Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Survival Arc (4)
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For three days straight, I trained under the swordmaster grandfather.
Day one was stance training, day two was infusing mana into the sword, and day three was sparring with grandfather.
Grandfather evaluated me as already a proper mid-level warrior. He said it was because magic-enhanced concentration and agile movements made up for my lack of swordsmanship experience.
I'd spent a long time training barehanded without weapons, which had given me a solid foundation in basic power usage.
On top of that, with mid-level blue magic like 'Focus' for concentration enhancement, 'Balance' for balance and movement reinforcement, and the beginner blue magic 'Heavy Blow' for increasing weight to endure or add power, I could block or counter if grandfather attacked honestly.
But I struggled against 'swordsmanship'—the technical movements.
I could barely block or desperately dodge by leaping and rolling with weird maneuvers.
Even so, grandfather told me that surviving an advanced warrior's attacks—by rolling on the ground—meant I had decent survivability.
After the sparring, I cast Dirt Clear and Cooling on both grandfather and myself to clean up and cool off the sweat.
"At your age, this is plenty impressive. Most folks who aren't academy-level prodigies stay mid-level their whole lives. And you've just started learning, right? Kahaha."
'Academy... By now, it's probably a world after the story's ended...'
—Thud, thud
The grandfather's hand slapping my shoulder in praise snapped me back to reality.
It packed enough force that I felt it would have hurt if Mana Coat had activated.
"...Thank you. It feels like I'm learning things from you that money couldn't buy. Is there nothing I can do in return?"
At my words, grandfather slapped my shoulder again. Ugh.
"Before you go, cast Preserve on the food in the fridge once."
Then he told me to wait a moment, went to the shed, and came back with a scabbard.
"That's the scabbard for that sword—try fitting it in. Better to have one if you're carrying it around."
"Are you... giving me the sword? It's a magic tool weapon, isn't it valuable?"
Surprised by his kindness, and feeling a bit burdened and sorry, I asked.
"Nah, it's nothing special. It was pricey when I bought it, but resale value's low, so it's awkward to sell. Seems best to give it to a mage like you. As I said, it's too short for me anyway."
"...In that case, I'll gratefully accept. All I can offer is my thanks, so I'm sorry—hngh."
He slapped again. Oof.
"I told you it's fine, heh heh heh. Just don't forget the Preserve."
I sheathed the sword, and for good measure, held it near the belt spot where Privé used to be—it clicked right into place.
Nellin had once told me quality weapon scabbards were like that...
"That one's worth more than the sword."
'So that's how it is.'
With the sword secured, I put on my robe and attached Privé to the front of the pouch on my right waist, opposite from before.
'Privé in left hand, sword in right... Guess it's a broadsword setup.'
I briefly fantasized about fighting with both Privé and broadsword drawn.
With my bottom-tier sword talent, it'd probably take about ten years.
Since my lifespan was long anyway, I had plenty of time. Then I went to grandfather's fridge and finished casting Preserve.
"My name is Aroin. It felt rude not to tell the one who's done me such favors, so here it is. Thank you so much for these three days."
I gave my name and final thanks before leaving his house.
"No need for such words. These were some fun days in my otherwise boring routine. I look forward to hearing good news from you later."
I tensed, expecting another shoulder pat, but he extended his hand for a shake instead.
We clasped hands and shook, then I returned to the village headman's place.
On the way back, the broadsword hidden under my robe bothered me, so I tested quick movements, but luckily its short length kept it from showing.
Not wanting to draw eyes, even this needed care.
The next day. Finally, the day to head to Bellunia dawned.
The cart was a plain cargo wagon.
I helped the village headman's son load goods from the village, then sat beside him on the driver's seat.
"It'll take about eight days. I brought non-dry rations trusting your magic, so please take good care of them."
I nodded at his words, and the cart set off.
Watching the receding village, I reflected.
At twenty-six, the only places I'd experienced were Rock Forest, the Magic Trading Post, and Greenleaf Village—just three spots.
Even if I'd returned to Rock Forest, coming back out into the world would have been right.
So I filled my heart with positive thoughts: I'm satisfied and happy now.
The first few days after departure passed without incident.
To avoid showing the Transforming Pouch to the village headman's son, I couldn't pull out the tent at night—a problem.
He squeezed into a gap in the cargo and slept, while I had to lie on the bare ground using my robe as a blanket.
'Bumpy... worse than the laundry room floor...'
I was used to hard ground, but not uneven. I curled sideways to keep my back from direct contact.
It was the fourth night, halfway through the journey.
"Mage! Help! Mage!"
—Thud, thud
"Chup-chup. Chup-chup."
I woke to the loud noise and ran to the back of the cart where it came from.
Inside the cargo hold, something standing on two legs was attacking the village headman's son.
—Thud
Looking closely, a monkey-like monster was swinging a rock down, blocked by the iron plate he held with both hands.
I flung my robe aside and drew Privé.
The hold looked too cramped to swing the broadsword.
Infusing mana into Privé, the blade gleamed with deep blue mana.
I strengthened my legs and bent my knees slightly.
"Chup-chup! Chup-chup!"
—Thud, thud
"Mage! Please!"
'Chup-chup' was the monster's weird cry.
I was in position, but my feet wouldn't move yet.
My first real fight holding a sword—my hand trembled a bit.
