Chapter 05 - Elsa's First Battle
Today, there was a swordsmanship competition in the village square.
Both children and adults competed for their swords technique.
I had some job, so I joined as a spectator. And it was Elsa, who won the tournament, at both the children's place and adults' place.
An overwhelming victory over other participants.
Even adults who were confident at their swords technique were just like children in front of Elsa's sword. The result would not change even after 100 battles.
"Geez. Kaizer. Your daughter was too amazing! She's a genius. Surely in the future, she'll be a well-known swordswoman."
"Surely thanks to a great instructor. Hawk's child would be a hawk. It was like watching Kaizer's sword when you were young."
The spectators around praised me one after another.
"It's not by me. It's her effort."
"Chichiue! Did you see it?"
At the end of the match, Elsa came running happily.
With a trophy in her hand.
Her expression was filled with pride in the joy and excitement of winning.
"Yeah. I look at it. Congratulations on your victory. It was a good sword. It is proof that Elsa is always working hard."
"But it's still far from chichiue's sword's. I have to do work harder. Or I never can land a blow on chichiue."
"Haha. I'm looking forward to that day."
I smiled at Elsa.
"Umm ... do you remember the promise?"
"Of course. If you can hit me, I'll hear only one request from Elsa, right?"
"……Yes"
"By the way, what is Elsa going to request?"
"Th, that's a secret."
Said Elsa, she turned away with her cheeks blushed.
I wondered, was she trying to request for something embarrassing. such as she wanted me to buy a stuffed animal?
Well, let's not dug deep about it.
I reached out my hand, and gently patted Elsa's head.
"Fuee~..."
Dolor sit amet
A weak voice leaked.
Elsa usually had a dignified look, but only time like this her cheeks were loose.
It was when she was stroked by me.
"Shall we have Elsa's favorite rabbit meat stew for dinner today?"
"Really!?"
"Yeah, it's a celebration of the victory. I'll cook it with my hands."
"C, can I have the second?"
"Of course. Please eat to your heart's content."
I smiled at Elsa.
"――Horraayyy"
Elsa gladly grasped her palm in front of her chest.
"Ehehe. I want the swordsmanship competition to be held every day, so I can win every day and eat stew."
"It'll make the number of participants drop dramatically."
If the swordsmanship tournament was held every day, the body couldn't bear it.
That was at that time when I was smiling wryly.
"Uwaaaaa! A monster came in!"
I heard a villager's scream.
Both me and Elsa open our eyes in startled.
――A monster came out, he said!?
"The voice came from the other side..... Elsa stays still here. Don't go anywhere until I return."
"I will go too!"
"――Eh?"
"I've won the swordsmanship competition. So I can fight with chichiue! So, please let me accompany chichiue as well!"
Elsa gazed on me, she was stubborn.
No matter what I said
There was no time to convince her..... it could not be helped.
"I get it. You can come."
"――Yes!"
Elsa followed behind me toward the scream.
The appearance of a monster came into my sight.
It was about to be ready to fight against the villager who dropped his waist.
It was a wild boar.
It was a wild boar monster with ferocious tusks and thick fur covering its body.
"Hi, hiii!"
"It'll be all right! I'll help you now!"
"I will fight too!"
Elsa took initiative to stand on the front.
Bravely held a sword.
Then, the wild boar's attention turned from that villager to her.
"――!?"
Elsa was frozen as the hostile gaze struck her.
That monster started to rush, exposing its tusks. ――Despite that, Elsa didn't move from there.
"A.... ah....."
It seemed like she was completely swallowed.
It's really bad――.
I staggeredly kicked the ground and stood in front of Elsa.
Take the wild boar monster's rush directly. The impact was so great that the bones of my whole body were likely to break. Sharp tusks pierced my right shoulder.
"――Kuh!?"
A sharp pain ran.
But――.
I couldn't leave here. Elsa was right behind me.
I gathered all my strength, held the tusks of that wild boar tightly. Then lifted its huge body, which was close to hundreds of kilograms, and slammed it to the ground.
"Gumo~!?"
At that place where that wild boar monster stopped moving, I chipped its neck.
A large amount of blood flowed out, finally, it completely died
It seemed like I used all my strength.
"Elsa. You're not injured, are you?"
"Y, yes, but chichiue's..."
Elsa's gaze was fixed on my right shoulder.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything..... I won the swordsmanship competition, so I thought I could fight like chichiue....."
"Haha. Don't mind about small things. Everyone experienced such a thing in their first battle. By experiencing it, they learn and become better little by little."
I patted Elsa's head while smiling.
"Chichiue"
"Nn?"
"Is chichiue not afraid of monsters?"
"I'm afraid. Sometimes I think I'm going to get killed. But I have people I must protect."
"The people you must protect ...?"
"Yeah. Elsa, Anna, and Meryl.... Of course, the people of this village too. I did not fight to protect myself, but to my loved ones――that's what that gives me courage."
"I, I am too"
Elsa filled strength to her voice.
"I also have important people. My friend Mina-chan and Elera-chan. Anna and Meryl are also. Of course, papa too."
"Then you can swing your swords for the sake of them, and surely you'll have the courage to overcome fear."
"......(Nod)"
Elsa nodded deeply into my words.
Today's defeat would surely be important nutrition for her. And there was no doubt she would be stronger from now on.