Chapter 54 - Training Grounds

"What exactly do you want to train?"

Kuroka and I are following Barakiel, who is leading us to our training camp. We are also accompanied by Raynare, who has decided to reluctantly accept her fate.

"Archery" I reply.

"A dragon training archery... That's not something you see every day."

Actually, I prefer to use a sword or a spear, but the Gacha has decided that I have to get a bow.

"So I'm going to prepare a few quivers full of arrows for you to use."

"Really?"

I can't help but feel excited. Doesn't that mean I'll be able to shoot more than 150 arrows every day? That's amazing.

My hands were tied when we were in the woods. Even when I wanted to continue training my archery, I couldn't because I lacked MP. Now that I will have real arrows and not the ones created by my magic, I will be able to practice my archery without fear of running out of arrows.

"Of course, it's the least I can do for you. The truth is that I'm pretty bad at archery, so I'm not going to be able to help you with this. I sincerely apologize."

"No, no. No need to apologize. I just need a place to train, I don't need help from anyone except Kuroka."

It's intimidating to have a guy as big as Barakiel apologize to you.

"Refusing help from a Cadre, how stupid are you?" Raynare's mumbling from my back.

"Who was the one who didn't want to train at all-Nyaa?"

"Tch..."

It seems Raynare has found her fated enemy.

....

We soon arrive at a covered pavilion.

From what I can see from outside, this pavilion seems to be quite large. I think it should be about 800X800 meters.

"This is where we're going to train from now on," Barakiel said as he opened the door.

The interior of the pavilion was quite simple. It looked like a place where they had practice fights, but much larger. Also, there is an athletic track that runs along the edge of the pavilion.

"Well, you can start warming up while I go get the quivers, the targets and a bow."

Barakiel says that and prepares to leave.

"Barakiel!"

I hurry up and call him before he leaves.

"Is there anything else you need?"

"You don't need to bring the bow or the targets. Just the arrows are fine."

Why would I need a bow when I already have [Gandiva]? With the resistance this bow creates to shoot an arrow, it would be totally useless to train with a regular bow.

As for the targets... That's what Kuroka is for. She uses her [Kasha] and manipulates it in such a way that they become my targets. Thanks to my one-year training, she's improved a lot in her control over [Kasha], she's improved to the point that she can easily control it up to a distance of 650 meters.

That's crazy.

To have that level of control over [Kasha] is amazing. It's a skill that can work very well in assassination missions, being able to take out enemies from half a kilometre away.

"Don't you need a bow?"

It's true. He doesn't know I have [Gandiva].

A light appears in my right hand, and my bow appears.

"Is that a Sacred Gear?" Raynare asks curiously.

Barakiel is frowning. Raynare may be fooled if I say it is, but I don't think it's the same for an old fox like Barakiel.

"It's not exactly Sacred Gear, but it's similar."

In this situation, I can only respond in the most honest way possible.

"It's okay, you don't have to explain anything. We all have our own secrets."

Raynare was going to ask again, but Barakiel beat her to it.

...…..

Barakiel returned with three chuckles full of arrows. Each of the quivers contained 36 arrows, making a total of 108 arrows.

"Well, you can start training on your own. In the meantime, I'll take care of Raynare's training."

"Thanks for the arrows."

"Haha, it's nothing. It's always nice to see young people like you working hard to improve. You should learn a little from them, Raynare. Your talent is one of the best in the younger generation, and yet you're too lazy."

It seems Barakiel has no reservations about giving Raynare a little lecture.

"You're gonna start by improving your stamina. You're gonna run 10 miles today, and I'm gonna be supervising you."

"Ugh... You're cruel, Barakiel-sama."

"I'm not, I'm doing this for your sake. It all starts with the stamina. In a dangerous world like this, even the weak like you will be hunted down by enemy factions. If that happens and you don't have the stamina to run, you will die!"

Barakiel doesn't seem to be a bad teacher. Besides, why do Azazel and Barakiel seem to be giving Raynare special treatment?

Raynare has already started running under Barakiel's instructions, I think it's time to begin my training.

Having real arrows instead of having to create my own arrows is a big help. Now I can do much longer archery training.

I take a quiver and put it on my back, I feel like a professional archer.

"Kuroka, get ready."

"Yes!"

Kuroka gets off my head and transforms into her human form.

"Why has the cat become a beauty?!"

"She's a Nekomata, she can transform herself into a cat. And you'd better not provoke her, I mean for your own good."

"Argh... I thought he was just a weak familiar."

I can hear the conversation between Barakiel and Raynare.

I say, Raynare, you could at least pretend a little, right?

I think it's best not to pay attention to the idiot, and Kuroka seems to think so too. She has her eyes closed as she starts to create her [Kasha].

"It's ready-Nyaa!"

"As always, thank you for your help."

"I can't do much for Shirone and you, and I'm sure you'll soon surpass me in strength. This is the least I can do for the person who saved us from a tragic fate."

I can glimpse a hint of sadness when Kuroka says the part about being outdone by us. She seems to know she has no potential for improvement, too.