Chapter 41: Why Are You Blushing?
Once Natsuya finished his rounds, Uzui Tengen spoke up again.
"Junior Brother Kokonoe... that medical skill. I'm betting that hag Nikaido didn't teach you that, right?"
He crossed his arms, his tone casual, but his eyes were fixed on Natsuya's hands. Although he spoke lightly, Uzui actually cared quite a bit about his Master's favor. If Natsuya admitted his Master had given him secret lessons, Uzui—the God of Festivals—would definitely feel a sting of jealousy.
Master! I know I don't really need medical skills... but why are you giving all the good loot to the new guy?!
"I'm self-taught," Natsuya replied.
Uzui raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. Medical science wasn't something you just "figured out" because you were talented.
Just then, a rustling sound came from the dense forest. A gentle young girl, using her Nichirin Sword as a crutch, stepped into the clearing. It was Kocho Kanae, having pushed herself to the limit to catch up.
"Huff... huff... huff." She panted, looking at Natsuya as he bandaged the civilians. "It seems... Senior made it in time."
She spotted the Kanoe-rank Slayer, Kojiro, lying on the ground. Though he looked miserable, he was breathing. Her expression softened with relief. Thank goodness, he's alive.
"Senior... who is this?" she asked, looking at the towering Uzui.
Natsuya was currently wrapping a bandage around a crying little girl's arm, finishing it off with a perfect shoelace-style bow.
"Uzui Tengen," Natsuya said without looking up. "A backup Slayer like me. Probably a Hinoe or Kinoto rank."
Uzui straightened his back and corrected him: "I'm an Otsu (Rank 2), you idiot Junior!"
Natsuya ignored the correction and looked at Kanae. "You said you were coming. Why were you so slow?"
Kanae remembered how she'd felt offended earlier, thinking Natsuya had looked down on her speed. Now, she felt a bit embarrassed. "Well... Senior is just too fast. By the way, Senior!"
"Aren't you a Thunder Breathing user? Why was your aura... Water Breathing just now?"
Uzui's eyes went wide. Wait, what? Look, Nikaido is a hag, but you can't just defect to another dojo!
Kanae tilted her head, waiting for an answer. In her world, Slayers almost always practiced the style of their specific Cultivator. Even if they switched later, it was usually to a derivative of the same style.
For example, she used Flower Breathing, which was derived from Water Breathing, sacrificing defense for agility and complex mix-ups.
But switching from Thunder to Water? She had never heard of such a thing.
"Is there a rule saying I can't multiclass?" Natsuya asked. People get double and triple majors in university all the time. Why can't I grind two different job skills?
Kanae opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words. Technically, there was no rule. But usually, the problem with dual-speccing was that you'd end up being a "Jack of all trades, master of none."
Spending three years to master one style vs. spending ten years to be mediocre at three? The choice was obvious for most people.
Unless...
"Is it because Senior is better suited for Thunder Breathing that you abandoned Water?"
The girl thought she had found the logical answer.
Natsuya ruthlessly shut her down: "Zero points. Wrong on all counts."
He glared at Uzui's weird expression and said, "Stop looking at me like that. I'm not your 'Junior Brother.' And I didn't defect from any dojo."
"Then..."
"I'm just practicing other styles. Besides, who said I started with Water or Thunder?"
Natsuya stood up, dusting off his uniform. He raised his Nichirin Sword and began to cycle through his forms.
The transitions were fluid and effortless.
He started with Wind. The silver-white blade sent a gentle evening breeze rippling through the clearing. It felt light and ethereal, yet hidden within the breeze was a razor-sharp intent that made the hair on their necks stand up.
Before the wind settled, Water arrived. The blade's aura shifted into surging dark tides, creating ripples and wave patterns on the grass beneath his feet. The observers could almost hear the sound of the ocean and smell the salt in the air.
