Isekai Mahou wa Okureteru! (LN) - Volume 3 - Chapter SS5

On the Way Back from Hadorious’s Mansion 

“Well... this is quite a problem, isn’t it?” 

While walking down the streets of the evening-painted Kurant City, Reiji let out a sigh like he had a headache. An hour ago, he’d been invited by Hadorious to have a chat with him, and was now just on his way back from that. 

He’d gained some insight into Hadorious based on their conversation, mostly in realizing that they were completely incompatible. He’d threatened to take hostages if the need arose, and he was using that threat to force them into taking an unwanted detour in their journey. 

No, I can’t just sit here and complain. It’s not just the demons. From now on, I need to deal with the ulterior motives of people from other countries and Hadorious. 

Realizing that he was just griping about the situation he’d found himself in, Reiji shook such thoughts out of his head. Their journey had only just begun. This would only be the first of the difficulties they were to experience. He would have to be able to deal with all sorts of things, even Hadorious. That’s why he had to come out on top everywhere he could. And that man was willing to lay his hands on Suimei. Reiji would at least have his revenge for that, though confirming Suimei’s safety came first. 

“Hmm? Isn’t that...?” 

As he got closer to the inn, he spotted a familiar silhouette standing in the middle of a grove of trees within the city. Looking closely, he could see that it was Titania. 

It was unusual to see her alone without even a single guard, but... she seemed to be focusing on the trees in front of her or something. It was as if she was a still body of water without a single ripple. As if she had become one with the nature around her. She was likely meditating on her magic. Whenever she had time, she would train however she could. She was apparently quite diligent and hardworking. 

Before long, she drew a wooden sword out of nowhere. 

This was quite strange. For a girl who fought with magic to be holding a wooden sword, just what did it mean? He could understand if it were a short sword for self-defense, but he couldn’t understand what application a wooden sword that was about as long as the one he used had in magic training. 

But the moment she took a stance with her sword as if there were an enemy before her, that thought was blown away. 

“...” 

A stance aimed to strike at the eyes, was it? The moment she struck it, Reiji felt like time came to a stop. It wasn’t like anything he’d ever seen before, either in this world or his. And he couldn’t see a single weakness in it. 

Too absorbed in watching Titania, however, he forgot to pay attention to his footsteps. 

“Who goes?!” 

Hearing the rustling of leaves on the ground, Titania realized he was there. And as she turned towards him, she had a vigilant, hostile sword at the ready. 

“U-Um, sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you.” 

“Reiji-sama?! Why are you here?!” 

“I finished talking with the duke and was headed back to the inn. I just happened to see you over here on the way.” 

“I-Is that so...? Well, what did that man have to say?” 

“That’s... There was a lot, so I’d prefer to wait and discuss it all with everyone at the inn. But what about you, Tia? Were you in the middle of some kind of training?” 

“I... I... No!” 

As Reiji inquired about what she’d been doing, she flashed an amazed expression for a single instant, and then panicked and tried to hide the wooden sword in her right hand behind her back. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“N-No, i-i-i-i-it’s nothing at all! I was just thinking of doing a little bit of magic training! That’s all!” 

“But you had a sword at the ready just now, right?” 

“W-Were you watching?!” 

She threw out that question, still completely gripped by surprise, and Reiji nodded back to her. Then, hanging her head low, she muttered to herself in a quiet voice. 

“Goodness, what a careless blunder...” 

“What’s that? Did you say something? I couldn’t really hear you.” 

“No, nothing at all... Um, i-in truth, lately we have been coming across powerful monsters. Thinking it may be a problem in the future, I thought I should also start practicing to use a sword.” 

“You were practicing to use a sword? All on your own?” 

“I-I was too embarrassed to be seen by anyone!” 

“But isn’t it better to have a teacher for this kind of thing?” 

“I-I was taught the basics by Gregory and the captain of the guard, so it’s alright!” 

Titania pitched forward emphatically as she spoke. It sounded a bit like she was making excuses in a panic, but as she said, it was likely from embarrassment. Looking at her, Reiji thought of an idea. 

“Hey, Tia, do you want to try practicing with me?” 

“With you, Reiji-sama? I’m afraid I don’t have a practice sword for you.” 

“Here.” 

Reiji picked up a nearby fallen tree branch. 

“Oh? Why is there such a convenient tree branch...” 

“There are plenty of trees here, after all.” 

Titania then averted her gaze like she had been seized with fear. 

“Um, I, even without a training partner...” 

“There’s no need to hold back. If you’re fine with me, I’ll be your partner as much as you want.” 

Reiji smiled at her pleasantly. Despite all her training, Titania had no technique to resist that smile. 

“...Thank you kindly.” 

When Reiji took a stance with the branch in hand, Titania made her move. However... 

“Um, take thaaaaat!” 

Letting out a somehow spiritless yell, Titania came at him slowly. Reiji nimbly dodged her swing. She then tried for another blow with yet another awkward shout. 

“Let’s see... Hyaaaaah!” 

“...” 

Reiji silently evaded that one as well. He couldn’t sense any urgency at all from her. To the point where he couldn’t even imagine this was the same girl who’d struck that stance from before. After yet another one of her swings was dodged, Titania spoke up with a forced smile. 

“A-As one would expect of Reiji-sama. My sword didn’t even graze you!” 

“...Hey, Tia? Are you taking this seriously?” 

As Reiji gave her a somewhat astonished and somewhat dubious look, Titania cringed like he’d just hit a bullseye. 

“What?” 

“You’re not, right? There’s no way.” 

“That is not the case! I’ve just never once used a sword before this!” 

“But even then, this is... Back when you saved me from Rajas’s attack, I felt like your movements were much sharper.” 

“Th-That was a good example of a miracle under pressure! At the time, my body just moved on its own...” 

“Huh?” 

“Huh?” 

They both exchanged surprised looks. That wasn’t what Reiji had expected her to say. 

“...Tia, didn’t you use magic then?” 

When Reiji said that, Titania couldn’t help the “oh crap” expression that flashed on her face. 

“Y-Yes, of course! I used magic to save you, Reiji-sama!” 

It seemed that they really weren’t on the same page. It felt like she was just forcing herself to agree with everything he said. 

“Tia, are you hiding something from me?” 

“Th-There is not a single thing that I would hide from you, Reiji-sama! Nothing!” 

“Really?” 

“Really!” 

Titania nodded her head up and down vigorously. The overenthusiasm was extremely suspicious. Reiji raised an eyebrow as he watched this unfold, when... 

“Oh... Oh no!” 

With a completely forced cry, Titania tripped over nothing at all and fell towards Reiji’s arms. Though regarding this all as completely fishy, Reiji caught her and held her up. 

“Are you alright?” 

“Yes!” 

After replying in a loud voice, she tightly squeezed on to him. Thinking that it was a little cute, Reiji scratched his head. 

“What in the world...?”