Chapter 188
The Final Training
Translator : PolterGlast
Five days have passed since I returned to Furo Village.
Aside from obtaining information from Cougar the Kijin, I've
spent the time peacefully without any major incidents.
Thanks to Cougar, I know for certain that Furo Village
is safe, and indeed, the number of monsters appearing around Furo Village
has decreased dramatically. There are still many strong monsters as usual, but
considering Nagi and Ran's ability, it's a number they can handle
with ease.
In addition to that, there are capable individuals other
than Nagi and Ran, so during this stay, I was able to confirm
thoroughly that Furo Village is in no danger of falling. Knowing that
the village where I spent most of my life—the village I risked my life to
protect—is safe fills me with relief and happiness.
The villagers are kind to me as always, and Nagi and Ran
still adore me unchanged. Compared to Biodasdal or the Royal Capital,
the comfort of Furo Village is undoubtedly on another level.
I think spending the rest of my life in Furo Village
wouldn't be bad, but there are still many things I must do, and things I've
actually left undone. I don't have a grand goal like making the world a better
place, but I want to save those I can save, and actively do things that help
others.
I intend to return to Furo Village only when my body
truly can no longer move; until then, I plan to work myself to the bone.
Touching upon the nostalgia and kindness here allowed me to hold onto that
feeling strongly.
Besides, although it is far, I know now that it's not a
distance from which I can never return, and returning to Furo Village a
few times a year should be fine. Anyway, just confirming everyone's safety made
coming back worth it.
"...Hey, are you going back already, Graham-san?"
"Yeah, I'm thinking of leaving tomorrow. So, today will
be our last training session."
"You should just stay in Furo Village forever.
Is the outside world that fun?"
"It is fun, but more than that, there are many people
in trouble, so the feeling of wanting to help is bigger. A big part of it is
that I was able to think it'd be fine because Nagi and Ran are here in
Furo Village."
"...I want to go with you too, Graham-san! But
if you say that, I can't leave Furo Village!"
"That's not true. Nagi and Ran just need
to raise successors to whom you can entrust Furo Village. Just from a
quick look, I thought there were plenty of talented kids."
Although they were still young, there were a few kids whose
movements I thought were good. Just like Nagi and Ran, there are
many children with high physical ability in Furo Village.
"I think you mean Riku and Naru. We raise
them... huh."
"If we raise successors, can we go to where you are, Graham-san!?"
"Of course. Only if they are truly capable people to
whom you can entrust Furo Village, though."
"Yay! Until now I thought teaching was a hassle, but
from now on I'll do it actively! So, once the successors are properly raised,
you have to accept us, Graham!"
"Of course. With that said, let's do the final training
session."
She calls me "Graham-san" when she's
dejected. Laughing at Ran, who switches to calling me "Graham"
when her tension rises, I decided to move on to the final training.
Well, even if I call it training, we're just doing a mock
battle. There were several moments where I almost lost to them so far, but
currently, I have won every match.
Before I return to Biodasdal, I personally want them
to score at least one win, so I'd like them to win here. Though this very
thought might rub Nagi and Ran the wrong way.
"We'll definitely win the last one! We'll show you the
combination we've been working on forever!"
"Won't lose. Going all out."
I can tell they are more fired up than ever, and I'm itching
to go too. I have no intention of losing on purpose either, so I'll crush them
with everything I have.
Carrying wooden swords, we arrived at a grassland a little
distance from Furo Village. As usual, Ran wielded dual one-handed
swords. Nagi held a long wooden sword similar to a naginata.
"Come at me anytime."
"Here—we go!"
Ran was the
one who answered energetically, but the one who jumped out was unexpectedly Nagi.
Until now, the formation had been Ran on the vanguard with Nagi
supporting her, but Nagi came to the front.
Her style of observing calmly even while advancing remained
unchanged; Nagi was attacking, yet it even felt like she was waiting for
my move. Against me, who couldn't move carelessly, Nagi swung her sword
from a distance.
It wasn't a sharp blow by any means, but my reaction was
dulled because I was being overly cautious. Also, the fact that Ran, who
had been loud the whole time until now, was waiting behind Nagi bothered
me immensely.
It's an incomprehensible state where being quiet stands out
more, but right now if I don't concentrate on Nagi, I'll be taken down
easily. Against Nagi attacking from a long distance, I guarded while
looking for an opening.
I planned to start attacking as soon as I found even the
slightest gap... but as expected of Nagi. She didn't make wasteful
attacks, sticking strictly to low-risk attacks from a distance advantageous to
her.
In a fight like this, losing patience means defeat, but if I
stay on the defensive any longer, I'll definitely be overwhelmed. To change the
flow, I decided to force my way forward.
"He came out. Ran, you're up."
"Leave it to me!"
They seemed to have been waiting for me to come out; timing
it perfectly, this time Ran jumped out. Ran charged in as if
slipping underneath, and matching Ran, Nagi targeted my clear
weakness, my left side.
This might be the first time I've found having only one arm
inconvenient. Unable to fully cope with Nagi's nasty attack, I took a
powerful clean hit for the first time.
...However, from here on, I'll lift the ban on magic and go
all out. To make my movements lighter, I cast Gravity Magic on myself.
Controlling gravity freely, I toyed with the two of them
using acrobatic movements surpassing even Ran's. The two had planned
their strategy perfectly to match me up to this point, but this movement seemed
outside their calculations, and they crumbled instantly.
I finished off Ran, whose stance broke first, and
then took care of the isolated Nagi. With relief that I didn't lose, and
carrying a bit of guilt that using magic
might have been unfair, the final mock battle also ended in my victory.
"Haa—! I don't get it! What was that last
movement!"
"Cheater. Didn't hear about that. ...Cheater."
"You two were stronger than I expected, so I had to use
my trump card."
"We didn't discuss countermeasures for a trump card! I
was sure we had you!"
"Cheater."
Nagi has been reduced to only saying "cheater." Since I am aware that it was somewhat unfair myself, I'll just vaguely dodge the subject and return to Furo Village.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
-
[Gold]
B random
Nepheos
ShitaiNoKootoRyuu
[Silver]
Corey Hicks
Creris
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Jake Seagraves
Matthew Fraser
Xavier O'Donoghue
Alan Sharman
Anton Lim
Austin Lorenzo
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Didntpassit
nick nasca
openope
SD Fox
Yosua Lumbangaol
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
