Chapter 32

Once again, the testing grounds were packed with spectators.

Since this was supposed to be a simple test cut, I was more worried about whether the bystanders would get caught in the aftermath.

“Quite a crowd has gathered again.”

“It’s dangerous, so why do they keep coming?”

“Maybe there’s just not much entertainment around here? Especially for the ordinary citizens.”

That seemed likely.

Last time, the crowd consisted mostly of soldiers gathered to protect Dowal and the others, but this time, the onlookers were overwhelmingly just curious civilians. Word of the naming ceremony from the other day must have spread in some exaggerated, entertaining way.

“Well, it looks like it’s not just them this time, though.”

“What do you mean?”

Karin asked, so I lightly shifted my gaze toward a group that looked different from the others.

“Those guys are from the Guild. They’re probably here to scout me.”

“Scout? You mean they want us as allies?”

“To put it simply, yeah. They’re likely hoping to get a share of the leftovers from the stuff we hunt and eat.”

Karin didn’t seem to quite grasp it, so I explained my theory on their thought process.

For a party of B-Rank adventurers, most of the monsters we hunted and ate would be a life-or-death struggle. But we hunted them easily and usually just left the remains behind. I told her they probably wanted us to sell them the bones and hides that serve as materials.

“It’s strange that they want the parts you can’t even eat.”

“They’re like beasts scavenging for carrion.”

Ril made a disgusted face.

“It can’t be helped. Humans are weak.”

That much I could say for sure. Humans were definitely weak; after all, I was weak myself, which is why I had come to this country to get properly equipped.

“Let’s get started already,” Dowal called out to us.

“Is it okay if I keep it light?”

“Why not go all out? I want to see Ryu’s true strength as he is now.”

“I want to see Papa’s full power too!”

…Good grief. With a gallery watching, I really didn’t want to show off my full strength if I could help it, but if Ril and Karin were telling me to go all out, I had no choice but to oblige.

“Dowal! Get the crowd back a bit further! My Lady and Karin are going to get serious!”

Dowal looked horrified and immediately shouted, “Everyone, evacuate!!” as he scrambled a significant distance away.

Once I confirmed the spectators had retreated, I spoke to the two of them.

“Alright then, Ril, Karin—let’s play for real.”

[I look forward to it, Ryu.]

“Yay! Papa’s playing for real!!”

Ril took a stance as if bowing before a match, while Karin innocently began to ramp up her magic power.

Then, the fight began without warning.

Ril lunged at me, baring her fangs and opening her massive maw as if to bite me whole.

I used my skills “Magic Detection” and “Sixth Sense” to predict the general trajectory of her attacks, and since it would be impossible to even keep up if I moved normally, I activated “Physical Ability Enhancement” simultaneously.

With that, I had the bare minimum requirements ready to face the two of them.

I evaded Ril’s snapping jaws with a backstep.

Immediately, Karin’s feathers came flying at me; I hadn’t expected them to coordinate their attacks so perfectly.

I managed to deflect the feathers with my hands, but this was seriously dangerous. It was way more intense than facing them one-on-one. I really hadn’t expected them to display such teamwork right from the start.

In that case, I needed to separate them. Taking both on at once was impossible for me right now.

Well then, time to test the power of the Wakizashi.

Perhaps curious about the blade’s power, Ril and Karin backed off slightly, keeping a wary distance.

Let’s try this. I’d attempt a technique called Iai.¹

I flowed magic into the blade while it was still sheathed. Since it had been Grandfather’s fang, I knew exactly how to handle the output.

Now—I swung the Wakizashi through the air between the two of them!

…Wait, what? Nothing happened?

Why? I was sure I’d—Whoa!?

Ril suddenly lunged again!

However, I managed to block Ril’s claws with the Wakizashi.

Next came a barrage of kicks from Karin! Karin’s kicks were incredibly painful, likely because she was attacking with eagle-like talons.

Wait—that went right into my solar plexus!

“Gah…! Cough!”

Thanks to the clothes, I didn’t end up with a hole in my chest, but if I’d been in normal gear, she would’ve punched right through me.

Since I’d been sent flying by the kick, I needed a moment to—!

Ril’s stomp came down right then! I couldn’t dodge!!

“Guh…!!”

She stepped on me with everything she had.

I guess this was my loss.

“I give up. It’s my loss.”

Once I declared it, she moved her leg off me.

“Ah—I still can’t win, huh?”

“Forget that! What was that just now?! That slash?!”

“A slash? Oh, so it did work.”

“Papa, were you seriously trying to kill us with that, or not?”

“Huh? Of course not.”

At that, Ril and Karin both let out a massive, synchronized sigh.

Wait, why that reaction?

“Look over there.”

Where? …It looked like nothing but blue sky to me.

“That cloud. Its shape is weird, isn’t it?”

Ah, that cloud. It was definitely strange, but—?

“That, you see, was Papa’s doing.”

What? Was she suggesting I’d cut a cloud? Judging by their reactions, though, it seemed to be the truth.

“…Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Totally serious. Thanks to that, we had to go all out.”

Ah, so that’s why the onslaught was so merciless.

“But Ryu, you’ve gotten stronger too.”

Wait, why are you turning into your human form?!

“There’s no point in hiding it anymore, is there? Those dwarves are trustworthy.”

Hahaha, so you’ve earned the trust of the Fenrir Lady, have you?

“If it’s okay with you, Ril, then I don’t mind.”

Afterward, I made a pathetic sight as the two of them let me lean on their shoulders while we headed back.