Chapter 276 - Friend (2)

「I'm here for private work, so don't talk formally Kurono-san. Or rather I want to talk informally, is that alright with you Kurono-kun?」

She said with a smile more intimate than the one at guild, just how many men could deny her request when she is like this?

At the very least I consented to her without hesitation.

「By the way, Erina-san――」

「It's fine to call me Erina」

She gave me a perfect wink just like young Lily, and corrected me.

「Why is Erina in the Academy?」

「I'm a graduate from the Civil Course. So I came here to meet a junior」

I thought some time ago whether she was a graduate from Academy, looks like my guess hit the right spot.

「If it's fine, how about you also come with me?」

「No, I need to meet someone so I will refrain from that」

This was surely an alluring invitation, but I already have plans to do magic learning with Nell-san.

「Oh, you have a previous appointment, too unfortunate」

「I'm sorry」

「Don't worry, I will invite you later」

Is that true――no, this might that thing called lip service, right?

And recently I tend to forget about the fact that I shouldn't be spending this time while playing around.

The time I spent with Nell-san is pleasant, but I am perfectly getting taught about magic and am nourishing my power.

Well since that's the case, I sense some reluctance to go with Erina for just playing around.

Even more when I think that Lily and Fiona might be working hard right now.

I also need to show my powered side by the time they return back.

If possible I want to show my explosion offensive magic that use the flames divine protection, and then make them say「it's too showy」.

「That's why you have to come to the Guild soon. You haven't come recently, it's lonely」

She's a person that can say words like 'it's lonely' without any problems and might stimulate male instincts.

Putting that aside, it's the truth that I haven't been to the guild recently.

The last time I went there was after returning to Spada from that bandit subjugation quest, so it's already been two weeks.

Currently, the three members of『Element Master』were scattered, but it's not like I can't take on quests alone.

Yeah, that' right, now that I have a chance I should try out my newly learned black magic, and also raise up some money.

「Sorry, I will come tomorrow, so give me your recommended quest」

「Ufufu, I will choose a harsh one just for Kurono-kun」

「I'm alone right now, so please not a dangerous one......」

Maybe after I saved her from the serial murderer Joto, she might be having excessive anticipation for me.

No, let's just say she was joking right now.

「Alone? Did the party dissolute?」

「Don't say something that scary. We are just doing work separately for now――」

Then we talked and walked.

I told her about the fact that my party members were away from Spada for training, and the fact that I am searching for a certain Rank 5 monster, etc etc, I talked about everything that would be of no problem to talk about.

Well at the same time I heard a lot about Erina.

Like she was searching for boyfriends, her choice of man was a strong and tall one that would save her in dangerous situation, her quite private details were being made public.

Geez, was she trying to seduce a high-schooler male student like me, at least age-wise, by talking like that. Indeed a terrifying receptionist she is.

But I won't be deceived, it's my loss if I pay heed to it, it's just that.

With this and that, I broke up with Erina at some place, and hurried towards the dorm where Nell-san might be waiting since before.

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「Kurono-san, I need to talk about something serious, can you hear it?」

Eh, don't tell me, the food I made was bad? I don't have a clue about that.

About time I returned back to the dorm, I was apparently a step slower while Nell-san was waiting for me at the entrance.

It was in the calculation error of who would reach dorm first, so I don't particularly care about it, however the problem right now would be that she said that line with a mysterious face as if she were thinking about something.

If I take her words at face value then she seems to have to ask something from me, but well, what might be the problem that is making a princess worry this much about. If it is something too highly political thing then I won't be able to answer her.

For the time being, I need to hear what she wants to say or the talk won't proceed. I invite her in my room which had already turned into Nell-sensei's personal classroom.

I sit on the chair with a writing desk in front, while Nell-san sat on the bed. It is the usual position when chatting.

Because of this arrangement my bed gets covered by white wings, but let's leave that alone for now.

「So what do you want to talk about?」

「Ah, yes......Um......what does Kurono-san......」

It seems like she is having a hard time to speak it, looks like this talk is quite the heavy one, I need to be resolved.

「What does Kurono-san......think about me?」

The words that came out of her mouth after all the hesitation were quite abstract.

What do I think about Nell-san, well then, what sort of intention did she had when she asked this――no wait, isn't this line like a confirmation for the existence or nonexistence of romantic feelings between a male and female?

No, wait wait, that imagination is just too much.

