The Sword's Purpose
Do you know what that means?
Fight.
21st century tactics that don't lose to modern ones.
“Whew.”
I let out a short breath and lowered my stance.
Father was still standing in the same spot, as if waiting for my first move.
Honestly, it didn't seem like it would work at all...
I pushed off the ground and charged forward.
-Tada-tak!
It didn't take long to close the distance, and I swung my sword with all my might at his neck.
-Tak!
“Uek.”
For a moment, my vision flashed.
Before the swung sword even reached, a heavy impact hit my forehead.
It was a strike I thought was solid.
“Only thinking about attacking, huh.”
Father said while looking me over.
“The moment you swing the sword, your defense is completely empty.”
“...”
The wooden sword lightly tapped my side.
“Here too.”
This time, the shoulder.
“Here too.”
I roughly understood what he meant.
When swinging the sword, I only focused on attacking.
Where to aim.
How to hit.
I only thought about that, not caring what the opponent would do.
So, getting hit was natural.
“While attacking, watch the opponent's sword.”
“Understood.”
Father returned to his original stance.
“Again.”
Good.
This time, I would definitely think about the opponent and attack.
-Tak!
“Eok!”
Wait.
The sword isn't visible?
Watch the sword, you said.
It should be visible.
And not at a level to block or something?
Then, block with prediction!
-Ppaek!
“Keheung.”
-Bbak!
“Wait, wait...”
I got hit like a stray dog on a hot day.
I don't know how many times I got hit.
Head.
Side.
Thigh.
He hit me evenly.
“Haa, haa...”
In the end, I put my neck on the ground and held on before collapsing.
“Slow, even falling is slow.”
“...”
This bastard.
The last thing I saw was Father's expressionless face.
A strange ceiling...
No, it wasn't. I'd seen it for over a week.
When I tried to sit up, my whole body screamed.
“Aigo.”
Even though I moved just a little, there wasn't a single spot that didn't hurt from head to toe.
Is this sword training?
Toughness
Current Proficiency: 7%
Experience of unique trait 'Third-Rate' increases.
As expected, beating.
No doubt.
But with this kind of education today, my body won't last.
“Rian! You're awake?”
When I turned my head, Mother was sitting on the chair beside the bed.
-Ko-ok.
Mother hugged me as if she had been waiting.
Ah.
I feel her infinite heart. It feels like my wounds are healing.
“Mom...”
“Eh, what's the matter? You've been spoiled rotten. You must have hurt a lot?”
Yes, some weird uncle hit me. Sob.
The gentle touch slowly stroked my head.
Yeah, this is what parents are.
Not beating the child until unconscious.
My whole body was sore earlier, but it seems a bit better now.
Nade-nade best.
“How much did I sleep?”
“Um... about four hours?”
It was morning, but now it's afternoon.
“That guy. He didn't push you too hard on the first day, did he?”
Mother pouted unhappily.
“Yeah.”
Strong agreement.
“Still, after you fell, you were quite worried.”
“That person... Father?”
“Yeah, he personally carried you to the room?”
Can't imagine.
“Ah, and when you wake up, tell him I said to come.”
“What?”
Mother smiled brightly.
“He said to come at the same time tomorrow.”
“...”
It wasn't just worry.
He was checking if I could fight properly tomorrow.
“... If I don't go?”
“Um, Father will come to pick you up himself?”
No choice.
“Rest well today. I'll have dinner brought to the room.”
“Thank you.”
As expected, Mom.
After Mother left, I lay back on the bed again.
“Huu...”
When I stayed still, it felt a bit better.
“Ho-oh. This is pretty good?”
Originally it was a trait to level up multiple fields quickly, and now speed is added.
Can't go beyond Third-Rate, but since my goal isn't to be the strongest anyway.
Fight moderately.
Survive moderately.
Suck honey like crazy.
The main character will catch it.
If needed later, I'll help.
“But.”
This guy, what do I do with him?
Huh? You like me.
Since transmigration, nothing has changed.
Level same.
Effect same.
Right now, I don't know what to do.
