Chapter 18 (1/2)

Eighteenth Episode 〜 Final Test

Translator’s Corner: Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay, I was reading Ancient G.o.dly Monarch and it took a while. I’m back now, until I get distracted again, so expect regularish releases.Enjoy!

It has been several months since my encounter with the strange spirit.

Fall is long gone and winter is meeting its end. Spring is now upon us.

Everyone is gathered around the table together, eating breakfast like usual. Noisy conversation and smiling faces highlight the meal.

I’ve adapted completely to this life.

Every day, the Goldiba family has started to feel more and more like my true family.

Seeing everyone’s smiling faces warms the stiffness in that corner of my heart. (TL: Remember, Shuya didn’t have much of a family back in j.a.pan after his parents died in the accident.) I feel like I’ve been learning about the happiness that comes from living together with your family.

“…What’s wrong? Without even touching your food you have this confused look on your face. Today we’ll be testing how far you have come with your training.”

s.h.i.+sho says to me.

I seem to have a distant look on my face.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

I refocus my gaze and answer with a smile.

“Shuya nii-chan, work hard!”

Refaa. She always cheers me up. Her smiling face is adorable.

She’s grown up a little and gotten a bit taller.

Her face is still a bit childish but she is beginning to look like her beautiful mother, Rabbi-san. Her chestnut hair is silky smooth. Her conspicuously long eyelashes stand out on her already large eyes too.

“…Ah, I’ll work hard.”

Nodding lightly, I return a smile to Refaa.

“Are you all right, Shuya? Is that old man being too rough on you? Is the plan for today’s training different?”

Raguren smiles at me.

s.h.i.+sho responds to Raguren after exchanging a look with me.

“Mou, I’m not so harsh? Besides, it was Shuya who said he enjoys ‘harsh training.'” (TL: If ya know what I mean.)

s.h.i.+sho looks at me as if to say “Isn’t that right?” I reply with a look of confirmation.

“Surely, I did say that…”

“Hora? It’s spring going forward from today. It has been about one year now since Shuya came to us. I want to see the results of his conventional training. Think of today as a final test. I’m excited to see how much you have grown. I might be satisfied.”

“Hou, does that mean Shuya’s graduation is close? But I want you to be careulf, you two get too heated up when you’re together.” (TL: Sorry, he graduated last chapter.)

Raguren seems unusually worried.

“Haha, it will be fine, Raguren. s.h.i.+sho has beaten me in every mock battle so far, but just once I want to beat him and graduate from being his student.”

“I see, I see, that’s fine then.”

Raguren says that with a smile on his face, and bringing a wooden spoon to his mouth he drinks it with a jerk.

s.h.i.+sho also responds with laughter.

“Hahaha, you don’t say? I’m looking forward to this.”

“Hora hora, you two still haven’t touched your soup. Since Raguren complains that he doesn’t like it you two need to eat up.”

>Rabbi-san tells us to eat. Breakfast is a river fish that resembles a sweetfish with tobucha. (TL: Rabbi-san actually says something else about what is in the soup but I’m not good at translating about food so I simplified it.) Rabbi-san’s homemade food is always delicious.

“Hai, itadakimasu.”

Like this breakfast is finished amongst a rowdy atmosphere.

I return to the hut and lie down for a little.

Using my arm as a subst.i.tute for a pillow I stare at the dirty ceiling.

There is a special training today.

A compilation of all my training over this past year.

I have grown and in this time have had various experiences.

Once again, my eyes become unfocused-

Memories of this past year flood my mind.

At the beginning I had to fight hard against the wooden 【Training Course】 and its logs and claws.

Then I had to chase around the magic beast Lunga cow, I caught it with a la.s.so…I had to keep rubbing its body with ground up medical herbs.

I had a really hard time catching a wild popob.u.mu.

The natural slide Refaa took me to was fun.

The water spirit I met at the lake that only forms during autumn.

She was a beauty, but…I would like to not remember this…it is because I focused solely on my fierce training that my worldly desires built up.

I lightly shake my head to dismiss the memory, and look over at the odd room and the chair that has fallen over.

