"Whoa! Amazing! Super fast!!!"
"Hey! Don't get up!" While the pointless argument continued, Cecilia, annoyed by the wasted time, climbed onto my back.
What an amazing young lady. She just flicked my balls and still dares to be so self-righteous.
I almost turned her into a female, but now I'm being led by the nose—it's terrifying to think about. That type isn't my cup of tea.
Of course, that personality is also very charming, but I have to be a docile female for her. Hmm.
However… she not only shows a shameless expression, but occasionally she also displays the shy demeanor of a noble lady.
My goal is to make that expression her default state; I need to win her over properly.
"How's the speed? Is it too fast, Eiei-sama?"
"It's okay! Haa… amazing~ much faster than the military salamander that Leo-nii carried~" What?! Is this the kind of line a villainous female protagonist would say?
Salamander?
Judging by the name, it sounds like a lizard-like monster?
Comparing me to a mere lizard…that's going too far!
After all, the monsters of Esendia…
are mostly rideable, and they're all incredibly slow.
To compare me to that kind of trash.
I don't know what that guy Leo has carried, but don't compare a mere monster to this god!
Cecilia!
No matter what Leo has carried, it can't possibly have a more impactful effect than me!
......
"We've reached this forest…that's amazing…"
"Pfft. Are you satisfied, Cecilia Inai-sama?"
"So cool! Hey, Shimo! Can't we just skip training and go sightseeing in other cities instead!?"
"Even so, that's a bit much…If you really want that, why not beat me in a sparring match first?"
"…Tch. Are we going to run around like last time again?! Let's have a head-on sword fight!"
"It's all tactics. Tactics."
Huh? I thought he would arrogantly say he could easily beat me, but he's surprisingly honest? Thinking about it, apart from our bickering today, he hasn't been particularly arrogant.
Hmm…could it be that after taking that punch to the stomach, he realized I'm not someone to mess with?
"Speaking of which, you're actually calling me by my name now? I thought you'd definitely try to renege on the bet or something."
"What do you take me for? I'm a nobleman, after all. I wouldn't resort to such despicable means for a bet like this."
Oh... I didn't expect you to actually keep your promise. I'm starting to see Cecilia in a new light. Looks like you won't cry and whine about losing bets anymore. Excellent.
"...Hmph. Judging from your tone, you're not planning to admit defeat, are you?"
"I can't admit defeat so easily. After all, I'll be Lord Ei's personal mount for a whole month."
"A month is too short... Hah. Oh well. As long as I keep winning."
"How long do you think I'll be your training instructor? Although I do intend to be responsible for you until you become my female... really."
"...But a divine beast is indeed a divine beast? Pretty powerful, huh?" Oh? Why is Cecilia acting so strangely today? So happy being carried by me? This reaction is unexpected.
"Yeah, that's right. Very strong, and incredibly muscular."
"...Indeed, you can't see muscles like that on a human...Even the hero Leo doesn't have muscles like that."
"That's why my clothes have to be custom-made. Forget about the size of regular clothes, it's a struggle to even fit one arm in."
"...Yeah, yeah...My arms are super thick too...Hmm..." Huh?
That subtle reaction.
That hesitant, awkward look.
Could it be?
...Hehehe.
I knew it.
She's an adult female, after all; she couldn't be completely oblivious.
You can't escape female instincts either, Cecilia.
Wait a little longer. After Cecilia becomes my female, you too...
"...Hey. About the next training session."
"Hmm?"
"...Um, without weapons...how about trying hand-to-hand combat?"
"Huh? Hand-to-hand?" Oh dear?
This suggestion is a bit unexpected...hand-to-hand?
She just acknowledged my muscles, and now she's suggesting sparring without weapons? Even with a level difference, a sparring match between a frail girl and a muscular monster...
How could they possibly fight bare-handed?
"Seriously? Does Lady Cecilia have some martial arts training?"
"Well, no... it's just... I wanted to try fighting monsters without weapons..."
"Oh dear... you were just talking about a bet. Looks like you never intended to win."
"...The bet's still on? Maybe I can win?" It's all too far-fetched. Cecilia.
My arms are five times thicker than yours.
And you've never studied martial arts?
Not just you, but judging by physique alone, there's practically no one in Esendia who could beat me bare-handed?
If you were tall enough, that would be one thing, but you're only around 160cm tall, and not some muscular powerhouse... just the kind of well-proportioned figure maintained through exercise?
Of course, Esendia has attributes and skills.
However, some argue that without weapons, combat becomes a matter of physical strength… What gives her such confidence?
"It seems the outcome of the next sparring session is already quite clear. I just don't think I could lose to Lady Cecilia unarmed."
"Ugh, we'll see after we try. I was just curious about the difference in strength between me and a monster."
"Is that so? Betting on such a simple sparring session… That's really… It feels like she's taking advantage."
What is Cecilia thinking? Is she planning something? No, it doesn't seem like it… The conditions are too favorable for me, which is a bit scary.
"…Then, in exchange! You're not allowed to use your legs! You can only use your hands while standing still!"
"I knew it… But even so, I don't think I'll lose…"
"Enough! Are we going to fight or not?"
"Hehehe. If I win, we'll address each other casually when we're alone. Please be prepared."
I see. So that's what she's planning.
But what should I do, Cecilia? Without weapons, all your fighting is just tickling.
Looks like you haven't fully grasped how tough my body is yet? Well, I don't care. I'll take this seriously, Cecilia.
"...Th-well, that's settled then... It probably won't be as simple as you think..."
"Well, please reconsider before next training session. After all, hand-to-hand combat is a bit much... Shall we slowly head back?"
"Y-okay..." Putting aside Cecilia's strange suggestion, the sun was almost setting as they drove around with Radia.
After dropping Cecilia off at the lord's city, it would be almost dinnertime.
Should I go to Holshof to handle some work tonight...? Huh?
"...Huh? Lady Cecilia. What's that?"
"Hmm? What... Ah?" Just as they were about to turn around and leave the forest, they noticed a patch of murky, blackened ground deep inside.
A massive, crater-like mark stood out starkly against the verdant, earth-toned forest.
Upon closer inspection, a black aura, like rotting earth, mingled with the broken trees along the way.
It seemed to be the strange mark left by something enormous that had fallen… but most bizarrely, it was the rising black aura, like smoke.
…That feeling… it felt like the aura of a demon…
"…It's the aura of a demon. Why is there something like this here…?"
"Just as I expected…" But what was going on? This strange mark seemed to form a massive crater.
It was the work of multiple demons, too strange; a single demon's work was far too enormous? While there had been something like Jormungandr before, that was an exception.
Most importantly, even my Mystic Eyes… could only see traces of demons?
How could this be?
It was as if a gigantic demon had crouched down and vanished…?
"...Let's go back quickly. We must report this."
"Ah. You're right. I'm unarmed right now."
Investigating anything is indeed a bit dangerous. My females aren't around either.
There don't seem to be any monsters around, but I can't let my guard down.
Most importantly, that size... If it's the trace of one, then its size is quite astonishing.
...If the creature that left that trace is a Hero Devourer...?
If it really is a Hero Devourer, just by feeling, catching this thing would guarantee me no worries about extinction for at least a hundred years, right...?
Then I must catch it.
If I can buy about a hundred years, that's enough time for me to end my adventurer career and live a leisurely life.
Time should be stockpiled in advance. Hmm.
I'll come back with weapons, soldiers, and adventurers. If it really is a Hero Devourer, it can't have gone far.
For my happy life in this other world, I must completely eliminate it.