Volume 1
Chapter 5
My apologies for the
initial oversight. As I began writing, various ideas came to mind and I added
them in, so the explanation regarding the protagonist not becoming completely
the strongest will be in the next installment.
This time, the story
focuses mostly on Granny Shino.
Thinking about it,
Granny Shino is supposed to be a figure who helps the protagonist grow, but she
seems almost like a heroine...
Or rather, a heroine
hasn't even appeared yet, whoops.
---
He was dreaming.
Nozomu didn't know where he was, but he knew it was a dream.
He stood alone in a
pitch-black space. There was no ground in this space; instead, water spread out
like the shore of a lake.
There was nothing
around him other than water, not even a breeze. The water's surface was still,
without a ripple, and there was absolutely no sound.
Suddenly, he looked
down and saw something huge in the water. A jet-black giant body and
five-colored, six wings. It was Tiamat, the Dragon King of Destruction.
The giant dragon
stared intently at him. Nozomu couldn't understand the emotion in the depths of
its eyes.
They continued to gaze
at each other in silence for a while, and then the surroundings gradually
brightened. It seemed he was about to wake up.
Feeling a slight
relief that he was still alive, he shifted his gaze back to the dragon.
The dragon was still
looking at him, but its expression remained unreadable. Nozomu felt a pang of
unease as he was engulfed by a white light.
"Oh, you're awake?"
"Uwoah!"
A wrinkled old woman's
face loomed large in front of his eyes. Nozomu instinctively yelled and kicked
away the blanket he was sleeping under. The next moment, he received a powerful
punch to the face. His body, riddled with injuries, felt the impact resonate
through his wounds, leaving him writhing in pain without even being able to
make a sound.
"Y-you're
terrible, Master..."
"Who's terrible?!
I went all the way to the forest to bring you back and nursed you for three
whole days, you know!!!"
His entire body was
wrapped in bandages, and the scent of medicine filled the air. It seemed she
really had been treating him.
"Sorry, Master.
Thank you."
Shino was still
pouting, but her eyes looked genuinely happy. It seemed she had been very worried
about him, and thinking about that made Nozomu's chest feel warm.
"Now then, after
nursing you for three sleepless nights, you're going to tell me how you ended
up collapsed and covered in wounds in a place like that, right?"
The atmosphere around his
master changed. Overwhelmed by the aura of a master who had reached the
pinnacle of their art, Nozomu naturally straightened his back.
"...Understood.
I'll tell you everything."
In the tense
atmosphere, he began to recount the entire course of events.
***
Several hours later,
after he had finished telling the whole story, only silence remained.
"...Come with
me."
His master said just
one word, then picked up her katana and headed outside the hut. Nozomu also
picked up his katana and followed her outside.
Once outside, they
silently drew their katanas and faced each other. Both adopted a quick-draw
stance. Countless wounds still remained on his body, and the wrapped bandages
looked painful.
"When—!?"
The pain from the
wounds he sustained in the battle with Tiamat flared, and a groan escaped his
lips. His battered body struggled just to hold his katana.
The next moment, his
master closed the distance in an instant. His awareness was still focused on
the pain of his injuries, so his reaction was clearly delayed. He instinctively
drew his katana, but based on his past experience, there was no way he could
make it in time.
However, contrary to
Nozomu's expectations, Shino's katana was deflected with a sharp clang.
"Huh?"
He couldn't help but
let out a dumbfounded voice. The past him wouldn't have been able to defend
against that attack.
"As I
thought."
"W-what do you
mean, Master?"
Shino muttered with a
tone of understanding. Reacting to her words, Nozomu asked. He was clearly
confused.
The abilities limited
by Ability Suppression greatly affected even instantaneous actions. His muscles
lacked explosive power, and his Ki capacity was limited, so he couldn't
completely defend against surprise attacks with simple movements. That's why he
constantly trained katana techniques adapted to the situation, but he didn't
have the leeway to make those movements against Shino's sudden slash and ended
up responding with a simple quick draw.
Normally, he wouldn't
have made it in time and would have been cut down, but somehow he had managed
to defend. The reason was,
"Your physical
abilities have improved, you see."
That was the reason he
could defend against Shino's attack.
"B-but I..."
"Indeed, your
physical abilities won't increase due to Ability Suppression. However, it's
said that a Dragon Slayer inherits the power of the dragon and becomes even
stronger. That's probably what happened to you."
