Chapter 688 Departure And Olga’s Guidance
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The morning air was crisp, the training ground out back filled with the sharp whoosh of bokken slicing through air.
Asuka and I stood side by side, swinging in a steady rhythm, exchanging light conversation between strikes.
”Right. Kazumi and Rena are heading out for the ‘magic camp’ this morning,” Asuka said.
”Yeah, I heard the students are gathering pretty early,” I replied. “I want to finish up and go see them off.”
Across from us, Gieze and Violet were immersed in their own drills, each swing drenched in sweat and focus. Just behind them stood Frieda—the leader of the Famière clan’s Frieda squad and Vice-Captain of the clan itself. Her posture was straight, bokken firm in her grip.
At her side, the vanguard warriors—Warda, Berta, Clay—moved with decisive, powerful arcs, cutting cleanly through the air.
Also present this time were Annabelle and Silke from Laura’s squad, absent until recently due to the Great Labyrinth expedition. Even the tank-class warrior Eugenia had returned, now sweating it out alongside them.
(Wow, this place has turned into a full-blown dojo…)
While thinking that, I let my gaze drift toward the back row. There, Olga stood.
She was a heavy-armored warrior from Ares’s party, now under Famière’s banner. Her grip on the bokken was solid—but her movements were awkward, uncertain.
(It was just me and Asuka who invited her to morning practice… but is my guidance even going to help someone with a heavy-armor fighting style?)
Olga’s style was brute-force, sacrificing speed to pulverize opponents with overwhelming blows. She didn’t dodge—she absorbed attacks through her armor, pressing forward with unrelenting aggression.
I remembered what she’d said last night in the dining hall.
’Gisela—seeing how much Gieze has grown made me realize I can’t stay idle. You mentioned morning practice before… please, let me join!’
I’d invited her, sure—but now I wasn’t sure what to teach her. As I swung my bokken, I mulled it over.
(Maybe she should start with muscle enhancement and ‘Physical Boost’-type magic.)
Before I could reach a decision, the morning drills came to a close. I lowered my bokken, catching my breath as the scent of dew mingled with the quiet of shared exertion.
* * *
”Well then, I’m off! Take care while I’m gone!”
”Go get stronger!”
Kazumi and Rena stood at the carriage in the central square, clad in fresh travel gear, shiny bags slung across their backs. In Kazumi’s hand was a staff—old, but ornate—said to have come from Zett’s merchant guild, a crystalline gem set at the tip glittering in the sunlight.
Clan members and fellow trainees gathered around to see them off. The wooden wheels groaned as the carriage began to roll, slowly vanishing down the road toward the heart of town.
”It feels kinda lonely… but it’s for Kazumi’s sake,” Simone murmured.
”Yeah. Hope she brings something back from the camp,” Liz said softly.
The morning light touched their hair, casting a wistful hue on the scene.
’Hohoho♡ Well then, look forward to it, alright? Kazumi’s definitely going to get caught up in something interesting♡’ Lilith said, grinning.
’Yeah, especially since it’s a training camp in the ‘Closed World,’ and they’ve got that in their possession…’ Frejya added with a sly smirk.
That phrase snagged my attention. I couldn’t help but jump in.
”Huh? What do you mean by—?”
But the two only left behind a trail of cryptic grins as they slipped back into the clan house.
Their conversation lingered in my thoughts, but I shook it off for now. First came Olga’s training. I left Asuka and Gieze to guide the others and called Olga over, leading her to the edge of the garden.
The morning sun gleamed off the sweat on her neck.
”I’m… supposed to use ‘Physical Boost’!?” Olga blinked at me.
”Yeah. If someone like you—heavy armor and all—can move fast, that alone becomes a huge edge.”
Her eyes widened at the idea.
”Whether it’s the ‘Obu Muso Style’ I teach, or Asuka’s style, speed is the key,” I explained.
”I see… so it doesn’t really suit my usual fighting,” she muttered, brows furrowed.
As expected from a former royal guard of Gaeltheus—her grasp was quick.
”Right. But you don’t have to toss your style. Think of it more like adding ‘speed’ as a plus-alpha.”
That brightened her expression a little. But then she looked down, voice low.
”But… my magical aptitude is pretty bad. I’m not great at refining magic inside my body.”
I paused, thinking it over.
She could handle basic spells just fine, but high-intensity combat magic was a different beast.
”To use magic in battle, you need to refine magical power fast.”
A quiet voice came from behind.
Turning, I found Shinobu. She was out on her usual patrol, keeping watch over Sasha, the head of Zett’s merchant guild.
”Sorry to interrupt,” she said, bowing lightly. “I overheard during patrol.”
Her voice was calm, her smile gentle.
”I have a suggestion—about refining magical power.”
All eyes locked on her. Holding out both hands, Shinobu began to intricately weave her fingers together.
”In the Yagiu family, we call this ninjutsu. By forming seals, it allows you to rapidly refine inner magical power.”¹
T/N ¹: Ninjutsu here refers to a stylized martial/magical technique in Japanese fiction involving hand-signs or “seals” to control energy.
As she spoke, her fingers moved in a blur, forming several distinct shapes.
”Fire Pillars!“
With a sharp call, a pillar of flame erupted several meters ahead. The ground shimmered with heat as the morning air warped.
”Your fingers… those movements…?” Olga asked, stunned.
”Yes,” Shinobu nodded. “These ‘seals’ support the magical flow. For physical boost types, it goes like this.”
She demonstrated again, slower this time. Olga watched closely, mimicking the hand motions.
”The key is mental focus. The seals are only a guide. You must imagine the refining process—vividly and strongly.”
Olga nodded, fingers trembling slightly as she concentrated.
”Ms. Shinobu! Please—teach me this technique!”
Grabbing Shinobu’s hand, Olga pleaded with raw urgency. Shinobu glanced at me, surprised—but smiled almost instantly.
”Yeah. I’m asking too,” I said. “Please teach Olga the ‘Physical Boost’ magic.”
Placing a hand to her chest, Shinobu answered with resolve.
”Understood. I’ll take full responsibility for training Lady Olga!”
* * *
The bathhouse after practice was as lively as ever—but Frieda’s trio, Warda, Berta, and Clay, kept sneaking glances at me, cheeks tinged pink.
It wasn’t quite the dramatic commotion from last time—no fainting or anything—but their mix of shyness and curiosity seemed to hang thick in the steam.
…Well, at least Olga wasn’t here yet. Still under Shinobu’s wing, thankfully.
* * *
After breakfast, with Frieda’s group off on their own duties, I returned to the backyard. I rolled my shoulders, bokken in hand.
Though I’d just finished exploring the labyrinth, and technically this was a rest period, I couldn’t sit still—not while Kazumi and Rena were out pushing themselves at the magic camp.
Even after morning practice, I stepped forward again, checking the feel of my stance—the weight of the bokken in my hands.
Notes:
• Frieda – Current Sub-leader of Hip-Rose
• Annabell – Fighter of Rose Hip
• Eugenia – Tank of Rose Hip. Laura’s childhood friend.
• Laura – The girl, formerly captured by Otto, is now a member of Hip-Rose.
• Silke – Fighter of Rose Hip
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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