Chapter 342: It's Dangerous Outside the Blanket(2)
Chapter 342: It's Dangerous Outside the Blanket(2)
I was taken aback by the news that my father was coming in person, but upon further reflection, it made sense.
It wasn't some distant relative; his own son had nearly been put in danger by a Demon Worshipper, and now that son wanted to learn martial arts because of it. Who would refuse?
My father, in particular, is a warrior to the bone and loves teaching the martial arts. He only gave up on me when I was young because I was so frail, but he’s someone who still hones his skills to this day.
Combined, these reasons were enough to make him rush to the Academy the moment he heard the news. I’m sure his desire to escape the mountain of paperwork piling up on his desk played a part, but the reasons above were far more significant.
Thanks to my consistent physical training, I didn't need to work on my fitness separately. All that was left was to learn the actual techniques from my father.
I didn't need some grand enlightenment or the prestige that came with it. I just wanted to be able to put up a minimum level of resistance if all my shields were ever stripped away.
"I see. Then we shall focus on suppressing the opponent by accurately targeting their vitals."
"Pardon?"
It seemed my father had interpreted "resistance" in a slightly different way. I stared at him, my eyes wide, as he stood there with his arms crossed with a solemn expression.
Father had arrived at the Academy just one day after I sent my reply. This was only possible because a mage was stationed at our mansion as well.
After listening intently to my story, those were the first words out of his mouth. To me, it sounded like being told to run before I could even crawl.
No matter how much of a novice I was in the martial arts, I knew exactly how much effort and talent were required to accurately strike a vital point.
"Um... Father? I said resistance, not suppression."
"If they are targeting you, they will certainly not be easy opponents. Do you truly believe mere resistance will be enough? It would be far more efficient to target a vital point to force a temporary retreat or to incapacitate them entirely."
"..."
Coming from someone with his level of experience, his words carried a heavy weight. As Father said, those targeting me would undoubtedly be extraordinary individuals.
Like the Demon Worshipper who used magic at the Academy, I could be ambushed in a completely unexpected situation.
Even if the ambush failed, their basic martial prowess would be exceptional, and in the worst-case scenario, there might even be radical members of the Demon Tribe among them.
"...I understand. So, instead of the family's formal martial arts, you'll be teaching me self-defense, right?"
"It's a far cry from simple self-defense. This is strictly military martial arts. In truth, I'd love to teach you the family's secret techniques, but..."
Father looked at me with a gaze full of genuine regret. His golden eyes looked as if they were staring at an unpolished gemstone.
I could only offer an embarrassed smile in response to that look. If I were still the scrawny kid I used to be, it would be one thing, but now, with my Divine Power, my 'hardware' was already at the level of a knight.
If I added well-designed 'software' to this, I could certainly become a magnificent knight. However, I had no intention of doing that right now.
I'm a writer by nature.
The reason I exercised was truly to survive—and to satisfy the women I shared my nights with.
As the saying goes, "out of sight, out of mind," and to take responsibility for the path I had chosen until the very end, I had no choice but to train.
Aside from that, I generally avoided activities that involved moving my body. To be precise, I was the type who preferred not to hold a weapon or harm others.
The only reason I was learning martial arts now was because of the unavoidable threat of the Demon Worshippers; if not for them, I would have stopped at just exercising.
"I'll try to learn them if the opportunity arises later. It would be strange for a son not to learn his father's techniques."
"Very well. In truth, there isn't much to call a 'secret technique.' You simply find a decent battle axe and swing it. An axe is a weapon that is fundamentally easier to use than a sword, after all."
Easier said than done. Having watched Father, Dave, and Nicole all this time, I knew just how ridiculous that statement was.
It was true that an axe was easier to use than a sword, as Father explained. Because the center of gravity is concentrated in the blade, the ways it can be used are limited, and the style of operation is straightforward.
However, that only applied if you used it crudely like a barbarian. Our family was different. We didn't just use the weapon; we mixed in grappling and strikes to keep the opponent confused.
Furthermore, because of the powerful blows unique to the axe, the moment an opponent chose to 'block,' it led directly to victory. Even if they managed to block it, the sheer force of the impact would knock them off balance.
In other words, the moment the opponent blocked, they were nearing defeat. They had to dodge or parry every single attack to seize the initiative.
If a skilled swordsman practiced the philosophy of "if you don't know the move, you'll get hit," our family embodied the principle of "if you block, you're dead." And they weren't sluggish at all; they were incredibly fast.
"At any rate, before I teach you any techniques, remember this one thing. Sir Cross and your other guards will protect you, but if you ever find yourself alone, run. Do not even think about fighting. Trust in your physical strength and endurance and run until the very end. That is the best thing someone who is not a warrior can do."
"Do you think I'll actually be able to get away?"
"Escaping completely will be difficult. But if you are lucky, you might break free or even find an opportunity for a counter-ambush. A surprise attack is highly effective, no matter how skilled the opponent is."
Father gave me various pieces of advice before we moved on to practical training. Perhaps because he was considering the worst-case scenarios, every word was steeped in experience.
