Act 2-22 - 《Blade Sink》's Training

Chapter 22 : 《 Blade Sink 》 ‘s Training

After I more or less got used to and could avoid Edda’s enchanted sword with 《Moon Reflection》, we started the real training with her attacking all parts of my body.

「Then… shall I cut you for real this time?」

「Y-yes. But, please drop your swinging speed as much as possible.」

According to Fedor’s estimation, Edda’s enchanted sword was at least a B-rank enchanted weapon.

In fact, I had long since known that her physical abilities were far above her level.

That must be because the huge status enhancement from her enchanted sword.

Since she mastered 《Transcendent Blink》 which increased her speed on top of those enhanced status, the current me had no way to defeat her in a frontal fight.

I pushed out my arm, ready to receive her attack.

After I signaled to Edda with my eyes, she closed in immediately and swung her sword at my arm.

I pushed my arm as I closed in on her, letting her sword pass me with 《Moon Reflection》, and then pushing 《Demon Eater Sword; Beelzera》 sword’s blade to her shoulder.

「Hou, it seems you’ve mastered it quite a bit.」

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Edda let out a grin.

Edda rarely showed a nice smile like this, it was usually a grumpy smile.

I also couldn’t help but smile back at her.

「Thanks a lot, Edda. My apologies for making you spend your precious training time for m-」

「Then go back to your original stance. We’re done with confirming the best possible move, I’ll increase my swinging speed from now on.」

「O-O~h….」

Our practice continued on for a while after that.

… My arm got beaten numerous times by the blunt side of Edda’s sword since I couldn’t catch up with her speed, and even after I managed to close in, she sent in a body blow with the pommel of her sword. She even told me something along the lines of 「Maybe you still can’t use it in real combat」.

I-I was still in the rehabilitation period though…

To be honest, I thought that my wrist was about to be sprained after receiving Edda’s sword strike.

「Your movement is too stiff and too easy to read when you’re aiming for a decisive blow but, well I guess that’s it.」

Though I sat on the ground, gasping for breath, Edda was still standing with a composed face.

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「Y-Yes… master Edda.」

「Stop calling me “Master”, it’s creepy.」

Despite what she said, it was clear that her cheeks loosened a bit when I called her “master”.

… You’re happy to be called in that way huh.

I looked away immediately when she glared at me, realizing the fact that I’m looking at her with a foolish smile.

『D-Dean… roast craw(pork charsiu)…』

Beelzebub sent a whisper to me.

I understand her sentiment. Yes, I really did but, please let me take a break a bit before I go to the market.

「Your basics are a mess. You have to circulate your fighting spirit in your body when you’re taking a break during the training or battle. Take a deep breath, and focus your consciousness toward the battle bone below your abdomen, don’t think about anything aside from that. Just feel the flow of fighting spirit in your body. And lastly, adjust your breathing.」

「I-I understand…」

I tried Edda’s advice immediately, taking a deep breath, focusing my consciousness to my battle bone, and feeling the flow of fighting spirit in my body.

I felt that my body suddenly became lighter even though my body felt as heavy as lead until just a while ago.

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I straightened my back, rose on my feet while adjusting my disordered breath.

「Ooh… there’s such a breathing method huh.」

「I thought it was something that anyone could learn naturally. Well, it’s something close to regaining peace of mind. You mustn’t blindly accept it as it is and forget about training to master it.」

「Urgh…」

… Come to think of it, I remember focusing myself to regulate my fighting spirit in my body in this way when we were cornered in the battle against a powerful foe such as Fedor.

Compared to the Narc tribe, I, who lives by following the example of adventurer’s combat style, am exposed to less danger from foreign enemies.

That might be the reason why I couldn’t master this breathing technique as she said.

『Dean, Dean! market! Let’s go to the market! Nahk’s belly meat is waiting for us over there!』

I brushed gently on the handle of 《Demon Eater Sword; Beelzera》.

… Okay okay, I understood your feeling you know.

「Thank you very much for today’s training, Edda! I’m learning many new things from you. Well, see you again tomorrow in the guild.」

When I turned around and waved a good brye to her, she suddenly stabbed her sheathed enchanted sword right just a paper thin space away from my ear.

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That sudden action stopped me on my track.

「I-Is something the matter, Edda?」

「Your training has yet to end until I say so. Your only successful attempt is only when your opponent is aiming for your arm. You need further training under the assumption of various situations.」

I looked at the sky. The sun was about to set.

「I-I know that I’m the one who made that request but, it’s almo-」

「What are you talking about? Suppose that you really parry the blade with 《Transcendent Toughness》, it’s just a small part of that skill’s power. You’ve to know how to move in the case that skill got neutralized. The lesson just now was the easiest part of my lectures. Once you learn how to move in any situation, you need to etch those movement in your very bone with mock combat.」

Edda’s expression clouded upon seeing my reaction.

『D-Dean, you won’t break your promise with me right? right?』

Beelzebub reminded me again.

「S-Shall we save that for the next lesson?」

「Are you forgetting the fact that we’re going to dive into a dungeon tomorrow? I heard that you killed a lunatic man just the other day but… aren’t you just fine right now?」

Edda became really talkative for some reason.

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Oh crap, she was pouting.

「W-Well, only as long as you’re fine with it, not that it matters to me. I mean, you might have important business after this.」

「M… May I ask to end today training after 《Transcendent Toughness》’s training?」

I ended up giving in to Edda.

「Well, it can’t be helped then. I never expected that I’ll would be stuck training with you for so long but, I guess it’s better than having you drag me down later on.」

Edda replied so with a satisfied look on her face.

… The words you say just now were completely different from when we started this training you know?

Under such a hypothesis, my training starting in basic form to mock combat should’ve ended up before this late.

This girl might be actually a really strict teacher in spite of her poor communication skill, and enjoying teaching on top of that.

「…DEAN?」

「My bad, Beelzebub… I’ve to do my best to become even stronger.」

As a result… I went straight back to the slum without heading to the market after the end of Edda’s spartan training.

I thought that I might be able to somehow master it but, it seems to be more complicated than I thought.

Honestly, that was what I felt.

It seems Fedor made the full use of the difference between our level to misdirect the slash from Edda’s sword with his bare hand and fingers but… it doesn’t mean that such a feat could be accomplished without any training at all.

『Look at what happen! I’m right about this right! BakaDean!』

「Sorry… no, my deepest apologize about this.」

I dragged my heavy body while apologizing repeatedly to Beelzebub.

「It seems I’ve to apologies to Mani too.」

I normally cook for Mani too.

I mean, I told her before I went out today that I’ll cook dinner.

Though it didn’t mean that I’ve no ingredients in the house… to be honest, I could barely lift my arms that had become so sore after repeated failed attempts of using 《Blade Sink》.