Chapter 24: Silverfish and Master's Awful Tea

Chapter 24: Silverfish and Master's Awful Tea Silverfish and Master’s Awful Tea

* * *

And so began my days of training after becoming a disciple of Grandpa, or rather, my Master!

The season is early winter!

The vividly colored autumn leaves on the trees have completely withered to brown, turning into a blanket covering the ground.

<Emi, focus! You’re going to fall again!>

Yeah, got it, I’m okay, I’m okay.

Carefully lifting my right foot, taking a step forward, and then sticking it back...

So, here I am, walking on a wall.

I’m in the middle of training for 【Silverfish】.

Some might be surprised that I can walk on walls already!? But this is a world with magic!

Once you understand the principle, wall walking isn’t such an impossible feat!

<Well, even if you understand the principle, normal people don’t master it this quickly. Emi, you must have a talent or aptitude for magic manipulation techniques.>

Huff-huff! What’s that, Extra-sama? Compliments won’t get you anything~

<...That’s what happens when you get carried away...>

The next moment, my left foot, which was sticking to the wall and supporting my body, lost its adhesive force, and I fell to the floor. Ouch (cry).

<Didn’t I tell you to focus?>

Extra-sama sighs.

Yes, sorry...

This wall-walking technique, 【Silverfish】.

The most important part of performing this ninja-like technique is using magic to “stick” the soles of your feet to the wall.

On the night I was first taught 【Silverfish】 by Master,

my 【Magic Perception】 caught the flow of magic in Master’s soles as he walked on walls and ceilings, similar to 【Water Collection】 or 【Solidification】.

In other words, 【Silverfish】 was realized by repeatedly sticking and detaching one’s soles to and from the wall through magic manipulation!

<But as they say, easier said than done.>

Right.

It’s incredibly difficult.

Aside from the complexity of magic manipulation, defying gravity to “stand and walk” on walls demands significant physical control.

It’s not a skill one can acquire overnight.

But making the impossible possible brings immense joy.

It’s common to get so engrossed in training that before I know it, night falls.

<You must be really grateful to Master, who silently prepares meals, right?>

Yes, truly...

Master is taciturn, barely speaks, and always looks grumpy, but he’s genuinely kind.

Or rather, he’s quite indulgent towards me.

To not waste his kindness, I devote myself to training even today.

And before I know it, it’s time to sleep.

This was about a week after I started my training.

* * *

Time passed, and it became increasingly colder outside.

Master went hunting less frequently and spent more time doing handiwork inside.

Well, when I peeked before, there was a considerable amount of dried meat stored in the warehouse.

Seems like the preparations for winter were well in hand.

Since I’m in no position to complain, I drink it silently.

Anyway, I can’t keep Master waiting, so I spin down from the ceiling to the floor.

And land perfectly!

Cool, right?

<At first, you failed and fell headfirst many times, though. Why add the extra spin?>

Why not!

I won’t get hurt because of 【Body Strengthening】!

This kind of acrobatics is my idea of romance!

Well, practicing such “unnecessary” movements? serves as a diversion during the monotonous days of training.

I walk up to Master, sit down across from him on the floor, and we drink tea together.

Yeah, Master’s tea is as bad as ever today.

But it doesn’t have a bad smell, so it’s better than a naked, tasteless mouse.

“............Are you feeling okay?”

Unusually, Master speaks up.

Yeah, the tea is so bad that honestly, I don’t feel great, but I’ve gotten quite used to it compared to the beginning.

No problems here.

I nod in response.

We continue to drink tea in silence together.

Even though we have a fire burning inside, the house is old and drafty.

The warm tea soaks into my chilled body.

Noticing that I’ve emptied my cup, Master speaks again.

“............【Silverfish】, you’ve done well.”

...Eh!? Sudden praise!? Thank you!?

“............Next.”

Saying that, Master turns his back to me, still surprised by his sudden comment, and uses 【Silverfish】 to climb the wall and stand upside down on the ceiling.

Then, bending his knees, he propels himself toward the floor!

Wait, Master!?

Are you planning to dive headfirst into the floor!?

However, contrary to my worry, Master flips his body around and lands neatly on the floor.

It was truly splendid.

Despite descending with such momentum, not a single scratch appeared on the floor of the room that creaks with every step.

In fact.

There was no sound.

As if a feather had gently floated down.

Without generating any impact at all.

Master had landed on the floor.

“......If you can do this, you may start practicing 【Grasshopper】.”

With that, Master left the room again.

I stand dumbfounded by the sudden development.

From outside the hut, the sound of Master chopping wood echoes.

For now, it seems.

I’ve been given a new challenge.