Chapter 382

Training with Tana was very long. It continued until after the sun had set. We assumed different scenarios, including one-on-one with Ellen, one-on-one with me, and situations where the two of us teamed up to attack Tana. Even if Tana was only a Sword Master level, it would have been difficult to fight her, but she surpassed even that. Even if Lament's attack accidentally hit Tana's body, it would just bounce off due to her resilience. I wonder how long it took until we were completely exhausted. "Today's training ends here. Go back and rest. Let's meet at the same time and place tomorrow unless I have any special duties." Tana seemed to have decided to watch our training as long as she didn't have any special duties. Ellen and I were so exhausted that we needed to recover in the duty priest's room. The sun had already set, and it was past our usual bedtime. It was training in preparation for fighting much stronger demons. Ellen had a serious expression. Perhaps she was thinking that we might have to fight demons that were difficult to handle. "I'm hungry." "...". Damn, all she thinks about is food. Ellen stared at me as she said that. "Yeah, let's eat something." Although we usually exercise a lot, today we suffered more damage than exercise. Let's eat something substantial and rest. We'll have another tough day tomorrow. Ellen and I grilled four large beef steaks and ate them. It wasn't something ambitious to eat at night, but there was nothing that we could eat at night anyway. Om nom nom nom. She eats a lot even on normal days, but she eats a lot more when she's hungry. She doesn't eat messily. She keeps her small mouth moving at the same speed as before. We've been living like this for quite some time. We spend the whole day with Ellen and make something to eat at night. These days, we skip a few days, but ultimately, this is what we do most often at the temple. We eat a lot before going to bed. "I've been thinking, maybe our real talent is eating a lot at night and not getting gastroesophageal reflux disease?" Isn't it a talent to eat something before going to bed without having any gastrointestinal problems? If we were to compare, we might be the best in the world in terms of gastrointestinal health. "..." Seeing her blank expression, it seems that she will never have any gastrointestinal problems. In the end, I ate one steak, and Ellen ate three. "Do you want to eat more?" "No, I'm okay." Ellen shook her head as if to say that this was enough. The day when I see her eat more will come. No, it's not that she hasn't eaten enough. She ate three steaks. "Let's rest then. Even if we recover, the psychological pain doesn't go away." Ellen was also hit hard, but I was the same. However, Ellen tries to minimize the pain as much as possible when hit, showing dramatic movements, but I can't react to it. Although the pain has subsided, I only wanted to rest quickly because I was psychologically exhausted. "I'm here." I tried to get up from my seat, but Ellen opened her mouth quietly. "What?" "I think if we do well, we can handle the Master Class." I couldn't help but be surprised by her sudden remark. "Suddenly?" "Yeah, come with me." Ellen got up from her seat and led me to the training ground. Ellen seemed to think that if she combined the condition of Raphael with the Sun God's cloak, she could handle the Master Class. I realized that I didn't even know what the Sun God's cloak was for. "What is that thing?" It is a relic in the shape of a cloak. "Throw anything." "What? Throw it?" "Yeah, anything." I didn't know what to throw here, but since the practice sword was widely used, I picked up one. "Throw this?" "Yeah." I didn't think it would hurt, but Ellen was just wearing the cloak. I threw the practice sword at Ellen. And. -Crack! Just before the practice sword hit Ellen's body, a flame explosion occurred in the air, and I could see the practice sword being shattered. "What is that?" What did I just see? Just before the practice sword hit, it was blocked by a flame barrier in the air, as if it had been automatically intercepted. "Raphael has the power of protection." I knew it was a relic related to defense. But that's not just protection. At the moment of impact, it not only blocks the attack but also reverses the explosive force of the flame. It is both defense and attack at the same time. There were times when Ellen and I successfully attacked Tana while cooperating. Saviolin Tana also put a rebound on her sword, but she also had a rebound on her body. So when I succeeded in an attack, I sometimes fell due to the tremendous shock of my wrist being bent backwards. "Wait, then that..." Ellen looked at me with a blank expression as I muttered. "Right. It's not much different from what the teacher used." It returns a strong rebound when any attack is made. Whether it's a wave of magic or an explosion of flames, it retaliates against the attacker. Lament that Ellen has already has a function similar to Aurora Blade. "The Raphael that Ellen has already has a function similar to the Aurora Armor used by Master Class users. The Moon Sword. The Sun's cloak. 'Then aren't you practically a Sword Master?' 'I can't say that, but it seems similar.' Due to the two relics, Ellen was not much different from a Sword Master. Tempering. It's really scary... Of course, even if the owner is not Ellen, anyone who holds those two relics can do the two things that Sword Masters can do at the same time. Of course, who holds them is also very important. It would be difficult for anyone who doesn't have the same ability as Ellen to use those two relics properly. If a real fight with a Sword Master were to occur, it is uncertain what would happen, but in this state, Ellen could really fight against a Master. Even the guy who is becoming a monster at a fast pace can now fight against a Master to some extent with the help of the fake artifacts. Even now, Ellen had tremendous power with those two relics. Aurora Blade and Aurora Armor. What if Ellen, who already has both, actually reaches the Master Class and can use both powers? The power of the relics will also be amplified, so there may be no one in the world who can compete with Ellen. Will I have to see Ellen become my enemy someday? In front of me, Ellen suddenly took off her cloak. 'What are you doing?' Ellen walked up to me and handed me the cloak. 'I'll give it to you.' 'This?' 'Yes.' She handed it over so casually that I didn't understand what Ellen was doing for a moment. This. Why. To me. 'You'll need it more than me.' Ellen smiled quietly. She unhesitatingly gave up one of the two conditions that make her practically a Sword Master. Saying that I'll need it more in the end means that I'm weaker, but that's okay. Actually, this is what I need more. Many people will turn into enemies, and to protect my body from them, I need a shield more than a weapon. The Sun God's cloak will surely serve as that shield. I have to accept it. As Ellen said, this is something I really need. Ellen doesn't know, but with just this, I can overcome countless crises. Ellen is smiling. She seemed really happy to be able to give me something. She didn't explain anything or say anything. She always gives to me. She's happy just to give. I have to accept it. I know that even if I hesitate for a moment, accepting this is the best thing to do." "I can't accept this."

