Chapter 4: Leveling Up
“Sell me all of those.”
The next morning, Diablo went to the coach house alone. But the dwarf shopkeeper merely looked at Diablo with sleepy eyes and cocked his head to the side.
“Ah? The Golden Fruit...? All they be good for is bein’ fodder... Or manure? Ya be startin’ a farm?”
“I’m going to eat them.”
“Ahaha... What, do these kindsa jokes pass as funny over at the capital?”
“I’m serious. Now answer me: Are you going to sell them to me or not?”
“What’ll ya do if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll have no choice. If they grow on the mountain, I’ll just climb it and pick some myself.”
He didn’t spot any trees that fit the bill near the mountain road, but given the strength of the magical beasts around there, he wasn’t very deep into the mountain. The trees he was looking for were probably far from the road.
“It really does sound a joke to me...” The shopkeeper shrugged. “But if ya insist, I’ll sell ’em to ya. They ain’t worth much anyway.”
“Excellent!”
Diablo went on to buy the whole cart and carried it back to the inn. Rem and Shera were hanging around the entrance, waiting for him with concerned expressions.
“Diablo! What’s that...?”
“What, huh? Ugh?! That’s those yucky, bitter fruit!”
“Hmm.”
“...I was wondering why you took off alone so early in the morning... What do you intend to do with those? Are you going to make Shera eat them?”
“Eew, not in a million years!”
They were raising their voices in the middle of a crowd of people, which made passersby stare at them uncomfortably. They were sticking out enough because of their appearances already.
Diablo explained his idea to the two of them. They had seen him lose, and there wasn’t much he could do to change that. But despite that, their attitude toward him didn’t change one bit. Perhaps that influenced his mentality, because he no longer thought to hide the fact that he intended to train. His Demon Lord role play was still in effect, but the fact he wanted to train was true. He wasn’t ashamed of being desperate to level up.
“I’ll be the one eating the Golden Fruit.”
Rem and Shera stiffened, their expressions turning severe.
“Ah, erm...Diablo... You may have lost, but there’s no need to torment yourself over it like that...”
“That’s right! Everyone loses sometimes!”
“...Besides, Sasara said that if you were to use magic, you’d have come out on top.”
“You don’t have to kill yourself like this!”
“...Weren’t you going to participate in Faltra’s defense?”
“What about the elven kingdom?! I don’t wanna be a widow already!”
“H-Hold on,” Diablo reined the two of them in as they pressed on him. “You seem to be misunderstanding.”
“...The Golden Fruit are supposed to be toxic.”
“If you eat them, you’ll definitely die. That’s how nasty they were.”
“This is just a theory, but wasn’t there also information that said eating them can get one to level up?”
“...‘Eating Golden Fruit makes you level up.’ That sounds like nothing more than occultic rubbish to me. It’s impossible,” Rem admonished him.
“Food that makes you level up makes no sense!” Shera desperately tried to stop him too.
“I understand what you have said.” Diablo nodded.
“...So you won’t go through with it?”
“Yep, yep, let’s eat something normal that actually tastes good instead.”
Their expressions washed over with relief. They weren’t the ones to understand here.
“Bottoms up!” Diablo grabbed a golden apple and bit into it.
†
Diablo never was one to listen to what other people said. He tended to be obstinate about sticking to his decisions. Besides, if it were in his nature to obediently follow what other people said, he wouldn’t be a shut-in NEET.
As socially inept as he was, he had a strong sense of independence, and, conversely, it could be said he critically lacked notions of cooperation. He stuck to his guns no matter what the people around him said, and held the opinion that there was no point to being an individual if all you did was get pushed around by other people’s values and words.
The end result of that...was Diablo lying prostrate on the bed.
“Uuugh...”
“...This is quite the mess,” Rem said with an exasperated expression.
“Are you all right? Get better soon.” Shera rubbed his back.
His stomach...ached.
“I’m fine. Obviously.” Diablo squeezed out that response, sweating profusely.
He reached into his pouch, producing a tube filled with a purple potion and gulped it down with shaking hands. The unpleasant, painful sensation, which felt like a poisonous snake was resting in his stomach, subsided somewhat.
That was a Detox potion. It was a rare commodity in this world, but in Cross Reverie, everyone could acquire it rather easily. And while he didn’t quite anticipate this would happen, he did have quite a few handy.
