Yuna eventually decided to stay with us, seeming to have been persuaded. She said that while she could probably achieve greatness on her own, there wasn’t much point in running around without any allies.
There was an instance when a soldier came looking for us, but Alterra firmly declared that she wouldn’t budge until there was a discussion about which unit Myungho would be assigned to, and the soldier quickly backed off.
An ordinary soldier, adventurer, or even a hero would have been dragged off doing whatever they were told. Looking back, it felt pointless how desperate I had been to stand by Alterra’s side.
No matter how much a human strives, they can’t become a tank. While it might be possible in this world… well, I lack both the talent and connections. Even if I sold my soul to a demon, I doubt I’d ever reach Alterra’s level.
Even aside from sheer strength, the higher-ups must find it difficult to control Alterra. She doesn’t belong to any organization, nor does she serve anyone. Though she may not overtly show it, she has always harbored hostility towards gods.
On the other hand, they’re probably afraid to mess with me, considering the monster who crushed trenches might turn her fangs on them. Having just one man beside her allows her to demolish anything that stands in her way. Turning her into an enemy would be like cutting open the belly of a goose that lays golden eggs.
Does that make me her leash? Thinking about it that way didn’t feel entirely bad.
“…When do you two plan to go back to your rooms?”
Rather than that, I asked when they planned to leave as they had naturally settled into the room at some point. Akashi was reading a book since he only carried those, sitting in a corner chair, while Yuna had even taken off her leather guards to adjust her prosthetic arm.
“What do you mean, Myungho? Surely you don’t want to be alone with Alterra? Ah, there was that incident… so perhaps you need to strengthen your bond.”
“Hah, good point, muscle-head. Now that I think about it, planting something in your body might work since your brain is all muscle—probably too dense for even the World Tree to take root.”
“You… there’s nothing you won’t say to a lady…”
“Not really, I’m serious. How do you manage to pull that steel bow without any magic enhancing your body? I find that more astonishing than time-reversal magic.”
As their voices grew louder, I realized leaving them alone was a mistake. Alterra showed no intention of mediating, seemingly disinterested altogether.
She quietly gazed at me, as if trying to hold me within her sight. It almost felt like watching someone who might run away if unchecked.
“Altera! Come here for a moment! I have something for you to try!”
“Hey, worm. Come here and try pulling this bow. Without magic. This girl keeps claiming anyone can pull it if they train enough—it’s ridiculous.”
Altera glanced at me before turning to them with an expression of bewilderment.
“Why are we talking about me all of a sudden?”
“If you can’t pull it, then that’s that. Look, even a Half-Dragon can’t pull it without magic. What kind of physique do you have?”
“Ugh…! No way! Come on, Alterra, give it a try! It’s not me being weird—it’s about setting limits where none exist! Being born an Ogre isn’t fair! It’s the result of training!”
Altera watched Yuna approach with wide eyes, then was effortlessly dragged over like a ragdoll.
“Wait, why do I have to do this…”
Watching this, Yuna truly seems absurd. There was that time she pushed a rock blocking the road with her bare hands or outperformed a troll in a strength contest.
Given her power without relying on magic, Yuna might have some innate talent—but I’m not sure. Maybe it’s genuine effort. Perhaps with hard work, even I could achieve something similar. Seeing Alterra being dragged gave me a little confidence.
Still, Yuna needs to put in the effort first. A confused Alterra blinked widely, unsure why she was involved.
“Here, try it! Without magic. You’ve trained your body, right? So surely you can pull it? Calling someone an Ogre… I’ll make you regret it!”
“That grip of yours could crush my head… Fine, let’s see you try.”
Why were they fighting? Oh, Akashi must have said something offensive again. Understandable that Yuna got upset given how much she values her parents.
Regardless, I was curious. Could Alterra pull the bow without using magic? Her strength was impressive, but it seemed enhanced by overflowing magical energy.
What is her raw physical strength? As everyone held their breath, Alterra sighed and pulled the steel bow.
A chilling metallic screech filled the air. If there hadn’t been soundproofing, people nearby would have complained. For a moment, Yuna’s face brightened before falling.
“…Grrr… What… is this…!”
At first, Alterra seemed unenthusiastic, but soon veins bulged as she exerted herself fully. The bowstring was barely past halfway.
Had she used magic, she would have pulled it easily, but now she stubbornly relied on brute force. Her trembling arms made observers uneasy.
And unease always leads to disaster. Reaching her limit, Alterra lost her grip—not just the string, but the entire bow. It flew toward her face. Just as shock flashed across her features—
Before anyone could react, the bow collided with her.
—
My head throbbed. I remember the bow hitting my head, and though I instinctively wrapped myself in magic, the shock hit like lightning, followed by blinding light.
I shouldn’t have dropped my magical barrier, thinking it unnecessary. Should’ve kept it up.
Did I underestimate Yuna? Or worse, maybe one of her parents is actually an Ogre. How else could she possess such strength?
Even with magic, I’m not sure I could pull that bow three times.
Despite her muscular build, how does Yuna generate such power? A hulking man couldn’t pull it either.
Anyway, where am I? I thought my head was throbbing, but it’s a buzzing sound.
A warm sensation near my forehead. Opening my eyes revealed I wasn’t in the same room.
The place looked carved from white stone. A person wearing what resembled a strange cap hovered above me, palm pressed to my forehead.
The woman, adorned with a necklace featuring a crescent slicing through a triangle, rushed off upon seeing me awake. Who is she? Can someone explain?
The buzzing stopped. Clutching my still dizzy head, I sat up. Beneath me lay some sort of stone altar.
It was covered with cloth and a pillow, suggesting it was meant for lying down, though it felt far from comfortable.
What happened? I was supposed to monitor Myungho, not get dragged into their foolish argument. Nearby, I saw drawers and decorations resembling the crescent symbol.
Seeing bandages and potions suggested this was some kind of infirmary. Considering the circumstances without my magical barrier…
Still, I’m okay. Resting should suffice. As I contemplated, vibrations approached.
Voices—likely Myungho and the others.
“Altera!”
“Earthworm, do you remember my name?!”
“Altera…!”
“Please wait, she just woke up…”
“—Shut up. My head’s ringing.”
Everyone quieted as the headache persisted.
“Starting with the one who spoke, Yuna. What exactly happened?”
“…Uh… I’m sorry… Alterra… it’s because of me… sniff…”
Don’t cry. Tell me what happened.
