Chapter 59: Side Effects (1/2)

After continuing the hunt for a few more hours, the night finally came.

Alea and Theo returned to their basecamp, where they left some tools, mostly for cooking.

Since Alea was satisfied, she cooked a full course meal for both of them. Although it wasn't as good as his master's, it was better than average. His cooking couldn't be compared to her to be honest.

They sat in front of a small campfire, eating their meal peacefully with some crickets noises in the background.

Suddenly, Theo opened his mouth, asking the question he had this whole time. ”Why did you not use your left hand earlier? I mean, even an amateur like me could see that your swing was faster, sharper, and more refined compared to your right hand's. Are you trying to take pity on me?”

Alea looked down with a sad expression.

Theo sighed and shook his head helplessly. ”That's not important. I just want to know whether you are going to continue using your left hand or right hand.”

Alea smiled and raised her head. ”I am sorry that I can't share this story with you. However, I can assure you that I will continue using my left hand. Though, I'm not sure whether to use it or not when fighting against the others.”

”Why? That's dumb.”

”Sorry.” Alea looked down, recalling her past again. Somehow, her left hand started shaking and forced her right hand to stop it. ”I think you need to know this one. After losing the ability to wield the sword with my left hand, I began practicing my right hand.

”But even with my right hand, which I think only amounts to 30 percent of my power, I'm still considered the number one in the school. I'm just afraid that if I use my left hand again… People will fear me just like how I fear my own left hand.”

”Trauma, huh.” Theo narrowed his eyes and contemplated.

”Sorry.”

”I'm sorry to say this, but I will just say what I've seen about you. I am assuming that you're nice to everyone because of your trauma.”

”Part of it. Well, I do indeed like them, but the thought of me losing them scares me. I'm pathetic, right? It's fine to make fun of me.”

”Yes. The reason for your trauma is pathetic, dumb, childish, insignificant, idiotic… I can insult it with every word I know.” Theo suddenly paused and Alea looked down, knowing that she needed to face this at some point. However, Theo continued with something outside her expectation. ”Yes… It is everything… but not humorous.”

Hearing that answer, she couldn't help but smile.

”Though, I still need to say it. Annoying.” Theo narrowed his eyes. ”What will you do in front of death? Will you keep it away like this?”

”That… I can't answer. But as long as we are hunting monsters together, I think I will be using my left hand.”

Theo thought there was a need to force her to overcome that trauma, but the only way to do it was by risking his life. At the moment, he didn't feel like gambling with his life for her, so he chose to discard that option.

'That means it's in the second stage of training…' Theo narrowed his eyes and contemplated. ”I want to confirm it again. You don't want to use your left hand in the second stage of training?”

”I think yes. Even with that, I'm pretty strong, you know.”