'Wow, that is crazy.'
'How long will they fight like that?'
While Callius and Akira were sparring, a pair of green eyes were watching them.
'Mister Akira shows no mercy at all.'
"Grr…..."
"Hey. Just this much is nothing while fighting, you know. Don't ever get comfortable while fighting. Don't forget that you will be putting your life on the line."
Seeing the black-haired boy being attacked by a sword over and over again, she was honestly surprised.
"Pick it up."
"Cough, cough."
"Pick it up."
"!"
"I like the look on your face. But can you keep it for a long time?"
/SPIT/
"We will see that."
'So this is how a real adventurer train. Now, I am feeling ashamed, thinking I was worthy of being an adventurer if I just put in an effort.'
'I was actually not even putting any effort at all. I was just mindlessly emptying my mana and trying to train my body, while actually, I was just deceiving myself, thinking I would be successful. Can I really endure such training to get stronger?'
At that moment, Aliya, who was watching the training session of Callius and Akira, was questioning her decisions so far.
'Thanks to Callius, my eyes were opened. The fact that I was this blind towards myself while I was read by him makes me slightly irritated, but there is nothing I can do about that now.'
"Kurgh-"
/CRASH/ /THUD/
"Hey, this is just the beginning. Stand up."
'Huh? How is this training? Isn't he just getting beaten?'
Seeing the boy crashing towards the tree behind him with a kick, she thought.
"Grrr….."
"Nobody will be intimidated by such a gaze if you don't have enough power to back it up. Stand up."
Saying that, the man standing in front of the boy signaled him to come.
'I must leave. I can't stand seeing him getting hurt.'
Seeing the person she liked getting hurt, her heart clenched.
'I wish I didn't see this. But this is his own will, and I don't have the right to interfere. But I need to put in my effort too. Just as Callius does, I need to put in a real effort.'
With that thought, she left the place entering her tent….
****
After the training with Akira was finished, I was in a state where every part of my body was aching.
'Someone was watching us. Knowing I was able to sense her even while fighting, she must be Aliya then. She must be curious.'
I thought, entering the tent.
"Hısss…."
Feeling the cold breeze over my wounds, I shivered for a second.
'Don't forget. Pain management and fighting while being distracted by pain is a very important qualities. As a fighter, you won't always be in your top condition.'
"Ah… I am really tired this time."
With that thought, I went to sleep not long after.
****
And days went on like that without stopping, and a week passed.
I was training with Akira before I went to sleep, and in the morning, whenever a monster that I could beat with my strength appeared before my eyes, I fought with it limiting my strength to improve my basics.
At first, it was a bit hard, but as time went on like that, I was able to see the clear improvements.
The fact that I was this reliant on my family's sword was not a good thing.
Training by basics while getting beaten by Akira, I was able to see clear improvements in my moves.
Aside from that, I was talking with others a little more.
The thing I observed before was that I was ostracizing myself on my own from the party.
It was more fun to travel like that as well, and the first part of my sword quest was nearing its end.
"Hey, Callius."
While I was resting in the carriage, Aliya came beside me.
"What?"
"Are you good with mathematics?"
"Why?"
"I wanted to ask you something."
"Well, I am pretty good."
"Hmm? Really?"
"If you won't believe me, why are you asking?"
"Who said I don't believe you?"
"Sigh…. Just ask what you want to ask."
"Here."
Showing a bunch of paper, Aliya sat beside me, asking.
'Wow. A quadratic equation.'
"How is it?"
"It is pretty high leveled."
"Right. I was wondering how to solve this one."
"Why are you trying to solve that?"
"I had already solved the other problems Father prepared for me. But only this one remains."
"Your father prepared for you?"
"Yes. After our talk, I decided to improve myself in the things I am already talented at."
"Heh, so you can listen as well."
/PINCH/
"Humph…. That was rude."
"Heh. Is that so?"
"Anyway, don't distract me. Do you know how to solve this?"
