Volume 3 Chapter 47 Chasing The Shadow I
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The training here isn’t really about learning a Secret Technique. It’s about how to get close to the goal while hurting his body.
Of course, he can’t use it in a real fight.
A technique that makes him unable to fight is like going to die on purpose.
So, this reckless training is only to save Sarah.
”Ugh…”
He slides headfirst into the sand in front of Natra, who just stands there.
The longest record yet.
He’s getting used to the pain.
But he still can’t keep his balance while his body breaks.
He thinks his body will remember once he succeeds, but he’s still impatient.
”Sir Kian, healing quickly.”
”Sorry, please. …Ugh…”
(I’m tried it a few times, but even if I start with Acceleration, I can’t reach 15 meters in 2 steps from a standstill. I need a third step. If possible, I want a 4th step so I can change the timing and angle of my sword swing if Sarah reacts.)
Kian lifts his face from the sand.
”The wooden sword swing should be fine with a downward cut. If I rush forward, the sword swing should be sharp. The problem is how to kick off the ground with my right foot, which is already broken after the first step, and how to put my weight on the third step without problems. Also, when I kick off the ground on the first step, I need to be aware of the muscles I need to protect for the third step and beyond. I feel less strain if I put my weight slightly inward.”
”────”
Natra doesn’t react to Kian’s low mumbling, as if he’s talking to himself.
She’s fixing Kian’s knees and ankles and quietly using healing magic.
She washes her hands, which were stained with her master’s blood, with water magic and stands up.
”Again?”
Kian nods and gets up with a push.
”Yes, please.”
* * *
”──Again.”
Kian says it almost without thinking to Natra, who healed him, and then he suddenly realizes what he said.
The orange sunlight shone from the side, casting a dark shadow on Natra’s profile.
The distant cries of seabirds filled the air, while the sound of the waves echoed loudly.
The sea breeze had grown quite cold.
Kian propped himself up and looked around curiously.
”Is it already getting dark…? Did I lose track of time again?”
”Let’s stop for today. Sir Kian needs rest.”
Natra said that sharply and stood up.
Kian hurriedly slapped his knees, wincing at a dull ache that vibrated through his joints.
His vision felt dizzy and unstable.
It wasn’t just fatigue; it felt like he was low on blood too.
Besides that, he was quite hungry.
”Did I eat?”
”You only took a few sips of water while recovering.”
”What about Rufna?”
”She came by once but left because you were too focused. She said she would go to the library to read books on wraiths. Don’t you remember?”
”I don’t even recall hearing her voice.”
”Really…”
Natra sighed in exasperation.
”It’s good to focus, but losing awareness of your surroundings is problematic. You need to be more alert.”
”I’m sorry. I keep making you worry.”
”I’m not angry. Just a bit concerned. You seemed even more focused than usual today. I got scared when you misfired and shot toward the rocks during one of your accelerations. I thought you might hit your head and die.”
”Haha… I wish I could be as skilled as you, Natra… I really feel the difference in talent. You can recreate ‘Pursuit of the Shadow’ just by watching, while I struggle to barely shape a mock version after a whole day. I’m curious──have you ever faced difficulties or felt stuck during your training?”
”……. I don’t understand. But from memories, it seems most could do more than they were told. Often, wondered why the students around couldn’t do the same.”
”As expected.”
”I believe Sir Kian has talent.”
Natra said this with a serious face, but anyone listening might think, “Is she mocking him, that little girl?”
Somehow realizing her high charm was the reason she hadn’t found a partner.
Of course, he wouldn’t say this out loud.
”Shall we go home?”
”Yes. Ah, let me brush off the sand.”
Natra took the wooden sword from Kian, tucking it under her arm and started brushing off his entire body.
Thinking she could handle the sand on her face, she rubbed it with her hands, but then he said with a scary face, “Don’t move,” and stopped dead in her tracks.
Within seconds, she gently wiped the sand from his face, hair, neck, and behind his ears with a wet cloth.
The way she handled it was just like her──smooth and efficient.
