Chapter 206:
"Pansy! Why are you getting angry like that!"
"Wouldn't you be angry if you were me? A lunatic asking to borrow someone else's fiancee."
Otto growled back at Kairos.
"Do you want me to tell Big Sis Ariel this?"
"Hey, Pansy you snitch!"
Kairos exploded in anger.
"Do you think I would actually do something to your fiancée? I just need a training partner!"
"Ah?"
"Where else can I find a training partner as good as her!"
"I see."Realizing he had misunderstood Kairos' intentions, Otto scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I didn't realize that was what you meant. Hehehe."
"Anyway, could you lend her to me for a bit?"
"Who am I to lend her? It's up to her to decide whether to help or not."
Otto looked back at Elise.
"Do you think you could help this guy with his training?"
"Of course."
Elise graciously granted the request of Kairos.
"I'll help you, honored sir." said Elise.
"Are you sure you don't mind? It might be a hassle for you." responded Kairos.
"No, it's okay."
Eliezer shook his head.
"I'm sure I'll learn something as well, so please don't feel burdened, Elder."
"KeKeKe."
Kairos was thrilled when Elise offered to help him with his training.
"Thank you so much! I'll definitely treat you to a drink later!"
"Okay, Elder."
"When would be a good time for you then?"
"For now."
Elise glanced back at Otto.
"Not tonight. I can help you tomorrow morning."
"Hehehe! Got it! I'll wait!"
Kairos seemed eager to spar with Elise right away, as if his body was all fired up, but he restrained himself after reading the atmosphere.
No matter how tempted he was, he didn't want to disturb the lively and youthful night stroll of the blossoming young people.
Of course, he'd already interrupted them a bit.
"Hmm. Well, have a nice night, then. Hehehe."
With that, Kairos excused himself.
"What's going on?"
"Oh, that."
Otto proceeded to tell Elise about the story involving Kairos and the Emperor Argonne¹ in response to her question.
"So you're planning to kill the reincarnated Argonne?"
"Yes."
Otto nodded his head.
"But I don't think Kairos can beat him one-on-one, so he's trying to cram."
"Cramming…."²
"It's been a while since he trained with clenched teeth, so I don't know if it'll work," said Otto.
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"Since he had experience with absolute power in the past, I'm sure he'll find a way.", responded Elise.
"Yes?"
"There's something special about people who've wielded that much power. I'm sure he's cramming because he has a solution.", said Elise.
"Is that so?"
"At least that's what I think."
Elise tilted her head.
"By the way."
"Hmm?"
"Why do you keep talking respectfully to me?"
"Huh?"
Otto was left speechless by Elise's question.
‘That's true. Why am I still using formal speech? I'm the older one.'
In fact, Otto was two years older than Elise.
"T-That's true. I have been using formal speech all along. Hahaha."
"Am I making you uncomfortable?"
"That's not it."
Otto explained.
"Elise, you're very strong, have an excellent lineage, are beautiful, and have many admirable qualities. From my perspective, it's not that you're making me uncomfortable, it's just that I find it difficult."
"There's no need to find it difficult.", replied Elise.
Elise shook her head.
"I'm just a person like you."
"I know that, but….", said Otto.
"Relax, just be comfortable."
"Comfortable?"
"You can speak comfortably."
However, Otto couldn't speak so casually to Elise.
"I-Is… that… really… okay…?"
"Of course."
"O-Okay then. From now on, I'll speak more casually. Yeah, I'll do that. Haha."
Trying to speak casually as requested, Otto nervously stuttered and broke out in a cold sweat.
For Otto, Elise was such a difficult person that even speaking to her was challenging.
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A clear night with a bright blue moon.
In the crisp night air, Otto and Elise talked about all sorts of things.
And then.
"Fiancé."
"Mmm?"
Elise turned and asked Otto.
"Do you…. want to have children?"
"Did I hear you wrong?"
Otto doubted if what he heard was correct.
"What did you just say?"
"I asked if you want to have children."
"S-Suddenly?"
Otto was truly taken aback.
Because he had never thought about getting married, having kids, and starting a family.
"Don't you want to have kids?"
"Well, not really."
"Then do you want to have them?"
"Uh. Mmm."
"It's okay to be honest."
"It's not like I don't want to have one."
"Well, then what."
"Because of the current situation. It just hasn't sunk in quite yet. Hahaha."
"Are you worried about the situation on the continent?"
"Yes."
Otto nodded his head.
"In times of peace, yes. Of course, I know love can blossom in times of war."
"So, if you marry me, do you plan to have children?", asked Otto.
"W-Well…."
"I'm not in a position to get married right now either, and I'm not in a position to have children, but…", said Elise.
"But…?", prompted by Otto.
“I want to have many babies.”, said Elise.
"Uh, how many?"
"I think the more, the better. As you know, I have many older brothers. I have fond memories of my childhood with them, and I was happy. Having them around made me feel less lonely."
Otto thought he should also hear her older brothers' opinions on this.
‘Her brothers only have hard memories of being beaten up??!'
Of course, that's just her brothers' perspective, to a certain extent.
"So I want to have as many as I can manage.", said Elise.
"I… I see. Haha. Hahaha."
"What are your thoughts?"
"I'd like to, if I have the ability."
"You'll have to work on your capability."
"Huh?"
"Let's start focusing on health management from now on."
What does that mean?
"Health… management?"
"I trust you understand well enough."
‘I understand?', thought Otto.
"I've heard that making a baby is… very physically demanding.", answered Elise while staring at Otto.
"….."
"So, from now on, focus on building up your stamina."
"Uh.. Uhh"
Otto finally understood what Elise meant.
