Thank you all patrons!
Aiji S., Alexander P., BigZak, Brben, Chocolat, Corey, Dragoncamper, Deso, Daniel B., David G., DKLA, Jakers, Jason, Jaycob T., John V., Kaichu, Kiriaky, Luther S., Maverun, Max, Myla, Omniamore, Otto E., Scott M., ShadeRitten, SK, Soomin B., Taiyou D., Tim N., TsuTsu, Tuan N., Urko M. M., Will B., William H., YMK, and Z!
Previous Chapter - TOC - Next Chapter
Those Who Launch Surprise Attacks Are The Most Wary Of Surprise Attacks Themselves
After completing a total of 300 practice swings, I take a short break and rehydrate myself.
Even though it is currently winter, your throat is bound to be dry since you move around and sweat this much.
I quench my throat with the lemon water Mina had prepared and wipes the sweat from my forehead while sitting on the external corridor.
「Good work, Al」
「You too, Sylvio-niisan」
As I am taking a breather, Sylvio-niisan sits next to me.
Although I’m drenched in sweat, Sylvio-niisan is only slightly sweaty.
His calm demeanor shows that he still has confidence in himself.
「I’m exhausted after training for the first time in a long time, but Sylvio-niisan still looks okay, huh?」
「I’ve been practicing with Eleonora-neesan while Al was in the royal capital, after all」
Sylvio-niisan smiles in a way that shows his hardship.
「……somehow, I feel like every time I leave the mansion, Sylvio-niisan becomes stronger」
Even though he had the same stamina as me in the past, his stamina has surpassed mine before I knew it, and he seems to have built up a much stronger physique compared to before.
He still remains slender in build, but he doesn’t look like the type of tall and thin person who shuts himself indoors anymore. Anyone with a discerning eye will be able to see that he’s an active person.
He’s already an ikemen, but if he gets an even better physique, it’s going to make him more popular.
「For me, I wish Al would spend a bit more time as Eleonora-neesan’s opponent.....」
「No way. I won’t have the stamina to keep going if she takes it seriously」
While Sylvio-niisan and I rest, Eleonora-neesan is receiving guidance from Nord-tousan and a review of her practice swinging.
No matter how many bodies I have, there’s no way I can keep up with someone with such energy. If I’m going to face her directly, then I’m going to need 5 extra lives at least.
「Now, shall we have a mock battle today after a long time?」
Nord-tousan gave such a command after we had around 10 minutes of rest.
On days when we intensely focus on the basics, we often move on to kata practice after practice swinging, but today seems to be the day when we’re doing mock battle.
「Al, have a mock battle with me!」
Just when I was about to invite Sylvio-niisan - who sits beside me -, Eleonora-neesan interrupted me first.
Even though she was just in the middle of the courtyard just a moment ago, just when did she get over here?
「No! I’m doing it with Sylvio-niisan!」
「Al has no right to refuse」
Eleonora-neesan ends up grabbing me forcibly and dragging me away. She’s really strong.
I was dragged along on the ground.
「Eleonora-neesan can drive back a strong monster like Winter General, right? So there’s no point in practicing with someone of my level!」
「Every practice session has its meaning. No matter how unskilled the opponent is, I just have to focus on my own challenges」
Eleonora-neesan treats me as someone unskilled with no hesitation. Well, the fact that I’m unskilled is a fact, though.
「Then it doesn’t matter who your opponent is, right. Wouldn’t Sylvio-niisan be a better choice?」
「I’m tired of fighting Sylvio. We’ve fought a lot over the past month」
I understand her reason, but her way of saying it was harsh. Even though she must have spent a lot of effort in training me.....
「Then Nord-tousan would be fine, right」
「I can have tousan accompany me later!」
So she will have a mock battle with me before the main dish, Nord-tousan. I’m being completely treated as an appetizer.
「Knowing Al, you probably just did something silly in the royal capital, didn’t you? I’m going to get you back in shape!」
「That’s upsetting. You think I’m just playing around in the royal capital―」
I was about to refute Eleonora-neesan’s accusation but then I looked back on what happened in the royal capital.
Exploring the Misfeed House’s mansion, performing the Water Show, playing Varschel, buying souvenirs and pillows with Ra-chan, having a deep-fried skewers party.....huh? Now that I’m listing the events back in the royal capital, they were all just activities for having fun.
「……the fact that you stopped speaking like that just means you spend your life in self-indulgence, right?」
「Gununu」
Eleonora-neesan shot me a weary, accusing glance.
