Nagai Koto c9

「It’s not that. It’s just, it was shocking...... How weak I was... Even though...... I believed that I could join the hero and spread the light of justice......」 (Shalt)

「But......」 (Shalt)

Our duel ended, the spectators dispersed, and the atmosphere of the royal capital returned to normal. Nobody agreed to the outcome, but either way I had pulled down Shalt’s pants and gave him bruises with my low kicks, causing him to be unable to fight any further. The old man at the weapon shop told me I didn’t have the qualifications, competency, talent nor readiness, but Taira said the opposite, giving me a seemingly frustrated look.

「Velt, have you not decided on a weapon yet?」 (Taira)

「Yeah. Today’s fight was interesting after all. In addition, it was a good experience for the path Shalt is taking.」 (Taira)

Against my words of protest, Taira had raised his voice.

「If you’re a kid like Shalt...... Then between the artisan Hasan’s Lightning Blade and the favored sword of the Dragonslayers, the Dragon Buster Sword, it would be difficult for you to choose a weapon right away wouldn’t it?」 (Taira)

「Easier to use? But shouldn’t you find a weapon fit for your spells? For example, since Shalt’s forte is in wind and ice magic which emphasizes speed, he is using a rapier.」 (Taira)

「Wha-What is it?」 (Velt)

In actuality, my mental age is 17.

「To tell you the truth, when Shalt first came to this store, he naturally demanded a strong weapon like the Dragon Buster Sword. As expected, he longed for the age of brave warriors, master swordsmen, and heroes. After thinking about that kid’s constitution and magic techniques, I chose the rapier as his most suitable weapon.」 (Taira)

「Kids pick up weapons because they yearn for them (heroes). However, you’re a lot more pragmatic compared to when I met you, and you’re even asking for a weapon focused on functionality. As I thought, you’re not ordinary.」 (Taira)

「That... are you serious? Recently the princess has been borrowing agricultural books from the castle library...」 (Taira)

「The Great Empire’s national military academy? By that, you mean in the center of the continent...... Where heroes and the like go?」 (Velt)

「Then, once those two graduate from the military academy... they will immediately enlist in humanity’s united army.」 (Taira)

「That’s right.」 (Taira)

Even though it’s not related to me, when it comes to someone I know participating in war, it’s... Difficult for me to say. To be frank, there is war in this world, and I have heard of many countries falling to ruin from it, but I have yet to understand what war is. In my time as Asakura Ryuuma, the world I lived in had many wars. But, I didn’t have interest in any of them. The majority of high school students wouldn’t have any interest either. That is, I was in a world where I didn’t have to take up arms to end a war, there shouldn’t have been any anyone with eighth grader’s syndrome who would either... War was something I’d see on the other side of the television screen, it was a world with no relation to me.

「If you wanted to hear it, it’s not something grandiose. In the first place I had already said that I have no interest in war nor heroes, but rather than indifferent, it’s more like I just don’t know anything. The point is, I don’t understand anything about the world you see.」 (Velt)

「Like I said, It’s not like I’m going out to do something big. If I had to say it... Regret... I have some serious regrets left from dying in my previous life.」 (Velt)

「Listen, don’t figure it out. It’s possible that just about nobody in this world will understand you know.」 (Velt)

I’ll let him in on this much.

Having died and been reborn in this fantasy world, I and am now looking to find some sign of the girl I liked that I died with who may have reincarnated. With that, who the heck is going to believe me? For now, living with that as my objective will be fine. It doesn’t matter if nobody understands.

「Well, it’s those two’s choice if they want to go to war, I don’t want them to die, but I expect it would be a natural result...... Hm? That’s......」 (Velt)

At that moment, I had casually looked over and stopped my gaze at a mountain of boxes. Placed at the corner of the store were boxes with a mess of swords and bows sticking out.

「Old man, what’s with these boxes?」 (Velt)

「I see.」 (Velt)

「Huh, inventory disposal. Well, these worn out items wouldn't have much use as expected.」 (Velt)

They were just a bunch of useless items.

Thinking that, when I was about to abandon hope, something at the corner of my eye caught my attention.

「Ah? What’s this?」 (Velt)

It was something like the hilt of a sword. However, there was no blade. Despite that, it felt heavy and stiff.

「Ah, that’s not a weapon ya’know? It’s somethin’ mixed in with the wholesale goods.」 (Shopkeeper)

「That’s a Congo Demi-human tribe’s teacher’s cane.」 (Shopkeeper)

「Umu. Try swingin’ it down with some vigor.」 (Shopkeeper)

Doing as he said, I swung the cane downwards. I could feel the weight of the swing.

「O-Ooh!」 (Velt)

「Umu, there was once a time where I was able to enjoy dealin’ with the weapons of the demons and demi-humans, but that was unintentionally mixed in with the rest. There was no buyer for the teacher’s cane, nor a way to use it, so I was thinkin’ of getting rid of it.」 (Shopkeeper)

My heart began to throb, and in some way I felt something that I was lacking.

「I’m interested. So give it to me」 (Velt)

「Yeah. It’s not a weapon, and it was going to be thrown away, so it’s not a big deal right?」 (Velt)

(TN:Used to traditional weapons)

They stared at me in amazement as I chose something that wasn’t made to be a weapon. However, it’s convenient for me.

「Give me two of them.」 (Velt)

「This is fine. With the money, treat me to a steak instead. Right now, I’ve found something better for me than traditional weapons.」 (Velt)

I was able to see clearly, and I will master these. Even though this is a fantasy world, it’s not like I have to fight the way they do. With a way that has the most potential, I’ll deal with what's to come at that time. I will deflect dangerous weapons with the sweep of my baton, and disrupt my opponents with kicks like I did in my high school days. Through fire and lightning, I will continue forward even without magic, this I swear to myself.

Chapter end