The training we received from Turner was incredibly long, stretching on even after the sun had set.
It included one-on-one sessions with Ellen, one-on-one sessions with me, and even scenarios where the two of us teamed up to face Turner.
Ellen wielded the Lament, and I fought with the Tiamata against her.
Of course, we couldn't even come close to matching her. It would have been difficult enough if Turner were merely a Swordmaster, but she had long surpassed that level. Even on the rare occasion when the Lament's attack managed to touch Turner's body, it would simply be repelled by her counterforce.
How much time had passed before we were utterly battered and bruised?
"That's enough for today. Go back and rest. We'll meet here at the same time tomorrow," Turner said, seeming determined to continue supervising our training unless she had other pressing matters.
Both Ellen and I were so exhausted that we needed to receive healing at the priest's office.
The sun had long since set, and it was well past our usual bedtime.
This training was to prepare us for a potential battle against a much stronger opponent. Ellen wore a serious expression.
Was she contemplating the possibility of facing an overwhelming demon?
"I'm hungry."
"..."
Seriously, all she could think about was food. Ellen said this while staring at me intently.
"Alright, let's eat something."
Although we were usually quite active, today it was less about the amount of exercise and more about the damage we had taken. We needed to have a hearty meal and rest.
We would have to face another grueling day tomorrow.
—---
Ellen and I cooked and devoured four large pieces of beef sirloin. It wasn't the kind of meal one should eat late at night, but then again, none of the food we made and ate at night was particularly suitable for nighttime consumption.
-Om nom nom nom
She always ate a lot, but when she was hungry, she would eat even more.
She consumed a great deal without appearing gluttonous. She continuously nibbled with her small mouth, never slowing down from her initial pace.
Our routine had been going on for quite some time now.
Spending the entire day training with Ellen, only to cook and eat something together at night.
Sometimes we would skip a few days, but this was still our most common activity in the temple.
Eating a large meal with Ellen before going to bed.
"Y'know, I've been thinking. Our real talent might be eating a ton of food right before bed without getting acid reflux or any other stomach-related issues."
Isn't it a special talent to eat so much before bed without suffering from any gastrointestinal problems?
In a way, weren't Ellen and I the strongest in the world when it came to our digestive systems?
"…?"
Judging by her clueless expression, she didn't understand what I was talking about. Perhaps she would never experience any internal organ-related illnesses in her lifetime.
In the end, Ellen consumed three of the sirloin pieces, while I ate one.
"Do you want more?"
"No, I'm good."
Seemingly satisfied, Ellen shook her head. I never thought I'd see the day when she would refuse food.
No, it wasn't that she refused it. She had already eaten three pieces, after all.
"Let's rest then. Even after receiving healing, there's a lingering feeling of psychological pain that doesn't go away."
Both Ellen and I had taken a hefty blow.
Still, Ellen would make dramatic movements to try to lessen the pain when struck, while I couldn't manage to do that.
I could sense the danger and the trajectory shown by my instincts, but I couldn't react to it.
The pain was bearable, but I was mentally exhausted and all I wanted was to rest quickly.
"I just realized something."
As I was about to get up from my seat, Ellen opened her mouth.
"What?"
"Come to think of it, if we do well, we might be able to handle a Master Class."
I couldn't help but be taken aback by her sudden remark.
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah, follow me."
Ellen got up from her seat and led me towards the training hall.
—---
I had a feeling about what Ellen intended to show me.
A cloak was draped over Ellen's shoulder as she led me to the A-Class dormitory's training hall.
It was Lapelt, the Cloak of the Sun God she had shown me before.
Ellen hadn't told Turner about the Cloak of the Sun God. Turner had said that even though it would be difficult to handle a Master Class under the premise that we were the owners of the relics, we could still manage to evade or escape somehow.
Ellen seemed to think that combining Lapelt into the equation would allow us to confront a Master Class.
But come to think of it, I didn't know what abilities the Cloak of the Sun God possessed.
"What does that do?"
It was a relic in the form of a cloak.
"Try throwing something at me."
"What? You want me to throw something?"
"Yeah, anything."
There was nothing much to throw here, but since there were practice swords lying around, I picked one up.
"You want me to throw this?"
"Yes."
I didn't think it would hurt her. Ellen was only wearing the cloak. Figuring nothing bad would happen, I threw the practice sword at her.
And then.
-Kwang!
Just before the practice sword touched Ellen's body, an explosion of flames erupted in mid-air, and the sword shattered into pieces.
"...What was that?"
What did I just witness?
The practice sword was blocked by a wall of flames in mid-air, just as if it had been intercepted automatically right before it hit her.
"Lapelt possesses the power of protection."
I had a hunch it was a relic related to defense.
However, this was not just any protection. The moment an attack landed, it would not only block the attack, but also cause a counter explosion of flames.
It was both defense and offense simultaneously.