I can’t refute what she said when I just did something silly in the royal capital. This is frustrating.
「Come on, get ready」
As I gritted my teeth in frustration, Eleonora-neesan was already standing in front of me with her wooden sword pointed at me.
I know from firsthand experience that she would really hit me if I didn’t get into stance quickly, so I quickly took my stance.
I turn my eyes toward Eleonora-neesan, to observe her movements.
And in the split second I blink my eyes, Eleonora-neesan has already closed the distance between us.
「……!?」
She swiftly closes the distance and swings her wooden sword down in a diagonal slash.
My eyes flew open in shock at that speed but I somehow managed to avoid it by bending backward.
Using the momentum of her spin, Eleonora-neesan launches a horizontal slash at me.
Facing such a smooth, consecutive attack, I backstep out of range.
「……your body’s reaction is good considering you like to slack off, huh?」
Eleonora-neesan let out a praise in admiration as I opened a temporary distance between us.
「Well. I didn’t practice my swordsmanship in the royal capital, but I did keep my body fairly active after all」
I’m talking about only practicing the Lazur Kingdom’s swordsmanship. So I’m not lying.
「Rather than that, Eleonora-neesan, when did you start using such a bold tactic?」
We’ve sparred together for years but this is the first time she pulls a move like that.
「That’s cause I won’t be able to attack the Winter General if I don’t aim for an opening like that」
For Eleonora-neesan to say that far, that Winter General-monster seems to be quite the monster with no openings.
Because of that Winter General, Eleonora-neesan has started getting some unnecessary ideas.1
With Eleonora-neesan’s speed and power, they are basically often straightforward, so even someone like me can manage to deal with it, but when she adds something like surprise attacks and advanced tactics in her moves, that becomes quite difficult. That will end up becoming unmanageable already.
「Even so, I thought it was a good timing for an attack……」
The reason I was able to block that surprise attack is simple.
「I was also aiming for when Eleonora-neesan blinked after all」
「I see. Those who launch surprise attacks are also the ones who are most wary of them, eh」
Eleonora-neesan is closing the distance between us again.
I deflect the attacks closing in on my throat and swing my wooden sword to force her back.
But, Eleonora-neesan steps forward while bending over.
I quickly take back my sword since it was a feint and block the attack aimed at my torso.
I’ll be pushed back if I engage in a head-on contest of strength with her so I quickly shift the angle of my wooden sword to let the attack slide past.
However, perhaps Eleonora-neesan had already taken this into consideration as she easily draws back without losing her posture.
I don’t know what Eleonora-neesan - who had progressed in her swordsmanship - would do if I continue to be on the defensive like this.
Regardless, even if I just defend myself, I’ll just end up getting hit endlessly as Eleonora-neesan overwhelms me with her speed and power.
I should also start attacking.
That said, there’s no way I can defeat Eleonora-neesan if I face her head-on.
How can I throw Eleonora-neesan off her balance in a mock battle without using magic?
What came to my mind, was the Royal Lazur swordsmanship Salva forced me to learn last time.
Although I only learned it for a day, Salva praised me with a rather dishonorable compliment that it perfectly suits me because of my bad personality, and even Shanaria, who rarely has a good word for me, admits I have a talent for it.
……it might surprisingly be effective against Eleonora-neesan.
But even if I want to use that swordsmanship, it’s difficult to do it with this wooden sword.
「Eleonora-neesan, can I make a bit of a weapon using Earth Magic? I’m not going to change the strength of the weapon or add anything to it」
「A weapon? It’s fine, I guess.....」
After getting permission from Eleonora-neesan, I place the wooden sword in my hand on the ground and, in exchange, recreate a weapon using Earth Magic.
I tighten my grip on a curved knife with a blade measuring around 15 cm long.
It’s the Jambiya knife I used when practicing with Salva.
Of course, there’s no worry of injuring anyone with this since the blade is rounded.
「……that, isn’t that a weapon displayed on Luna’s house? I think it’s called a Jambiya knife? Can you really use such a unique short sword?」
「Well, now. I’ll have to try it to find out」
Taking a hanmi stance, I set the Jambiya knife straight in front of me and bring my left hand behind me. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
Previous Chapter - TOC - Next Chapter
TL Note:
-
Can actually also be translated as, getting more wisdom, or getting smarter XD
Thanks for the chapter.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chapter!! 😉👍
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chapter!
ReplyDelete