The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
Living like adventurers, completing the town’s requests.
Going shopping together with everyone.
Chatting leisurely with the townspeople we hadn’t seen for a while.
For some time, such ordinary days continued.
They were very peaceful days…
It made me strongly feel that Horizon was truly home.
If possible, I would like to relax here forever, but…
That’s not something I can do.
At first glance, it might look like a peaceful world.
But there are people scheming in the shadows…
You never know when everyday life might turn into a battlefield.
You never know when the blood of someone important might be spilled.
To prevent such things from happening.
To make sure tragedy never repeats itself again.
“I… want to become stronger.”
――――――――――
“Al-san.”
“…Oh?”
I found Al-san relaxing on the rooftop, enjoying the sunlight.
She was swaying in a hammock, and perhaps she had been dozing off, because her eyes looked half-sleepy.
“I have a little favor to ask…”
“Hmm, what is it?”
“Actually… before that, shouldn’t you return to the village?”
Al-san had been staying at the house the entire time.
She was using one of the empty rooms, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her a new member of the household.
Well, that itself is fine, but…
Considering that she holds authority second only to the chief, wouldn’t it be better for her to return to the village sooner?
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Even if I stay in the village, there’s nothing but boring work… those things can be left to the chief.”
“I see…”
“So then, what do you need?”
Al-san got down from the hammock and put on a serious expression.
She’s quite perceptive about many things.
She probably already had a rough idea of what I wanted to say.
“Would you train me?”
“Hmm, I thought you might say that… but why do you seek power, Rain? Right now, you’re already quite strong.”
“But it’s not enough.”
“……”
“If I had more power… maybe that wouldn’t have happened.”
The final words I exchanged with Gray.
And the grave in the royal capital came to mind.
“You told me before that it might be arrogance. That there’s a limit to what I can do alone.”
“Do you truly understand that? If you did, you wouldn’t say such things.”
“I think I do understand.”
I don’t believe I can do everything by myself.
I’m not that arrogant.
After all…
Everything I’ve accomplished until now was only possible because everyone was there.
My own strength alone isn’t that great.
Even so…
“I want to do everything I possibly can.”
“……”
“I won’t say something arrogant like I can do everything alone. But if I had more power, I think I’d have more choices when the time comes.”
“Hmm.”
“I never want to regret anything again… I want power so I can take the best possible action when that time comes. I want to become… stronger!”
Thinking about it, this might be the first time I’ve clearly asked for power myself.
A lot of things happened, and I’ve become stronger in my own way…
But that was simply the result of going along with circumstances.
I never acted with the goal of becoming stronger.
But now it’s different.
To broaden my possibilities.
To increase my choices.
I want to become stronger—much stronger.
“…Well, you pass.”
“Huh?”
“It seems that you now have proper resolve and determination. If that’s the case, you should be able to obtain the right kind of power.”
“Then…”
“I had a feeling this might happen, which is why I stayed here… very well. The strongest among the strongest—the greatest magic user among the Spirit Race—will personally train you thoroughly.”
“Thank you very much!”
I bowed my head deeply.
“However, there’s a slight problem.”
“A problem?”
Hearing those ominous words, I couldn’t help but frown.
“When it comes to magic, I can train you as much as you like. But that’s all. When it comes to physical matters, it will be difficult for me.”
“That’s… true.”
Al-san is a magic expert.
I can’t think of anyone better with magic than her.
However, when it comes to close combat, it’s too much to ask of her.
Not just Al-san—if only there were an expert in close combat as well…
“Hmm… perhaps I should try contacting someone.”
“Do you have a connection?”
“Yes. Wait here a little. I’ll go out for a while.”
Saying that, Al-san returned inside the house.
――――――――――
A few days later.
Al-san returned, and all of us were gathered in the living room.
“Hmm, it seems everyone is here.”
“Mother, what’s going on all of a sudden? I heard from Rain that we’d be doing some training…”
“Why are we preparing for a trip?”
Just as Sora said, we were being made to prepare for a trip.
“That is because…”
““Because?””
“We’re going on a trip!”
““That’s exactly what you just said!?””
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