Volume 1 Chapter 31 Monster
Feeling the heat of Cosmos on my back, I'm sprinting down the alley of the Hyamars town with all my might.
Orkide, who was momentarily frozen in surprise, quickly spurred his horse to chase after me.
"Y-you! Are you planning to kidnap my sister!?"
I thought, which mouth is saying "my sister" as I turned back with a blank expression.
"No, no, I'm not planning to kidnap anyone at all."
"Then why are you taking Cosmos away from me!? This is clearly kidnapping!"
"Kidnapping? That's such a bad way to put it. I just suddenly felt like running. The girl on my back is a complete stranger, not someone I know at all, just sticking to me on her own."
"D-do you really think that kind of excuse will work!?"
Orkide frowned, showing his anger on his beautiful face.
This isn't an excuse or anything.
I just wanted to run around the town.
And it just so happened that a girl nearby stuck to my back; I have no intention of kidnapping her at all.
I'm trying to play it off like that, but I wonder how it really sounds?
"If you're not planning to kidnap her, then you should just stop!"
"Stopping would be a waste. I want to run for as long as I can."
"Hmph, don't talk back!"
With a click of his tongue, Orkide pulled out the whip he had hanging at his waist.
He raised it high, ready to strike.
"Don't regret this, commoner!"
In an instant, he swung the whip down, cracking it against the black horse's body.
The impact made the horse scream and it took off at an astonishing speed.
"──!?"
I instinctively jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the black horse's charge.
I quickly turned into a side alley and started running again.
If I hadn't known the skills he could use beforehand, I might not have been able to dodge it.
It was a temporary skill that accelerated the summoned beast, the black horse──'Whip Strike.'
I never expected the speed to increase this much.
"Haha, you dodged pretty well! The rumor about you being Cosmos's master doesn't seem like a lie after all."
He quickly caught up and was right behind us again.
I thought that if we could escape into the West District, which seemed to have a lot of people, we might be okay.
But now, I was starting to doubt whether we could make it that far.
Just as that anxiety hit me, Orkide raised his whip again.
Reluctantly, I placed my hand on my chest.
"[Accel]."
In an instant, as the black horse was struck, a green light enveloped my entire body.
Both of us accelerated almost simultaneously.
Orkide, looking puzzled at the distance that didn't seem to close, soon broke into a smile as if he understood.
"I see, so that's your ability."
Using magic right in front of him would probably give me away.
Well, it wouldn't matter if my ability was exposed.
I just needed to keep running with Cosmos on my back until I reached the West District.
Just as we were getting close to the Red Thread Bridge that connects the East District and the West District, Orkide asked me.
"From what I see of you trying to escape from me, you really are... an 'useless job class,' aren't you?"
"..."
useless job class.
I understood what that meant without needing an explanation.
I didn't really need to respond, but I found myself replying without thinking.
"...I don't think having a high combat ability job class necessarily means it's an 'useless job'."
"But the fact is, you can only run away right now. If you had the power to fight alone, you wouldn't have to look so pathetic. At that point, I can confidently say you're an useless job for us noble bloodlines."
Orkide spread his arms wide and said it with confidence.
"A person who can become a threat alone, someone who can drastically change the tide of battle. That is the quality we nobles seek as a symbol of power!"
I thought maybe I should applaud his strong speech, feeling a bit exasperated.
While I was thinking that, I secretly felt a sting in my ears.
It was true that I had the low combat ability of a Trainer job class.
I was kicked out of my party because of my ability, which can only help others.
I've often thought about what I could've done if I had more power...
That's why Orkide gave me a creepy look, knowing my inner turmoil.
"Because of this pathetic job class called 'Stardust Magician', even Cosmos, who's a noble, is just as useless as you."
"..."
Cosmos' body trembled slightly.
I could feel the tension in her hand gripping my shoulder, her emotions were clear.
"She's just a useless one who can only throw stones! You two really know how to make me laugh!"
Orkide laughed heartily, his voice echoing.
"You're just a weak job class with no power whatsoever! Those without strength are unnecessary in the Etoile household! Prepare to be treated as such!"
I could feel Cosmos trembling behind me.
Was she angry or scared, or perhaps both?
Either way, I knew that Orkide's words were affecting her.
'Father had high hopes for me. Even my elder brother, who's 2 years older, received a decent job class, but Father was even more obsessed with my job class, and did everything he could to help me.'
Now that I think about it, Cosmos did say something like that.
Orkide, the brother who was ignored in favor of his younger sister, his hatred fueling his actions as he tried to bring his sister Cosmos back home.
