Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Discipline (2)

◆

“⋯⋯I don’t want to.”

That was the first thing that flowed out.

Gray looked at Carlisle while radiating streaks of blue light from her eyes.

She must be quite angry at what was just said. An oppressive feeling almost at the same level as when she enters combat is emanating from her entire body.

Of course, that’s the Hero’s pressure. Just facing it puts a load on the entire body. Vespa, who is right beside them, is almost on the verge of losing consciousness from that alone.

“Why should I apologize?”

However, if you just peek beneath that energy.

[⋯⋯She’s being stubborn.]

‘That’s right.’

What lies beneath is a child throwing a tantrum because she hates losing.

‘This feels nostalgic.’

[What do you mean?]

‘The Hero always acted like this whenever I defeated her in an argument.’

[⋯⋯Noisy.]

This was always the reaction that came back when Carlisle would gently explain with words to convince Gray when she was about to do something unreasonable.

In that sense, Gray really isn’t the worst. As he had already proven by successfully reforming her once before.

The fact that she throws a tantrum because she hates ‘losing’ itself means she knows she’s in the wrong.

[If it’s the same, then it’s simple.]

The Holy Sword said curtly.

[Do it the way you first taught me.]

This is the most crucial first step in reforming a Hero.

That you shouldn’t carelessly look down on others.

Teaching the lesson that you could get hurt badly if you do.

“Why should I, why should I apologize to such a nobody! I don’t want to!”

So, here.

“Vespa is not a nobody.”

Carlisle stood still and looked directly into Gray’s eyes.

This is not a place to back down.

“⋯⋯What?”

“I’m confident I can prove it, so what will you do?”

Rather, it’s okay to go a little stronger.

◆

System Message

▶ ‘Quest: Discipline’ begins. 

▶ As a reward, the target ‘Gray’s’ ‘Arrogance’ stat will be significantly improved. 

▶ As a reward, a new ability will be unlocked for the target ‘Vespa’. 

▶ Hidden rewards may exist depending on the quest results!

◆

“⋯⋯How did it come to this?”

Vespa said this while her pupils vibrated at high speed.

She, who had only been devoted to housework, would never have been on something like a training ground.

Especially if the one standing across from her is the Hero.

“Well, didn’t I say it would be good to fight once.”

“Uh, I, I’ve never fought anything like this before⋯⋯!”

“Vespa.”

“I, I did recently learn magic, but I’ve barely just covered the basics⋯⋯!”

“Vespa. Please calm down.”

Carlisle firmly grasped and pressed down on the rambling Vespa’s shoulders.

“Do you know why they say magic has a high entry difficulty?”

“Huh, what do you mean⋯⋯?”

Vespa asked back blankly at Carlisle’s sudden words.

“They say magic is ‘a discipline that contains what you want to say’ by borrowing the world’s will.”

“Huh, that’s a bit different from what the professors said⋯⋯? They explained it with difficult formulas.”

“That’s enough for you.”

“⋯⋯Yes?”

“I don’t know about others, but that will be enough for you. Trust my words.”

Because,

-⋯⋯Hmm- When it comes to magic, it really feels like that, doesn’t it?

This was the content that Vespa from a previous cycle had ‘directly’ explained to him.

Magic is closer to the concept of having a conversation with the laws that constitute the world and ‘asking’ for what you desire to happen.

The nature of Magic power, feeling Magic, and all such things are all processes to facilitate such conversations.

In that sense, when this person says she has ‘learned the basics’, it means she has met the minimum conditions to be able to do such things.

And, if Carlisle’s prediction is correct,

‘That’s enough.’

As officially recognized by the Hero, Vespa’s talent is at the level of ‘being loved by the world’.

When a beloved being makes a request, what are the chances that the other side won’t grant it?

So.

“Once will be enough.”

Just doing it properly once will be enough.

Then, it will work on Gray too.

“You just need to properly say what you want to say.”

“⋯⋯Yes?”

“Just try putting the words you’ve been keeping inside into magic.”

“⋯⋯.”

Vespa blinked her eyes blankly.

“And.”

Actually, this was something he had wanted to say continuously even before the regression.

“Vespa. I can’t help you with everything.”

“⋯⋯Yes⋯⋯?”

“I’m saying that if you want something, you need to seize it yourself.”

“⋯⋯.”

“You can’t possibly like being treated that way by her. But the fact that you don’t speak up about it is also your fault.”

When thinking about what aspects of this person could be ‘trained’.

Zero confidence. Zero self-esteem. Zero honesty.

Separate from having a good heart, it means she had never protested or properly asked for correction regarding the violence she suffered.

That part is something Carlisle can’t directly fix for her. She has to protect herself.

“Someone who doesn’t cherish themselves can’t possibly appear precious to others.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Whether it’s complaints, requests, or anything else. I hope you’ll let it all out at this opportunity.”

However,

What he can do is create an opportunity for her to say what she wants to say.

