22 Chapter22: Training Alice

Inside our room at the Moonlight Inn. Me and Alice are preparing and packing our things because we need to camp outside for our mission this time. It turns out that the Iron Golems we need to hunt are living quite far from this city, and we need to walk for a day to arrive at the village that is near the Iron Golems territory.

I almost reconsider taking the task when I heard how far the Iron Golems territory is, but Diana-san said that I should take it if I want to gain the Guild Master's favor, refusing it will only cause me to have a bad image. That's why I had no other choice but to take it.

Beside me sitting on the bed was Alice. Alice is packing the foods we bought for our journey just this morning.

I already told Alice all about the task I took from the guild. She said that she already knows all we need to learn about the Iron Golems. Apparently, those Golems has a core inside that serves as their heart but also their weakness. All we need to do is pierce its iron chest and destroy that core.

I wore my gauntlet, I also equipped my bow behind my back and my quiver.

[ Alice, wear this. ] I handed Alice the small quiver I made for her. I'm going to teach Alice how to use a bow when we go outside the city. I also want to try hunting all sorts of monsters as we journey towards the village.

[ onii-san, what do I need this for? ]

[ hmm? I said that I will teach you how to use a bow, right? ]

[ ...! you mean it onii-san!? ] Alice showed a surprised expression.

[ yes, I told you that you need to learn how to properly hunt too, right? so that you can protect yourself and also hunt for your self. here, hold this too. ] I also gave her the bow I bought for her.

It will be really hard for me if Alice ever gets into trouble. I'm not always around with her when we hunt monsters so it will be nice if she can learn how to protect herself from them. I'm also considering teaching her basic self-defense because sometimes humans can be more dangerous than monsters.

[ is that so onii-san? then I will try my best! ] Alice gripped her hands tight and nods.

[ that's the determination. ] I patted her head and she showed a delight expression.

[ are you finish packing our launch? ]

[ yes! ]

[ okay, then that's good. Let's go out now, let's also inform Marinda-san and Victor-san that we might not be able to come back for 2 - 3 days, also say your goodbyes with bretta-chan so she doesn't get worried. ] Alice and Bretta are really close friends now, that they almost always chatting and playing when they got the chance to.

[ U-un! ]

[ then let's go. ]

*** After a while.

Not long after we lose our sights at Citrine City's gate, I decided to teach Alice how to use a bow.

[ okay... just focus... now aim for that tree... then shoot! ] Alice shoots the arrow from the bow while aiming at the tree I instructed her to shoot.

[ I'm sorry onii-san... ] Alice misses the shot then she turned her head down.

[ oh come on, you're just getting started so it's normal to miss your shots. ] I said as I patted her head.

[ let's see... ] I got a lot of experience with the bow so it will be easy for me to teach her.

[ okay, first, make your feet parallel to the shooting line... then, stand up straight and rotate your chin over the shoulder of your bow arm. ]

[ o-okay... ] Alice tried to follow my instructions as best as she can. She's still a bit struggling but she's still doing it fine.

[ Okay... now make sure that your arrow is pointing directly at your target. ]

Alice closed one of her eyes for better aim. Her hand that is pulling the string was shaking a bit, maybe it's still hard for her to pull the string of a bow.

[ easy, easy... ] Alice is breaking a sweat and is shaking tremendously. I tried to calm her down so she can focus more on her target.

I waited for the exact moment where I know she can finally hit the tree.

then...

[ now shoot! ] At my signal, Alice released the arrow.

Swoooshhh!!!

The arrow flew straight and hit the tree in the middle.

...

[ wow... I did it onii-san! ] Alice was a bit shocked but after just a second she turned really excited and happy.

[ yes, you did well. ] I patted her head again, and her eyes are sparkling and she's really cute.

[ Un! ] Alice replied in a cheerful voice.

[ but we still need to practice more. You're still struggling with pulling the string and the arrow together, right? so, do you still want to train more or do you want to take a launch first? ] we've been walking for a while now and Alice might turn out to be hungry now.

[ let's practice first onii-san! I'm going to train more so I can be more useful to you! ] Alice gripped her hands, then posed a Victory Pose.

[ now that's the spirit! we're going to train all day Alice! ] I said energetically.

[ Yes! ]

I was not that much excited like Alice when my father took me for the first time to hunt with him, but I'm pretty sure that I'm as energetic and enthusiastic like my father right now when he taught me how to hunt wild boars.

{ Grooowwlll... }

...

the sounds of our bellies grumbling together echoed all over the forest, leaving nothing but silence after.

[ how about we eat our launch first...? ]

[ U-un ] Alice replied embarrassingly, with her face red.

[ hahaha ] I feel like laughing because I'm really having a fun time with Alice.

soon after, Alice started to laugh too.

It was such a wonderful day.