Chapter 16

On the tenth day of the tenth month, a Water Day, today is the day I was forced to attend a workshop by Donovan.

Initially, my goal was to be able to do some practice swings with that wooden sword, but after being thoroughly beaten by Gilik in our training, and also preparing to rescue my classmates, I have been undergoing intense training.

Or rather, with a brainless skeleton around, the training just kept escalating.

No, I thought I was weird too, but with the training high, and all the adrenaline and dopamine leaking out, I just went with the flow, yes I did.

Oh, my body is amazing, it’s rock solid, rock solid.

With this, I should be able to get through today’s workshop... probably.

When I confirmed at the guild reception whether I had registered for the workshop, of course I had, and the receptionist lady even gave me a pitying look.

Ah, it seems everyone knows I’ve been targeted by Donovan.

No, Otto, please stop praying for me, I’m not dead yet.

The Water Day workshop is not a lecture but starts with practical training, so I head to the training ground.

The group doing warm-up swings with wooden swords must be the participants, I thought.

But then, there are Muiel and, surprisingly, Gilik, what’s going on?

"Good morning, Muiel, Gilik."

"Good morning, Kent, yeah, you seem to have gotten a bit tougher... "

"Huh, still a scrawny little thing, this doesn’t count as tough at all."

Damn, just when Muiel said I got tougher and I was feeling good, why does this dog have to ruin it!

"Um... what are you two doing here?"

"Yeah, I heard you’re taking the workshop, so I came to watch."

"I came to see you get beaten up, be grateful."

"Really, Gilik, why do you always say such mean things... that’s why you don’t get any girls."

"Keh... I don’t care about girls..."

What do you mean you don’t care, you’re looking at Muiel with such longing, you dog!

"But, can I live up to Muiel’s expectations..."

"Don’t say ‘can I...’ it’s no good, no good!"

"Y-Yes... sorry."

Hyaah—, I got a ‘no good’ from Muiel this morning.

"Keh, stop grinning and get going, you little brat..."

Damn, why does he always ruin my good mood, now I’m going to thoroughly mess up Muiel’s relationship with me, yeah, thoroughly.

"Muiel, I’ll do my best, watch me."

"Okay, do your best, Kent!"

I thought the lines were cheesy, but I blushed nicely and played the innocent boy well.

Yeah, I’m a good actor.

Encouraged by Muiel’s cheer, and before Gilik could say anything, I headed to the workshop location.

When I glanced back, Gilik was glaring at me with a face like he had bitten a bug, but he can’t interfere with the workshop, or he’ll get scolded by the scary Donovan, hehe.

"Um... is this the right place for the workshop?"

"Yeah, it is. Is this your first Water Day workshop?"

"Yes, it’s my first time today."

"Oh, I see, are you a knight type or a mage type?"

"Um... I was judged as a failure..."

"Oh, I see, but it’s okay, this is still beginner level, so don’t worry. I see, a failure, that’s a bit unfortunate..."

"What, you’re a failure and this is your first time in this workshop?"

"Oh, that’s tough, but don’t worry, it’s okay."

"Failure, huh, that’s tough..."

"Yes... um... I’ll do my best."

The people participating in today’s workshop all seem nice, and when they learned I was a failure, they gathered around to encourage me.

Actually, I’m a cheat mage, so I feel a bit guilty.

When Donovan appeared as the instructor, the circle around me broke, and the workshop was about to start.

"One, two... six, good, everyone’s here. First-timers... just Kent, I see, you didn’t run away, good job."

"Yes, I didn’t feel like I could run away..."

"Hmm, a wise decision... okay, everyone spread out and start with practice swings, go!"

"Yes!"

Being able to handle wooden sword practice swings is a requirement for participating in the Water Day workshop, so they start with that.

The forward swing, downward swing, diagonal downward swing from the right upper to the left lower, and the reverse, diagonal downward swing from the left upper to the right lower, and horizontal swings from both sides, each 100 times is the goal.

When I first swung a wooden sword, it felt quite heavy, but now it feels light, like I’m swinging chopsticks.

The reason is that on the third night of special training, Reinhardt made a practice bar to replace the wooden sword.

The practice bar was a log that Reinhardt had whittled down, about 50% heavier than a wooden sword.

Using it for practice swings and strikes, and from the sixth day of training, I used an even heavier practice bar.

So, a regular wooden sword is a breeze, a breeze.

"Hmm... Kent, you’re swinging quite well now."

"Yes, I’ve been training."

"Hmm... then this might be a bit more fun."

