My Lord's Pride

Stepped out into the open, the rail magic array activated.

The material arrows all pointed to the warehouse beside the palace.

"Got it!"

Mira darted off. She swiftly fetched the required materials from the warehouse and placed them one after another into the array.

Two types: iron ore and wood.

Once the correct amounts were inserted, a light enveloped the materials—complete.

A rail about three meters long.

"Is this enough, My Lord?"

"Yeah, this'll do. We'll connect many of these together."

"I see! Then let's make more!"

"Wait, wait—making a mountain of these now won't help. To make use of the rails, we need the upper ones too."

"The upper ones?"

"That's right. Menu open."

Doreca appeared. Checked the list.

Something new had appeared—something that hadn't been there before.

"Unlocking this by making rails, huh?"

With past experience, she understood immediately.

Look at it—check the sample video feature.

I smirked.

☆

Walking through the wasteland with Rirya. A pointing arrow indicates materials beside her.

Rirya’s in high spirits. Bouncy, practically humming a tune.

“Seems happy, huh?”

“Being of use to Onii-chan makes me happy. What should Rirya do today?”

“Don’t know yet. Maybe nothing at all.”

“Really?”

Her mood dropped instantly. A full-on, pit-of-the-stomach collapse. Honestly, watching it hurt.

She’d been so determined to help—of course she’d react like that.

Gotta give her a little boost.

“Don’t let up. The job isn’t over till we get back to town. Stay sharp. Always ready to work.”

“—! Yes, sir!”

Her spirits shot up in an instant. V-shaped recovery.

Just one command from me, and she lights up like that. That earnestness—more endearing than ever.

I’ll do something special for you as a reward when we get back.

The two of them followed the arrow, moving forward.

They traversed the wasteland, barely making it across a poisonous stream, and arrived at a grassland.

Calling it a grassland is generous—there were patches here and there.

Nothing compared to the forest that bloomed after I resurrected the slaves and the animals started arriving one after another.

From the grass, a glowing orb floated upward.

It was about the size of a marble, drifting aimlessly.

“Firefly?”

I muttered without thinking.

It looked remarkably like the fireflies I’d seen in the countryside of my old world.

And the arrow pointed directly at the orb.

“What is that?”

“Ah.”

“Should we take it down?”

“Don’t know… but let’s try. Come on, Rirya.”

“Yes, sir!”

Rirya answered with a determined spark.

She touched the black gem, and pulled her into the True Eternal Slave.

Black light wrapped around me like armor, seeping into every inch of my body.

“Here we go.”

(Yes, sir! Hehe, I get to see my big brother’s cool moves now!)

I gripped the sword tighter and charged toward the orb of light.

Even at three meters, it was still just a sphere of light.

It didn’t flicker like a firefly, didn’t vanish when you got close.

Pure light. A tiny, dark speck at its core—but still, a ball of light.

Well then—cut it!

The slave blade roared through the air—sliced through nothing.

“Fast!?!”

The orb was fast. It had been swaying lazily just a moment ago, then suddenly shot straight, dodging my blade in an instant.

It turned sharply, spinning around to track me.

“Damn… what is this? Too fast!”

I turned—there was nothing there anymore.

Another half turn in the same direction—this time, just barely, caught a lingering afterimage of light at the edge of vision.

Swung horizontally—again, slicing through empty air.

It's incredibly fast!

"Ah!"

(God—)

Faster than the voice in her mind, a shock struck from the side.

A solid thud against the temple—like being hit hard with a blunt object.

"Isn't it... hurting?"

Shock.

Surprising, really—almost no pain at all.

It should’ve been tearing off her head, yet there was no pain at all.

Closer inspection reveals something black scattered about.

"Is this—Rirya?"

(Hai, desu no)

...something like a defense boost, maybe.

Black light once again enveloped me like armor, covering every inch of my body.

A sphere of light zipped around at high speed.

This time, the impact came from behind.

The shock of being hit square in the back of the head.

A shock so strong I had no choice but to step forward.

Yet there was no pain.

Just blackness splattering everywhere, as expected.

I’m certain—Rirya’s magic is shielding my body.

I hadn’t properly tested what’d happen if I turned Rirya into an Eternal Slave, but at least one thing was confirmed: her defense has gone up.

“Good job, Rirya. I’ll reward you later.”

(Yes, indeed!)

Shaking off the daze, I chased the ball of light.

It zipped around me at insane speed.

Too fast to catch if I stayed still—so.

I kicked off the ground and leapt backward in a wide arc.

The light orb spun in place.

Now I could see it clearly.

It was darting around in a small radius—just a few meters across—centered on where I’d been standing.

Moving like a fly, but a hundred times faster.

Sharpening my nerves—just staring at it for a moment.

"……Here!"

A precise strike.

The slave sword’s edge cut through the air sharper than ever before.

The counterattack came—deflected by Rirya’s black armor.

(We missed it…)

Rirya’s dejected voice reached me.

I felt my spirits drop too.

Impossible. It’s not going to hit.

Like being told to hit a ball flying at two hundred kilometers per hour at a batting center.

That same hollow feeling. No chance at all.

"Rirya, pull back."

(Withdrawing?…)

"Yeah. We’re not getting anywhere like this. Fall back and bring Yuria."

(Yes, ma’am. Yuria-sama’s the one suited for this spot.)

Rirya accepted it without argument.

Her sensing ability. Her ability to read ahead.

Yuria, who’d absorbed the Eternal Slave and could wield it fully—she was the one who belonged here.

I thought that. And Rirya agreed.

Let’s go back and bring the right person—Yuria.

Thought that, turned around, and retreated.

……

My feet stopped.

(Onii-chan?)

Turned back. Saw the ball of light.

(What’s wrong?)

Felt Rirya’s presence, calling out to me.

Going back like this—just didn’t sit right.

“Changed my mind.”

(What?)

“Let’s keep going.”

(You’re going to do it?)

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

(Alright.)

Rirya accepted it without hesitation, kept her black armor on.

I leapt into the ball of light.

Swung the sword—not a single, crushing blow, but quick, messy slashes.

Still missed.

Cut. Miss. Cut. Miss.

Each time, I took a solid hit to the body.

After doing that ten times, I finally got it.

This thing’s fast—any attack aimed at where it is now just won’t land.

So I have to anticipate.

Focus every nerve—stare at the light’s path.

Right where I aimed.

“Hmph!”

A sharp strike.

(Just barely missed!)

Rirya cheers.

The slave sword’s edge grazed the glowing orb.

The orb wobbles—deliver a follow-up slash.

(Missed… )

She lets out a sound of deep disappointment.

No good, no good—got overconfident and swung too wide.

Take a deep breath. Calm the mind.

Back to the start—stare at the trajectory again.

Left… right… left…

“Hmph!”

Minimal movement. A pinpoint thrust.

Gak’een!

Metal clashing—perfect hit.

The orb flies off, dimming slowly, finally falling to the ground.

Still holding the sword, still tense, keep walking.

Picking up the fallen orb, only then does she finally relax.

(That was amazing—so fast, and you hit it perfectly. Of course my master is handsome.)

Rirya buzzing inside her head.

Seems she managed to show off something impressive to her.