Chapter 9

Chapter 9 A little progress and a pile ofwork

Translator/Editor: Mana

A few days had passed since I started practising Enemy Search, Trap Detect, and Trap Dismantle. Today was the first day I was accompanying Force on his morning jog.

As per Jins words, now that I knew the basics of Trap Detect and Enemy Search, I should start on raising my stamina for dungeon runs. But even though I knew the basics now, I still couldnt tell where monsters were located and kept getting caught in tons of traps. It was pretty pathetic

Were going to run around the perimeter of the city, so make sure you keep up. You may get gobbled up by monsters if you get lost

Force was doing stretching exercises with a sleepy expression and terrible bed hair.

I felt a little irritated at his words. No matter how weak I was, I still had a little stamina I carried luggage around for half a year, you know? I couldnt win against Miyas physical boost skill, but I might just be able to beat Force.

It didnt even take 30 minutes for me to eat my words.

Ahahahaha! Crap! This is hilarious!

Force rolled on the ground, clutching at his stomach. Meanwhile, I had too much on my hands to be mad at Forces mocking. I was busy desperately stretching my leg cramp.

Ive never seen anyone get attacked by a monster while down from a leg cramp before!

Shut up. I seriously thought I would die.

Well, I cant blame Force for laughing

Immediately after we departed, I was able to keep up with Force for about 10 minutes. The difference in our stamina clearly started to show, and I cramped my leg when I tried to push myself. It was bad timing, but a monster decided to appear at that exact moment, leaving Force to save me from my certain death.

Youre so frail Note

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I wanted to argue back, but he was totally right. The fact I couldnt deny it made me more irritated.

You wont be popular with girls like that.

I dont want to hear that from you, damn it!

Wah! Note snapped!

What do you know about being popular with girls! Youre not exactly popular either, Force!

Ugh! Alright. My bad. As the Unpopular With Girls Alliance, lets get along!

For some reason, I was forced into an awfully disgraceful alliance. This was the worst. Someone save me.

Whats with that alliance? Its not something I want to join at all

If you dont want to join it, then you better get popular with girls. Force patted my shoulder with a pitying expression on his face. Honestly, I found him to be the most infuriating person ever. It was actually rather amazing.

Fine then! I will definitely get a girlfriend before Force!

You said it!! Then how about whoever finds a lover first orders the other to do one thing they want?

Fine with me! Bring it!

How did I go from a stamina-training jog to making a bet with Force that was more like the kind of promise a bickering teenage boy and girl would make when they were overly aware of each other?

This wasnt going to end with me and Force dating, right? I really dont want to end up in a situation where were laughing together as we say I guess this means its a tie.

A few more days later. In the forest towards th

e north of Puriff.

Alone, I focused my mind.

There are three in front. And I can feel one more behind me to the right and left.

Well done. Seems like youve grasped the feel for Enemy Search now?

I startled slightly at the voice that sounded from outside of my mind, and turned around. It was Jin, clothed in his usual black gear.

Like Jin said, I was getting a little more familiar with Enemy Search now. Or rather, I was just applying what I learned from Trap Detect to the Enemy Search practice well.

Trap Detect is a similar art to Enemy Searchrecalling these words Jin had said, I completely pushed Jins presence out of my mind as I practised Enemy Search, making myself believe that I was in danger of being attacked by monsters before activating the art.

Doing so made my body to react with the sense of fear it remembered, allowing me to locate the monsters in a similar way to Trap Detect.

I was now able to sense monsters up to 100 metres away.

According to Jin, if I polished Enemy Search further I would be able to easily grasp the presence of everything within the 1000 metre radius of Mapping, including the presence of harmless humans and animals.

When he put it that way, my Enemy Search still had a long way to go. But at this rate, I may be able to reach the level Jin described within the six month time limit

Satisfied with my progress, we headed further into the forest to continue my Enemy Search practice.

Another several days later. Force, Neme, and I stood outside the large gate to the town of Puriff. Because she was woken up early, Neme was rubbing at her eyes sleepily.

Err from today, Note will be running while carrying Neme.

Eh?

Neme was also shocked at Forces sudden declaration. Her sleepy, half-lidded eyes were immediately wide open.

You know how originally we said Note needed to raise his stamina so that he could run away from monsters in the dungeon when we need to retreat?

Well, yes

About that. When our party retreats from battle, Jin always carries Neme because of how slow she is. Since her legs are like this, right? No matter how much she trains her stamina, she wont run very fast

True, a little girl like Neme with legs that short would probably fall behind the other members.

How rude! Nemes legs are beautiful! Neme was saying, but thats not what were discussing right now. The conversation wont progress like this, so be quiet.

Only recently have I been able to finally keep up with Forces jogging pace, can I still do that while carrying a little girl? But despite my worries, Force had a point. Reluctantly, I crouched.

Come on Neme, hurry up. Get on!

But when I tried to give Neme a piggy-back, Force stopped me.

Not like that. Like this! he said, and threw Neme over his shoulder.

Eh, you have to carry her that way?!

Do you think youd have time to piggy-back someone in a situation where youre running from monsters?

He had a very good point.

I took Neme from Force and lifted her over my shoulder with both hands.

Ive heard that children have high body temperatures, but Neme was oddly warm. Did it have anything to do with her small size?Though she was apparently an adult

With such thoughts circulating my head, I ran around the outside wall of the city with Force.

Some tens of minutes later. I was patting Nemes back.

Force had already stopped running. Neme was on all fours on the ground as sheI wont say anymore than that. For the sake of her honour.

N-No more I never want to ride on Notes shoulder again

I honestly did feel apologetic.

In short, I was running with Neme over my shoulder, but since I wasnt used to carrying people, it was an extremely bumpy ride Furthermore, her stomach also had to suffer the impact of my shoulder several times

Even if I dont elaborate further, you get what Im saying, right?

To put it indirectly, she met a rather pitiful end.

I wiped Nemes mouth with the towel I had. Her eyes were filled to the brim with tears. I honestly was sorry. Once again, I learned a lesson on how had it is to run while carrying someone.

I expected it to be tough before we started running, but the reality of it exceeded my expectations by far. Not only was an extra 10 kilograms of weight added, but my centre of balance was thrown off, and Neme sometimes moved around, making it extremely hard to run.

Even now, Neme was in a state of surrender over how uncomfortable it was to ride on my shoulder.

Apparently, this doesnt happen when Jin carries her.

I was once again made aware of how much I still lacked.