Chapter 13 (1/2)

Episode 13 〜Training Course

s.h.i.+s...o...b..ought me to the 【Training Course】

We went down the cliff ladders from the Goldiba home, to a large forested area in a slightly removed pace.

“Here, is where young Goldiba since ancient times have come to train and polish their martial arts, cultivating themselves.”

“There’s a lot of different equipment……”

Looking around the area……placed in various places around the forest are laid down logs creating a path.

I see a lot of logs connected to chains and rope which lead into the sky. There’s also an object which has numerous claws attached to end of a log, hanging from rope in the air. There’s also traces of old blood on a bokujin shaped like a person.

“……This place is used for balance training on logs and the d.o.g.g.i.ng this ‘Wind Mower,’ this ‘Claw Grinder’ is used to train attacking moving targets and is a high-level course. The Bokujin fitted with sharpened wooden blades pursues and is called ‘Dancing Prison.’

Beside the devices he mentioned just now, there are a lot of things I fear are special training devices.

To one which looks like a giant water jug around stairs, there’s even a training ground placed vertically.

The edge of the training ground is characteristic, a wall like a cliff extends up thirty feet up the cliff perpendicularly.

Somehow or other, that seems to be for training as well.

A groove going up lengthwise is dug.

Is it pull-up training?

The 【Training Course】 is the like the training ground at a Shaolin Monastery.

“When I was young, I too came here to train.”

“I said it before, but this training ground is from the old days?”

“That’s right. These seem to be from distant ancient times, I was taken care of in this place when I was a child. Shuya will train the spear here. At first from the basics. I think Shuya will get the hand of  it immediately. Well, let’s get started.”

“Yes!”

Training takes place at the “Wind Mower.”

I’m made to stand on a shaking log hanging from a rope attached at each end.

While the log shakes randomly, it is the feeling of attacking the designate place with my black spear, there the bokujin was tied across with leather straps as my partner to destroy by balance.

“I’ll shake it.”

“Okay.”

s.h.i.+sho shakes the log.

Training begins.

“Faster, thrust quickly, that’s right. Walk forward, be careful of your steps. Be quicker, maintain your speed!”

“Hai!”

It lasted for about 30 minutes, but I was able to perform well without losing my balance.

※Pikon※<sense of=”” balance=””> Permanent Skill Acquired.

In no time, I get the permanent skill Sense of Balance.

“After all, Shuya is outside the norm. You adapted yourself immediately. I think it is difficult but how about you challenge ‘Claw Grinder’?”

I’m excited about what it will be.

“……What kind of training is it?”

“Walking on the log while blindfolded, feel the target while dodging the approaching log attack with the claws which I move, its purpose is to land an attack on the target.”

Blindfolde

d training……wow, are you serious?

“……Blindfolded?”

“Yeah. Worried?”

s.h.i.+sho smiles, but it’s not a smile.

Are you a demon coach?

I talk normally without saying that.

“No, I’ll try it.”

My eyes are covered with leather, and I carry out training.

“–Guhuh.”

Ooow, I abruptly failed.

Despite the log, an awful shock is taken from the right.

I fell from my foothold on the log splendidly.

“As expected, you can’t deal with it the first time. Is it the fear of losing your sight?”

I was surely scared.

But, if I imagine it, I have the feeling I can do something about it.

Later, well, by reckless intention.

“That’s so. Well, because the pain fades away immediately, I think I can manage it if I challenge it several times.”

“Alright, but stay alive. Keep trying. Feeling the interval, is the secret to avoid is to rotate.”

“Yes!”

I collided many times with the claw log, falling.

However, as I did I became more familiar with it. Step and the sound, when to center the rotation on the sole of my foot, the pause of the approaching claws, when I grasp the range of the black spear, I become able to avoid the claws of the log.

The mental image unites with the foresight.

And, instantly I rotate on the toes of my feet, avoiding the pursuing talons for the second time.

※Pikon※ <light technique=””> Permanent Skill Acquired

※Pikon※ ※Conditions met for Light Technique Spearsman※

※Due to <spearman> and <light technique=””> Cla.s.s Up to <light technique=”” spearman=””>

Oooh, I acquired a skill, and my battle occupation cla.s.sed up.

“It required some time, but it’s a ‘tip-toe half turn.’ Both the rotation speed and the pace have a way to go but this will be enough for the first day. Let’s move to the next training. Follow me.”

When I follow, we go to a rocky area piled up a cliff.

“I’ll have you climb the cliff here.”