As the tide receded, the Stone emerged. The softness was replaced by a mountain-like majesty—heavy, solid, and unshakeable. Every movement felt like it carried the weight of the earth itself. Pure, crushing power.
But he wasn't done.
Between the mountains, dark clouds gathered. A storm was brewing.
The next second, Thunder descended. A blinding flash tore through the night sky, illuminating the forest like the first spark of creation.
Absolute speed. Absolute lethality.
"Um... Senior Uzui... did you see that?" Kanae whispered after a long silence.
The ninja was speechless. "Four... no, maybe five styles."
Only now did he realize that when Natsuya said "I'm not your Junior," he might have been telling the literal truth.
Natsuya sheathed his sword. "Four. Just four."
Uzui blurted out, "You're so flashy! Why the hell aren't you using Flame Breathing as your final form?!"
"I haven't gotten around to it yet," Natsuya admitted. "I was going to head there after leaving Nikaido's place, but this rescue mission popped up and I had to reroute."
Uzui was stunned into silence.
Kanae touched her lips with her fingertips, her eyes full of wonder. "Senior... so many styles? Were you taken in by a Cultivator as a small child?" Only someone who trained from birth could have the time to master all of this.
Taken in? Natsuya's "Xbox Live Chat Radar" pinged. Are you calling me an orphan?
Then he remembered his character bio. Wait... I am an orphan. Fair enough.
"It's been about... a few months?"
The Ninja and the Flower girl felt a massive surge of "Stat-Envy."
So this is what a true 'Prodigy' looks like?
Damn it. I'm not jealous. Not at all.
Uzui was privately thinking: If this kid gets the 'Full Set' of five basic styles, is he going to ascend and become the True God of Flashiness? My 'God of Festivals' title is going to look like a sidekick...
He shook his head violently. No! I'll just be the God of Melodies instead!
Natsuya, oblivious to Uzui's internal crisis, looked at Kanae. Though her injuries weren't as bad as the "bot teammate" Kojiro, she was still covered in cuts and bruises.
"Come here, Kanae."
The girl blinked, not understanding.
"I'm going to heal you."
The injuries are light, so the XP payout will be lower. But hey, every bit counts toward the level-up.
Seeing her hesitate, Natsuya didn't waste time and walked straight up to her.
For the first time, Kanae looked closely at the boy who had saved her from despair. His black hair fluttered in the moonlight, with deep sea-blue tips. His wind-patterned travel pack was slung over his shoulder, and a green rope knot hung from his belt. The goofy fox mask and wine gourd clinked against his hip.
It was a rugged, eccentric look, but it felt incredibly reliable.
She traced the lines of his face—sharp and youthful, yet holding a look of cold indifference. Her gaze caught the handle of the blacksmith's hammer peeking out of his bag. A swordsman who carries a hammer?
Suddenly, her eyes met Natsuya's.
Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked down, her fingers fidgeting with her sleeves.
"Treatment... here? Right now?" she whispered.
What am I saying?! she screamed internally, wanting to cover her mouth.
Natsuya didn't overthink it. He opened the System Interface.
Her injuries are shallower than the Kanoe guy... still a bit confusing to read.
Time to show off my medical achievements!
[SYSTEM! BEGIN TREATMENT!]
Natsuya reached out.
"Wait—wait! Senior! Please don't—"
[Select: Emergency Treatment Protocol]
[Strategy: Aggressive]
[Tools: Field Expedient]
[Duration: Short]
Suddenly, Natsuya's consciousness detached. The world began to move at "Cutscene Speed."
In front of him, a high-stakes [Match-3] and [QTE directional input] mini-game appeared.
The faster and more accurate the clicks, the higher the 'Surgical Bonus' multiplier.
When Natsuya snapped back to reality, the girl who had been covered in wounds was now mummified in thick layers of ointment and bandages. The job was clean, efficient, and professional.
Except...
"Why are you blushing?" Natsuya asked, genuinely confused.
☆☆☆
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