46 Chapter46: Improvements And A Sudden Visit

We're now resting Inside the forest outside Citrine where we always train. We're eating the same launch Bretta-chan always makes for the two of us. It's still morning, I can't see the sun in the sky but I can see it's sunlight penetrating the small groves of trees that surrounds us.

[ onii-chan, I want to finish a task myself. ] Alice asked while still eating her sandwich.

[ ...really? ]

[ un, I think I can handle something now onii-chan. ]

[ hmm... I think so too, but are you sure you are ready? ]

She already asked me about this a lot of times before. I didn't allow her because she just started training, but when I saw her improvement and how fast she was learning, I started thinking of sending her to her first mission. Now I just want to know if she's ready herself.

[ un. ]

[ ...okay, let's go ask Diana-san for an easy task you can handle. ]

[ un! thank you onii-chan! ] Alice said with a smile.

[ of course, but let's have a match first. ]

[ a-again onii-chan!? ]

[ yes. come-on, get your sword. ]

[ uhhh... ]

***

[ here I come! ] Onii-chan suddenly shouted.

*Swoosh!

Onii-chan then attacked as he swings his sword aiming at the top of my head. ((( Klang! ))) I blocked it with my own sword but onii-chan's force is too strong so I jumped back away from onii-chan.

Onii-chan then followed and attacked me again, but this time, he targeted my side.

I managed to jump back again in the last moment, I could barely dodge it but I don't want to just keep doing so, so I ran towards onii-chan thrusting my sword in front of him.

*Shiiiing!!!

onii-chan, of course, blocked my attacked with his sword. I went back to my stance readying my sword and waited again for onii-chan to attack. I don't want to disappoint onii-chan with me just running away from him but this is all I can do to survive from onii-chan's techniques and speed.

[ you're doing great Alice. ] said Onii-chan.

I wasn't expecting onii-chan to suddenly compliment me. In fact, I thought he was going to say he's disappointed.

[ you're certainly improving, Alice. You can only barely block my sword last time but now you're improving your style, keeping your distance away from me but also countering is a great technique to use when you're up against someone stronger than you. ]

[ tha-thank you onii-chan... ]

[ let's continue. ]

[ ye-yes! ]

Onii-chan attacked again, thrusting his sword in front of me. ((( Shiiiing!!! ))) I blocked onii-chan's sword to its side with all the strength I can put into my sword and then I jumped in front of onii-chan countering his attack while he's still dumbfounded by what happened. I thrust my sword in front of onii-chan, targeting onii-chan's neck, but then...

[ phew! that was a close one. I was too careless, good job Alice. ] Onii-chan said.

[ I lose, you won Alice. ]

[ ...re...really!? ] I... I won...?

that was my first win against onii-chan. I never thought I could win against onii-chan but I won, I know onii-chan still held back but it feels really good to beat onii-chan for the first time.

[ great job Alice. That was a great match. ]

before I knew it, onii-chan was already in front of me. Onii-chan stroked my head as he compliments me, it feels really good...

[ Un! ]

[ I think you're ready, let's go to the guild now? ]

[ ...yes! ]

***

[ something for someone like Alice... ] said Diana-san.

[ yes. ] I replied.

I'm now in front of Diana-san at the counter while Alice is just sitting at one of the tables while swaying her feet back and forth. Alice and I went to the guild right after we finished our match, and now, we're asking Diana-san for a task she thinks Alice can handle.

[ is she going to do it alone? ] asked Diana-san.

[ I will go with her but she will be the one to defeat it, it's for her training. ]

[ ...lo-look, Alice-chan is the youngest adventurer registered on this guild... but she's in a party with you so we only accepted her as an adventurer because of that reason... but I don't think there's anything here that a kid like Alice can handle. ]

I remember registering Alice as an adventurer, but they never told me at the exam that they only allowed Alice because of me. I was sure Alice showed them great skills at archery and sword mastery so I thought they accepted her all because of her skills. I think the guild is still belittling.

[ no no, just trust me. I trained Alice, I know she can handle it. ]

[ haah... if you say so. ]

[ that's right. ]

[ ...here's the easiest for newbies. ] Diana-san said as she handed me a piece of paper from the Tasks Board.

[ what is the task about? ] I asked.

[ it's hunting three White Wolves in the forest. It's easy considering White Wolves are the easiest of the Wolfkind. ]

[ easiest? ]

[ yes, Wolf strength are base on their color. White is the weakest followed by green, blue, purple, yellow, then the strongest and most rare; red. ]

[ red... re-really!? ] Isn't the color of the first wolf I met in this world was red!? does that mean... I was supposed to die if I didn't have this absurd strength!?

[ haah... those Goddesses... ]

[ umm... what's that? ]

[ don't mind me... ]

[ so... are you going to accept it or not? ]

[ I'll take it. I'm sure Alice can handle it. ]

[ just make sure Alice-chan won't get hurt okay? it'll ruin your reputation. ah! by the way, someone came here this morning looking for you. ]

[ looking for me? ]

I wonder who it is...?

[ yes, she asked me where are you at and I told her you were outside the city, so she asked me where are you currently staying at instead. I'm sure she now went to the MoonLight Inn where you're staying at. ]

[ really? I guess I should visit the Inn first... did she tell you her name? ]

[ ah, yes... I think it was Clara...san? ]

[ ...Cla-Clara!? ]

[ you know her? ]

[ ki-kind of... ]

I guess I should deal with this immediately... or I'll be involved with Jerald-san's family again.