CH 18

After the disturbance from Miguel and the others, there were a total of three monster subjugation in Atsuka village, but I decided not to participate in them because I could not regain my full vision.

It’s not like it’s a replacement, but Mr. Zeol decided to teach me staff techniques.

At first, I had asked him to teach me how to use a sword, but he recommended training with a staff.　

“Listen, Nyango. The length of the staff changes depending on whether you hit, sweep, thrust, or depending on the position of your grip, and it can be used as a sword or a spear. If you can control a staff freely, unlike a sword or a spear. Besides, with your void attribute, you can freely shape your weapon, right?” (Zeol)

“Yes, that’s right.” (Nyango)

“Then, it is better to build a foundation to be able to wield that flexible weapon at will, right?” (Zeol)

“Yes!” (Nyango)

When I asked Mr. Zeol to teach me, I knew that it would be steady basic training.

What he handed me was a wooden staff about 130 centimeters long, longer than I am tall.

I was expecting to be made to swing a heavy iron rod, so I was a little disappointed.

“Um… shouldn’t it be an iron staff or something?” (Nyango)

“Don’t worry, I’ll let you swing an iron staff eventually, but for now, you first need to be able to swing a wooden staff properly.” (Zeol)

“In other words, you mean I don’t even have a foundation to build on…?” (Nyango)

“Hahahaha, that’s what I mean.” (Zeol)

First, I will be taught the basics of striking, sweeping, blocking, and thrusting, as well as how to move my feet back and forth, left and right, etc. The rest is just repetition.

Every three days, they are checked to see how much progress they have made, and if they are allowed to continue, they move on to the next stage.

It doesn’t bother me to practice repetitive swings and footwork, but this staff training comes with a different problem.

Miguel, Dalles, and Kimball also wanted to be trained.

I thought they would refuse, but Mr. Zeol readily allowed them to participate.

The second training session proceeded in the form of Miguel and the others learning from me while I continued to practice.

It’s not like I was expecting anything, but even after that uproar, the attitudes of the three toward me didn’t change much.

They had been locked up in the charcoal hut and had not seen the fight between me and Kobold.

After being rescued from the charcoal hut, they saw Mr. Zeol covered in Kobold’s blood and me unconscious on his shoulders.

I guess they had been told what happened, but they seemed to think that Mr. Zeol had killed all the Kobolds and that I was just a good-for-nothing who had rushed out and gotten his ass handed to him.

The staffs given to the three larger boys were longer, thicker, and heavier than the one I was swinging.

These differences also seemed to stimulate their prejudice against racial differences in physique, and I could see a tinge of contempt in their eyes as they looked at me again.

To be honest, the presence of the three of them is an eyesore, but since we only see each other once every three days, and for the time being I am not involved in anything, I try not to think about it.

I carry the staff I borrowed from Mr. Zeol every day, even when I go into the mountains.

If I am swinging it near my house or on the riverbank, the three of them might try to mess with me, but once I am in the mountains, I don’t have to worry about them.

I continued to practice my swinging and footwork at a height of about three meters above the ground in the trees, using a combination of void attribute magic [Step].

Anyway, I continued my swinging while being conscious of building a flexible and strong core in my legs, hips, and back so that I could swing sharply, keenly, and precisely.

After nine or twelve days, Mr. Zeol still had not given me permission to move on to the next stage, but I was not disheartened.

I pretend that this is me grinding in a game, but this world is not a game but my reality.

I learned the hard way during the battle with Kobold that if I get wounded, I will have to carry the consequences, and that game over means death.

I had to build a solid foundation that would not waver, even in a pinch.

I was so absorbed in building the foundation that Miguel and the other three seemed to get bored after nine days of just swinging and footwork.

In my case, I have memories from my previous life, but it might not be unreasonable for me to get bored at the age of nine to eleven.

“Mr. Zeol, isn’t it about time you let us do something else, like techniques or mock battles?” (Dalles)

Dalles asked in Miguel’s place, and Mr. Zeol grinned at him.

