Chapter 84 Don'T Hold Back
When the Stampede occurred, I fought against guardians like Ignitor, Nord, and Lich, as well as their subordinates, dragon species, giants, and undead armies.
I managed to defeat most of them, but compared to my current self, I was still pretty weak back then.
To be honest, if I were to face an Ignitor alone, I might have a chance, but if there were 20 Wyverns accompanying it, I wouldn't stand a chance.
However, that's only if I fought with a clear head.
Before the Stampede, when I first broke through the 30th floor, I almost died fighting against the undead army and Lich. So, I created my ultimate technique to win more easily.
At first, I wanted my ultimate technique to be an extremely powerful sword skill.
Something that could blow away an entire army with one hit.
As planned, my first developed ultimate technique, [Absolute Flash Blade], was completed as a technique that met my requirements.
However, after experiencing being overwhelmed by an enormous number of enemies, I thought of another technique to fight against armies.
A technique that would allow me to maintain my human form using aura, even if I took a lot of damage, got cut up, or had my limbs severed, and keep fighting until my magical energy ran out.
But if I'm being honest, this technique doesn't take into account my own survival. I don't care if I die after the battle is over. Instead, I created it to allow me to move without being affected by damage during the fight.
I named this technique――――[Chaos Strength].
When I activated this technique, several unexpected secondary effects occurred.
One was the increase in endurance. Although the strength of the aura couldn't compare to [Dragon Scale] or [Aura Armor], the amount of aura was overwhelmingly greater. As a result, my body during [Chaos Strength] activation became incredibly strong.
One was the nullification of certain magic releases. During [Chaos Strength], the entire body transformed into a state between aura and matter, creating a unique property. Furthermore, the high-density and massive aura filling the entire body formed a kind of force field, repelling small-scale magic releases on the surface.
One was that, only during activation, healing magic and potions became more effective. For example, even if my arm was cut off, during [Chaos Strength], the blood vessels, nerves, and muscle fibers would be forcibly reconnected to their normal positions, maintaining their functions. In this state, drinking a potion would allow me to recover from injuries with minimal damage, making it relatively easy to heal any wound.
And lastly, I could use powerful combat techniques and sword skills that would normally be impossible to use without destroying my own body, but I could use them in this state. Of course, using them would accumulate damage as a burden.
I used [Chaos Strength] and various combat techniques and sword skills that could only be used in this state to take down monsters like Ignitor and the Stampede.
However.
As expected, the cost was enormous.
At that time, I didn't have a Storage Ring or any potions on hand. I did have a potion in my West Pouch, but it was broken during the battle, and the pouch itself was blown away somewhere.
As a result, I couldn't drink a potion before my magical energy ran out, and [Chaos Strength] was released, which means...
And in that instant, the wounds I had all over my body opened up, my bones shattered, my left arm and right leg fell to the ground, and I sank into a sea of my own blood.
――It was a fatal wound.
Even if a Unique Jobs-level healer was nearby, it would be an injury beyond their help.
I was certain to die.
With a brutally clear mind, I was convinced of that, and I remember losing consciousness.
――But, for some reason, I was alive.
When I opened my eyes, I was on a bed in a medical clinic, and my left arm and right leg, which should have been cut off, were reattached. I thought maybe the battle against the Ignitor was just a dream, but the numerous scars all over my body proved that it was real.
I had no idea what was going on, so I grabbed a nearby healer and asked them what happened.
It turned out that I was brought to the clinic in a treated state, but no one knew who brought me. The healer who treated me didn't remember the person who brought me either, which was strange.
The only information I got was that the person who brought me was a woman...
So, anyway.
I should have died back then.
But now, I don't know why I'm alive or who saved me――.
* * *
While waiting for Fiona to calm down, I was reminiscing about my past memories.
I thought that I couldn't tell Fiona about what happened during the Stampede.
And then, after Fiona's tears stopped and some time passed――Lady Eva spoke up.
"By the way, Mr. Aaron?"
"What is it?"
"I remembered something..."
"What's that?"
Lady Eva turned to face me. Her eyes were serious. For some reason, I felt a sense of déjà vu.
"Ms. Glenda witnessed the ≪Extreme Sword≫ during the Stampede."
"Hmm..."
"The ≪Extreme Sword≫ had a strange, different glow from just having an aura around it."
"I see..."
"It might be similar to the [God's Body] technique Fiona used, and I'm guessing that Mr. Aaron used a similar technique during the Stampede..."
"Hmm..."
"And didn't you say that you used that technique during stampede?"
"I didn't say that, did I?"
"Who did you use that technique against, anyway?"
"......various things, I guess."
"Let me ask you again, Mr. Aaron, you're the real ≪Extreme Sword≫, right...?"
There was unmistakable anger in Lady Eva's voice.
I couldn't understand why she was angry, though.
Had I, without realizing I was ≪Extreme Sword≫, denied Lady Eva's confirmation earlier, causing her some trouble?
To be honest, after the Stampede, I had wasted my energy searching for ≪Extreme Sword≫, and when the "Great Outbreak" occurred due to the appearance of Unique Individuals, I was busy and sleep-deprived, searching for ≪Extreme Sword≫ in my spare time... wasn't that enough?
I had also cooperated in searching for ≪Extreme Sword≫, and it was supposed to lead to an increase in our clan's power, so I didn't think there was any reason to be angry.
In the end, shouldn't we think positively that things turned out for the better?
Still, as for me, it's hard to say that I was ≪Extreme Sword≫ now.
So, I replied like this.
"――Calm down, Lady Eva. You're getting wrinkles on your face, you know?"
