NOVEL NEXT Chapter 83: Traveling to the Royal Capital (Freestyle)
Chapter 83: Traveling to the Royal Capital (Freestyle)
“—[Earth Shrink]! Hyafu!” [Note: Shukuchi “縮地” is a skill/technique used in anime or manga similar to short-distance teleportation. It literally means, “Shrink earth technique”.]
“… Toru. Just run normally.” (Esther)
Esther’s disgruntled voice reaches my ears.
However, I barely registered Esther’s voice.
I am doing my best with magical control.
This is my plan while running.
“Is there any way that I can run while doing some special training?”
Then I came up with the idea to accelerate using [Air Cutter].
When I kick against the ground, I simultaneously fire a dull [Air Cutter] on my back.
Then, like being launched by a catapult, my body accelerates instantaneously.
Just like the moves used by top Japanese swordsmen, this allows me to close the gap between my opponent in an instant.
I will use the name “Earth Shrink” to familiarize my own body by repeating it multiple times.
However, this movement technique is not easy.
It puts a lot of strain on my feet when I jump and land.
I think it can be activated several times during battles, but it does not seem suitable for continuous long-distance travel.
So while I had been practicing [Earth Shrink] for quite some time, I thought further.
(Can I improve my movement?)
(Can I train my magic further?)
As I keep on thinking about what to do, an Idea flashed.
(Just combine it!)
Use [Rock Needle] to evenly flatten out the bumps on the road.
Then spray water on it with a [Water Ball].
[Fireball] was enchanted on the back of my shoes, and I catapult myself using [Air Cutter].
[Fireball] does not conduct heat to the caster’s body.
However, there is a catch-I knew this from the training while Lily was teaching me.
When I bring a [Fireball] close to the ground splashed by [Water Ball], the water boils in an instant.
The steam expands the space between my shoe and the ground.
-The body floats.
In that state, what happens if I hit myself with [Air cutter]?
Like hovercraft, my body moves forward.
This is what I came up with while using my “free-time” from running, “A movement technique that also includes magic control training at the same time!”
However, this movement technique has a fatal drawback.
It is very difficult to balance.
I have to keep my arms wide to balance, and I do not spread my feet too far apart. [T/N: How does he move with his feet together?]
This was the most stable posture.
If I change my posture even a little bit, I will most likely face plant due to the incredible momentum.
I concentrate on training my magic while maintaining a posture similar to the Titanic pose. [T/N:???]
~Esther’s Perspective~
Seeing Toru like that, I earnestly wished, “I beg you please run like a normal person.”
Toru’s eccentricity was not born just today or yesterday.
For a long time, Toru had enchanted multiple [Lighting] into his futon and made it float and spin by just continuously enchanting it with [Lighting].
He insists that it is magic training, but for me, it did not seem like training at all.
Moreover, this is his most eccentric moment.
Toru was sliding forward at an incredible speed without moving up or down, maintaining his posture as if he were a god who had come down to save the people.
However, Toru does not seem godly at all, but something evil. Especially, as he moves at an explosive speed with steam rising, making a sizzling sound beneath his feet.
In addition to that, Toru is wearing the black Sage Robe given by Lily, so he looks like a dangerous individual with who you should get involved.
I want Toru to become conscious of what he looks like as he runs with me.
“… Gods. Please make Toru run like a normal person.” (Esther)
I kept praying to the gods.
I hope that Toru, who devised this terrifying way of moving, will not be seen by anyone (and notice me running alongside Toru).
○
~Toru’s Perspective~
As the sun was going down.
Beyond the horizon, I saw a faint image of a huge city.
–The capital, Yuster.
Neither Esther nor I expected it, but apparently, we were running quite fast.
(The fact that the carriage arrived at 10 km/h in two days, us doing so in one day means that we were running at 20 km/h.)
Speaking of 20 kilometers per hour, it is on par with Earth’s world record holder for a full marathon run. [T/N: Eliud Kipchoge is the world record holder for the marathon. His speed is approximately 13mph or 20.9 km/h. All according to Google-sensei]
That is a full day of running at the full speed of a marathon runner.
Moreover, we are not that tired yet.
Even if monsters sometime from now attack us, we still have enough strength to fight several monsters.
The benefits of leveling up were greater than I had imagined.
Fortunately, there was nothing to stop us.
I thought monsters would attack us at least once, but I was surprised that we were never attacked not even once.
“Not a monster came out…”
I also wanted to get some experience points.
I felt sad and my shoulders sagged.
“They are probably…”
Toru does not understand that with such a dangerous-looking movement, even monsters, would not approach.
Only Toru himself does not realize this.
Esther’s shoulders even sagged in defeat.
Toru wanted to run full force until he reached Yuster.
However, Esther cries and begs of, “Stop it!” made him run normally during the middle of the travel.
Toru never understood why Esther wanted to stop him with his magic training.
(Is it because if I use magic near the royal capital, the guards will be wary of us?)
“Yes”, I told myself.
“… Hmm, what is it?” (Esther)