That's right, this is nothing more than the second time of today that I heard a word that would make a man's heart misunderstand.

Henceforth, I don't need to quicken up here, and proceed carefu――

「What does Kurono-san think about me!」

Wait a sec Nell-san, I'm thinking about it, so don't say it again as if pressing for an answer.

「Ah, err, what do you mean what?」

My thoughts weren't collected, so I could reply in that ambiguous manner.

「What means......umm, does Kurono-san think of me as a friend......」

Her appearance with a blush on her white stainless face, completely personified the flawless charm of an embarrassing girl, however the contents of her line weren't something great, but just if I thought of her as a friend or not.

Yeah, it was my loss to expect, no, be consciousness of her words.

「I think about Nell-san as a normal friend」

I have met her recently, and it has only been the past one week since I have been able to talk to her perfectly, moreover with the cooperative relationship of magic and cooking I've been thinking that we might have gotten close.

However the difference in social statuses might be the problem. After all she is a princess while I am an adventurer, never can I say we were in equilibrium.

However the thing called friendship can't be defined by social status. At least I think like that, otherwise I wouldn't be able to talk casually with Wil.

The feelings I have for Nell-san will be similar to what a high-schooler would feel when he suddenly started talking with a female classmate.

It might be a strange line to be calling her as a friend, but I think it's fine to call her my friend.

「But sorry. If Nell-san doesn't think like that, then, I was being overly-familiar」

「Noo! It's not like that! I also think about Kurono-san as a precious friend!」

*shake boing shake*, the two big mountains wrapped in the blouse right in front of my eyes shook violently.

It was because Nell-san bent forward towards me from the my front.

It is quite a surprise for me too that she declared me as her friend with this sort of overreaction.

「I-Is that so, thank you very much」

Maybe she perceived the atmosphere that seemed to retreat, Nell-san immediately sat back down.

Her wings on the back were flapping probably to hide her embarrassment. Like that again the bed was covered by wings, no, let's ignore it for now.

Well, within the past couple of days of working together with Nell-san, I came to understand that she expressed her emotions greatly, so seeing her reactions would only seem charming to me.

Or rather, she's cute so everything is forgiven! The male nature is so sad.

「And, is me being the friend or not the thing you wanted to ask?」

「Ah, yes, half of it」

「Then the other half would be?」

「Err, umm......I don't the experience of having many friends......」

She spoke truly embarrassing words in an embarrassing manner.

Well I also didn't had many friendship relations that I can laugh it off. If just limited to Spada, the person who became my friend would be only Wil, if excluding Nell-san.

「Is that, um, a good thing that I should hear in details right now?」

「Yes, I want Kurono-san to heart it」

I see, so the main part of the talk comes now.

「As Kurono-san knows, I'm the First Princess of Avalon. My abroad studies here in Spada was also officially announced on a great scale, so I doubt there would someone who doesn't know about me in the Academy」

Unless the information was blocked to a great extent, there's no way that the topic of a royalty commuting to school won't become a great story.

Even if I hadn't met Wil and Nell-san, I would've heard about them from rumours while walking.

If talking about rumours I have also heard about some fame of Nell-san in this Academy.

「Nell-san is also called as the Idol of Academy, so I thought you must have many friends」

Even if leaving aside the Rank 5 Party『Wing Road』, if I tried to extract rumours about the princess of Avalon, they would all have good contents.

Not only her beauty like that of an angel, but also her kind-hearted personality, that led her to call out to me and help me, so her image must have been formed by the accumulation of those good deeds.

As an extra there is also Her Highness Princess Nell's Fanclub made by those whose head and heart were done in by the beauty and kindness of Nell-san, the people of fanclub call themselves as her elite bodyguards.

「Yes, certainly everyone in the Academy is kind towards me, but......」

「But they are treating you as a princess, is that what you want to say?」

「Yes, that's is exactly it!」

So I got the right point. I thought that this cliché had occurred a lot in novels and stuff, but this actually even applied in reality......

「The reason everyone is kind is just because I'm a princess」

「But, I don't think that it's the only reason? If you didn't had a good image among students, then even if you were a royalty there would be no good rumours about you」

That's why Wil I have decided to keep your rumours as something I never heard.

I know that in truth you're a truly good guy.

「Yes, you are right. I have Telepathy so I know that everyone is not kind towards me just because of self-interest. But even so, the image of the princess comes up first」

I see, so even with good will, they still end up looking through rose-coloured glasses.