“Phew..” Diablo sighed.
The Golden Fruit were nastier than he ever imagined. They didn’t even remotely taste like food. The bitterness felt medicinal, and after swallowing them he began sweating, his body shivering. After consuming a third one, an acute stomachache overtook him. Were they really toxic after all?
Whatever the case, they weren’t worthy of being eaten by the races, just like the owner of the coach house said. The cart full of Golden Fruit was sitting in the corner of the room.
A little angel appeared on his shoulder, admonishing him.
Stop this. There’s no guarantee submitting yourself to this agony will even level you up. You’re already strong enough as a sorcerer, so you just need to adopt a more flexible fighting style. Isn’t that what you’ve done until now?
On the other shoulder, a small devil whispered in his ear.
Just give up. Just forget this fight and run off. Go live in some distant country. Let’s take the slow life, bro!
They both seemed to be in agreement on the issue...but Diablo’s gamer soul said otherwise.
If there’s an efficient way to level up, take it even if it costs you your life!
“Obviously.”
Dragging his heavy legs along the floor, he reached for the Golden Fruit with shaking fingers. Rem and Shera didn’t bother stopping him anymore.
“...I do have faith in you. I’ve said this before, and that hasn’t changed.”
“If you think it’s necessary, then it must be true.”
“Hmph... Fret not. Something this trifling will never be able to claim my life.”
Diablo bit into another Golden Fruit, watering it down with Detox and HP potions. He could instantly feel that venomous snake rattle his insides again. Pain ran through his body, and his expression contorted in agony as an audible rumbling that sounded alarmingly like a small earthquake came from his abdomen. As pangs of pain ran through his belly, he put strength into his stomach.
“I am the true Demon Lord, Diablo! I refuse to submit to such a blasted, trifling little thing!”
And so he ate on. He ate. He chewed. He swallowed. He munched, and stuffed his cheeks, and devoured. He gulped down, gorged on, ingested and guzzled. He wolfed down, gobbled up, and sank his teeth into.
He ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and threw up, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate.
Then he ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and ate. And ate and ate and ate it all.
Three days later, the cart stood empty, all its Golden Fruit consumed...
†
Diablo scaled Mount Tenzan again. He’d tried detoxing and healing himself, but a dull pain lingered in the pit of his stomach. For three days and evenings, the pain kept him from falling asleep, leaving his eyelids feeling terribly heavy.
Just walking was a challenge at this point. He had to have Rem and Shera handle the magical beasts that showed up along the way. He didn’t have any vigor left in him to fight.
After climbing up the cliff on the way to the swordmaster’s retreat, Diablo lay down on the field, struggling to catch his breath.
“Huh? A-Are you...?!”
Hearing Sasara’s voice, Diablo sat up.
It was during dusk. It took them awhile to get there, due to a combination of leaving late, Diablo’s sluggish body, and him having to leave the fighting to Rem and Shera. The setting sun washed the world with crimson light. Countless weapons were lodged into the ground: it was the Swordmaster’s retreat. Probably having been caught in the middle of training, Sasara was standing there with spear in hand.
“You’ve come again... What happened?” She seemed surprised at the visit.
“I told him to rest a little longer first, but...Diablo insisted,” Rem said bitterly.
“We’re sorry, Sasara. He said he wants you to test him again,” Shera added.
“Eh?” Sasara tilted her head. “B-But, it hasn’t even been a week since the last time.”
She predicted it would take him ten years. But here he was, rising to his feet, his hands still shaking. He wasn’t sure resting would cure him of any of these peculiar chills running through his body or the venomous, snake-like pain ravaging his insides. Detox and HP potions did nothing to improve his situation.
But that didn’t matter. He forced himself to eat the Golden Fruit, hoping they’d increase his level like they did in the game. And the result?
I have no freaking clue...
Was he able to see Sasara’s slash now? Not even feeling inclined to reach into his pouch, Diablo grabbed the sword stuck into the ground in front of him and pulled it out.
“Let me use this for a bit.”
It was a rusted longsword. He could feel traces of magical energy running through it, but any effects it had probably weren’t impressive.
“E-Erm...” Sasara looked at him with perplexed eyes. “You look very pale...”
“Pay it no heed.”
“But, you look like you could fall over any second...”
“That’s because you had to build your house on top of a damn mountain! I felt much better back when we left the inn.”
