CH 17

Kokubu style swordsmanship and wall construction

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[ Kent-sama, please walk without changing your pace. ]

[ Yes? Did something happen, Reinhardt? ]

It's the way back from the guild where I got a ticket to participate in the wind day of the week class by successfully defeating three people in today's class.

Reinhadrt spoke with a slightly cautious tone.

[ It seems so, keep walking and we can tell, if they are following. ]

[ Wow, hey ... that's ... ]

[ No, I don't think it's a big deal, but just in case. ]

Just in case, I'm really curious about what it is, but I'm aiming for the boarding house without turning around or stopping.

[ They're following ... ]

[ Yes, but I'm not worried because it's the four people who were with us in last week's class that are following us. I was watching them from the shadows during the daytime class. ]

[ Damn, both Manon and Ridner said that they had something to do. ]

[ That's why they're following you without calling out to you. ]

When I heard that we were being followed, I was worried that someone might have suspected my identity for a moment, but if it's those four it certainly seems unlikely.

[ But why are they following me? ]

[ Maybe they're trying to find out how Kent-sama has suddenly become stronger. ]

[ Hmm ... They think that they'll get stronger by peeking at what kind of special training I'm doing, right? ]

[ That's what it is. ]

Well, while I was walking while wondering what happened, I arrived at the boarding house.

"Amanda-san, I'm back now!"

"Oh, Kent welcome back, wait a little longer for dinner!"

"Yes, I know!"

When I returned to my room after calling out to Amanda-san, I sank into the shadows and headed for the alley where the four were hiding, watching the four of them from the shadows.

"Hey, Ridner, isn't this Kent's boarding house?"

"Ah, maybe the special training is after dinner."

Apparently, it seems that Ridner and Manon are following my trail.

"Hey, what kind of special training do you think Kent is doing?"

"That's right ... It's just a guess, but maybe there's an adventurer of a higher rank in the boarding house."

"I see, does he have that person help him practice?"

"Oh, maybe that's the most likely thing."

Hmmm, you guys seem to have good intuition.

But do you live in the boarding house? You woudln't think it's a vicious skeleton.

What's more, you wouldn't even think that the special training ground was in the Devil's Forest.

[ Well, what are you going to do? Kent-sama. ]

[ Yeah, I have a little idea ... ]

When I returned to the room by moving through the shadows, I went down the stairs with a wooden sword in one hand.

"Amanda-san, I'm swinging my wooden sword in the back, so please let me know when it's dinner time."

"Yes ... Kent, the dungeon ..."

"I won't go, it's okay!"

"Ahaha, that's fine ... Good luck."

"Yes!"

The back of the boarding house is a common well surrounded by a backyard-like space.

I stood diagonally backward from the four people lurking in the alley and held the wooden sword in front of my face.

Instead of making slight movements to warm up, I stood while holding the wooden sword, and then slowly move forwards, then stop moving again.

From there, I shook my hips from side to side, like a hula, kui, kui, kui.

I swung the sword down quickly while stepping forwards from there.

"Eeeii!"

I stepped back, lowered my sword, twisted my neck again and again, then return to its original position.

I slowly pulled the sword up in front of my eyes again, and this time shook my whole body like kelp floating in the sea, and then swung the sword sharply.

"Iyaaa!"

When I finished swinging, I lowered the sword and twisted my neck to return to the original position.

This is repeated while changing the operation on the way.

I tried rotating my hips, shaking them back and forth, and moving only my neck, then I chose and repeated movements that seemed strange to the four people.

"Kent ... what are you doing ...?"

Amanda-san's stunned voice is what I was waiting for.

"Oh, this? This is the most famous kendo dojo practice method in my country."

"Huh? Is there such a strange movement ...?"

"If you're an inexperienced person like me, it looks like a strange movement, but it seems that the secret of the Kokubu style is in the waist."

"The waist ..."

Of course, there is no Kokubu style, so it's a crazy thing, but since I spoke with a lot of confidence, Amanda-san also put up a smile and listened to the story.

"Yes, the sword can't swing unless the hips are firmly set, but on the contrary, even if there is a strange force on the hips, the movement becomes stiff and it doesn't swing as expected."

"Hey ... is it something like that?"

