Volume 2 Chapter 17 It's Super Heavy
Finally, it seems like it has reached its limit.
The Hornbull is charging towards me, causing the ground to shake.
If I try to dodge in this direction, the mercenary behind me will get caught and die.
So, I have no choice but to stand my ground and fight back.
"Keep your head down!"
I shouted at the mercenary behind me without even looking back. Before I could even check if the mercenary actually listened, I swung my spear vigorously.
"'Enchantment - Weight Increase!'"
With a powerful shout, I took a bold step towards the charging Hornbull.
──Thuddd!
The step I took "sank" into the ground up to my ankles. Starting from my arms and spreading throughout my body, an incredible 'weight' pressed down on me.
──Enchantment - Weight Increase
I, who made a contract with Gram, gained this power along with the "Summon". It was the biggest factor that led to the defeat of the Kobold King.
In simple terms, Gram has the ability to increase its weight to more than double its usual weight.
So, right now, the Gram I'm wielding is like a massive chunk of iron with several times the size.
'Yeah!! Let's do it, partner!!'
"──Aaahhhhhh!!"
Encouraged by Gram's voice, I shouted from the bottom of my heart and swung my spear at the approaching Hornbull.
The tip of the spear crushed Hornbull's proud horns and sent its body flying in a flashy manner.
For Hornbull, it might have felt like being punched from the side by a giant fist that suddenly appeared.
The monster, slammed into the ground, twitched and convulsed, coming to a halt.
I stood in a pose with my spear raised, frozen for a moment. Then, I exhaled deeply and used the spear to support my body, feeling drained.
"Ughhh... Just as I thought, this is tough."
To confront Hornbull's charge, I needed to raise Gram's weight to the maximum. Despite being prepared, just one swing had exhausted my bones and muscles completely.
'But compared to the beginning, you've improved quite a bit, partner.'
With a grimace on my face, I had lost the will to respond, but deep down, I agreed with Gram's words.
I am aware that my strength has definitely increased compared to before. Although it's not a dramatic change, I no longer feel tired when swinging the spear.
Even in the state of "Enchantment - Weight Increase" with Gram, I can swing it without any problems, at least for a limited time. It still consumes a lot of stamina, but the intense pain that used to assail my entire body no longer occurs.
Perhaps this is also the effect of the 'contract' with Gram.
'Well, it's true that my presence has been pushing your growth a little bit, partner. But I think you had talent in that direction.'
What kind of talent?
'Well, you'll figure it out eventually. For now, just keep moving, eating well, and getting enough sleep.'
Aren't I like a mischievous kid!
'You know, I'm much older than you, partner. But more importantly, it seems like someone has arrived.'
A little after Gram's words, Mikage and the second-ranked mercenary emerged from the bushes.
"──Yukina-sama!?"
"Hey, Mikage. Good job."
As soon as Mikage saw me, she was surprised, and I raised my hand on the side opposite to the previous holding the spear pose.
"Wait, was the rescue request earlier..."
"No, it wasn't me. I did use my magic tool, but the one who needs rescuing is over here."
I pointed my thumb behind me to the mercenary who was still slumped. Mikage noticed his injury and quickly rushed over.
"After lightly stopping the bleeding, it seems like it's best to take him to Kyunei-sensei. Also, at this point, you will be considered disqualified."
Mikage said while wrapping a bandage around the mercenary's leg. He groaned in frustration but quickly slumped his shoulders in defeat.
Meanwhile, the 2nd-ranked mercenary who came to this place with Mikage was staring intensely at the monster's corpse. His gaze was particularly sharp when he looked at Hornbull's body.
"Let me make it clear, it wasn't our fault that we encountered Hornbull. Some idiot somewhere stirred him up and it attacked us."
"Did you defeat this guy?."
"If I didn't, we would have been minced meat by the time you arrived."
I honestly answered the words of the 2nd-ranked mercenary. I kept the details about Gram's special power hidden, but other than that, everything I said was true. I had no reason to be blamed.
"...I want to hear the whole story. Can you accompany me to the entrance once?"
"Of course. Also, those Kobolds rolling around there are the ones I defeated. With the hunting bag containing their fangs and the parts I have, I should have achieved the passing criteria for the test."
I raised the hunting bag with Kobold fangs and smiled at the 2nd rank mercenary.
As a result, two people failed this test.
One was the guy who got surrounded by Kobolds and injured his leg. And the guy who messed with the Hornbull.
When all the participants defeated the required number of Kobolds and returned to the entrance of the forest, there was only one mercenary who seemed strange. As expected, that person turned out to be the one who started trouble with the Hornbull.
The situation unfolded just as I (and Gram) predicted.
The mercenary (fool) got blinded by the rewards from the hunt and happened to provoke the Hornbull. In the end, they couldn't defeat the Hornbull, and the mercenary barely escaped with their life. What happened to the Hornbull afterwards is needless to say.
The mercenary I helped received a strict warning and was prohibited from taking the promotion exam for a certain period of time. That seems fair, but the mercenary who messed with Hornbull and unnecessarily put other mercenaries at risk received a severe punishment of "prohibited from engaging in mercenary activities for a certain period of time."
If it had been someone else, a 5th rank mercenary, who encountered that excited Hornbull, they would most likely have been killed, not me. So, it's only natural that they were punished.
Anyway, apart from those two who were disqualified, everyone passed the required promotion test. Of course, that includes me.
For now, it's a step forward.
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