But, thinking about humans mentality it seems natural, even I treat her as a princess――

「But Kurono-san was different」

「Eh?」

Unexpectedly an extremely questionable voice leaked out.

But Nell-san continued as though it didn't reach her or she ignored it.

「Kurono-san speaks everything to me without holding back. Ufufu, it was shock when you said my food wasn't good, though」

Holy moly! Looks like I have been rude towards her.

That time I was in confusion due to sudden developments, no doubt. Thankfully it was Nell-san, but based on circumstances I might have been sentenced with lese majeste.

Looks like I have met quite a fortuitous royalty. That time in the school cafeteria Nero said,

「Do you know who they are? They aren't people you can touch them thoughtlessly」

Looks like that it is common sense in this world and not just some prideful way of speaking.

「No, it's not like that. Even I am concerned about the fact that Nell-san is a princess」

I tried to appeal by returning favour to the princess, but,

「Fufu, it's fine Kurono-san, I clearly know about that. Kurono-san knows that I'm a princess of Avalon but you aren't conscious about it at all. Almost like you don't know things like Royalty, as though you are person from a truly faraway country」

Ugh, Nell-san you are quite sharp......

「I'm sorry, but you are truly correct. Things like royalty, aristocracy, or difference in social status just don't seem real」

It's impossible to evade her anymore. Then, I can only admit my fault and ask for forgiveness.

「No don't apologize. I think that only Kurono-san can become my true friend」

「It saves me if you say it like that」

Both sentimentally and realistically.

Looks like my speech and conduct didn't incur Nell-san's wrath, but miraculously gave her a good impression about me.

If it wasn't like that then no matter how much of a kind-hearted person Nell-san is, she wouldn't be hanging out with me every day.

「That's why Kurono-san please be a best friend with me and be with much less restraint」

「Naturally. I also want to get on good terms with Nell-san」

I replied while raising a smile from the bottom of my heart. I don't have rejection in increasing the friendship with my second friend I have made in Spada.

No, more than that, we aren't connected by just cooperative relationship now, but also by a friendship relationship.

「Thank you very much! Well then, I have to ask for something from Kurono-san......is it fine?」

Nell-san again said bashfully. Looks like she is an expert at hearing others wishes, but is bad at telling her wishes.

Her cute red face and her behaviour might incite fire in the sadist hearts, but as I don't have that sort of crooked fetish, so I can only consent to her.

「What is it? Nell-san also can speak anything with me without restraint」

Did the nuance got through her, that I will do anything if it can be done by me. Nell-san finally seemed to have resolved and opened her mouth bashfully yet happily.

「Umm......can I call you as Kurono-kun?」

This feeling was like a student was confessed in a classroom after the school when sun was setting down.

Of course I never had such a good experience, but Nell-san's words along with her embarrassed face surely did have an impact of that level.

Calm down me, I persuaded myself again, just how many times have I done that today?

In short, I was quite flustered today that I had to conscious about composure.

I had the guts to hear her request no matter how reckless, but little had I thought that it would such a cute request.

No matter if for friendship, if you speak like that to a man it will surely be misunderstood, Nell-san.

She is an airhead in a different way from Fiona――and I will be troubled because I have quite the impurity just like how an high-schooler should be.

Anyhow, I will take on her request itself, I have no reason to complain about it.

「It's fine」

Maybe the flustering had a lingering effect that I spoke in a curt manner, damn I'm even more embarrassed.

I even averted my gaze a bit.

「And――」

The request is still not completed?

Nell-san had her face red, but she didn't seem to stop now from asking me.

「Please call me as Nell. In truth Kurono-sa――Kurono-kun doesn't need to talk in honorific language」

It is extremely lovable how she tried to change her way of calling me.

No, I shouldn't be praising that,

「Eh, err, is that alright? If other students saw me talking casually with Princess then――」

「Don't care about other people! Please do so!!」

Nell-san again bent her body forward from bed, she is a person who uses her all in everything.

Well, I talk casually with Wil, so I don't have any excuse for that.

At any rate, the force of other side seemed to have surpassed me, now I can't possibly refuse her.

「Yes, got it Nell-san」

「Kurono-kun?」

「Ah, got it got it, Nell」

I corrected my answer and the Princess of Avalon showed an truly exaggeratedly happy smile to me.

This feels like, there will be no magic learning today......

