I’m Not Good at Offensive Magic, but I’ll Do My Best With Support Magic! - CH 43

「So, it hasn’t been a very long time since Yuan and Shia met」

We are exploring the underground passages. We’ve been told that there are monsters in the underground passages, but so far we have encountered none powerful ones, only demonic rats and slimes. That’s why we’re chatting and continuing our search.

「It was fate」

「You’re exaggerating… Snow-san, there’s a reaction to a trap there, so be careful」

「Thank you. Well, I can see why Shia says it’s fate. I mean, you two are perfect for each other」

As Luri-chan said, they have laid traps. There are a few of them, but that makes them dangerous. The traps are there just when we forget, so we feel we are being targeted when we are not careful. It’s not a problem at the moment, though, because I’m always probing with my sensing magic.

「Perfect for each other?」

「Yes. How to say this, it feels natural. It’s like you’re meant together」

It’s somewhat understandable. Shia makes me feel at ease when I’m with her, and she supports me. Sometimes she can be a bit too much.

「Does Snow-san have any kind of partner?」

「A partner, huh? I often fight as part of a group of knights rather than individually, so if I had to say, I’d say everyone in the order is my partner」

「Is that what you call a partner?」

「I guess not. That’s why I’m a bit jealous of Yuan and Shia. Because you’re willing to put your lives on the line to fight for each other」

「Isn’t that the same for you, Snow-san?」

「I’m willing to sacrifice my life for the sake of Emeria-sama. I am willing to sacrifice the lives of my friends to protect her. I’m the Vice Commander, I have to make that decision sometimes」

She’s the sword and the shield that protects her Lord. When her Lord is in danger, she’ll sacrifice her friends to let her Lord escape. Snow-san is not afraid of losing friends as long as her Lord is safe. If she has to die as well, she is prepared to do so. The difference between an adventurer and a knight is very clear. Some adventurers leave their guards behind and run away. It’s a different kind of commitment.

「My Lord is Yuan. I know the feeling」

「Yuan is well taken care of」

「Shia-san is too overprotective, though」

「That’s not true」

It is true.

「I’d love to hear more about Yuan and Shia, if you don’t mind」

「Okay, but we’ve only known each other for a short time, so nothing too major has happened, you know?」

「Still, I don’t mind. I’m just curious to know why you two are such good friends」

「Okay… but first」

There was a monster reaction.

「In the water!」

Before I could tell them where the monster was, they were already in position to attack it.

「What a nasty enemy」

「Troublesome」

We can barely tell that something is moving through the water. Moreover, the murky sewage makes it hard to tell where it is and the sheer denseness makes it difficult to target it. Above all, there is a lack of means to attack into the water and I can’t think of any way to defeat it.

「What to do?」

「It’s hard to go in the water with a sword because of the resistance」

While we are talking, the swimming monster is waiting for the right moment to attack us.

「What about Yuan’s magic?」

「I’m not very good at offensive magic, so I doubt I’ll be able to electrocute anybody, even in water!」

If I have a strong lightning magic, it might be effective, but I can only stun people and monsters slightly. Water does conduct electricity, but it spreads it around, so it’s not as effective.

「We don’t have any other means, can you give it a try?」

「I understand… Stun Spark!」

This is the magic I used when Shia-san and I fought the horde of Orcs from before. Lightning magic is a bit tricky to handle because it’s a combination of water and wind magic. I don’t want to use something that complicated. The electric charge hits the surface of the water and spreads as it flows across the water.

「If this was a destination, it would have looked beautiful」

「Un…… Something’s floating」

It didn’t have much effect, but it did make a difference. What comes to the surface is a scrawny, fish-like creature with protruding eyes and saw-like teeth.

「What’s that… it’s disgusting!」

「Devilfish… E-Rank」

I’ve heard of it. It was said to look like the devil, which is how it was named. It is a monster that lives in swamps and other dirty water, and is known to attack any creature that enters the water. It is E-Rank, but this only means that it is difficult to defeat in water, and in terms of strength, it is said to be about G-Rank. After all, it’s fish-shaped, so it can’t come up to the surface, and even if it did, it’s helpless unless you put your hand over its mouth.

「Yuan, eat?」

「Eh, I don’t like it!」

「Food source」

「Does Shia wants to eat it?」

「I don’t」

「So do I」

There are monsters that can be used as food, the most famous of which is the Orc. It seems that this monster can also be used as food, but I don’t think that I would want to eat a monster that lives in sewage. If it was a swamp, I might have thought about it, but I don’t want to eat it. It’s mostly bones.

