Chapter 55.

Leonard was right. Upon arriving at the martial arts practicing ground, the knights’ sword training seemed to have just ended, and the atmosphere was chaotic.

Fortunately, there was no archery training, and the archery targets were far away from the martial arts practice grounds, and there was no one there.

In order to avoid the bustling knights, I took a detour from the side of the practice field and trudged that way. Although it would be faster to walk sideways, I had just talked to the Duke face-to-face not too long ago. For the time being, it’s better to stay obedient and not unnecessarily cause more strife.

Finally, I stood in front of the archery target. I load the arrow on the stone bow, then draw the bowstring, turn the crank (loading device), and strike a pose.

I trust the owner of this body because she used a stone bow a year ago.

“…… Why is that?”

But I felt that the end of the bow aimed at the target was not stable. It just feels light when standing with it. When I aimed somewhere, my arm was more sheepish and weak than I thought it would be, and my arm shivered.

“…… Has she never shot an arrow before?”

Couldn’t take it anymore. I dropped my arm and grumbled.

Barely finished loading, but had absolutely no idea how to aim or shoot.

“It’s heavy!”

I rubbed my aching wrist, sighed, and raised the stone bow. This time I wanted to shoot quickly before my arm shook.

“You can’t shoot if you hold it like that.” Suddenly, I felt a warmth on my back.

–At the same time, the stone bow that was shaking up and down in mid-air was supported by an outstretched hand.

I was startled and tried to turn around.

“Master.”

But it didn’t work because of the contact with the sturdy body behind me.

“…… Ikris.”

I realized that I was completely locked in someone else’s arms.

“What is this ……”

“Shhh. Be forward, Master.”

I felt alarmed and moved in his arms. Ikris whispered in his ear.

“The prey are escaping.”

Hearing this, I immediately stopped moving. My back was completely pressed against Ikris’ chest. For some reason, my mouth was dry, and I gulped.

“Lower your left hand, pull the trigger with your right hand, and then lean tightly against your chest.”

He gently moved the right hand supporting the stone bow and folded it over my hand. The back of my hand was instantly covered in warmth. But more than that, I cared about his breath spraying on my neck.

“Support the bottom with your left hand, now watch the target.”

This time his left hand took mine first and moved it gently. Positioning myself with his help, the aiming became more steady.

“Breathe deeply, Master.”

A light chuckle came from my ears. At that moment, felt the red dot at the bullseye of the arrow target suddenly become visible. I pulled the trigger.

Looking back, the arrow hit the bullseye squarely.

“Well done.”

The overlapping heat on the back of my hand disappeared. The arm that was locked tightly around the body let go. In the next instant, Ikris, who was clinging to his back, left cleanly and stood next to him. But the back of my hand was still warm and hot as if covered by something. I slowly lowered the stone bow in my hand.

“Is the training over?”

Then he raised his head. The unknown itch disappeared. Ikris looked at me with gray eyes.

“When were you here?”

“Haven’t been here long.”

“You don’t look for me.”

He sounded as if he was complaining about why I hadn’t gone looking for him.

“Are you sad?”

There was something funny about a face as expressionless as a wax statue speaking in that kind of voice. I smiled a little.

“It’s not that I hate you, it’s just that I can’t be with you during training.”

“Are you worried?”

“Of course. I’m always worried about you.”

At that moment, the corners of his mouth dimpled a little at the end.

And.

[Favorability 44%]

The rising favorability made the mood good. I felt the smile at the corner of my mouth deepen more than before.

“It’s more knightly now, do you like the newly bought training clothes?”

I don’t know if it’s because of the payment, the previous always cold look disappeared, and Ikris was a little overwhelmed, which was adorable. At my question, he nodded slightly.

“Great.”

With a small grunt, he turned his head. Even if he wasn’t satisfied, he didn’t know it, and had done what needed to be done.

I lifted the stone bow again, and posed as he had done. It was more stable than when I first started holding it, but it still wasn’t easy to aim.

“Ah.”

Because the muscles weren’t used often, my arm soon went numb again.

Ikris looked at me as if he wanted to help me again. The somewhat clumsy slave looked at me at a loss for words and suddenly asked.

“Is it because of the hunting competition?”

“Uh …… ho.”

I eventually couldn’t hold on and lowered my stone bow again, nodding.

“…… Uh-huh.”

Then panting softly, I murmured.

“I want to take first place and give you a reward.”

Of course, there was no need to actually take first place. It was totally practicing for my life.

But suddenly there was a small “poof” sound. I jerked my head back to look at him, and although Ikris still had an expressionless face, a faint smile appeared in the gray eyes looking at me.

Not once had I seen him smile.

Maybe it was because I’d never seen it before and was a little confused.

“Are you smiling?”

Asked suddenly. He shook his head excitedly.

“It’s hard for a master to shoot a stone bow well ……”

“Why?”

“Too ……”

He lowered his eyes and muttered something in a small voice.

I couldn’t hear it and asked, “Huh? Too low, what are you talking about?”

A different answer was received.

“If you can’t use it in the correct position, it’s hard to hold the stone bow against the stone. If you’re not careful, your wrist will swell up and your bones will crack.”

“…… Yes?”

The words sounded a bit pleasant.

“That would be good ……”

That way there’d be no need for the damn hunting convention.

I realized that my true feelings came out.

Then I saw Ikris’ eyes round. I turned around in a panic.

“But how do you know about stone bows?”

By this time Ikris must know martial arts. But as far as I knew, he hadn’t learned it that way. But he was good at archery.

“In Delman.”

Hearing my question, he opened his mouth to answer, then paused and corrected himself.

“…… In my homeland, archery is the basic literacy.”

The name of Ikris’ homeland was Delman.

It was information that hadn’t appeared in the game, and I wrote it down. It’s kind of amazing that he, who later became a master swordsman, learned the bow, which has a longer range than a sword.

“Isn’t …… a sword?”

“Yes.”

“I see. ……”

I nodded and added.

“Great. Then I guess I’ll take first place if you do the posing.”

He closed his mouth. Then asked back in the same low voice as earlier.

“…… like earlier?”

“Uh-huh.”

As if nothing, briskly, he said. The top of his head began to flicker.

[Favorability 49%]

“That’s it.”

I smiled as I saw the favorability level that had risen dramatically. Sure enough, coming to the martial arts training ground was the right thing to do.

After hesitating for a moment, Ikris walked behind me and stood there.

Lifting my arms from either side, the outstretched hands grabbed the back of my hands as they raised the stone bow to aim.

“Now what are you doing?”

Suddenly a cold, frosty voice came from the left.

In that instant, the body turned. Not by intention, but driven by someone else. Because it was Ikris’ movement. Sensing someone else’s presence, he turned around almost reflexively and aimed his stone bow at the uninvited guest.

Instantly, the stiff, dark-haired man was seen in the swirling field of vision.

“…… Little Duke?”