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

Congratulations! Nell has progressed to being a friend now!

Chapter 277 - Curse Carnival

It was partially coincidence, but it was quite good to meet privately.

Erina thought that while on work.

She was today also showing a business smile to student adventurers, but in her head was thinking about just a single man.

(Is Kurono-kun still not coming)

If going by his words then today, on 25^th of Platinum Month, he would come to this Adventurer Guild wanting for quests.

Still, that was what Erina thought, but the time hadn't even come near noon.

She was hyped just like a child, but it can't be helped for a girl if they find their perfect man with their ideal appearance and ideal and activity.

Moreover, thanks to her ideals Erina had never gotten a boyfriend. Although she had various male friends.

She continued to work while hiding her rising expectations with her smiling mask for about an hour, at the same time the bell informing about noon would rang out, at that time,

(He came!)

A young tall man with black hair, red and black eyes, while wearing a jet-black coat appeared entering the Guild through the big double door.

Starting from students, various adventurers of Rank 3 appeared in the guild every now and then, so a man wearing black coat won't seem standing out, however in Erina's eyes that place only seemed to be shining brightly.

Even now she was dealing with naïve male student adventurers longing for Erina, however she sent gaze to Kurono in between.

Although, there was quite a distance between the two, but their eyes certainly met, and he returned a faint smile in return.

(Woow, so cool! Kurono-kun you look much more cool today!)

In her mind she was yelling like a fangirl, however in truth she was dealing with others saying「then please take this quest~」, as expected of an elite receptionist.

She now didn't care at all about the adventurers standing in front of her now, but she just kept on waiting for turn of Kurono to come.

「Hello, Kurono-kun」

「Erina-san, you are currently in work」

Kurono spoke while smiling bitterly, however he seemed happy to see her friendly attitude towards him.

Yesterday, they talked for a short time, but that surely did lessen their distance, and that was proved by the conversation today.

「It's fine, just think of it as a service for a friend」

「Thank you very much」

Kurono replied with a smile. This sort of flexible attitude of his was established yesterday.

Erina was a sociable person, who had a wide friendship relation with men and women, so she had an innate skill of guessing the disposition of person just by talking for some minutes.

This wasn't Telepathy, but just a technical skill polished from having relations with people.

That was why she was able to become a receptionist in the Guild, which happens to be a job that is quite popular enough to enter Top 3 jobs in Spada.

「giggle, like you said yesterday, I have chosen the recommended quests already?」

There were several documents in the hands of Erina.

Among that there was also the quest of『Salamander Subjugation』, the quest that he wanted to take when he first came here.

「So you have chosen it already, thanks. But I have already chosen the quest I will take」

「Oh is that so? So you had one that you liked」

Erina re-thought that there wasn't any particularly good quest currently.

Erina chose quests with quite the profit which were neither good nor bad.

Of course, reward was everything for an adventurer. If the Monster material they wanted was different, they would, in worst case, do a freelancer work, so it was hard to say which quest was good unconditionally.

However,

「This『Curse Carnival』or so quest――」

「No that won't do Kurono-kun!」

In her second continuous year of work, this was the first time the beautiful receptionist had raised her voice, so various gazes of surprise flooded at her.

What happened, thinking that the co-workers at Guild along with adventurers going back and fro, all stared at Erina's counter.

She realized her mess a second later, and embarrassedly she sent a gesture saying「there's no problem」, and deceived them.

Seeing that it wasn't that big of a deal, others just whispered for a bit and the gazes scattered away one by one.

「Ah, err, is this quest that bad?」

It was probably Kurono who was the most shocked by Erina shout.

He asked with a face as though he took on a punishment.

「It isn't something light like bad. Did you explanatory note Kurono-kun?」

「I did read that big thing posted there」

The place Kurono pointed at was the bulletin board with written requests posted on it.

There, a single request document was several times bigger than other ones, or rather, it seemed like a poster posted for publication.

That was the request of participant recruitment for『Curse Carnival』.

「There was that case with the serial killer, so Kurono-kun might be able to kill people who had gone mad due to Cursed Weapons. But, the victory prize is also a Cursed Weapon, did you see that? If you were to be possessed in return then......」

『Curse Carnival』, just as the name implied, it was a tournament regarding the Cursed Weapons.

Spada had an another name of Sword Battle City, and since ancient times the『Sword Battles』here had been famous.

