Chapter 155 Practice and Bath
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Hiroya’s POV)
”To unleash a series of thrusts, you need to be aware of the speed of your ‘pulling back.’.”
Training started before dawn. After Asuka demonstrated a few “rapid strikes” as an example, she gave me one piece of advice.
”…Fast…”
Gièze murmured as he watched.
”The sword technique you asked me to teach you, ‘Obu Muso Style,’ was broken by that series of strikes.”
I picked up the Bokken sword that was leaning against the wall.
”What’s the countermeasure?”
”You can only take it head-on… I guess. But if it’s ‘Old-Style Iaido – Obu Muso Style’… then it might be about dodging continuously.”
”…Can you do that?”
”I’ll give it a try.”
It was my practice for ‘thrusting techniques,’ but it was also a good chance to show Gièze the ‘Obu Muso Style.’ Plus, it was a way to test what Elberhardt had said.
”Asuka. Just like last time, can you seal my Iaido? I want to try something…”
Asuka readied her sword, which was sheathed at her left hip, and aimed it at me with a focused gaze.
”…Alright. Come at me.”
I responded to Asuka’s words with my stance. I lowered my hips and took a low position, placing my hand on the Bokken sword at my left hip.
(I’ll let ‘Hiroya’ show in their eyes…)
I partially used ‘Physical Boost,’ focusing the power in my eyes. I held back the surge of strength throughout my body and concentrated on my gaze…
I opened my eyes and kicked off the snow-covered ground. I rushed towards Asuka and stepped right just before reaching her.
I drew my sword. My strike aimed at Asuka’s torso was deflected by her swiftly moving sword, which twisted and countered from the middle stance.
(Here comes the series of thrusts!)
Last time, I kept taking hits. But this time…
(One more step, I stepped right and sheathed my sword.)
”──!?”
Right after I dodged, Asuka’s expression shifted slightly as she launched a thrust.
Even while she was sheathing her sword, Asuka’s thrust was coming at me.
(I can follow her…!)
I deflected the thrust with my body turned sideways.
Without missing a beat, she aimed a quick and precise thrust in the direction I dodged.
(I can see it… or rather, I can read it!)
I turned my body again and dodged once more.
(The next thrust is… fast, but a fake)
A thrust aimed at my head. I tilted my head back slightly and barely dodged it.
(By tilting my head, I left an opening in my body… she’ll aim for that…)
Without completing the thrust, the Bokken sword was quickly pulled back to aim for my torso, coming in faster than before. She stepped in deeper.
However, since I had read that the head thrust was a fake, I only made minimal movements, so I could dodge this thrust.
As I turned my body again, Asuka’s thrust slipped past my right side. This was the moment to draw my sword. I stopped the Bokken sword just short of Asuka’s neck.
”…I give up…”
Asuka sheathed her Bokken sword, looking a bit frustrated.
* * *
”I never thought you would sheath your sword there…”
”I thought if I released my ‘power’ just here… maybe I could follow Asuka’s movements.”
I pointed to my eyes as I said this.
”I see… so you had me figured out.”
Asuka smiled wryly.
”Mr. Hiroya! You dodged that fast thrust perfectly!”
Gièze ran over, her cheeks flushed and a bit excited. She’s cute.
”It was close, but I managed because my eyes kept up.”
”Still, it’s a level I can’t handle yet…”
”I need to start by mastering precise sword techniques that I can use from any stance or position.”
”Yes!”
I handed the Bokken sword that Aluda and the others had prepared for me to Gièze.
Practicing Iaido with a Bokken sword is better than with a wooden sword. Gièze happily accepted the Bokken sword, ran to the center of the garden, and started practicing her swings.
”…I came to give you training, but it looks like I ended up being a forward scout for your disciple.”
”Well, I’m going to practice too, you know? Asuka’s fast thrusts are really appealing to my swordsmanship, which is all about speed.”
”…Well, good luck. I won’t hold back on helping you. Besides, I also…”
”?”
