Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Chapter 66
Reincarnated Devil’s Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~
Chapter 66 Gaius’s journey
In the depths of a vast forest in the southern continent, where rich nature and humans coexist with demi-humans due to its unexplored nature, there was a sight of a female adventurer engaging in a solo battle against a certain SS-class demon.
The enemy demon, commonly referred to as a Behemoth, was an adult beast that was deemed impossible for humans to defeat. With its giant horns protruding from its head resembling that of a rhinoceros, its body length could easily reach fifty meters.
In contrast, the female adventurer wore only lightweight armor for mobility, with her dagger, already worn out from the battle with the behemoth, serving as her only lifeline. Her appearance was so worn out that it seemed almost hopeless, with even a hint of resignation visible on her face.
This was understandable, as in this otherworldly realm, daggers, originally meant for short-range combat, were not suitable weapons for facing behemoths, mainly serving as weapons against humans. Yet, despite being at such a disadvantage, the female adventurer, who hadn’t completely given up on life, continued to curse her luck.
“Damn it! Today’s just not my day! Is this the time for Amanda, the SS-class adventurer, to pay her dues…?!”
On her way back from a mission, Amanda, never expecting to encounter a monster like the Behemoth, which was said to rival elemental dragons, clicked her tongue in frustration.
Nevertheless, while muttering such complaints, Amanda, the adventurer of the mirage, continued to attack while adding fire enchantments to her weapons, dodging the behemoth’s counterattacks.
The attack power of the dagger, imbued with a fire enchantment, would normally be powerful enough to slice through even steel armor like butter. However, this time, the compatibility was poor. Despite its sharpness, the short reach of the attack made it difficult to deal a decisive blow to the behemoth.
Regretting that she didn’t opt for a greatsword or a hammer, which prioritize power over cutting ability, Amanda found herself cornered as she finally reached the bottom of a steep cliff made of rock, resembling a sheer wall.
“Haah… Haah… Ah, it seems like this is really the end for me. So this is how it ends…”
In this hopeless situation, Amanda, realizing her own impending death, closed her eyes quietly. She had climbed to the pinnacle of humanity as the strongest SS-class adventurer, sticking to solo missions to the end. Yet, it was all ending so anticlimactically.
It was at that moment when she embraced such thoughts that suddenly, the sky, which had been clear just moments ago, darkened as if overshadowed by something massive.
From within that shadow, a man adorned in exquisitely decorated sky-blue armor, unsuited for such a place, swung a greatsword and leaped down.
“Wooooooah! Ultimate Warrior Awakening Secret Technique! Super Devil Bat Assault!!”
Immediately after the man descending from the sky yelled, the sound of flesh being severed echoed around.
Then, after a brief moment, the behemoth, with its head severed by a special greatsword, collapsed to the ground.
Of course, Amanda, who had resigned herself to death, was left gaping in confusion, her eyes wide open at this inexplicable sight.
“N-N-No way…! You’re telling me that he just took down that behemoth in one hit!? And wait, did he really not just fall from the sky?!”
“Yeah, that’s right. I just killed that behemoth right there, miss.”
The one addressing the astonished Amanda was a tall, muscular figure clad in ice dragon armor, a bulky super warrior standing over two meters tall.
Upon closer inspection, a fire dragon, akin to his mount, circled overhead. It was evident from the disciplined behavior of the dragon, trained not to attack humans, that the warrior had likely just leaped down from it.
“Well, that was a close call, but anyway, I’m glad you’re safe.”
“A-Are you…?”
“Me? I’m Gaius, miss. I used to be an S-class adventurer back in the day, but now, for some strange reason, I work as a subordinate to a certain troublesome master. …But I guess there’s no point in explaining all that! Hahaha!”
With that, the towering super warrior named Gaius replied, leaving the speechless Amanda behind. He then casually began preparing for camping as the sun started to set, seemingly unfazed by the events that just transpired.
◇
“Heh, so Gaius is traveling with that… um, what was it, Ballus? Fire dragon, right? Man, that’s impressive. I’ve never met a guy with such a huge presence before.”
