SAE 06

chapter 06

Before going down to the 5th floor, I kept wondering how well I’d be able to handle this ability.

I was worried, no doubt about it—but what could I do? I just had to try my best.

So I kept experimenting here and there, and by the time I felt like I was about to collapse from exhaustion, I finally slumped down onto the spot.

At that, Isael—who had been staring at the wall the entire time—suddenly turned his head toward me.

“…Why?”

What’s with that scary look again?

“No, nothing.”

Saying that, Isael shifted slightly to the side.

Seriously.

I was speechless, but I decided to ignore it.

Come to think of it… wasn’t it a bit cold?

Not because Isael was glaring at me, but because the surrounding air had actually turned chilly.

As I rubbed my arms, Isael frowned and said,

“I knew it from the moment you kept standing there doing useless things.”

“What?”

“You’re not even in good condition.”

“……”

Is he insulting me right now?

Or… is he worried?

I couldn’t tell, so I just stared at him silently.

“…?”

Isael suddenly took off his coat and threw it toward me.

The thick garment hit my head and slid down onto the floor.

“Wear it.”

“……”

“If you end up getting weak and collapsing, it’ll be a hassle.”

His tone was sharp, but he was clearly looking out for me.

Deciding not to refuse, I quickly picked up the coat and put it on.

“Thanks.”

“…Whatever.”

After confirming I’d properly put it on, Isael returned to his original position.

In other words, glaring at the wall again.

“Hey.”

“What now?”

“Do you know how to use aura?”

Isael slowly turned to look at me.

A look that seemed to ask why I was suddenly bringing that up.

I glanced at the sword sheathed at his waist and continued,

“If you can use aura, even a worn-out sword like that could become a pretty dangerous weapon.”

“So you can say something sensible.”

“…Since when was I ever nonsensical?”

“You’re unaware of yourself. That’s impressive.”

Yeah, confirmed.

He was definitely insulting me.

“…Anyway, can you use aura or not?”

“No. I’ve tried before, though. Since I was five.”

Huh?

Five?

That was an unexpected answer.

So he’s been training since he was in the empire.

What was I doing at that age?

Thinking about it made me feel a little solemn.

Right… the protagonist really is different.

Of course the main character would be training with a sword from childhood. Truly extraordinary.

“Then practice here too. From the 5th floor onward, there won’t be time to rest like this.”

At my words, Isael shot me another suspicious look.

But after thinking for a moment, he nodded obediently.

Then he looked away again.

Back to staring at the wall.

I was dumbfounded.

“Hey.”

“Why.”

“Why aren’t you practicing?”

“….”

“I meant start practicing now.”

Isael turned back with an expression of disbelief.

Now I was the one getting annoyed.

Do we really have time to be this relaxed?

“Didn’t you see me training just now?”

We should be squeezing in practice whenever possible, pushing our abilities to the limit.

That’s the only way we survive and get out of here.

“Just train already.”

Isael sighed softly and stood up.

After stretching for a while, he finally drew his sword from his waist.

Even to my inexperienced eyes, his stance looked quite impressive.

Wow, cool.

As expected of the main character of this world.

I was watching him train, almost drifting off to sleep—

“…Nooo!!”

Suddenly, frantic heavy footsteps echoed, followed by a scream sharp enough to tear my eardrums.

Isael immediately pointed his sword toward the direction of the sound.

That alone snapped me fully awake.

I quickly reached into my bag and pulled out a dagger.

“I didn’t do it! I didn’t!”

As the shouting figure got closer, I finally made out their shape.

Was that the same groaning sound Isael heard earlier?

So he wasn’t hallucinating?

…Great. So I wasted the stimulant for nothing.

“Help me! It wasn’t me! Help!”

Isael struck the man’s head hard with his fist as he charged toward us.

A punch.

The man who had been rushing forward collapsed instantly from Isael’s blow.

“…Huh.”

What did I just see?

I stared at Isael blankly.

Why use your fist when you have a sword…?

“I swung at you instinctively since he was charging at your direction.”

“……”

“He’s not dead. Just unconscious.”

Isael muttered awkwardly, as if trying to explain himself.

I could clearly tell he wasn’t dead just by looking…

I shook my head and checked the fallen man.

So Leonard’s group hasn’t made it down to the 5th floor either.

This guy was one of Leonard’s companions.

Felix Büheim.

The one who first suggested abandoning me.

What was it he said again?

That we shouldn’t waste resources healing my injuries, and it’d be better to leave me behind.

Something like that.

Anyway, he looked like he was under hallucinations too.

Did Leonard abandon him because of that?

Or did the hallucinations scatter their group?

Well, not important.

I turned to Isael.

He was watching me cautiously for some reason.

I ignored it and made a suggestion.

“Let’s strip him first.”

You gave me your coat earlier, so you should wear something warm too.

Good items were literally walking right into my hands.

My bag felt even heavier now.

A satisfied smile naturally formed on my face.

I didn’t feel even the slightest guilt about taking Felix’s belongings while he was unconscious.

I earned all these items for them in the first place.

I was just taking them back—why should I feel guilty?

Isael, who had been quietly watching me smile, muttered lowly,

“So this guy is one of the people who abandoned you while you were unconscious?”

“Yeah.”

I replied while rummaging through Felix’s coat pocket.

“This injury also happened because I fell into a trap while trying to get this. But they still left me behind.”

Inside the pocket, as expected, there was a small cloth pouch.

And inside it were lots of small beans.

I had fallen into a trap while trying to retrieve these.

I got hit by arrows shot from the wall.

Even after I was injured like that, they were busy admiring the beans I brought back.

“They’re real. After eating these, mana recovery started speeding up.”

After counting them, they put all the beans into one pouch and handed it to Felix.

Monsters worse than demons…

Even thinking about it made my head spin.

Whatever. It’s in the past.

I checked the pouch and took out one bean.

The moment I did—

Isael grabbed my wrist.

“What do you think you’re doing eating something like that without knowing what it is?”

Didn’t he hate being close to me?

I looked at him confused.

“Ha… seriously.”

Isael shuddered.

“You’re not a child. Why do you have the habit of putting anything in your mouth?”

Only then did I understand what was going on, and I shot back indignantly.

“This is good stuff. Do you think I just pick up anything and eat it? No. I only pick up good things.”

“That’s not the point—huff. Forget it.”

It seemed like he gave up, realizing he couldn’t make me spit it out after I’d already eaten it.

He looked at me like I was a kid who’d eaten dirt.

I felt wronged.