The chair isn’t only made from wood, it is made in a way similar to shogi pieces…a bit of the degozabear I encountered while harvesting, the large perot b.u.t.terfly, I’m glad I was able to fight against the monsters on my own, but it was a hard fight. (TL: I don’t know why he talked about the chair.)

My spear handling has improved considerably thanks to many hunting trips and sparring with Achilles-s.h.i.+sho.

Every time I am cut, pierced, stabbed, kicked-

“-When I look back I’m trembling with excitement…”

Thanks to my intense training my Spear Dancer battler occupation has cla.s.s upped to “Spear Officer” (TL: 槍武奏)

This seems to be a job that isn’t earned very often, Achilles-s.h.i.+sho hasn’t seen it before.

It was at that time that s.h.i.+sho told me his battle occupation.

(TL: Forgive me for this. His occupation DOES NOT translate nicely.) His t.i.tle is “Wind G.o.d Spear and Sword of War.”

Having mastered both the spear and sword, and as a result of integrating his moji user and wind attribute, it naturally became such a name. He explained to me a proud air.

The job that even Achilles-s.h.i.+ho does not know. “Spear Officer.”

Ma, I can understand the spear mastery part.

I got the permanent skill <spear sparring=””> immediately after.

It is a spear technique that lets me fight with my body when I can’t use my spear properly. It is an original fight technique but it resembles close quarters combat. (TL: Author used CQC for “close quarters combat” but since I’m not familiar with that I decide to write it out.)

It is for when I can’t use the spear. In the beat em’ up game Metal Gear that I was addicted to, mixed martial arts, I’m stuck with this impression as someone who liked watching UFC. (TL: This line was confusing, so bu bye grammar.)

s.h.i.+sho says there is also sparring in wind spear style, and that the one I learned should be slightly different.

s.h.i.+sho was surprised because the possible combinations I could use with my spear and martial arts increased.

And, recently Achilles-s.h.i.+sho has been saying (TL: Author wrote s.h.i.+shoAchilles, I think it was a typo) when it comes to the spear “It won’t be long until you are my equal or better.”

s.h.i.+sho is a G.o.d cla.s.s of the wind spear style.

Even if it was flattery, his comment made me happy…

“Now then!”

Let’s take my final test.

I’m all fired up with serious eyes. No longer pondering this and that, I leave the hut carrying my black spear.

I go to the usual open s.p.a.ce where we train my spearman s.h.i.+p.

Recently we haven’t been going to the 【Training Course】 very much. Training has become nothing more than sparring matches.

Achilles-s.h.i.+sho has prepped the area and is standing there with his black spear and four short swords.

“Shuya was slow. Did you take care of it? I’ve told you before, but this time use all of your skill, challenge me with the mind to kill me. I’ll respond in kind.”

s.h.i.+sho suddenly creates a dangerous atmosphere, and makes an appearance of smiling.

Yo〜sh. I’ll use what I normal don’t today. I’ll use my trump.

I won’t go with the intention to kill, but I’ll go at him as hard as possible.

I undauntedly respond with a composed expression.

“…Understood. Then, stopping short of the killing blow, let’s do it with the new kukri sword I had s.h.i.+sho make.” (TL: Here’s a link to the Wikipedia page about it. It’s an interesting read and there’s a picture of it.)

I look at my black spear and activate <magic though=”” guidance=”” hand.=””>

I pull the double-edged kukri sword blade from my waist using my distorted mana hand.

I swing the kukri sword in the air, slicing down.

I maneuver the black spear with my right arm, writing an  ∞ symbol. The black spear hums as I spin it up and down.

It is one of the staff fighting skills seen in action movies.

But in this world it is unique-

The metal bar moves from my palm to my fingertips, and I let it slide over the back of my hand and bend my fingers like I’m playing with a pen. The spinning metal bar moves from the back of my hand around my knuckles and to my wrist. Then, I put power into my arm-and pull the extensor digitorum muscle. (TL: The author actually specifies the muscle.)

Reacting to the muscle the black tanza spear jumps up in the air.

