*clang*

*clang*

"Graough. (Your moves are really clumsy, you know?)"

*clang*

Zombie growled while slapping away the giant blade as if it was an annoying fly.

The carriage wasn't moving too fast and the shaking was within the tolerable margin but that was only if one wasn't waving an oversized sword while struggling to keep their balance like Roan was.

"Hgraah!"

The prince roared and swiped at Zombie's legs with an overdrawn swing.

*swish*

But the blue undead simply jumped over it and landed back on the roof as if nothing happened.

*clang*

Though he did ended up lightly kicking the sword which threw off Roan's balance and left the prince desperately swinging one arm trying his best not to fall off.

It was already the second day of their travels and Roan did gain the rooted skill so he was able to stay on top of the carriage, but when it came to actually attack, his swings were just as obvious and telegraphed as the tutorial boss's in a video game.

*clang*

"Ughh…!"

"Graough? (How about you'll try to find your center of gravity instead of just swinging blindly?) Graough... (Seriously, it's like you expect your skill level to raise without improving your ability...)"

Zombie allowed the blade to hit his head and bounce off, which has caused numbness to spread through the prince's arms.

"I don't understand what you're trying to say!"

Roan clicked his tongue and attacked again.

*clang*

The result was the same as before.

"Graough? (That's not really my problem, is it?)"

Zombie grunted and smacked the sword a bit harder than he intended to, and causing the prince to spin around like a top, almost breaking his waist.

"Ghuah! B-be more careful, will you?! It's supposed to be just a training session!"

Roan complained massaging the swelling wrist that almost got snapped off.

"Graough. (Yeah, yeah, whatever.)"

Zombie waved his hand dismissively and made a sour expression.

The difference in his behavior when he was with Cranberry and when he was separated from her, was astounding.

It was as if all his positive energy and happiness completely disappeared leaving only an annoyed undead glaring coldly at the young prince.

*clang*

"Graough. (You are going to hurt yourself if you will continue to make such wide swings.) Graough (You are lucky that waving that lump of metal can double as strength training.) Graough. (Because I can't see any other benefit.)"

Zombie growled.

*clang*

"Grough? (Oh, was that another attack?) Graough. (It took you so long that I almost fell asleep.) Graough. (And I can't fall asleep because I'm an undead.)"

Zombie fake yawning and flicked the blade and caused the prince to almost lose his balance again.

*clang* *clang* *clang* *clang*

"Graough… (Seriously, that's sad…) Graough, graough. (At this rate, you're going to get the thrash skill instead of something that has anything to do with your weapon.)

A series of mindless attacks more suited for blunt weapon users like Cranberry fell on Zombie's head and shoulders but we're deflected effortlessly with just a single swipe of a hand.

Funnily enough, Zombie wasn't defecting those attacks because they could actually harm him but rather because he didn't want his new clothes to get ruined.

"Graough, graough...! (Come on! Figure out how to properly fight with your weapon so I can go back to my Cranberry's side...!)"

He growled, getting actually annoyed.

"…my Cranberry…?!"

Obviously, neither of them noticed that Cranberry - who was inside the carriage, after all - flinched and whispered in disbelief as her face got dyed completely red, while the light of the skill faded from her ears.

The prince was too busy catching his breath to react to the angry growls, so Zombie rolled his eyes and pointed at the oversized weapon.

"Graough. (That weapon.) Graough? (Why do you even use it?) Graough? (Or are you seriously using it for strength training?)"

He growled very slowly while tilting his head trying to convey the question the best he could.

"…"

But seeing a complete lack of understanding from Roan, the blue undead ended up imitating the blonde prince swinging the heavy two-handed sword and then he opened his arms and shrugged his shoulders with a questioning expression.

"...?"

Roan shook his head in confusion and glanced at his sword.

"What, are you asking me why I chose this weapon instead of something more useful?"

He raised his brow and asked.

"Graough! (Yes, exactly!) Graough? (Why would you choose something that you can't properly use?) Graough? (Are you a masochist?)"

Zombie clapped his hands and nodded rather condescendingly, but thankfully the prince didn't seem to mind that an undead puppet is making fun of him.

Or maybe he was so tired already that he welcomed a chance to catch a breath - after all, he was swinging that useless lump of metal for hours without a break.

"That's because of my inborn affinity. The giantslayer. It boosts my ATK against any opponents that are at least twice my size, the bigger the more it increases."

He boasted, placing a hand on his chest in a display of pride.

"...though there are hardly any enemies large enough that they would require me to use this heavy greatsword..."

Unexpectedly, Roan lost his gusto and rubbed the back of his head with an awkward expression.

"To tell the truth, it's all because of a silly dream of mine, you know?"

Roan smirked and explained, supporting himself on the sword.

" You know the old legends, right? About heroes of the past conquering the wilderness and fighting with dragons, angels, true demons, titans, and even gods themselves! Well, my dream is to be like one of those heroes. Or more specifically, I want to be like the seven great elders of the past, and face against God-level monsters just like they did."

He declared while putting his armored fist to his chest.

" Or at least get to the Sloth's territory, like my grandfather, and try fighting against something like a titan-class monster. But don't tell that to your master, alright?"

He let out an embarrassed laugh and looked away from the motionless undead.

"Graough. (I see.) Graough? (Your dream doesn't sound half bad, you know?)"

But funnily enough, that childish dream was something that slightly warmed Zombie towards the prince, and the blue undead waved his hand dismissively while grunting.