Ax’s Worst Day Ever ④
Seeker Guild. Training Facility. Training Ground 18.
It’s a training ground, so naturally, we train here.
However, going from one completely unexpected thing to another, I can barely keep up with the developments.
And the only reason I can barely keep up is because I’m not directly involved.
Ens-san held a wooden sword, and I held a wooden knife.
Suddenly, I wondered if breaking this wooden knife would count towards the total.
“Well then, where should I begin? I’m not very good at this sort of thing, you know. I find swinging a sword much easier.”
“That part of you… is exactly like Ax-san.”
“Oh? Is that so? Ah, that’s right, Ax’s weapon was a sword, wasn’t it? I had decided on the name Ax if I had a boy, but to think he’d wield the same sword as me.”
Come to think of it, the origin of Ax-san’s name…
Was it because Emi-san’s favorite weapon is an axe?
“So, did The Witch ask you to do this?”
“I’ve heard a lot about you from The Witch. You want to defeat the Tier I Seeker named Alveld, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good response. I never imagined that after twenty years, The Witch would take on a disciple, let alone one of the opposite sex.”
“Hahaha… I get that a lot.”
“That’s a very good thing. First, Alveld-san. I don’t know much about him, but I’ve heard he uses Relics both technically and efficiently. You see… it might sound strange coming from me, someone without a Relic, but he’s a very troublesome opponent who knows the true nature of Relics. As you are now, winning against him would be quite difficult. No… it’s probably impossible.”
“Y-yes.”
He said it bluntly, but I already knew that.
I’ve become able to use the same technique, but that alone isn’t enough to win.
“Therefore, to contend equally with such an opponent, there are two ways. Either become able to handle Relics to the same degree. Or become able to use techniques you can fight with.”
“Techniques…”
“That’s right. What you’re going to learn now are techniques. The most fundamental of techniques, applicable to everything, taught to me once by the Sword of Swords.”
“From the Sword of Swords… When you say the Sword of Swords, do you really mean that dog?”
“That’s right. Are you surprised?”
“Well, that is surprising, I admit.”
“And they’re the most senior member.”
“Huh? Even though it’s a dog?”
“I don’t know why they’ve lived so long, but they might even be older than Abramelin-san.”
“Wouldn’t that basically make it a Monster?”
“Maybe so. Well, both now and in the past, they’ve always been a strict yet kind, great individual. Anyway, shall we begin?”
“Um, is it really okay for me to learn that technique?”
“It’s fine. Permission has been granted. You were qualified from the start, you know? As the Witch’s disciple. Well, in your case, it seems it doesn’t stop there. Also, it looks like you get along well with Ax.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize. Not that I’m one to talk, but please continue to get along well with Ax.”
“Yes.”
They smoothly drew their sword into a ready stance. I sensed Ax-san in their movements and aura.
They really are parent and child. Things between them are complicated and difficult in so many ways, but in the end, they’re still parent and child.
“Here I come. This is the technique you’re going to learn—”
Ens-san’s figure vanished, only to reappear right before my eyes. A wooden sword swung down.
“Ghk!?”
It was a miracle I managed to block just in time. Even so, I was still sent reeling.
The wooden knife flew through the air.
“That’s One-Step.”
Because I’m a dog? That thought crossed my mind, but I kept silent.
One-Step. Ens-san had suddenly vanished, and before I even realized it, he was right there in front of me.
There’s no doubt that this series of movements is One-Step. He said it wasn’t a Relic, but a technique.
One-Step. Wan… Dog… Ah.
“Is it a pounce?”
A dog’s one-step. And that movement—there’s no mistake. It’s a pounce.
Ens-san laughs.
“Hoh, you figured it out already? As expected of The Witch’s disciple. Your comprehension is sharp.”
A pounce. The dog back at my family home used to do that often.
Juicy-san sometimes does it too. Lately, she’s been able to hold back.
“You based the technique on a dog’s pounce?”
“Well, the ‘Sword of Swords’ is canine, so that’s to be expected, I suppose. It closes the distance instantly with just a single leap. Once you learn it, there’s nothing more reliable for a surprise attack.”
“So it’s a surprise attack technique?”
“That’s just one way it can be used. It has countless applications. Once you’ve mastered it, you can link it with other techniques or even perform it consecutively. Alright then, I’ll demonstrate it next, so how about you watch from the side?”
“Yes.”
Watching Ens-san’s demonstration confirms it.
One-Step—this is a very, very useful technique.
I absolutely want to learn and master it. Then, it occurs to me.
Will Ax-san, who is having a mock battle with the originator himself, also be taught One-Step?
Ah, he probably will be. Ax-san is bound to master it faster than I will.
I didn’t understand what happened.
Before I knew it, I was down. And the wooden sword in my hand had been sliced cleanly in two.
It had been cut clean in two by the same wooden sword. By a wooden sword… A round, wooden sword…?
“Wh-what in the world was that?”
“I couldn’t see it. Not a thing…”
“That’s One-Step. It’s the most fundamental technique of the Sword of Swords, the one that leads to all others.”
“…One.”
“Step?”
“I get what you’re thinking, but Celeste-san was the one who named it, you know.”
“One-Step…”
When Mom says it, the name sounds even more ridiculous, but somehow, there’s also something strangely fitting about it.
