Chapter 57: The Ambush
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57: The Ambush
The black market was a melting pot of various races.
After being tormented by Gon and Rika all day, I stopped by briefly before heading out to pick up Olivia.
"I heard it was around here..."
I needed to find a Voodoo Shaman. I had to find a way to block those things called 'Roas' that I had seen the other day.
"This must be it."
Wandering through the black market, I found a shop decorated with skulls and filled with paintings that looked dangerously ominous. This was the specialty shop for Voodoo supplies.
"Hello."
"Welcome."
As I stepped inside, a bald Black man glanced at me. Covered in piercings and tattoos, he looked quite intimidating. He gave off the distinct aura of someone truly well-versed in the dark arts.
Voodoo was like the shamanism of South America, wasn't it? I felt like if I got on this guy's bad side, I’d end up getting hexed in my sleep.
"Um, I was referred here by Lafnel."
I pulled out the recommendation letter Lafnel had given me and handed it to the Voodoo Shaman. He studied the paper for a long time before asking with a grave expression, "If he sent you, it means something has gone wrong. What’s the trouble?"
"Well, it's like this..."
I explained what I had seen—the Three Villainesses and what they had tried to do to me.
"Wait, you're saying the Villainesses just teased you and left?"
"Yes. Is this... a serious situation?"
"It’s serious if you want it to be. From another perspective, it could be an opportunity. There are those who spend their entire lives in penance just to communicate with the Roas."
"I have no particular desire to communicate with them."
"In that case, use this."
The Voodoo Shaman handed me a small wooden box.
"It’s a Substitute Doll."
"A Substitute Doll?"
"Yes. A doll that will endure the Villainesses' pranks in your stead. When you get home, press your lips to the doll's mouth and breathe into it. Then, the Villainesses won't be able to distinguish between you and the doll. They will torment the Substitute Doll instead of you."
"Is that true? Oh!"
Yes, this was exactly what I wanted. A tool to cleanly solve the problem I was facing.
"However, you must check on the doll occasionally."
"Just check on it?"
"Yes. If the doll is torn, you must come find me immediately. If it’s stained with a different color, make sure to wash it. If it’s not clean, they’ll realize it’s just a doll. And if the doll disappears from the wooden box... you’ve already been caught. If you can't find the doll before nightfall, there's no hope."
"I'll have to check it every day, then."
"Indeed. And when you enter the Labyrinth, make sure to bring the wooden box with you. Then there should be no problems."
"Understood."
If I had to camp out in the Labyrinth, I’d need to keep the wooden box in my subspace pocket.
"The price is 1 gold."
"That's more expensive than I thought."
"This is cheap. Since you're an acquaintance of Lafnel, I'm only charging you the cost of materials."
"Ah..."
"That doll... it’s worth more than you think. It’s incredibly difficult to make."
Still, 1 gold was much cheaper than the price of my life.
"If you keep seeing the three sisters, come back. We'll try another method then. And if they happen to speak to you, never answer. The moment you answer, it means you intend to 'communicate.' Even if they realize you can see them, you must not reply. If you do, they will never stop tormenting you."
"I understand. I'll keep that in mind."
I left the shop clutching the wooden box containing the doll.
I could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Thinking that I had resolved all my immediate problems made my heart feel light.
*
Today marked the fourth day since I started frequenting the Martial Arts Hall.
For the past three days, Gon and Rika had put me through hell with nothing but physical conditioning. It felt less like learning how to fight and more like focusing on how to build muscle.
Perhaps it was just my imagination, but it felt like the muscle was packing on quickly, and I could feel my body changing. Given that I was seeing results in just three days, I suspected Shaka's Remnant was playing a role.
Regardless, as the muscle built up, I definitely started enjoying the workouts.
"You're a fellow with fast muscle growth. Perhaps being a warrior was your true calling after all."
"You didn't seem very pleased with me at first."
"I didn't know your muscles would grow this quickly back then."
Gon seemed to have taken quite a liking to me. He grinned every time he saw me.
"By the way, Rika isn't here today?"
"I'm not sure. She didn't show up."
"I see."
She was always there lifting weights by herself; something must have come up today.
Come to think of it, I hadn't seen the Young Lady since that day either. Yuria hadn't returned yet, and I was living a busy life, falling straight asleep the moment I got home after exercising all day. Everyone was just living their own lives diligently.
"Um, I think I should be heading into the Labyrinth soon. When are you going to teach me how to fight?"
"I was actually planning to start teaching you the warrior's way of combat today."
"Finally!"
After four days, Gon told me to pick up a weapon. There were five weapons laid out before me—the ones Gon could teach.
