NOVEL NEXT Towards a new horizon
Pov Dia,
We have finally moved to a new stage of our training, which is the acquisition of real experience.
Although fighting Scathach allows us to develop well, there is still a problem, and it is that we only face the same opponent. She changes her technique sometimes, but in principle, it is always the same fighting format that she uses.
Another point is that we have only fought against someone far too strong, which does not allow us to gauge the power of our attacks.
After all this, it was normal to take a trip around the world to gain real experience. Fighting with people who truly want to kill us and not just because we said a wrong word.
At the moment, the three of us were gathered around a map to determine our first destination.
Sera: "We have to stay in this area; after all, it is a territory governed by the church. This place will allow us to fight people using light."
Dia: "It is better to go to a place where you can learn more about other supernatural beings. So, heading east seems to be the best solution."
Sera: "If you want to encounter other supernatural beings, we already have quite a few in the center with vampires, werewolves, and others."
Dia: "Besides discovering other supernatural beings, we will also encounter a totally different culture from ours. The center resembles our lifestyle too much."
Rimuru: "One would say it's like a couple arguing over where they'll go on vacation."
Sera: "Because it is! This trip will not only give us experience, but it will also allow me to flirt with Dia-chan."
Dia: "We will head east because we are still learning Touki, and in that area, we have experts in this style. Additionally, it is in those surroundings that the katana is the main weapon. This could be a good place for Rimuru to train her skills and acquire others."
Sera: "I still prefer to flirt a bit before thinking about the training aspect."
Dia: "In the east, there are also hot springs, the perfect place to relax and flirt. It could even have healing effects. In the center, hot springs are very rare, and it’s not even a part of the culture to visit them."
Sera: "How do you know these details?"
Dia: "I asked Oni-sama to recommend places for a date in the human world."
I could almost see tears escaping from Sera’s eyes.
Sera: "Since you think so highly of me, I agree to go east before heading to the center."
We headed east while flying, even though the trip didn't take much time thanks to our speed. It's important to note that it still took about an hour.
Rimuru: "It's weird not having to sprint to cover such a distance."
Dia: "We're so accustomed to Scathach-sensei's training that our sense of normalcy is a bit skewed."
Sera: "I wouldn't say 'a bit'. Even the torture we might face isn’t as terrifying as what Scathach-sensei could do."
I felt a shiver as I remembered that awful past.
Dia: "Let’s focus on the future instead."
Sera: "What kind of supernatural races exist in this area?"
Dia: "In this area, there are only Youkai and Shinto gods."
Sera: "Are there any semi-human beings?"
Dia: "Not in the place where we are going. And even if we come across them, they hold the same value as a human. The only difference is their animal bodies so even if we crossed it will not be interesting."
In addition to the human race, there is a similar race, but it is a fusion between animals and humans.
There are different sub-races of semi-humans: lamias, mermaids, centaurs, harpies, and others.
Another difference is their innate abilities based on their race; it could be enhanced endurance, the ability to breathe underwater, or night vision. Abilities often depend on the animal part of the semi-human. But despite their intelligence, these races face genocide by humans and their religions.
Dia: "Frankly, angels cannot control their followers."
Rimuru: "Did you say something, Dia-sama?"
Dia: "No, nothing. Let’s keep going."
We continued our journey, even though I kept thinking about semi-humans.