From the traditional one-on-one battle of Gladiators, the knockout competition by forming a team, otherwise Party battle, or a Battle Royale, Anti-Monster Battle, etc etc, all sort of battles were held here.

And among that there was a battle that let people fight against people also possessed by the Cursed Weapons, that was this『Curse Carnival』.

Among the many battles, this sword battle tournament was the most sinful, and the one sponsoring it wasn't Spada government but a big arms dealer in city-states, that was『Mordred Weapon Company』.

Its chairman was a big-framed skeleton, Vein Wortz Mordred, he was a Cursed Weapon collector, and, he was famous for having a evil taste of wanting to see Cursed Weapons being used.

However, he had authority and assets to boldly implement his 'evil taste', henceforth he opened a sword battle tournament on a grand scale.

And adding onto that, there were people who liked the thrill of extreme battles or seeing other going insane due to curse, the things that can't be seen in normal sword battles. Unexpectedly there were many Spada civilians that liked this tournament secretly.

At the same time, there were people who yearned for the enormous yet dangerous power of Cursed Weapons, and raise out their names saying「I am the great one」and what not.

And as expected, the ones that couldn't control the curse are used as the 'opponent' in the『Curse Carnival』.

This man she loved was about to meet his end in a truly dangerous way, so it was only natural for her to stop him.

「No it's fine, I am quite confident in my ability to use Cursed Weapons」

「Geez, don't speak too much, being overconfident will subtract the points!」

「Subtract the points?」

Erina *ahem* cleared her throat and ignored Kurono's question.

「Anyhow, the usage of Cursed Weapon can't be done something with just physical strength of magical energy, but the main part is compatibility, there is a danger of a person being possessed by it, no matter how much skilled he/she might be. I know Kurono-kun is strong, but you can say those words nonchalantly just because you have never used a Cursed Weapon befo――」

「No, I already use Cursed Weapons?」

Erina's kind, truly important warning was interrupted by Kurono's unthinkable personal statement.

「Eh, is that lie?」

「The sword I used to save Erina happened to be a Cursed Weapon」

She truly didn't remember it.

The moment she noticed the face of Kurono saving her gallantly, she could not take away her eyes from his manly face.

It wasn't like she didn't remember that he was waving a long big sword in one hand for saving her, however she had absolutely no idea what it was.

「And, the sword that Joto was using, I am using it right now」

「Gyaaaaahhh~~~!!」

In a second, Erina screamed, and fell backwards along with the chair she was sitting on.

Kurono widened his eyes to her over exaggerated reaction.

And the people in the surroundings were also shocked the same.

This time the Guild staff and adventurers sensed Erina's strange actions and they thought the man sitting in front had did something bad with her, causing all of them to stab him with hostility-filled gazes.

On the very close moment when a burly guard wearing black suit would appear from inside the guild for resolving the trouble with force,

「I-I'm sorry! It's nothing!!」

Erina revived and bowed in a hurry while saying that no trouble had happened.

The guild had turned noisy suddenly, but thanks to Erina's magnificent way of speaking, it started to quieten down.

Like that in less than five minutes, the Guild returned to its normal operations.

Kurono could only watch while pouring out cold sweat, seeing Erina being all-rounder, from the start of creating the noise to the end of quietening down everyone.

「I'm sorry for losing my composure, Kurono-sama」

「Ah, no, same here, I'm sorry for surprising you」

They both said words of apology in an official way.

Well then, now was Erina wrong to have jumped to wrong conclusion that he might have never used Cursed Weapon, or was it Kurono wrong for confessing that he held Cursed Weapons normally, even the weapon that was definitely a trauma to Erina.

In the end the whereabouts of responsibility remained unidentified, they both just apologized to each other, but it would be good if everything was finished peacefully like that.

「So, um......do you truly have it?」

「Yeah, it's a weapon with a bond with me, so I just wanted to keep it, no matter what」

Erina wasn't able to ask any further than that.

She didn't have the communication ability of talking with more than 100 friends for just a show. She sensitively perceived Kurono eyes being shadowed.

Kurono continued his words, maybe he realized her consideration or maybe he didn't.

「You that I'm a Black Magician, right? The black magical energy can easily control the Cursed Weapons, I have a great innate compatibility with them」

As if to relax Erina, Kurono showed a smile on his cold sharp cool face.

(Yeah, If it's Kurono-kun, I might be happy if he even killed me)

Erina's train of thought was completely different from what Kurono wanted, but as a result she surely calmed down.