"I'm... a Dragon
Slayer..."
Nozomu was swallowed
by a further vortex of confusion. It was only natural. Dragon Slayers were
legendary beings. Even the last Dragon Slayer had lived hundreds of years ago,
and they didn't exist in the present day.
The strongest
inheritors. The embodiment of immense power. There were even those who used
magic that couldn't be explained by existing magic or awakened to unique
abilities. They were beings from fairy tales.
"Though it
doesn't seem like you've been strengthened all that much..."
"Eh!!!"
Nozomu was even more
confused by Shino's statement, which seemed to deny the legend itself.
"The influence of
Ability Suppression is probably still strong. Speaking of which, you seemed to
have released your Ability Suppression during the battle with Tiamat. Can you
still do it now?"
His master's words
reminded him of that battle. Indeed, at that time, he had felt the chains
binding him and the sensation of tearing them apart. And then the feeling of
liberation afterwards. He recalled the sensation of releasing a steel wedge,
feeling as if he could go anywhere.
Nozomu pictured the
chains binding him. Then, the chains wrapped around his body floated into his
mind.
"Ah."
He couldn't help but
let out a voice.
"It seems you can
do it, then."
Nozomu nodded at
Shino's words.
"So... what are
you going to do?"
"What am I going
to do...?"
"That power of
yours is extraordinarily immense. Strong power attracts various things. Status,
honor, authority, jealousy—the list goes on endlessly... Let me ask you again,
what do you want to do from now on?"
".................."
Nozomu couldn't
answer. He had never thought about the future until now. He had only thought
about the present.
No, even now he
couldn't see it. He was still trapped by her, by the past.
"I've been
thinking this for a while now. You have no reason to become any stronger."
"T-that's
not..."
Shino, with a strict
demeanor and expression, cut off Nozomu, who hesitated and tried to find an
escape.
"For your lover?
That girl is no longer your lover. Even if you want to support her, there's
already another man by her side. You have no reason to become stronger... You
should already know that."
Shino's words
mercilessly tore at Nozomu's heart. He was forced to directly confront
something he had unconsciously tried to avoid thinking about by suppressing it.
Nozomu couldn't retort
and could only hang his head. Because he knew it himself.
That there was no
place for him by her side now, and that there was no longer a place for him in
that academy either.
"...Well, it's
probably impossible to decide your future all of a sudden. For now, just focus
on healing your wounds."
"But you will be
forced to choose eventually," Shino added as a final warning before
returning to the hut.
"...With those
injuries, there's no way you can go back to town. You should stay here
tonight."
Watching Shino enter
the hut, Nozomu followed after her with unsteady steps. His expression remained
clouded.
"Oh, that's
right, I haven't told you yet."
"???"
Shino turned back
towards him, but Nozomu didn't understand what she was about to say.
"...............Welcome
back. You did well."
She smiled happily,
truly happily. Although her face showed unconcealable fatigue, there was a
heartfelt relief in it.
She had been worried
about him and had nursed him constantly. Her deep affection gently melted his
heart, which had been frozen since coming to this town.
His vision blurred at
the long-absent heartfelt affection.
"I'm...
home..."
His voice was hoarse,
and soon it turned into sobs that echoed in the deserted forest.
Beside him, Shino
simply stroked his back as he continued to cry.
***
Stroking the back of
the sobbing boy in front of me, I continued to comfort him. He was just like a
small child.
...Perhaps it couldn't
be helped. Being abandoned by a lover, and the mockery and contempt from people
he had believed to be friends—I had experienced it myself.
I am not originally
from this country. I hail from an island nation at the easternmost edge of this
continent.
That country, though
small in territory, had developed its own unique culture, Ki techniques, and
sorcery (or magic, as it's called here).
Bordered by high
mountains and the sea, large armies found it difficult to maneuver during
battles and monster subjugation. Victory inevitably required high individual or
small-group prowess and adaptability.
Among them, our clan
boasted unparalleled military achievements. When it came to swordsmanship, my
family was undoubtedly the foremost, and I was born into this world as the
second daughter of that family.
Born into a renowned
swordsmanship family, I was forced to train with the katana from a young age,
but I took it for granted and never questioned it.
Perhaps I had talent,
for I quickly rose to prominence. My parents seemed proud of my rapid progress,
and my older sister, who was much older than me, rejoiced as if it were her own
accomplishment.