Normally, such wisdom should be gained through practice rather than advice, but it was a shame that circumstances didn't allow for it.
If I had known the future would turn out like this, I would have started much sooner. I never expected Xenon's Life to become so popular, so how could I have known what the future held?
As I listened quietly, he eventually began to teach me in detail where the human vitals were located.
He started with the well-known spots and moved on to places even I didn't know. There were areas where a single proper strike could be life-threatening.
Then, a question suddenly occurred to me, and I interrupted him.
"Father, I have a question."
"You may ask questions at any time. What is it?"
"Um..."
Before asking, I glanced at Adelia, who was watching from the side. She wasn't in her maid uniform but was wearing athletic clothes that were easy to move in.
Mari hadn't come today because she had work to do. When I asked what it was, she said she had received word from Cecile.
As soon as Cecile heard the news that I had been threatened by a Demon Worshipper, she had contacted us immediately.
She said she wanted to rush over instantly, but she was staying put for the sake of my peace and quiet.
And we found out the person who fired the arrow was Gartz.
Regardless, I had to say what was on my mind. I looked away from Adelia and asked Father my question.
"I don't know if there's some unspoken rule about it, but it seems like people rarely target a man's testicles. Even a slight impact there would be incredibly effective."
"That is a strange yet sensible question. For the record, that area is a vital point for both men and women. It is a reproductive organ, so the nerves are concentrated there."
Father chuckled at my question and added an explanation. He noted that because the area is more exposed on men than on women, it is accompanied by even more severe pain.
"However, targeting that area is surprisingly only effective in an ambush. Because of the instincts hardwired into the human brain, if the genitals are targeted, a person will naturally recoil. It would be better to use that instinct against them and target the eyes instead."
"I see."
"Since we're on the subject, if there is dirt nearby, throw it at their eyes. It will temporarily rob them of their vision and create an opening. It can be quite useful."
Father was truly teaching me things specialized for 'survival.' I listened intently to his explanations, taking careful notes on every point.
However, seeing something once is better than hearing it a hundred times; just listening wouldn't mean anything if I couldn't use it in a real fight.
Of course, things like running away without looking back or throwing sand in someone's eyes were simple enough. What I needed to master was accurately striking a vital point.
No matter how strong an opponent was, if a vital point was hit, they could be pushed to the brink of death, so I absolutely had to learn this.
"Then, before we begin the practical training... Sir Cross."
"Yes."
At Father's call, Adelia approached us, carrying something.
I soon recognized the object she was holding; though the shape was different, it was something I had seen often at the mansion.
"Are we practicing with this?"
"Yes. I will teach you the basics of martial arts using this."
It was a wooden dummy, commonly used for martial arts training. At the mansion, we used scarecrows stuffed with straw, but the Academy used wooden dummies.
Naturally, they were durable, and even if they broke, a new one could be obtained quickly. I had seen them a few times at the public training ground.
"Let's use this to learn where the vitals are and where you should attack with each weapon."
"What if I'm empty-handed?"
"As I said before, in such a situation, it is best to simply run. You can pick up a stone from the ground and strike with it, or if all else fails, pick up a branch and use it as a blade. I will teach you basic physical techniques as well, but we must increase your chances of survival however we can."
Physical techniques... The thought of learning everything from basic standing strikes to grappling techniques like wrestling made my head spin.
Wrestling, in particular, was practically a necessity; few physical techniques were as practical as wrestling.
Not only in my past life but also in this world, knights learned wrestling as their basic physical combat skill.
Thanks to the existence of mana, there were monsters who could cut through boulders and split trees, but even they were finished if they were pinned to the ground.
However, because it required getting close, it wasn't used often in actual combat, but it was a final struggle to be kept in mind for the worst-case scenario.
"Now, before we start the practice, it would be best to decide on a weapon. Since this is for self-defense, a dagger, a hand axe, or a mace would be appropriate. Which do you prefer?"
Wouldn't a dagger be best? Each had distinct advantages, but few weapons were as versatile as a dagger.
Just as I was about to say "dagger," Father seemed to realize he had missed something and changed his mind.
"No. It would be better to learn them all rather than just one."
"Pardon?"
"To be precise, I will only teach you daggers and blunt weapons. With those two, you'll be fine even if you just use a stick you find on the ground."
"..."
It's dangerous outside the blanket. But one cannot hide under the covers forever.
"This is all for your own good."
"......Understood."
My journey to step out from under the covers began today.
*
As Isaac's training began, Hawk first taught him how to use weapons.
Blunt weapons were simple enough—you just swung them—but daggers required a specific grip, so an explanation was necessary.
The dagger was also a wooden practice weapon rather than a real blade, so safety was guaranteed. The problem, however, lay with Isaac.
In the past, Isaac had only received basic training and had never once held a weapon. He was a noble who was closer to books than to physical activity, and closer to his mind than his body.
However, Hawk was a man who had experienced many trials and errors while teaching Dave and Nicole. Furthermore, a dagger was much easier to teach than a longsword.
As a result, Isaac was able to pick it up quickly and was soon practicing on the wooden dummy.
The training consisted of movements gained through repetitive action. It was basic training designed to allow him to react instantly whenever and wherever he might be ambushed.