Furthermore,

This is also something that can only be done now.

After the regression, the rift between them had already become too deep and had hardened long ago with no way to fix it.

Vespa’s mouth closed tightly.

Her eyes also widened.

“⋯⋯I’ve never thought about it that way before.”

Instead of answering further, Carlisle smiled slightly and took the Holy Sword in his hand.

He turned his body to look directly at Gray who was across the training ground.

“Is the strategy meeting over?”

A calm reply came back.

“You’re the one who suggested it. I didn’t ask to fight. Are you prepared?”

“Yes. So I won’t mind getting hurt a bit.”

Gray’s expression became even more serious.

Although she may be immature, selfish, and arrogant.

She has never taken lightly anything related to the role of Hero. Especially when it comes to combat, which forms its foundation.

So, she wouldn’t treat someone who ‘first’ challenged the Hero to a fight carelessly.

“Simply.”

She said while completely moving her sword behind her back to equip it.

“I’ll only use one hand.”

She showed one of her hands.

“Whatever it is, try to make an impression on me.”

“⋯⋯.”

⋯⋯It’s words that go beyond excluding the possibility of winning and don’t even consider that a fight will be established.

But it’s not wrong either.

She’s none other than the owner of the Holy Sword. She should worry about them dying from poor strength control.

“Then, shall I go?”

And, the scene that follows is clearly one that faithfully intends to carry out such words.

When he closed and opened his eyes, Gray had reached right in front of him in that time and was throwing a punch at him.

It’s an insane speed where only the beginning and result seem to exist in the movement.

“⋯⋯!”

Before he could even activate his Mind’s Eye, Carlisle startled and raised the Holy Sword to block Gray’s fist.

That alone creates a sound of splitting air. Along with the collision, an ear-splitting explosion erupts.

And.

‘Oh, my arm broke.’

At Carlisle’s calm thought, an exasperated voice rose from the Holy Sword.

[⋯⋯Why are you saying that confidently? Doesn’t it hurt?]

‘If there was a world championship for enduring pain, I guarantee I’d be a top candidate.’

Mainly because of you.

While having such thoughts, Carlisle stepped back one step.

Actually, even what just happened must have been Gray holding back. If it had been real combat, he would have died from that.

Even the following punches show that there’s consideration in her movements, given the feeling that’s conveyed.

“⋯⋯Aren’t you going to fight?”

“How could I lay a hand on you?”

“I won’t go easy on you just because of that, you know?”

“I never intended to ask you to.”

Even though he says that, it already feels like she’s holding back quite a bit.

Of course, even with her holding back, there are many problems.

This is a situation where a demigod is wielding violence against a human. No matter how well he responds, the pain accumulating in his body is terrifying.

‘Oh, my ribs broken’

[No, instead of thinking such thoughts, defend properly-!]

‘I am doing it, though?’

An angry voice rose from the Holy Sword, but this is Carlisle’s best effort.

Even when he blocks well, things break.

Even while activating the Hero’s magic from the Holy Sword, activating his Mind’s Eye, and receiving real-time advice from the Holy Sword to somehow defend, damage accumulates with each attack.

‘⋯⋯This person is insane.’

What he’s holding is a Holy Sword made of Star Iron. No matter how low you estimate it, it’s national treasure-level equipment.

She’s casually hitting such a thing with her bare fist, and despite him defending with perfect timing and precision, his entire body is becoming a wreck.

This person hasn’t even used a fingernail’s worth of her full power yet, and he’s in this state.

“Then what are you trying to do? You started the fight first and there’s nothing?”

Naturally, such a disappointed voice fell from Gray.

She seems puzzled about what he trusted in to cause such a situation.

“How could I beat you?”

“⋯⋯Are you joking?”

“However.”

Carlisle said with a smirk.

“I never said that ‘I’ would beat you.”

From the beginning, he’s playing the role of a punching bag. He came to this place knowing that.

The person who will land a blow on Gray is clearly someone else.

As soon as those words ended.

“Ah, Miss-“

Someone’s voice was heard.

Immediately, Gray flinched.

As expected of someone who could be called humanity’s strongest.

She seems to have noticed the ‘abnormality’ contained in this voice at once.

“Hitting other people is something you shouldn’t do-!”

Following those words.

“⋯⋯What, crazy.”

Something terrifying that made even Carlisle unconsciously utter such words.

Flew like a meteor and struck Gray directly.

◆

System Message

▶ Target ‘Vespa’ unlocks ‘Unique Ability: Word Spirit’ due to your influence. 

▶ Unique abilities are skills that only the target possesses in the entire world. 

▶ It unlocks much earlier than the scheduled opening time. The future is changed! 

▶ Additional rewards are given as compensation for changing the future. 

▶ The ‘Obedience’ stat is added to target Vespa. 

▶ The target will think that anything you say is correct. 

▶ The target will follow anything you say!

[ ♥ Obedience 0% → 5% ]