One-Step. Not a bad name.
Chuckling, I stood up. My body was uninjured. I’d only taken a dramatic fall. I get the feeling the Sword of Swords takes even that into account.
The Blue Dog carrying a greatsword on his back… It’s hard to believe, but apparently, he’s the real Sword of Swords. He’s Relicless like me, but he’s so strong it feels like that doesn’t even matter.
No matter how I look at him, he just seems like a pale blue, larger-than-average dog.
Since I’m a dog, I hold the sword with my mouth. I grip the sword’s hilt in my mouth.
No matter how you look at it, the only part I can move to swing the sword is my neck, which severely limits my range of motion and makes it incredibly awkward to wield.
Come to think of it, the whole idea of a dog swinging a sword doesn’t make any sense in the first place.
But, after they let me cross swords with them a few times, I realized something.
Yes, they were allowing me to cross swords.
Truthfully, for my current self, even just crossing swords would likely be impossible due to my lack of skill.
Yet they are going out of their way to match my level.
I can see why they’re called the strongest Tier I Seeker.
But what just happened?
“…In an instant.”
Sword of Swords, who had been sitting there like a dog, stood up.
Or rather, it got down on all fours. Then it readied its sword to the side and leaned forward.
And then it vanished. When I reflexively tried to block, my wooden sword was severed, and I was sent flying.
“Seriously, how can a wooden sword cut another wooden sword?”
Normally, it wouldn’t break like that. That’s insane. Just what you’d expect from the ‘Sword of Swords’.
“One-Step. So, if I learn this, I could probably land a hit on him.”
Right, first things first, I need a replacement wooden sword.
Just as I thought that, the ‘Sword of Swords’ tossed a new wooden sword over to me.
“Uh, thanks.”
I took it in hand and got into a stance.
“Mm-hmm. Ax, you’ll probably master One-Step in about one more try.”
“Ya think so?”
“It’s because you’re Ax.”
“Hey, got a moment? Ax. Rell-chan. Hoss-chan.”
“Huh?”
“What is it?”
“What is it?”
“It’s about Mineha, that girl. Since I last saw her, she’s changed so much I barely recognized her, looking so radiant and beautiful, you wouldn’t think she was only ten. Did something happen?”
What is Mom asking about? Mineha?
Come to think of it, she has been looking more grown-up lately.
It’s because that new OOPArt is incredible.
“Like I’d know.”
“Is that so?”
“Who knows?”
“She was always a cute girl. But now, she’s absolutely, without a doubt, more beautiful than before. In just these past few months, she’s gone from cute to beautiful. Come to think of it… the letter mentioned they were living together… Ah, well. That’s Ruriha’s territory, isn’t it.”
“What was that about?”
“Yeah, what was that about?”
“What was that about?”
Seriously, Mom… I ready my wooden sword. Might as well give this a try, then.
“Sorry about that, thanks for waiting so patiently.”
I apologized to the Sword of Swords. It didn’t say anything. Right then, One-Step, huh?
If I recall correctly, you lean your body forward and instantly close the distance with your opponent— Ah, right.
I get it. This is like a dog’s pounce.
I see. Yeah, that makes sense. The Sword of Swords is basically a dog.
“Alright. Guess I’ll give it a shot.”
For some reason, I have a feeling this might work out.
Ens-san’s instruction ended, and after parting ways with Ax-san and the others, I arrived home.
“Phew. I’m exhausted.”
One-Step. It looks like I’ll be able to master it surprisingly quickly.
Still, so that was Emi-san, huh. She was quite intense.
I’d worked up a sweat, so I decided to head to the bath. First, I returned to my room to grab a change of clothes.
“…Huh…?”
In my bed, a mature wo—… Mineha-san was sleeping.
Well, yeah. That happens often recently. Or sometimes, anyway.
But this time was different from usual.
Her being in her large form was the same as always, but… she was completely naked.
なにもかも生まれたままを晒している。
それだけではない。妙に布団が乱れて、濡れたタオルが落ちている。
それと部屋に濃く甘い蜜のような匂いが充満していた。
「……………」
ミネハさんは僕の布団を抱き枕のように横向きで抱いて、半裸が外に出ている。
魔女より小さいけどそれなりに大きい胸。くびれ。見事な丸みを帯びた美尻。
むっちりとした太腿にスラリと伸びた脚。
彼女は１０歳って絶対ウソだという少女じゃない女性の艶やかな肉体をしている。
正直、容姿も並み以上なので女として魅力的すぎる。
「……？」
元々子供離れした可愛らしさだった。
だけど最近は可愛らしさではなく妙に綺麗になっていっている気がする。
それは朝食をつくるようになった辺りぐらいか。
「…………」
What if, what if she wasn’t ten years old, but much older?
“…Nah, even if that were the case, Mineha-san is Mineha-san,” I chuckled, leaning back against the near wall of the room and sitting down.
Phew. I’m tired. So much happened today.
Tomorrow, I have more training with Ens-san. I’ll probably master it tomorrow.
When I asked on the way back, Ax-san had apparently already mastered One-Step. As expected of him.
The day after tomorrow is Tsukaeshi duty, and next week is finally the ‘Great O’Browns’.
There’s also the rematch with Alveld… and I need to take a bath… Ughhh.