Chapter 60

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---

In the dojo at Yuzi's house, the three of us sit facing Zouzou. Before starting our usual practice, I told him about Hizuru's situation.

"Ah, I see."

"Well, that's the situation, grandpa. Could you teach us some simple, good-looking sword fighting forms?"

"Please."

Yuzi asked Zouzou for the practice in a casual tone, and Hizuru bowed to Zouzou. I should probably bow as well.

After a brief moment of thought, Zouzou agreed with a light tone.

"Sure, why not?"

"Really?"

"Of course. However, I wonder if it's necessary for you to do the usual sword fighting forms..."

"Huh? Is there something wrong with that?"

Zouzou stroked his chin, looking puzzled.

"If you're going to perform a demonstration at some event, that's one thing, but in this case, I think the regular sparring you do in practice is enough. In your case, do you really need to do the elaborate sword fighting forms?"

"We need to show it to persuade them, so wouldn't it be better if it looks good?"

"If you want to show the results of your martial arts training, then yes. But if you want to show your skills as explorers, it's best to show your usual practice. Hizuru's parents are ordinary civilians, right?"

"Yes."

"In that case, even more so. Showing a good-looking sword fight might not be as effective as showing your usual practice."

Hmm, I see. I understand what Zouzou is saying. Indeed, if we're using it to persuade, it might be better to show our usual, gritty practice rather than something that just looks good.

"Besides, it's faster to show ordinary civilians the real movements of Hizuru and the others in action. Once they see the girls in action, they'll probably stop arguing."

"…Is that so?"

"Don't worry, it'll be fine. If you want, we can add a dramatic finish where they break each other's weapons at the end for impact."

Zouzou confidently answered Yuzi, who was tilting his head.

The scene of the girls performing a high-speed demonstration and breaking each other's weapons in front of their parents... It would be quite shocking.

"Let's try it once."

Zouzou stood up, and we followed suit.

---

My wooden sword struck the tip of Hizuru's wooden spear. Instead of forcefully blocking my wooden sword, Hizuru used her right hand as a pivot to rotate the spear and aimed the butt end at my head. I slid slightly to the right to avoid the butt end, stepped forward, and swung my wooden sword upward to target Hizuru's right hand, which was the axis of the spear's rotation. Hizuru took a light step back to dodge my attack, adjusted her grip to the butt end, and extended the spear faster than her retreat to aim at my carotid artery.

"Shh!"

I struck the side of the approaching wooden spear with the back of my right hand, deflecting the spearhead. The impact of the backhand knocked the wooden spear out of Hizuru's hand, leaving her weaponless and vulnerable, but I didn't follow up. The feel of the impact when I deflected the spear was too light, and I was wary that it might be a feint, like what Zouzou had done before.

We were a bit apart, and I faced Hizuru, ready to observe her next move. We changed positions with sliding steps, looking for the right moment to attack...

"Stop!"

Just as we were about to cross again, Zouzou's voice echoed in the dojo, stopping us.

We observed each other's movements for a few moments before relaxing simultaneously.

"Phew... Thank you."

"Thank you."

We relaxed our stances and bowed to Zouzou in the center of the dojo.

"Not bad. It should be enough to show to ordinary civilians."

"Ha..."

"What's wrong? You look unsatisfied."

"Ah, no... I was just wondering if it's okay to move so slowly."

The question Hizuru raised was also what I was thinking.

The practice we just did was only about half the speed of our usual practice. To put it bluntly, it was slow.

Since we're trying to persuade by showing our strength, wouldn't it be better to move more dramatically?

"I understand what Hizuru is saying, but if you move too fast, ordinary civilians won't be able to follow. Even at this speed, the tips of the swords and spears probably blur."

"..."

Zouzou looked at us with a slightly exasperated expression.

...He's right. If we move so fast that it can't be seen, it's meaningless to show it.

It seems our sense of what ordinary civilians can handle is off. Of course, the cause is probably Zouzou, who's looking at us with an exasperated face.

We've never managed to land a single effective blow on him, even when we attack with all our might...

"Well, if this doesn't persuade them, bring them to me. I can help Hizuru with the persuasion."

"Really?"

Hizuru's eyes widened in surprise at Zouzou's offer.

"Well, I didn't get old for nothing. Sometimes, an old man like me can be more persuasive than young people like you."

Indeed, Zouzou, who looks like a seasoned warrior, would probably be more convincing than Hizuru and I, who are around her age. People tend to judge credibility based on appearance... sigh.

"Let's show the sparring to Hizuru's parents first. If they're convinced, I won't need to step in."

"I hope so..."

Hizuru sighed, lacking confidence.

No, I think showing the sparring should be enough to persuade them, right?

"Is there something you're worried about, Hizuru? Showing the sparring can add credibility to the claim that you won't get hurt fighting monsters..."

"Yes, I agree that it can add credibility, but... I have a feeling they'll say it's irrelevant and won't listen."

Eh, what's that... They sound troublesome. I haven't met them, but...

"Maybe we need another impactful persuasion material..."

Hizuru, scratching her head, was trying to think of more persuasive material.