Huh? Fun, what’s he going to enjoy? I have a bad feeling about this.

"Okay, everyone passed, let’s start the workshop, prepare your armor!"

"Yes!"

Armor preparation, is it the same as last time?

Everyone else seems to be experienced in this workshop, so I followed them to the training ground warehouse, and sure enough, they started putting on the leather helmet, chest armor, and gauntlets we used in training with Gilik.

Ugh, the gauntlets... they really stink.

But the last time I wore them, they felt heavy, but today they don’t bother me much.

"Okay, everyone’s ready, Kent, come to the front!"

"Yes."

"Next, we’ll do sparring, choose your opponent, anyone is fine."

"Wh-What? Sparring right away?"

"Yeah, if you win three matches, you can attend the Wind Day workshop, choose your opponent..."

When Donovan said that, everyone started pointing at themselves and trying to get my attention.

I see, when I said I was a failure and this was my first time, they were all being nice and encouraging me because they wanted to use me as a practice dummy in the elimination matches.

"Um... I don’t know who’s who, so I’ll leave it to Donovan."

"Is that okay? I might choose the strongest one."

"Yes, I plan to hit a certain annoying guy someday..."

When I said that, Donovan gave a sinister smile.

"Hmm... I see, then no need to hold back, Isaac, you’re up."

"Got it!"

Isaac, who was chosen by Donovan, stepped forward with a grin, and the others sighed in disappointment.

Isaac is tall and well-built, looking the strongest among the five.

I see, this is what Donovan meant by ‘fun.’

Isaac and I faced each other about five meters apart.

"Striking the face is forbidden, but hitting outside the armor is fine. The match ends when I judge that the opponent is unable to continue. Are you ready... start!"

Isaac charged at me with a diagonal strike as soon as Donovan gave the signal.

If I had been the me from the day I trained with Gilik, I would have tried to block and been knocked back.

But today’s me is different.

I expected him to swing big and underestimate me.

The moment Isaac raised his sword, I stepped in sharply, ducked under his downward swing, and landed a thrust to his torso.

"That’s it, winner Kent!"

"Oooh..."

When Donovan announced the winner, a murmur went through the crowd.

I glanced over and saw Muiel clapping and cheering for me.

Gilik was glaring at me with a face that seemed to be muttering, hehe, what can you do.

"Okay, next, Herman, get ready."

"Yes."

Herman is not tall but has a broad chest and looks very strong.

"Are you ready... start!"

Having seen Isaac’s loss, Herman didn’t charge in.

He held his wooden sword at his side and tried to circle around to my right.

I held my sword in a standard stance, slightly to the right, and moved to my left to match his movements.

It seems that if Isaac moved, Herman would stay still, aiming for a counterattack.

Then, I’ll take the initiative.

When circling around, there are stable and unstable moments due to foot placement.

When the feet are spread, it’s easier to brace and counter, but when the feet are close together or crossed, it’s harder to brace.

I watched Herman’s upper body movements and waited for the moment when his feet were close together, then raised my sword and charged with a yell.

"Yaaah!"

Herman quickly spread his feet and launched a horizontal strike at my torso from the right.

I pulled back my advancing body, dodged his sword, and struck his gauntlet.

"Match over! Winner Kent!"

"Oooh..."

Donovan’s announcement was met with an even louder murmur.

Muiel was jumping with joy.

Could I be falling in love?

No, no, I still have one more match, I need to stay focused.

"Next, Colt, get ready."

The third opponent is the smallest of the five, but he seems to have a trick up his sleeve.

He has a long tail and a monkey-like face, is he a monkey beastman?

He has a sly smile and seems very confident.

"Are you ready... start!"

"Ukkyaaa, ukya, ukya, ukya!"

"Huh...?"

As soon as Donovan gave the signal, Colt started swinging his wooden sword around in place.

Of course, it didn’t reach me, and I was taken aback.

That’s when, without a yell, Colt launched a one-handed thrust.

"Whoa!"

Dodging the first thrust was thanks to my training.

But Colt continued with rapid one-handed thrusts like fencing.

"Ukya, ukya, ukya, ukya!"

"Ugh... uh, ugh..."

With the continuous one-handed thrusts, I was on the defensive, and Colt increased his speed.

"Ukya, ukya, ukya, ukya, ukkyaaa!"

"Ow... damn..."

Pushed back by Colt’s thrusts, I leaned back, and my calf was swept out from under me.

"That’s it, winner Colt!"

"Ukya! I’m going, going, the next opponent is..."

"Isaac, you’re up."

