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 146

Published at 21st of February 2023 06:27:58 AM

“So you're staying here a while, Master?” Landrid asked suddenly.

“Yeah, that's the plan,” I replied.

Since he has been living in this house, Landrid will almost certainly know that I sent a letter to Bidden Village and that my parents sent a letter in reply. In short, he'll know why I'm back.

It's a confirmation behind the scenes that I'm going to participate in the subjugation of the saber boas. He knew very well that this was not just a brief homecoming.

“What about the scale of them?” I asked.

“We haven't gotten that far into the wilds, so we don't know,” Landrid said. “However, there are signs that there are more than usual. I've seen them coming closer and closer to the village.”

“Hmm…” I muttered.

Landrid had studied the sword for 6 years under my guidance. And he graduated after absorbing all the skills I could offer him.

In other words, when he was a student, he also participated in subjugating saber boas. Not just once or twice, too. I've only just arrived in this village, so I don't know anything about the situation, but from Landrid's experience, the group seems to be bigger than in previous years.

Well, even so, it might be a bit boring work for a Platinum Rank who was about to promote to Ocean Rank, but this is also a necessary duty to get by in Bidden Village. We're going to be asking a lot of him this time.

“By the way, did you change your weapon?” the Old Man asked as he listened in.

“Oh, this?” I asked.

""

Come to think of it, I didn't explain anything about this sword. It wasn't something I would write in a letter.

Of course, one of the main purposes of this time is live combat, so I carry a sword with me. Sir Henblitz also brought a longsword, and Kuruni also had a zweihander.

Only Miu is unarmed. She has also learned how to fight in the Sword Magic Department, but her length of training and proficiency are still too short and too low. She hasn't reached the stage where she can be taken on a saber boa subjugation mission. So, this time I'm planning to have her slowly grow her wings while she's at home with the Old Lady and Mrs. Fannely.

“The previous one broke,” I said as I offered it. “I got a new one.”

“Oh…” the Old Man said as he began to examine it. “It's not just steel, is it?”

“That it's not,” I said. “It's honestly wasted on me.”

You could tell the Old Man had sharp eyes for swords.

More precisely, this sword was made out of the body of a named, Xeno Glaive, but I feel like there's something wrong with how they talk about my participation. The one who killed it was Selena.

“Master's new sword is so amazing!” Kuruni said. “It was made from a Named, Xeno Glaive, you know!”

“Ah,” I gasped.

I didn't want to make too much of a fuss, so I kept quiet, but Kuruni rushed to throw it all out.

“That's amazing. Did you defeat it?” the Old Man asked.

“No, it was Selena who killed it herself,” I said. “Do you remember her?”

“Of course I do,” the Old Man said. “But that girl… is she doing well, too?”

“Yeah, she's doing great,” I said.

“That's a relief,” the Old Man said.

Then, as if he remembered something, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

Selena wasn't a student at the dojo, she was a child with no relatives who we looked after for about 3 years until we found someone willing to adopt. That's why I and the Old Man hardly recognize her as a student. From my point of view, she's like Miu as she is now, or rather a younger sister, or something like that.

“Little Selena! I was fond of that time, you know?” the Old Lady cried, filled with joy.

And from the perspective of my parents, she was like a grandchild.

That being said, I am their only son. I would be lying if I said I didn't want siblings at all. I don't know if my parents weren't blessed with more children, or if they intentionally stopped after I was born. First of all, you shouldn't ask such things to their faces.

“Is that Selena Lysandera, the 'Twin Dragon Fangs'?” Landrid asked. “I didn't know she was from this village…”

“No, hmmm… I guess it's a bit misleading to say she's from here,” I said. “How do I explain this…?”

Seems he wasn't aware of Selena having been taken care of here. Well, it's not something that she likes to talk about.

But it's a little difficult to explain. This will also be her personal information, and she'll be kind of embarrassed if I tell them everything. Above all, I don't want to put some unnecessary pain on Selena as she boasts of her brilliant achievements and her status.

The Selena I know is quiet, and if anything, she has a somewhat timid personality, but now she's become such a splendid and proud person that I can't even imagine she had that kind of past. I want to prevent such rumors and causing her to be misunderstood.

“Selena… was she that red-haired lady?” Miu asked.

“Right, right,” I said. “She was the lady we met at the restaurant before.”

“Ugh… I don't like her…” Miu grumbled.

“Hahaha,” I laughed.

After all, Miu was subjected to mysterious pressure from Selena. It must have been scary for her, and it can't be helped that she doesn't like her. That's completely Selena's fault.

“Speaking of which, Sir Beryl, do you have any plans for the future?” Henblitz asked.

“Hmm, that's right…”

After our stomachs were full and we'd settled down to some extent, now the talk went to that.

It seems that he and Kuruni were forced to stick together for the subjugation of the saber boas. Conversely, it was easy to predict that they would be uncomfortable if they didn't have a schedule.

“Old Man, you haven't entered the mountain yet, have you?” I asked.

“Yeah,” the Old Man said. “We were trying to survey but we didn't have enough hands.”

So they're not being up the mountain yet means there isn't much data to go on, is there?

The mountains mentioned here are the Aphrata Mountains, which run northwest of the Rebelis Kingdom.

Let's do some geography.

The Rebelis Kingdom has a vast territory in the northern part of the Galea continent. The capital, Baltrain, is located slightly northwest of the center of the country. Nearly straight west from there is Bidden Village, and further west is part of the Aphrata Mountains.

This mountain range, for those who live in this land, is quite a mess, and frankly, it is almost untouched by humans. It is almost entirely wild mountainous terrain. The environment is a little harsh for people to live in, and little progress has been made in developing it for human habitation.

