Kays Translations

Chapter 11- Special Training: Swordsmanship

The number of strings of magic power that can be produced by shijutsu is directly related to the number of magic spells that can be used.

I learned this from Renji-san on the day I produced my first string.

In other words, a person who can only produce one string of silvered thread can only use one magic, and a person who can produce many threads can use that many magic at the same time.

It is a matter of fact that an exorcist who can produce two string is stronger than an exorcist who can produce only one.

And an exorcist who can produce three is stronger than an exorcist who can produce two.

After I heard this story, I continued to challenge the limits of shijutsu

At first, I could only produce two shijutsu, one with my right hand and one with my left, but by the time a month had passed, I had doubled that to four, and with further practice, to eight. From there, I was able to use the 10 fingers on each hand, and then I was able to use 24 and gradually increase the number of “conductive thread silvates” that I could use.

But I didn’t know what the standard was, so I asked my father, and he told me that on average, an adult exorcist can use three or four threads of silvate.

My father praised me a lot for surpassing that in just two months.

It’s good to get praise no matter how old you are.

When you are an adult, you don’t get praised for things that are obvious to you.

Now, I have been training daily for two years to prepare for my upcoming life as an exorcist.

I was five years old.

“Itsuki. From today, you will start practicing body techniques and swordsmanship.”

“Body techniques? You mean gymnastics?”

I was facing my father in the yard.

The blue sky was dazzling and I couldn’t help but squint.

He is still the same great strong man and the scars on his face have increased slightly over the past two years.

My father, who at first tended to take time off from work as my guard, gradually reassumed his duties as an exorcist when he realized that I wasn’t going to be attacked.

The scars on his face are from that time.

“No. Body technique is a technique for fighting monsters. However, you don’t usually fight with your bare hands when you are fighting monsters. You fight with a sword.”

“Sword…”

A sword?

Really? Isn’t there any violation of the firearm and Sword Act over here in Japan ……?

“Yes. Have you ever seen one?”

“Uh-huh.”

I nodded.

No, of course I’ve seen it.　

In comic books and movies!

Seeing my reaction, my father picked up the long object on his right and removed the cloth that was covering it.

What was revealed was a black painted sheath.

Even I, who had only seen it in a comic book, could recognize it.

It was a real Japanese sword.

“Mm-hmm. Then we’ll talk about it. Here’s the sword.”

“……. Wow, it’s long.”

“Hahahaha. Itsuki is still small. The sword will also feel long.”

My father laughs as he holds the real sword in his hand.

“Papa and other exorcists use swords to exorcise monsters.”

“Hey papa, I want to ask you a question.”

“What is it? Ask me anything.”

“Can’t I just practice magic?”

I asked that because, well, why else would I ask?

It’s because in a previous life I was an athletically challenged person.

After all, I was an indoor person by nature.

You could say that I was born to be a “shadowy” person.

The only club activities I joined in my previous life were the computer club and the home going club.

No, the club for people who went home wasn’t a club.

Anyway, I had nothing to do with sports.

In short, I was hopelessly bad at sports.

It was obvious to me that I wouldn’t be able to get into proper shape even if I practiced with a sword.

Then I think it would be far more efficient to practice magic. ……

“That’s no good. Itsuki.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“There are some monsters that are very fast. What do you do when those monsters come in between you and them, when you can’t use a sword….?”

“Build a barrier with magic.”

“No, they will kill you before you can build a barrier. My friends died from not practicing their sword skills properly.”

“……”

If my father, who is a veteran exorcist, said so, I wouldn’t be able to say anything.

Reluctantly, I picked up the Japanese sword that was placed in front of me, but it was so heavy for the body of a five-year-old child that it was all I could do to lift it.

I didn’t think I could wield it.

“It’s heavy, papa.”

“Umu… A real sword is heavy. So we’ll use a wooden sword at first. I’ve already prepared one for Itsuki.”

“Really?”

Unlike magic, swordsmanship is not something I’m very keen on.

However, if I was told that I would die if I neglected it, I would have no choice but to get involved.

I don’t want to die.

I took the wooden sword for children from my father, and he stood behind me.

“Did you learn how to hold it from someone?”

“Eh? No! No one taught me how to hold it.”

“I-I see. I asked because you were holding it the right way.”

Ah, I took kendo classes in a previous life. ……

“Okay. First of all, I’ll teach you a simple form.”

“Yes.”

“There are many different types of swordsmanship, but the one I’m going to teach you is the Yato-Yato(Night-sword) style.”

Yato-Yato?

How’s the kanji written?

I tilted my head at the words I’d never heard before, but my father didn’t notice and continued.

“Yato-Yato Ryu” is an aggressive swordsmanship that overwhelms with the number of moves. Today I will teach you the basic steps.”

My father picked up his wooden sword and stepped away from me.

His right leg was wrapped with a guiding thread, Sylvate.

The next moment, my father stepped directly into the room and swung the sword.

D’oh!!! And the air burst.

I saw the empty void burst.

The slightly delayed shockwave made my cheeks tremble.

On the ground where my father had swung down, there was a straight cut on the ground, even though the wooden sword hadn’t even touched it. Its depth was approximately less than five centimeters.

……Wha-What the hell was that?

I unintentionally muttered that in my heart when I was faced with swordsmanship that was completely different from my previous life.

Where’s the swordsmanship?

It’s almost like magic!

No, it’s true that if you can’t kill a monster without using such an incredible swordsmanship, then it’s only natural that the ones who skip out dies.

“Itsuki, you should try it too. The trick is to wrap the silvate around the legs to strengthen them.”

“Papa, question!”

“Yes. Ask anything.

“Isn’t that magic?”

When he stepped in just now, my father’s body was definitely physically strengthened.

That means it’s not just swordsmanship. It means swordsmanship with the premise of magic.

So I asked him that, but he looked at me as if to say, “What are you talking about?

“I’m wielding a sword, so it’s swordsmanship.”

“……mm.”

I see, so that’s the logic?

No. Does it make that kind of sense?

“Itsuki. A normal exorcist trains in swordsmanship or just magic. And so, they basically work in pairs, a vanguard and a rearguard.”

“Huh……”

If that’s the case, why don’t I just practice magic if I’m the rear guard? 

I thought, but my father immediately continued.

“But with the death of one of the duo, there were a lot of friends who died without being able to do anything about it. So, I’m going to teach you swordsmanship and magic, so you don’t die!”

“Ah, It’s all right, Papa. I’m not going to die!”

I can’t skip swordsmanship. ……

“Wahaha! That’s a good answer. With this, you can leave for the “Shichi-go-san” with no worries.

“Shichi-go-san? Is it happening again?”

“Oh, yes, of course there will be. After all, you’re now five years old.”

Come to think of it, it’s called “Shichi-Go-San” because it’s held at the ages of three, five, and seven, right?

“Oh, the timing is right for the plenary session.

“The plenary session?”

The ten most important families among the exorcists are going to have a meeting in the near future. It’s the first meeting for the other heads of the families. I bet you’ll be surprised when you see! “

“Yes!”

I decided to swing my sword, feeling a little embarrassed at being pushed aside by my father.

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