Book 1: Chapter 17 (1/2)

「Get your ass over there.」

Raikira-san kicked me lightly in the butt, pushing me to the front.

Damnit! I’ll get you back for this, macho tsundere beastmen…

「So, you are a party member of the GreatShield, huh?」Joseph-san asked.

The boys and girls on the side, covered in dirt and sweat, became noisy.

「–A child like that is a fellow party member of the “Silver GreatShield”?!」

「–Perhaps, he’s a genius swordsman or something, contrary to his appearance?」

「No, I mean… I’m just following them around?」

「Interesting.」

「I don’t think it’s interesting.」

「Let’s see how good you are with a sword. Come at me.」

Skinhead-san was the type who didn’t listen to what people had to say.

I seeked Dante-san for help, but he just nodded with a smile on his face and said,「It’s a chance to train with an experienced opponent. It will be a good experience for you.」

「O-Okay… But I’ll say this just in case, I’m just an amateur.」

I borrowed a wooden sword from one of the boys. It was quite heavy for my body. However, thanks to the 【Physical Strength Enhancement】 I learned, I could hold it up if I used both hands. And I further enhanced the movement of my body with 【Support Magic】. Just a little bit. If I overdo it, I’ll run out of mana.

I faced Joseph-san, who was standing at a fixed distance.

…So, what do I do now?

I began to remember the Kendo practices in the physical education class of my previous life.

「Hou, that’s starting to look good.」

I assumed Chudan no Kamae. From there on, I approached closer while sliding my feet along the ground… and I raised my wooden sword overhead. [1. TL Note: “Chudan no Kamae” is a basic stance in Kendo.]

(Eh?)

The moment I raised it up, I felt as if my body was moving on its own. Is this the effect of 【Sword Technique】?

「HAAAAAAAA!」

The downswing was so sharp – I couldn’t fire a slash like that even when I was 16 years old. Arm strength, leg strength, back strength, abdominal strength, all came together as a tremendous force towards Joseph-san’s face – because I couldn’t reach for his head with my height.

However, my slash did not reach Joseph-san.

It felt as if I was hitting my wooden sword against a rock. Joseph-san casually swung his wooden sword, which sent my wooden sword flying. The wooden sword hit the ceiling and fell together with a cloud of dust.

「Ouuuuuuuuch…」

My palm and wrist was burning because the sword was forcibly knocked away.

「It was a pretty good slash! However, your attack was too direct and over reliant on skill!」

When I was secretly using healing magic with a poker face to heal my wrist,

「Skill…」Dante-san was flabbergasted. He must have surely thought that I had no skill whatsoever.

…I have to make an excuse later.

「I want to train some more, but…」

…Please no.

「Unfortunately, our time has ended. It’s training time for the veterans.」

「Thank you very much.」

…Phew, I am saved.

I escaped towards Raikira-san while holding my wrist. The healing magic has already taken away the pain, but the gazes of the teenage boys and girls hurt.

「–What was that sword technique? Is that something a child can do?」

「–Isn’t it a skill? I think the trainer said that too.」