Rin's Jealousy

“Wow! What an amazing view, Master!”

“Yeah.”

Current location—about 300 meters above ground.

“Ardion looks so small from here!”

“Don’t lean out too far, Rin. You’ll fall.”

“I’m holding onto Master’s arm so I’m fine ♪”

――Two days have passed since the large-scale dungeon collapse that struck the royal capital.

We were currently traveling on the back of a Shadow Gryphon.

The eagle-like wings flapped widely as the long coat’s collar and hem fluttered, and we headed toward Ringland Village by air.

I’ve been overworking Dark Horse lately, so I should give it a rest around here…

Even though it was Rin’s first time flying, she showed no fear; her innate curiosity was on full display as she gawked at the scenery below and squealed with excitement.

Good thing I practiced controlling the Gryphon during the fight with the Titan.

The outer walls of the commercial city Ardion, which had once been so large you had to look up at them, were now small enough to fit in my field of view, and the dungeons scattered around it were nothing more than dots.

By the way, the Gryphon’s status is like this.

I immediately strengthened it to the limit using Dungeon Core and the Magic Stones I had, so its Overall Combat Power is a five-digit class, the same as the Minotaur and Windine.

It’s a large rookie who can be expected to be a main unit not just for transport but also in combat.

It was also a major player in the recent Titan fight.

Rin’s Level also jumped to 31—equivalent to a C-rank adventurer—after splitting the Gryphon’s Experience with me.

With these stats she can earn enough to get by without taking unnecessary risks; just defeating lower-ranked monsters is enough.

“Kyeeeeee!”

The Gryphon gave a loud cry.

Rin, sitting in front of me as if cradled, shouted “Yay!” following the Gryphon’s cry.

The Gryphon, carrying a corpse and a maid, continued to fly toward the southern continent—Ringland Village.

＊＊＊

That night.

In Vanargand’s alternate dimension.

Three Shadows—a Minotaur, Dullahan, and a Goblin Lord—were armed and formed a circle around me.

In my hands were the Falcon Twin Blades I obtained when I defeated the Gryphon.

Further out, Ekarraat and Rin sat and watched over us.

“Come at me anytime.”

A mock battle with Shadows, doubling as a post-meal exercise.

The usual routine that had already become a habit while traveling.

The Shadows mercilessly leapt at me.

“Brugaaar!!”

The Minotaur was the first to launch an attack.

I dodged the large battle-axe with a backstep, but the gust generated by the swing nearly knocked me off balance.

“Grrrrr!!”

With my stance toppled by the gust, the Goblin Lord’s greatsword came rushing at me.

I narrowly avoided the first strike.

But the Goblin Lord immediately launched a second strike.

“Slow—and lightweight!”

“Gra!? !?”

I stopped the Goblin Lord’s two-handed greatsword with a single Twin Blade.

When I infused Magic into the remaining Twin Blade, the blade took on Wind magic—the blade extended with a film of magic, ignoring differences in size and weapon reach, and I drove a Wind blade into the Goblin Lord’s torso!

“Graaaah!?”

“――――――!!”

The Goblin Lord perished.

But――Dullahan’s thrust approached from behind.

“Too slow!”

I jumped and evaded Dullahan’s attack while still facing away from it.

I maneuvered to Dullahan’s head, and threw one of the Twin Blades into the back of its neck—inside the armor.

“――――――!?”

Dullahan, struck at its weak point, perished in a single blow.

I retrieved the Twin Blade lodged in the ground and faced the last Shadow—the Minotaur.

“This is it? It won’t even count as post-meal exercise, you know?”

“Brugaaah!!”

The Minotaur swung its battle-axe.

The Minotaur effortlessly wielded a battle-axe far too large for a human to handle, unleashing a series of slashes.

I dodged the barrage, parried with the twin blades, slipping and deflecting as I flowed through its attacks—finding the slightest gap between strikes――

――Slash slash!

――With the Twin Blades imbued with Wind magic, I executed a diagonal slash and an inverse diagonal slash simultaneously.

An X-shaped cut was carved into the Minotaur’s chest, and it perished.

“Is this all even one-on-three—Kaine was stronger. I couldn’t beat them with this.”

Normally, main-class Shadows strengthened to the second tier possess strength that surpasses the boss of an A-rank dungeon.

But even facing three such Shadows at once, I have to admit that the one I fought the other day, The Fourth Stigmata—Kaine, was stronger.

“…Mmm.”

“Wh-what’s wrong, Rin…?”

When I looked up, I noticed Rin, who had been watching my training, puffing out her cheeks in a sulky, displeased way.

She usually would say “Good work!” and hand me a towel to wipe my sweat.

“Master, please don’t use that weapon anymore!”

“Whaaat!? Wh-why…?”

“Kukaka!”

Not understanding why Rin was upset, I was confused, and Ekarraat—who seemed to have guessed the reason—laughed merrily.

“Rin, why are you angry…?”

“I don’t care anymore! I’m going to sleep!”

“Ehh…”

Rin sulked and lay down on the floor.

“(Ekarraat… why is Rin so displeased…?)”

“(She probably learned Enchantment magic with effort, and now that you’ve got a weapon that can grant attributes on its own, she thinks her role is gone. What a lovable one.)”

“I-is that so…”

Thinking I should refrain from using the Falcon Twin Blades in front of Rin, I also went to my own bed.

Because I don’t want Rin to hate me.