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Let's Do Agility Training
「Fuku ! Let’s do agility 」
「Wafu?」
If you live together with a dog, this is definitely something you want to try. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
It’s called agility. It’s a type of dog sport where a person and their dog run together while clearing the obstacles placed on a field and competing by setting up the fastest time.
The person - called the handler - runs alongside the dog while giving instructions to the dog. The dog then instantly understands the instruction and proceeds on the correct course. Agility allows the owner to exercise with their pet dog will also strengthen the relationship of mutual trust and is also a great and fun activity for the dog.
I carefully explained it to him but to put it simply, I just want to try it with Fuku. There is no specific reason other than that.
Thus, I looked for a place where we could do agility and came to the courtyard with Fuku.
The courtyard of our house is as wide as ever. To describe it specifically, it’s about the size of a Japanese elementary school’s sports ground.
The courtyard is divided into a soil area and a grassy area.
If we are using the grassy area, it will have less of a burden on Fuku’s legs and it will also be less likely to get injured.
So if we are going to do an agility sport, the grassy area is the best choice.
The courtyard itself is large so even if I hog all the grassy area I probably wouldn’t get scolded.
「Next are the obstacles」
There are mainly two agility events.
There’s an agility where you use all the obstacles and the jumping type that excludes all climbing obstacles but this time let’s keep it simple and do the regular agility.
Of course, our house doesn’t have obstacles meant for agility installed. And if it doesn’t exist, we have to create them ourselves. It would be quite hard to create them one by one, but there is something convenient called Magic in this world.
「『I ask thee : Gather, Solidify, and take form, Create Stone』」
The hurdle started to be created when I cast the Earth magic.
「Wafu?」
Fuku curiously brought his face close to the hurdle and sniffed it.
Poking at a pole with his foreleg, the hurdle falls down as a result, and his body trembles.
I returned the hurdle back to its original position while smiling at Fuku’s action.
The hurdles are made with unskilled Earth magic, but I’m relieved that at least they were not so crude that they would fall with just a slight touch.
Since the creation of the hurdle was going well, I started creating the same hurdles with the same method with ten different types of obstacles, such as double hurdle, tire, bricks, long jump, A-frame, seesaw, dog walk, slalom, and pipe tunnel.
「Un! The agility course is completed!」
When I surveyed the grassy area in the courtyard, there were ten different types of obstacles set up.
When you line the obstacles up like this, it looks a lot more like a proper agility course.
This is the first time I made them but the quality is quite alright, aren’t they?
「Arc, what are you doing messing around the courtyard as you please?」
As I was admiring the result of my own work and praising them, Chloe came over from the mansion’s direction.
Apparently, she could see me from her room and came over in curiosity. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「It’s an agility course, you know」
「.....agirity?」
「It’s something like an obstacle course between Tamers and their familiars」
When I explained it like that, Chloe seemed to somehow understand it as she let out a voice of admiration while looking at the installed obstacles.
「Heeー, that looks interesting! Show me how to use it」
「Sure. But I just finished it so I will have to practice first」
「I don’t mind」
Chloe and Bell sat down on the grassy area bit away from the obstacles.
「Wan wan!」
After I was done talking with Chloe, Fuku barked as if to tell me he wanted to run quickly.
「Un, let’s do a quick run!」
「Wan!」
At first, Fuku looked puzzled when he saw the obstacles, but it looks like he could understand to what purpose I made these obstacles. Now he looked eager to run to the obstacles
「Fuku, follow me!」
When I began to run slowly, Fuku also matched my speed.
Two hurdles bar his path at first.
「Fuku, jump!」
Fuku jumped splendidly when I guided him to the first one.
The second hurdle stands in his way after the first, but Fuku can also jump over that excellently.
However, I wonder how he will do the next one? www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「Wafu?」
Fuku made a confused voice seeing an unfamiliar obstacle as he stopped his legs.
「The footing changes on that so be careful when moving forward」
When I guided him while speaking to him, Fuku nervously put his foot on the seesaw platform and continued to proceed forward.
Fuku moved forward, causing the seesaw to move.
「Keep going like that!」
Despite being surprised at the change in the seesaw’s trajectory, Fuku managed to clear it by moving his foot forward as instructed.
With Fuku’s weight no longer on it, the seesaw sharply rises to its original position.
Fuku glances at the seesaw while running and perhaps thinking something like 'Waaー, that surprised me'.
It’s an interesting reaction that seems to convey what’s on his mind.
After passing the seesaw, next is the curved pipe tunnel.
「Enter enter!」
When I instructed like that, Fuku happily entered the inside of the pipe and smoothly left from the exit.
Many of the dogs that are not familiar with agility get excited and end up running away without entering the tunnel but Fuku is very clever and stays calm.
After passing through the pipe tunnel, next is the straight dog walk.