I immediately catch the spear with my left hand.

And, setting my posture, I extending my left arm stabbing with the spear in a sweeping motion.

Finally, pointing my spear at s.h.i.+sho I turn my eyes to him and lower my center of gravity.

The Kukri which stayed in the air during my performance rotates around me like a satellite.

Achilles-s.h.i.+sho smiles when he sees my performance.

“Only the spear, really now…it’s already surpa.s.sed the limits of my spear mastery…however-”

While s.h.i.+sho is talking, he suddenly let’s out a battle cry.

All four of the swords floating around come at the same time. s.h.i.+sho’s posture is set up for <thrusting.>

Using magic observing eye I’m able to see s.h.i.+sho’s movements.

My thinking accelerates.

Guidance Moji rises from Achilles-s.h.i.+sho’s body, all four swords connected by s.h.i.+ning bands of light. I take care to be aware of each of them.

Those swords are really troublesome.

The four sword float around. I grasp the position of all four swords.

Underneath s.h.i.+sho is handling one black spear-

Turning back, what seems to be a surprise attack-

To the right and left of s.h.i.+sho. A total of four swords.

Their silhouettes scatter.

He really looks like a sword master like this.

When I look with magic observing eye, the s.h.i.+ning bands of s.h.i.+sho’s guidance moji look like wings. I approach him so that the s.h.i.+ning bands surround me.

A feeling of intense pressure, it is frightening.

I won’t lose to such pressure!

I enthusiastically rush in from the front. s.h.i.+sho’s black spear jumps up to meet my own.

While s.h.i.+sho deflects my spear I keep the kukri sword behind me to defend my back.

I succeed in dodging the swords being directed at my back with the bright bands of guidance moji. However, Achilles-s.h.i.+sho still has three other short swords coming at me from the left and right.

The sword from the right moves earlier than I thought it would.

Turning the black spear diagonally, I dodge the sword coming from the right and repel it. I fill my legs with fighting moji and dash to the right.

In doing so I manage to dodge the other short swords.

The sword being moved by a light band cuts through the s.p.a.ce I was just standing.

However, antic.i.p.ating I would dodge to the right, s.h.i.+s...o...b..ings up his black spear to meet me-the metal rod approaches to gouge my side with a hum.

In a hurry I eject <chain> from my left hand and manage to hit his black spear, knocking it away.

Thus I am somehow able to prevent s.h.i.+sho’s black spear from approaching me. After I do this s.h.i.+sho makes a surprised expression.

Yet that expression quickly fades. s.h.i.+sho watches me calmly.

Thinking the chain couldn’t stop his attack, s.h.i.+sho forcibly pulls the chain stuck to his spear “without changing his eyes.”

Jerking up with the spear, turning on his toes, he lefts the force from the chain rotate his body once.

Again I calm down as an attack approaches me, flas.h.i.+ng at me in between seconds. Grasping the image, I instantly use it. (TL: This part says something about in between the zeros, but I think this is what the author means.)

I don’t block it and turn to attack.

I hurl the Kukri sword grasped with at s.h.i.+sho’s head.

Like that I rush in, ignoring s.h.i.+sho’s attack, and I am able to direct the shaft of the black spear towards s.h.i.+sho’s chest.

s.h.i.+sho receives my sudden attack.

Calmly stopping my attack, he kicks the ground with one foot.

Again, he avoids my blow by rotating in a half turn on his toes.

The Kukri blade thrown with <magic though=”” guidance=”” hand=””> using <throwing> is easily repelled with a flick.

This time using the other foot he turns lightly.

Repeating the movement, he flows around to dodge. The spear approaching his chest is easily avoided.

Nimbly sticking out his leg, his foot draws a half-circle across the ground.

Are you Muhammad Ali? I thrust with such poison in my heart.

His eyes look more serious than usual.

His movements feel like dancing mechanical doll. Busy taking turns. Since a little while ago he has become too fast.

While dancing to dodge, s.h.i.+sho’s guidance moji seems to have moved and picked up the swords I deflected earlier.

