Chapter-05 · EP-076

Episode 76: Practice Swings

"Alright, next are practice swings. Raise your swords overhead and swing down."

Following Kojirou-san's instruction, everyone began swinging.

I also swung together with the club members.

With a whoosh, the wooden swords came down.

Kojirou-san slowly walked around, checking everyone's form.

He stopped again in front of Mei.

"Interesting. Even though you swing so quietly, there's power behind it."

"Thank you."

"Your shoulders are a bit tense. Loosen them a little."

"Like this?"

"Yeah, try swinging like that."

With Kojirou-san's small advice, Mei's swing became even quieter.

"It's easier to swing now."

"Good. I don't want to correct too much and interfere with your technique."

"No, thank you very much!"

Next, he looked at Hikaru's swing next to her.

Her swing was clearly weak by anyone's standards.

"Instructor, I can't defeat a slime in one hit. Can I become stronger?"

Kojirou smirked at Hikaru's question.

"Your posture is breaking down. Keep your center of gravity just below your navel. Yes. Relax your shoulders, and hold the wooden sword more loosely. Good. Now swing."

After receiving Kojirou-san's advice, Hikaru's swing became slightly sharper.

"Right. If you don't have arm strength, don't rely on it too much. If you use your body weight and the weight of the sword, you'll be able to defeat slimes easily."

"Yes!"

After that, Hikaru silently followed Kojirou's calm instructions, repeating her swings over and over.

Just as Hikaru's focus increased, Kojirou silently shifted his gaze to the next member.

The next place he stopped was again in front of Murasakimura and Sendo.

"Don't rely on arm strength. Loosen your shoulders more. Your step is sloppy. The timing of your step and your sword is off. Feel the weight of the sword more."

He gave instructions to each of them.

The earnest Murasakimura and Sendo repeated their swings while listening to Kojirou's advice.

"You two practice seriously regularly. I can tell. The problem is the others. You haven't been practicing seriously, have you? The ones I didn't speak to are clearly not practicing regularly. Work on your own form before I teach you. Well, if you don't want to get stronger, staying as you are is fine too."

I see. Practice… what is practice?

Did Murasakimura and the others really repeat these practice swings regularly? …Isn't that boring?

I was gradually getting tired of swinging.

Kojirou-san looked at my swing and muttered.

"Are you really doing that seriously?"

"Huh? No, it's just swinging a wooden sword, right?"

"Swinging like that won't even defeat a slime."

"No, when I defeat slimes, I hit them more like tapping the ground. An overhead swing wouldn't defeat them, would it?"

I couldn't help but talk back.

"I see. So you're the type who needs real tension to perform."

But Kojirou-san didn't get angry at my words; he seemed to understand. Good.

"Then, how about a sparring match to create some tension?"

I was surprised by his sudden proposal. But a chance to spar with a real explorer was rare.

"Please!"

I immediately agreed.

Everyone stopped swinging and focused on the two of us to watch the sparring match.

Neither Kojirou-san nor I wore protective gear. The rule was to stop just short or only lightly touch.

We faced each other, raising our swords.

"Whenever you're ready. Come at me."

Kojirou-san said with a relaxed expression. But his stance had no openings.

I felt sweat on my palms gripping the wooden sword. Just standing like this, facing him, was incredibly tense.

I rocked my body back and forth in small movements, looking for an opening to step into his range. I wavered the tip of my wooden sword, trying to read his reaction, but Kojirou-san wasn't fazed by my movements; he stood naturally.

There was no point in staying locked like this. Thinking that striking first was the way to win, I lunged into striking range.

He lightly placed his wooden sword against my thrust, deflecting its trajectory, and then placed his sword against my neck.

After making a motion as if cutting my carotid artery, he stepped back and took his stance again.

"Come."

After losing one round so easily, he seemed willing to go another.

I changed my movement from before, moving sideways to try to get an angle on him. Kojirou-san pivoted to match my movement. I lunged in aiming for the moment his foot moved, going for an overhead swing.

With a clang, my wooden sword was knocked back, and a sharp numbness ran through both my hands. The next moment, I tried to block the sword coming down toward my face, but I wasn't fast enough.

His wooden sword touched my forehead.

"How was that?"

"Hmm… One more time, please!"

"Still not enough tension? Then next time, I'll actually hit you."

Fighting the same way would only yield the same result, so I devised a trick. But I had no weapon other than the wooden sword. So I'd change my stance.

Remembering when I used the buckler, I switched to holding the wooden sword with one hand. I turned my body sideways, pointing the sword toward him.

Seeing me, Kojirou-san smirked.

I moved back and forth with steps, looking for the right moment to lunge. Reading Kojirou-san's rhythm, I lunged when I thought it was time.

By changing my timing, Kojirou-san's reaction should have been slightly delayed, but he calmly deflected my thrust. I spun my wooden sword, trying to redirect his deflection and get inside his guard.

But the next moment, Kojirou-san's body was already inside my range, closer than my thrust could reach. His wooden sword came at me. I instinctively kicked at his leg.

Kojirou-san paused for a moment, making me miss, then swung his wooden sword down at my now exposed form.

Thunk! A blow landed on my head.

"Oof!"

An odd sound escaped me.

As I sat on the ground, Kojirou-san extended his right hand.

I took his hand, and he pulled me up.

"Truly a wild animal."

He said to me with a laugh. I couldn't tell if he was praising me or scolding me.