“What, have you raised your voice already? You came here for protection even if monsters attack you in the mountains, to protect the village in the future… that’s what I was told, so I accepted in guiding you, but if you don’t like it, you can always quit.” (Zeol)

Mr. Zeol threw such words without an argument to grasp, and although they withdrew from the spot, the three of them were nowhere to be seen three days later.

Mr. Zeol never asked me about the three of them, nor did I ask him anything about them.

Twenty-one days after I started swinging, I was handed an iron staff as promised.

It left a strong, firm feeling in my hands that was so different from a wooden staff that I felt my body tense up.

“Now, the iron staff just as you wish, but don’t try to swing it too fast from the start. Don’t be swayed by the weight of the staff but swing with a firm stance.” (Zeol)

“I understand.” (Nyango)

Swing, thrust, and train my muscles to properly swing and build a strong body.

It is interesting because it somehow resembles the training for swordsmanship in historical novels, and by actually continuing to swing, my arms, legs, and back grew to have muscles strong for swinging.

The practice of swordsmanship to strengthen the core of the body will surely be useful when using Body Enhancement magic.

I wonder if I would have had things different in my previous life if I had been more enthusiastic about swinging like this, when before I was so tormented that I couldn’t even put up a good fight.

After the battle with Kobold, I stopped going to school in earnest.

I had already decided that I would live my life as an adventurer at all costs, and I thought it would be more meaningful to spend my time preparing for that.

In the morning even on a rainy day, I continued to swing on the riverbank.

I used void magic to create a roof, and I used [Step] for footholds, so I would not get wet from the rain or dirty from the mud.

However, I try to stay away from the riverbank except on rainy days.

This is because I have seen Miguel and his friends swinging sticks and play-fighting on the riverbank.

It seems that Dalles and Kimball were not enough, and they were swinging sticks around with about seven or eight others, including kids the same age as Kimball and even younger ones.

Well, I had no business with them, and I thought I would stay away from them if I saw them, but it seems that trouble always comes from the other side.

It’s been a month and a half since I started swinging, and it’s about time I finally got used to the iron staff.

On the way home from having Mr. Zeol check my progress, Miguel and his friends were waiting for me.

Three of them, including Miguel, stood blocking the way, and four others who had been hiding in the bushes blocked their way behind them.

“Hey, Nyango. Are you still doing nothing but swinging? I’m going to teach you some real staff fighting techniques, so follow me.” (Miguel)

Miguel indicated the way to the riverbank with his chin, but I had no intention of following him.

I turned around, dashed, and after using [Step] to create a foothold and jumping over the heads of those behind him, he fled using his Body Enhancement magic.

“Ah, wait! You guys, chase and catch him!” (Miguel)

Sandro, a dogkin two years younger than me, was chasing after me in a mad dash, but even though the other side was frantic, I still had plenty of energy to spare.

As I passed by the village chief’s house with the seven of them in tow, I saw Mr. Zeol grinning and watching us, so I waved to him.

I kept up a pace that didn’t really lose them, and when I had led the seven of them to the outskirts of the village opposite my house, I changed direction, sped up at once, swept past them all, and headed back to my house.

By nature, wolfkins are fast on their feet, but it was probably not my imagination that Miguel seemed to be the first to drop out.

Maybe I wouldn’t lose in a tavern fight, but I don’t want to take on a large group of people while I still haven’t completely adapted to the blind spot in my left eye.

Besides, what I have now is an iron staff, so depending on how I hit them, I could break a bone or something, so I decided to run away and win.

I wish they would give up now, but they probably won’t.

The only other boy the same age as Miguel who grew up in the village, besides me, is Horacio, who was recruited by the knighthood.

As it stands, he can’t beat Horacio even if he stood on Horacio’s head, and he probably thinks that if he loses even to me, he would be the worst man of our generation.

It’s somewhat aggravating to lose on purpose, and even if I were to beat him, I don’t think I could take it easy on him just yet.

For a while, I’m going to be forced to play tag with him every three days.