kscans

Chapter 119 - The Respective Masters

In Himeria. Just as the soft morning sun began to shine on the village. Hero Ares Scarlet was made to stand in the middle of the plaza.

Standing before her was Tiris, the Elf swordswoman. Her long, silver-gleaming hair flowed down her back, and in her hand, she held a thick swordsmanship textbook.

"Very well. From today, we will now begin Hero Ares’s ‘Basic Swordsmanship Curriculum’."

"S-sensei… I am in your care."

Tiris’s posture was so perfect that Ares couldn’t help but call her "Sensei." Opening the textbook and taking a wooden sword in hand, the instruction began matter-of-factly, just like a school class.

"A sword is not something to be swung about. It’s not even something you wield. You ‘channel’ through it.

You channel your will, not your strength, as if tracing the path of the wind."

Tiris’s sword flashed. It cut the wind and sliced the air, drawing a beautiful arc.

"This is the introductory stance, ‘Spirit Style: Swallow Form’. Now, you try."

Ares awkwardly took her stance and swung the sword, trying to mimic what she saw.

"…H-huh? Sensei, the wind isn’t channeling through properly…"

"To begin with, your elbow is too high. Keep your armpits lightly closed. The sword is an extension of your arm, the angle should be forty-five degrees, and your center of gravity should be in the middle of your waist. You need to use your body more."

Tiris’s instruction was detailed. But it was thorough. She would demonstrate the explanations from the textbook exactly as they were written, and if necessary, she would even draw diagrams.

"Tiris-sensei… is somehow so serious she’s scary…"

"How rude. If you aren’t serious, you’ll be the one cut by the sword."

Even amidst such exchanges, Ares’s stance gradually began to improve.

After finishing the morning’s swordsmanship lecture, they moved on to practical life training with the Orc Defray, also known as the "Fried Rice Arc."

"What I’m teaching you today is… Orc style! Fail-proof fried rice!"

"What’s with that declaration!"

Defray stood with a frying pan in one hand. At his side, a raw egg and freshly cooked white rice were already prepared.

"Just remember this one thing, Hero-chan. With fried rice, you mix the egg and rice together first. That’s a beginner’s lifeline!"

"Eh!? You mean, not in the frying pan… you mix them beforehand!?"

"That’s right! By coating the rice with egg like this, it won’t get mushy when you stir-fry it. The rice repels the oil that way, and it turns out nice and fluffy!"

Defray’s arms, mixing with a smug look on his face, were those of a master Chinese chef.

"Alright. Heat the pan, and when it starts to smoke, that’s the signal!"

"It’s smoking! There’s a lot of smoke!"

The egg-coated rice was tossed into the sizzling hot pan, making a `juwaaaa` sound. Green onions, chashu pork, and seasonings were skillfully added, and a savory crackling sound filled the air.

"Done. This is the Orc-style fried rice that will help you survive the battlefield!"

Ares tried to copy him. She burned it a little, but it held its shape. The taste of the meal she made herself was kinder and warmer than anything else.

From the afternoon, it was the "Weapon Maintenance Lecture" with the Lizardman Amy.

"Before you handle a sword, you must know its blade. A dull blade is a ‘dull will’." Amy spoke calmly as she soaked a whetstone with water.

"The sharpening angle for a sword is fifteen degrees. Use the surface of the stone evenly, and slide it as if you are pulling."

Sha, sha… sha.

The sound was a mix of tension and calm.

"Apply the oil thinly. If you put on too much, it becomes too sticky, and the sharpness will suffer. A sword is your mirror. If you care for it, it will reflect your heart."

Though the Lizardman Amy’s fingers were covered in scales, her touch on the tools was exceptionally gentle.

"I thought weapons were something more… frightening…"

"No. If you trust and care for it, a weapon will protect you."

A glint of light from the sword reflected in Ares’s eyes.

And in the evening, the day ended with a strength-training stroll with Koni-chan.

"Ares-cha~n, today is ’10 hill dashes, then onigiri refueling, then ab time’~!"

"K-Koni-chan, the order of that training is totally bugged!"

Laughing, crying, she still managed to complete it all. A definite "strength" was building up in Ares’s body.

That night, as Ares thought of her comrades’ smiles, she looked up at the window and murmured.

"This time… I want to defeat that first Hobgoblin… with my own power."

Her voice may have been small, but her will was stronger than anyone’s. The Hobgoblin Mamoru watched them quietly from the shadow of a tree.