"......"
...Her face turned demonic.
* * *
"I see... at that time, I didn't know I was ≪Extreme Sword≫. I realized it soon after, but since I had denied it once, it was hard to bring it up. And since I didn't have any friends, it became even harder to say... that's what happened, right?"
"...That's correct."
My identity as ≪Extreme Sword≫ was revealed in a sloppy way.
I confessed everything to Lady Eva.
Lady Eva was holding her head in her hands, as if she had a headache. She let out a ridiculously long sigh, saying,
"I wish you had told me honestly from the start... how much sleep I lost!!"
"...I'm deeply sorry about that. I'm truly reflecting on my actions."
I apologized with all my heart.
Lady Eva was scolded with a demonic expression.
I thought, "What's the big deal? It's just a little joke," but Lady Eva started getting angry as if she had forgotten how to speak, so I couldn't do anything about it. The atmosphere wasn't light enough for me to make a casual remark like, "Hey, are you shedding your ladylike skin?"
"Ha... well, it's already over, and it's fine, I suppose... The result is that Mr. Aaron is considered ≪Extreme Sword≫, and now... I mean, do I really have to explain to various people that Mr. Aaron is indeed ≪Extreme Sword≫?... It's such a hassle."
Lady Eva muttered to herself alone.
...She's really getting worked up.
I thought, "Let's just leave her alone," but then,
"Hey, Eva."
"Fiona? What's wrong?"
Fiona grasped the hem of Lady Eva's dress.
Then, for some reason, she looked embarrassed and said,
"Just a minute, okay?"
"...? Yeah, it's fine."
Lady Eva nodded, and Fiona whispered something in her ear.
"Ah, I see. That's true. Got it."
Lady Eva nodded and tried to support Fiona to get her out of bed.
"What's wrong? Do you want to go somewhere? I'll carry you."
It seemed like Fiona wanted to move somewhere. I stood up from the chair and asked.
"It's okay!"
"Mr. Aaron, stay seated!!"
But for some reason, I was strongly refused, so I sat back down in the chair.
As I watched, Lady Eva somehow managed to stand up with Fiona's support and left the room.
I waited in the room for a while, listening carefully, and understood which direction they went from the sound of the door opening and closing, and the footsteps.
"Ah... to the bathroom, I guess."
I remembered that Fiona couldn't even go to the bathroom by herself in her current state.
I waited for a while, and the two of them came back.
"Whoa, just a minute!"
I picked up Fiona, who had just entered the room, and carried her to the bed. This time, she wasn't refused.
And then, after a while...
"So, Fiona, I'll fix the Storage Ring and return it to you."
"Okay, thank you, Eva. Please do."
I'd conveyed everything I needed to, and Lady Eva's frenzy had also subsided.
――In other words, Lady Eva decided to head back.
By the way, she didn't bring any guards, so she wouldn't be walking back. I thought about escorting her myself, but considering Fiona's current state, I couldn't just leave her alone.
We discussed what to do, and she suggested using teleportation magic to get back.
How convenient, teleportation magic is.
"Today was really bad, wasn't it?"
"Really~..."
Lady Eva said, her expression stern, as if scolding me.
I thought about saying something about how getting angry isn't good for her health, but I decided not to say anything extra.
Lady Eva took out a long staff from the Storage Ring and channeled magical energy into it to activate the magic.
"Well then."
she said, and in the next instant, she was gone, teleported back.
"......"
The room suddenly felt quiet, and I turned to face Fiona.
"Fiona, I'll make dinner now. Do you want to eat?"
"Uh...sorry, maybe...later..."
She looked really sleepy when I asked her.
"Okay. Do you want to sleep for now?"
"Uh...I want to brush my teeth...and wash my face..."
She probably wants to freshen up a bit before sleeping since we can't take a bath today.
"Alright, just wait a bit."
I nodded, left the room, and prepared a bucket of hot water, a towel, a toothbrush, and a cup of water. Then I returned to Fiona's room.
Fiona, who was struggling to stay awake, managed to wash her face and brush her teeth, but by the time she finished, she was already half asleep.
I'm not sure if she's still listening, but I told her as I left the room.
"I'll leave the door open, and I'll be sleeping on the living room sofa tonight."
The living room is right next to Fiona's room. If she calls out, I'll hear her immediately.
"Uh...? ...Why...?"
Fiona, who had opened her eyes slightly, looked at me, and I replied.
"What's with you...can't even go to the bathroom by yourself?"
"......Huh!?"
She suddenly opened her eyes wide and let out a loud voice.
Her expression changed rapidly, looking flustered, as she spoke quickly.
"I-I-I don't care!! I'll be fine by tomorrow, and...I'll endure until then!!"
"No way...don't endure it until then."
I replied with a dumbfounded expression.
* * *
Night.
I was sleeping on the living room sofa, but I woke up to a faint rustling sound and rough breathing.
In that instant, I realized everything and got down from the sofa, heading towards Fiona's room.
"......!!"
As I entered the room, Fiona, who was lying on the bed, suddenly held her breath.
I walked up to the bed and turned on the magic lamp on the side table, illuminating the room.
Fiona, bathed in the light, had a tearful face, her cheeks flushed bright red, and she was breathing roughly, as if trying to hold something back.
Looking down at her, I said.
"So, I told you not to endure it, right?"
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!"
Fiona looked embarrassed and let out a frustrated cry, and I realized something, so I asked again.
"By the way, can you take off your clothes by yourself?"
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuu!!"
She didn't answer.
That was her entire answer.
――I took care of Fiona.
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