Chapter 9 – Shamak
Guts: "Family might be a good thing…"
He said it quietly, more to himself than to anyone else.
Several days had passed since Guts became a butler.It still sounded strange—how could a warrior who had slain Apostles, fought armies, and survived Hell itself… now wear a suit and serve tea?
And yet…He found himself enjoying it.For the first time, there was no blood, no screams, no nightmares chasing him with blades.Just quiet.Peace.
But maybe that peace was a little too much.It didn't feel real.
Right now, Guts was behind the mansion, training.Swing after swing, his massive sword cut through the air, stirring gusts of wind with every motion.
Guts (thinking): "Two days as a butler already… Doesn't suit me.That blue-haired maid… Rem, right? She keeps watching me from a distance.Probably under Roswaal's orders. Can't really blame them—I'm a stranger from nowhere.Still, I don't trust them completely."
His grip tightened on Dragonslayer as he kept practicing, sharp and precise.
Emilia: "Working hard, Guts?"
Guts: "Oh. Hey, kid. Just keeping in shape.Can't afford to get rusty. Been a while since I had a proper fight."
Puck: "Guess living in peace feels weird, huh?"
Guts looked at the floating fluffball.
Guts: "You all use magic, right?"
Emilia: "Well, yeah… but I don't use it that much."
Puck: "There's a difference.Mages use their own mana.Spiritualists borrow mana from spirits like me."
Guts: "Tch… What a weird system.You think I've got any magic in me?"
Puck (grinning): "Alright, big guy. Let's see what we're working with."
He touched Guts' hand. A small flash of bluish light sparked… then faded.
Puck (blinking): "Huh. That's… weird."
Guts: "Weird how?"
Puck (rubbing his chin): "Your mana is there… but it's faint. Pretty weak, honestly. Nothing fancy."
Guts: "Figures. I'm not built for that."
Puck (thoughtful): "Still… there's something strange about you.Like a scent I can't place.It's not mana… not exactly."
He blinked again, as if hesitating to say more. But then he changed the subject.
Puck (cheerfully): "Anyway! You've got the Darkness attribute. Rare, but that doesn't make you a prodigy."
Guts: "So… what can I even do with that?"
Puck: "Not much with your level. But you can still pull off a basic spell. Like this—Shamak!"
A black mist exploded from Puck's body, covering the area.
Guts: "Blind and disorient. I like it."
Puck: "Just don't expect it to hurt anyone. You've got enough muscle for that."
Puck kept his usual grin, but his gaze drifted for a moment.There was something inside Guts. Something old. Something cold.Not a spirit.Not ordinary dark mana.Something that didn't belong in this world.
He could have dug deeper.Asked more questions.But… a part of him didn't want to know.
Guts: "Hm… Not bad.More useful than smoke bombs. No sight, no smell."
When the mist cleared, Guts looked thoughtful.
Guts: "Could use this to mess with someone mid-fight."
Puck (surprised): "Thought you'd call it weak."
Guts (calmly): "I already have strength and technique.A little edge like this can make a difference."
Puck (amused): "Heh. Smart thinking."
Emilia (admiringly): "Guts-san always thinks so practically… I wonder if I'll be like that someday."
Guts (dry): "It's not thinking. It's experience.When you survive long enough, you learn what works."
He closed his eye and focused. A subtle pressure filled the air.
He raised his hand.
Guts: "Shamak."
A thin black mist formed around him—less stable than Puck's. It spread a few meters, then vanished.
Puck (tapping his cheek, puzzled): "Hm. Not bad for a first try.But don't expect to cast that more than once a day."
Guts: "It drains me more than it's worth."
Emilia (concerned): "You're still standing after that?"
Guts: "A little tired. But I've been through worse."
Emilia: "No! You need to rest!"
She frowned and searched her belt pouch, pulling out a small, bluish fruit.
Emilia: "Here. Bite this. It's a boco nut. Helps recover a little mana after casting a spell."
Guts: "Mana, huh…"
He turned it between his fingers, eyed its texture, then took a solid bite.The taste was strange—sweet, slightly bitter—but not bad.
Guts: "Hm… Not terrible."
A faint warmth filled his chest. No miracle. Just… a little less exhaustion.
Emilia (relieved): "See? It always helps a bit."
They sat down on the edge of a bench, saying nothing at first.No forced affection. No awkward closeness. Just a pause between two survivors.
Guts (thinking): "This world's weird. But if even the fruit is useful, I won't complain."
Emilia (smiling): "I always keep some for emergencies."
A quiet calm settled around them. The sound of wind. Birds. Peace.
Then, without looking at him, Emilia spoke:
Emilia: "You know… moments like this, when someone's here and you don't need to talk…Is this what friendship feels like?"
Guts looked at her. She wasn't pretending. She really wanted to understand.
Guts: "Could be."
He sat up a little straighter and placed the empty nut shell beside him.
Guts: "Are we… friends?"
The words slipped out before he realized.
Emilia blushed.Then smiled, gently.
Emilia: "Y-Yes… I think so."
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