Meanwhile, Nishina was relentlessly running through the forest…
“Huff, huff, huff…”
The slightly plump woman in front of him, Nishina pondered for the umpteenth time who she might be. As soon as he parted ways with Senpai Kimishima and others, she simply said, “Let’s fight. Follow me.” and started running through the forest. And she kept running without stopping.
Having come to this world and received what they called the light of God, Nishina knew that his physical abilities were completely different from before. Moreover, his basic stamina had increased even more due to climbing the Ladder three times. He even thought that he could probably run a marathon with his current condition.
However, Mainui was running through the forest at a pace close to full sprint. Even if he could conquer a marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers, it would be impossible with full sprint. Nishina pushed past his limits, running as if his soul was being drained.
And then, when Mainui stopped running, there was a monster in front of them.
“Go. Think about efficiency. Dodge attacks with minimal movements and strike decisively with minimal effort.”
“Huff, huff, huff… Yes!”
It was a commanding statement that brooked no dissent. Nishina drew his sword while desperately trying to regulate his breathing. The perseverance instilled in him from his days in the rigorous kendo club was somehow supporting him.
When he first came to this world, Nishina used a sword since he had practiced kendo. It made sense to choose a sword over a katana since he was familiar with kendo. But now, he was using the sword that Sakuragi had.
Seeing Shigeto’s fighting style, which significantly increased his abilities through Iai, Nishina suddenly realized that if his sword were stolen or broken, Sensei might lose that technique. So, he decided to keep his own sword as Sensei’s backup and sealed it in his bag. When he mentioned this to Sakuragi, she said, “I only use magic,” and lent him her sword, which he had been using ever since.
In reality, he didn’t feel much discomfort switching from a katana to a sword, and he gradually got used to it. Initially, he was wary of using a double-edged sword, but once he got used to it, it wasn’t a problem.
The monster in front of him, taking a combat stance, was a Bourbon Cat, a creature resembling a mountain cat. Although its body wasn’t large, its movements were swift, which Nishina found challenging. Usually, when this creature appeared, Sakuragi would continuously damage it with her laser-like Shining Arrow, and Nishina or Kimishima would deliver the finishing blow when it slowed down.
Hiss!!!
Intimidating the approaching monster, Nishina closed the gap cautiously.
Nishina’s fundamental sword techniques were rooted in kendo. However, these striking techniques, as advised, wouldn’t suffice when facing actual monsters.
Thus, he organized within himself advice from the priest at the Sky Temple and tips learned from soldiers in the Vadzul area before arriving at Dudur Valley. Gradually, he began to refine his techniques, and his habit of striking like in kendo started to fade.
Perhaps, the basics didn’t require much critique. But executing minimal movements—now, that was challenging. While he could imagine it, discerning whether his movements were correct proved elusive.
Minimal movements.
In essence, the more one swings with force, the better the impact. However, swinging forcefully also creates openings. Finding that balance was crucial.
“You could cut down on your wastefulness a bit more.”
Mainui said in a dispassionate tone, as he swiftly dispatched the monster and extracted its heart, instructing Nishina to ignore the rest of the body. Hurriedly, Nishina began the task and then resumed running immediately.
–Damn it.
He couldn’t leisurely take breaks while stealing glances at Mainui’s eyes. The pressure was relentless.
Haahaa….
Panting heavily, Nishina wondered if he possessed a skill similar to Jyujin’s ability to sense presence. Despite running seemingly without purpose, Mainui promptly detected another monster.
–W-where?
Mainui halted, declaring, “It’s an enemy,” yet there was nothing visible. Nishina turned towards Mainui, wondering if he was being mocked, but Mainui returned a serious gaze.
“W-where is it?”
At that moment, an unpleasant sensation swept over him. There was no sound, but it felt like the wind shifted. Turning towards the chill, Nishina spotted a serpent, thick as his thigh, lunging towards his throat.
“Aaaaaah!”
Instinctively, he repelled the serpent with his sword. Accompanied by a loud clang, the sword was deflected, and he stumbled to his knees. The serpent, failing in its ambush, slid on the ground and quickly approached Nishina again.
“Hii!”
“Get up quickly!”
Though repulsed by a visceral disgust, looking away meant death. Prompted by Mainui’s voice, Nishina immediately rose and faced the serpent. Gripping the handle tightly with still-tingling hands, he infused his sword with magical power. As the serpent leapt again, he forcefully repelled it.
The serpent, leaping towards him, presented a perfect target. With no time to prepare a swing, he forcefully deflected it. This time, he stood firm against the serpent’s weight. Seizing the moment of hesitation after slashing its nostrils, Nishina launched a counterattack.
…
As he finished dealing with the now motionless serpent, Mainui’s voice came from behind.
“You should improve your flow of magical power a bit more smoothly. If you could do that, you should’ve been able to sever the monster’s face with the first counterattack.”
“Y-yes.”
“While your instinctive defense against the enemy’s attacks is good, try to imagine defending as much as attacking.”
“Attacking?”
“Yes, if you focus solely on defense against the enemy’s attacks, they can continue stronger attacks without considering their defense. You’ll be overwhelmed.”
“Understood.”
“Fortunately, monsters tend to favor attacking. Keep that in mind. Especially for Takato, who excels in healing magic. Fight while healing minor injuries.”
“I-is that so…”
“The less you fear the opponent’s attacks, the less fearful they become.”
“I’ll try…”
In an atmosphere where voicing pain was impossible, Nishina nodded.
And then, seemingly satisfied, Mainui began searching for the next prey, running off.