"No, I'm trying to imitate it, but it seems that the balance between the weakness that softens the waist and the focus that is set firmly is important."

"Wow ... it's a story that I don't understand, do you understand it ..."

"Yes, I understand it, I don't understand it ... I mean, if I can understand this completely, I can reach the level of a master, so I don't think it's easy to understand."

"I see ... well, a master of martial arts looks like a weirdo to the average person, since we don't understand it."

"Yes, I also prefer dinner to waist balance."

"Ahaha, that's right, let's wash our hands and have dinner."

"Yes, I've been waiting, I'll put away the wooden sword!"

I returned the wooden sword to my room on the second floor.

[ Reinhardt, how were the four of them? ]

[ Buhahahaha, Kent-sama is a bad person, all four were laughing at first, but when they heard the story you told Amanda-dono, their faces changed, buhahahaha. ]

[ It's a punishment for abandoning me who was noticed by Donovan-san, practice the style of swordsmanship in the Kokubu style for a while. ]

The four of them returned from the back alley to their homes while I was having dinner.

And speaking of me ...

"Fugii ... Ugaa ... Fungiii ..."

Tonight I will be working on self-healing in the Devil's Forest.

During the daytime training, I was reminded of my lack of practical experience, so I decided to step into the forbidden territory.

In other words ... I decided to spar with Reinhardt.

I thought it was a suicide act, seeing the fate of a goblin or kobold, by a vicious skeleton that would make you explode with a single blow, but I thought this was the quickest way to get rid of Donovan-san's curse.

Maybe Donovan-san won't release me until earth day, which is a joint event for both the mage type and the knight type.

From the day of dark, I will start training using physical strengthening and magic, so I don't think I'm asking to be useless up to that point.

As long as you can clear the classes on the day of wind and the day of soil, I'll be freed from the days of special training.

Then, let's break through in the shortest two weeks.

I don't Reinhardt to take care of me, but I'm still worried that I couldn't prevent it and he hit me.

Therefore, I decided to spar with the armor equipped.

The brand new leather helmet, vest, gauntlets and even the shin pads are well equipped.

Eh? Where did you get that armor?

Hmm ... This is Fred's sneak pick from Lastock's garrison.

It's a kingdom that tried to get rid of me and feed me to monsters, so it doesn't hurt my heart at all.

So, it's important to fight, having good defense.

I can see many wooden swords that should be just one, and there is no chance to block them from here.

"Wow ... Wa ... Wow ..."

[ It's slow, it's slow, Kent-sama, let's go steadily! ]

"Wa ... wait ... wait ..."

[ No, I won't wait, come on, there are a lot of gaps! ]

"Wow ... ta ... guha!"

From the battle with the rock ogre, it seems that his movement is just playing around, but I couldn't cope with it at all, and I was hit by a blow to the torso and rolled.

[ Sorry, Kent-sama, I'll do it rigorously as long as I'm training you. ]

"Kuu ... that's what I want ... Come at me!"

[ Buhahahaha as you wish, Kent-sama. ]

After that, I missed receiving it many times, I was hit, I was struck, I was beaten, and I was kicked.

Reinhardt signaled the end of the training when I stood up after recovering from the pain by self-healing after being hit in the left thigh.

[ Kent-sama, that's all for tonight. ]

"Hah ... Hah ... Thank you very much, Reinhardt."

[ No, I'm surprised by Kent-sama's efforts, even when we were alive, few people worked so hard. ]

"Huh ... huh ... but I've been lazy so far, so I have to do my best ..."

[ If you are in this condition, you can finish the course in two weeks. ]

"I hope that is so ..."

In fact, if I repeat such a hard daily routine, there seems to be some results, so I honestly want to do my best to finish it in two weeks.

[ Then, will you wash up and go back? ]

"Hmm ... I wonder if I should practice magic a little more ..."

[ Are you practicing magic? ]

"Yeah, the light attribute magic for attack takes too much time to activate ..."

[ I see ... how long does it take right now? ]

"Um ... I'll give it a try ..."

A beam attack with light attribute magic compresses the magical power, sets the aim, and converts the magical power into light at the moment of shooting, so it takes nearly 30 seconds.

