Free Isekai Reproduction Life with an Endangered Demi-Human Onee-san in the Forest of Certain Death ~My Mental Stat Is Pathetically Weak, But After Transferring, I’ll Live for Myself This Time~ - Chapter 108: Mock Battle ②

Chapter 108: Mock Battle ②

“Eh?”

I gather the scattered mists.

『Deep Dense Fog!』

A massive fog engulfs the training grounds.

Sandria’s misty sky, her subtle yet vicious presence-severing technique—I wrestled with how to replicate it and came up with this: Deep Dense Fog. First time trying it, though.

“What’s that?”

“The hell?!”

“Fog! Can’t see a thing!”

I learned that more mist boosts the effect, but Thousand Mist Magic is a nightmare to control. I can only increase it slightly. There’s no anchor to sense the magic. Then I recalled Sandria’s words:

『“Feeling the absence” is the first step to Thousand Mist Magic.』

Exactly. Make the mist vanish first. Dissolve it into the air, stockpile it, and unleash it all at once…

That’s Deep Dense Fog.

And the result…

“Can’t sense your presence?”

Bestelta looks around, rattled.

But I can read her every move like an open book.

I’m one with the fog now. No footsteps, no breathing sounds.

Since ancient times, fog has warped human senses—perfect for a beast with keen instincts.

“There!”

Critical Tanezu Punch!

“…No way.”

Pofu. My limp punch lands on Bestelta’s chiseled abs. I’m too beat to put power into it.

“The fight’s just starting!”

It worked—my trump card! I’ll recover stamina and chip away from out of range. Weapon… guess I’ll have to draw Francesca.

Gogogogo…

Wait, is that a faint tremor?

“Fufu, fu. As expected of my Contractor. A human landing a hit on me…”

GOGOGOGO.

An invisible aura wraps around her.

Uh-oh, Bestelta’s acting weird.

Using the fog as cover, lightning streaks through her mane, glowing faintly.

Bachibachi!

Purple thunder charges my fog, infiltrating it.

“Kei, you always surprise me. You bring excitement and adventure. I won’t let anyone take you.”

Her soft voice carries clearly.

“Eh?”

Po. I’m falling for her.

“So I’ll embrace you.”

For the first time, Bestelta takes a stance.

She crouches low, breathing deeply, “Suu…”

Crap, she’s about to do something nuts.

『Shock Stomp!』

Goku!

Vibration. The world flips. An earthquake?

No, why am I in the air?

Bestelta’s upside-down?

Huh?

The training ground’s below me…

“Impressive magic. I’m jealous. Sandria would love this.”

Hyururururu…

Through the whistling wind, Bestelta leaps, closing in.

Looking down, the ground where she stood is cracked wide. Oh, it’s the move she used on rampaging Sandria.

So… I’m falling?

She cleared my magic fog with a physical stomp? The shockwave?

Unbelievable…

“No match for you.”

“Fufu, I won’t let Sandria have you either. Kei, shall we fall together?”

In the rushing air, I accept her hug with resignation.

“Uh, Bestel… Dive!”

At least nail the landing…

The training ground ended up with a massive hole and cracks, unusable for a while.

“Ooh, Kei, that was wild!”

“Razu… no more mock battles, ever.”

Supported by Bestelta, I wobble as I reply. Razu-san laughs heartily.

“Idiot, who said go that far? I said keep it light!”

Guh, fair point.

“Look, the latecomers are stunned! Man, their faces were priceless.”

Razu-san claps, delighted.

He’s right. Adventurers stare at us like we’re monsters. The lecture kids are totally freaked, looking away when I meet their eyes.

“Did we prove our strength?”

“Oh yeah. No one’s underestimating you now. But you’ll be the hot new rookies—deal with it.”

Better than weird harassment, I guess?

“That fog magic was unreal. Impressive.”

“No one else uses it?”

“Nah. It’s useless for attack, defense, or scouting. Literally ‘useless’ magic.”

