kscans

Chapter 116 - Skill Acquisition

After having Nanapon confirm Yoshino-san’s and Lin-san’s Status Cards, we found out that Yoshino-san hadn’t been lying. At the same time, we learned that Nanapon would arouse suspicion without her sunglasses.

"I don’t really get it, but are you satisfied now?" Lin-san asked with a sigh.

"Sorry for the commotion. We’re good now. Let’s get going on our adventure."

"That’s fine, but Yokokawa is supposedly the witch’s disciple. Is she a mage?"

Ah, I hadn't properly introduced them.

"Right. Nanapon is an excellent fire mage. Right?" I said, nudging Nanapon, who was still so scared of Lin-san that she was hiding behind my back.

"I’m only around level 10, so I wouldn’t say I’m that excellent, but as Okita-san said, I can use fire magic."

Nanapon peeked out from behind me to answer.

"Well, if you can handle yourself out here, level 10 is more than enough. Anyway, why are you so scared of me?"

"She says you’re scary. That you have the scent of a killer."

"Well, I have cut people down… no, let’s not talk about that. I’m not as bad as Okita-kun, am I?"

It seems Lin-san has, in fact, cut people down. Scary.

"See! She has! So scary!" Nanapon yelped, ducking back behind me.

"You’re not wrong," I agreed. Very scary.

"Wait, didn’t you cut down the guys who kidnapped Nanapon, Okita-kun?"

Thanks to Yoshino-san’s unnecessary comment, Nanapon moved from behind my back to behind Yoshino-san’s.

"Yokokawa, I should warn you, that one has cut down the most people," Lin-san advised Nanapon, who had fled to Yoshino-san’s side.

"Eek! There’s nothing but killers here!" Nanapon frantically scrambled back behind me.

"You two have both cut people down? Are you murderers?"

"Back when we first started, we were attacked a lot. We weren't well-known and our gear made us look like total amateurs. Especially Yoshino…"

"Ah…" I glanced at Yoshino-san’s ample chest and understood. Basically, they fought back and won.

"Okita-kun, you’re staring… Nanapon, I’m sure you’ll be fine with Okita-kun around, but be careful. It’s dangerous at night or in deserted places. I’m sure you know this, but girls who look weak like you are easy targets."

Nanapon was active in the deserted Diana Mine, wasn't she? I guess that place isn't just unpopular, it's completely empty.

"I will be careful."

Nanapon said this while looking up at me, so I patted her on the head.

"Don’t worry. I’ll lop off the head of any attacker for you."

"That’s reassuring, but also terrifying. You were smiling when you did it."

I told you, I wasn't smiling.

"Okita-kun, has your Provocation level gone up?" Lin-san asked with a laugh.

"It hasn’t. I’ve learned humility."

"You have a knack for it, so it’ll happen fast. You’ll surpass me in no time."

"I don’t want a knack for Provocation," I grumbled. I’d rather have a knack for being an adventurer.

"Oh, right. Your Provocation skill just reminded me. Today, as an apology for before, I was going to teach you two a skill," Yoshino-san said as if just remembering.

"I don’t need to learn how to dig holes."

"Are you sure? What about you, Nanapon?"

"I don’t need to dig holes either. Um, could you teach me magic? I can only use fire magic, and magic is probably the only way I can be useful."

True, Nanapon would never be in close-quarters combat. She’s weak, and just not built for that kind of thing.

"I see. Lin, can I leave Nanapon to you?"

"Sure. I can’t use any amazing spells, but I can teach her the basics."

These two mainly use swords, but they are all-rounders who can do just about anything.

"Alright, then Okita-kun… you want to learn magic too, Okita-kun?"

Magic, huh… I admit I'm a little curious.

"Teach me that Presence Detection you mentioned earlier. It sounds useful."

"Oh, that. I think you’ll pick it up right away. In fact, I’m surprised you don’t already have it."

Probably because I’ve been relying on Nanapon.

"I feel like I can already sense presences to some extent, though."

"Well, it’s a skill. You’ll learn how to do it properly in no time. Alright, let’s go. I’ll lecture you as we walk."

"I’m in your hands."

"We’re in your hands."

Nanapon and I bowed our heads in request.

"Okita-kun, don’t bow your head. I think you look cooler with a bit more of a haughty attitude," Yoshino-san said.

Shut up, you married woman! Stop trying to raise my Provocation level!

◆◇◆

We proceeded down the road until we found a deserted spot. Then, moving a little off the road, we split into two groups, me with Yoshino-san and Nanapon with Lin-san.

"Alright, Okita-kun, let’s begin," Yoshino-sensei said, crossing her arms in front of me. A short distance away, Lin-san was giving Nanapon her lesson.