‘…You mean, build up my endurance.'
He wasn't even married yet and he was already hearing this kind of advice.
‘No way, does she think I'm weak?'
Otto was frustrated, but since he couldn't provide proof, he decided to bear with it and move on.
On the other hand, he also thought to himself.
‘Marriage, having a baby, and building a home with someone in this world… Can I really do that?'
Otto is a foreigner.
Someone who doesn't even know why he was brought into this world.
From that perspective, Elise's question could only feel incredibly heavy.
Since he never considered such a life even before coming to this world.
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The next morning.
Otto headed into the mountains back with Elise.
*Bam!*
*Rumbles!*
The entire place was filled with noise, as if a war had broken out.
"…What kind of training is so loud?"
Otto was puzzled, but he decided to see Kairos first.
"You're here?"
Kairos was sweating profusely, his shirt missing, and he looked like he'd been training all night.
‘Huh?'
Otto noticed a change in Kairos and was slightly surprised.
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*Squirm* *Squirm*
Kairos had grown significantly, his muscles bulging as if they were about to burst.
‘In that short time, he bulked up?'
Muscles don't typically grow in such a short period, so it was astonishing how Kairos achieved such rapid muscle growth.
"Did you take some kind of drug or something?"
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"How did you get so big all of a sudden?"
"Keke!"
Kairos burst out in laughter.
"Nothing is impossible for me!"
"Didn't you take some kind of muscle-building drug?"
"Do you think I am a slacker like you? Those who have reached a great state like me can control the growth of their bodies with sheer mind!"
"…What kind of nonsense is that?"
Otto frowned at Kairos's nonsensical remark.
"It's all about mental strength, you know, just mental strength."
Then.
"It's true."
Elise supported Kairos's words.
"Mental power, taken to the extreme, can dominate the body.", elaborated by Elise.
"I-Is that really true?", questioned Otto.
"Yes."
Elise nodded her head.
"Of course, it requires the use of mana, but it's not entirely impossible."
"KeKeKe."
At that, Kairos grinned at him.
"Did you hear that, Pansy? Impossible is a word for weak minds like yours! Kehahaha!"
Otto was dumbfounded, but he decided to go along with it.
This was an entirely different world.
It wasn't strange that Otto's common sense from another world didn't apply.
"So, are you ready to help me with my training?"
"Can we get started right now?"
"Of course."
"Okay, let's."
*Swish!*
Elise unsheathed her sword.
*Thwap*
Kairos also unclasp his mace.
In the previous sparring match, they used a wooden sword, but this time it was different.
With both wielding real weapons, they were prepared to confront each other with full force.
"I'll go first."
"Okay, Elder."
Kairos charged toward Elise.
And so the duel began.
"W-What!"
Otto was shocked to see the scene unfolding before him.
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*BAAM!*
*Pow!*
*Crackle* *Rumble* *CLANG!*
*BOOOM!*
The duel between Kairos and Elise was no average sparring.
It was a battle of superhumans.
"… Ugh!"
Otto was forced to clench his teeth as Kairos and Elise clashed.
The shockwave that erupted when the two collided was so tremendous that nearby rocks shattered and trees splintered into pieces.
‘This is… a real battle between true powerhouses.'
Otto realized that the battle between him and Rivolt had been nothing more than a children's tussle.
Watching Kairos and Elise spar was so intense that merely being nearby felt like risking one's life.
Whenever Elise's sword clashed with Kairos's club, the shockwaves were so strong that they tore through Otto's clothes and even grazed his skin.
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With that level of destructive power, it seemed like they could bring down a fortress wall with just one strike.
Well, putting that aside.
‘How in the world did he get that strong in such a short period of time???', thought Otto.
Otto was astonished at how Kairos had achieved such incredible strength seemingly in the blink of an eye.
He was very curious about the secret of how someone could become so strong in such a short period of time.
‘I'll ask him when they're done.'
Thinking he should ask Kairos for his secret, Otto continued to watch the sparring match between the two.
‘Is that kind of movement possible? Ah, so that's how it's done. Using mana like that?'
The duel between Kairos and Elise became a valuable learning opportunity for Otto as well.
Watching the absolute powerhouses clash provided Otto with an enormous amount to learn just by observing, almost as effective as training itself.
The prolonged duel eventually ended with Kairos's defeat.
*Tap!*
Before Otto knew it, Elise's sword had reached near Kairos's neck.
*Drip*
Blood trickled down Kairos's neck.
The wound was not fatal.
But if it had been an actual strike, Kairos' head would have been blown off.
"……."
Kairos's face turned frosty.
"…I've lost."
Kairos meekly admitted defeat.
"I still have a long way to go, a long way."
"You're improving, though, aren't you?"
While Elise offered comfort, Kairos's stern expression showed no signs of relenting.
"I'm not even half as good as I used to be. Tsk."
"You just need to take it slow."
"Of course, but still… sigh."
Otto was stunned to hear Kairos's words.
"What? That's less than half the power you used to have?"
"How else would I have been able to claim to be the strongest on the continent?"
Kairos turned to Otto.
"With this level, I can't even match half of what I had in my prime."
"….."
"I managed to boost myself up in a short period using a trick, but it's still not easy."
"What's the trick?"
Otto demanded of Kairos.
He couldn't help but wonder how Kairos had gotten so strong in such a short period of time.
** ** **
TL/N:
1. Most not in the know of the actual truth regarding the 2 revered Argonne for his prowess in uniting the Continent and establishing a Great Empire and vilifying Kairos as the Cannibal Emperor.
2. It refers to the act of learning as much as possible in a short time, especially just before an examination.