Chapter 56
Chapter 56
If I had to put my feelings into words the moment I saw it, then it would be close to a jumble between fear and happiness.
It was incredibily surreal to a mascot waving both of its arms in the magma* pond. (T/N: witten as maguma but I think it should be "lava". Not important.)
It"s image was distorted by the heat haze to become very warped, but it was undoubtedly Toramaru 01.
But somehow...... I want to be genuinely joyful, but with it"s gleaming eyes and the way it was brightened up by the red pond he was walking on, it was seriously hard to approach.
He"s alive.
And in good condition.
[Unmeow!]
Even though it went according to plan, I still trembled in relief when I heard it"s heartfelt cries.
It"s rather convenient that he struggled in order to get out of the pond.
In order to execute the next step of the plan, there"s someone that needs to cooperate by all means.
I immediately turned to Naito-san.
"And this would be the time for Naito-san"s turn!"
"...... alright, then what should I do?"
Naito-san was sedate and unconfident as she looked over the disastrous scene, but it"s not that complicated.
"Let"s see, I"m sorry to ask this of Naito-san, but I would like you to fight a mock battle with this giant and lose"
Just as I was thinking that she"d accept right away, Naito-san"s answer was more against it than I expected.
"On purpose? That"s not admirable"
Flatly said like that, I unconciously flinched.
I was just thinking on what to next when Kawazu-san extended a lifeboat.
"Can you not say it like that? When it comes to battle, to some extent, you"re the only one with an established reputation"
"But......, won"t he die if he goes into battle while carrying a misconception?"
With a serious face, Naito-san clearly stated her opinion and it was quite reasonable. There are circ.u.mstances that one can"t say for sure.
"You have a point but...... according to Dwarf-san, being in a frightened state on the day he has to face a Wyvern as an opponent would likely get him killed. This time is an emergency measure in order to defeat a Wyvern......"
I myself am unsure of that but I can say it quite confidently considering the Giant"s terrible reputation.
In the first place, it can"t be helped because it"s unmistakably dangerous.
The Giant"s number one problem is his mentality, and I would have the Dwarves" consensus on that.
It"s precisely because of this that I had the confidence to stage something so gaudy.
I myself don"t think this is too much.
However there wouldn"t be any meaning unless he could easily undestand, with one look, that the incoming attack is absolutely dangerous.
If he could take THAT and still be fine, he"d should think something along the lines of "Huh? Wouldn"t I be invincible when I"m wearing this?"
That would give some security to anyone no matter how much of a wuss he is. It should give him the courage to stand on the battlefield.
And finally, it would be perfect if it can resolve one"s heart to attack.
"If he"s in his right mind to fight, the Giant"s power and that armor"s defense would let him win against an opponent with just a flailing punch. So please?"
"I see...... however, I"ve never done something like this before, so I don"t know if it"ll go well, alright?"
As expected Naito-san added a disclaimer about her
lack of confidence.
I understand that she"s not very enthusiastic about it, but there"s an obligation towards the Dwarves this time.
Since I have Dwarf-san"s gaze on me, I put my hands together and lowered my head in respect.
"Please do it anyhow. There"s only Naito-san that I can ask! I"ll heal any injuries, you only have to raise his confidence! So please?"
I still thought that she wouldn"t readily accept and I raised my head, then I noticed that there"s something strange about Naito-san"s expression.
I was left wondering what happened as she put her hands over her mouth and seemed to mumble something.
"......can ask no one else but me"
"Hm?"
Now then, the immovable expression that she had until now had changed as she clenched her fist, and her face looked motivated.
"There"s no need to lower your head, please leave it to me! Please let me meet your expectations! Definitely!"
"Oh my...... I"m happy that you said so"
Naito-san prepared her weapon in high spirits, she seems incredibly happy. There"s no problem if its like this.
But uh, I think the heat had been raised too high.
Kawazu-san was quite uncomfortable, sweating buckets as he complained to me about the heat.
"Hey, That giant brat will reach here soon! Why don"t you hurry up and do something about this burning h.e.l.l?!"
"Oh yea, oops. Hold on a moment?"
It was indeed too much for Kawazu-san"s moist body to handle.
But it"s not a bad thing for Naito-san to be pumped up for this, everything"s fine.
Well then, it"s better to start when you"re motivated.
I hurried to prepare a simulated battlefield immediately.
"...... very well, why don"t you fully see the extent of which you can move"
The giant is still Toramary 01. As for Naito-san, she could move better on a wider field in this mock battle. She then removed her helmet and equipped an undamaged sword to use.
It"s a mystery why she would be that way when facing the giant as an opponent.
The difference in size between the opponents would compel a normal person to run away from the giant robot.
However, the difference between their att.i.tude is inverted. Like dragon facing a flea.
