Chapter 20

In order to shorten the training arc, I will cut the survival segment.

If anyone wanted to read it, please let me know in the comments.

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After ten days, I finally returned to that cabin.

My clothes were no different from those of a homeless person.

My body was covered in mud, and I was in a completely changed state.

Finally.

Finally.

I finally made it back.

It was really long...

Those ten days were like hell.

I recalled the events of those ten days with tears in my eyes.

It all started when I dropped my compass while being chased by a Gym King Spider. Then, just when I thought I had escaped, I almost got dragged into a Sandworm's nest, which should only exist in the desert. I was almost eaten by a Devil Plant, lured by its sweet scent. My backpack was stolen by a Flash Monkey, and when I thought I had retrieved it, I inhaled the scales of a Poison Butterfly and had to concoct an antidote. I was slashed all over by a Cutter Bird and had to stitch my own wounds while enduring excruciating pain. I almost drowned in a mud pit and had to hold my breath and sleep in a cave infested with White Blood Bats... I ate the flesh of dead monsters, engaged in a drumming showdown with a Thousand Gorilla, had my cheek licked by a man-eating kangaroo, was almost electrocuted to death by a Thunder Fish, and was swallowed whole by a Basara Snake...

The number of times I nearly died is countless.

If I were to recount those ten days of life and death, how many volumes would it fill...

I really did well to survive and return.

Someone, please praise me.

...Now, don't you think someone who has accomplished such a feat deserves a reward?

I think I do.

I don't think it was just luck that allowed me to return.

It was mental strength.

I had a goal.

At the beginning of the survival, my goal was to return safely and peek at Sigh's bath.

However, I soon felt it wasn't worth it, and my goal kept getting revised upwards.

And the final goal was to return safely and touch Sigh's ample chest.

I'm prepared to be beaten up.

I can't take it anymore if I don't get some revenge.

With that burning obsession, I approached the cabin.

It was still early morning.

The time when birds start chirping.

Sigh might still be sleeping.

That's it. I'll sneak in and surprise her.

I'll touch her chest while she's sleeping.

My mind is filled with carnal desires.

That's what kept me alive through the hellish survival.

I tried to turn the doorknob of the cabin without making a sound.

However, the moment I touched the doorknob, I sensed someone on the other side of the door.

Almost simultaneously, the door opened forcefully towards me. I quickly stepped back to avoid it and got ready.

On the other side of the open door stood Sigh.

With messy hair and a just-awoken appearance, Sigh was there.

And upon seeing me, she spoke.

"...Ten days. You were quite late.

Where have you been wandering around?"

Where have I been wandering around?

It's your fault!

Anger welled up inside me.

After all, I was thrown into hell.

"...Do you want to hear it?

How much I suffered!"

"No, it's fine. I'll check it out myself."

With that, Sigh casually threw a knife at me.

I dodged it by slightly moving my body and continued advancing towards her.

"Hmm."

There's no time to play around.

I've been through so much. I need some payback!

I advanced with bloodshot eyes.

Sigh took out another knife from her pocket and threw it again.

I immediately drew my survival knife from my waist and knocked the incoming knife away.

I knocked down all the knives that followed one after another and continued advancing.

However, the next knife was unexpectedly heavy, and I deflected it with my survival knife.

I quickly stepped back.

Approaching without a weapon is dangerous.

With the distance opened, more throwing knives came one after another.

The knives, spinning, aimed for my vital points.

But I dodged them by slipping through the gaps in their throws, narrowly avoiding them.

That's when I finally realized it.

What? Why can I dodge these?

Are the knives slow?

No, it's an illusion. The knives are still incredibly fast.

I see. I understand...

How to avoid attacks.

Just as I realized this, Sigh's throwing ended.

It seems she ran out of knives.

Sigh kicked off the ground and approached me quickly.

She stepped to my right and punched from outside my field of vision.

"Huff!"

I dodged by leaning away and did a backflip to put distance between us.

I glared at Sigh.

"..."

I was shocked.

Because Sigh was smiling happily.

Yes, she was smiling.

What's with that innocent smile...

I, who only knew Sigh's grumpy and lazy expression, was taken aback by this side of her.

And... when she smiles, she's incredibly cute, Sigh...

But it seems I don't have time to think about that.

Sigh kicked the ground, and the knives that had fallen on the ground floated up.

There were twelve of them.

All the knives gathered towards Sigh, eventually aligning neatly in her hands.

Is she going to throw them again?

As I braced myself, Sigh put away the knives and slowly approached me.

Then, when she finally reached me, she raised her right hand... and gently patted my head.

"Huh?"

I couldn't help but let out a foolish sound.

"Great job, Shizune. You've grown a lot.

I didn't expect you to return with such growth.

It's a wonderful achievement."

I was bewildered by Sigh's unexpected actions.

Huh? Huh?

What's going on...

Somehow... I feel really happy.

If I were a dog, I would be wagging my tail and running around Sigh.

Why am I so happy?

"...Right? I really worked hard."

I said this, trying to suppress a grin.

I want more praise. I want more petting.

What is this magic of Sigh's?

I lost sight of my original goal and didn't know what to do, looking around.

Then, Sigh gently hugged me.

"!?"

Another shock.

What's happening?

"W-What are you doing?"

"It must have been tough.

You did a great job, Shizune.

I was worried that you might have died."

"..."

I recalled the ten days of hardship.

Damn, now that she's saying such kind words, I feel like crying...

"Take a good rest today."

Gently stroking my hair, I gradually dozed off in Sigh's embrace.

It feels so good...

Ah, somehow... it was worth it to work hard.

And thus, using a mix of rewards and punishments, I became Sigh's obedient disciple.