Chapter 26: Back to Rearing Child Soldier
Pinching my chin, I begin to contemplate my next action. If my guess is correct, this timeline is Motoyasu's first loop. Thus, he will let Naofumi be taken to Siltvelt by their delegation. Alas, Naofumi will be killed by knights and assassins at the border. Motoyasu will know if one of the Legendary Heroes die, he will restart the loop.
If I don't change something else, this will happen on the day after tomorrow. I want to know what will happen if Naofumi dies and Motoyasu returns back to the summoning. Will this timeline continue? Will I find myself returning on the first day?
I prefer it if this timeline continues despite if one of the heroes dies and Motoyasu returns to the beginning. I don't want my time that I've invested for Raphtalia to be meaningless.
However, it gives me another question of which I don't know the answer: what will happen with the Motoyasu of this timeline? Will he disappear? Or will the dumb and exasperating Motoyasu from the beginning of the canon take the Love-Hunter Motoyasu's place?
(Too many questions without answers... But... I suppose I can indirectly prevent Naofumi's death in this timeline.)
Making up my mind, my business here is finished. I leave the throne room with everyone none the wiser. After leaving the castle, I make my way to Erhard's place in a hurry. I remember that they will visit Erhard's place, and I don't want Raphtalia to meet Naofumi before her imprinting on me is finished.
If there's someone who can destroy my indoc—sorry, I mean—grooming on Raphtalia, it's Naofumi because he has a charisma that affects animalistic living beings. He's also the Shield Hero, recorded as an ally and a god for Demi-Humans.
But, I stop briefly when I see Motoyasu and Naofumi having a talk in the plaza. To be honest, I've stopped after hearing my name mentioned in their talk.
"What about Ran? Is he trustworthy?"
"I don't know! What do you think?"
"Um... I'm not sure what to think of him. He seemed friendly and trustworthy yesterday, but..."
"Then, we will treat him normally! If he trusts your innocence, then we're good. But, if he's like Ren, let me beat him, I say!"
"I guess I'll do that. Once again, thank you for trusting in me and rescuing me, Kitamura."
"Please dispense with the formalities and call me by my first name, Motoyasu."
"Umm..."
"Is something wrong?"
"No, it's just that... It feels strange treating the one person that believed in me without due respect."
"Don't let it bother you! It'll make me happy if you call me Motoyasu!"
"Oh, really? Okay then, Moto... yasu."
"Come on! Don't worry about it!"
"Umm... I'm sorry. I'll try, but it will take some time to get used to."
I stop eavesdropping their talk and walk off, heading for Erhard's shop. I enter the empty alley and drop the invisibility. Then, I disguise myself before making my way to Erhard's place.
"Welcome. Do you... Oh! That's you!"
When I enter the shop, Erhard greets me amiably. But, he drops it after discovering it was I who arrived.
"Yeah. This is I. You sounded disappointed." I give Erhard a deadpan.
"Mister Ran! Welcome back!" Raphtalia greets me. She jumps a small stool she has been sitting on and walks to me with a wide smile.
"I'm back, Raphtalia." I pat her head after she stopped next to me.
"So, why did you return quickly? You said you'll return back at noon."
"My business has finished early."
"Will you leave soon?"
"Are you kicking out your customer?"
"My customer pays me with coins, not with a headache."
I roll my eyes at that. "Anyway, can you get me a short sword with blood coating and sharpening enchantment?"
"Now, you're speaking my language, kiddo. Wait for a moment! I'll take your order!"
With a giddy expression, Erhard leaves us to get the short sword I've requested.
I turn in Raphtalia's direction, stop petting her head, and squat in front of Raphtalia. I say, "So, how is it? You didn't give Erhard trouble, did you?"
"No..." Raphtalia shakes her head negatively, "Uncle Erhard told me to sit down there after I helped him sweeping the floor."
"Good girl!" I give her a head pat before raising my body.
Before long, Erhard returns with a sheathed short sword. He hands it to me for inspection. I accept it and unsheathe the sword before inspecting its reflective flat side and its sharp edge.
I silently appraise the sword despite my ignorance. A moment later, A notification pops up in my view, and I learn Weapon Appraisal skill, which goes to the max level due to my Instant Mastery.
After learning and mastering the skill, I inspect the sword again. This time, information appears in my mind, telling me that this sword is surprisingly good quality. I guess it's as expected of Erhard.
"This is a good sword. How much is it?"
Erhard answers my question, and I pay the price. Then, I hand over the sword to Raphtalia.
"Eh? Is it for me?" She seems surprised and alternates her gaze between the sword and my face.
"Yes. But, you won't use it to fight monsters immediately. You need to level up a bit more first. For the time being, I want you to familiarize yourself with the weight."
"I understand. Thank you, Mister Ran."
"Don't worry about it. Now, let's go. We'll continue where we left your training yesterday."
"Yes..."
After receiving a positive, albeit laced with apprehension, answer from Raphtalia, I turn in Erhard's direction.
"We're off, Erhard. See you later!"
"Bye-bye, Uncle!"
"Be careful, kiddo, Little Miss."
After bidding our farewells, Raphtalia and I leave for the forest outside of the Castle Town's walls. I intentionally pick another route, so we won't meet Motoyasu and Naofumi on the way.