"Is this all you intend to teach him?"
While Isaac was diligently striking the wooden dummy, Adelia, who had approached Hawk, asked quietly.
To Adelia, it seemed like sufficient self-defense for an 'ordinary person,' but considering Isaac's position, it seemed woefully inadequate.
The skill of the Demon Worshippers targeting Isaac was by no means negligible. Last time, she had been distracted, but she hadn't even been able to sense them.
It was fortunate that follow-up measures had been taken quickly; if the mysterious figure hadn't been hit by the arrow, Isaac could have been in grave danger.
"This is far from enough. The Demon Worshippers are not such easy opponents. I plan to teach him efficiently so that he is at least not a burden."
"How do you judge Isaac's talent, Baron?"
"Perhaps it's because my standards have become too high, but it's not particularly good. He inherited his mother's basic strength, but I can't say the rest is very impressive."
The eldest son, Dave, had inherited everything from Hawk, and the eldest daughter, Nicole, had inherited Hawk's talent and Anna's beauty.
Finally, Isaac had inherited Hawk's physique, but everything else about him resembled Anna.
Of course, Anna also possessed strength far beyond that of an ordinary person, and as they say, "like husband, like wife," she had become even stronger after marrying Hawk, making it difficult to call her an ordinary person.
One only had to recall how she could crush fruit with her bare hands without even using physical reinforcement. Her strength was certainly not that of a normal human.
However, Isaac's talent for martial arts was, quite literally, no better than an ordinary person's. He couldn't absorb techniques like a sponge, unlike Xenon, the protagonist of Xenon's Life.
"Instead, he has a level of focus that can compensate for it. Moreover, in the worst situations, one must use their head rather than their body. So, as long as he is taught well, there shouldn't be a problem."
"That's a relief."
"By the way, that Demon Worshipper who attacked you. Was he strong?"
At the mention of the Demon Worshipper, Adelia flinched. Although she had been distracted by the sudden situation, Isaac had nearly been seriously injured.
Therefore, she spoke with a truly apologetic expression.
"......He wasn't strong. But I failed to notice his presence."
"It seems he was a specialist in assassination and ambushes."
"I am sorry. It was because of my lack of ability..."
"No. There is no need for self-reproach. You just need to use it as an opportunity to improve. In fact, the reason I came here isn't just because of Isaac's request; it's also because of you."
Adelia nodded silently. This was something she had suspected after receiving his reply.
Unless the Demon Worshippers openly started a war, they were bound to send assassins as they had before.
While she could protect Isaac, she was not particularly gifted at detection. To compensate for this, Hawk's special training was essential.
"I will teach you a detection technique. It was something very useful back when I was in active service."
"What is it?"
"I don't know the name myself. However, it allows you to predict when, where, how, who, and what someone will do. it's a power I obtained by chance during my service. It's the reason I survived at the border when all my comrades were dying."
If Isaac had heard this, he might have thought, Isn't that just Observation Haki? It was a power that allowed one to predict the future by sensing presence.
It sounded like a cheat-like ability, but the reason Hawk hadn't taught it before followed.
"The problem is that the mental burden is severe. If you can take proper breaks in between, it's one thing, but I was in a constant state of battle every day, so I had no choice but to maintain it at all times. Even with the predictions, I couldn't stop my comrades' voices from vanishing. That's also why I retired early."
"..."
"If you wish, I am willing to teach you. But if the burden is too much..."
"It doesn't matter."
Adelia cut Hawk off before he could finish. Hawk fell silent and slowly turned his head.
Her clear, bright blue eyes were as calm as a lake. There wasn't a trace of fear to be found.
"Could there be anything more painful than Isaac dying?"
"......That's enough, then."
Hawk was satisfied with that answer and patted Adelia's shoulder a couple of times. With such a reliable guard, he could teach her with confidence.
By the way...
Hawk then shifted his gaze to Isaac, who was engrossed in his training.
He seemed so completely immersed in his focus that he hadn't heard a word of their conversation.
Was the reason he wrote Xenon's Life truly just for a hobby?
As time passed, this question had naturally arisen. His wife, Anna, had brushed it off without much thought, but Hawk, who had experienced all sorts of things, couldn't help but think differently.
If all of this was truly a coincidence, why were even the gods enhancing Isaac's fame?
Furthermore, Isaac had shown a very mature and precocious side since he was a child. At first, Hawk had just thought, He has a unique personality, and let it go, but reflecting on it now, there were more than a few suspicious points.
He hardly ever went outside, yet he knows the ways of the world.
It was a sorry thing for a father to say, but Isaac had almost never left the mansion. He was a loner whose social circle was extremely narrow, if not non-existent.
Could such a loner create such a vast story purely through imagination? No matter how much of a bookworm he was, it was impossible.
Is he truly someone from the future?
Hawk's suspicions continued to deepen.
And yet, he himself was indifferent to the Demon Worshippers. Or did he lure them in on purpose? So he could obtain information on the Demon Worshippers who harmed him.
Though the direction was strange, he was slowly approaching a truth that was, in its own way, an answer.