Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 12

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 12   Swordsman talent

I was feeling discouraged.

It’s the usual courtyard, but a different scene was spread out there.

Marie and I… along with Maron, Red, and Rose, the five of us stood in a row.

In front of us, our father stood in a stern posture.

Oh no, I don’t like this at all.

“Today, we look forward to working with you!”

We all bowed simultaneously.

The other four were probably enthusiastic, but I was different.

I was filled with the desire to escape from this situation.

Rather, I wanted to practice magic gathering.

The transfer of magic throughout my body is not yet smooth, and I can’t gather enough.

I wonder what it’ll become, but I feel like being able to control magic is better than nothing.

I have a strong image that gathering magic is more likely to manifest magic than dispersed magic.

For now, I want to create a ball of light like the trout.

Well, almost certainly, I think that’s a ball of magic.

That’s beside the point.

In our hands are wooden swords.

All five of us.

Without saying, we understood what this meant.

“Alright. Starting today, we’ll begin swordsmanship training with the five of you. Don’t fool around or let your guard down.

Even with wooden swords, people can get hurt. Understand?”

“Yes!”

I understand. I understand, so I want to observe from the sidelines.

As I’m thinking this, I get a sidelong glance from the next person.

It’s Marie.

Originally, this whole situation stemmed from her statement.

I’m not good at swordsmanship. I haven’t done it much, but I know I’m not good at it.

Or rather, I’m mentally not good at it. I don’t want to do it.

From that perspective, whenever Marie receives swordsmanship instruction from father, I either observe or engage in magic training.

However, Marie didn’t seem to like that situation very much.

She ended up suggesting to father that he should teach me swordsmanship as well.

Unfortunately, father seemed to think the same way, considering me as the son of the lord, and thinking about the possibility of needing it in the future, he said I should at least learn swordsmanship.

And so, I was forced to participate. That’s today. The first day.

The other three apparently asked father to teach them swordsmanship on their own.

They’re children with quite the ambition.

I don’t understand why they’d want to learn swordsmanship, but I want to be exempted.

Neither this body nor the previous one had particularly good atlethic skills.

I was the type to last until the end in dodgeball.

However, I wouldn’t hit anyone even if I threw the ball.

When I threw it, it was incredibly slow.

I was good at dodging, for some inexplicable reason, making me seem like the type that would be found in a class.

I was especially bad at sports that involved using equipment.

If it was a sport that only involved moving my body, I was a bit better.

Swordsmanship obviously involves using a sword.

So, I really don’t want to do it.

But I can’t run away anymore, so I have no choice but to do it.

“Now, let’s assess each person’s abilities one by one. Each of you will spar with me.

Of course, I’ll go easy, so hit me without holding back. First, Red.”

“Yes! Please!”

A passionate young boy, Red, steps forward.

He faces father, ready with his sword.

From what I can see, he seems to have quite good agility.

Since describing each person’s practice in detail would take a long time, let me just give the results.

Red seems to have considerable strength.

Although he couldn’t take a point from father, there were shining moments.

His swordsmanship was a bit rough, but with practice, father said he could become a formidable swordsman.

Next is Maron.

She is quite agile and seems to be the type to manipulate with her movements.

However, being a child, she has explosive speed but lacks strength.

Just defending against a swing was enough to knock her back considerably.

It also seems she lacks grip strength, as she dropped the wooden sword multiple times, which left an impression.

She needs strength training.

And then, Rose.

Her swordsmanship seems to be of average level.

Of course, assuming that none of them have learned swordsmanship before, we’re talking about them as amateurs.

Her athletic skills aren’t bad, and there were no noticeable shortcomings.

However, on the flip side, she didn’t seem to have many strengths either.

She seems like the type to become a well-rounded swordsman.

Lastly, it’s me.

The results are already apparent.

I’m lying on the ground, desperately trying to catch my breath.

The wooden sword is lying far away.

My body is covered in wounds.

These weren’t inflicted by father’s attacks.

Father sighed, covering his face with his hand.

“I never expected to have such a lack of aptitude for swordsmanship…”

“I… I didn’t think it would be this… this challenging…”

I accompany my sister, run around, and engage in physical activity helping in the village.

So, I have quite a bit of stamina.

But that’s all.

If you continue swinging the sword recklessly, your stamina quickly depletes.

Which consumes more stamina, continuously throwing heavy punches or using well-coordinated jabs? The answer is obvious.

And in my fatigue, I tumbled spectacularly, releasing the wooden sword and rolling on the ground.

During that, I ended up with scratches all over my body.

Sometimes, I think I managed to evade father’s attacks relatively skillfully.

But, even I can see that my sword attacks were shoddy.

Pathetic. Really pathetic.

“Your eyesight isn’t bad. You seem to be reasonably good at dodging.

But it’s not about the sword. Shion, your body movements are just too clumsy.

You were swinging the wooden sword recklessly, forcing your movements and making them disjointed.