"Ready when you are."

"Good. First, about Presence Detection. The method for learning it isn't that difficult. The hard part is grasping the feeling, so it usually takes a while to acquire. But you’ve practiced swordsmanship, so you should get it quickly. In fact, Lin and I both learned it fast."

She was subtly putting pressure on me. It would be frustrating if I couldn’t learn it quickly now.

"So, how do we do it?"

"Well, it’s a classic method, but you close your eyes and I attack you."

That certainly is a classic. I’ve seen it in manga training scenes.

"What? You want me to feel it with my skin or something?" Or maybe my mind’s eye?

"Something like that. If you keep at it, you’ll eventually get the hang of it. That’s how skills are."

Hmm…

"Close my eyes… here?"

There are monsters around. I can handle High Wolves, but I’d rather not get my skull pecked by a Great Eagle.

"It’s fine. I’ll be keeping a proper watch."

"I’m counting on you."

It’s scary, but I’ll trust the A-rank Yoshino-san.

"You can leave it to me. So, about the attack? No swords, please."

"Don’t worry. Here."

Yoshino-san took two bamboo swords from her bag.

"Bamboo swords?"

"It might sting a little, but bear with it. Would you have preferred a giant paper fan?"

No way. That would be embarrassing if someone saw us. It’d look like a comedy sketch.

"Bamboo swords hurt too, you know… Are you sure you’ll be okay, Yoshino-san?"

"I’ll at least defend myself, and my level is high, so I’ll be fine. But no thrusts."

I wouldn’t do something as dangerous as thrusting.

Deciding it was fine if she said so, I took the bamboo sword, pulled a Buff Potion (Defense) from my bag, and drank it.

"Alright, I’m ready!"

"If you don’t mind me asking, what is that?" Yoshino-san asked, pointing to the empty plastic flask in my hand.

"It’s a potion that raises defense."

I put the flask back in my bag and took a practice swing with the bamboo sword. If I do say so myself, it was a pretty good swing.

Yoshino-san watched my swing with a look of dissatisfaction.

"...Where’s mine?"

"You just said you’d be fine…"

"…………"

Yoshino-san’s face fell into a sad expression.

"You want one?"

"Give it."

I took another Buff Potion (Defense) from my bag and handed it to her.

"How much damage can this block?"

"It’s hard to test, so I don’t know. But it’ll be fine against a bamboo sword. I had Kaede-chan hit me with one, and there was no problem."

My heart hurt a little, though. She told me to stop staring at her chest.

"Hmm, so you’ve tested it that far… I guess it’s fine, then. It’s just a bamboo sword."

Yoshino-san then downed the Buff Potion (Defense).

"How is it?"

"I can’t tell."

When I asked her, Yoshino-san tilted her head while pinching her own arm.

"It seems to react to attacks."

"Well, I guess it’s faster to just try it… Okay, Okita-kun, let’s begin. Close your eyes."

Try it on me? Don’t underestimate me! I’ll turn the tables on you.

I readied my bamboo sword and closed my eyes. I focused my senses, concentrating on my hearing to locate Yoshino-san. But I couldn't sense her at all.

Oh, right. This woman can erase her presence. I didn't notice her approach when we first met either.

"Hold on. You’re erasing your presence too much."

Even when I said that, Yoshino-san didn't reply.

Damn it! She’s serious…

But Yoshino-san made a mistake. By not answering, she revealed she didn’t want me to know her location. That means she isn’t in front of me.

"There you are!"

I swung the bamboo sword behind me. But I felt nothing. It just cut through the air.

"Sorry, I’m over here."

I heard a voice from the front, and then felt an impact on my head. It didn’t hurt at all, though.

"That’s dirty! To think you didn’t even move!" I complained with my eyes still closed.

"I didn’t do anything… You’re the one who swung your sword with that smug look on your face."

Damn it! That’s kind of embarrassing.

"Alright, one more time!"

"No, wait a minute. Try to sense my presence properly. This isn’t a mind game."

She was right. I felt like I was just gambling, like a penalty shootout in soccer.

"Got it."

I quietly took my stance, my eyes still closed. But I couldn’t sense a thing. Yoshino-san’s presence was completely gone. She might not have moved yet.

I decided to wait patiently for her to make a move.

"Sorry."

I heard a voice from behind me, and once again, an impact struck my head.

"When did you…?"

This woman is a master at erasing her presence. Even though certain parts of her are extremely assertive.

"Want to go again?"

"Of course. Bring it on! I’ll show you my mind’s eye."

"Should I try a thrust?"

Stop trying to blow away my upper body!