Therefore, I became
even more engrossed in swordsmanship, to the extent that I couldn't control
myself.
I continued to improve
my skills, and eventually, no one in the family could defeat me.
Being the most skilled
in swordsmanship in the leading swordsmanship family inevitably meant that I
was the best swordsman in the country.
As a result, many
disciples sought my tutelage, and influential figures eagerly requested my help
in subjugating powerful magical beasts.
Living a life solely
devoted to the katana, I never adorned myself like other women, nor did I have
any interest in makeup or romance.
My parents were
exasperated by this and forcibly tried to arrange a marriage for me, but only
my sister sided with me.
At that time, my
sister was so beautiful that even I, a woman, was captivated by her. Renowned
families from various regions eagerly proposed marriage.
However, my sister
seemed to have someone she had already set her heart on and stubbornly refused
all those proposals.
One day, amidst those
days, I met him.
He came to where I was
training, accompanied by my sister.
He had kind eyes and a
gentle smile. His build was smaller than that of a typical adult male, and he
exuded an intellectual aura.
He was the third son
of a renowned sorcery family in this country, and it seemed he had sneaked into
the carriage when his father, the head of the family, came to our house.
And my sister had
conspired with him, secretly inviting him into the mansion, she said.
To my utter
astonishment, he pleaded with me with a serious expression.
"You must be Lady
Shino. I actually have a favor to ask of you."
His request was for me
to teach him swordsmanship.
He apparently had very
little magic power, was considered a failure within his prestigious sorcery
family, and had no place there.
That was why he had
been independently training in martial arts and the related Ki techniques in
order to gain recognition from his family, but it hadn't gone well.
At that time, he had
apparently met my sister during a dinner party for the country's dignitaries
and had heard about me.
My sister couldn't
refuse his earnest request either, it seemed.
I tested him, taking
his enthusiasm into account, but he was completely hopeless.
Due to his self-taught
style, he had developed strange habits, and the inherent sharpness of the
katana was not utilized at all. His body movements were poor, and his feet,
waist, and arms were not coordinated at all.
At first, I refused,
saying it was pointless, but he was so persistent, and I couldn't refuse my
sister's sincere request, so I eventually agreed to teach him swordsmanship.
"Wrong! You're
holding the katana backwards!!! If you're going to be taught, at least master
the basics before you come to me!!!"
"What's with that
weak stance! An old man pounding mochi has more impact than that!!!"
"No crying or
whining allowed! You are my practice dummy! I'll drill the true meaning of a
slash into your body!!!"
...Well, looking back,
I was a bit sharp back then, so maybe I went a little overboard.
At first, he couldn't
even do the basics properly, but gradually he became stronger.
My sister was very
happy about it, and I, though I didn't show it, was also pleased.
My own disciple, whom
I had taught from the beginning, was becoming stronger. There was no way I
wouldn't be happy.
It was around this
time that I started to think about him occasionally.
During meals, while
sleeping, while bathing, while training.
Before long, I started
to think about him regardless of time or place, and I consulted my sister about
it.
"Everyone has
times like that. Don't worry about it. It will eventually pass,"
she said.
However, it didn't
pass. Instead, it only grew stronger and became unbearable.
Seeing me like that, a
maid in our household asked me.
"Lady Shino,
could it be that you are in love?"
That one word turned
my world upside down.
"L-love?"
"Yes, love. So,
Lady Shino is indeed in love."
"B-but... I, in
love?"
"Lady Shino, love
comes to everyone. And no one can stop it. Even gods can fall in love."
While listening to the
maid, I fully realized my own feelings of love.
And once I realized
it, I became overwhelmingly conscious of him, to the point where I couldn't
help myself.
His posture, the look
in his eyes when he earnestly devoted himself to training. Even the casual
conversations during breaks and the scent of sweat from his training clothes
made my heart flutter.
Disgusted with myself
for feeling that way, there were times when I avoided him.
"Why are you
avoiding me?"
He pressed me.
"...I'm not
avoiding you."
"That's a lie.
You don't even look me in the eyes anymore, unlike before."
".........It's
your imagination."
"No. It is not my
imagination."
"You're quite confident."
"Yes, because I
have been watching you all along, long before you knew me. Only you."
"...What?"
Feeling a deep meaning
in his words, I couldn't help but ask back.
