So, let’s summarize what they said.
While trying to draw Yuna’s bow too forcefully, I ended up lacking strength and missed, thus getting hit almost bare-bodied without any magical defense. When I asked for an estimate of the impact, someone compared it to getting hit by a full-force swing of a war hammer wielded by a man made purely of muscle.
I had some idea since I’d been struck before by that ‘muscle lump’ swinging a two-handed hammer. Truly monstrous, Yuna. Even though you were bound by magic, I should have guessed from when you tried grabbing me with your bare hands.
Next, after being struck by the flying bow and suffering a torn head wound, it was clear that not only the surface but also the inside was damaged as I experienced brief convulsions. Everyone lost their judgment and rushed me to the nearby church.
This priest explained in detail. It was unsettling to hear that if help had been delayed a bit longer, there could have been language or motor function impairments, or even memory issues. Though death wasn’t likely, falling into a coma in the worst case was possible.
Still, despite such severe impacts, seeing that I remained intact showed how incredibly sturdy my body was. Upon hearing that the injury only resulted in torn skin and crushed bones, I shuddered again.
…Yuna’s arrows might genuinely kill someone, no joke. A direct hit to the head or heart would likely be fatal. Even hitting limbs might tear off bones.
It wasn’t for nothing that she claimed her arrows could break through walls. I should have realized this when she effortlessly cut through those transparent spider legs. I glanced at Yuna with a mix of fear, but she was too busy crying, blaming herself for hurting Alterra unintentionally.
Well, technically, I nearly died, but honestly, it was my own foolishness. The cause of this stupidity… maybe I’m showing signs of regret.
How does one manage to ruin their reputation just as it starts improving? I apologized to Yuna, telling her it was fine since I was alive, and asked her to stop crying.
Myungho questioned me about my condition—whether my body was okay, if my memories were intact, and if I could walk. As far as I could tell, I was fine, except for a lingering ringing in my ears.
This sound was like someone speaking with a gag in their mouth, producing an annoying buzzing noise. It was as if earplugs prevented me from hearing others clearly.
Let’s leave this issue for later—it’s not helping now. Instead, I asked how long I’d been unconscious, and they said a full day. Myungho mentioned that after an “enthusiastic” meeting, he finally managed to bring me into the special unit of heroes I belonged to.
No wonder my throat felt parched; lying down for a whole day would do that. Struggling with blurred vision, I asked anyone nearby for a glass of water.
As I prepared to ask for more steel to reinforce armor and have Yuna craft plenty of arrows, realizing the place we were in probably only had strange metal objects resembling religious symbols…
Even if I despise the goddess, I wouldn’t dare desecrate the symbol of the religion that just saved my life moments ago.
Though I hate the religion, I don’t hate the people… isn’t that right? Something along those lines exists, doesn’t it? Drinking the water Yuna brought finally made me feel somewhat better.
Anyway, you sure know how to control your strength, Yuna. Normally, I didn’t think much of it, but after getting hit by that bow, I see how extraordinary you are. You might even have ogre blood in you.
I know, nonsense. You’re a monster after all. There’s no way a human could breed with you. Shaking off absurd thoughts, I stepped outside.
“…Altera, are you really alright?”
“If I weren’t, I wouldn’t be walking on two feet, would I, Myungho? Thanks for worrying… but I’m really fine. More importantly… did anything strange happen yesterday?”
That was my main concern. While I was knocked out—fainted?—did something weird happen? With Myungho’s trustworthiness recently declining, doubts naturally crept into my mind.
Myungho seemed to protest his innocence but then shut his mouth like a honey-eating bear, remembering his past misdeeds. He knows pretending to forgive isn’t real forgiveness.
“I was just by your side. Yuna stayed for a while too, but she got called away by the higher-ups. Akashi left once the priests started treatment, unsure when you’d wake up… and perhaps because he was anxious. I’ve been keeping watch beside you.”
Hmm. That’s very considerate. If it had been Akashi or someone else… well, who knows if there’d still be someone brave enough, but they could have secretly stolen my heart.
…Nothing strange happened, right? Not until I get married, anyway. If Myungho… really wanted to… well, there’s nothing I can do…
Circulating my mana lightly, I found no abnormalities in my body, except for a slight feeling of foreignness in my stomach, like a small lump. About three weeks and a half now?
I need to step up my game. I don’t know how many pits there are, but if all are similar, I believe I could handle three a day.
If there’s anything more… hmm. Two per day is the limit. I’m not a battle fanatic. I don’t want to blindly charge into enemy lines and fall victim to hidden tricks. Dying pointlessly isn’t my style.
“That… yeah. Thank you. For staying by my side.”
Myungho seemed surprised that I so readily expressed gratitude, hesitating mid-excuse and looking at me blankly. His expression suggested he wasn’t lying.
“…Uh, uh. Yeah… forget what I just said…”
I kind of understand what he wanted to say. He was apparently boiling soup alone for tomorrow, but upon further explanation, it turned out to be some kind of stew.
Did he really boil it? A familiar smell wafted from afar.
“Wow, you survived getting hit by that bow. Is it the resilience of a Half-Dragon or is this individual exceptionally strong? Hard to judge without a sample, huh.”
Akashi was still making sarcastic remarks. So I lightly tapped his lower back—not with the axe blade attached to my tail but with the side of the axe.
The fact that he only stumbled awkwardly instead of collapsing was due to recalling yesterday’s events. He might find it amusing to keep me alive, but honestly, his whims could kill me.
“…If you’re so curious, why don’t you try creating one? One of your brilliant… spells might allure a Dragon, don’t you think?”
“Oh, should I?”
What do you mean “should I,” crazy bastard? I can already picture how horrific your life would be. Detaching the blade from my tail and floating it near Akashi’s neck, he shrugged, claiming it wasn’t serious. Yet his true intentions are obvious.
“Even calling the main body might not work, clones like these won’t suffice. Ah, sir priest. Please don’t look at me like that. This is just a joke among worms here.”
Enough talk. Conversations with him only increase my irritation. Turning away from his bandaged eyes, I looked at the stained glass windows glowing with sunlight and the carvings embedded in the pillars. The church, though newly built, was beautifully decorated.
Each piece was elaborate, but collectively, it lacked grandeur. There wasn’t much else worth noticing. Everything was too predictable, slightly draining my energy.
Other than the crescent intersecting a triangle instead of a cross, it was hard to distinguish this church from ones on Earth. Perhaps the architect was from Earth?
Considering we have officially recognized individuals like Myungho and myself, whose origins are unknown, that guy Soleo and countless other heroes met on the battlefield must all come from different worlds according to this world’s standards.
However, a familiar scent interrupted my thoughts. Such a smell shouldn’t belong in this sacred place. Unless at a feast or a home kitchen.
The priest excused himself, saying he hadn’t eaten all day and offering us food. Both Akashi and Yuna quickly declined, wary of Myungho’s cooking.
“That bad?…”
Apparently proud of his culinary skills, Myungho muttered under his breath as they left. It’s not that it tastes bad; it’s just unfamiliar.
Garlic, I learned, has a more potent smell than expected. The bubbling pot revealed it was rib soup. The garlic was excessive, and the meat was unlike anything I’d seen before.
But the smell was unmistakably rib soup. Whether it suits my current palate is another matter…
Since Myungho seemingly cooked it for me…
Reluctantly, I decided to eat, appreciating his effort and ignoring the smell.
“…It’s delicious.”
“See? It’s not me who’s strange; it’s the taste preferences of people in this world.”
Ignoring the garlic…
Myungho seemed satisfied.
Something feels… busy outside the church.
