Chapter 1

As he gazed out the wooden window, a beast's distant howl came from deep within the nearby forest.

The rough, prolonged howl abruptly cut off, turning into a short, pained cry.

Even when he strained his eyes towards the depths of the forest, the trees obstructed his view, making it impossible to discern what had happened. Most likely, a scene of the strong preying on the weak had just unfolded.

This village, located at the very edge of the territory of the Viscount Roz, on the outskirts of the kingdom, was in close proximity to a dangerous area teeming with wild animals and evil beasts.

Thanks to the villagers' long-term efforts, the area around the village had become somewhat safer, but still, one or two villagers who went to gather wild vegetables would not return every five years.

"---Rio, it's time to get ready."

Called by his mother, Rio moved away from the wooden window.

As his mother handed him a burlap bag filled with vegetables from the field, she peered at him with a worried look.

"Don't be rude, okay?"

"I won't. I'm the one learning, after all."

"Well, that's good, but Rio is stubborn... Give these vegetables to Master Rakudo. It's a token of gratitude for teaching you the sword. Have a good trip."

"Thank you, I'll be back."

With the burlap bag in one hand, Rio left the house.

Since the dangerous forest was right next to the village, boys who turned fifteen were required to learn swordsmanship at the dojo.

Though it wasn't mandatory, without the ability to fight, it was difficult to enter the forest, which would affect their daily lives.

The dojo was located on the north side of the village, directly opposite the mayor's house.

Built to uphold the village's prestige by hiring the swordsmanship instructor Rakudo, who had come from the royal direct territory, the dojo was even more magnificent than the mayor's house. It was so impressive that when important people from other places visited, they were typically guided to the dojo.

As he stepped through the sliding door, he found that most of the village boys had already gathered.

Rakudo, the instructor, turned his head at the sound of the door. He was a giant with red hair and a scruffy beard.

"Rio, you're the last one. It's impressive that everyone made it on time."

"Rakudo, where should I put these vegetables?"

"Put them over there with the others. More importantly, we're starting the training right away."

Saying this, Rakudo scanned the twenty or so boys, including Rio, and pointed outside.

"First, we'll do a warm-up run. Twenty laps around the dojo. For the newbies like you, seventeen laps will do. The first five to finish will receive direct instruction from me. The rest will practice forms. Get moving!"

With a clap to urge them on, the twenty boys ran out of the dojo.

Rio, after placing the vegetables, followed the others a bit late.

Given that the dojo was the largest building in the village, after a few laps, some boys started to fall behind.

Among them, Rio maintained his pace without being overtaken by the leading group.

The newbies like Rio were given three extra laps. He also felt a sense of not wanting to lose.

When he completed thirteen laps, Rio noticed something odd.

"Are there fewer people?"

Although he hadn't been overtaken and had only completed ten laps, the number of people running had decreased. He thought they might just be out of his sight, but he could hear faint voices from inside the dojo.

Feeling curious, Rio, after completing the seventeen laps as instructed, wiped the sweat from his arm and entered the dojo.

"I'm done."

He caught his breath and looked around the dojo.

Three older boys, who were Rio's seniors, were already receiving instruction from Rakudo. They were being taught in detail, from the way to swing their arms to the positioning of their legs and the bending of their joints.

Rakudo, noticing Rio's voice, looked at him.

"You're the first among the newbies. How about it, were the seniors faster?"

In response to Rakudo's cheerful smile, Rio frowned, looking at the three seniors.

It was impossible for the seniors to have finished the running before Rio, who hadn't been overtaken by anyone.

"Those three are faking the number of laps. I don't know if they were fast, but since I wasn't overtaken by anyone, I think they weren't faster than me."

Despite the seniors' glares, Rio pointed this out without flinching.

Rakudo narrowed his eyes and turned to look at the three over his shoulder.

"Yudo, come to think of it, you guys were always fast."

The boy called Yudo shrugged and forced a smile.

"Well, I have confidence in my legs. Or maybe Rio just miscounted?"

Unashamed, Yudo told a lie, and the two lackeys beside him nodded repeatedly.

Rakudo folded his arms and looked at Rio.

"Alright, I don't know the truth. Rio, take this wooden sword and spar with Yudo."

Taking the wooden sword thrown to him, Rio tilted his head in confusion. What could be learned from a sparring match with a wooden sword?

Despite his confusion, Rio gripped the handle and swung it lightly. It was a bit heavy but not unmanageable.

Yudo, glaring at Rio, held his wooden sword in a ready stance. As a senior, he looked the part.

Rakudo stood between Rio and Yudo.

"Don't aim for the head. Begin!"

At Rakudo's signal, Yudo lowered the tip of his wooden sword and, stepping forward with his right foot, struck Rio's sword from the side.

A sharp, light sound echoed through the dojo, and Rio's arm holding the wooden sword was pushed to the side by the impact.

Unaccustomed to the weight of the wooden sword, Rio took a step back. Just as Yudo was about to thrust his sword horizontally, Rakudo called out.

"---That's enough!"

A very short sparring match. It was just a case of the inexperienced Rio being handled by the experienced Yudo.

Rio looked at Rakudo, not understanding the point of this.

Rakudo nodded in satisfaction, patted Yudo on the shoulder, and then turned to Rio.

"Listen, Rio. There's a big difference between someone who just does what they're told and someone who judges and acts on what needs to be done."

"---So, you're saying that Yudo and the others were right to skip the running to receive your direct instruction?"

"I don't know if they skipped it. But, in the end, Yudo and the others have already learned the basic forms and are now doing advanced training. The series of movements Yudo just showed, where he deflected the opponent's sword and then thrust—"

"---Stupid."

Rio muttered this briefly but clearly.

Rakudo and the others were taken aback.

Rio looked at Rakudo and the others with the same disinterest as he would a boring object and leaned the wooden sword against the wall.

"Your teaching style doesn't suit me, so I won't come from tomorrow. Goodbye."

With a disinterested voice, Rio declared his departure and walked out of the dojo.

As the other students who had finished their running entered the dojo, they exchanged glances between Rio and Rakudo.