LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 12
Thud!!
All the scarecrows standing in the training ground were split in half and fell down.
“Phew.”
Did I miss anything?
The feel was good, but just in case, I looked around.
Not a single scarecrow was left uncut.
It’s been about two years since I learned Fleet.
I’ve finally reached the point where I can say I’m proficient.
Clap, clap.
Lowell, who had been teaching me for those two years, saw this and clapped.
“Now your Fleet is perfect.”
“Finally.”
Not just Fleet.
I’ve also become somewhat proficient in other basic techniques.
Well, I’ve been training for two years.
If I couldn’t handle it by now, I’d have to quit.
“You’ve grown a lot taller.”
“Ah, well, I’ve been eating a lot.”
Even at 16, I thought I was pretty sturdy, but after eating well and training in aura, it felt like my growth spurt exploded.
So now, I’m almost eye level with Lowell, who used to be a head taller.
“I’ll go handle some schedules now, so spend the rest of your time sparring and then head back.”
“With who? Darren? Kaiden?”
“Darren seems to have some free time.”
“Ah.”
In this mansion, the only ones I can spar with are Darren or Kaiden.
Lowell is out of my league, and the guard captain who’s in charge of the mansion’s security is too busy.
“Where is he?”
“I told him to come this way, so… yep, there he is.”
Following Lowell’s gaze, I turned around and saw Darren coming from the garden.
“Hey, mutt.”
When we first met, Darren, the lady’s bodyguard, and Kaiden didn’t get along well.
But now, after training and sparring together, we’ve become somewhat friendly.
“I told you I’d kill you if you called me that.”
“Try it.”
Besides, for aura users, combat is crucial.
Sparring with fellow aura users is essential, so it’s good to get along.
“Beginner goes first.”
I waved my hand in front of Darren.
“This guy…”
When we first met, Darren was a young bodyguard in his late twenties, but now he’s in his thirties.
Swish-
His skills have improved a lot.
Look, he’s already disappeared from in front of me.
‘Track.’
Using Track immediately, I saw Darren rushing at me in the slowed-down world.
Crash!!
I also used Fleet, wrapping my arm in Guard, and blocked the wooden sword Darren swung at me.
“Is it okay for a knight to ambush?”
“You’re the one who always does it.”
Since I’ve attacked a few times right after sparring started.
He sometimes attacks first like this.
“By the way, you’re using three at once now?”
“I should be able to do that much.”
The official proficiency level of an aura user is determined by the number of basic techniques they can use simultaneously.
If you can use one basic technique, you’re a beginner.
If you can use two at the same time, you’re an early-stage user.
If you can use three at the same time, you’re a mid-stage user.
And if you can use all four simultaneously, you’re considered a fully proficient aura user.
By the way, Darren and Kaiden are mid-stage users.
I’ve also entered the mid-stage recently.
“…Only two years after properly learning?”
“I’ve always been a fast learner.”
Anyway.
“Do you have time to talk?”
Since I’ve been attacked, it’s my turn.
I immediately reached out and placed my hand on Darren’s abdomen.
“Rush.”
“Uh, uh.”
Instantly.
Bang-!
The shockwave from my hand sent Darren flying.
Using the distance created, I picked up the wooden sword from the ground and charged.
“Ouch.”
In that short time, Darren had used Guard and was charging at me again.
Immediately after.
Crash!
Our wooden swords clashed.
Darren’s swordsmanship is that of the Void Family.
It’s a swordsmanship close to illusionary swords that disorients the opponent.
…While learning here, I realized.
The Void Family’s techniques have a bit of a sneaky side.
Like Vision Fleet, which leaves afterimages to ambush, or Vision Rush, which imbues thrown weapons with Rush to cause explosions.
It feels a bit sinister for a noble family.
Well, since it’s a family that’s always dealing with enemies at the border, it makes sense that they’ve developed practical techniques.
When you’re dealing with enemy nations, where’s the honor?
Efficiency is the best.
Anyway.