Climb this cliff?

“s.h.i.+sho, with this spear?”

“That’s right. Hold the black spear in both hands, using the recoil of the body scratch a groove to attack the metal bar of the spear, the training is to move up.” (TN: I thought it wasn’t but it is, IT’S THE SALMON LADDER)

On the cliff face leading to the top “lateral grooves” are dug in t intervals.

I have to climb while putting the spear in those grooves.

Is it something simple like pull-up strength training?

The feeling of the training is like Chinese martial art or Jeet Kune Do.

Putting emphasis on my arms, I hang from the black spear in the groove and while recoil, more to say, I lift the black spear, it’s that feeling. (TN: Salmon Ladder)

Partly because the training raised my physical abilities, I was able to do it without really being bothered. When I easily arrive at the top,

“–Fast. Get down by yourself.”

“Okay.”

When I get down, s.h.i.+s...o...b..gin speaking.

“This time climb while being conscious of managing your mana.”

“I understand.”

I can climb it, but my concentration is obviously interrupted.

While somehow being conscious of mana management, I finish going up and down.

“……For the next several days, I intend to perform training like this. Today repeat ‘wind mower,’ ‘claw grinder’ and ‘cliff climbing’ as a set.”

“Yes.”

The training continues for one week.

During that time, training s.h.i.+fted to using the advanced training equipment ‘Dancing Prison,’ ‘Balance Runs,’ and ‘Killing Rotation’.”

But, the result was the training with “Dancing Prison” was full of desperate struggles

This training, is the feeling of the collective wisdom up until now.

The beginning is standing on a long log with small footing while blindfolded.

It’s the same as with “Claw Grinder,” the log begins swaying intensely.

Thus far, it’s generally normal, but–

Suddenly the wooden scarecrow doll equipped with sharpened wooden stakes, interrupting a great number of times with attacks, and whether I defeat or dodge the bokujin, a rope net is fired from all directions. Even if that can be avoided well with a light jump, the place I land changes by the rotating log, and again the intense attack by the bokujin’s stake blades approaches.

The first time a stake blade sticks in my arm and I fall from the log, failing.

The second time I’m stabbed in the abdomen and fail. The third time I’m stabbed in the foot and fail.

I suffer serious wounds several times, but I’m the new race originating from the vampires.

Rusivault.

So, the wounds are immediately restored.

Continuing repeatedly, I perform “Continuous Chasing Pole” training.

First I quickly became familiar with the bokujin’s wooded stake blade, but my body was caught by the wide rope net which is fired at random.

As it’s trajectory is irregular it’s not easy to adjust to.

Around 50 times I got entangled in the net, falling to the ground and failing.

It might be the 200th time……

Finally, I just barely succeed with just a scratch.

That moment–

※Extra Skill※  ※Derivation Skill Condition Met for Cerebral Spine Demon Revolution※

※Pikon※  ※Light Exercise Brain Buff※  ※Permanent Skill Acquired※

※<sense of=”” balance=””> <light technique=””> and <light exercise=”” brain=”” buff=””> Fuse※

※Pikon※  ※Super Light Brain Buff Intuition※ Permanent Skill Acquired

I acquire linked skills and they fuse.

I become able to perform all the training with no margin of error after obtaining this special skill.

I experience that this is an excellent skill.

My mobility performance improves rapidly.

Effects continued to be shown by training the physical ability system.

s.h.i.+sho was amazed, I decided not to mind it.

And, two months pa.s.sed.

As a result of training, various abilities have risen.

It was enjoyable to confirm with status that they rose 0.1 each day.

The abilities that matched what I trained tends to be easier to raise to some extent. The last trend, however.

I spend my life training favorably, but one thing was troubling.

It’s about my “sleep.”

–I can’t fall asleep.

Even after two months have pa.s.sed, I can’t fall asleep.

The time I was living underground, it could be worse.

Therefore, even now I lay there looking at the view of the night sky through my wooden window.

For now, I’ll close my eyes again.

I have to be up early tomorrow, and because there’s training and work to do I need to sleep……while feeling the back of my eyelids, in order to sleep, I look back on the two months.

It’s almost like my daily montage.

Before the dim break of dawn, I see the figure of Achille-s.h.i.+sho and start training at the 【Training Course】.

I finish training when the morning sun rises, and then I help with distributing the livestock feed.

As soon as I finish, I eat breakfast.

Spreading water on the field after breakfast, I perform spear training with s.h.i.+sho again.

And, lunch.

I take a light break.

