Chapter 40: CH 40

40 - The Old Man From The Countryside Gives The Slip

“… Yeah, it’s the first day, so let’s end it here,” I said.

“Ro-Rodger, dodger…” Kuruni huffed.

At the end of the repetition drills for basic posture and swinging, a considerable amount of time has passed.

There were lights at the training ground but it was already pitch black outside. Sunset is long over.

Yeah, we stayed too long, and I got too excited. Kuruni may have been confident in her physical strength but she seems exhausted.

“Let’s focus on the basic handling and use for a while,” I said.

“Yessir!” Kuruni said.

The road of swordsmanship is not traveled in a day.

No one would struggle if you could improve just by swinging it around for a day or a few hours. Swordsmanship is something you can only learn after a series of bloody and daunting repetition drills.

Well, I think everything is the same. If magic could be perfectly handled in a day or two, then there would be no point in having a Magician’s Academy, would there?

I’ve only seen it for a while today but Kuruni’s movements are still decent.

However, in the end, she had a bad habit of trying to swing her sword with arm strength. She may not be aware of it, though.

It will take some time to correct but she’s got good muscles, to begin with, and conversely, enough power to swing a sword with arm strength. Can we fix this?

However, it’s difficult to spot such habits unless brought it up to the individual in question with “There’s something up.”

Even the individual in question may deny that there’s anything wrong. It’s quite difficult to notice just by looking from their perspective. And that’s where the instructor comes in.

I’d like to see this again until I can hand Kuruni a commemorative sword for mastering my lessons. Though since her specialty is now a zweihander, there’s a question on whether or not I can give her a sword.

“My arms hurt, but my lower back and thighs are all sore, too…” Kuruni said.

“That’s a good thing. It means you’re engaging those parts properly,” I said.

Larger swords like zweihanders are more taxing than shortswords. It’ll be more straining on the legs than usual.

It’s not good to overdo it, so finish things up before your body starts screaming for mercy. Then, it’d be too late.

However, it is nice to see a small knight like Kuruni wielding such a large weapon.

This probably reflects on my personal tastes but it’s brilliant to watch. I myself am a user of a longsword, a conventional weapon, so that may be why.

“Hmm, it’s dark, isn’t it?” I said.

“Not many people passing by, huh?” Kuruni added.

Once we reach the front of HQ from the training grounds, we don’t see any people except the knights standing around as minimal guards. It’s that time of day, of course.

“Kuruni, would you like me to walk you home?” I asked.

“Oh no, no, it’s fine!” Kuruni said. “I am still a knight!”

“Is that so?” I asked. “Alright, then.”

I suggested that it would be dangerous for a woman to walk alone at night, even in the capital, but she refused quite strongly.

I thought that even an old man like me would ward off evil. Well, she’s not wrong that she’s still a knight and this isn’t something I can force on her, is it?

“Well then, Kuruni, be careful,” I said.

“Yes!” Kuruni said. “Thanks for your hard work today.”

“Yeah, good work today, too,” I said.

I part with Kuruni and walk alone in the dark.

Of course, it’s not completely pitch black as there are streetlamps that radiate light but it’s still hard to see.

I walk the small distance between the Knight’s HQ and the inn I’m staying at. In the meantime, I briefly recall what happened today.

It’s because I’m an old man. I’ve been alive for quite a long time so I’ll forget if I don’t dig up my memories like this.

Kuruni’s suitability for a two-handed sword didn’t seem to be too bad.

She may have been a brute strength type from the beginning and although there were unfamiliar points to her, it’s still not a situation where she’s getting swung around by the weight of her sword. Her legs and hips seem to be sturdy and the style looks like it suits her, planting her feet firmly on the ground and whirling that giant blade around.

My only concern is that she’s the lone zweihander user among the Knights and would stand out. I think she would be fine as Alexia said she would be.

“… Hmm.”

While I thought back to the training, I noticed someone walking towards me.

This is a very uncrowded street as I’m heading towards the inn from the Knight Order’s HQ. It’s dark and visibility isn’t good but when I see someone else, my eyes just get drawn to them. Besides, not many people head out after the sun goes down.

As they step out into the moonlight, I get a good look at them.

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The person walking toward me seems to be wearing robes that blend in the shadows. I don’t know their face, probably because it’s deep in the cover of their hood.

I don’t know, it’s just an observation because I noticed the faces of passersby.

I don’t think it was a good idea to be wearing robes and going out alone at night but I must also look like a suspicious person, walking all by myself.

I can’t make a judgment just by looking at it from the side. Maybe I should head to the inn quickly before the city guard notices me.

“Oops.”

This road isn’t that narrow but if we keep going like this, I’ll hit the person coming up to me. It wouldn’t be good to stare at them too much, so I’ll just give way and head back to the inn for a drink—

“–I don’t find that impressive, you know?”

“…!?”

As we passed each other, their arm shot out and grabbed me.

I was wondering if they were suspicious but this person is a pickpocket.

Moreover, I’m quite familiar with them. From walking without any suspicion until just now, their arms dart straight into my pockets.

But, unfortunately for them: this old man is pretty confident in his eyes, you see?

“… Shit! Let go!”

“I’m not letting go.”

I grab the pickpocket back, they stiffened for a moment, then immediately regained their senses and started to struggle.

Was it a woman from their voice? They also sound like they’re not too old.

Hmm, it’s a little painful for such a young kid to be forced into crime. I’m going to have to turn her to the city guard now.

“… Tch!”

“Woah?!”

Fwoosh.

Fire suddenly shoots up from the arm I was holding.

–Was that magic?!

I reflexively guard against the flames and the heat. Of course, I let go of her arm in the process.

“…!

“Ah.”

By the time I noticed, it was already too late.

Without hesitation, the woman who’d nearly set my arm alight disappeared into an alley here in the Central District.

I thought I’d chase her for a moment but I’ve only been here in Baltrain a short time. I don’t know much about the city’s layout and I don’t know much about the alleys off the main streets.

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Furthermore, it’s dark. Even if I chased after her, there’s no guarantee I’d catch up.

I was somewhat disappointed. No, no harm done because I wasn’t actually attacked.

“… Huh?”

I look in the direction the pickpocket disappeared and noticed there was something shining in the moonlight.

I was a little interested and approached it, it seemed to be a pendant.

“… Seems they dropped this, huh?”

When I take it into my hands, it’s quite old. There were some small scratches but because it was well-maintained, I couldn’t find any dust or dirt.

I don’t know if the Knights do any of this kind of work but for the moment, I’ll report it as a lost item tomorrow. If Alexia or Henblitz are around, I’ll tell them where I got it.

“… I’m no good with fire,” I muttered.

Lucy and Xeno Glaive. I’ve got no good memories of flames lately.

But is there a special reason why a magician would turn to a pickpocket? Judging from her voice, she seemed to be the same age as Kuruni or younger.

Well, if something goes wrong, nothing you can do about it.

This was a little unfortunate event. I’ve got no choice but to clean up and gather my thoughts. I’m neither a hero nor a thief. Moreover, I’m not a noble and righteous man. I’m not a bad person, either.

“Should I head home?”

At this time, I’m limited to heading home and taking a bath before bed.

Of course, there’s no one to reply to me. As I walked down Baltrain’s streets, no one else was there, only my footsteps echoed quietly.

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