Chapter 34 - You Are Wrong, Arnold!
The following day, Dan, Misha, and I went to the eastern shopping district together.
"Is Young Master going to buy something?" (Misha)
"I'm going to buy an iron mesh." (Gail)
"Iron mesh?" (Misha)
"Yes, we'll use it to cook lunch while I train in the forest." (Gail)
I told Misha about how Dan had caught and cooked a rabbit and that I had built a barbecue stove at the training ground.
"That's not fair...." (Misha)
"Hmm?" (Gail)
"No, it's nothing." (Misha)
We found an iron mesh that was just the right size and bought it. Because the iron mesh was heavy, Dan carried it on his back and I had to walk home slowly.
-
-
-
On the way to the forest.
"Misha looked a bit down this morning." (Gail)
"Yeah. Maybe she wanted to come to the forest, too." (Dan)
"But would it be boring to come to the forest just to watch me swinging a sword all day?" (Gail)
"You also told her about hunting and cooking rabbit, right? Oh, and about the stove, too." (Dan)
"That's right." (Gail)
"She was probably jealous because it sounded fun. In addition, Misha seems to like grilled meat." (Dan)
"Now that you mention it, she seemed to enjoy it a lot." (Gail)
"Misha's dad was an adventurer, right? Maybe she is used to eating grilled meat since he was little." (Dan)
"Maybe so. Misha looked happy when she was eating grilled meat. Still, it's dangerous to bring her to the forest." (Gail)
"That's right. I have to prioritize Young Master's safety if we face danger in the forest. If only there was a hut or something...." (Dan)
A hut, huh.
"Oh, we have arrived. Let's finish the training and then go hunt for lunch." (Dan)
-
-
-
I practiced horizontal slashes until it was almost lunch time, then went hunting with Dan like yesterday.
Today's catch is a rabbit again.
I modified the stove while Dan was preparing the rabbit. First I put protrusions on the inner side of the stove so that I could place a dirt mesh on it to hold the firewood. Next I made a mesh with vertical lines out of another layer of dirt to hold the firewood.
Okay, it's done! Next is the iron mesh.
Hmph.... No good, I can't lift it. It's like an iron grate. Even though Dan was carrying it like nothing.
"Young Master, please clean this with water." (Dan)
Looks like Dan has finished butchering the rabbit.
"Here we go!" (Gail)
I created water with magic and washed off the blood like yesterday. After that, Dan set up the iron mesh and put some firewood into the stove. I lit the fire and waited for it to stabilize.
"Looks good, doesn't it?" (Dan)
"The iron mesh also fits perfectly." (Gail)
"We can grill anything with this, and if we bring a pot, we can make soup, too." (Dan)
The sound of meat being grilled could be heard and a delicious smell started to waft through the air. I picked one of the skewer that was cooked and ate it while thinking.
"Misha looked lonely...." (Gail)
"Yeah." (Dan)
. . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
"Hey, if there's a hut, can Misha come here?" (Gail)
"If there's a safe place to take shelter, we can bring her with us." (Dan)
"It might take a while, but should I make one?" (Gail)
"Are you going to build it with magic?" (Dan)
"Yeah, I can make walls and a roof with magic at least." (Gail)
"What about the door?" (Dan)
"I was thinking of asking Bossman later." (Gail)
"If we prepare some wood in advance, he should be able to make a door or two in no time." (Dan)
"Then, I'll start building it little by little." (Gail)
"Good luck!" (Dan)
I nodded and walked a little further away from our training spot.
The size is about two six-tatami mat rooms. The image is that of a container. Just make a box-shaped structure first and I will open a hole for the door later.
I started raising the soil into a box shape with magic. Then, after raising it for about 10 cm, I checked my remaining magic power.
[Magic Power] 7/62
Damn, I almost ran out of magic power already.
"Dan, I'll call it a day here." (Gail)
"Is this little bump going to be the hut?" (Dan)
"That is the plan." (Gail)
"It looks like we've still got a long way to go." (Dan)
"I'll try my best." (Gail)
"What about the toilet? You'll need one if Misha is coming, right?" (Dan)
That's right. I completely forgot.
"Well, since the shape can be changed, I guess you can just add it later. Or it might be better to build it a little away from the hut." (Dan)
"Yeah, I'll think about it." (Gail)
I left the hut construction there and resumed my sword training.
Tomorrow, before going to the forest, let's go to Bossman’s place and ask him to make a door for the hut.
-
-
-
Nearly a month had passed since I attended the morning practice. Because John had gotten used to the armor, Bent could no longer score a victory against him.
"Good, now you can move just as well as before even with the armor on." (Arnold)
"Yes, sir." (John)
John replied cheerfully while Bent looked dejected.
"So, starting today, I will teach you Fighting Spirit. However, do not use it in mock battles because there is a risk of killing your opponent. Only use it in an emergency. Can you promise me that?" (Arnold)
"I understand." (John)
So there’s such a thing as Fighting Spirit.
"Dad, me too....." (Bent)
"It's too early for you, Bent. I only decided to teach John after much consideration." (Arnold)
"But...." (Bent)
"John is going to enter the knight academy. He needs it because there might be someone who uses fighting spirit during the exam. He will be able to handle things differently if he can use Fighting Spirit." (Arnold)
"Then...." (Bent)
"Listen, Bent, have you decided to enter the knight academy too? If not, I will teach you when you come of age. So for now, just watch it, okay?" (Arnold)
"Okay...." (Bent)
Bent looked downward, his eyes tearing up.
Bent's me-too disease strikes again. No matter how much Arnold reasoned with him, he just couldn't seem to accept it.
"Come here, John." (Arnold)
Arnold called John over and started to concentrate. Not long after that, his body was suddenly enveloped in a golden light.
*flicker*
Huh?! What happened...?
Arnold's figure seemed to blur and then gone completely. He was now standing about 10 meters away from where he had been before. He concentrated even more and extended the golden light that had enveloped his body to his sword.
"Hiaat!" (Arnold)
Arnold swung his sword at a nearby log, cutting it in half without any resistance. Then the golden light slowly disappeared as he relaxed his body.
"This is Fighting Spirit. John, I want you to learn it before the exam." (Arnold)
"Yes, sir." (John)
That's amazing. I wonder if all top swordsmen can use Fighting Spirit, too.
Next Arnold put his palms on John's back and used Fighting Spirit again.
"John, do you feel anything?" (Arnold)
"I feel some kind of power spreading." (John)
"That's Fighting Spirit. You've been training seriously up until now. You should be able to use it, too." (Arnold)
As John began to concentrate, a faint golden light appeared, but then it disappeared again.
"Ah...." (John)
"Did you lose concentration? If you think about unnecessary things, you won't be able to do it well." (Arnold)
I see. It's similar to the trick to swing the sword through the gap. I wonder if I can do it too.
While recreating the image of Arnold's Fighting Spirit, I cleared my mind like when I was training to swing my sword through the gap.
Oh, it really comes out!
Next let's imagine wrapping myself in that golden light.
Hmm, when my body is wrapped in the golden light, it feels like I'm overflowing with power.
I picked up a stick nearby and slowly extended the golden light to the stick.
Hmm....
Ah!?
*blerghhh*
Ugh, I feel sick, my head is spinning....
You are wrong, Arnold!
This is not a fighting spirit.
This is magic.
"Whoaa!? Gail is throwing up!" (Bent)
I fainted after hearing Bent screamed.