I’ve also learned some of the Void Family’s swordsmanship from Lowell, so I’m using it effectively.
Thud- thud- thud-!
Since both of us were using illusionary swords, our swords often grazed rather than clashed.
Each time, the tip of the wooden sword slightly scratched our bodies.
“Your swordsmanship is pretty good.”
“I’ve practiced a lot.”
From Lowell, I’ve not only learned the Void Family’s techniques.
I’ve also received guidance on existing techniques.
‘…Where did you learn this swordsmanship?’
‘From the former champion.’
‘…Hmm, I see. It’s excellent swordsmanship.’
Since I’ve learned so diversely and used them countless times in real combat.
Lowell chose to increase my available techniques rather than correct me to fit the Void Family’s style.
Well, it’s the direction I wanted anyway.
In real combat, there are so many variables.
Having more techniques as Plan B and C is always good.
Anyway.
I need to focus on sparring again.
Even now, Darren is swinging his sword with a sharp momentum.
Whoosh-
Darren’s sword slashed through my body.
“Ugh!”
To be precise, it was an illusion created by Vision Fleet.
It’s still rough, but I can create blurry illusions like this.
In a situation where both sides are fiercely competing, it’s somewhat effective.
I took advantage of Darren’s momentary hesitation.
And swung my sword, but.
Thud-
It was blocked by a strange barrier.
And immediately.
A familiar feeling made me activate Guard.
Boom-!!
An explosion erupted from Darren’s back, sending me flying.
Thud- thud.
I rolled on the ground a few times, performed a breakfall, and got back into position.
“…Your reaction is good.”
“I’ve trained ten years longer than you.”
What Darren just used was the Void Family’s Vision Guard.
When the guard detects an opponent’s attack, it triggers a Rush in that direction.
It’s like an automatic reflex.
By the way, I’m not good at using that.
Guard and Rush don’t suit me well.
Men are all about acceleration.
Besides, considering Darren’s specialty is Guard, and Kaiden, the remaining bodyguard, specializes in Rush.
The balance of young aura users in the mansion is well maintained.
Did Lowell plan this?
That old man might have really thought of it, as I adjusted my wooden sword as if it had a scabbard.
Since I’ve been hit by a technique.
I should show something too.
“Hey, don’t do that.”
“Here I go.”
“I told you not to.”
I closed and opened my eyes briefly.
Then the world slowed down.
In that slowed-down world.
A red afterimage like a line was visible, pointing towards Darren.
As soon as I saw the afterimage.
I used Fleet to follow the red afterimage and drew a sword path.
And then.
Thud!!
I crashed into the mansion’s wall.
“Ouch… Why do you dodge?”
“Kid, I warned you, why wouldn’t I dodge?”
“Ugh.”
What I just used was the Void Family’s Vision Track.
It’s a technique that shows the most efficient and powerful sword path to reach the opponent, usually used with Fleet.
According to Darren and Kaiden, who’ve experienced it.
This technique can’t be defended or dodged; you have to dodge as soon as you see the stance.
“It’s a shame. I wish I could use it without setting up the stance.”
“Kid, wish for something realistic.”
Darren looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.
“You’re the first kid to use Vision techniques in just two years.”
“I’ve mastered the basics, so I can use them, albeit roughly.”
Even then, it’s still rough and requires preparation time.
“Next time, let’s fight without aura?”
“Yacharu style?”
“…No biting.”
Anyway.
I spent the rest of the training time sparring with Darren.
After that, I returned to the doghouse where I stay.
This place has also changed a lot over the past two years.
Since the lady kept adding things, the once spacious place is now cluttered with stuff, almost running out of space.
I should ask for an expansion soon.
If this continues, there won’t even be room to lie down.
Oh, and there’s one more recent change.
Namely…
“Hey mutt, are you there? Come out.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“…Never mind, go back in.”
“Huh?”
The lady has become a bit prickly.
The lady, with her gorgeous blonde hair tied in twin tails, has become more blunt in her speech.
It seems like early puberty has hit.