...A useless job class, huh.
It's true that when seen from the perspective of all the nobles, Cosmos's Stardust Magician is probably just as useless.
My Trainer job class can only use supportive powers, so it's not like I can do much either...
But...
"I'll teach you the difference in our bloodlines!"
Even if it's a rare job class, there's a way to use its power.
Since I'm a bit annoyed, I'll make sure this noble experiences some pain.
Orkide raised his whip, ready to strike.
"Become a stain on the ground! You useless job class!"
I whip the black horse sharply.
The knight's skill 'Whip Strike' activates, granting the horse an acceleration effect.
In that instant, I secretly open my right hand and point it at the black horse.
"[Accel]."
A support magic that enhances agility──'Accel.' This time, I cast it not on myself, but on the black horse that Orkide is riding.
Just now, the horse was whipped and had just "accelerated." In an instant, the black horse, now with 2 acceleration effects, took off at an incredible speed.
"──What!?"
The rider, Orkide, and even the black horse itself couldn't control its speed.
Anticipating this, I had already jumped to the side.
The black horse dashed past me with tremendous force, crashing into a pile of garbage ahead, taking Orkide along with it.
The violent impact scattered trash everywhere, debris flying in all directions.
"What the... is happening...!?"
Orkide crawled out from the heap of junk, dirty and disheveled.
It seemed the black horse had vanished with that one blow, leaving no trace behind.
Given the force of the collision with the garbage pile, it was no surprise.
"...Still conscious, huh?"
I couldn't help but admire his resilience.
Orkide glared at me with a face full of confusion and anger.
I could have kindly explained what happened, but I decided against it; I had no obligation to do so.
Besides, it wasn't something to brag about.
What just happened was simply that the black horse misjudged its acceleration and crashed into the garbage pile.
The double acceleration effect from Orkide's 'Whip Strike' and my 'support magic' had given the black horse excessive speed, causing it to bolt uncontrollably.
Even the support magic that Orkide mocked could be useful in combat when used correctly.
"How about you just back down quietly?"
"──What!?"
As I suggested this while looking down at the crawling Orkide, he grits his teeth and stood up.
Gripping the pitch-black longsword tightly in his right hand, he pointed the blade at me with a sharp gaze.
"Don't get cocky, you commoner! Just because you landed a lucky hit, don't think you've won! I'll personally slice you to pieces!"
Where did that pretty face go?
Orkide's beautiful features were completely twisted, directed at me with a look of hatred.
It seemed like my hit had gotten her blood boiling.
I thought maybe if I played it right, he'd calm down and we could talk, but it seemed to have the opposite effect.
I should have just run away.
As I was trying to find a way to escape, Orkide moved first.
"First, I'll take that arm of yours──!"
He raised his pitch-black longsword, ready to strike.
I instinctively reached for the knife in my pocket to defend myself, but thankfully, it didn't come to that.
Out of nowhere, a "third party" grabbed Orkide's arm, which was raised with the sword.
I turned in surprise to see a girl with "red hair" standing there.
...
...
"What... are you doing?"
"......"
In an instant, the atmosphere in the area became heavy.
It felt like lead was tied to my entire body, and everyone froze in place.
I couldn't move. It was as if my feet were rooted to the ground.
At the same time, an overwhelming chill and tension surged through me.
I felt a suffocating sensation, as if I were at the peak of a high mountain, and we all took shallow breaths, trying to remember how to breathe.
"You can't just swing something like that around in the middle of town."
"──!?"
Orkide jumped back like a rabbit facing its predator, moving with lightning speed.
But it was understandable.
The 'Valkyrie Rose,' a gem of potential with power rivaling that of a hero.
If someone felt her intimidation up close, anyone would tuck their tail and run.
Those who had gained power could sense the terrifying nature of Rose.
The talent was different. The performance was different. The very essence of being was different.
That's why I truly felt grateful that she was on our side.
By the way, Rose seemed really angry...
Orkide, drenched in a cold sweat, asked Rose with a trembling voice.
"W-what are you...! Are you really... human?"
"Wow, what a rude person for a first meeting. I look like anything but human from any angle."
Just a little intimidation and look at how scared he is.
It's no wonder, considering I can feel the cold sweat just from watching.
Finally, I was able to relax after the tension from Rose's appearance, and as I sighed in relief, she introduced herself a bit late.
"I'm Rose Vermilion. I'm an acquaintance of Mr. Roezé over there. I sensed that you might cause harm to Mr. Roezé, so I stepped in to stop you."
Her sudden appearance completely changed the situation.
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