“I-I’m sorry...”
“If you really feel bad about it, test me one more time. And if you insist on not doing it, I’ll just rush you instead.”
“Uuu... F-Fine...” Sasara looked to be on the verge of tears again, but Diablo didn’t have the composure to notice the pangs of guilt he was feeling. Like she said, Diablo could fall over at any second.
Sasara took position with her spear, and, once again, the atmosphere around her changed. This time, Diablo could feel her menacing pressure sizzle against his skin like fire. It was different from last time. Flames were enveloping the tip of the spear.
Her attack changes this much just based off of the weapon she’s equipping, huh...
“Let me warn you,” Sasara said, glaring at him with the eyes of a starved wolf. “I won’t listen to any complaints if this ends up killing you.”
“Just what I’d wish for. If you dare hold back on me, I will reduce you to dust with my magic.”
“Hmph...” She advanced a single step toward him again.
Usually, when a spear user faces a sorcerer, they use the martial art Lance Charge to close the distance offensively. As she gradually closed the distance, her oppressive pressure became more vividly menacing.
Don’t panic.
He wasn’t sure what the Golden Fruit’s effects were in this world, but if he ate this many of them in Cross Reverie, he’d surely have leveled up significantly.
But did I really? The game is...well, just a game, and this world is reality. Is it really possible to level up just by eating a fruit?
His thoughts kept spiraling in his head.
“You’re in my thrusting range.” Sasara went into position.
“Wai...” He blurted out inadvertently.
Given her kind nature, she’d likely oblige. The spear, aimed at Diablo’s shoulder, slowed down a moment before making contact. He just barely avoided it.
“Phew... Ah... My apologies. Hmm... I was about to sneeze.”
He couldn’t tell her he got cold feet in the middle of the test...
Sasara’s expression turned severe. She was timid, but serious when it came to her work. He may have offended her with this.
“One more time then... You better block it this time.”
“Yes, that is what this test is about.”
He took a deep breath, emptying his mind of needless thoughts. He had to stay focused. But the Golden Fruit were so disgusting he felt like he was teetering on the edge of life and death. If he couldn’t block Sasara’s attack, all that effort would have been for naught.
His heart felt on the verge of breaking. His shut-in anxieties kicked in. Only now did the common sense in his mind remember to admonish him for not challenging her when he was in top form.
“M-Maybe we should do this anoth...”
“Here I come!”
Did what he’d said earlier anger her? Sasara raised her voice with more vigor than ever before, and thrust her spear forward. Diablo’s eyes then widened.
“Get away, Sasara!”
All his thoughts of the exam were blown away, and he didn’t hesitate. He stuck his blade out, and fired off a Flare Burst spell.
†
“Ah?!” Sasara tumbled to the ground. At that same moment, an explosion burst near her. A black shadow leapt out from within the flames and smoke of the blast, and Diablo clicked his tongue internally.
“It fired off too slow?!”
Perhaps owing to his poor physical condition, there was a small bit of lag between his chanting the Flare Burst spell and its effect manifesting.
“Wh-Wh-What’s happening...?!” Shocked by how everything happened so suddenly, Sasara’s eyes darted about.
“That’s my question! Is that thing really a monster?!”
The black shadow standing a few steps away from him was a massive ape densely covered in fur. It was a bit higher than Diablo was, and gripped a Japanese katana with the symbol of the crescent moon etched into its pommel.
“Grrr....” It gave a low, menacing growl.
“Diablo!” Rem cried out. “Isn’t that the evil ape?!”
“Right... We did hear about that, didn’t we.” He recalled the words of the dwarf from the coach house.
“Wh-Why...?” Sasara said, her breath catching in her throat.
“It apparently attacks whenever it sees strong adventurers. Looks like it’s after you, Sasara.”
Just as she was about to thrust forward with her spear, Diablo noticed the monster rush in behind her with frightening speed.
“No... No...” Sasara shook her head. “It’s not... It’s not after me...”
She held none of the valiant air she had about her when brandishing a blade, her expression back to how timid it usually was. She still had the spear in hand, but couldn’t get up.
Is she the type to get cold feet in real combat? Or maybe...
Whatever the case, this thing was harming adventurers.
“We didn’t accept a quest for it, so do we hunt it down?” Diablo prepared his next spell, when the large, hairy monkey—the evil ape—hopped away.
“Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!” It let out a peculiar roar before fleeing into the trees.
Diablo chose not to pursue it any further. Honestly, he was in no condition to face off against such a menacing foe.
“What a mess.”
“Uuu...”
“...Diablo, are you all right?” Rem and Shera rushed to their side.
“That was so weird. It didn’t act like a normal animal or magical beast...”
Yes, it didn’t feel like either of those.
“Sasara, I ask again.” Diablo stuck his sword back into the ground. “Is that evil ape really a monster?”
“Th-That’s...”
“I’ve seen the old swordmaster once, by way of some unique circumstances.”
“Huh?!” Sasara swallowed nervously.
“Why is a monster called the evil ape, that attacks adventurers, holding the swordmaster’s blade?”
Rem seemed surprised, while Shera simply looked quizzical. Sasara hung her head silently.
“Earlier, you claimed it wasn’t after you. But you know something. What are you hiding?”
Sasara clenched her teeth. Was it something she couldn’t talk about, no matter the cost?
“...Sasara, it would be wise to just tell him now.” Rem squatted near her. “Diablo is the type of person capable of doing incredibly scary things. If you insist on hiding things from him, he may just inflict the sort of shame you’d never be able to live down.”
“Eek?!”
It seemed Rem still resented how Diablo had rubbed her cat ears to get her to spill her secret during his first night in this world.
“It’s all right!” Shera placed a hand on Sasara’s back with a smile. “Diablo may look mean and say terrible things, but he’s a good guy who saves everyone!”
“B-But...”
“You have some sort of problem, right?”
“Erm...” Sasara nodded. “P-Please...keep this a secret from the people in town...”
“We will!”
“...You have my word.”
Diablo nodded as well. He had no interest in exposing other people’s secrets.
Sasara sighed and, apparently having resigned herself to telling them, got to her feet.
“As you’ve...probably assumed already...the evil ape...is the previous swordmaster. My...stepfather.”
“...How did such a thing happen to him...”
“Th-That’s...” Sasara still hesitated, but Shera held her hand tightly.
“You can tell us, Sasara. Aren’t we friends?”
“F-Friends...?”
“Yeah!”
“W-We are...?”
“Of course!”
“Friend... That’s the first time someone has called me that...”
Diablo cocked his head. Was he considered one of these friends of hers? It was hard to keep up with Shera’s outgoing method of closing distance between people. But as Sasara looked at her hand, gripped tight in Shera’s, with a blush on her cheeks, Sasara seemed happy.
†
Diablo and the others moved inside the estate, sitting around the hearth where they’d eaten soba previously.
Ten years ago, Sasara came to Sormas with her father, a merchant. Shortly after, her father was done in by a magical beast while climbing Mount Tenzan. Just as she was about to be eaten, too, Swordmaster Graham had appeared and came to her rescue.
He was an old teacher, wielding a katana with a symbol of the crescent moon on its pommel. He pitied Sasara, who was left without any relatives, and taught her how to wield the blade as a means of defending herself. But, as it turned out, Sasara was blessed with rare and unmatched talent.
“I think it was around five years ago...” she said bitterly, “when I outmatched Father in strength.”
It was a terrifying prospect. Graham had always proudly stated that he wished for her to take the mantle of swordmaster after him, but...
Half a year ago, Graham began suspecting his daughter may have been holding back on him. So he attacked her with the intent to kill, with a real sword—not a wooden one—in hand.
He charged at her. Sasara had dodged his move, but now, she couldn’t tell if that was a good or bad reaction. Talent favored her too much, enough to drive her beloved teacher to madness...and leading him to stumble into darkness.
“It’s possible to cast aside one’s shell as a human, as a member of the races, to become something that exists only to wield the blade.”
“...Is that some sort of martial art?”
Sasara shook her head at Rem’s question. “That goes beyond any sort of fencing technique. According to the words left behind by our ancestors, that is an ‘Oni.’”
“...Oni...”
“It’s a forbidden art, but...because of me, Father used it...” Her voice cracked, choking with tears.
“That’s so sad...” Shera hugged Sasara around her shoulders.
“Y-Yes... Yes, it is...” Sasara’s tears flowed down her cheeks, unhindered, as she wailed in agony.
Waiting for her to calm down, Rem asked her, “Judging by your story, doesn’t it seem like the evil ape would only target you?”