Fuku easily jumped on what looked like a narrow balancing beam and moved forward with small, quick steps.
If it were human, they’re going to miss their footing and end up falling but even with how narrow it is, it looks like it’s a walk in the park for Fuku.
After crossing over the straight dog walk, there are still some hurdles so help jump over them, make a U-turn, and then the tires.
Since we have no tires here, I exchange it with a circular disk with a hole created with Earth magic and hang it.
「Dive into the middle!」
When I also instruct him with this, Fuku dashes toward the center and beautifully slides through the hole in the center,r and jumps through it.
Once he passed through the tire, this time it was the slalom with 14 poles lined up at regular intervals.
In regard to this, Fuku stops, seemingly not knowing about how to proceed.
I move in front of Fuku and then use my hand to instruct him to continue moving forward in a zigzag manner.
Immediately after that, Fuku moves forward while evading the pole in a zigzag pattern as if following my hand example.
「Keep going and do the zigzag fast!」
「Wan!」
「Right right!」
By the time Fuku advances halfway, he completely understands how to proceed with this obstacle as he zigzags through the slalom even without my guidance.
Since this is his first time, his movements are not as skillful as I saw in those competition scene videos, but I’m sure he will get close to those scenes after completing the obstacles repeatedly.
After he was done with the slalom, he passed through the two double hurdles and then continued to climb over the A-frame. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
And finally, after getting over the brick and other hurdles, he reached the goal.
「Congratulations! Agility training, cleared!」
When I ran over to hug him, Fuku turned around and dashed toward me.
This is Fuku’s action when he is having fun or happy.
While smiling wryly at Fuku who was pushing my thigh strongly, I patted him on his back and behind.
「Heeー, so that’s how you use these! I also want to try it with Bell!」
Seeing our agility training, Chloe exclaimed excitedly.
I would like to say ‘You can definitely try it’, but it’s obvious Bell and Fuku has different in sizes and weights.
Bell clearly won’t be able to pass through the dog walk and pipe tunnel and he would end up knocking down the poles in the slalom as he passes through.
「Then why don’t I make the obstacles that fits Bell’s size? Neesan can also use Earth magic, right?」
「I can, but I don’t think I can create such detailed obstacles
「I’ll make the final adjustment so please just try to make it as detailed as you can」
「…………okay」
Since Bell’s body is big, the obstacles will also have to be bigger to match it.
And there’s no need to make them as detailed as the obstacles I made for Fuku.
We decided to create the obstacles for Bell in an area slightly separate from the original while making the basic obstacles the same.
「Fuku can play freely」
「Wan!」
Fuku starts running with vigor as if flying and begins doing the agility training.
It seems like he was really having fun trying the agility training together earlier.
I created obstacles with Chloe while giving a sidelong glance at the playing Fuku.
Chloe is creating the obstacles and I adjust the shapes, weight, etc.
It would be much quicker if I were to be the one doing everything but this will be good training for Chloe in the future.
「Is it something like these?」
「Un, I think this will be safe even if Bell were to use them」
Honestly, I’m not clear about the Ice Bear - Bell’s physical ability, so I’m going to increase the hardness of the obstacles a bit so it won’t break with just a slight impact.
「Bell, let’s do this together!」
「Gaaaaaaa!」
Bringing Bell - who is unusually motivated, Chloe starts running.
It should be no problem now that they’ve seen the method to get over the obstacles and how to run the course after seeing my - and Fuku’s - example. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「Bell, jump!」
Bell lumbered forward and leaped over the hurdle when Chloe gave the instruction.
I had set the hurdle a little lower but I was honestly surprised that such a large body was able to leap over it.
After Bell leaped over the second hurdle, he approached the seesaw.
「Continue continue!」
At Chloe’s instruction, Bell nervously walks toward the seesaw.
However, Bell stopped midway perhaps he was afraid the base would move due to the shift in weight.
Even though Fuku is brave, it’s only natural to be scared if your footing suddenly moves.
「Bell, don’t be scared so try walking forward, okay?」
After Chloe called out to him several times, Bell slowly took a step forward, perhaps he had finally made up his mind.
However, the shift in your weight will cause the seesaw to move too much if you move slowly on it.
As a result, the seesaw tilts steeply, and Bell - who stopped in the midpoint, frightened - lost his posture and rolled forward.
「Bell! Are you alright!」
Chloe calls out in a fluster but Bell continues rolling forward without being particularly bothered by that.
Fortunately, he rolled forward along the seesaw so there was no impact from the falling or anything.
I think that’s a clever way to clear it.
Once he passed the seesaw, next was the curved pipe tunnel.
「Enter!」
Chloe gave her instructions and Bell entered the pipe tunnel.
However, Bell didn’t come out from the exit even after ten seconds of waiting.
「……eh? Bell?」
Chloe is left waiting in vain as she waits at the tunnel’s exit. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
Curious, I enter their course and peer inside the pipe tunnel with Chloe.