「Therefore, you don't need to worry」

「Ah, Y-you're right......in that case, I'm sorry for giving a needless help」

「No, you were thinking about my safety, right? Thanks」

Belittling an adventurer's ability was one of the main causes that could anger Adventurers, who work with death just a hair's breadth away.

Even if other person was speaking in consideration of other, there were still people who would be enraged and punch others.

But looks like Kurono understood what she felt.

He looked like a brute savage evil, but in truth had a gentlemanly personality, this part of his seemed even more charming to Erina.

「Well then, I leave the procedures to you」

「Yes, I will undertake it」

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Quest: 『Curse Carnival』

Reward: Cursed Weapon of the opponent and Fight Money (Can change according to Rank. One million Klan ― Ten million Klan)

*NOTE: The battle are not tournament but knockout battles, so the battle will be just one.

Time Limit: The very day of opening, till 26^th of Platinum Month. Freelance participation allowed.

Client: Mordred Weapon Company

Request Details: It's been a while to all one million fans of Cursed Weapon all over the country! The『Curse Carnival』of this year starts now!!

The Mordred Weapon Company is widely recruiting participants for this tournament. There are no limitations of Adventurer Rank, you are welcomed here!! For those wanting Cursed Weapons, please do participate in this!!

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Thus, the participation of Kurono in『Curse Carnival』was decided.

「Kurono-kun, I will come to support you, so work hard!」

Erina sent a splendid wink that would make a normal man fall head over heels for her.

「Yeah, I will work hard to show my cool sides」

Kurono replied like a flawless refreshing gentleman, he didn't seem to be perturbed to female's charming appeal.

At the very least, it looked like that to Erina.

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

If I went with tournament, it would go over 100 chapters, so......

But tournament development is a story material that I wanted to write, as being a battle-loving person myself! Something like『Hello! Sword Battle Tournament filled with Yandere! There is also head falling down!』

Chapter 278 - Healer

「That is not good Kurono-kun!」

I just heard the same line in the Adventurer Guild before, but never had I thought that Nell would be saying that very same line in the lounge of dorm.

During lunch break, Nell came to me after the classes, while smiling, and,

「I am going to appear in the sword battle tournament tomorrow」

I told her that while showing her the leaflet of『Curse Carnival』that I borrowed from the guild with confidence, however the reply that came to me was the one above.

「Listen to me Kurono-kun, the Cursed Weapons can't be done anything with pure ability――」

「Nell, see this thing」

Her words seemed exactly similar to what I had heard before, so I decided to prove everything to her.

The thing I called out from the『Shadow Gate』at my feet is my favourite sword that I've not seen recently due to black magic research, the『Absolute Grudge Hatchet「Kubidan」』.

That girl, who killed her parents, villagers, even the pursuing Knights, her grudge was today too blowing out vigorously in a dark red aura.

Wil had said before that this indeed amazing aura is truly a dangerous thing, to the level that anyone could see it in a glance and understand that it's an「Cursed Weapon」.

This has evolved two times, and as the user only I am able to know just how much of the curse's extent had grown deep.

Hence I thought that if I showed it to her she would understand that I am a Cursed Weapon-user, but,

「K-Ky-Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!」

I ended up making her cry.

Now I seriously think that I will sentenced with lese majeste......

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「I-I'm sorry Kurono-kun, I, um......got too scared」

With this and that, the situation calmed down.

If this had happened in the popular school building, it would've turned into a great disaster without any means of coping it.

「No, it was also my carelessness, sorry」

I won't take this out other than combat time, I firmly vowed.

「Um, will you truly appear in the『Curse Carnival』?」

She must have understood now that I'm a Cursed Weapon-user, though the hard way, but looks like Nell is still worried.

「I was warned in the Guild too, but is it truly that dangerous tournament?」

I could gain a new Cursed Weapon, while my supreme objective was to expand my battle strength, so this quest could be said as a godsend to me.

「It isn't known what sort of special ability an Cursed Weapon might have. Moreover, the person possessed would lose their sanity, it turn will go into Berserk state which increases the physical abilities of the person」

During the time with Joto, I knew about the power of『Evil Eater』so I was able to deal with it.

But, with that power and speed, moreover a hidden ability just increased the danger levels.

「Kurono-kun, if you want to make more money there are other quests for it, so don't do dangerous quests」

Choosing a quest not dangerous is definitely not a cowardly choice.