「Devilfish doesn’t seem to have a problem with being left alone」

「Just in case it pops out at you, please be cautious」

I’ve put up defensive magic, but we can never be too careful. We proceed, keeping a wary eye out for Devilfish. Talking to each other, of course.

「And so, together, we defeated a group of Orcs」

「That battle showed me that Yuan was my only Lord」

「Un, un. Then?」

Snow-san happily listened to our story.

「When we got back to the guild, Shia-san got angry…」

「That was the fault of two people who made fun of Yuan」

The Devilfish is still following us, but we are making good progress.

「Sounds like Shia」

「Un. We told you about us, it’s Snow’s turn」

「About me? It’s not exactly fun to hear」

「It’s a good opportunity for you to tell us. I’ve learned why you work as an adventurer and in the resistance, but I haven’t heard why you became a knight」

「If it doesn’t have to be fun…」

Snow-san is 17 years old, the same age as Shia-san. She was born in the Imperial City and her family home is also in the Imperial City.

「My family has been knights for generations and I was raised to be a knight, regardless of gender」

Her father’s education was strict and she was trained to wield a sword from childhood.

「That’s why I’ve never eaten anything sweet, and I don’t have any friends who are actually friends」

「Like me」

Shia-san is a Shadow Wolf and her grandfather was a strict man… Shia-san says he was old-fashioned and annoying.

「Then, when I was 15 years old, I was made to join the Order, and after a lot of hard training, I became Emeria-sama’s personal guard, and here I am now」

It appears that only women and those with a solid background can be her personal guard… in other words, only those from noble families, and there are few who fit the bill, so it was inevitable.

「See? It’s not a particularly interesting story, is it?」

「Indeed」

「Shia-san, that’s terrible!」

「Fufu, I don’t blame you, because it actually is」

She laughed and forgave Shia-san’s rude comment.

「Will you continue to be a knight, Snow-san?」

「That’s right. If things go on like this, I think I’ll retire and go into teaching and train the younger generation. If it continues like this」

「If it continues?」

「Yes, I don’t know what’s going to happen next. We might run into hardliners, and if there’s a war, I’ll have to join it」

When war breaks out, adventurers will be asked to help. You are free to accept or not. But the knights have to participate obligatorily, because the knights belong to the country.

「Are you planning to quit your knighthood?」

「I don’t think so. Or rather, I don’t think I can. I can’t let my family name be disgraced. Besides, Emeria-sama has been very good to me, I can’t betray her」

「Disappointing」

「That’s right. I think it would be fun to be an adventurer with you, as long as you’re okay with it, Snow-san」

「I appreciate the sentiment」

There are fewer female adventurers than male adventurers, so it’s rare to find a solo adventurer who doesn’t belong to a party. I feel very sorry for Shia-san, because she likes it.

「Is that enough of my story?」

「Yes, thank you!」

「Well then, it’s your turn now. What are you two going to do now?」

「We’re going to the Republic of Artika」

「Republic of Artika!?」

「Y-Yes. What is it?」

Snow-san looks at us in surprise… or envy.

「Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But the Republic of Artika… that’s nice」

「Have you never been there, Snow-san?」

「No, I haven’t! In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been out of the Rūdo territory. Shia, are there many Beastmen in the Republic of Artika?」

「Of course, it’s a country of Beastmen」

「I see~ I think I’ll quit being a knight and follow you two」

Snow-san said something outrageous.

「I’m joking, of course. But I really want to go there」

「Is there a reason?」

「Eh, it’s because there are a lot of Beastmen there?」

「Um, is that the reason?」

「That’s all I need! Lots of fluffy ears and tails, you know?」

Uh, what’s going on with Snow-san… ?

「In a country of Beastmen, there are likely to be many」

「It is true that some races don’t come to the Rūdo territory. I’ve never seen a Cat Tribe or a Rat Tribe. Wouldn’t you like to meet one?」

「Indeed, isn’t it?」

I’ve never seen those races of Beastmen either. Some tribes are more cautious than others and don’t leave their territory. The Rat Tribe in particular is not often seen even in the country of Beastmen.

「By the way, Yuan is the first of the Fox Tribe I ever met!」

「I-It’s an honor」

I’m feeling a bit scared. Or is it just my imagination?

「Erm, why are you keeping your distance?」

「No, that’s not the case?」

After that, Snow-san talked endlessly about the advantages of being a Beastman, about the characteristics and charm points of Shia-san and I. Evidently, Snow-san likes Beastmen. It’s a bit of a drag.

Author-san

No battle of any kind has yet taken place.

Snow likes Beastmen.

I love them, as you can see by the fact that they appear in some of my other works.

I won’t tell you to what extent I love them, as I’m a restrained person.

Thank you for always reading.

Thank you for your continued support.