”Thank you.”
”You’re welcome. ──Um, Sir Kian.”
”……?”
”Are you really going to help my sister?”
Natra said this while looking away.
Kian frowned.
”Do you think it would be better to reset Sarah’s personality?”
”No, I don’t think so. I have no thoughts about my sister, but a lack of memory is a kind of death. It’s better to be alive than to die. So, I think it’s best for my sister to be saved as she is. She doesn’t want to die, either. But…”
Natra hesitated, searching for words, and finally looked up at Kian with a determined look.
In the sunset, her dark eyes were shimmering.
A bit sharper in gaze than Sarah, with slightly thicker brows──a bit spoiled-looking.
Her pretty face was watching Kian with a worried expression.
”But Sir Kian will lose. Sister never truly loved you at all. In the end, she took the house of Nakash. No matter how desperately you try to bring her back, she will just leave you again to work on reviving Nakash.”
”Maybe so. But like I said before, I don’t mind. If she wants to go help her old gang, the thieves, I’ll share my travel money and say goodbye cleanly. My relationship with Sarah died 15 years ago. I understand that well.”
”That’s too sad. Working so hard and getting nothing in return. I don’t want to see you hurt again after being thrown away a second time by sister. I hope Sir Kian gets what he deserves. I want you to smile. That’s how I feel.”
”Natra…”
”This is my selfishness. I know that. But I can’t just leave you to go down a bad path.”
”Right. But I will save Sarah. That’s a must. It feels like an obligation. After rescuing her, I won’t just leave her there before she’s conscious. I’ll care for her, explain the situation when she wakes up, and then say goodbye. I think that will help Sarah not to feel confused.”
”…Understood. If your desire to save sister is that strong, I won’t say anything more. I’ll just act as your loyal familiar to help you.”
”You will help me rescue Sarah, right?”
”If that’s what you wish. But I must say one thing: if I were sister, I would have tossed aside my duties and boarded the ship with you. I swear that. To protect the house, to devote myself to the house──why is it so important? It’s invisible, and you can’t even touch it. I want to value people and their feelings more. Before being part of a clan, we are human beings.”
”…?”
(What is she trying to say?)
Natra simply said, “I’m not as smart as my sister or Almeisa,” without explaining much.
Kian still didn’t really understand what she meant, but maybe she was just worried about him in her own way?
Well, not understanding Natra’s thoughts wasn’t new.
If she didn’t want to interrupt the ritual, Kian had nothing to say to her.
”Should I change?”
”Yes.”
Natra fell silent, lost in thought, and walked away from Kian.
By the time Kian finished changing, she was no longer on the beach.
* * *
The next day, planning to practice the Secret Technique with very little magic power, Kian went to bed after eating enough nutrition without any big supplies.
The base Priscilla arranged was comfortable, and at night, a cool sea breeze came in through the open window, making it pleasant.
Lying on the moderately firm bed, Kian looked up at the ceiling with his hands behind his head.
(Is it bad to think about the third step already…? If I keeps my body balanced and doesn’t use extra muscles to hold my position, I should be able to do it in 2 steps, just like Rufna said. At least Natra, when using the Secret Technique ‘Pursuit of the Shadow,’ kicked and hit me with a wooden sword from 15 meters away in one step.)
Even if he couldn’t match Natra’s crazy leg strength like Sarah, 2 steps would need less than half the power.
Kian could do it.
(If I crosses my legs inward, I can support myself while falling forward and use it for Acceleration. Imagine, imagine. Fall forward.)
Abstract concepts were hard for him.
But without bringing this image to life, there would be no success.
Kian closed his eyes and kept picturing his movements in his mind.
”──Sir Kian.”
After spending a long time in the dark, he suddenly heard the hallway creak, and someone knocked on the door.
It was Natra.
Kian propped himself up on the bed with his elbow.
”What’s wrong?”
”May I come in?”
”It’s fine, but…”
”Excuse me.”
The door opened quietly, and a girl with short hair entered softly.
She wore a loose, white nightgown that showed little skin.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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