"You may come at me whichever way you want. It"s just a mock battle afterall"
[Meow......]
It could be that Toramaru 01 wasn"t just feeling well, or it thought that letting out a cute sound is good move.
Seriousness and fighting spirit are cranked up to the maximum on Naito-san"s side. Even if you say that it"s not the case, but it"s unmistakable that it shattered some hard-earned confidence.
"Begin!"
Please let it end well......
While secretly praying, I gave a signal to start. The first one to make a move was Toramaru 01.
The results from experimenting on it"s durability seems to be correct, it"s quite aggressive.
[Meoow!]
With a cute cry, it raised its huge arm.
However, the attack was a "telephone punch" that even I knew was terrible when I saw it. (T/N: punch that was drawn from near one"s ear)
As expected, the powerful arm was easily dodged by Naito-san with just a slight shift.
"......"
Toramaru01 turned with momentum.
And swung with the other arm this time.
However, it looked just like random flailing, and even I think I can avoid such poor attacks.
"He doesn"t have any fighting talent to speak of......"
Dwarf-san (green) shook his head with a trouble expression, but there was something else to worry about.
After avoiding two attacks, Naito-san"s demeanor was hard to look at.
Her beautiful brows were furrowed, and even looking from afar would make one feel a frightening bloodthirst start to brew.
"A-are you alright, Naito-san?"
"Rather than holding back, isn"t he just unskilled......"
Kawazu-san had a warm smile like it"s futile and he"s given up, but I still want to believe that things are still fine.
However, from the current rumours in the Dwarf Village, the "name value" of defeating a wyverm with just one kick - should be perfect for raising his confidence.
[Meow!!]
Toramaru01 followed by raising his kick to do a stomping attack.
"......"
Naito-san didn"t do anything and the foot missed on its own.
"......that was?"
"Probably felt some aversion to stepping on someone?"
Dwarf-san(green) said with a palm on his forehead. It was indeed so.
Being that carefree isn"t something you can afford right now, even I turned blue.
Even worse, Toramaru01 went on and slipped his foot then fell down on his b.u.m.
When I saw the blue vein pop out on Naito-san"s forehead, I thought it was over.
[Unyan?]
Even now, with the sound and gestures that he makes, the cuteness must be provoking her instead.
"......!"
After a quick movement, there was a heavy sound.
"Clench your teeth!"
[!]
She rushed up the giant without much regard for his height, then she twisted her body like a tornado, adding centrifugal force to her weapon that slashed from the bottom right.
It"s a full swing aiming straight at the large head.
The movements were too fast, and my eyes couldn"t keep up.
Accompanying the high-pitched clanking of metal against metal, Naito-san"s weapon was distorted as if it was clay - defeated by the st.u.r.diness of orichalc.u.m. At the same time, Toramaru01 -----was sent flying.
"...... oh wow"
My voice slipped out of my mouth.
My head bounced up and down, following the giant.
When he was on his b.u.t.t, he was still tall, but the Giant"s gigantic body was still lifted up.
Toramaru01"s head caused tremors as it came back down, making an alarming dent on the ground.
Naito-san took a deep breath and thrusted the completely deformed sword at Toramaru01.
"You! Stop fooling around! This may be a simulation but put some effort!"
Ah...... she wasn"t able to hold it in after all.
Naito-san squared her shoulders, and as if it"s not enough, huffed out her nose and said......
"Come on, let"s continue! You can"t end it like this, can you!?"
I look up at the sky.
Sorry, but too bad, Naito-san.
There was no longer any light on it"s eyes - the powerless figure of Toramaru01 lying on the spot.
The physical defense wasn"t as great as the magical defense.
Even so, a Wyvern"s attack shouldn"t even bother it.
Now if you shock the head with a force strong enough to dent an armor of orichalc.u.m, the unprotected giant inside it wouldn"t be able to withstand.
She probably noticed the situation.
Naito-san"s face gradually became pale.
"H-hey...... don"t tell me he pa.s.sed out!? This is bad!"
No matter how light orichalc.u.m is said to be, it"s not something that could just be jostled around.
I finally took pity and went to pat Naito-san"s shoulders. Then I gently shook my head.
"Naito-san, just give up. It"s already impossible to fight. Let"s end it here......"
"No! I...... okay......"
I"m sorry to the dispirited Naito-san, but it"s already very clear that the Giant didn"t have any strength left to move.
"Thinking about it again, she"s a scary lady......"
Dwarf-san (green) seem to be astounded for reasons completely different from before.
"My oh my, does orichalc.u.m usually get this dented? Shall we make him bring a shield?"
"Probably not, I think"
"......right"
And thus, our plan to fix the giant"s personality was crushed by Naito-san"s sheer physical strength.