We leave through the gate. As we cross the prairie to reach the forest, many Balloons ambush us. Raphtalia quickly and agilely pops them out with her knife. I watch her rampage proudly. Despite being aware of Raphtalia's potential, watching how far she has developed is satisfying and fulfilling.
We continue and enter the forest. Other than Balloons, Mushrooms and Eggugs also attack us. Raphtalia defeats them all without a problem.
After going a bit deeper, we finally meet a small group of monsters that can bleed. They are three Pill Rabbits.
When Raphtalia sees them, the momentum she's been building up deflates. She seems aware of what's going to happen and is filled with anxiety and apprehension.
Those rotund rabbits attack us. To be precise, their target is Raphtalia. They seem aware that Raphtalia's is the weaker and easier target. Alas, I've promised to Raphtalia that I'll defend her if she's attacked by something out of her league. These Pill Rabbits are out of her league because of the lack of her resolve to kill them. Thus, I stop their attack by holding them on the air via Telekinesis.
Telekinesis is a simple application of raw magic power. One needs to be able to control their magic power to use Telekinesis. Thanks to my Instant Mastery, I've mastered Magic Manipulation skill, which allows me to manipulate my magic power with thoughts.
I turn in Raphtalia's direction after holding them on the air. I see Raphtalia's askance look as she gazes at the floating, flailing rabbits.
"Raphtalia..." I call her name, jolting her out of her dazed state. "Stab it!"
Despite she has been preparing herself for this moment, Raphtalia loses her courage. She takes a step back and drops her knife. It's worse than when she was about to kill her first Balloon.
"Raphtalia..."
She turns in my direction, conflicted expression on her face. "But... But... I... They are..." She stutters. Her body starts trembling.
"Get a grip, Raphtalia!" I scold her harshly. It effectively snaps her out of her hesitation. To be honest, it is too effective.
Raphtalia flinches, and her body stiffens. Her tail puffs out and turns stiff. Her eyes open wide, her pupils shrinking into a pinprick.
"Stab it! If you don't do it, you won't get over your trauma. This will help you to move on, to be strong, and to survive the calamity that strikes this world!"
Slowly but surely, Raphtalia takes jer knife from the ground and shifts her posture to a stance that I've taught her. She glares at the nearest floating and flailing Pill Rabbit, her gaze conflicted. But, it doesn't last long.
"Hiya!" She shouts and stabs the defenseless monster. And because of my Telekinetic grip on it, Raphtalia successfully stabs its stomach.
When she pulls out the knife, blood sprays. Some splatters stain her cute face.
"Ah…" Raphtalia produces unintelligible sound in shock
The Pill Rabbit collapses to the ground and rolls back and forth. Raphtalia watches it, and then keeps looking at the blood on her knife. Color leaves her face, and she seems like she is going to pass out.
I approach her and pat her head, getting her attention. When she looks at me, I meet with her wide, stricken eyes. I feel guilty when I see that, but I ignore the feeling because I convince myself that she needs this.
"I'm sorry. I know I have forced you to do something you don't like and even hate, but you have to do it. You need to grow strong because this world is a harsh and cruel place. If you don't have power, you will lose everything. You've lost your family, friends, and home. You've experienced something tragic. It's painful, isn't it? But, you don't want to feel scared and powerless ever again, do you?"
Raphtalia has calmed down slightly and now is listening to my speech. After hearing my question, she shakes her head strongly and answers, "No! I don't wanna!"
"Then, you must grit your teeth, harden your heart, and move forward! If you hesitate, you'll lose everything."
I pause, feeling conflicted about something. But, my inner turmoil only lasts for a few seconds before resolve takes its place.
"If..." I start, feigning my hesitation. "If you can't do it, then I will accept it. I won't be angry if you can't continue trying to become strong and choose a normal life without the dangers of fighting monsters in the waves. But, I can't bring you with me because it'll be dangerous for a powerless and weak person. So, I must leave you if you choose to quit."
I know that reminding Raphtalia of her tragic past and threatening to abandon her is very underhanded, but I have faith in her to follow me.
My treatment and kindness with an acceptable dosage of strictness have left an impression in her heart. There's also my charm, and the chance that Raphtalia chooses to quit adventuring with me is close to zero.
"No! Please don't leave me! I'll do it! I'll kill monsters and become strong!" Raphtalia begs in a panicked tone, her previous shock from shedding the monster's blood for the first time forgotten.
"Then, you know what to do." I stop petting her head and move aside, giving her a clear view of the defenseless, floating, flailing Pill Rabbits. There are two left...
"I understand. I will… fight!"
Color slowly comes back to her pale face. She nods. Then, she turns to the second Pill Rabbit and stabs it with her bloodied knife.
Lacking hesitation, she quickly moves on to the last one. I watch her killing the rabbit silently, focusing on her small back.
Suddenly, she turns around to face me. It's when I see it, her determination. Her eyes are burning with resolve. She has taken her second step to recover and get over her trauma.
And yet, instead of feeling proud of her progress, I feel hollow.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
I_Am_Not_Siscon
I_Am_Not_Siscon Man, many people seemed to dislike the filler chapter I've posted before this. There's a reason for his choice to stay low despite his OPness. It's been stated in the past chapter that he has a similar schtick with Itsuki.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone