Chapter 8 Practice
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Ei! Ei! Ei! Ei…”
After school, I finished lunch and came to Kazumi’s house. I’m just swinging my wooden sword over and over.
* * *
First, my master, Knight Müller, said to me,
”Try swinging like your body moves on its own, just like yesterday.”
So, I tried a few forms from the ‘Obu Muso Style’ that I remembered.
I knew it, but it still felt like I was just copying the forms without really understanding them. I guess yesterday was just a fluke…
”Hmm… It really resembles the swordsmanship I know from the East.”
According to my master, the features of having black eyes and black hair originally come from the eastern part of this continent.
”I talked with the lord yesterday, and it seems your family’s bloodline is also from that area. Ours is too, so we hit it off.”
Well, it seems it goes back many generations, so he doesn’t know much about the eastern lands.
”During the peak of the Welnia Empire, there was a small country called ‘Himuka’ in the East that never surrendered. Eventually, it was attacked and destroyed, and its clan and people scattered all over the continent.”
When I heard more about ‘Himuka,’ it sounded like a culture similar to Japan from our world long ago.
”Anyway, when I watch your movements, it feels like the swordsmanship that developed there. If you want to ‘put a killing blow into every strike,’ let’s first train your accuracy and speed.”
That’s why I’m continuing to practice like this.
* * *
”Focus on one point… aim for that… and accurately capture it from any flow of tachi…”
Upper section, upper right section, upper left section, lower right section, lower left section, middle right section, middle left section…
I focused on a single point in front of me from various angles.
(Anyway, accurately and quickly…)
”Yeah. It feels nostalgic…”
The sweat flowing down felt good. I really hated all the different lessons I took when I was young, but I loved going to the dojo.
I remembered all the training we did, so at first, I thought my master wouldn’t have to step in much.
However, using a sword in this world is quite different from my original world.
It’s not just against monsters; when facing humanoid opponents, I have to deal with various weapons and armor.
I’ve never even faced an opponent with a shield.
Once I learned the basics and became somewhat capable, the importance of my master’s teachings really increased.
(First, I need to swing the sword properly so I can move well.)
I continued to practice swinging the sword with single-minded focus.
* * *
”Good job. You swung well. The important thing is to get used to the sword and build your basic stamina.”
My master handed me a towel as I rested on a bench in the yard.
”Well, I’m going to the barracks, but make sure to finish up after a little more practice. Don’t overdo it.”
He placed his hand on my head as he said that.
”Thank you.”
”After practice, play with Kazumi. It seems she was doing something with Little Rena in the backyard.”
My master waved lightly and went off to work.
(Oh, he said he would teach me magic.)
* * *
”Hiroyaaa! Are you done with practice?”
As I continued swinging for a while, Kazumi and Rena ran over to me.
”Yeah. I’m done.”
”Ah!”
Kazumi covered her eyes with both hands. Oh, I realized I was shirtless.
”Wow, for an 8-year-old, you have a pretty strong body.”
Rena blushed but kept staring.
”Sorry. I want to put on my clothes soon, but let me just wipe off some sweat.”
I ran to the well at the edge of the garden. I filled a bucket with water, soaked a towel, and wrung it out.
”Whoa! It’s cold and feels nice.”
”Do you want me to wipe your back?”
Rena said from behind me. The way she said it felt a bit suggestive.
”W-Wait, I’ll wipe it for you!”
Kazumi snatched the towel from my hands, soaked it in the bucket again, and started wiping my back.
* * *
”So, how’s the magic going? Have you learned anything?”
I asked while putting on my shirt.
”Magic is all about talent and imagination. If you don’t have talent, you can’t use it at all. Even if you have talent, it’s tough to turn your imagination into magical power.”
Rena answered while sitting on a bench.
”Well, in Kazumi’s case, she has the talent. Right now, she’s training to visualize her magic in her mind. Once she can do that, she’ll be able to use some basic magic pretty quickly.”
Saying that, Rena held out her palm. After a moment, a soft glowing orb appeared in her hand.
”I hope you can use magic like this in a week, Hiroya.”
”Can I really do it in such a short time?”
I asked Rena while Kazumi helped me put on a vest from behind.
”The ‘Wisp’ magic is the easiest to visualize with magical power. Just do your best!”
Instead Rena, Kazumi said, taking a deep breath and striking a victory pose with both hands.
”By the way, what kind of magic do you want me to learn, Kazumi?”
”Well, first you should focus on being able to use magic, right?”
I looked at Kazumi in disbelief.
”Yeah. Since we’re assuming a party of 3, what roles should we take? As for me, I can handle healing and attacking, no problem. Direct combat is… tough for me.”
Rena follows up on Kazumi’s question.
”I see. If that’s the case… I’d like to be able to use body enhancement or support skills, okay?”
”That sounds kind of boring… Can’t you just learn that yourself, Hiroya?”
Kazumi pouts.
”Boring, huh…”
”Yeah. If you have the basics of magic down, body enhancement magic is easy to learn. After all, it works well with swordsmen.”
”Then Kazumi, I guess we should leave that to Hiroya… So, Hiroya, I’ll learn some flashy attack magic and go wild with Rena.”
”…Please don’t drag me into your flashy attack magic when you’re fighting the enemies…”
* * *
”So, where are we going to hang out today, you two?”
”I want to check out the area around Rena’s house, the town center!”
”Oh, me too, Rena. It’s the busiest part of the village, after all.”
”Hmm. Then let me guide you.”
We held hands as usual and ran off together.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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Comments
5 responses to “Iseboshi 8”
Random thought: I’ve never understood how a culture with some of the best woodworking in the world produced such garbage tier shields as Japan. Such wasted potential.
Random thought: I’ve never understood how a culture with some of the best woodworking in the world produced such garbage tier shields as Japan. Such wasted potential.
Random thought: I’ve never understood how a culture with some of the best woodworking in the world produced such garbage tier shields as Japan. Such wasted potential.
Random thought: I’ve never understood how a culture with some of the best woodworking in the world produced such garbage tier shields as Japan. Such wasted potential.
Random thought: I’ve never understood how a culture with some of the best woodworking in the world produced such garbage tier shields as Japan. Such wasted potential.