“Having become an Oni, Father no longer remembers anything. He doesn’t recognize me.”
“...How terribly meaningless.”
A person disappeared, and an Oni appeared shortly after. That was all there was to it.
“The way Father is now... Whenever he sees a strong person, he attempts to cut them down... But I refuse to fight him any longer...”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“Um... Father will not fight any opponents who lack fighting spirit or some sort of killing intent. And he only goes after warriors.”
“...So he only attacks the more powerful warrior types?”
“Yes.”
“...And he doesn’t regard you as a target, since you have no wish to fight the previous swordmaster.”
“That’s probably it, yes.”
Rem’s eyes narrowed. “...I do not mean to say anything that may offend you, but are you sure that’s correct?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re unwilling to engage the Swordmaster since you feel indebted to him, yes?”
“O-Of course.”
“...But the previous swordmaster was so fixated on beating you it led him to fall into becoming an Oni, didn’t he?”
Sasara went pale and looked at her own hands.
“I... I’ve never considered it like that. I’ve always thought I angered him so much that he...”
“...I cannot tell what went on in his heart,” Rem spoke slowly. “Sometimes even the person in question can misunderstand their own feelings. But there are so many ways to kill someone. There must have been meaning in him choosing to become an Oni that’s only capable of wielding a blade over any other method. Don’t you think so?”
“Uuu...”
“I’ve never met the previous swordmaster. But you, who were closest to him, might know something.”
“Yes.”
“So please, consider carefully what it is you should do.”
Sasara fell silent and nodded.
“If the decision you come to is to not fight him...” Rem said in a business-like tone, “I will act as an adventurer. We cannot leave a monster as strong as a swordmaster on the loose.”
For the time being, that was the decision they agreed upon regarding the evil ape.
†
“Let’s go back then.” Diablo rose to his feet. It was impossible to concentrate after that, and his body was in terrible condition as it was. He’d go back to the inn, rest for a few more days, and challenge Sasara again.
“Um... Please wait. Uh...about the test...”
“Hm?”
She wasn’t going to say there was a limited number of times she would test him, was she? If she did, what happened today shouldn’t count, given all the accidents involved.
“Erm... You saw it, didn’t you?” Sasara fixed her posture. “My thrust.”
“Weren’t you interrupted in the middle of it?”
“No...that was the second thrust. I meant the first one.”
Diablo had thought that, since he asked her to wait, she slowed down the attack.
She could disqualify me for that and I wouldn’t have anything to say in my defense. In real combat, no enemy would wait just because I ask them to. That was a pretty pathetic thing to say, wasn’t it...
“Ah...” He tried thinking of an excuse. “You see, I actually already noticed the evil ape at that point, and...”
Feeling cold sweat run down his forehead, he tried bringing up some random excuse...but to his surprise, Sasara looked at him with glittering eyes.
“I-It’s the first time someone evaded one of my thrusts!”
“Huh?”
“You could have probably deflected my sword back then!”
“Well, obviously. You slowed down your attack.”
“Huh? Um...I didn’t slow it down.”
Rem and Shera looked at each other in agreement as well.
“...It was so fast I couldn’t see it. Just like it was last time.”
“Yep, yep. It was as fast as when she slashed with the blade.”
“How odd. Didn’t the thrust become more sluggish in that moment?”
“Sluggish?!” Sasara exclaimed, unable to hide her excitement. “That’s the first time someone’s called my thrusts sluggish!”
“Th-That can’t be...”
“I am a swordmaster. I would never launch a half-hearted attack. I may not aim at my opponent’s vitals, but I always put my whole into every attack. And you evaded it!”
“Fo...” He was about to exclaim “For real?!” Joy bubbled within him.
“You pass!” Sasara declared. “Diablo, I invite you to train under me. You will be my...my first pupil.”
First pupil?
“What...?” Her words prompted not just Diablo, but Rem and Shera to tilt their heads.
“Heheheh...” Sasara scratched her head, her tufty dog tail wagging bashfully. “I was actually getting a bit nervous because of how no one’s managed to block my sword. It’s finally happened...”
“You say you’ve been the swordmaster for the last six months, right?”
“Ah, yes. I’ve been visited by several strong-looking people since but...no one’s really made the cut.”
“Have you met a man named Emile?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m bad at remembering people’s names...”