[ I see, it takes longer than a normal mage's chanting. ]

"That's right, it's powerful but it takes time, and I don't have the confidence to hit something while it's moving."

[ How about supplementing the image with chanting? ]

"Hmm ... If possible, I want to be able to activate it quickly."

Chanting to activate magic is an act that tickles the hearts of Chuunibyo, but considering the time loss, I decided that it's better not to chant.

[ Then, how about assisting with a bow-pulling action? ]

"Action ... I see, action ..."

When it comes to complementing the image with movement, it is solid, but I made the finger into a pistol shape, concentrated the magical power on the fingertip, aimed at the target by pointing at it, and repeated the practice by shooting.

This strategy was more effective than I expected, and as I repeated the movements, I was able to shorten the time before it activated.

Concentration, aiming, and shooting of magical power can now be done in about one, two, or three.

Yeah, I have to practice the weapons I have got so that I can master them.

With more practice, I feel like I'll be able to shorten my time even more.

When I was thinking of finishing up my practice tonight, a customer came to the special training ground.

[ Kent-sama, this is a rock ogre. ]

"Yeah, four in all ... Alright, Reinhardt, if I miss it, please support me."

When their brow between their eyes flashed in one, two, and three, the rock ogre collapsed without a voice.

One, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three, even if my hand shines, it seems that they can not understand what is happening, so I knocked them down without letting the rock ogres do anything.

Hmm ... It's too cheat, the light attribute attack magic.

[ Ke, Kent-sama ... ]

"Oh, sorry, I've stolen the fun of Reinhardt, I'm sorry I should have only shot one."

[ No, I don't mind that ... Four without difficulty ... ]

Even though the material for stress release has appeared, Reinhardt seems to be disappointed because I have stolen them.

Well, I got excited and did something wrong.

After that, while Reinhardt was collecting the magic stones, I finished washing up in the river and returned to the boarding house.

When I fell down on the bed, it felt like it was time to wake up in the next moment.

No, it's probably about three hours in terms of time, but it's too early, it's too early, and it feels like a complete time warp doesn't it.

I manage to recover my physical condition by self-healing, but I feel that my hunger doubles.

Amanda-san also has a very ordinary menu for breakfast, but I'm grateful that she prepared the right amount.

"Kent eats a lot from the morning ... Isn't he rampaging while he's sleeping?"

"Well, what are you talking about ... Meisa-chan, if I go while while sleeping, you'll hear a banging sound from your room."

"Hmm ... that's right, but Kent is suspicious."

"Oh, there's nothing suspicious, because you have to eat well to work hard all day."

"That's right, as Kent says, hey Meisa eat quickly."

"Yes ..."

Meisa-chan is a little kid, and she has a strangely sharp intuition.

After breakfast, I got ready and headed to work.

"Amanda-san, I'm heading out!"

"Kent, where are you going to work today?"

"Yes, today I'm going to take a look at the construction site of the ramparts."

"Well, that's fine, please be careful."

"Yes, I'm heading out!"

After leaving the boarding house, I will not go to the guild today, but to the construction site of the ramparts.

The walls of Volzard are still under construction.

At the construction site, they are always looking for workers, and it seems that only the work here is directly hired and paid directly without going through the guild.

Also, those who undertake work from places other than the guild or do business in the city are obliged to pay tax, but when tax can not be paid, it is possible to pay by labor of city wall construction.

The walls of Volzard extend north and south along the Devil's Forest, crossing the highway.

On the wall extending from north to south, there is a U-shaped wall that surrounds the city.

It seems that the city of Volzard has grown by repeating the process of constructing a new wall surrounding the new city on the outside of the wall of the old city.

The construction that is currently underway is also underway to further surround the newest wall.

Those who participate in the construction will register at the entrance of the site, start the work, and when the day is over, get paid at the same place and go home.

The site of the wall construction pays 350 Helts, which is the same daily allowance as the garm potato warehouse.

It's not a high daily allowance, but it's a construction work to protect our town, so a surprisingly large number of people are participating.

Many men living in the city come to help with the wall construction once a week, and even a few people once a month.

Today, I am participating in the construction because I heard from Basten that a person is participating in the construction every wind day of the week.