Originally, the condition is annoying.
“Ehh.”
Done. Done.
Screwed.
We'll think about this later.
Next day morning.
I came to the training ground again.
Surprisingly, on my own two feet.
“Welcome.”
Father was waiting in the same spot as yesterday.
“Yes...”
No spectators today, seems.
Honestly, I wanted to run away. If you're not a masochist, who would want to come again after beating people like that.
But if I don't come, he'll come to pick me up.
That's scarier.
“Before starting, I have one question.”
Father pointed to my wooden sword.
“What is your sword for?”
“Eh?”
What is it for?
I hadn't thought about that.
If I have to say, to survive?
“I don't know.”
Father stared at me silently for a moment.
“It could be.”
Surprisingly, he didn't scold.
“Mercenaries wield swords for money, knights for what they must protect.”
“Adventurers wield swords for their own goals, some just to become stronger.”
“...”
“The reason doesn't matter.”
A short silence fell.
“However, a sword without purpose is easily swayed. So, think about it once.”
“... I will remember.”
I didn't want to admit it, but it was cool.
Because it's a person who stands at the top with one sword, his words had weight.
“Then, let's begin.”
Father raised his wooden sword, and I followed, taking stance.
“What do you think was the worst thing you did yesterday.”
“Couldn't see the opponent's sword.”
“More precisely, couldn't see the opponent.”
After Father finished speaking, he stepped back a few steps.
“It's not just looking at the sword.”
The sword tip pointed at my face.
“Gaze.”
Then pointed to the shoulder.
“Shoulder and arm.”
Finally, the wooden sword lowered to my feet.
“And feet and center of gravity.”
“Before attacking, there must be a change in the body.”
“Change?”
“Planting the foot, center moving, shoulder turning.”
Listening, it seemed the feeling was coming a bit.
“If you react after seeing the sword move, it's too late.”
“Before that, you have to see.”
“Yeah.”
With a short answer, the lesson began.
Father slowly demonstrated movements and swung the sword.
Shoulder moves first.
Center shifts forward.
And the sword comes a beat late.
This time, it was clearly visible.
-Tak! Tak! Tada-tak!
The wooden sword collided repeatedly.
“Ugh.”
Even though he hit it so I could react, my palm was numb.
“Basic is not bad, but it seems lacking real combat experience.”
“Huh...”
No time to answer.
“Don’t be complacent no matter who the opponent is.”
“Too much unnecessary force.”
Block.
Push back.
Take stance again.
How many times did I repeat that?
By now, the sun was quite high.
Sense in hand almost gone, arms like iron weights.
“Haaak, huaaak...”
I lay flat on the training ground floor.
“That's it for today.”
“Eh, yes...”
As soon as I heard that, all strength left my body.
Wait, hold on.
Isn't this harder than yesterday?
Yesterday I got hit and passed out, but this is to endure until the end with full consciousness.
├─ Tier 1:Basic stance and swings ✓
├─ Tier 2:Predicting attacks ✓
└─ Tier 3:Proficiency increased to 50% ★
6 percent.
It increased a lot, considering the body was about to die.
If this, I can't not go out.
Good, but insanely annoying.
“Do you understand a little?”
Father came and asked.
“Yes, more than before.”
Much exercise.
Really too much.
“Yeah, then throw everything you learned today out of your head.”
“Eh?”
What is this?
I threw myself away?
“If the opponent is blind, can you read the gaze?”
“... No.”
Blindfolded is dangerous.
“If one arm is missing, the movement of shoulder and arm will be different.”
Indeed.
One-armed redhead is dangerous.
“Moreover, who guarantees that the opponent you fight is human.”
“...”
“Do not take what you learned as the answer.”
Father said.
“Watch the opponent and judge at that moment. That's what the sword is.”
“Understood.”
Easily said, it's to apply, right.
Even today's lesson alone would make my head explode, plus application.
Swordsmanship isn't easy.
“For that reason.”
Um?
“Tomorrow, I'll go to the nearby monster extermination.”
What is extermination?