In the afternoon I do training at the 【Training Course】, and I go out to the forest to help with hunting. I repeat process of drawing out mana which is the foundation of Moji, and repeat the training of taking the chain in and out.

Day pa.s.s in that pattern.

Around the time one month had pa.s.sed.

The training of spear martial arts began in earnest.

【Training Couse】 training decreased, and I began simulating fights against s.h.i.+sho firsthand.

In the end, I come out full of holes without landing one attack on s.h.i.+sho.

Even so, I vowed in my own way before performing mock battles.

I must not use <cerebral demon=”” speed=””> which was derived from the extra skill.

This way encourages my own growth. It’s prohibited while I’m training.

I decided that I won’t use it “unless it is a serious crisis.”

This is a very useful skill which can significantly increase my body speed, but it’s because I decided that martial arts don’t grow when depending on this.

I don’t understand whether it’s the effect but my spear martial arts improved remarkably. My growth was realized my battle occupation “Light Technique Spearman” cla.s.sed up to “Spear Dancer.”

In addition, for the first time I began inspection in regard to racial characteristics.

Regarding blood and soul sucking.

I tested soul sucking on the monsters injured while I helped with hunting.

At the time of death by drowning I “acquire a soul,” and a “strong awareness.” (TL: Don’t know what death by drowning refers to.)

At the moment that the large deer “soul” was absorbed, it dried up and became only bones. In some cases, even the bones may become dust and ash with nothing left. I tasted it before, but when I absorb a soul light is emitted from my body and I got the feeling boiling up of an “exhilarating sensation” and “vitality.”

But, I was worried about the looks of Achilles-s.h.i.+sho and Raguren so I restrained myself. So when I hunt alone, I suck in the blood and soul without reserve.

Whenever I absorb a soul, the mind value rises.

Exactly like killing two birds with one stone.

In addition to the fact that an exhilarating sensation is obtained, my spiritual strength increases too.

As the spirit value decreased from the Divine Beast contract, this was convenient.

Even if I say I had and exhilarating sensation, it’s not to the point of being addicting.

However, in the situation where I suck human blood, I don’t know yet.

When it comes to blood, as I knew beforehand even the blood of animals and monsters was all right.

Human blood isn’t necessary, even if seven days’ pa.s.s, I confirmed that again that my abilities don’t decrease.

But, I decided to do an experiment without sucking blood just to be sure.

I’ve already experienced it twice, but I purposely carry do it for some time to verify.

As before the body becomes heavy in the same way and suffers from plasma deficiency disease, my abilities are reduced by half.

I also tried making a small cut to bleed and drinking the blood on purpose. And then, it was a little, but I noticed that the symptoms being eased.

Wondering how much blood is necessary to drink, at that moment, I understood completely.

Still the drop isn’t restored.

However when I hold a drop in my mouth, it’s effective and the recovery effect is outstanding. Furthermore, the required amount of blood to finish filling up is one teaspoon.

The symptoms were completely restored with one teaspoon.

I was surprised the quant.i.ty was “only that much” to be all right.

From then on, I remember feeling relieved as it was a matter concerning my life.

And……this, I looked back on the two months, however, I still can’t become sleepy……

“Hu……”

I sighed, tossing about it bed.

However, I’m a light sleeper and shortly I’ll get up early in the morning.

At first I thought it was the different environment, but it seems like it’s different.

As the body is from the vampire lineage, it might be the result of the extra skill <cerebral demon=”” spine=”” revolution=””>, I don’t understand the definite reason yet……after all, I thought a while ago that the way this body is I might not need sleep anymore.

If sleepiness comes, I’ll sleep normally……

Still, sleepiness doesn’t come.

But, it may be a good thing.

I decide it will be good to have no sleepiness when I begin my life as an adventurer.

“Adventurer life–”

Speaking of adventurer–

I was taught the basics of being an adventurer by s.h.i.+sho.

Summarizing it……

・Blood is needed when applying as an adventurer and the ranks go from G to S.

・There’s a rank increase examination from rank C, if there’s strength it’s possible to rank up to rank D in a day.

・Concerning Clan establishment and Party formation, there’s small rules in every city.

・To become C, B, or A rank expect for “exceptions,” it’s necessary to complete more than thirty D rank requests, furthermore you can also request a one on one combat test from the guild. Then if you succeed in pa.s.sing and having your ability recognized at C, it becomes B rank.

About A and the exception.

The story about the “exception” seems to be called a pioneering mission in an “un-explored region.”

