Chapter 18

My training began with a free fall through the air, complete with air resistance.

I never expected to be dropped from a height of 1,000 meters, and now I'm screaming at the top of my lungs.

"AAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

This height is incomparable to any high-rise building. The ground is way too far.

Of course, the one who put me in this situation is that person, Sigh.

Sigh is falling beside me with a calm expression.

I was completely caught off guard.

For the past two days, I hadn't been getting much sleep.

Fatigue had accumulated, and just when we arrived here, sleepiness took advantage of my weakness.

Even though our destination was right in front of us.

Before I knew it, I started dozing off and found myself in a dream.

Then, I woke up to a mysterious sensation of falling, only to realize I was skydiving.

Of course, I was shocked. I almost wet myself.

It would be unreasonable not to be shocked in such a situation.

I doubt anyone else has ever experienced waking up to find themselves skydiving.

I was already traumatized by "falling" from my previous mission, and this treatment.

I had long realized that Sigh is an extraordinary person.

And now, the ground is getting closer.

...Well, Sigh will surely do something to ensure a safe landing.

I have no means of landing on my own, so I have to rely on Sigh to save me.

With that hope, I turned to Sigh, who then opened his mouth.

The words that came out left me in shock.

In a voice so low I could barely hear, he said,

"Land on your own."

"Are you kidding, Sigh!?"

"Don't be passive. Take action."

What kind of action can I take in mid-air? Being passive or not is irrelevant.

Damn it! What should I do?

There's nothing I can do!

I have no way to cushion the impact of landing.

At this height, I'll surely be smashed to death.

Think.

I can't believe Sigh would ask me to do the impossible.

There must be a way out.

No good. The ground is getting closer.

I can't think of anything.

"It's impossible! Help me!!"

I amplified my voice to shout.

Given the situation, I had to do this for Sigh to hear me.

While Sigh's voice is low, I can still hear it, but Sigh can't distinguish sounds like I can.

"Ha... Don't be so dependent."

What's wrong with this guy!

No, in this situation...

There's no other choice!

"Excuse me!!"

I reached out and grabbed Sigh's wrist, pulling him closer, and then hugged him tightly.

Unlike me, Sigh must have a way to land.

By hugging him, I force him to land with me.

In other words, he has no choice but to land with me.

If he tries to push me away, it's over, so I hold onto him tightly.

"..."

Despite the situation, Sigh smelled really good.

He has a slender build, yet his ample chest is very prominent.

With my face buried in Sigh's chest, I naturally ended up with my face pressed against it.

If Sigh were to kick, I'd be knocked out immediately.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! It's involuntary! It's involuntary!"

I shouted with my face buried in Sigh's chest.

"Stop it, don't talk. It tickles."

I prayed I wouldn't be shaken off.

I closed my eyes.

The ground was close.

The dark sensation of falling.

But suddenly, it ended.

My body was enveloped in a strange floating sensation.

When I opened my eyes, the ground that had been rapidly approaching had stopped.

We were surrounded by tall trees, and the air and smell were different.

"We've arrived."

As Sigh said this, the strange floating sensation disappeared, and we landed.

This must be Sigh's ability.

I remember Sigh is a gravity manipulator. If he can control gravity, this is possible.

More importantly, my method of avoiding the situation seemed to have passed.

Whether or not there was another way to get out of it, I clung to Sigh.

"How long are you going to stick to me? Let go."

When he said that, I hurriedly let go of Sigh.

"I'm sorry...!"

Sigh, who seemed uninterested in my apology, was wandering around, looking up at the sky.

Curious, I also looked up and saw a small dot in the sky through the gaps in the leaves.

The dot gradually grew larger.

The sound of wind.

Something was falling.

The object continued to fall at an incredible speed and was eventually sucked into Sigh's hand.

Despite the speed, there was no impact.

It was a large backpack. Sigh's belongings from the helicopter.

Come to think of it, I don't have any of my own belongings. It's like I was kidnapped.

Sigh even confiscated my mobile device, saying something about cutting off communication with the outside world.

Thanks to that, I can't even send a single email to Roll. This is quite a troublesome situation.

I want to send at least one apology email to Roll.

"We're heading to the cabin near the lake."

Sigh handed me the large backpack he had caught.

He probably found it troublesome to carry.

By the way, there is a cabin.

I thought we'd be sleeping outdoors, so I'm relieved.

"Understood."

I took the backpack.

The backpack, which Sigh had carried so lightly, was incredibly heavy, but I managed to put it on my back and followed Sigh, who had already started walking.

We walked through the forest in our tuxedos.

The scene was quite out of place.

But what's even more surprising is this "sound."

Roars, growls, and screams of monsters can be heard from all directions.

The number of monsters living in the forest is evident just from the sounds.

...What if we encounter a dangerous monster right away?

I need to be on guard against the sounds around us.

