added with the food that's made by your liked person.
While we were eating, Sai started to conversation by announcing his next course of action.
"Everyone, I'm planning on going to a 『Dungeon』 tomorrow. The thing is, there is actually a hidden 『Dungeon』 in the Capital, and I want to attain something can only be found there"
Haha, Sai and his mysterious knowledge. To be honest, all of us don't know how say attain that knowledge of his. Even Luna who was with him all the time didn't know something. The only thing Luna mentioned that mark in our mind is—
[One day, Master suddenly became a whole different person]
While I ponder on something, Sai continued his explanation.
"And that 『Dungeon』 can be found here" Sai who placed the map of Capital in the table points her finger on the said location.
When I sense a feeling of familiarity, I widened my eyes in surprise when I finally remembered the place where Sai is pointing at the map at.
"Eh...?!"
To my surprise, everyone looks at me in puzzlement.
"What's wrong, Seia?" Sai asked.
"Um... that 『Dungeon』 you mentioned just now...." I pause a little. "That place... is my house..."
""Ehh?!""
All of them reacted in surprise with the exception of Akari.
"Even I am surprised to you know!"
Suddenly, Sai who realized something asked me a question while showing a look of disbelief.
"Hey Seia... You said you had a grandmother before right..."
"Eh...? T-that's right... Is something wrong?"
"Haha... Hahahaha..."
Sai started laughing out of nowhere. Even everyone started to look at him weirdly.
"What is it Sai...? You're scaring me...…? I timidly said.
After a moment, Sai finally said his words that made me very surprised.
"You... did you know that you are the adopted daughter of the strongest gunslinger in the world?"
"Ehh...?"