Chi〜, I was shortsighted.

The four swords have returned to floating in the air.

When it comes to this- I’ll need to be fast.

I’ll use my trump.

– <cerebral demon=”” speed=””>

With instant acceleration-I am suddenly close to s.h.i.+sho.

Faster than s.h.i.+sho I strike out with my black spear.

With a surprised look on his face s.h.i.+sho’s eyes track the movement of my black spear. With all four short swords and his own black spear, he blocks my attack.

Five seconds pa.s.s-

Two of the four sword are repelled and the ricochet injures s.h.i.+sho’s shoulder and foot.

Ten seconds pa.s.s-

Coping with my speed, of the four short swords only one blade remains, holding out.

15 seconds pa.s.s-

I manage to repel the only remaining sword. However, s.h.i.+sho has moved his guidance moji in a defensive position and adopts a posture dedicated to defense.

20 second pa.s.s-

Chi- the skill runs out and my speed falls-

s.h.i.+sho is reasonable. As if saying that, using the momentum that maintained the right circular orbit he begins to deliver a counter attack.

The black metal bar approaches in a horizontal slash to smash my side.

I forcibly expand my <magic thought=”” guidance=”” hand=””> to prevent it. I use the distorted mana hand to wrap around s.h.i.+sho’s black spear.

It successfully prevents the attack.

Eh, ya〜ta! I sealed s.h.i.+sho’s spear.

But, Achilles-s.h.i.+sho is getting impatient with a smirking face.

“-Eh, the speed of the attack just now really surprised me. And as of now, judging by the degree of perfection that was a new unique defensive guidance magic. It’s really wonderful…it could be called a daring move. Furthermore, it seems to have room to develop even more, however!”

As he says so Achilles-s.h.i.+sho let’s go of his spear.

Suddenly, his figure disappears-no, he jumped!?

Furthermore, the light bands holding s.h.i.+sho’ swords flew to the left and right.

This time he’s throwing them! And again, the swords I repelled before-

Ah, while we were talking before. I immediately respond while considering that.

I let go of s.h.i.+sho’s spear being held in <magic though=”” guidance=”” hand=””> and expand my mana outward to the right and left.

I somehow deflect the thrown swords with <magic though=”” guidance=”” hand.=””>

-However, as a result my reaction is delayed.

s.h.i.+sho comes at me with a flying kick.

I receive two kicks to my head and torso. With broken posture I shake my head back and forth in an attempt to shrug off the shock.

Unfortunately, s.h.i.+sho hasn’t finished by delivering the kicks.

Moving fluidly. In those few seconds he has picked his black spear up again using guidance moji. Pointing the black spear point at me with the feeling of conclusion- he at me in the final blow.

s.h.i.+sho’s <thrust> lands a clean hit in the pit of my stomach.

The tip sinks into my stomach. As the black spear in the pit of my stomach makes a dull sound, it sinks to the base in my stomach.

“Gaaaah-”

s.h.i.+sho continues and pulls the black spear out before delivering a kick to the middle of my stomach.

Receiving the kick, I am blown back while blood sprays out from place the spear pierced.

Iteeeee, it hurts! A few seconds feels excruciatingly long. Because of the blow to my head I was unable to react and defend myself.

I also lost the magic thought guidance hand and dropped my black spear on the ground.

“I talked in order to distract you, but your original guidance moji and the chain, moreover, that secret skill that increases your physical speed, I felt cold water down my spine, no? That secret skill can’t be a “bad move” either. Is consecutive use impossible?”

Haha, that-

“Itee, eh, it’s like that.”

“After all, it is like that. However, you took a blade to your stomach…are you all right?” (TL: Asks the one who did it.)

I received a deep cut to my stomach. My entrails are poking out and blood is gus.h.i.+ng out, the wound is already start to close.

“It really f.u.c.kin’ hurts…the wound is closing though.”

However, the intense pain coming from my internal organs doesn’t change.

I crease my forehead, and try to bluff to some degree. I might die…it hurts too much. (TL: Baby.) Still though, Achilles-s.h.i.+sho is strong…

“Once more!”

