Jobless Rising! ~I’ve Become a NEET. I Acquired Lewd Skills and Lived a Life of Sex in the Other World and in Japan. Before I Knew it, I Was Impregnating A Harem of Ladies?!~

Chapter 62: Training, Training! Man, This Sweat Stinks!

The two of them gave me a crash course on imperial customs.

The talk about special weapons, Cerialis, the hero from a thousand years ago, and the prophecy was fascinating and felt like useful knowledge.

Promising to meet Filmeria again, I left the mansion with Erinabel. Apparently, she came to check on my condition and, if I was fine, to bring me back.

We boarded a carriage headed for the knight outpost. Erinabel brought up yesterday’s events again.

“When I heard the report, I was shocked. A man with a bird on his head fought Alkrom, they said.”

“Haha…”

“Don’t just laugh it off… Seriously. Didn’t I tell you to stay put?”

Back then, I rushed out worrying about Erinabel.

Cui found Alkrom before Erinabel did, and not informing her was definitely my carelessness.

“Oh, right. If it’s okay with you, Erinabel, I’m thinking of heading back to my world tonight.”

“…When will you return?”

“Not sure yet… But it won’t be too long.”

Gotta bring back magic stones regularly, after all!

“…Speaking of which, I want to buy some magic stones…”

“Already planning to practice False Magic?”

“Nah, they’re for taking back. They’re surprisingly useful in my world.”

“…Huh. Fine, I’ll send someone to buy them during training.”

Nice…! As expected of a noble-sama…! So used to delegating! Convenient!

“Wait, training!?”

“Yes. At the outpost, I have some work to do. Meanwhile, you’ll train with the knights. In the afternoon, I’ll spar with you myself.”

“Ugh…”

Sounds like a hassle…! But I couldn’t hold my own against Alkrom, and honestly, without Cerialis, I’d have been in trouble.

As a hero contracted to Cui, whether I’ll go all-in in this world is unclear, but starting with what I can do is important. Probably.

“Touya, do you have any preferred weapons?”

“Nope! Never even held a sword or spear!”

“Don’t say that so confidently…”

Probably a lot of people in this world train with weapons.

I’ve never done kendo, archery, or judo. My only weapon is this body, powered by Cui’s contract.

We arrived at the outpost. I’m getting pretty used to this place…

“Well done, Erinabel-sama!”

The soldiers saluted Erinabel.

She strode toward her office, and I followed. On the way, she called out to a knight.

“Hagfree.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Oh… This guy. He interrogated me before. Listened calmly, though.

“Train Touya until noon. How you do it is up to you.”

“Y-Yes…?”

“He may not look trained, but he protected Filmeria from Alkrom. No need to go easy.”

“Hey, go easy on me!”

Why am I suddenly sparring with an active knight without mercy!? Isn’t it supposed to start gentle!?

“After lunch, I’ll train Touya myself. Until then, he’s yours.”

“Understood.”

“So, Touya, follow Hagfree’s orders from here.”

“…Got it.”

With that, Erinabel headed to her office. Hagfree led me to the training grounds outside.

“Been a while!”

“…Hey.”

“Didn’t think the guy from back then would become Erinabel-sama’s retainer! How’d you pull that off?”

Not so much a trick as my… meat stick and ero-cheat skills…

“Well, uh, she kinda took me under her wing…”

“Coming from the sticks to become Erinabel-sama’s retainer? Your parents must be thrilled.”

Nah, don’t have any parents.

I couldn’t say that, so I followed Hagfree’s instructions and put on light armor. …Man, it stinks of sweat!

“Erinabel-sama never took a retainer before. I’m just a Thirteenth Count low-rank knight, so I don’t know, but it’s probably a hot topic among high nobles.”

“…Topic?”

“The great Erinabel-sama taking her first retainer, a commoner no less. Gossip lovers are probably buzzing with rumors.”

…Like I’m some gigolo in a smear campaign? Well, half-true!

Enduring the sweaty stench, I finished putting on the armor. Taking a wooden sword, I headed to the training grounds.

“Whoa…!”

The training grounds were filled with men training hard.

Some ran laps, others sparred, some did push-ups. All different. Then Hagfree shouted.

“Attention! We’re starting training for Erinabel-sama’s retainer, Touya! Anyone interested, come over!”

What!? My training’s a spectacle!? You’re making a show out of me!?

“Oh!”

“The retainer Erinabel-sama picked…!”

“He doesn’t look that strong.”

“Any battlefield experience?”

Guys quickly crowded around me. So grimy…! Why am I surrounded by dudes…!?

“So, I’m curious about your skills, Touya. Let’s spar, and I’ll decide your training based on that!”

“Seriously!?”

I thought we’d start with swings…! Straight to sparring!?

Cui hopped off my head to a nearby tree.

‘Everyone here has less magic than Erinabel. Watch out for their magic, and you’ll manage.’

Manage what!? I mean, I kinda feel I’ll be fine… but I’m still nervous!

Hagfree grinned, raising his wooden sword.

“The Fifth Seat of the Twelve Radiant Generals, Erinabel-sama, chose you as her retainer and said no mercy in training. Let’s see what you’ve got, Touya!”

“!”

Hagfree crouched low and charged with surprising speed for his build, likely using physical enhancement magic. But…

(Not as fast as Alkrom…! I can track his movements…!)

Not just track—I could keep up.

The longer we went, the sharper my movements felt. Is Cui’s seal weakening?

“There…!”

“…!”

I parried Hagfree’s sword forcefully and kicked with my right leg. But he lowered his left arm, blocking swiftly.

“Guh…!”

Tough! He blocked it solid…!

While I froze with one leg up, Hagfree swung again. I switched the sword to my left hand, blocking it.

“Raa!”