“He’s an annoying guy who presents himself as an ‘ally to all women.’ He’s got a long last name, Bichelsomething or other.”
“Ah, yes, he did come here...” Sasara said, frowning unpleasantly. “He said he blocked one of the governor of Faltra’s attacks, so I thought he might be talented... I tested him, but when I thought of him staying here if he became my student, I got a little scared.”
“What happened?”
“I slashed at him about a hundred times, but he couldn’t block a single one. That was a big relief. I sent him back, saying he should take a tour through the surrounding countries and try again...”
“You idiot, what kinda shitty game is this?!” Diablo shouted angrily at her.
“Ah, aaah...” Sasara stiffened with surprise.” D-Did I do something wrong?”
“Don’t you know only warriors of level 80 or over can accept the swordmaster’s training?!”
“Huh? Level? What’s that?”
“Didn’t your predecessor teach you about those?!”
“Ah... Erm...” Sasara was struggling to remember. “Come to think of it, when people came to train under Father...he would test them.”
“Right.”
“And he would attack three times slower than usual. If they blocked it, they passed,” she said, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
“Then that’s the right difficulty level, you moroooooon!”
“Eeek?! I-I-I-I-I’m sorryyyyyyyyy!!”
“Did you test me at three times the speed you were supposed to?!”
“Aaaaaah... You’re saying I shouldn’t have slashed at my full speed?!”
“What did the former swordmaster do?!”
“Aaaaaah, he always held back... I keep forgetting about that...”
Sasara backed up all the way against the wall, hugging her tail and shivering like a leaf with her triangular ears flattened against her head. Diablo stood before her imposingly. All his tiredness was blown away.
“Don’t you know what levels are?!”
“Ah... Uuu... Father did mention them...once...”
“And what did he say?”
“He said, ‘Once you beat me, I will acknowledge you as level 200’...”
“Two hundred?!”
Diablo’s head was spinning. It felt like the ground suddenly became slanted. It was no wonder Diablo couldn’t even follow her slashes with his eyes before—her level was beyond anything he knew!
Cross Reverie’s max level was set to 150, and Sasara was far higher than that. She’d achieved that peak with only a few years of training. She was a genius.
I think I’m beginning to understand why the previous swordmaster was jealous enough to become an Oni...
It may have been hard to imagine when she was shivering like a frightened puppy, but this dwarven girl was a higher level than anyone Diablo had ever faced.
“...Diablo, everyone makes mistakes sometimes,” Rem tried pacifying him.
His anger had already subsided, but his Demon Lord act demanded he stick to his overbearing attitude.
“Don’t ever let this happen again.”
Sasara nodded over and over again.
“You said I’m your first pupil...but you do know how to teach, right?”
“Th-That should be fine... Father always said, ‘The path of the swordmaster is not for the sake of fighting, but to raise and instruct others.’”
“What will we be doing tomorrow? If you tell me to clean your house or work the fields, I’ll be turning around and leaving.”
He understood that mastering the basics and mental training had their importance, but there was no telling when the Demon Lord’s army would march on Faltra. If the idea was for him to settle down here for a long time, Diablo intended to leave and come back another time.
“Oh, um...” Sasara’s expression was full of suspense. “How does sparring with me using wooden swords sound then...?”
“Hm.” Diablo was frankly anxious. It felt like a blow from a level 200 warrior, even if it were from a wooden sword, would result in nothing but instant death...
“I-I’ll hold back this time!”“
Diablo was inclined to screech out, “Eeeh? Will you now?” but given her words, decided to take her word for it.
Rem sat in front of Sasara. “Would you mind if I asked two things of you, as the Swordmaster?”
“Aaah...if I can be of help.”
Being naturally bashful, Diablo’s anger made her confidence shrivel up to downright servile levels.
“You’re the only one who can help me with this. Could you test me, too, this time with the correct measure of strictness? If you slow it down somewhat, I may be able to keep up.”
“B-But, aren’t you a summoner...?”
“...I’ve already said this, but we need to become stronger if we’re to face the Demon Lord’s army.”
“Uuu, I understand.”
It seemed Rem was going to take the exam as well.
“Then I’ll take it too!” Shera raised both hands into the air. “Waiting all alone is boring.”
“...But you’re an archer.”
“I’m a summoner!”
“Aaah... You do know I teach swordplay, right...?”