“As expected of the vampire lineage-”

However, the result is the same no matter how many times we fight.

Because the time lag of cerebral demon speed was seen through, it was gradually coped with.

Is the cause the difference in the number of hands?

In the end it turned into displaying the remarkable difference in the quality of s.h.i.+sho’s guidance moji.

Giving preference to training my spear, without becoming familiar with the kukri sword I can’t use it well. Since I saw the movement of s.h.i.+sho’s four swords in the air I thought I would try to imitate it with the kukri sword, but…without much result the kukri sword was easily dodged. The Kukri sword only flew in the sky. Against s.h.i.+sho’s skill with the spear and the four swords with guidance moji I was played with. Being laughed at by the four swords I whirl around in a fine dance while being cut up.

It is like being attacked by the swords of four expert soldiers.

Nevertheless, my spear handling is incomparable next to Achilles-s.h.i.+sho.

So strong. And fast.

Just like that my black spear is sealed by four short swords.

After that technique–

Finally, s.h.i.+sho manages to land a blow on my abdomen with the b.u.t.t of his spear, and I am blown off.

The difference in ability is clear.

An ant confronting colossus.

I can sense my limits like this, I can feel the difference in experience.

Of course, without minding things like being a vampire, I expect I can win if I fight using my power as a “monster.”

But, there’s no meaning if I do something like that.

There is no meaning…I really feel I could deal with someone with skill if I seriously fight.

Still, this old man is terrifying.

“Haahaa, are we done with this? Today was really tiring. I’ve also received wounds…”

Achilles-s.h.i.+sho says so with an expression as if he’s going to die, and lets out an exhausted ragged breath.

Leaning on his spear while looking over the wounds on his foot and shoulder, we walk over to the ladder.

“Are your wounds okay?”

“They’re fine. If I take a recovery potion it will be recovered instantly. A wound on this level can be left to fighting moji mana inside, so the wound should soon heal naturally.”

“Fighting Moji has such an effect…”

I did not know that.

Even so, I had better train using the kukri sword with guidance moji more…

No, I’d also like the use the spear with it…

I follow Achilles-s.h.i.+sho while thinking about such a thing.

s.h.i.+sho seems to have been watching my face.

“…Shuya. Even though you’re making such a difficult face, aren’t you already strong enough? Judging by your movements today, I was satisfied and ‘convinced’.”

“‘Conviced?’ What is that?”

“As for that. I think Shuya is ready to graduate from being a student.”

Hearing his words, I answer with a faint smile.

“Eh? Wh-wh-what? I’m ready to graduate? I don’t feel like I’m good enough…However, why are you making a difficult face? The way I’ve been training is fun…”

My faint smile breaks before s.h.i.+sho’s serious expression.

“Graduation is serious. And it’s good. Seeing Shuya’s difficult face I’m reminded of myself in the past…”

“In the old days?”

“Ah, while I was still training and working as an adventurer a friend told me I was making that face.”

For a moment, s.h.i.+sho makes a face as he remembers the old days.

“Really? But I feel like I still haven’t had enough training…”

s.h.i.+sho makes a strict face in response to my question.

Lowering his eyebrows in a frown he looks at me serious eyes.

“Shuya, don’t you underestimate yourself too much? Aren’t you making light of yourself?'”

Underestimating myself. I may have been doing that…

“…”

I nod in silence.

His words are like a proverb I heard somewhere.

s.h.i.+sho’s severe expression softens and with a smile continues talking.

“Ma, it’s not that I hate it, so long as it come to humbleness? That’s why you have pa.s.sed your graduation.”

Oh, I have mastery now?

“Thank you very much.”

“…you showed me proof of your growth. I’m glad. To have been able to become strong enough to wound me in such a short amount of time.”

“However, I still have a way to go.”

I have learned from s.h.i.+sho in various ways… My genuine desire to become stronger has come out.

“Again. What are you saying. If it’s just your spear mastery then you have already surpa.s.sed me. What do you mean by that? You don’t seem to understand.”

Even if you say that…