"One-handed sword and axe. Hammer and mace. And a shield."
A one-handed sword with a wide blade suitable for slashing, an axe that looked perfect for splitting skulls, a hammer that seemed best for crushing bones, and a mace that anyone could use with at least average effectiveness.
"Is there something specific to learn about shields too?"
"Blocking well requires a certain knack. Take a shield, then pick one weapon."
"Yes, sir."
A seasoned warrior must be able to handle a variety of weapons. Unlike swordsmen who obsess over a single blade, or knights who base themselves on sword-and-shield while mastering the spear, warriors are those who treat anything they can grip and swing as a weapon.
Because of this, they supposedly preferred weapons closer to bludgeons rather than those requiring extreme proficiency, technique, or deep study.
"The axe is good. It combines the advantages of a blunt weapon and a sharp one. Maces or flails are also good. Mass is violence, after all."
"What about the sword?"
"Swords are good too. You can drain an enemy's stamina by causing bleeding. Honestly, as long as the center of gravity is right, anything is fine."
After debating between the sword and the axe, I picked up the axe. I figured it would be good for both slashing and crushing things with its mass.
"The axe is an excellent weapon. There's an old saying that if you want to talk to a monster, it's best to hold an axe."
"Huh? Really?"
"Really. An axe is the finest means of communication. Now, perform 300 wood-splitting strikes."
"W-wood-splitting? 300 times!?"
"The most important thing in handling an axe is the sensation when you split the target... feeling the 'grain.'"
Gon told me to chop wood until I could feel the grain. Following his instructions, I began splitting the logs piled at the back of the Martial Arts Hall. He even made me chop the wood while holding the shield, saying I needed to become one with my equipment.
"Can you feel the grain?"
"The timing when it splits easily? I think I might be starting to feel it."
"You understand what the grain is. Your learning speed is ridiculously fast. Yes, as you said, that feeling that it's about to split is crucial. If you can grasp that, you can split anything in half, whether they're wearing armor or are harder than stone."
"Oh...!"
"Next, let's learn how to handle the shield."
At his command to raise the shield, I took the most basic defensive stance I had learned from him.
"Yes, that's the stance. Now, I'll hammer it into your body through a crash course. Combat is something you learn by getting hit, after all. From today until the day you enter the Labyrinth, you'll have infinite sparring sessions with me alongside your basic physical training."
"W-wait a second!!!!"
Boom!!!
I raised my shield with all my strength to block Gon's charge. I definitely blocked it, but my body was lifted into the air and sent flying backward. Simply blocking wasn't enough. It felt like the impact of being hit head-on by a moving car.
"Ugh..."
"Your balance was broken just now. You can't even withstand a charge of this level? Get back up. Even if your body is sent flying, try your best not to fall. If you fall, it's over."
"You want me to keep my balance in mid-air?"
"There are many large creatures in the Labyrinth. High Orcs alone are bigger than adult men. Are you going to fall every time you're attacked? You said you wanted to be a warrior. If you're going to collapse that easily, get lost and go to the Swordsman Guild."
"Damn. That's harsh. Calling me a scrawny swordsman... that's an insult to a warrior."
"If you don't want to hear the insult of being called a swordsman, stop whining and get up. I learned this while being cursed at by my father, so consider this tough love passed down through the ranks. Warriors don't whine."
Gon said he would make me realize how to be pushed back stably without falling. It was a method of learning through the body, quite literally.
"For an Easterner with a small frame like yours, grit and guts are essential. Don't keep falling. If you fall, the comrades behind you will die too. Are you going to throw your comrades to the monsters as food?"
"Haa... I'll try again."
"Good. Endure it. Endure. I said endure!"
Gon charged once more. Even from a short distance, the pressure was immense. A barbarian of his massive size was a force of pure violence just by running.
This man isn't teaching me systematic techniques. I have to learn by getting hit. I need to grasp the sensations Shaka left behind through Gon.
Grit-ting my teeth, I stared straight at the charging Gon. For a warrior, the most important thing was the will to hold one's ground.
Boom!!!
Gon slammed into the shield again, and my body was lifted and tossed back.
If I get blown away and fall like this, it's over.
I had to land on both feet without losing balance while being knocked back. Or I had to hold my ground until the end so I wouldn't be knocked back at all. Both were difficult for me right now.
"Ugh...!"
I fell backward again. As my back hit the ground, my lungs compressed, and the air was forced out of me. I coughed uncontrollably, and my vision spun.
"Does it hurt? Don't savor the pain. Swallow it and get up quickly."
"Ugh... isn't this teaching method a bit too primitive?"