"Yes. Here you need to do…."
Just like that, I started explaining the question and how to solve it.
"Wow, you are really smart. How come you can do everything?"
"No. I can't do everything. It was just I knew how to solve such a question beforehand."
'Thanks to being a transmigrator and having a good memory.'
"I see. You must have learned this in your hometown."
"…. You can say so."
"Ah, sorry if I stepped on the wrong point."
"It is okay."
"Anyway, what are you going to do after you leave the Caravan?"
"I will be working as an adventurer until I reach enough strength."
"Enough strength for what?"
"For applying to the Academy."
"Academy? You mean Ark?"
"Yes."
"You are planning to go, Ark of the Empire?"
"Yes."
"Ah…. I see."
/SWOOSH/
Saying that she immediately stood up.
"Huh? Where are you going?"
"I need to finish this page first; you do your own thing."
"Okay?"
And then started doing her own thing.
****
"Callius. You are here."
"Yes, Brother Aki-."
/SWOOSH/ /CLANK/
Before I could even finish my word, a sword was coming through my chest.
But before, it was my sword blocking the attack.
"Good. Your moves are natural now. That's good."
"Then?"
"Then, we can start right away with the real techniques of my family."
"…."
"Now, you had already seen a move of mine beforehand."
"That fast strike at that time?"
"Yes. Before starting, let me talk about my hometown and my past for a bit."
"….."
"As you already know, I am not from this continent but from a place where there is an ocean that lies between the mainland.
The land we are living in is called the Land of Reeds. And the way our lands are ruled is both similar and different from yours.
We have a Shogun that you call a king.
And Clans that you call noble families.
And I was once a member of a Warrior Clan that excels in the art of quick drawing.
In our culture, we have a belief in honor, and we attach huge importance to it. However, because I was framed in my youth, I lost my honor, and I was exiled from my hometown, leading me to this huge continent.
And now, here I am.
That is the reason I am using this curved sword."
"…."
"Now. There is no need for other details. I just wanted to open your eyes a bit more."
"Understood."
"Then, Callius. Let's start with the essence of our style.
School of Iai is a technique that relies on speed and precision. You need to be precise and fast.
Look."
/SCHLINK/ /SWOOSH/
The moment he said that, with a flash, the leaf that was falling to the ground was cut.
"If your attacks are precise enough, you can even cut a leaf. And this is what we will aim for now. Grab the handle of your sword."
With my hands on Nihil, I started waiting.
"Watch my movements and try to understand everything. I will try to slow down as much as possible."
Saying that he put his hand on his sword.
/CLINK/ /TING/
And with a fast speed, he drew his sword and slashed the boulder in front of him, leaving a cut mark.
'Wow, the way he is using his muscles was too good.'
"Now."
/SCHLINK/ /SWOOSH/
Hearing the signal, I grabbed my sword and slashed the empty air in front of me.
"Stop."
Saying that, he drew his sword again.
"Watch again."
"Now."
"Again."
"Now.
"Again."
"Now."
Just like that, the training went on until we deemed it was enough.
"Let's finish for now. You need to rest."
"Okay"
Saying that, he left me and went to his own tent, and I sat on the ground thinking.
'The way he moved his muscles, the way he clenched them and raised the tension. I must not copy that. My body and the sword I am using are different from what he is using. I need to keep that in my mind.'
Thinking that, I went to my tent and started formulating what I could do better in my head and how I could implement the way he used his muscles into my own style…
-----------------Author's Note----------------
Here is the chapter. This training sub-arc won't be long, and it won't only contain training scenes but some action scenes as well. We are nearing the end of the first half of this arc, and a major time skip will come soon.
Aside from that, there were some comments related to their age is too small. That is right, and I was normally not going to write a smut scene this soon between Callius and any major heroine(villainess).
However, I decided to try it. Let me know if you are not happy with that or anything, I may change it in the future. As for Aliya's age, there will be an explanation coming soon.