There, we found Bell relaxing calmly inside the pipe tunnel
「Hey Bell! Why are you relaxing inside the tunnel? It’s an obstacle you have to pass through it!」
「Guooonn」
Chloe enters the pipe tunnel and calls Bell, but growls as if he doesn’t want to do it.
After watching for a while, only Chloe came out of the pipe tunnel.
「What happened?」
「It looks like the pipe tunnel is a cozy place for him. That kid, likes dark and narrow places」
Come to think of it, I’ve heard that before he was tamed, Bell dug a hole in a cave and lived inside it. It seems like the pipe tunnel we made made him remember his den.
It’s unavoidable he would like it if it’s cozy.
Actually, I wanted for Fuku and Bell to run at the same time and compete against each other.
「The two of you are doing something interesting, huh」
As I was feeling disappointed over that, Ziruol and Runoa came over.
「I had a quick look at it but it feels like an obstacle course for familiars, isn’t it?」
「Un, it’s called agility training. You guide your familiars to clear the obstacles set up there」
Ziruol let out a cry of admiration when I explained the agility training.
「As expected from my son, you have a strong sense of responsibility as a Tamer. It’s impressive for you to make this kind of creation for your day-to-day training with your familiar and trying to improve your coordination」
……eh? I was doing it because I just wanted to do agility training with Fuku though.
From my perspective, I’m just doing what I want and playing freely, but it seems like Ziruol is seeing it differently.
Oh well, this is more convenient for me so I’ll just nod along.
Although they were all made with Earth magic and can be removed anytime, it’s fine as long as I don’t get scolded for changing the courtyard without permission.
「Say, can we also try this so-called ‘agility training’?」
I wonder when she arrive? Runoa and beside her is the Ice Sword Leopard Setsu - were already there.
「Sure! And it’s a rare opportunity, let’s have a race with Fuku!」
「That sounds interesting」
As we moved to the course with Runoa and Setsu, I explained the correct method to advance and clear the main obstacles.
「I understand how to do it. Let’s try it right now」
「…………are you okay not practicing first?」
「I saw it a bit before, so it’s fine. Right, Setsu?」
「Garuruu」
When Runoa stroked his back while speaking to him, Setsu growled as if it were natural.
I also took advantage of the opportunity to stroke him and his cool body surface and smooth fur were absolutely amazing.
Just when I tried to continue fully enjoying the feeling, Setsu slipped away and escaped.
「Why are you running away?」
「That’s because Arc’s petting is long」
「Eehh!!」
Setsu basically often stays at the Kontract’s house grounds but she has a high pride and whimsical personality so she rarely stays at one place. She was difficult to find as she could often be found on the mansion’s roof, storage room, or wandering around the garden. So if you have less time you can interact with her, it’s natural it makes me want to pet her so much more. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「Then, if we win I can pet Setsu as much as I want, alright!」
If Setsu doesn’t allow me to pet her then let’s win this and pet her to my heart’s content
「Oh, that is going to be interesting if we have a clear winner and loser in this. Runoa should also put some conditions to this」
Ziruol says with an amused smile when I put forth a condition,
「Right. If I win, maybe I should ask you to do a little gathering work」
「Okay!」
It would be impossible if it was an absurd task we couldn’t do, but our mother is not the type of person who would ask us to do the unreasonable.
I don’t know what kinds of things she wants me to gather but it’s probably a bit troublesome.
But, that doesn’t matter. The important thing is that I have to win.
「That’s how it is Fuku, this is a battle we definitely can’t lose!」
「Wafuu?」
「We can pet Setsu if we win! Be more motivated!」
I point out the advantage of winning this, but Fuku doesn’t seem interested at all. He is grooming himself as if bored.
This is ridiculous. Even though we could pet Setsu if we win he doesn’t have the motivation to do it.....
「I will let you have a serious game of tag if you do your best!」
「Wan wan!」
When I proposed such an agonizing decision, Fuku stood up as if being motivated now.
I haven’t been playing tag with Fuku since I suffered from that terrible muscle pain from the previous Body Strengthening incident. Fuku seems to want me to do that again, but I’ve been avoiding it since it puts too much burden on my body.
However, it can’t be helped now that I suggested it since Setsu needs to do his best so I can pet Setsu.
「I wonder if we are going to compete with speed?」
「Un. It should be about 15 seconds if you skip the obstacles in order or bar knocking」
「Understood」
Although it is different from the strict rules of agility training, I simplified it since it was difficult to understand.
「I will be the judge! Chloe, use these hourglasses to measure the time!」
「Eh? Un, okay」
Ziruol volunteered to be the judge and passed an hourglass to Chloe, who had given up on persuading Bell and returned.
The one with more fallen sand in the hourglass is slower. That is enough.
