Chapter-03 · EP-051

Episode 51: Holding the Sword

"Takayama-senpai, don't you want to get stronger?!"

"Hmm… It's not that I don't want to get stronger, but…"

For some reason, a lecture from Murasakimura had begun in the Second Swordsmanship Club room. …Why, really?

After seeing Iori's practice swing, everyone started practicing their own swings. But the Second Swordsmanship Club members couldn't understand Iori's explanations, and they weren't improving at all.

Then the captain, Takayama, let it slip that it was okay if his swings weren't good, and Murasakimura's lecture began.

And for some reason, Takayama and the other upperclassmen couldn't talk back to Murasakimura.

I watched this strange scene from a corner of the club room.

"You're all dungeon explorers! You can't forget the desire to get stronger!"

"I understand that, but…"

"Then why give up! Let's do our best! And together, let's defeat the First Swordsmanship Club!"

"That's the thing! We don't get that. There's no way we can win!"

"You don't know unless you try! If you try and still fail, that's one thing, but you can't give up without making any effort!"

"Ugh! No!"

Those two would probably never understand each other.

Watching their exchange, Iori seemed to have an idea. She stopped their conversation.

"I see. It was too early for you all."

"What do you mean?"

Takayama asked back reflexively.

Iori began to explain.

"Thinking back, I didn't start with practice swings from the beginning either. I started with how to hold the wooden sword!"

"How to hold a wooden sword?"

"Yes. First, everyone, try holding your wooden sword."

"I… I'm already holding it…"

"Then, take your stance."

Prompted by Iori, Takayama took a stance.

Then Iori pushed on his wooden sword.

He wobbled from the push.

"See, no good. Next."

Saying that, she did the same to all the Second Swordsmanship Club members, and then to us.

When she pushed on mine, I pushed back.

"Good."

Good? What was good?

After finishing with everyone, she began to explain.

"Because you're not holding the sword properly, you wobble when pushed. First, practice holding the sword and standing still, find that 'this is it' feeling."

Then, for some reason, everyone followed Iori's instructions and held their swords in position.

Why was Iori teaching them?

Murasakimura looked happy, while Takayama and the others looked bored.

Standing in the same position the whole time was bound to be boring.

After a moment of silence, Hikaru asked Iori a question.

"Takigawa-san, is there a trick to it?"

"Well, let's see. What my father told me was to feel the weight of the sword. And to become one with the sword, without using unnecessary force."

"…That sounds difficult."

Hikaru's expression grew stern. Of course, I also didn't understand what Iori meant.

Iori pushed slightly on the top of Hikaru's wooden sword.

"Did you notice the sword tilt and its center of gravity shift?"

"Yes."

"At that moment, you shift your body's center of gravity along with it. If you can do this, you can deliver a powerful strike without using arm strength, just using your body weight."

"I see…"

I didn't understand what "I see" meant. What did "become one with the sword" mean? A sword is a sword, I am me. They're separate things, right?

"Ta-Takigawa-san, what happens if you can do this?"

Kazama asked.

That was a good point. Even if you could hold it balanced, what difference did it make?

"I see. Then, take your stance."

When Iori said that, Kazama took a stance. Iori also faced him and took a stance.

"Swing down slowly."

Following Iori's instruction, Kazama swung his wooden sword down slowly. At the same time, Iori made the same motion.

Their wooden swords met with a light clink.

"In a sword fight, you sometimes end up in a lock like this. Now, try pushing against me."

Kazama put strength into pushing his wooden sword, but Iori's posture didn't break.

"Now, I'll push."

Saying that, Iori pushed her sword forward. Kazama's posture crumbled, and he was pushed back.

Immediately after, Iori slipped her sword through and pressed it against Kazama's neck.

"If you lose a blade lock, you'll be vulnerable to a follow-up attack like this. Conversely, if you win the lock, you might be able to deliver a follow-up. That's not all. If you can hold the sword well, your downward swings become more powerful, and you'll tire less easily because you're not wasting energy. Holding the sword well is the fundamental basics."

"I see… But no matter how much I practice, I don't feel like I'll ever get it…"

Kazama said something pessimistic.

"Everything takes practice. Let's practice standing while holding the sword for about two hours."

"We're still continuing?!"

Hearing Kazama's scream, I quietly stepped back.

Reaching behind me, I opened the door and slipped out of the club room.

"Ah, that's not fair…"

Before I could hear Takayama's voice all the way, I closed the door and headed back to the dormitory alone.