Be more straightforward, girl!

Chapter 14: Be more straightforward, girl!

Bryce took away one of Arnold's eyes.

Because his enemy was so devastated after losing the strength of his limbs, he didn't use any of his tank skills to summon a mana shield or even another taunt. In any other situation, he would've been more desperate, but no way he could exert more strength and mana after losing to the level seven boy.

He had been embarrassed already, and his future seemed dim with one eye.

Bryce also was exposed to a peculiar event; after all, Arnold didn't struggle, and Bryce himself wasn't in a battle heat, so he had to take out an eye in a common state. He couldn't turn back, too, for he had stated his intent already.

'Taking eye was so simple.'

It was too easy.

Bryce just cut through Arnold's eye, his heart hollow as though he was just doing business, and he didn't feel any excitement at all. Perhaps, it was because of the quality of his opponents.

In the beginning, Bryce was excited as he felt he had found a way to deal with the taunt. But looking back, Arnold was just a hunter from a beginner village, Bryce couldn't allow himself to feel ecstatic about such an opponent. But it was true that he survived the ordeal because they were weak, and he was too gifted.

How many humans his level could take so many arrows and move just fine? Who could charge at the tank with a speed far exceeding level seven and possibly even level twenty?

Bryce thought as he stood absentmindedly, then his body jerked a little as he felt golden light taking over him. It was the familiar warmth, so he remained rooted on the spot, allowing wounds to close.

Arnold and his friend were also under the care of other villagers. But as the tank raised his eye and glanced at Bryce, he shivered as Bryce seemed as though nothing significant had happened. He hadn't smiled, moved, or celebrated, and he just hovered his eyes on his right hand, which held the sword.

It was as though his victory was just formality, something given.

The indignation of a loser seeped out from the depths of Arnold's heart, taking root in him, and he slowly raised his body to have a talk with Bryce. But then, the voice he had heard three times during exhausted and drunk on pleasure times called to him, and he clearly heard him now.

The man with that voice told him that he will soon have his revenge, which was enough to calm Arnold down; he sat down again and bid his time.

At last, Bryce smiled, scratched Gengo's head, and exchanged a few words with Sharla, who was still confused about what she had seen on him. A few more friends joined them, they were guys who held up cursing banners with Sharla and expressed their respect to Bryce with shining eyes, wide smiles, and clearly agitated hearts.

Sharla could only listen to them while healing her friend.

Gengo felt genuinely felt happy and relieved.

As for Bryce, he no longer dwelled on insignificant matters. The words of his friends helped him cope with that odd feeling within him as they all praised him for fighting against two stronger people and coming out victoriously.

He chuckled and spent time talking with them, sounding and acting like a boy their age, making Gengo bark happily.

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Bryce's wounds had closed, Sharla took care of his clothes and passed him new ones, and as it was still sunny outside, Bryce decided to go around the house and play with Gengo. His friend was still a young fellow, so he needed games and not just to lie on the sofa for most of his time.

Gengo didn't complain and ran around his owner in circles with his tongue hanging out, then he went after a branch, bringing it back in the blink of an eye.

"If we play like that and train like usual, you will become one tough and fast boy." Bryce laughed.

Gengo barked a few times.

They spent some time doing demanding activities, then Bryce sprawled on the grass. Gengo went onto his back, too, his paws flailing. Both thought about different things. While Gengo wanted to eat something, Bryce blamed himself, for he nearly caused a second 'odd' feeling within himself.

He had spent over a decade thinking about the odd feeling on Earth. Why did he worry so much about himself in another world? With Gengo by his side, Bryce knew he would never thoroughly step over to the dark side, but he could imagine himself killing others.

It bothered him, but his new friends helped him deal with that.

"I think the battle would be much more exciting if I could use my abilities. But wouldn't that turn me into a bully?" Bryce asked, thinking seriously about it.

Gengo whined as though saying that Bryce was already a bully.

"Well, strength is my way, I know it well now. If fighting trolls will no longer be an option to grow further and no villain appears in the scene, we will embark on our first real adventure," Bryce said, his words frightening Gengo as it meant going outside to the dangerous world.

But Bryce often told him that even this village wasn't safe. How could it not be safe, though? There was a soft sofa and warm blanket; it was safe, Gengo thought.

"Already planning to leave me?" Sharla said flatly from behind, and soon, she stood just behind Bryce's head, who was still lying on the grass.

He lifted his eyes, found her face obscured by soft mounds, and smiled, lifting up his upper body. Gengo took a normal sitting position, too. "I think trolls will provide us with enough time to develop ourselves further."

Sharla took Bryce's left side and looked ahead. But as they were still near her house, she could only peek into another garden, and it wasn't something she would rather do.

Thus, she closed her eyes and asked in a slightly saddened voice, "Do you think holiness can become evil?"

Bryce and Gengo exchanged looks.

The former clicked his tongue inwardly, for Sharla had a knack for speaking about things dangerously close to his bloodlines. Fortunately, it was the second time she had done that, and her mood was opposite of her usual self, so Bryce hadn't shown anything on his face and pondered over her question.

"You believe a hero can turn into a villain and then into a demon lord?" Bryce tried to think from another world's perspective; perhaps after his battle with Arnold and his buddy, he was just one step away from becoming like a resident, like a hero, and like a demon lord.

"That's not it," Sharla whimpered.

Bryce looked at her, expecting her to continue. But as she didn't, maybe waiting for him to take the lead, Bryce parted his lips and bluntly asked, "So what's on your mind?"

Sharla opened her eyes, glanced at him as though he lacked something, then sighed, "I just asked whether holiness can become evil."

Gengo and Bryce became speechless.

We heard that already, they thought.