I remember s.h.i.+sho’s words.

“A ‘exception’ is a special request to be jointly carried out. As the degree of difficulty is high and victims appear in large numbers it’s famous. However, you can become A and S rank when you complete this request. For example, even if your rank was C, it means you can become B rank without fighting against an examiner. If it’s B, then A, if it’s A then you become S. This is an ‘exception.'”

Then from A rank called “First Cla.s.s Adventurers,” you come to be called by a t.i.tle and nickname by the surrounding adventurers.

By the way, Achilles-s.h.i.+sho was rank A.

It’s been 300 years since s.h.i.+sho was an adventurer.

I don’t know whether the adventurer guild still exists, but continuing from those days, I can expect that the adventurer’s guild has existed for more than 300 years.

It has a long history.

Then, again I turn over in bed.

“However, s.h.i.+sho was called Wind like that.”

When s.h.i.+sho traveled every nickname, his alias seemed to change.

“Achilles Two Swords” “Achilles Four Swords” “Achilles Flying Sword” “Achilles Moji” and so on, he seemed to be called by various names.

And then, the request in the un-explored region felt “immense.”

And, he talked about the experience.

Long-distance transfer.

People and Beast People who don’t speak the same language.

The monster of thieves and monster–

While pioneering the way there were difficulties preserving the magic stone energy for maintaining the condition of the magic formations, several adventurer companions lost their lives in a fight with mercenary forces employed by slave dealers, he survived a fierce battle……

I listened to s.h.i.+sho’s story, fascinated.

Enjoyable, and I remember being excited.

Huaaaaaaa, at last, a yawn.

Naa, I’ve become sleepy. Sleep, sleep.

The next day–

Sleeping soundly after a long absence, the usual daily routine of training followed by going to give the livestock their feed, then I turned to the mushroom cultivating room with s.h.i.+sho.

“s.h.i.+sho. I finished doing the feed a few minutes ago.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Let return now.”

s.h.i.+sho put a mushroom in a wooden serving bowl and returned.

Showing me the bulky mushrooms filling the bowl on purpose, he speaks with a puzzled look.

“From today, we’ll pickle to mushrooms for a while?”

His face twitches a little drawn.

As one would expect having mushroom dishes every day can be unpleasant.

“Haha, Rabbi-san cooking, because it’s delicious anything is good.”

Being sure to properly back-up Rabbi-san I continue the childish conversation with s.h.i.+sho while returning to the house on top of the cliff.

After breakfast, I help collect weeds around the field, I have the black spear in hand as I became free a little early and head toward the open s.p.a.ce of the training ground.

Now, repeating the ordinary thrust <thrust>……

Doing spear training properly, s.h.i.+sho walks up late.

That? In your hand?

s.h.i.+sho doesn’t have a black spear in his hand.

“Today will be different from spear training, I want to teach life Magic and Moji.”

“Oh, seriously?”

Achilles-s.h.i.+sho, for and instant, moved his eyebrows in a dubious way and repeats back the same words, “Oh, seriously,” instantly tightening his expression and continued talking.

“Shuya, a master is basis of the foundation, it may be said that you have almost mastered mana manipulation.”

“Mastered it? My mana manipulation certainly has become smooth.”

“It’s important. The mana which leaked out as to be dazzling to the master, it’s because it isn’t released outside at all now.”

Oh, it doesn’t leak anymore. I hadn’t really noticed.

“I see, such manipulation……”

I say it’s the result of training, it was something like that. Climbing up and descending the cliff had a double purpose.

“That’s right. Not only the spear, but doesn’t it also you have talent for magic?”

He praised my mana manipulation.

“Haha, it’s embarra.s.sing to be praised……”

“Hu, immediately getting carried away, learn life magic quickly. Shuya’s attribute is water. So, you should be able to produce water.”

Water……

“How?”

“For you who is able to carry out mana manipulation it’s easy. Using your mana, you should imagine water. As your attribute is water it should be easy.”

Easy, an image.

“An image……”

“Yes. As it’s life magic only a little mana consumption is needed to do it. As it’s different from the magic language aria of handling a spirit its usability is limited. It’s life magic.

I imagine it with mana. Water, water, delicious cool water.

In addition, speaking of understanding water, it’s an ordinary chemical symbol. It’s made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

Then easily, I imagine water flowing through a rive……

Twisting the faucet water flows, with a simple image.

※Pikon※  ※<life magic=””> Skill Acquire※

※Pikon※  ※Apprentice Magician Condition Met※