People being adventurer for making a living would choose a safe quest based on their abilities.

Of course there would be people like that bodyguard, Ludora, who live for fighting, but still most of the adventurers working in this world are for making it an occupation.

「It's different Nell. I'm not an adventurer for making a living, but there is a reason for me to become stronger than now」

「Eh, is that true!?」

Did Nell see me as a proper adventurer?

No, that might be so, commuting to Academy's Adventurer Course while completing quests is the standard method that every young adventurer takes.

「Um, can I......」

Ask about it or not, is what she might want to ask. Nell seemed to be restless, even the wings on her back seemed to flap restlessly.

「I have to kill some people no matter what」

Crusader's Supreme Commander, 7^th Apostle Sariel.

Completely messed up fake-adventurer, 8^th Apostle Ai.

And , the bitch that toyed and kill my friends, 11^th Apostle Misa.

『Apostles』, people who are human but have superhuman abilities while conceiving the divine protection of White God. I need power to kill of them――no, I will definitely get that power.

「I'm sorry but I can't say anymore」

However, this is my problem.

It's not something I can easily tell to her, even more as she is my friend.

「That's why I am going in the tournament for getting the Cursed Weapon by venturing in the danger」

This way of speaking might have been sly, but it can't be helped.

I am keeping secrets from Nell who called me as her friend, so guilty feelings surely swell up, but revealing all the secrets without any hiding isn't the only form of true friendship.

「I'm sorry to ask something unnecessary......I get it, I won't be stopping Kurono-san」

Looks like Nell also understood me, I was relieved in my mind.

「But I will also help you」

「Eh?」

She is a person who would surely say ridiculous things......no thinking about her personality it might be natural.

「Even if you say help, it will be just me fighting, you know?」

There wasn't a problem of having a team or not, but in the『Curse Carnival』the combat style is a fight between the possessed person and the contender.

And upon winning the contender can get the Cursed Weapon of the opponent.

Even if contender defeats the opponent, if that person isn't able to control the curse then that person would become the new possessed person and would fight new contenders, or would be taken back only to be presented in the next year's tournament.

The end would be cruel, but still it is the person's decision to join or not. At the very least they were recruiting at the Adventurer Guild, so everything is self-responsibility of the person taking the quest.

Anyhow, fighting alone is the prerequisite, let alone direct attack help from allies, but even support via Boost Magic is forbidden.

「Ufufu, I know about those rules. But a Gladiator needs a Healer to heal his wounds after the match」

「Ah, which reminds me your class」

「Yes, I'm a Priest, I have confidence in Heal Magic」

Nell spoke with an expression brimming with confidence as if saying "Can you refute that".

It felt like that her big breasts were also shaking more proudly than usual.

「I see, Healer, eh......」

Thinking back it might be natural.

If it was a Adventurer Quest then evading fight with Monster would also be a great method, but the same doesn't go for Gladiator, whose living purpose is combat.

Upon fighting injuries along with fatigue would pile up, regardless of relative weight.

On the modern Earth there were MMA tournaments, which used protective gears, fighting barehanded or with weapons that won't inflict lethal wound, however, the same doesn't go in this world, here everyone uses real weapon and the fights truly are with life at stake.

Even if the person wins it would be a lethal wound if he had a sword stabbed into him/her, so unless Cure Magic was applied it would be too late.

Just like Nell said, the Gladiator needs have a comrade who would support via healing, just like a lifeline.

Currently Lily wasn't here, so although I have the『Fairies' Miracle Drug』, but the treatment I can do with it is limited.

Her proposal was extremely thankful, for I only have an item and my one and only original healing magic『Flesh Compensation』.

And it's not like Nell will stand directly on the battlefield.

「Is that really alright? I won't be able to repay you enough――」

「No, I don't need repayment, after all we are friends!」

Aren't we friends, her line seemed to say that, which is an amazing blessing now that I hear it again.

However, let it be Lily or Fiona, I'm always being saved by girls. When I think that I need to repay this enormous favour, I can't help but feel great pressure.

This time I want to let her relax by winning without injuries.

「Thank you, well then, please by all means take care of me」

「Yes, please leave it to me!」

 

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

Kurono: "What do you think seeing this?"

Nell: "It is truly......cursed......"

Yeah, the repayment would be make a harem of all girls! Pfft, now that sure will give enormous pressure.