Chapter 41 (1/2)
Chapter 41- The smell of death from the sword training
If you are reading this on a place other than rinkagetranslation.com, this chapter has been stolen and is neither the most recent or complete chapter.
“What’s the matter?! Are you tired already?”
“Shall we take a break after around 50 bouts?”
“If you were to retreat for even one step, I’ll add another 50 more bouts!”
“It’ll be alright. Humans don’t die that easily.”
“You’re receiving them so you can attack. The moment you begin receiving them, it’ll be over.”
“You’re neglecting your steps!”
If you are reading this on a place other than rinkagetranslation.com, this chapter has been stolen and is neither the most recent or complete chapter.
The day after I bought the clothes from the other side, Rebecca-san gave me training on sword fighting and horse riding as planned. Well, that was supposed to be the case but……
“Jirou, I don’t mind teaching you horse riding or how to handle the sword but, do you have time for both? If you’re planning to do so anyhow, then you should put all your effort in them to a certain extent.” [Sh.e.l.lo]
“I don’t have anything in particular to do until the mansion is completed, so time’s not an issue to me.” [Jirou]
“If that’s the case, I guess 3 days or more should be fine. Then let us head over there, Jirou.” [Sh.e.l.lo]
There was a broad smile on Sh.e.l.lo-san’s face when he said that, shouldering his large sword (claymore). —- Sh.e.l.lo-san then started my combat training, seemingly without stopping. Though to be honest, it felt more like an actual combat rather than a training. Meanwhile, Diana and Marina were guided by Rebecca-san on various different things. We were practically doing our own training separately.
I appreciate the fact that he took a break from his hunting job to make time for my training but, Sh.e.l.lo-san’s method of teaching was, how should I put it…..severe? Or should I call it merciless?……. To put it bluntly, I guess I could say that it was a training method that almost had me killed.…..
On the first day, he came at me with his large claymore, launching seemingly endless attacks at me.
Holding a two-handed sword with just one hand, Sh.e.l.lo-san slashed at me as I desperately tried to parry using this heavy as f.u.c.k two-handed sword that was purchased for the sake of the practice; diagonal slash, downward slash, sideways cut, close-up strike and occasionally a thrust.
Although he was holding back, or rather, even though he delivered those blows without using much force…….just the thought of the continuous blows that come from a roughly 10 kg huge sword looming close to your body was mentally challenging. Above all, it was really harsh itself for a feeble body like mine to swing such a ridiculously heavy, two-handed sword. And you wouldn’t be using just your arms. In order to a.s.sume the front stance all the time, feet played an important role as well, making this a full-body workout.
Frankly speaking, I was actually hoping to start from just swinging practices! —-Sh.e.l.lo-san did say that, “Going through an actual combat training would steadily instil the desire of wanting to fight in Jirou.” I think that was supposed to be the case. However, 「The more you receive it, the more you want it」 was something that is never possible for me no matter what. Although, I do understand that going through the actual thing would make me improve at a faster rate……
There were many times where I was almost slashed. Even though those attacks scared the pants off of me, I was barely able to avoid them and deflected them with all my might. In other words, I could only resist the sense of impending death with my willpower.
The fight that felt like endless made me lose my sense of time. I had already received episodic attacks of numbness in my hands and my legs were virtually giving away under me as I subconsciously accepted my death.
It would be ideal if I could receive a leisure sword training from my acquaintance so that I could implement countermeasures against enemies. That was supposed to be how I felt it should be. Nonetheless I was drawn into this unusual daily life all of the sudden—-no, actually my common daily life was already ruined the moment I stepped into this other world—– At any rate, I was suddenly thrown into a life and death battle against Sh.e.l.lo-san even though he did say it was “training”. But in the end, I was anything but a normal guy who eats mandarin oranges while playing mobile games under a kotatsu the day before… The gap between these two scenarios were incomparable.
The training finally came to an end after an entire day of swinging swords with a break somewhere in between. I almost died, both figuratively and literally……..
If you are reading this on a place other than rinkagetranslation.com, this chapter has been stolen and is neither the most recent or complete chapter.
The same training persisted even on the day after. Sh.e.l.lo-san continued his relentless barrage on me with his large claymore while I tried dodging his attacks.
Frankly speaking, the exhaustion that I felt didn’t look like something that I would fully recover from in just one day. Nevertheless, when I woke up this morning, I found out that I was just experiencing moderate muscle soreness, feeling even more vigorous that what I had initially expected.
I was dead tired yesterday and couldn’t even move an inch in the evening. I was somehow able to return to the inn for dinner by getting into Hetty-san’s carriage, but I ended up sleeping like a log until the next morning after finis.h.i.+ng the meal. 1
I wonder……is it even possible for me to make such huge recovery by just sleeping? (after all I slept from evening till morning) Well, seeing that this is a different world, it probably works the same way as a game, enabling my health to gain full restoration once I lodged in an inn.
The gist of the training was the same as yesterday, but I had a feeling I managed to grasp Sh.e.l.lo-san’s movement better than yesterday. He might have intentionally created some openings, so I was able to evade the attacks occasionally before performing counter-attacks on him in the process (he dodged them lightly though). Maybe I got used to it a little?
All Sh.e.l.lo-san had been saying throughout the fight were basically, “What’s wrong, what’s wrong?” or “It’s good, it’s good” or “There, here” or “Your body movement’s too predictable” so I wasn’t able to tell if I was making any progress or not at all.
Well, I did try adapting various movements from knowledge obtained in mangas though…….
Something like 「Circular Movement」 or 「Crossover Method」. Actually aren’t those from karate?
It was just practice….or should I call it training? However, once it ended, I wounded up sleeping soundly again as soon as I returned to the inn.
I am glad that I brought a change of clothes when I returned the other day though. There were times his attacks sent me tumbling and rolling across the ground, covering myself in mud when I dodged them. Above all, my body would be drenched in sweat by the end of the day.
If you are reading this on a place other than rinkagetranslation.com, this chapter has been stolen and is neither the most recent or complete chapter.
The next day, Sh.e.l.lo-san resumed his method of training by slas.h.i.+ng at me with his large claymore as I parried and evaded his attacks once again.
Nevertheless, I became accustomed to this extraordinary training by a great deal on the third day. Not only did I parry, avoid and return attacks, I was also able to deflect Sh.e.l.lo-san’s counter-attacks from time to time. Well, most of my strikes just grazed him lightly though……
But, could it be that I have come to comprehend the way to use this ridiculously heavy two-handed sword? I found that I could use it easily now without paying mind to the weight unlike when I first wielded it. It wasn’t the same as in Marina’s case the other day, but once you are able to make your movement flow, it wouldn’t be so tiring anymore when you swing the sword. Well, as expected I didn’t spin it round and round like Marina though.
With this, there wouldn’t be any problem even when I switch my weapon back to the magic sword. I should have an easier time swinging it freely considering it is much lighter in weight compared to this sword. On the contrary, I have a feeling that it might be difficult if it ended up being too light for me.
However, in just three days’ time, even if I did go through actual combat as training, my progression was by no means small. Do I have an unexpected talent in this?––Why am I getting conceited now.
Moreover, I was also swinging my sword innocently, totally disregarding the fact that I was actually going through a life and death training. I guess, it was possibly because I possess the appropriate vocation. For some reason, the whole ordeal was fun. It made me wonder if I have a mind of a m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t…..
If you are reading this on a place other than rinkagetranslation.com, this chapter has been stolen and is neither the most recent or complete chapter.