Chapter 6 With an 8-Year-Old’s Stamina
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
As the buildings and trees turned orange in the sunset, we arrived at Kazumi’s house.
”I’m home~!”
As I walked through the gate with Kazumi, I heard the sound of wood striking wood in the yard.
(Nostalgic)
It’s a sound I used to hear a lot in my original world. It reminds me of sparring at the dojo.
”Oh! Kazumi! Welcome back!”
Kazumi’s dad greeted us with a loud voice, holding a wooden sword and a round shield. It looked like he was practicing with someone.
”Hiroya. Come here for a second.”
My dad, also holding a wooden sword and shield, called me over.
(This is… yeah. I’m going to be made to do this.)
Before leaving home, Dad had said, “Lord Müller will give you some training.”
When I got to Dad, he casually picked a shorter wooden sword from those leaning against the wall of the house and handed it to me.
”This should be good for you, Hiroya.”
It was a short wooden sword, about 40 to 50 cm (≈ 15.75 to 19.69 inches) long. It felt really light in my hands. It was the right size for me as a kid, but it was too short for the sword techniques I learned in my original world.
I swung it a few times and then chose another size from the leaning wooden swords. I really wanted something like a “bokken,” but I wondered if there were 2-handed swords like “tachi” in this world.
For now, I picked a wooden sword about 1m (39 inch) long. I swung it a few times with both hands. Based on my experience at the dojo, it should be heavy for an 8-year-old, but for me, it felt just right.
(As Mr. Rudolf told me, kids grow up fast in this world. I have the build of a 10-year-old, and maybe my strength is higher… or could it be the effect of the ‘Goddess’s Blessing’?)
Rena said that the blessing (kiss) she gave me raised my status a bit.
”I’ll take this, Dad. And I don’t need a shield.”
”Hmm. A 2-handed sword, huh? Do as you like.”
Now, I just need to see if I can use the sword skills I learned in my original world. I have the knowledge, at least.
* * *
”Alright. Let’s see the potential of the lord’s son. Kazumi, step back a bit.”
”Hiroya…”
Kazumi’s dad makes Kazumi step back, and Kazumi looks at me with a worried face. It’s okay, I’m just a kid holding a sword for the first time, so I don’t think I’ll do anything reckless. Probably.
To check my body’s movements, I step side to side. Yeah. Feels good. I think I can move better than a normal 8-year-old. Thanks, Rena.
”Oh…”
Kazumi’s dad faces me, holding a wooden sword and shield.
I hold the wooden sword with my left hand at my waist and bow first.
I lower my stance, grab the wooden sword with my right hand, and stare at Kazumi’s dad.
The sword technique I learned in my original world is called ‘Iaido.’
More specifically, it’s a style called ‘Ancient Iai: Obu Muso Style,’ which has been passed down only in my family for about 400 years. It developed from the “Muso the Dream Style” of the founder of Iaido, Hayasaki Jinsuke.
Kazumi’s dad watches my movements for a while. But I don’t make a move. I try my best technique, waiting for my opponent to strike first.
”Alright. Then I’ll go first, Hiroya.”
Before I know it, Kazumi’s dad thrusts the wooden sword at me.
Seeing that, I step forward while staying low.
”!”
I swing the wooden sword up from my left hip. I drop the tip and, with my grip facing up, I deflect the thrusting wooden sword.
(Good. I can move.)
I stepped forward another step toward Kazumi’s dad, lowering my stance and swinging my wooden sword in a diagonal cut.
”Ugh!”
As expected of Kazumi’s dad, known as the Guardian Knight. He sensed that his round shield wouldn’t be able to block in time and leaned back to dodge my blade.
(One more time!)
This is where our Iai shines. I pulled back my blade and swung it horizontally from above. My target was his throat.
However, that strike was quickly blocked by his round shield.
I jumped back and placed the wooden sword back at my left hip.
(Didn’t work… but my body moved better than I thought.)
Kazumi’s dad looked at my dad in surprise.
”Your swordsmanship… you said it was your first time, right?”
”Yeah. ──Hiroya… when did you learn that move?”
My dad looked at me, surprised as well.
”Huh? Ah… well, it’s like my body moved on its own…”
”I see. But I saw something like that once when I faced a warrior from the East. A sword style that focuses on quick movements from the sheathed position. Hiroya’s style is just like that…”
Kazumi’s dad leaned the wooden sword and round shield against the wall and sat down on a bench in the garden while speaking to my dad.
Kazumi, who looked worried when we started, suddenly hugged me with a big smile.
”That was amazing, Hiroya! What Rena said was true!”
”Oh yeah, she did say I could become a sword master.”
I replied softly while holding Kazumi.
”Lord, may I have the honor of watching Hiroya’s training?”
”It’s an honor to have the country’s best swordsman, the Guardian Knight, take charge. Please take care of him.”
It seems like the dads were able to talk things over.
”We can meet every day after school now.”
Kazumi whispered softly in my ear.
”Remember, it’s training, not play…”
Well, Mr. Rudolf also said something like “Don’t neglect your training until graduation.” If I get stronger, I can protect Kazumi too.
”Thank you very much, Master Müller.”
I bowed to Kazumi’s dad.
”I’ve been interested in your swordsmanship before. I plan to learn from you as well.”
Kazumi’s dad smiled.
I have the forms and movements of Iaijutsu in my head. Now, I just need to make my body follow them.
And improving my basic physical strength is important.
* * *
”Your body moved on its own, huh? It’s strange how things work sometimes.”
On the way back from Kazumi’s house, my dad said that while looking at me.
I can’t shake the feeling that he sees right through me.
”Well, it seems you weren’t lying when you said you were good at swordsmanship.”
I feel like he’s smiling mischievously, but maybe that’s just my imagination.
”There are many strange things in the world. I’m proud of you, my son. Now and always.”
”Yeah.”
As the sun completely set and the road grew dark, I hurried home, holding my dad’s hand.
It’s not that Knight Müller is weak; he was caught off guard by an unfamiliar sword style and the movements of an 8-year-old.
Thanks to the “Goddess’ Blessing,” his stats might have risen to about the average level of a ten-year-old in this world? (It’s a bit unclear…) If you call that a cheat, then I guess it is.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.