Before Colt could choose his next opponent, Donovan chose Isaac.

"Ukkyaa, can’t I choose my opponent?"

"What, Colt, are you saying my choice was wrong?"

"N-No... I didn’t mean that..."

Colt was trying to choose an easier opponent and looks very unhappy.

‘Master Kent, you were caught off guard by the opponent’s surprise attack.’

‘Yeah, it was sudden, and I panicked.’

‘If you had calmly countered and circled around to his left, you could have won, Master Kent.’

Isaac powerfully deflected Colt’s one-handed thrust and quickly attacked, easily winning the match.

‘I see, if you can control the pace, he’s not that strong.’

‘Exactly, that man relies on surprise attacks and lacks fundamentals, so if the opponent doesn’t fall for his tricks or disrupts his rhythm, he’s weak.’

‘I see, but it was a good lesson to learn from the loss.’

‘Indeed, Master Kent, learning from a loss is important.’

Isaac then overwhelmed the one who had been watching.

"Next, Kent, get ready."

"Yes!"

For Isaac’s third match, Donovan chose me.

Isaac, who faced me, had a fierce expression, unlike his relaxed one earlier.

"Kent, I won’t let my guard down this time."

"Please do your best."

"Start!"

Earlier, Isaac charged in carelessly, but this time he held his sword at his side and started circling to my left.

He looked like a predator stalking its prey.

Isaac’s fighting style is to overwhelm the opponent with strength, so a head-on clash would be disadvantageous.

I need to find an opening and land a sharp blow to have a chance of winning.

I think Gilik is much stronger than Isaac.

But while Gilik wasn’t taking it seriously, Isaac is in full combat mode, aiming to advance to the next workshop.

We circled each other, gradually closing the distance.

Sweat trickled from my temple to my chin, and my neck tingled with tension.

"Shaaaaa!"

Isaac launched a horizontal strike with a sharp step.

I tried to jump back like I did against Herman, but Isaac’s step was deeper, and I had to block the sword.

The impact numbed my hand, and I was pushed back.

Isaac followed up with a diagonal strike from the right.

I had dodged it in our first match, but this time, being pushed back, I had to block it.

With the size difference, and blocking while retreating, the swords clashed and my sword was deflected to the right.

"Damn..."

"Zuryaaaa!"

"Ugh..."

Isaac’s follow-up horizontal strike hit my left arm before I could defend.

A dull crack sounded, and the intense pain made me drop my sword and crouch.

"Winner, Isaac!"

"Shaaaa! Sorry, Kent, are you okay?"

"Ugh... I’m... I’m okay... just need a moment..."

I hugged my left arm and focused on self-healing.

The pain was so intense that sweat poured down my face.

"No, you’re not okay, I hit you pretty hard, and it made a bad sound..."

Isaac looked worried, but I couldn’t even respond.

"I’m... I’m okay... just a bit numb..."

"No... but, you... Donovan, what should we do?"

"Take him to the infirmary when he calms down, even if it’s not broken, it’s probably bruised..."

No, it feels broken, but I’m okay, the pain is subsiding.

I checked the numbness by clenching and unclenching my fingers, then slowly moved my elbow to relieve the numbness.

"Hey, stop, Kent, don’t force it."

"No, I’m okay, Isaac, the numbness is mostly gone."

"Hey, really? You’re tough for a small guy, huh."

Using self-healing and continuing to move, the pain and numbness subsided.

"I’m okay, Donovan, let me continue."

"Hmm... are you really okay?"

"Yes, I’ll be fine with a bit more rest."

I thought I might be suspected, but they wouldn’t think a failure like me could use healing magic without chanting, and I can’t afford to quit now.

‘Master Kent, you were too defensive.’

‘Yeah, I thought I’d lose the strength contest and ended up being pushed back more.’

‘Exactly, if the opponent is stronger, you need to counter before they can fully use their strength.’

‘Yeah, I guess you can’t learn that without real combat experience.’

‘Indeed, we need to add sparring to the training...’

‘That’s... hard to do... but I need to think about it...’

After that, we continued sparring with the five of us, excluding Isaac, and I managed to win three matches.

"Yesss!"

"Good, Kent, next week is the Wind Day workshop."

"Yes... huh, what?"

"What’s wrong, not happy?"

"N-No... not really..."

"The upper classes are even stronger, so train hard."

"Y-Yes..."

Huh, why am I happy about advancing to the next workshop?

And, if they’re even stronger, I need to keep training?

Um... is there no harem event with cute girls for a cheat mage?

What...