Maybe it’ll get recognized someday, Razu-san muses. Poor Mist Magic… If it gets spotlight, that’s great, but mine’s Thousand Mist Magic, so a bit different.

“Man, approaching you was the right call. At this rate, you’ll breeze to the top five ranks.”

“Really?”

“Yup. Your fight confirmed it. From D-rank up, you get freaks moving like they’re not human. You’re on their level.”

What, they wearing stone masks or something?

So there are folks moving like that. The world’s big. Gotta stay humble. But “you” means Bestelta’s not included. If monsters like her were common, the power creep would be insane.

“What about E-rank?”

“Haha, strong but still human. E-rank’s the limit of human effort.”

Razu-san laughs boldly. He must’ve worked his ass off…

I suck at effort—hated it. That’s why I was such a pathetic guy. Back in Japan, I was crippled by that complex, but now? Not so much. Life’s too busy and fulfilling for that. Am I… this positive now?

“Alright, Kei, rest up, grab food, and prep. You’re not too banged up, right? Oi, everyone, get lunch and meet at the guild for the dungeon dive this afternoon. Don’t be late!”

Razu-san waves lazily and leaves. “Meet casually and don’t be late”? Impossible.

It’s already that time? Day flew by. The newbie adventurers, hit by fatigue, shuffle out slowly.

Man, I’m starving. Something quick? Braga’s place is good, but I just went.

“Bestelta, wanna grab food?”

“Oh, sure. Let’s do it. But I’ve got a quick errand. Go ahead without me?”

Rare for her. Best not to pry.

“I’ll wait at the guild. No shaving adventurers’ faces, okay?”

“I know, rude much? I don’t just attack randomly. See ya later.”

She strides off.

So she’ll attack with a reason. Scary.

Guess I’ll chat with Shaaru-chan till Bestelta’s back.

As Razu left the training grounds to prep the next session…

“Konnichiha.”

A stilted female voice. Razu throws his deadly knife faster than thought.

『That’s dangerous.』

His throw—lethal to low-rank adventurers or beasts, tough to parry even for peers—has saved him countless times.

She catches it effortlessly.

“Purple Lady… Bestelta, right? Sneaking up on adventurers ain’t cool. You don’t speak the language, so what’s your deal?”

He grills her, hiding cold sweat.

An E-rank adventurer, he’s shaken by letting someone get this close and block his killer move.

『Fufu… I smell fear. Relax, I’m not here to kill. Kei told me not to.』

Bestelta approaches casually, like she’s shopping.

(My body… won’t move.)

He doesn’t understand a word, but the terror is overwhelming.

He wants to run, but his legs won’t budge.

Razu instinctively knows: he can’t defy this powerhouse. He must wait until she’s satisfied.

She smirks, shaving the knife’s blade with her claws.

Kin… kin…

The metallic sound echoes.

『Don’t be so scared. I’m here to thank you for firing Kei up.』

The purple demi-human smiles, but her eyes are cold and sharp.

『But if you’re plotting something weird, stop. Or I’ll gut you and send your innards to hell.』

She slowly stabs the knife into her palm. Instead of piercing, the blade flattens from tip to base, crushed against an iron wall.

“I get it, I get it! I don’t know what you’re saying, but I won’t betray you guys. I surrender, see?”

Razu tosses his hidden knife to the ground.

His voice trembles.

No jokes or bluffs work on her.

“Look, Purple Lady, I’m retired but not done. I dream of conquering the labyrinth—a feat no one’s achieved. I want to see it with my own eyes. I just want to help you guys. Maybe even you can’t do it, but I’m hooked on the abyss. I just wanna see it. That’s all.”

Scars and wrinkles mark Razu’s face, but his eyes shine like a boy’s.

Bestelta gazes into them, then turns away.

『…I don’t understand your words, but I’ll trust the spark in your eyes. Don’t betray me or Kei.』

Shiji. Purple lightning flashes, and she vanishes into the dark.

Razu stays on guard, then slumps to the ground, tosun, when he’s sure she’s gone.

“Ha… scared stiff outside a dungeon…”

Cold sweat soaks his back.