I pushed the cloak that Ellen offered back towards her.

"It's something your parents gave you out of concern."

I couldn't accept something like that. I replied that way. Ellen must have had a lot of worries. Giving me something her parents gave her for her own sake would be ignoring her parents' concerns.

Still, I decided to accept it because I hoped that I would be safe, but I refused it.

"...."

Ellen seemed to know that my answer wasn't easy, and she summoned Raphael back with her eyes downcast.

"Still, thank you."

I hugged Ellen, who seemed a little deflated. Ellen seemed momentarily surprised, but she hugged me back.

It was something I needed, but I didn't accept it.

I couldn't receive anything more than this.

"I mean it."

Even as I spoke, my voice trembled severely. I hoped she would understand that I didn't accept it sincerely.

Does this guy know what I just gave up?

"I'm grateful too."

Ellen whispered quietly as if she knew, hugging me.

[Special Achievement Unlocked - Turning Point in History 'Ellen Arthurius']

[The future has changed significantly.]

[You have gained 1,000 achievement points.]

What?

The future has changed?

Not receiving Raphael just now changed the future in some way.

I hugged Ellen a little tighter. I gently stroked Ellen's head, which was shaking slightly in my arms.

I couldn't know how it had changed.

But two assumptions were possible.

Either I die because I didn't receive Raphael.

Or.

Because I didn't receive Raphael.

I survived in a situation where I should have died.

"Hey."

I called Ellen quietly.

"...Yeah."

"You know I really like you, right?"

Ellen's body trembled greatly. She buried her face in my arms.

"Yeah."

Ellen added in a trembling voice.

"I like you too... a lot."

We hugged each other for a long time.