There had definitely been occasions when Ellen and I had successfully attacked Turner while cooperating.
Saviolin Turner had a rebounding force on her sword, but also applied it to her own body. So, when we managed to land an attack, we would be thrown off by the tremendous shock to the point that our wrists would bend backward.
"Wait, so... that means... that thing..."
At my mumbled words, Ellen nodded.
"Right. It's not much different from what the teacher used."
Whether it was a surge of magical power or an explosion of flames, any attack would be met with a fierce rebound. The attacker would be counterattacked in the same manner.
The Lament that Ellen possessed functioned similarly to an Aura Blade in itself.
The Lapelt that Ellen held had capabilities akin to the Aura Armor used by master-class warriors.
The Sword of the Moon.
The Cloak of the Sun.
"Are you... essentially a Swordmaster then?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that, but it seems quite similar."
Thanks to the two relics, Ellen's situation wasn't much different from that of a Swordmaster.
Talk about luck.
This was incredibly frightening.
Of course, it's not necessarily Ellen who would benefit; anyone wielding those two relics could perform the two skills Swordmasters are known for. Naturally, whose hands they were in was of utmost importance.
If someone with the relics didn't possess Ellen's abilities, it would be difficult for them to use the relics effectively. It was uncertain how they would fare in a battle against a real Swordmaster, but in her current state, Ellen might be able to challenge a master-class warrior.
Even with the support of the overpowered artifacts known as relics, her rapid transformation into a monster had reached a point where she could potentially stand against a master-class opponent.
Moreover, Ellen hadn't yet unleashed the true power of the relics.
The true power of Tiamata is the explosive release of potent divine power. In my case, it allows me to use divine power I shouldn't originally be able to access.
The true power of Alsebringer is the summoning of the war god Als.
The true powers of Lament and Lapelt were unknown to me.
However, even in their current state, the two relics possessed immense power.
Aura Blade and Aura Armor.
What would happen if Ellen, who already possesses both, truly reached the master-class and could actually use both powers? The power of the relics would also amplify, and there might not be anyone in the world who could stand against her.
Would I have to face such an Ellen as my enemy someday?
Before my frozen self, Ellen suddenly took off her cloak.
"...What are you doing?"
Ellen walked towards me and held out the cloak.
"I'll give it to you."
"...This?"
"Yes."
She offered it so calmly that I couldn't understand what she was doing for a moment.
Why would she give this to me?
"I think you'll need it more than I do."
Ellen smiled quietly.
She was giving up one of the two conditions that made her practically a Swordmaster without hesitation.
Because I needed it more.
In the end, that meant she was giving it to me because I was weaker.
Yes.
In reality, I needed it more. Many people would turn against me, and I would need a shield rather than a weapon to protect myself from them.
The Cloak of the Sun God would surely serve as that shield.
I had to accept it.
As Ellen said, this was truly something I needed. Ellen didn't know, but with this cloak alone, I would be able to overcome countless crises.
Ellen was smiling.
She seemed genuinely happy to be able to give me something.
Without explaining anything, without saying a word.
She always just gives to me. She's happy just by giving.
But I should accept it.
Even if it's a brief lapse in judgment, I know that accepting this would be the best course of action.
"No."
"...?"
"How can I accept this?"
I pushed the cloak that Ellen offered me back towards her.
"It's something your parents gave you because they were worried about you."
I couldn't accept such a thing. That's what I told her. Ellen must have been struggling with the decision as well. Giving me something that her parents had given her would be like disregarding their concerns.
Despite that, she decided to give it to me because she wished for my safety, but I refused.
"..."
Ellen, seemingly aware of how difficult my answer had been, furrowed her brow and recalled Lapelt.
"Still, thank you."
I hugged the somewhat deflated Ellen. At first, she seemed a little flustered, but then she hugged me back.
It was something I needed, but I didn't accept it.
I couldn't accept any more than this.
"I mean it."
Even to my ears, my voice trembled severely. I hoped she would understand my sincerity in not accepting it.
Would she know? What I had just given up?
"Me too, thank you."
As if to say she understood, Ellen whispered softly while hugging me.
[Special Achievement Unlocked - Turning Point of History 'Ellen Artorius']
[The future has changed significantly.]
[You have earned 1,000 Achievement Points.]
What?
The future has changed?
By not accepting Lapelt just now, somehow, the future has been altered.
I hugged Ellen a little tighter. I gently stroked her head as she trembled slightly in my embrace.
I couldn't know in what way it had changed.
But two assumptions were possible.
Either not accepting Lapelt would lead to my death.
Or.
By not accepting Lapelt.
Contrarily, I would survive in a situation where I should have died.
"Hey."
I quietly called out to Ellen.
"...Yes?"
"You know I really like you a lot, right?"
Ellen's body flinched significantly. She quietly buried her face in my chest.
"Yes."
Ellen added in a trembling voice.
"I like you, too... a lot."
We remained embraced for a long time.