"We've arrived."

After walking for a while, we reached the cabin Sigh had mentioned.

It was a log cabin, somewhat dirty with vines and moss, but cleaner than I expected.

The area around the cabin was mostly cleared of trees, creating an open space.

It's a good space for movement, though weeds have grown.

Sigh opened the door of the cabin and went inside, so I followed.

However, the moment I entered, I was kicked out by Sigh.

I sat on the ground outside, and insects were crawling around my hands.

To be honest, I'm not surprised by this anymore.

I tried to figure out why Sigh kicked me out.

Was it because shoes were not allowed inside?

No, Sigh was also wearing shoes.

After thinking for a while, I still couldn't figure out why I was kicked out, so I looked up at Sigh, who was looking down at me.

Our eyes met, and Sigh immediately spoke.

"You'll be sleeping outdoors. For a month."

So that's how it is.

Well, I was prepared for outdoor living, so it's fine.

But wait a minute.

Does Sigh intend to sleep in that bed inside the cabin?

"Only me?"

I expressed my dissatisfaction.

"It's your training."

"Please wait. It's scary and lonely to be alone at night."

"It's training."

"Please, at least for the first two days, can we camp together?"

A heartfelt plea.

"Are you going to make a woman sleep outside?"

"Women? Sigh, you're not that kind of person, are you?"

After saying that, I realized.

...Damn.

I said something unnecessary.

"..."

Sigh was silent.

Is he... hurt?

No, it's unlikely for Sigh to be hurt, but I should at least try to smooth things over.

"When I said 'type,' I meant your character, not that I don't think you're a woman. I think you're very beautiful, so don't misunderstand, okay?"

"...What are you saying?

Ha.

Hyde must have pushed a weird guy on me."

Sigh said this and then slammed the cabin door.

...Was Sigh a bit flustered just now? He seemed a bit faster than usual.

After a while, the cabin door opened again, and a sleeping bag rolled out.

Maybe Sigh is more interesting than I thought.

Thus, my training began.

---

Sigh might be more interesting than I thought.

I had that thought for a brief moment.

I take it back.

Sigh is still a dangerous person.

"Please, just spare me this. I'll do anything, even sleep outdoors alone."

I pleaded with Sigh.

Currently, my ears are stuffed with small rubber balls.

At first glance, they look like ordinary earplugs.

However, these earplugs are made of a material that sticks tightly to the ear canal and can only be removed with a special lotion.

Due to these strange rubber balls, my hearing is reduced to 10% of its normal function.

According to Sigh, I apparently have to wear these for a month.

To be honest, I'll die.

I can barely hear enough to have a conversation.

This makes it difficult to detect enemies, especially in the Basilisk Forest, which is like a den of monsters.

I'll die.

"But earwax will build up..."

"When your training is over, I'll clean your ears for you."

Seriously!?

I almost said it out loud but held back.

What kind of person is this? Using such temptation.

But I won't fall for it.

First of all, Sigh's ear cleaning will probably end with the ear bones being stabbed.

I can't trust my ears to him.

"I'll pass."

"Alright.

Then let's have a serious talk."

Sigh's demeanor suddenly changed, and I instinctively straightened up.

"What is it?"

Sigh, who usually has half-open eyes, lifted them slightly and spoke.

"I'm serious about training you.

This is something that shouldn't happen.

I'm surprised at my own motivation.

I don't usually get this excited."

"..."

"First, we need to deal with your troublesome attack.

A power that can only attack indiscriminately in all directions is useless. You have no value in missions.

You should just do extermination tasks alone for the rest of your life."

That's harsh.

But I can't say anything about it because of what happened to Roll.

I can't say anything because it's true.

If you have the ability to control sound, first learn to control the direction and strength of the sound.

The ability to attack only the targeted enemy.

...But before that, there's something else you need to do.

Learn to feel sound with your entire body.

As a sound manipulator, you must be able to feel sound with all five senses, not just hearing.

I see.

So these earplugs are for that.

To dull your hearing and sharpen your other senses.

"See sound with your eyes, feel sound with your skin, smell sound with your nose, taste sound with your tongue, right?"

"Exactly.

I also have a difficult ability, 'Gravity Control,' so I went through the same process.

When I manifested it, I had killed nearly twice as many people as you."

Seriously?

That's a story that, in a way, makes me feel a bit closer to him.

"That's why I can give you accurate advice.

In short, you need to listen to me."

Sigh added, "I haven't talked this much in a long time."

Sigh seems genuinely trying to make me stronger.

I can feel that.

It's a bit reassuring.

If he says this much, I have to do my best.

"Understood, Master.

I'll do anything."

I can't let Sigh's motivation surpass mine if I've decided to get stronger.

"Don't call me that."

"Please let me call you Master."

"No. Listen to me."

"Can I call you Senior?"

"Ha..."