After some quarreling, it was decided Shera would take the test as well. Rem then brought up her second request.
“...This is the more important request.”
“Wh-What is it?”
“I would like for you to come with us to Faltra and help us in fighting off the Demon Lord’s army.”
“Huh...?”
“I realize Sormas can only flourish at the bottom of the mountain due to your presence here. But if Faltra were to fall, Sormas will be cut off from the rest of the races.”
“Yes.”
“...I’m not exaggerating when I say the fate of the races hinges on whether we can defend Faltra. Please, lend us your strength.”
“Good going, Rem!” Shera brought her hands together. “I’d be happy if you could do that! I’m asking too, Sasara. Please help us!”
“H-Hmm...” Sasara turned pensive at their request. “You are my friends, and I would like to help you, but...there’s still the matter with Father.”
“Oh, you’re right! Then you can join us once that’s resolved!”
Rem didn’t raise any objection to Shera’s words.
†
The following day—
Sasara gave a large yawn, her eyes red. Diablo stood opposite her, gripping a wooden sword.
“Are you all right?”
“Ah... Y-Yes, I’m sorry... I stayed up all night reading through the book of secret arts the founder left behind...”
“Reading up on soba...?”
“Ah... N-Not that. It said a great deal about how to test others, and about levels. I had read it a long time ago, but...”
“You forgot.”
“Uuu... I’m sorry.”
“You novice swordmaster... And? We’ll be sparring together, right?”
Sasara wasn’t holding a wooden sword.
“Ah... The book of secret arts said that even if I hold back I could end up killing you... So I’ll be avoiding your blows. If you hit me, you pass.”
Diablo was thankful from the bottom of his heart for the book of secret arts’ existence.
Thank you, wise founder!
“So I should just slash at you with my full strength?”
“It’ll be fine. My body is built so I don’t take damage from an attack once a day.”
“What?!”
“I’m somewhat sturdy, you see.”
That went beyond ‘somewhat sturdy’; it felt like straight-up cheating.
“Next time something happens, I’m using you as a shield.”
“Wha?!”
Diablo focused on his sword. Thanks to Sasara mistaking the test’s difficulty setting and the effect of the Golden Fruit, his level as a warrior had increased significantly. After a good night of sleep, he felt much better than yesterday. His stomach still ached, but the chills and spasms were all gone.
I wonder how much power my attacks have right now?
“Rah!” He slashed with all his strength, sweeping from the side.
“E-Erm... You shouldn’t be looking in the direction you’ll be cutting before you attack. Your eyes give it away.”
“Tch.”
He swung another time, cutting through air again.
“The movement of your muscles gives it away too.”
“Nng.”
“You need to move faster. I think you need to not move any muscles that aren’t necessary when slashing...”
“The races’ bodies don’t work like that!”
“Aaah... How do I explain it... Have you ever seen a weaver? You need to move like that, without any needless movements.”
Sasara’s words made Diablo look at his own hands. He’d been in that state of mind before.
I think...I remember...
It was like how a normal person’s eyes couldn’t keep up with the maneuvering of a skilled player. It was like the flawless movements of a machine in a factory. He’d once stood on the side of those who proclaimed, “If you wish to win, give up on being human!”
When he swung his sword, he moved his body with the movements he was used to, but if he was to be a high level warrior, he couldn’t treat his body the same way he did in the other world. It was just like when casting magic in this one.
He held the image of the normal physical attack animation from Cross Reverie in his mind.
Get your target in range, and click the attack button.
When he came to in the next moment, he’d already launched his attack. The sound of the blade cutting through the air felt different this time.
“Oooh?!” He couldn’t hold back his surprise at himself.
“Hiya?!” The change was so sudden, Sasara wasn’t able to evade as usual. The attack skimmed over her pointed ears.
“Was that a hit?” Diablo asked with a smile.
“Th-That...was just a hair... It doesn’t count.”
“I don’t mind, but you do realize that the next time I hit you, you will take damage.”
“Aaah... I’ll, umm, endure it...”
Hitting Sasara when she was focused on dodging was difficult. Compared to the feel of using magic, which was ingrained into Diablo’s mind by now, his sword swipes weren’t as smooth as he wished they’d be.
It took him three days to land a hit. At that same time, Rem and Shera took the test repeatedly, eventually passing, and going on to become Sasara’s second and third pupils.
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