The target person stood with his arms crossed next to the reception at the entrance of the site.

"Good morning, Klaus-san."

"Oh, isn't it Kent, is something wrong with your work?"

"No, after hearing the story of the wall construction, I wanted to give back to the city, although I have a small amount of power, and I am an apprentice, but thank you."

"Oh ... Seriously, there are quite a few people flowing into the city, but you're the first person to say this, okay, I'll teach you directly, so let's do our best together today."

"Yeah! Will Klaus-san also work here?"

"obviously, I can only come once a week, the on-site instructions will be given by the on-site supervisor, I'm a worker."

Klaus-san, who makes a pose and laughs with that, is really like a worker, and he doesn't look like a city lord.

According to Basten, Klaus-san appears every week and is sweating with the workers.

In fact, you can see how he's really used to how to hang a rope to carry stones, and how to carry a stick with two people using their waist to carry stones.

"Look, Kent, you can bend down and carry it, if your center of gravity is on top, it's dangerous to stagger."

"Yes, I'm sorry, this ...?"

"Idiot! You're not a good old lady, stretch your spine and drop your hips and carry it."

"Yes, I understand."

Since I came to Volzard, I've been doing physical labor, but it's quite difficult to carry stones.

By noon, I was tired.

As usual, it seems that the afternoon work will not be able to survive without self-healing.

Anyway, evil old man, you're fine, hey!

"Alright, Kent, it's time for lunch!"

"Hahi ... No, it's hard ..."

"Uhahaha, isn't it? Well, you're someone who is doing your best for the first time."

While eating lunch, I asked Klaus-san a frank question.

"Why do you go out to work even though you're the lord?"

"I'm going to the site because there are things I can't understand without actually seeing it, but I'm also working here because I'm impatient."

"You're impatient ...?"

"Ah, I think I'm impatient to make Volzard a safe city and pass it on to the next generation ..."

"Is it because the Devil's Forest is near?"

"Ah, it looks safe now, but it won't always be safe tomorrow, because it doesn't mean that monsters won't attack in large numbers ..."

The Devil's Forest is said to produce a large number of monsters about once every few years.

It seems that the types of monsters that multiply vary from time to time, usually either goblins or kobolds, but there are cases where more powerful monsters will increase.

Klaus-san talked about what happened 18 years ago while drinking tea after the meal.

Eighteen years ago, a group of rock ogres approached Volzard from Devil's Foest.

It seems that not only soldiers of the garrison and adventurers who are good at fighting, but also ordinary people fought with weapons.

At that time, the lord of Volzard was Klaus-san's older brother, but at that time, he was killed by a rock ogre who invaded the city.

"It's okay for goblins, but when it comes to rock ogres, they're difficult to deal with by yourself unless you're an A-ranked adventurer. At that time, Donovan was active, so we managed to do it, but now. If the same thing happens, it's going to be pretty tough."

Rock ogre is the one Reinhardt killed three in the blink of an eye, right? I mean, that was the one who became the experimental target for light magic last night.

That? Does that mean that I have the power equivalent to A rank?

"Is rock ogre such a strong monster?"

"Ah, you don't usually see them much, but their body is big and strong, and as the name suggests, their body is hard, and it's difficult for swords and spears to pass through. If it's about the strength of Gilik you'll be able to do it if you have about three people."

"Well, is that so ... hehe ... is it that strong?"

"What's wrong, Kent, did you get scared?"

"Well ... well, that's ... I wonder if such a guy has passed through the Devil's Forest ..."

"Oh, I see, it will surely make your spine cold even if you remember it."

Well, the sight of the rock ogre's head being blown off like a balloon with a single knee kick makes my spine cold, even if I remember it.

Really, I'm glad he was on my side.

"Klaus-san, how many years will this wall be completed?"

"It won't be finished."

"Huh? Well, isn't it about completed ...?"

"Well, this portion will be over, but once it's over, the next one will start, so wall building should continue forever as the city grows."

"I see ... the city walls expand with the city, and the city grows with the city walls."

"Yes, it's a job that will be passed on from our generation to the generations of Kent and the others, and to the generations after."

The face of Klaus-san looking at the wall under construction is the face of a man who is proud of his work, and I honestly thought it was cool.