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Chapter 5Vol. 2 - .1 - The Other Disciple (1)
Takashi was speechless at the sight before him. Aina had sliced Duma's body in half with her sword. Not to mention, the other thing as well…
"Y-You, can speak? Aina!?"
Takashi finally managed to get his words out, to which Aina simply snorted with a "fuun."
Takashi stared at Aina, whose attitude had changed drastically. Aina took off her hooded rags and, underneath them, wore a red dress that clung tightly to her body. The outfit's appearance was reminiscent of a Chinese dress, with large slits that accentuated her slender legs. Her black hair was parted in two and curled into two buns, reminding Takashi of a female fighter in a video game.
"A-Aina is, is such a cute girl, isn't she?…!"
Takashi silently nodded his head in agreement with Excella's comment.
(Certainly, she is cute… by normal standards…!)
Well-featured, small feminine face. Plump lips. Petite but well-styled, good-looking——— from the humans' point of view, Aina was idol-class cute. It is an innate and authentic cuteness, different from the strange and incomprehensible cuteness that Takashi acquired as a gift from god.
Takashi almost lost himself in admiration but shook his head lightly and then pointed at the severed body of Duma.
"I mean, why did you have to go this far? It was already settled!"
Aina then rolled her eyes, turning the white of her eyes to Takashi, and said coldly.
"The opponent is a commander in the Demon Lord's Army. It's only natural that we should finish her off properly. Roughly how many people do you think this fiend has killed so far? There's no way we can forgive her, is there?"
"T-That's…"
Takashi couldn't retort anything back and looked down at Duma. Duma, with just the upper half of her body, was roaring in agony. Her regeneration speed seems to have slowed down due to exhaustion from her battle with Takashi. There was no sign of her fusing with her separated lower body.
The undead on deck began to rustle because of the damage Duma had sustained. However, Duma somehow managed to raise one hand and restrain them.
(I knew it! Duma had already changed her mind! But!)
Aina kept her icy gaze on Duma as she asked,
"I have but one question. Have you been to Cove Town recently?"
"I-I-I haven't…"
"Really?"
Aina plunged her sword into Duma's head with no expression on her face. A "gigya" sound escaped from Duma's mouth.
"H-Hey!! What are you doing!?"
"I don't want her to attack me. A precaution."
Then, while paying attention to Duma, she explained to Takashi and Excella in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Three months ago, Cove Town, west of the Imperial City, was attacked by the Demon Lord's army. The population was roughly 500. They were all wiped out. Including small children."
"T-Terrible…"
Excella put her hand over her mouth and showed a somber expression. Duma, who had a sword thrust into her head, said a few words in a halting manner.
"T-The Immortal Fleet, h-has not killed, s-so many humans, s-since the Great, War…"
"Hmm. Well, when the undead attack, they leave behind a trail of rotting corpses and whatnot, you know. I thought it was a deed of the Immortal Fleet."
Aina seemed to believe Duma's story, at least for the moment. Takashi spoke to such Aina.
"You're looking for the fiend that attacked that town? That's why, you let yourself be captured by the immortal fleet on purpose…?"
"That, as well. But you know. My 'heart' chose you."
"Eh!"
Although Takashi was a bit nervous at the mention of her "heart's chosen," it was clear from the atmosphere that she did not mean it in a romantic way. Aina gave Takashi a sharp, yet contemptuous glare.
"I just wanted to make sure! I wanted to confirm whether you're really worthy of being a hero or not, you know. And sure enough, the tactics were as sloppy as I expected, and the attitude as naive as I expected. I'm disappointed."
"Wha–!?"
It was not Takashi who was angry at being criticized, but rather, Excella.
"That's not worth considering! Lord Hero won the battle UNSCATHED without being hit by Duma's attacks!"
(Excella! Thank you!)
Takashi was moved by Excella's anger as if she herself had been wronged.
"Lord Hero's battle was a very uncomfortable fight. Crying, eating omusubi, and other incomprehensible things that made no sense at all! But even so, it is true that he still won!"
(No, that's not how much of a follow-up!)
As a result, Takashi was even more depressed. Aina, not caring about Excella feeling's, maintained her confident attitude and said to Takashi,
"Don't you remember? If I hadn't hit you with my body, you would have been KILLED by Duma!?"
Takashi was at a loss for words. If Aina had not protected him from Duma's charge immediately after the battle began, there is no doubt that he would have been seriously wounded, if not killed. Aina's next words shook Takashi and Excella.
"Moreover, I would have been able to finish off Duma a lot faster."
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