In other words, to convincingly counter her father's objections, we need another impactful element, right?

Besides the sparring and the dropped items, what else could be used as material...?

Ah!

"Hey, Hizuru."

"...What?"

"Have you ever shown them the video of the monster battles inside the dungeon?"

"...No. I haven't shown them because it would be troublesome if they tell me to quit like this time, and the prices for orc materials haven't stabilized yet."

"Then, how about showing them during this persuasion?"

The actual combat footage I took with the action camera I showed to Mika and the others might add some weight to our persuasion. As an impactful video, it would be excellent. Of course, there's a risk it could backfire...

I looked at Hizuru's face.

"...You're right. The reason I didn't want to show it is gone, and this is a good opportunity. The prices for orc materials have stabilized recently, and with a bit of effort, we can buy them, so it might be a good time."

"Then, I'll prepare some monster battle videos. I have a few saved on my smartphone."

"Please let me check the videos later, okay?"

"Of course. I'll pick out the ones where you're the main focus."

Hizuru smiled faintly at my response.

Most of the recent videos where Hizuru is the main focus are of her performing impressive feats against orcs. I'm a bit worried about how her parents will react to the contrast between their daughter's usual self and her explorer persona...

"Seems like we have a plan?"

"Yes, thank you for your trouble."

"Then, that's it for today's practice. Good luck with the persuasion."

"Yes!"

Hizuru responded energetically to Zouzou's encouragement.

---

While changing out of our practice clothes and getting ready to leave, Zouzou suddenly clapped his hands as if remembering something.

"Oh, right. I have something to tell you."

"What is it, Zouzou? What do you need to tell us?"

"Kousuke called me around noon today. Since you were at school, he called me and asked if I could pass on a message to you."

"A message from Kousuke...?"

We had asked Kousuke to repair our weapons, including the Shiranui. The delivery date is approaching, so it's probably about that.

"The message from Kousuke is that he needs to extend the delivery period... by about a week."

That's an unexpected message. The delivery period is being extended?

"Apparently, he spent more time than expected working on the items you gave him, and couldn't meet the deadline. ...What did you give him?"

"Um..."

The extension is due to the items we gave him!

Indeed, they're not ordinary iron, so he probably isn't used to handling them. It must have taken a lot of time.

"Well, it's fine. I've passed on the message."

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

"Alright then."

After passing on Kousuke's message, Zouzou left the dojo.

We, who were left in the dojo, exchanged glances and sighed.

"We'll have to wait another week to pick them up."

"Yeah. There's nothing we can do if the items aren't ready."

"Since the delay is due to us, we can't complain."

We had planned to pick up our weapons this weekend, but without the items, we have to cancel. At the same time, we have to cancel the planned dungeon run to test the new weapons.

It's a bit disappointing since we were looking forward to it.

"Maybe we shouldn't have given him that item after all?"

"Even so, we decided it would be better to use the items dropped from the dungeon rather than mixing in inferior materials, as it might retain the level-up effect."

"Yes, that's true. We have to accept this as a necessary cost."

"Well, that's true..."

Since we can't give him the fantasy metals that haven't been standardized, the item we gave him is the best material available.

Even from just a glance at the news, it seems that only a few universities and national research institutes have the facilities to process fantasy metals. A blacksmith wouldn't have such equipment. Therefore, it wouldn't make sense to give Kousuke unprocessable fantasy metals.

"By the way, will the cost increase if the deadline is extended?"

"Ah..."

At Yuzi's question, Hizuru and I froze.

Will we be charged extra? We can manage up to 1 million yen, but we'd rather avoid unexpected expenses.

Hizuru's face turned slightly pale. She mentioned that she didn't have much cash since she usually brought back orc meat as payment, and the cost of the repairs was a temporary loan from the party funds.

"We should call to confirm if we can find the time tomorrow. Depending on the situation, we might need to go to the dungeon this weekend to earn some money..."

"Yes, that's right. Let's do that. I'll definitely persuade my father today!"

"Ah, yeah."

Yuzi seemed a bit taken aback by Hizuru and my reactions, but we didn't have the luxury to worry about that.

If necessary, we might have to consider selling some of the skill scrolls and magic items stored in our spatial storage...

While thinking about the financial plan, I shouldered my bag.

"Since we're done with the cleanup, let's go?"

"Yes!"

"Okay."

With renewed determination, Hizuru and I led the slightly hesitant Yuzi out of the dojo.

---

After leaving Yuzi's house, the three of us walked along the streetlights on the national road, heading for Hizuru's family's ramen shop.

On the way, we saw the ramen shop that was the reason Hizuru started going into the dungeon. The shop was lit and had a sign out, but it didn't seem to be very busy.

"It doesn't look like it's doing well, that shop."

"Yes. Since our shop started using dungeon ingredients, it's been like that."

"I see."

So, the customer battle was won by Hizuru's family's shop.

All thanks to Hizuru's efforts. She had been hunting orcs with a vengeance.

"Ah, there it is. That's the ramen shop my parents run."

About five minutes from the rival shop, Hizuru's family's shop came into view.

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This is the acting instruction chapter by Zouzou.