“Yeah, huh? But everything I have is thanks to my master’s generosity.”
After defeating the behemoth, the two of them spent some time camping in the depths of the vast forest of the southern continent, cooking the beast’s meat into soup.
Having exchanged brief introductions, they quickly bonded. Their straightforward and unpretentious personalities, coupled with their lack of lingering grudges, fostered a comfortable atmosphere for chatting.
“Hahaha, I see. But seriously, I can’t imagine there’s anyone out there who’s a match for you, modest as you are. Maybe after retiring from adventuring, you ended up working for some noble out of necessity? I get it, been there myself.”
While Gaius didn’t think that was remotely true, Amanda kept predicting things and nodding along as if she did. In her mind, he had become the ultimate chef who could cook the most delicious meals, the strongest super warrior in humanity, a dragon rider who commanded even fire dragons, and someone so honorable and humble that he could even serve as a lord. She exaggerated a bit.
“Hey, you. How about teaming up with me? Quit that stuffy hired gig and let’s aim for the pinnacle of adventurers together. Like the legendary Adventure King of old, we’ll find treasures in ruins, take down dragons, and explore different worlds… Doesn’t that sound fun? With you, I feel like we could pull it off.”
“… ”
Amanda had been solo for so long because she was looking for exactly this kind of adventurer. Someone who could match her youthful achievement of reaching the pinnacle of humanity’s strength as an S-rank and who could be her equal, her companion.
This was not only Amanda’s long-standing concern but also her wish. Above all, this invitation was akin to Gaius’s springtime. If his master were here, he would probably eagerly offer Amanda as a gift.
But…
“Sorry, that’s just not possible.”
“What? Why not!?”
Gaius firmly declined.
“What, Amanda’s invitation is appreciated, you know? But, I still have things I gotta take care of. I’ve got this friend, a bit younger than me, and until he’s ready to stand on his own, there’s still a lot I want to teach him. Sorry about that.”
“Ugh, so there’s already someone else in the picture… Well, can’t be helped. If that’s the case, I’ll give up.”
“Yeah, sorry about that.”
As adventurers, they both knew that forcing a partner into something they weren’t ready for could spell disaster.
Upon hearing Gaius’s decision, Amanda promptly gave up without a fuss.
And so, in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Gaius’s chance at spring was abruptly scattered by his overly serious demeanor.
After finishing their camp, he escorted Amanda to the outskirts of the town on her way home from completing her mission.
Whether or not another chance at spring would come for him in the future…
Well, only the gods would know that.
◇
And this is the aftermath of Amanda, the S-Class adventurer known as “Mirage”.
Continuing to accumulate achievements to the extent that no one in the country remains unaware of her, she arrived at a tavern in some town of a certain country after her adventures. It was just a typical tavern where the food was delicious and the drinks were good.
“Here you go, this is our tavern’s specialty, the special spicy soup. This S-Class is quite eccentric, isn’t she? Rumor has it that she’s traveling around just to taste the best dishes in each town. Well, I couldn’t care less about other people’s business.”
The tavern owner concluded as he placed the freshly made soup in front of Amanda and shrugged his shoulders in amusement.
“Wow! This looks delicious. Thanks, boss! You know, I met a man once who made me a meal that I’ll never forget, and it seems like I’ve become a foodie ever since. Well then, here goes nothing!”
With each bite, the flavor of the meat infused into the soup spread, enveloping her tongue in happiness.
Indeed, this dish was unquestionably exquisite, as rumored.
“Thank you for the meal.”
“Hmph, whatever.”
After finishing her meal, she expressed her satisfaction and got up to leave.
The tavern owner, perhaps delighted that the taste of his tavern had been recognized by this top-tier adventurer, responded with a slightly embarrassed nod.
However, deep down, in her heart…
The taste was certainly not bad; unquestionably the finest dish in town.
But still, the meal that Gaius made was much more delicious…
With that thought lingering in her mind, she quietly left the tavern, disappearing from the town without anyone noticing.
This is just one moment in the life of the highest-ranked adventurer known as “Mirage”, who would later be called the Gourmet Hunter of the Mirage.