”No, I realized that I still have a long way to go. I need to improve.”
As I started practicing my thrusts, Asuka began practicing beside me as well.
* * *
”””Good morning, Sir Hiroya!”””
The double doors leading from the backyard to the dining hall opened, and the wolf maids Suu, Noo, and Uu lined up to greet me.
”Good morning. Thanks for today too.”
”””Yes!”””
They cheerfully headed to the kitchen.
”Mr. Hiroya, good morning. Everyone, would you like some tea?”
”Good morning, Ms. Hanna! Yes, could you please?”
With a gentle smile, Ms. Hanna also went to the kitchen.
”The maids are… really quick, huh?”
”Yeah. I’m always grateful for how well they work.”
While looking at the slightly brightening eastern sky, I handed towels to Asuka and Gièze.
”Thank you.”
Even though it was a winter early morning, the 3 of us were drenched in sweat.
”Let’s call it a morning for now. How about some tea?”
We decided to wrap up our practice and head back to the mansion.
* * *
In the dining hall warmed by the fireplace, we drank tea.
”As expected my body was hot during practice, but now that it’s cooling down, the fireplace and hot tea are really nice.”
”You could take a bath… Gièze, how about you?”
”Right, since it’s a hot spring, we can go anytime. I won’t hold back.”
”I was planning to do that from the start. I brought a change of clothes too.”
As expected of Ms. Asuka.
”Hiroya, you should join us too. If you don’t wash off the sweat, you’ll get cold.”
”Wait! That’s not going to happen!?”
”Why not?”
Asuka tilted her head seriously.
”Because! Men and women! Naked! That’s impossible!”
Gièze raised her voice in panic.
”I have no problem with that.”
”No, there is, Ms. Asuka! I can’t take a bath with Gorge’s girlfriend!”
”Don’t worry. I only feel desire for Gorge.”
”Well, it’s not that kind of problem…”
Next to me, while I was talking to Asuka, Gièze had her head down, her face red.
”I can’t let Hiroya catch a cold.”
Oh no… she won’t listen to me…
* * *
(Gièze’s POV)
(No, think about it, Gièze… this is an opportunity.)
I told myself that. Is Mr. Hiroya really a gentleman? I can test it out in this mixed bath.
”I’m fine… really.”
”Gièze???”
”Then let’s hurry and get in. Even though it’s warm by the fireplace, if we sweat, our bodies will cool down and we might catch a cold.”
At Ms. Asuka’s cue, she and I dragged Mr. Hiroya into the bath.
* * *
When we finally arrived at the bath, Mr. Hiroya suddenly stripped off his clothes and ran into the bathing area.
”Huh? What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to take it off?”
When I turned around, Ms. Asuka was already completely naked. She was holding a towel, but it wasn’t covering anything.
”Uh, I-I’ll be right there…”
”Okay. Then I’ll go in first.”
(Alright. This is for Princess Karin. I have to swallow my shame…)
I quickly took off my clothes and dashed into the bathing area.
* * *
…After that, I don’t remember much.
Before getting into the hot water, I washed my body away from Mr. Hiroya and Ms. Asuka, finished washing quickly, and then soaked in the tub.
”Just as expected from Hiroya. You’re well-trained. Your strength shows that it’s the result of hard work.”
Ms. Asuka’s voice piqued my interest, and I couldn’t help but look back. …And what caught my eye was… Mr. Hiroya’s well-built body and… his impressive size.
That’s where my memory cuts off.
* * *
When I came to, I found myself on the bed… with Princess Karin’s worried face peering down at me.
”Karin──Karina… what happened to me?”
”Hey, I was worried! I heard you collapsed in the bath…”
”Ah…”
The scene that caused me to collapse flashes back in my mind.
(That was the first time I saw… a man’s thing… was it really that big?)
I can feel the blood rushing to my head.
”Ugh──.”
”Gisela!? Gièze!”
And in the distance, I hear Princess Karin’s voice calling out…
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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