第１４１７堀：たらればを考えてしまう (Part1)
Chapter 1417: The "What Ifs" That Haunt Me
Side: Yuki
*Skreeee!*
The sound of boots grinding against the earth echoed as Lyushi dug her heels in, bracing behind her shield.
"S-still... I'm still going!"
Despite the pained expression etched across her face, she raised her voice, as if to declare that her fighting spirit was far from extinguished. Facing her, Fiora remained composed.
"Excellent spirit. Yes, keep that resolve as you face me. Here I come."
Her voice was cool, yet she surged forward with a sharp, calculated step, closing the distance at a speed that intentionally allowed Lyushi to track her.
"Damn you!"
Fiora baited Lyushi’s attack, sidestepped with fluid grace, and delivered a heavy, ringing strike against the girl's shield.
*CLANG!*
The metallic resonance vibrated through the air. The impact sent Lyushi stumbling backward once more, but...
"I won't... lose!"
With a display of indomitable will, she steadied herself, grit her teeth, and immediately shifted back into a combat stance.
As I watched this training session unfold, a voice broke my concentration.
"Boss. Want some freshly picked cucumber?"
"Sure, I'll take one."
Why cucumbers? I’d given up asking that question ages ago. To John, cucumbers were snacks, staples, side dishes, and even treats. It made perfect sense to him to offer one as a mid-workout refreshment.
I took the cucumber, bit off the stem—much like a character in a classic anime—tossed the scrap into the bin, and took a hearty crunch.
*CRUNCH.*
The crisp, refreshing flavor of the cucumber bloomed in my mouth. It’s strange how something just pulled from the earth can taste so vibrant. John’s skill as a gardener is likely a factor, but there’s an undeniable quality to it.
But, putting my amateur vegetable critique aside...
"So, anything else come up?"
"You're getting real-time reports on the investigation in the Western Town, aren't you?"
"Right. The discovery of the office and the survivors."
"Exactly. As for the lack of bodies, we’ve pretty much reached a consensus here that the Lich must have used them for something."
"I figured as much."
Hardly any corpses were found. Just scattered, fragmented human bones. Rurua and Lilishe are slated to confirm the details once they finish treating the survivors, but I doubt the reality will stray far from our predictions.
"As for the surrounding area, there are suspicious spots, but no underground structures or traces of anything. It’s a dead end. You want to keep going, Boss?"
"On the surface, we have to. Otherwise, people will start asking how we reached our conclusions. As for the wives, they’ve already pulled back. The real issue is the diplomatic relations between the two nations. Any intel on that?"
"That’s not our department. That’s for Kirika and her crew, or the envoys. But setting that aside, what about the girl, Lyushi?"
John, having finished his report, sat down beside me. He took a bite of his own cucumber and watched Lyushi’s training. Nina, Prof, Orelia, Hobis, and Yayui were training in a different sector, but they had already moved into their rest period. They were mostly doing maintenance-level drills, anyway.
As for John’s question about Lyushi...
"Nothing yet. She wasn't doing anything particular before this, so after we tested her with some stable equipment, we’ve just been having her train with the iron spear and shield combo."
"A classic, huh?"
"It gives her more reach than a sword and shield."
In games, the sword is often touted as the ultimate weapon for raw damage, but this is reality. Reach is what wins fights. Of course, if an opponent manages to close the gap, you end up with a situation like the one between Fiora and Lyushi. But those are the exceptions.
If we’re talking about pure range, bows—and especially guns—are objectively more convenient. The only reason I have Lyushi training like this is the environment of this world. You can’t exactly walk around openly carrying a firearm. Even my wives, who are capable of using them, rely primarily on more traditional weaponry.
Guns aren't a panacea. They require ammunition and constant maintenance. Without ammo, they’re just expensive clubs, and using them as clubs is a great way to warp the barrel and render them useless. If you try to fire a damaged gun, you’re more likely to blow your own hand off than hit the target.
Above all, firearms are significantly harder to handle than other weapons. I can’t just hand them to a novice. They aren't just "point and shoot" tools. Without proper preparation and a deep understanding of the weapon's condition, you’re just inviting a self-inflicted disaster. That’s why we’re sticking to this kind of training for now.
"Still, she’s got guts."
"Seems that’s just how she is. I only found out recently myself."
When she was first brought to Weed, she was quiet until she recovered, but it seems that was just her failing to adjust to the environment. I never expected her to be this aggressive.
"Honestly, she might be perfect for your personal guard, Boss."
"Rurua said the exact same thing. Though, I already have Ria, Jessica, and plenty of others."
"Yeah, but those guards are all being spread thin, aren't they?"
"...Just a coincidence."
I sent Ria, a Hero with unparalleled combat prowess, to lead the investigation for the sake of the wives' safety. Jessica is handling administrative and command duties as Fiora’s adjutant, and Stasia is doing the same. Samantha and Cleena are acting as envoys to the allied nations.
"It’s absurd to have your guards tied up with other work, Boss. It defeats the whole purpose."
"Haha, hold on, hold on. What about Fiora, Orelia, Hobis, and Yayui?"
They are my personal subordinates. Thanks to them, my workload has become much lighter lately.
"Those four are there to lighten your diplomatic workload, Boss. They double as guards, but that’s not their specialty. Only Ria-neesan is dedicated solely to protection. And even she’s gone. Just give it up already. What are you so afraid of? It’s not like you don’t understand the necessity of having a guard, right?"
John looked at me with a mix of pity and frustration.
"I understand the importance. I’m in a high position now, after all. But having someone by my side from morning till night... it’s exhausting. It’s not that I dislike my wives, but..."
"...Ah, you mean 'me time'."
"Exactly. Besides, Kirika and her team are watching from the shadows... though I know that’s not the answer you want to hear."
"That doesn't cut it when it comes to protecting a VIP. You’re the biggest target of all, Boss."
"I know. But John, you know as well as I do—what kind of situation would it take to actually take me down?"
"Well, it’s at a level where I’m not even sure if all of us combined could win. But having a guard there gives you a chance to escape, doesn't it?"