It’s like… you have disastrously poor athletic skills…”

“I-I was aware. I guess that’s really the case…”

With a wry smile, I got up.

“You’re able to evade… seems like your reflexes aren’t bad…

I remember, you weren’t that slow when it came to running, right?”

Father asks Marie.

She nods twice in response.

“You have stamina, and I don’t think you’re slow when running either…”

“Hmm, it doesn’t seem like you have completely poor athletic skills.

Occasionally, some people struggle with exercises that involve using tools, so that might be it.”

That’s right. I’m sorry.

I apologize to myself and brush off the dirt on my body.

“What will you do? With considerable effort, you might reach an average level compared to others.”

Here’s my chance!

I instantly shouted at father.

“No! Father!

I don’t have talent in swordsmanship, and there are other things I want to do, so I’ll pass on this!”

“I-Is that so? However, as a young man, having some skill in swordsmanship…”

“Father! Swordsmanship isn’t everything! I believe I have my own capabilities!

Generalizing everything won’t help nurture individuality or talent!

I’m quite good at studying, so I want to focus and excel in that direction!”

“…There’s some truth to that.

Even if we’re leaning towards education, beyond the basics, it’s up to each person’s will.

Shion, you don’t have to do swordsmanship. However, do maintain physical training.

In case of emergencies, it’s better to be able to move than not. Also, it’ll be useful in assisting with the village’s work.”

“Got it! I understand, Father!”

Watching me give a sharp salute, Father let out a sigh, seemingly exasperated.

However, afterward, he couldn’t help but smile at my antics.

Marie is watching me from the side.

Looking at me with an exasperated expression.

Oh, if I’m being looked at like that, it’s awkward, so I’d like her to stop.

But it can’t be helped.

People have their strengths and weaknesses, after all!

“Now, let’s see how much you’ve grown, Marie, in the end.”

“Y-Yes, please!”

Marie faced father, her sword at the ready.

Compared to the four of us, including me, she seems to have a clear advantage, maybe due to the extra practice she puts in every day.

It’s not just that. She’s different from her usual self, standing with an air of confidence.

If I were to describe it in one word, she looked impressive.

I found myself captivated by her beautiful profile.

In an instant, Marie propelled herself off the ground.

Fast.

So fast that for a moment, I almost lost track of her movements.

But I quickly caught up, and she was already closing in on father.

A flash of the sword.

A single strike cutting through at an angle, aimed at father’s shoulder.

However, whether he predicted it or not, father raised his wooden sword.

Just when I thought it would connect, Marie halted her sword.

A feint.

In a reverse twist, she crouched and swung horizontally.

An attack aimed at the legs. Quite difficult to evade.

However, with just a step back, father easily dodged it.

Naturally, this left Marie wide open.

With a thud, she was left looking up at father in surprise.

“I win.”

Marie’s movements were large.

In contrast, Father’s movements were very small.

He seemed to make only the necessary minimum movements.

There seemed to be an overwhelming difference in strength.

Marie, although looking frustrated, stood up and bowed at a distance.

“Thank you…”

“Hmm, not bad. Just your movements are too big. However, your intent to exploit the opponent’s openings was good.

Keep striving. With a few more years of dedication, you’ll become quite skilled, Marie.”

“Yeah, I’ll do my best. I want to become stronger.”

Marie, while holding onto her frustration, harbored determination in her eyes.

To become stronger. The reason for that is to protect me.

It’s not just that, but it’s a significant reason.

That’s what she said.

While I’m glad for her determination, I also feel a sense of urgency to find what I can do for myself.

It’s certain that I probably won’t be able to do anything in swordsmanship.

So, now that the training is done for the time being, maybe it’s time for me to take my leave.

Probably, they’ll continue with the basics of swordsmanship or something.

Well, it doesn’t concern me anyway.

With that thought in mind, I attempted to escape from the courtyard.

“Now, next is… Shion? What are you doing?”

I tried to stealthily enter the house, but Father called me out.

“W-Well, I think I don’t really need to do this anymore.”

“What are you saying? We’ve just begun practicing swordsmanship.

Everyone starts practicing swings with wooden swords. Certainly, Shion, you don’t need swordsmanship practice.

However, as I mentioned earlier, physical training is necessary. In other words, you have a different exercise.”

“A-And that would be?”

“Run.”

Nooooo!

I don’t want to just keep running!

What’s with this?

Is it a basic thing in this world that people run whenever something happens?

Is there common sense that says training equals running?

I get it. Running is important.

But isn’t there something else? There has to be more.

Why running? Why make me run?

Ugh, I hate it. I really do.

I think that, but Father’s pressure is immense.

Like Marie, father is stubborn once he decides, that’s it.

It’s impossible to go against him.

With my eyes wandering, I had no choice but to obey Father.

I really wanted to train in magic.

Oh well.

This might be useful someday. Or it might not be.

I started running as Father instructed.

And it continued until everyone’s practice was done.

It lasted for three hours.