Chapter 26

The training continued.

Sigh's interference lasted for seven days, and I managed to protect Sigh throughout.

The most painful thing was the Poison Butterfly's scales.

Since Sigh would go and inhale them on purpose, there was no way to avoid it.

I had to detoxify a total of three times over the seven days. For the third time, it seemed Sigh had developed some antibodies, as they didn't seem as miserable. The symptoms also softened quickly.

So, I declared that if Sigh inhaled them on purpose next time, I wouldn't treat them at all.

This training, which relentlessly cuts into my sleep, will continue for two more days.

It's quite tough.

Actually, since that mouth-to-mouth incident, Sigh has been acting unusually clingy... or so it seems.

But when our eyes meet, they look away, and they've become vague in certain areas.

This feeling... Could Sigh be falling for me?

...Well, that's probably not the case.

Sigh isn't the type to fall for a kid like me, and there's no reason for them to fall for me anyway. We haven't known each other for long, and we haven't had that much intense interaction.

Is Sigh maybe falling for me?

If I asked such a self-indulgent question, I might get punched.

On the other hand, I feel like I'm about to have my heart stolen with just a little more effort.

For a guy who isn't popular, Sigh's adult charm is tough. It's a threat.

I might start to misunderstand things.

But I can definitely feel the love Sigh pours into me as my teacher in this master-disciple relationship.

I'm confident that I've become much stronger for surviving this far.

I've gained a lot of new abilities, and most importantly, my endurance and mental strength have improved.

Of course, being in a state where death is always nearby would naturally lead to this.

As a result, my body is completely worn out.

Sigh doesn't let me rest, so I can't recover at all.

My body is so heavy that it's hard to walk, and I feel like I'm wearing myself down.

Well, the third step of this training will last two more days, and after a day off, the fourth step will bring more challenges, followed by a two-day journey back.

In other words, the training will be over soon!

Yay...

But there are various worries when I get back.

First, I've ignored all the plans I made to play with Kyouki and the others, and I haven't been home for a month... I haven't even finished most of the summer homework.

I hope Boss has taken care of all that.

And most importantly, there's Roll.

Roll is in trouble.

I go every day, and then I'm left alone for a month.

Anyone would be angry, even me.

I've tried to steal Sigh's terminal to send a message to Roll so many times.

But since I'll come back stronger, Roll will be happy, right?

Maybe they've already heard that I was taken away for training.

I should think of an apology in advance.

Roll will surely forgive me.

So, this training that has hit me from all angles.

I was determined to push through the last bit! But it seems the third step will end in just two days.

I thought the third step would be cut short and we'd move on to the fourth step, but that wasn't the case.

The training itself will end.

"No way, I'll stay here and continue the training.

I don't like leaving things half-done.

If I'm going to do it, I want to finish it, right?"

"It's not possible. The training is over."

I was clinging to a giant tree at the moment.

"No way! Sigh, you can go alone, can't you?"

"Then I won't come to pick you up on the way back, got it?"

"Damn... That's unfair!"

"Follow me quietly."

Here's the situation.

In the middle of the third step, Sigh's terminal rang with a sound that didn't fit the forest.

It was a call from Boss.

The content was a mission request.

Apparently, a supply convoy from the branch was attacked by the Self-Defense Army.

If the supplies heading to the development base are destroyed here, it will be a blow to Anonymous, and there's a possibility that the development base could be taken over.

Therefore, Sigh was to rush to reinforce and protect the supply convoy.

The difficulty level was S+.

Sigh is basically free and only completes requested missions, according to them. They rarely take on missions on their own.

And Sigh only gets missions rated A or higher.

Of course, I would just be a hindrance if I went, and I said I would continue training alone, but for some reason, Sigh decided to take me along.

It's more like they're forcing me to go.

"Please, let me off.

I really want to finish the training, you know?

I don't like leaving things half-done."

"Then how about the final step being 'follow me on my mission'?

That way, there's no problem."

Ah, no matter what, I'm being taken along.

Sigh, resisting is useless.

"...Alright, I'll go."

"That's fine.

We'll head back to the cabin first."

---

When we returned to the cabin, Sigh and I quickly took a bath and changed into new tuxedos.

Sigh finished preparing quickly and packed their belongings into a single attaché case.

"The battle site is on the mountain road of Mount Jiza, beyond the desert.

It will likely be a guerrilla war. We are the closest to the headquarters, so we will head for reinforcement.

Reinforcements are also coming from other places and should arrive soon, but we should consider the possibility that the situation will be under control by the time we get there.

The mission is to protect the supply convoy until they enter the tunnel or to eliminate the Self-Defense Army."

"Got it, I'll leave that to you."

"Are you an idiot? You'll take care of everything.

In a guerrilla war, no one can outdo you.

It's more efficient than me doing it."

"Wh-What!?"

My arm was grabbed firmly, and I was lifted high into the air. Then we headed towards Mount Jiza, which was visible in the distance.

Or rather, we were falling. Sigh must have redirected the gravitational vector.

I'm not surprised by this anymore. It's Sigh's acrobatic ability to float.

"Don't worry, I'll help you if it gets too dangerous."

"Help me before it gets dangerous!!"

"I'll move if it seems like the mission will be compromised."

"That's what I'm saying!"

Sigh increased the speed.

Surprised, I clung to Sigh's waist.

Damn!

As usual, they don't listen at all!

And the wind is crazy!

Sigh is wearing goggles, but what about me?

Damn, I can't open my eyes.

In this situation, I have no choice but to bury my face in Sigh's stomach.

I'll sniff all the smells.

"Sigh smells good after a bath!"

I buried my face in Sigh's stomach and breathed deeply.

It's a small act of resistance.

"Stop it, it tickles."

I blew warm air into Sigh's stomach.

I got punched for that.