"Don't question my teaching. If you have the will, it can be done. That is the warrior's mindset. Did you truly try to endure? Did you not give up? You were afraid of my charge. Why were you afraid? This isn't a place you can run away from just because you want to. Hold your ground until the end. Your comrades are behind you."
"Haa... damn it."
I stood up again.
"Keep your balance straight. Why give up on balancing when you know you're going to be knocked back anyway? Don't give up. Get up. Here I come again."
For the next two hours, I practiced nothing but holding my ground. By the time the practice shield was tattered, I was able to stay standing on both feet even after taking Gon's charge.
"Ha! You held your ground. To think you'd manage this in a single day. You're definitely fast. You just learned how to keep your balance and not fall when being blown back by a larger opponent. Don't forget that sensation. You have enough strength. If you have the will to endure, you can endure."
"Ugh... my back hurts so much."
"Don't complain. Moving on to the next stage."
"Next stage?"
"Yes. This time, you try to knock me down."
"What? Me? No, how am I supposed to—"
"Questioning me again. If you try, it can be done. Don't have doubts. If I say it's possible, it's possible."
"Shit..."
After that, I repeatedly charged at Gon.
"Put more power into it! In the end, being a warrior is all about not falling and knocking the other guy down!"
"Is that all you've got? You rake who does nothing but mate all day."
"Aha! Neglecting your core and charging mindlessly again?"
"Are you lacking intelligence? If you can't win with weight, aim for my legs. Is your weapon just for decoration!"
"You bastard! Come at me properly! Slam into me! There's no soul in your charge! You pathetic fool."
Gon mercilessly pushed me back, struck me, and sent me flying as I charged.
"Haa. Fuck."
Curses escaped my lips naturally. My body felt beyond heavy; it was a struggle just to stand.
"Whew. Let's call it a day. Still, you actually pushed me back a little just now. You learn fast. Excellent."
"Yes... thank you..."
Gon would push me like a madman during training, but he always made sure to praise what deserved praise once it was over. In a way, he was a true mentor.
"So, when are you entering the Labyrinth?"
"In two... no, three days, I think."
"I see. Make sure to show up for the remaining three days. Along with the enduring and pushing I taught you today, I'll teach you how to shout a war cry, an unyielding spirit, and further increase your pain resistance."
"Ah, well... Wednesday might be difficult."
"Why?"
"I have to go to the Magic Tower..."
"Is that so? Then I'll hammer as much as I can into you over the next two days. How far do you plan to go in the Labyrinth?"
"For now, just the 1st or 2nd floor of the Upper Levels."
"Aren't you skilled enough to go down to the 4th floor? If you form a good team, you could even reach the Underground City."
"The Underground City area is still restricted, so I can't go down there... and I have some friends I need to lead. They haven't fully adapted to the mana yet. We can't go below the 2nd floor."
"So you're acting as a guide. Understood. Training rookies is always hard work. Good luck. Clean up before you leave."
"Yes..."
Gon left abruptly. After catching my breath for a moment, I stood up, tidied the area, and left the Martial Arts Hall. The sun was setting. It was evening.
I had to go pick up Olivia quickly. Her music teacher, Tiny, would have gone home by now, so Olivia was probably waiting for me all by herself with bated breath. I walked quickly toward the building where the Druid Club was located to pick her up.
I should take the shortcut.
To get there before it got any later, I needed to take the shortcut. If I cut through the alleyways, I could reach the Druid Club building directly without having to go around. I wanted to get Olivia, have dinner, and rest. My muscles ached so much, especially my back, that it was hard even to stand straight.
What should we have for dinner?
As I walked quickly through the shortcut, thinking about dinner, I heard someone calling me from behind.
—Hey!
It was a woman's voice. A voice I had heard somewhere before.
Ah! I remembered. It was definitely... the voice of one of the Three Villainesses.
Dammit! I looked back!
It was too late to pretend I hadn't heard or didn't know. I had reflexively turned around at the sound of the voice. If it was one of the three sisters as I suspected, I should just pretend I misheard and keep going. That was the best course of action.
"....!"
But to my surprise, it wasn't a Villainess behind me. Instead, men wearing pitch-black masks and black clothes were standing there.
The men approaching me seemed startled that they had been spotted and froze in their tracks. I, too, was so shocked by their appearance that I couldn't move.
The alleyway was silent. This place usually had very little foot traffic. There were no people passing by, and likely no one would be coming.
"Shit."
I immediately pulled a weapon from my subspace pocket. At that exact moment, the three men lunged at me like arrows shot from a bow.
Pitch-black daggers closed in. If I didn't block them properly, I was as good as dead.