An Old Man from the Countryside Becomes a Swords Saint: I Was Just a Rural Sword Teacher, But My Successful Students Won't Leave Me Alone! Chapter 12

Published at 9th of August 2022 07:04:44 AM

12 - The Old Man From The Countryside Has A Confrontation

The hustle and bustle of our surroundings that had been so noisy just now suddenly disappears in the blink of an eye.

No, it didn't disappear, I just shut it out.

The only information coming into my eyes and ears is Henblitz.

Calm the waves of my mind till it's a level sea and observe the opponent rushing towards me.

Yes, he's got a good spirit.

However, I can see a few gaps.

“–KAAH…!”

With a powerful shout, Henblitz strikes.

Hmm. I wonder if it's an overhead slash into a left-body strike?

It's not a bad move but if you do that, your forward leg will inevitably stick out. Hence, if it's read by your opponent or they dodge, it would be difficult to avoid a counter.

“–Shi…!”

I read his attacks and block his wooden sword with mine, raising it to cover me.

It was fine to step back and dodge, but then I'd have to start all over again. I'd like to show him the advantage I've gotten since my reads were correct.

With that desire, I chose to intercept next.

Clack, the sound of wooden swords clashing against each other echoes throughout the training grounds.

Unlike a thrust, if you block a swing and redirect the force, you don't need to use that much strength yourself, you don't have to spend that much overall effort.

With a twist of my wrist, I deflect the wooden sword above my head.

If I move to scoop up my opponent's wooden sword, it'll move to a direction where the force would be weaker and as a result, Henblitz would lose his posture.

“~~~~Ah…!?”

Ooh, I've caught you off-guard, Sir Henblitz.

But unfortunately, a wooden sword doesn't wait for you.

I keep up my sword's momentum, it makes a bee-line straight to Henblitz's neck.

I could go for a hit as it was, but this time, I stop.

I don't have to finish him off. And if I hit him at the current angle and speed, it'll probably be dangerous. This match was just to test my ability to read my opponent's moves and how well I moved in turn.

“Woah, he just countered that… that was amazing…” one of the Knights said.

“Could you even see the Vice-Captain's slash…? This is insane…” another commented.

Mm, oh no. Perhaps because it all went so well, I relaxed a bit.

I hear background noise. This is not a good look for a special instructor.

I have to totally focus again.

I don't want to come this far and end it awkwardly!

“–Don't count me out yet…!” Henblitz cried.

He immediately strikes again after I deflected his sword to the ground.

Is it a right-side slash to my upper half now? This time, he seems to be giving it all his power.

But again, it's too bad.

A strong blow going in a straight line is weak against a force moving perpendicular to it.

I block him with my sword vertical and deflect the force of his blow.

I have to be careful with how I wrap my hands around this sword as it has no handguard or pommel. Henblitz's strength is also considerable, so if I make a mistake in my redirection, I'll get hit.

“Yoh… ahh.”

I deflected his cut, rotated my shoulders, and smashed him with the butt-end of the sword.

“Ubuh?!”

Uh oh.

I intended to stop, but I smashed Henblitz in the chin.

His head bounces vertically from the impact.

“S-Sorry!” I cried in a panic. “Are you alright?!”

However, Henblitz's eyes still burn with passion, it seems this mock duel isn't over just yet.

“–Don't worry about it!” Henblitz replied, shaking his head. “Here I go!”

He attacks with even more speed as if to compensate.

Yep, he's faster than before.

""

A slash from the bottom.

Take half a step back and dodge.

Step in and hit his body as he's pulling his sword back.

Block with my sword.

Oh, my face is open again.

No, doing the same thing twice here would look bad.

Oops, was that a spinning slash just now?

Coordination's not bad, excellent speed.

Then, I'll show off my skill, too.

“…?!”

Right now, I can't see Henblitz's face.

Because the moment he was beginning his spin, I also sneaked up behind him.

But still, I knew he would be surprised.

Because his swing was stopped.

“Hit,” I said.

Henblitz dropped his wooden sword behind his head, where there's only air now.

“Huh?!” he cried.

Then, thud. A hard sound echoed.

“… Do you want to keep going?” I asked.

Yeah, this feels like the first fight I've had in a while and seems to have lifted my mood a little. I would never ask such a question normally.

“–Of course!” Henblitz said as he charged in four more times.

Then, he and I had a good sparring session.

“… I, yield…!” Henblitz gasps with heaving shoulders, finally kneeling on the ground and regretfully announcing his surrender.

No, it was a rather long match.

It's not like my sparring matches usually lasted this long. I'm impressed at Henbltiz's stamina.

But, it was also the first good workout I've had in a while.

I also managed to keep my reputation, so it's not a bad result.

“Amazing…!” one of the knights cried.

“The Vice-Captain couldn't even hit him with his sword once…?!”

“What is even with that reaction speed…?”

As soon as I drop my total focus, the voices of the crowd flood into my ears.

No, no, it shouldn't be such a surprise.

Honestly, Henblitz's speed and power were incredible.

His movements were just a little too linear. I just pierced the gaps in his attacks and deflected him with perpendicular attacks. I haven't done anything special.

“Excellent show, Master,” Alexia said.

“Aah, thank you, Alexia,” I said, smiling at the generous praise.

Before I knew it, I was handed a towel and wiped off the sweat I'd broken during the mock battle.

“Hmm-hmm,” Alexia chuckled. “How was it then, Henblitz?”

“… It was my complete loss,” he said. “I couldn't have expected this… my deepest apologies, Sir Beryl.”

“No, I don't mind,” I said. “If a man like me appears from nowhere, I think it's reasonable to have doubts about him.”

The murder in his eyes disappeared completely and it feels like his view of me had changed.

However, Alexia's smug face stands out even more than that.

I want her to stop doing it that much. I'm embarrassed.

“But I'm glad there's something I can still teach you all,” I said to change the subject.

“Again with the modesty,” Alexia said immediately. “We still have much to learn from you, Master.”

No, I'm not being humble.

I'm just a bit fond of swordsmanship and am an old man who reacts a bit faster than normal people. This time it just went well because of Henblitz's style.

Besides, there's a difference in age and also experience between him and me. These kinds of interpersonal tactics aren't something you can learn overnight.

Maybe the result would have been different if I'd been fighting him when I was his age.

To put it another way around, that's the difference between myself and Henblitz.

“Everyone's gathered up, so let's continue with the lessons,” Alexia said.

“Yeah, I've got it,” I said.

Compared to the last meeting, I can see that a lot of other people aside from Henblitz are looking at me differently.

Yeah, yeah, at least this job should be easier if those skeptical looks disappear.

I'm just a dull old man but I'd appreciate it if they got used to me rather than being hostile. Besides, teaching swordplay outside of the dojo was also refreshing.

“Well then, let's have a look at everyone's sword arms first,” I said.

“Hehe, please be kind to us, Master,” Alexia said.

When I looked around while talking, I saw respectful, awed, and tense looks directed right at me.

Hmm. This is a bit much even if the suspicious looks are gone.

“… Ah, would that be alright?” I asked.

“Y-Yes!!” they all reply, their voices echoing.

“… W-Well, you all don't have to be so stiff, right?”

No, even if they weren't that afraid. Even though I have the job of a special instructor, I'm still just an old man.

… Whatever.

As we get along better, this will all naturally disappear.

Chapter end