"I'm embarrassed."
I scratched the back of my head, trying to recuperate.
"Hmm... Ah, as long as you know. Work hard."
"Yes, I will do my best."
The atmosphere settled again, and my gaze became serious.
Hiresia seemed to like that attitude and smiled faintly.
"The beginning is just a warm-up."
Swoosh.
Hiresia began throwing the log pieces again.
Just as she said, the pieces flew from the front, the easiest position to cut.
Crack!
Of course, I split it easily.
"How long is the delay?"
"10 seconds."
Although the technique is simple, it has a skill delay time because it's a powerful strike.
It's a skill that can't be used consecutively.
"Ugh, how tedious?"
"It shouldn't be tedious for you. It's just 10 seconds, not a minute or 30 seconds..."
"I'm putting up with it because it's you."
I was taken aback by her words that could once again lead to a strange atmosphere, but fortunately, she seemed to have said it without much thought. "Let's keep going."
Hiresia's hand moved again.
Whoosh.
Thud!
Whoosh.
Crash.
Woosh!
Crunch!
She continuously threw the log pieces, neatly timed with the delay.
What was amazing was that none of the throws were to the same position.
She slightly varied the position to make the logs easier to cut.
Her control was incredible.
It seemed her sense of hand was as exceptional as her archery skills.
Anyway, thanks to that, the training became much easier.
"Now that we're warmed up, let's move on to the next."
Swish.
The position of the log piece changed.
If earlier it was at a distance that made it too easy to cut through the center of the blade, this time it was at a distance that touched the outside and the inside of the blade.
Throwing randomly to the outside and inside made it a bit tricky.
Still,
Crunch!
It was a timing that allowed enough room to hit.
Crunch! Thud! Crack! Pop!
I destroyed the log pieces coming at me relentlessly.
Sweat had started to trickle down my forehead.
My body was also drenched in sweat.
It was a technique that definitely used up physical strength.
"Huff."
I caught my breath for a moment during the delay time.
"Good, now let's make it more difficult."
Hiresia nodded as if to say well done and changed the trajectory of the log pieces again.
Real opponents are not log pieces coming honestly flying.
Of course, there will be a fair number of enemies that are worse or similar to those honest movements, but one must always keep in mind that there are also enemies with movements far surpassing them.
So, it means to train for unusual situations as well.
I didn't think she would take care of such details.
I didn't think she would help me this seriously.
Stay with m _v _l _e _mp _y _r.
Does that mean we've become closer?
"Let's finish before it gets dark."
"Yes, let's start."
Whoosh.
The training started again.
And this training was at least twice as hard as all the previous training combined.
This was because log pieces with large changes in angle came flying randomly from all directions.
"Damn it."
It was a series of misses.
Even if it hit, it only grazed off the blade.
"Your reaction is slow. You need to react faster."
Hiresia advised.
"How do I do that?"
"You think too much. Reduce your thoughts and use your eyes properly. You must be able to read the movement the moment it leaves my hand."
"I see."
Fast judgment.
Quick response.
That's exactly what she was emphasizing with her advice.
I knew the importance of it.
But I was lacking awareness.
I need to keep that awareness in my mind and try to grow it through training.
From now on.
"You can do it. Focus."
Hiresia encouraged me.
Perhaps those obvious words were a source of strength for me.
Because I felt sincerity.
I clenched my teeth and raised my concentration to the maximum.
And the training began again.
"Well done. You've worked really hard."
I could see Hiresia looking at me with an approving look and a faint smile.
"Huff..... Huff.."
I sat down on the floor as if collapsing, breathing heavily.
It was really hard enough to lose my mind.
If it hadn't been for Hiresia's vitality infusion and sincere encouragement, I would have collapsed already.
But still.
I finally managed to respond perfectly to any trajectory or direction.
My body was terribly tired, but the sense of accomplishment made me feel good.
I think I've become stronger.
I wonder what the results will be.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I opened the skill window.
- The will of an executioner trying to kill a convict with a single blow has evolved further through Hiresia's training.
- There is no blind spot in this strike.
- Proficiency 20.1%
What, what is this?!