Chapter 25: SPARRING

<Mikael PoV>

"What are you doing here Francisco?"

Francisco found some excuse but he quickly told his intentions.

"... I thought that Kyle was the only monster in your group. But I'm actually wrong. You're stronger than Kyle. Tell me, what level are you?"

"Guess it."

I clenched my weapon. If he tried to do anything funny then I'll stab his heart out. I'm not trusting anyone who was hiding when I'm doing my training.

"Woah, woah. I'm not a bad person, don't worry. I just wanna talk. How about it?"

He waved his hands, showing that he didn't have a weapon.

"Tell me about it"

"Mm. I'm level 78 right now. I'm guessing you're around... Hundred perhaps?"

"Wrong"

"Oh, around level 90 then."

I just look at him. He can easily deduce my level, so why bother answering him?

"Looks like I'm right. You see Mikael. When I learned that we can return to Earth. I decided to level up and become stronger. "

".... Go straight to the point, please. I don't want to hear another rumbling from your mouth. You're always talking nonsense and non-stop. I'm actually getting sleepy whenever you talk."

"... Ehem. Sorry about that. Then I'll go straight to the point. I want to spar. If I fight the strongest, I'm sure I'll gain a thing"

"Then why are you hiding? You should just ask me instead"

"Oh, that. Hehehe, I'm actually shy."

"....."

Yeah, right. You want a fight, huh. Then I'll it give to you. I want someone to spar with too, to deduce how strong I am. 

"Sparring? Fine. We can do it. "

"Thank you very much."

"But don't expect I'll go easy on you"

"Thanks, but that's what I want"

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..

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" Pant, pant. I can't believe that you're this strong. Pant, pant. Ugh, my ribs just broke, ack!"

Francisco is lying on the ground. It only took ten minutes to fully break him. But instead of being sad or angry. He just smiled and thanked me.

"Thanks about that pant pant. So this is Level 90 huh. Pant, pant. My body can't move. Ugh "

Then why are you smiling!? Could this be...

"Francisco, excuse me, but are you..."

"What Mikael? Pant, pant. You can ask me anything"

"... are you... ehem. Are you perhaps a masochist?"

"..."

 He didn't say anything... This is awkward.

"I- I'll bring you to the Healing Pond. Your body is aching, right!?"

"Th- thank you very much."

Yosh. My 'change topic aptitude' really did a good job.

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...

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After taking him to the Healing Pond, I left him without a second thought. I have already finished my business anyway and he can live without a problem.

But it was fun. The sparring may have looked like a friendly match, but it was still a fight. Francisco is good at using a sword. A longsword to be precise. He used the two-handed sword and swung it like a stick. 

To swing that sword needed a great amount of strength. 

"And that Skill. To use illusion as a double and confuse me. That was really awesome. I can't identify who's real and not. So I decided to destroy the whole land to distract him and identify the real one. Then after finding his weakness. I smash him and broke all of his bones"

... It was a mystery how he still smiled at me. Perhaps he's really a masochist.

"Nah. At least I had some fun fighting him."

By the way, what are the Skills of the other leaders? I bet they have strong Skills. 

"I guess I can see it when they fight the bosses."

All the leaders agreed to fight the monster boss. They even want to participate in the battle.  The Monster Boss dropped good Items. I can understand why they want to kill it.

When I came back, I didn't see the others except one, Niña Hasvolge. She's alone and fiddling with her knife.

"... Where are the others?"

I ask.

" Miriam took Lane outside to find food. But I'm sure she left us for us to talk"

She sighed. 

"Yeah. Miriam has Clairvoyance. I believe she saw me coming. She set us up"

She wanted us to reconcile I guess.  She's predictable. She used this timing to leave and gave us a chance to talk... Sigh.

"Yup. Set up... Say, Mikael. Does it not hurt? Your cheek?"

" No, not anymore. I visited the Healing Pond and I wash it off. There's no aching anymore."

"So you really did hurt. I'm sorry"

"... Me too, I'm sorry."

She took a step and extended out her hand. She looked at me and said.

"We're good right. W- we were still friends?"

"Yes. We're friends"

I took her hand and we did a  handshake.

Our eyes met and... This is awkward

"L-  let's go find them."

"O- okay. By the way, Lane gained her Second Skill. "

I saw Lane controlled a tree so I know it. Based on Niña's surprised expression I guess our little child is shy about telling this. 

"Really!? Wow, that's good news. We need to celebrate this!! Ah, I'm jealous, but I don't want to suffer and practice every day... "

We leave the room to find them. It's already 4:00 pm. The afternoon will come and we need to eat our dinner early. The monsters will come every midnight. 

"Before that, can I touch your face... I- I mean I want to see if there are no bruises."

".... Okay" 

She hesitantly extended her hands, and I remained still. She touched my face and looked if she can find any marks.

Too close!! Your face is too close. Her face may look serious, but I can't control my expression. I'm embarrassed, damn my face is turning red!!

"S- so what it is? Did you see anything?"

"... you're right. There is none"

She took off her hands and stepped back. My heart beats faster... DAMN!!! I'll get a heart attack with this. Niña, be conscious of what you're doing. You can make others misunderstand you.

And you! Mikael, control your emotion. It's just a touch! You've already touched a woman. You even have experience touching and licking it down there. So you have no reason to be embarrassed!! Okay!?

"L- let's go already."

"Okay".

I walk out and she followed me. She looked at my back... and I walked faster.

" Hehe, cute "

She murmured something, but I can't hear what she said.