Perhaps some kind of resource is lying dormant, but the current situation is that it has not been properly managed because the projections of cost-return are too terribly skewed.

Further complicating matters is the Aphrata Mountains. It continued from the west of the Galea continent to the southwest, but it was too long and extended to the territory of the neighboring Saluazalk Empire.

To be honest, even if I live in a village, I don't understand the detailed borderlines of steep mountains. For the time being, it seems that it is decided that it is roughly from here to there, but once you step into the mountain, the line stops being clear at all.

If this is still the case that a traveler or a nearby villager happened to step over the borderline, it wouldn't be a big problem. There is a lot of room for extenuating circumstances around here, and there is something like a tacit understanding of mutual agreement to some extent.

However, no matter how under the name of the survey, it would be dangerous if a national organization such as the Knight Orders or the Magic Division stepped into the vicinity of the border. If it goes badly, it will be a war at once. We both want to avoid such a situation.

Let's assume that the Knights or the like go to investigate after officially notifying the Empire. Even so, the other side can take the view that they are conducting military exercises near the border, or that they are doing preliminary inspections for an invasion. Tensions between nations will increase needlessly, if not immediately break into war.

War is a diplomatic tool, but no one likes to spill blood. At least that's what I know as common sense.

That's why the area around the Aphrata Mountains is almost unexplored and undeveloped. As expected, I don't know how the Empire is doing, but I think it's probably similar.

Well, before that, there are many ferocious animals and monsters in the mountains, so even if there were no border issues, it would be tough to try to climb it.

The saber boa is, normally, a mountain dweller. However, as the number increases during the breeding season, they often come down the mountain in search of food.

And most of the settlements near the Aphrata Mountains, like Bidden Village, are affected by these guys. We still have a swordsmanship dojo in the village, so we're able to defend ourselves. Other villages will be having a tougher time.

To begin with, whether it was a monster or an animal, it would be impossible to drive a certain species to extinction with the current sphere of human activity.

So, I have no choice but to thin out the ones who are clearly harmful due to overpopulation. The subjugation of the saber boa this time is also a thinning out. It's impossible to exterminate them, so just reduce them to a point where they can no longer harm humans.

“Hmmm… first of all, let's see the dojo training the day after tomorrow,” I said.

“We'll observe their training?” Henblitz asked.

“Yes. We are looking for children who can participate in the subjugation,” I said.

Henblitz made a little dumbfounded noise.

It's a so-called confirmation of strength. Among the students who are currently attending our dojo, I look for children who are likely to be able to endure the battle with the saber boa and the invasion from the mountains, and who are excited about participating.

As a matter of course, I won't force them to come with us just because they can fight. The person's ability and motivation, these two things can be converted into the minimum fighting power for the first time.

Not all of the disciples who attend the dojo are trying to master martial arts. Of course, I think the ratio is high because they go to a swordsmanship dojo, but there are also children who want to gain the minimum for self-defense or because their children need some form of exercise and don't take to anything else.

Even if they have great talent, there are some kids who have no intention of fighting to begin with. It's almost meaningless to let such a child experience actual combat, and it will only increase the unnecessary danger.

That's why we do that assessment first.

From my point of view, a few people would be fine, but what do you think? It hasn't been many years since I left this dojo, so even if I pull out my last memory, it should be relatively accurate.

Well, at worst, even if no one was there, it wouldn't be a big problem. After all, there's me, Landrid, Sir Henblitz, and Kuruni, so it's enough as a fighting force. It doesn't seem like there's a problem since I can just task the Old Man with defending the village.

“It feels so nostalgic,” Landrid said. “I was one of the students who applied to join.”

“You were sparkling pretty bright then, Landrid,” I said.

“No, stop, it's embarrassing…” Landrid said.

We reminisce while eating the cheese left over on the table.

I don't think I'm so withered that I'd live the rest of my days coasting on old memories, but even so, the days when I welcomed and sent off various disciples will never fade away. Once I can no longer swing my sword, I want to spend the rest of my life slowly, savoring those long-gone days.

“Could you let us watch that practice, too?” Henblitz asked.

“Of course,” I said. “I would love to hear your advice as Vice-Captain.”

“Hahaha, that's a big responsibility,” Henblitz said.

My dojo certainly teaches the art of fighting, but the Knights who are active on the front lines of active duty should be sharper in terms of their fighting experience and sense for battle. So, regarding Sir Henblitz and Kuruni, I plan to use their opinions as a reference.

“Alright, it's a plan,” I said. “Shall we rest today?”

I'm going to start reconnaissance immediately after seeing the dojo tomorrow, so I have to heal the tiredness of the trip today. It's okay for Miu to stay at home, but I need to get the two Knights to rest properly.

“I can't move my body enough anymore, help me, Beryl,” the Old Man said.

“Haha, alright,” I said.

He's long out of shape.

Certainly, compared to his heyday, his power will be greatly reduced. But even in his old age, he's still the best swordsman I know. There is no way you can win against a swordsman like that. There's no way he's unable to hunt saber boas, too.

However, if possible, I would like to avoid overworking my father, who has already retired. That's why I came back.

“Well then,” the Old Man said. “Beryl can use his old room as it is. One room will be used by the Vice-Captain… I didn't expect this guy to come back with so many people, so Little Kuruni, is it okay for you to share a room with Miu?”

“I'll be okay with that!” Kuruni said.

“Me, too… well… ” Miu mumbled.

“What's the matter, would you like to share a room with Beryl?” the Old Man asked.

“… I'll be fine with Kuruni.”

“Hah-hah-hah!”

Ah, Miu is a little lost right now. How cute.

Chapter end