「Well then, Fuku and I will go first」
「Sure」
Fuku and I were given the first chance to go and we moved toward the starting point of the race.
We arrived at the starting point while Ziruol, Runoa, Setsu, and Chloe watched over from a distance.
「Fuku, you can use Body Strengthening, right?」
「Wan wan!」
I don’t know how much of a difference there is between Fuku’s physical ability and Setsu, but since petting Setsu is on the line here he has to run as fast as possible.
Leaving Fuku - who is full of motivation - at the starting point, I move forward to make it easier to guide him as the handler, and turn toward Ziruol. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「Start!」
The moment Ziruol’s signal voice rang out, Fuku bolted out like a bullet.
He jumped over 2 hurdles while being covered in gold-colored mana and went past the seesaw in a flash, the third obstacle of the tunnel, and the fourth - dog walk -, clearing the obstacles one after the other. I also accelerate by fully using Body Strengthening magic myself in order to keep up with Fuku’s speed and guide Fuku in sequence so he doesn’t take the wrong course.
Although we have only run through this course once, Fuku has grown tremendously.
During the first run, the focus was on avoiding the poles and there was no speed at all in the slalom, but now it’s being raced through at an incredible speed.
The poles don’t even fall due to being hit by his body. It’s the perfect slalom.
After passing through the slalom, Fuku accelerates even more and jumps over the double hurdle, A-frame, bricks, and hurdles to spectacularly finish the course.
「…………amazing. It’s a lot faster than the first time he ran through it」
Chloe - who had seen us running through the course the first time - seemed surprised at how much we had improved. Her eyes widened after seeing the amount of sand falling in the hourglass.
「There are no signs of skipping the obstacles of dropped bars. No points deducted」
Ziruol intensely stared at us while we ran but it seemed like our run was perfect.
「We did it, Fuku! That was a good speed!」
「Wan!」
Fuku stands on two legs and adorably reaches out to touch me.
Since we don’t have a clock here, we can’t tell the exact time but it feels like not even 10 seconds had passed.
It’s a time that is unthinkable for normal agility.
Well, Fuku is not your normal Shiba Inu after all and we used Body Strengthening too so it might be natural to get such a result.
「Next will be me and Setsu then」
Just as Fuku and I were rejoicing together, Runoa and Setsu gracefully pass by us.
I think we had quite a good time, but they don’t look like they are under pressure at all.
「Why don’t you try a light run once?」
「We saw Arc and Fuku-chan ran the course already so there is no need」
I called out again for them to practice for fairness but it seemed like it was unnecessary. It looks like they have the confidence to beat our time despite not practicing the course even once.
When Setsu is standing by at the starting point, Runoa arrives at a position where it is easy for her to guide Setsu. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「We can start anytime」
「Then, start!」
Ziruol gave the sign and Chloe flipped another hourglass.
At the same time, Setsu disappeared.
No, she’s not disappearing, she only abruptly rushes out at a speed where my eyes can’t catch her figure, so it seemed like she disappeared.
By the time my eyes caught up to Setsu’s figure, she had already passed the dog walk. The handler - Runoa - also uses Body Strengthening and she accurately guides Setsu while keeping up with her speed.
Although they were watching us practicing up close, it’s amazing they can accurately run the course at such a speed without any practice.
Setsu passes the obstacles without difficulty and makes turns with hardly any deceleration.
She breaks through the hurdles and tires and continues to pass through the slalom faster and even more skillfully than Fuku.
「Eeehhhh!?」
While I was yelling in shock, Setsu passed through the A-frame, brick, and hurdles, and crossed the finish line with Runoa.
「Chloe, how about the amount of the sand?」
「It hasn’t even fallen half of the amount from before?」
When the two hourglasses were lined side-by-side, it’s clear how much sand had fallen at the bottom.
If my time with Fuku was over eight seconds, then Runoa and Setsu’s time would be just under 4 seconds.
「The winner is Runoa and Setsu!」
Ziruol’s lively voice resounds in the courtyard. It was too fast I don’t understand what happened.
Even Fuku beside me had a stunned look on his face that said 'Eh? We lost?'.
「Aren’t you both too fast? This is the first time you run this course, right?」
「Setsu and I have subjugated monsters on a much harsher terrain than this, you know? They will not be a challenge to us if it were these levels of obstacles」
Runoa said with a smile on her face, while Setsu leisurely yawned when Fuku and I hurriedly drew near.
When I tried asking for more details, it seemed like both Runoa and Setsu regularly visit the mountain.
The terrain over there is much rougher than the mountain we are on. There are many slopes and cliffs, it seems like the bad paths are so treacherous that falling could easily cost your life.
On top of that, the monsters that appear there are unbelievably strong so there’s no way that Fuku and I - who were agility beginners - could possibly compete with these two pros who effortlessly run around such a danger zone. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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