Vol 1 Chapter 6 (1/2)
On the hill with the ruins at the outskirts of town, Kail focused on swinging his sword.
Rather than just blindly swinging his sword, he also mixed in feints and released a blow with killing intent.
While imagining incoming attacks, he moved around to defend against them.
If you looked around you would see no one, but in Kail’s imagination there was an enemy, or to be precise, an enemy with killing intent that was projected in his eyes.
This was a technique that Kail had asked his sensei to teach him: a move allowing him to fight an illusionary enemy.
By applying illusion and hypnosis magic on yourself, you would be able to create an illusionary image of an enemy. However, that did not mean that you could just slash at it. The enemy would dodge and counter your attacks.
Since it could make a nearly perfect illusion of the opponent, it was perfect for training alone. Many people who possessed magic power learned this technique.
Normally, an image of an opponent you knew well would be made. Kail was able to make a near perfect image after just one battle.
And the enemy Kail is imagining is the strongest one he knows, the Demon king.
“This won’t do, I was killed within 10 seconds.”
After fighting for a while, Kail put down his sword and dispelled the illusion.
When we actually fought, I managed to somehow end up in a stalemate.
But now, it was completely impossible to win.
Of course, it was not due to the Demon king becoming stronger. Rather, I had become weaker.
No wonder I was killed dozens of times.
“I tire out pretty fast too.”
I tried to stand up with the help of my sword while breathing roughly, but I ended up taking a rest while being sprawled on the ground.
According to Kail’s memories, the person he was three years down the road would not have needed rest, let alone being out of breath.
The speed at which the sword was swung along with the movement of his body could not keep up with the image he had.
Although both experience and skills were possessed, but his body was weak and unable to handle the burden.
Muscle pains will probably pester me tomorrow.
“So I was this weak.”
Lamenting his utter lack of basic strength, he sighed.
Now that he thinks about it, he spent his days lazily wasting time, not practicing with the sword or with magic. Kail is now regretting how he spent his days in the past.
“No, I think you actually got better.”
Suddenly hearing the voice behind him, Kail, who was lying down with his arms and legs stretched out, immediately got up.
The one who approached him was a well-built woman in her thirties with a tan, who had a two-handed sword strapped to her back.
Having a face with well refined features which makes you think twice about approaching her, while also having a beauty which is reminiscent of a wild carnivore, that kind of a woman.
Even though she’s supposed to be the same age as Kail’s mother Seraia, she looks youthful in another way.
“Se-Sensei!? since when did you…..”
Her name is Leila, she is Kail’s sword sensei and a former gladiator, she’s also Seran’s adoptive mother.
Gladiators are those who fight against other humans or humanoids, or magical beasts that are a danger to humans. They fight in an arena with spectators, in other words those that fight for glory.
Even though you risk your life in those fights, the more dangerous it is, the more fortune and fame you can get.
Leila fought on the world’s greatest stage, the Garugan imperial’s capital Ruos, while other gladiators dropped out because of injuries or death she remained undefeated for five years and ruled the arena as an Empress.
Ten years ago, after her retirement, to avoid the annoyance of having to deal with interpersonal relations, and so with the help of Seraia, her old friend, they settled down in the town of Rimase.
Kail heard she took Seran in because of a benefactor at the orphanage.
Because of her wandering nature she sometimes suddenly vanishes, this time too she just vanished and probably came back just now, it’s obvious looking at her dirty clothes.
“Since when were you watching.”
“Since you were killed for the sixth time I guess? Rather than that just what kind of monster is your opponent. The current you probably gets ripped apart within 5 seconds.”
“…. I was able to last an average of 10 seconds you know.”
Apparently Leila was able to vaguely see the Demon king whom I was fighting with.
“It’s fine if you challenge a strong opponent, but if the difference in power is too great it doesn’t have any meaning you know…. Rather, when did you meet that opponent just now? It seemed he was reproduced pretty accurately.”
“…. From my imagination, I made an image of the strongest enemy I could think of. Rather than that, if it was sensei how would you challenge him?”
“Me? Let’s see…. In desperation, I’d get into reach at the expense of an arm or leg. Then I’ll make an attack with my whole body….. If that doesn’t beat him then it’d be my loss.”
“I see…. As expected, it’ll end up like that.”
It was the exact same method Kail used when he defeated the Demon king.
Kail makes a wry smile, thinking that the disciple and teacher think alike.
“Well, that’s only if it’s one-versus-one. With comrades I would’ve used a different plan.”
“That’s true. I wouldn’t do something as challenging him alone.”
I don’t think I can win fairly, I can’t be picky about how I win.
“Anyway isn’t it admirable that you’re training even while I was away. Since it’d be a waste of your talent for you who is able to use everything I teach you after seeing it only once.”
Leila said this about Kail, even among the most talented sword users in the world, you’re probably a “genius that appears once every hundred years,” that’s how much talent with the sword he possesses.
The truth is that after Leila began to teach him, his skills increased rapidly.
But having no motivation recently he was called a no good disciple.
“Aren’t you also teaching Seran?”
“Reluctantly, since he’s my son. If not I wouldn’t even want to have anything to do with such an idiot.”
Leila usually says that Kail is an useless disciple, while Seran is her worst disciple.
(From Leila’s POV)
“Anyway, Kail you’ve certainly become more skillful.”
Kail’s physical ability hasn’t changed much from what I saw before going on my journey.
But the level of his techniques has skyrocketed. As if he has been fighting in real battles for years.
Right now he can’t keep up with his high level techniques, but if his body catches up he can grow
even stronger.
But above all, his change in att.i.tude.
In Leila’s eyes he was just a carefree little puppy, but after not seeing him for a while, let alone a wolf,
he has even grown to the extent of being called a lion.
“Did something happen?…. The atmosphere around you has changed a lot.”
Acknowledging that this person wasn’t someone you can lie to, Kail decided to answer in a
roundabout way.
“It was just a little change of mind. I’m thinking of seriously training in both the sword and magic.”
It’s not as if getting stronger won’t help.
No matter what I do from now on, I should be able to do more the stronger I become.
“You….. You’ve changed so much it has become gross.”
Leila has a face as if something is really gross.
“Although I’d wish you’d be a little happier about the growth of your disciple.”
“They say people shed skin, but with you it’s fo-, no as if you’ve shed your skin five times.”
“It feels as if I’ve shed so much, that my bones are exposed, like that.”
“But, is it really only a change of mind? It kind of seems as if there’s another reason.”
“It’s nothing….. I just want to sincerely become stronger, that’s all.”
Kail who grips his sword, solidifies his determination.
“Are you alright?….. You sure you didn’t eat anything wrong?”
“Please stop it with the sincerely worried face. Even this much would hurt me a little.”
(End of Leila’s POV)
“That guy, just what on earth happened to him.”
“That really isn’t like him. ”
A little distance from where Kail was swinging his sword Seran and Lize were watching the two from within the bushes of the forest.
When Lize saw Kail going somewhere, she got interested and followed him, On the way Seran seemed bored and went with the flow. Eventually they ended up here.
And hesitating whether to talk to Kail who was intensely swinging his sword, they ended up spying on him.