Telling myself to stay calm only drew a bitter smile at my body's unheeding reaction.
Protagonists in my past life's stories fought fine.
Disappointed in my difference, but urged by the desperate cries, I steeled myself.
'It isn't even looking at me.'
It might turn and attack, but I trusted Mana Coat and my speed.
'Jump!'
I leaped into the cart's hold in one go.
—Flutter—
My robe billowed.
As I thrust mana-clad Privé at its back, instinct shifted my attack.
Probably the effect of mid-level blue magic 'Focus' and 'Balance'.
My body sensed it wasn't looking at me and, in that instant's gap, raised my arm diagonally upward for a side stab.
Target: the monster's neck.
—Stab
—Clang
Privé pierced the monster's neck; the rock dropped from its hand, bouncing off the village headman's iron plate.
I pulled Privé out, and the monster collapsed, spurting blood.
"Hah, hah... Are you okay?"
Tense and breathless, sweat drenched me.
Monster blood dripped from my palm gripping Privé—disgusting.
The village headman's son, panting hard, finally answered after tens of seconds.
"Hoo... Thanks to you, I survived, mage. Truly grateful..."
"Lucky there was only one."
He nodded at my reply.
"Yeah... Hoo, I learned some swordplay from a mercenary grandpa fearing bandits, but I should've stuck with it properly."
"Better move the body outside first."
He nodded, and we carried it out, laying it carefully in the grass.
"Any idea what it is? Face like a rat, body like a monkey."
"Heard it's a 'beast' called 'Chob'. Probably from the chup-chup noise. Never seen a monkey myself, but they're weak but use tools—that's their trait."
Using tools sounded monkey-like.
Was it a monkey-rat hybrid? Just a thought; no way to know.
"Do they often attack travelers like this?"
"North of Bellunia, barely any beasts. Long Ears from Rock Forest massacred them centuries ago. First time for me too."
Rock Forest Long Ears' subjugation.
I'd read that when studying Long Ears history, Rock Forest cooperated in regional cleanup for friendly ties with Aria Kingdom.
Rock Forest was inside Aria territory, recognized as full Long Ears autonomy.
"Prompt to Magic Cast—Dirt Clear."
I laundered his bloodied clothes, cleaned our bodies, then cast Dirt Clear on the cargo cover cloth.
"But mage, you're a warrior too?"
He must've noticed the broadsword when I opened my robe and Privé in the kill.
"It was urgent, so I drew my sword. But please keep my affairs quiet everywhere."
He nodded vigorously.
"Got it. If my lifesaver asks, my lips are sealed."
We tidied up and drove through the night, leaving the body lest blood draw beasts.
Only after some distance did we stop and sleep again.
The journey continued to the final eighth day.
'Wow...'
Bellunia's sight off to the side already looked unreal, like a fantasy kingdom straight from imagination.
Huge white walls encircled the city, beyond which palace spires loomed majestically.
Managing my expression to not look like a country bumpkin, I gazed calmly as the village headman's son explained the gates.
"We're heading to the south gate. Others have specific uses. East is for trade—merchant caravans."
"We passed the north gate—what's that for?"
"Nobles and kingdom mages use it. High-status folks detour on purpose. Closest for northerners like us, but aside from Rock Forest and Vera, nothing up there, so few visitors. West is military only."
A systematic rule.
The north gate description made Aria sound decent.
"That mercenary group we met days ago came from the south gate then."
We'd run into them the day after the Chob.
They'd taken a beast subjugation quest, attacked a new Chob nest, succeeded, and were heading back.
"Yep, mercenaries too... Hah, if they were subjugating, do it right. One escapee nearly got us at night."
He seemed angry recalling the escaped Chob.
For me, it was good first combat experience in a stable situation... but I didn't say it.
"Line's long, but we'll be in before five."
We joined the south gate queue just past three.
Bellunia rivaled past life's megacities, so an hour-plus wait wasn't odd.
'Still huge on second look. So many people...'
The line stretched far from the gate; I scanned the diverse crowd.
Besides normals, some carried swords, spears, axes. A mage or two visible.
Mostly Short Ears, occasional Short Stature, and far off, a hazy Tall Stature—maybe 2.5 meters.
"What's the entry process usually?"
He looked mildly surprised at my question.
"Put hand on mana scanner for check, guard confirms no issues—done. Didn't know that? Even you, mage, lived out like our village? How'd you test magic aptitude? Even remote, you need a city once."
I'd tested aptitude in Rock Forest, barely left elsewhere—no entry knowledge.
Though I recalled mana scan entering Rock Forest Magic Unit building.
"Oh, yeah—mana scan before aptitude test. Haven't needed since, forgot."
"Usually first registration then. Mana info's like a shared ID across nations. Once registered, usable continent-wide."
So I was registered as a mage. Somehow shared like a database.
No way Rock Forest's gruff guy skipped me intentionally—monitored, but ID essential.
Hiding mana now might stand out more. Registered mage suppressing mana is unnatural; plus Short Ear using Short Stature tech if caught draws eyes.
'Reveal mana for now. Hide after entering.'
Confirming no eyes on me, I quietly resumed my halted Mana Core pulse.
Village headman's son, mana-blind, noticed nothing.
An hour later, our turn.
Soldiers inspected cargo; he passed mana scan quick.
My turn now.