“Should I go back in then?”
“No, follow me.”
The mind of a teenage girl is incomprehensible.
Dealing with her has become really difficult lately.
Even Lowell, the dribble master, finds it tough.
“Hand.”
“Yes.”
“Head.”
“Here.”
Though she’s become prickly, her actions haven’t changed much.
Well, her appearance has changed a bit? The lady has grown quite a bit in two years.
Of course, I’ve also grown, so the height difference isn’t much.
Pat pat.
Now, it’s become default to kneel on one knee to make it easier for her to pat my head.
“Classes are tough these days.”
“They’ve always been tough.”
“That woman is no joke, you know? Do you know how much homework she gives?”
…Sometimes, I miss the innocent lady from two years ago.
Girls grow up so fast.
Early puberty has turned that cheerful lady into this.
“How are the classes going these days?”
“Not much different… Oh, want to see?”
“Sure.”
And it’s not just her height that’s grown.
The lady’s magical achievements have been improving day by day, showing clear talent.
Rumors are spreading that a magical genius has appeared in the Void Family.
Even the special tutor teaching the lady continues to come after the term ends because of her talent.
“Bring the disc.”
“Yes.”
One thing that hasn’t changed is that she still comes to see me almost every day.
No matter how busy she is, she comes to chat or play for a bit.
“Here it is.”
I found the disc in my house and handed it to the lady.
It’s a special disc made in the magic workshop, my personal training disc.
“Here I go.”
Of course, it doesn’t have any special abilities.
It’s just incredibly sturdy.
Which means…
Whoosh-
Even if the lady imbues it with magic and throws it, it won’t break.
Hmm, the fireball is bigger than before.
By the time she becomes an adult, it might grow to the size of the fireball that burned the mansion two years ago.
Anyway, after that.
“Fetch!”
With the lady’s slightly excited voice, the disc flew like a fireball.
I focused my aura on my eyes to watch it.
The lady’s disc throwing has been surprisingly helpful for my training.
As her magic gets faster day by day, I have to desperately adapt to keep up.
After all, if I can’t catch the disc and the wall gets destroyed, I’m the one who gets scolded…
Anyway, immediately after, in the slowed-down world.
A small, faint red afterimage appeared.
At the same time, my body shot forward.
Using Fleet for incredible acceleration, but it doesn’t feel that fast.
It just feels like everyone else is slow, and I’m running at normal speed.
Like that.
I wrapped my hand in Guard and caught the disc flying like a fireball.
Immediately, the Track I was using to its limit was released.
Crash.
I rolled on the ground but got up naturally.
…It must have looked like a breakfall, right?
My back hurts a bit from rolling earlier.
“Yay! Well done!”
But still.
Since she’s so happy, I’ll keep playing with her.
Seeing her like that, she’s still the same young lady from back then.
“Head!”
“Yes.”
I approached again and knelt on one knee, and the excited lady ruffled my hair.
Pat pat pat.
…The maids have been styling my hair diligently lately.
I’m going to get scolded again.
“Oh, right. We might have a guest soon.”
“A guest?”
While patting my head, the lady brought up an unexpected topic.
…Do such things come to this mansion?
It’s the first time I’ve heard of it in the two years I’ve been here.
“Yeah, the aunt’s other disciple is coming.”
“…When?”
“Maybe next week?”
The lady’s magic teacher is someone even Lowell acknowledges as great.
Someone taught by such a person is highly likely to be a noble.
And if they’re coming as a guest to the Void Family, they must hold a position worthy of it, right?
Even if I don’t know, I can see the servants bustling about.
As for me, I’ll just hide in the doghouse and never come out…
“Oh, right, when they come, I’m going to show you off first.”
“Huh?”
…I thought I wouldn’t even show my hair.
The lady said something outrageous.
“Why me?”
“Huh? Where else can you find a mutt like this? I have to show you off!”
The lady’s smile as she said that.
It was like a child excited to show off something amazing.
…It seems.
She really plans to show me off in front of the guest.