"...I have always
admired you. Your unparalleled swordsmanship in this country, your noble heart
that doesn't boast of it, and your eyes as clear as your katana. I know it is
presumptuous for someone like me to say this... but I love you. More than
anyone else in this world."
It was undoubtedly a
confession of love.
My heart pounded so
hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest, my face turned redder than a
sunset, and I couldn't look at him, so I turned my back to him.
"...Are you an
idiot? To like someone like me, who can't even take care of her own
appearance?"
A normal man would
prefer someone more feminine like my sister over me.
"Perhaps. But it
is you that I love. No one else... If it's alright with you, would you walk
with me?"
"...I thought you
were just stupid, but to think that you're this stupid... you... idiot."
"Yes, I am an
idiot. So, will you give me your answer?"
"...............Your
feelings... I have indeed received them. Though I am clumsy, please take care
of me from now on."
At that moment, I
vowed to walk with him.
The news of our
relationship spread quickly, and before I knew it, the date for our wedding was
set.
The marriage between a
renowned martial arts family and a renowned sorcery family was widely
announced, and my parents were delighted.
However, my sister
didn't seem to be feeling well and spent most of her time confined to her room.
And on the day of the
wedding, that incident occurred.
In front of the
relatives who had gathered that day, a man suddenly declared to me.
"She is having an
affair with another man despite having a betrothed! This wedding is
defiled!!!"
That man was one of
those who had once proposed to my sister, had been rejected, and had even come
to our house to press his suit.
The wedding hall was
thrown into uproar by the sudden event, and everyone was bewildered. I asserted
that the man's words were lies, but he said confidently.
"Then it would be
best to check her room."
And in my room, men's
underwear that I had never seen before was found.
The groom's relatives
were furious about this, the wedding was called off, and I was reproached by my
parents.
I desperately pleaded
my innocence, but they wouldn't listen, and he only looked at me with cold
eyes.
I was excommunicated
for adultery and confined to my room.
Then, one day, about a
year later, my sister visited me and said this.
"The man from
that time, I was the one who sent him."
"...............Huh?"
"I said I would
consider the marriage proposal if he confronted you at the wedding. And then
that man was overjoyed and went along with it."
"W-why... Older
sister?"
My sister, in response
to my question, approached me with a furious expression. I recoiled in fear at
my sister's face, which I had never seen before.
"Because you
stole him from me! I found him first! I've been watching over him all this
time!!!"
Her expression was
truly that of a demon woman. My sister grabbed my hair and spat out words of
curse.
"I will never
forgive you!! I will take everything from you!!! Your status, your honor,
everything!! I will make sure you can never find happiness again as a human
being!!!"
My hair was torn out
with a snap, and I cried out in pain, begging like a child, but my sister
didn't stop.
"In any case,
there's no place for you in this house anymore. No one will protect you or help
you. Goodbye, Shino. You can rest assured. I will spend my life with him."
Saying that, my sister
turned on her heel and left the room.
I could do nothing but
cry.
In the end, I left
home. The story of my wedding had spread throughout the country, so there was
no place for me there either, and I continued to wander until I reached this
place.
"You and I are
surprisingly similar, aren't we."
Both abandoned and
cast aside. At first, I disliked him because he reminded me of my past self,
but now he is an irreplaceable disciple.
I noticed that my
disciple had fallen asleep, probably exhausted from crying.
A smile bloomed on my
face...
"Guh!!"
Suddenly, my vision
distorted, my head became hazy, and I felt like I was losing consciousness.
"Damn it! This
useless body of mine!"
When I managed to
regain my focus, my vision cleared.
(...The intervals are
getting shorter lately. I don't... have much time.)
"Sleeping Death
Disease."
A disease in which
one's Ki gradually declines, leading to death. The cause has not been identified,
and a complete cure is extremely difficult.
There have only been a
few cases of recovery, and the reasons for those recoveries are unknown.
This disease gradually
drains the Ki from the body, and in the end, one dies as if falling asleep.
However, there was no
fear of death on Shino's face, only regret.
(I wanted to talk to
you more about various things. I only taught you katana techniques... That's
just like me, I suppose.)
Looking at Nozomu
sleeping peacefully in her arms, she made a decision.
(The last thing I need
to tell you, the thing I want to convey. When that time comes... with all my
strength...)
---
How was it? This time
it was about the bond between Granny Shino and the protagonist and Granny
Shino's past.
I couldn't fully express
the complicated relationships between women... I'm sorry (tears).
-----
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