Star-Slaying Swordsman

Chapter 15

How many minutes, no, hours had passed since then?

I rose from my consciousness, and slowly opened my heavy eyelids.

Warm light shined down from the wood ceiling, and the scene reflected in my eyes was a familiar one my room.

I remembered that I defeated the ogre, but the rest of my memory was completely missing.

I racked my brain and wondered when I had returned to my house in the first place.

And as I was asking myself such questions, a sharp pain shot throughout my body, making me want to moan as my senses kicked in.

Ouch

It was the pain that shouldve been faded by the time that I was done confronting the ogres tremendous power and adrenaline, so I tried to endure the pain, telling myself that this was the correct state to be in.

But the pain was so terrible that I couldnt help but to scream out.

This is beyond painful!

Both my arms and legs refused to move properly, even when I tried putting strength into them.

No matter how hard I tried to raise my upper body, it only trembled to the extent that I felt as if it was convulsing.

I felt the aftermath of my victory, and it was not very pleasant.

It was really the feeling of winning a fight with all my might.

Even with that said it was really close.

Me dying instead of the ogre wouldnt have been weird at all.

I just simply got lucky.

Even if we were to fight again, it wouldnt be a battle where I would be conceited enough to think that I could win.

It was really just a last-ditch attempt to fight to the death.

Im still lacking a lot of things.

And thanks to that battle, I found an immediate agenda to deal with.

What I currently lacked what I needed to learn became clear to me.

I need to overcome the walls that will come to me. I I need more experience. The present me is not enough, Im lacking everything.

I had to overcome the wall in the name of the strength that rose before me, even if it meant risking my life, as I did this time.

I had learned clearly from this battle that I had to continue to fight and study superior opponents like that ogre.

In addition to that, I needed to work on the number of times I could use the special technique, the Shooting Star.

Many problems turned out and were brought to light.

I was simply not good enough.

I think it was because I was forced to recognize it, whether I wanted to or not.

Even though my body was exhausted, I wanted to train myself, even if it meant undoing the bandages wrapped around my arms and legs

Hm?

Bandages?

I wondered.

Huh? Why are my arms and feet bandaged?

Not a single person in the village knew anything about treating people.

No one had even prepared bandages of this magnitude in the first place.

***

***

Youre finally awake.

She said, with a clang of her armor.

The knob to the door leading out of the room twisted, and a woman peeked out as if at the right moment.

Soon after, she walked up to me.

Well, being wounded by that degree, no wonder youve been in a coma all week.

A-All week?

Yes. Youve been in bed all week, you know? Youre just lying there, like a dead man, Hoshikiri-kun

TL Note: Hoshikiri-kun (Romaji and direct translation of Star Slayer-kun, which is also how its phonetically pronounced.)

Thats when I finally remembered.

Yes, I did know the woman who was talking to me right now.

But rather than that, she called me by such a nickname. Perhaps it was because of my fading consciousness and my memory was being vague, but now I finally remembered.

Youre the adventurer.

Correct. Also, take note that Im still rather upset about the fact that you lied to me with a straight face, so regards to that.

Now that I thought about it, I indeed did lie to her and went to get a piece of stick.

It had completely slipped my mind until she pointed it out.

But, Ill have you answer my question and call it even. And Ill let you know that Im a very persistent person So if you refuse, look forward to what I might do to you.

And she threatened me.

I didnt know what she might do to me if I did otherwise, so I gave her a positive reply and urged her to continue.

Ill take your word for it then, Hoshikiri-kun. Just what in the world are you?

Huh?

And so the question came, but I had no idea what she meant.

In actuality, that girl asked me I was really going to help and save you, but I couldnt. No I was fascinated by the sight of your swordsmanship. And I was forced to understand that I, an outsider, shouldnt be involved in that very battle. Yeah and that youre a sword-crazed being

That was what she wanted to ask me, she said.

I mean no offense, but I just dont see how a being like you could possibly be born in such a village like this. Thats why I have to ask you What in the world are you?

After having it elaborated to me that much, I finally came to an understanding.

Though, it was a question that I had already answered.

Im a Star Slayer.

Just a person who developed a longing for being one.

No matter how much I tried to boil it down, it was neither more nor less than that.

There was only one answer to that.

I already know that you intend on being a Star Slayer, but that didnt stop the astonishment that swirled inside me. I know its not my place to ask you this, but frankly speaking, you wouldve been dead if you made even one mistake.

Youre not wrong, and Im aware of that. But I cant reach my goal unless I do something like that. An ordinary person like me has to do that much to get there.

That much, huh Most of the bones in your body were shattered and broken, and youre bleeding profusely. Youre also carrying several wounds that couldve reached your internal organs in a few centimeters, and you say thats only that much. Recognize it. You are broken.

She didnt say what was.

Her mouth quietly relaxed, and she didn't say more.

But, I see. So that was the reason why, huh

In her mind, she seemed to already get the answer, and for her, what I said was satisfactory enough.

I thought you were like me, but youre not. Ive been through enough ordeals to know that youre so passionate about being a Star Slayer that it makes what my sword is for look cute.

And the reason for my passion was not something that could be explained by logic.

Perhaps she understood it and didnt question me further.

I dont hate it, that kind of straightforward passion. Even if its broken in some way thats fatal.

She concluded her words.

And in the end, she never got the answer to what she wanted to hear from me.

I was left wondering what on earth she wanted to hear from me.

Through the door, which was halfway closed, I heard a new voice.

Hey, Lilea. Are you almost done? Ive also got one thing to talk about with that brat too

A good-looking man peeked out at me as he made his remark.

The other person whom I told of me being a Star Slayer.

However

Were going back, Lowe.

HUH?!

Youre just going to ask him to be an adventurer anyway, werent you? Dont bother. That boy isnt the kind that we can handle.

Hey, hey, hey. What do you me

Come on, stop grumbling about everything and move it.

The woman called Lilea pulled the hair of the man called Lowe roughly and forcibly left the room.

And so they went.

Ah I completely forgot to mention. We were the ones who treated you, by the way. But shes the one whos been taking care of you all this time, shes been worried sick about you.

I looked in the direction Lilea was pointing and saw Sofia leaning against the wall, dozing off.

And with that, they really left my room this time.