Chapter 5

This is the second story of the day. I might post another one tonight, so please be on the lookout.

Thanks to everyone's support, we managed to push the story to 11th place in the daily rankings, so I'm posting this hastily.

Thank you all so much! "Ohhhhh!"

"Zaaaaaah!"

The shouts of the men wielding wooden swords resounded through the Clovis school's dojo.

The dojo of the Clovis school is so large that both the inside and outside of the wooden building function as training grounds, and this alone shows that it is treated specially by the lord.

Seated at the back is a formidable man. Despite being over sixty, he is muscular and serves as the teacher to the men who sweat in the dojo.

A man who slashed and continued to slash, eventually even cutting down a dragon, which should have been the apex creature.

That man is the "Swordsman" Clovis.

It seems that Clovis has been busy these past few days, leaving the dojo to his senior disciples while he visited the lord's mansion. Rumors say he caught or cut down criminals, and he is praised as being truly Clovis.

(He's really something. Even though he says he's inferior to his master and fellow disciples, it's definitely just modesty.)

One of the disciples, who is quite skilled for his age, trembles at the formidable "aura" Clovis emits just by sitting there.

Clovis often humbly claims to be inferior to his master and fellow disciples, but since no one knows his master, most people think it's just modesty.

However, this is the truth.

Clovis has not reached the level of his fellow disciples or his master, and he is inferior to a few of his junior disciples.

However, in the world, he is the most successful among them.

"Focus!"

"Y-Yes!"

Clovis scolds the young man who let his mind wander during training.

Even while overseeing the training of many disciples and dozens of people training intensely, Clovis can spot those whose concentration is disrupted, showing his excellent teaching and observational skills, and he ensures that the techniques are properly passed down.

Considering that some of his fellow disciples, who have established their own schools after breaking away from their masters, are struggling to pass down their techniques to their successors, Clovis's abilities are truly rare.

Many people thought that the master who raised such a great man as Clovis must be a remarkable person...

But you probably already know. The master is the vagrant and sword saint Sasaki, and these past few days, Clovis has been busy with matters related to Sasaki, such as dealing with the aftermath of those who were defeated by Sasaki while seeking enhancement potions, and the new junior disciple, Karl.

◆

At night, in the Clovis dojo.

(Th-This is serious... This is serious...)

The great man, Clovis, who is no longer young, mutters to himself in a tone that sounds like a young man.

"I'm sorry for intruding so suddenly."

"N-No, not at all! Please, make yourself at home!"

The reason Clovis, who never felt nervous even when teaching swordsmanship at the royal castle, is so stiff is because of the old man and the old woman who are bowing apologetically.

(Master's friends must be quite limited!)

Clovis, who knows that Sasaki, who looks like a vagrant, is part of a hero party, immediately thought of a certain title when Sasaki introduced them as friends.

"You're quite different from me, huh?"

"Think about it objectively. Do you think it's necessary to be polite to a drunk lying in an alley with a bottle of alcohol?"

"That's because he understands the principles of alcohol and deserves respect."

"He's just a drunk."

(Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah. He's calling Master a drunk. It's true, but...)

When Sasaki teases the nervous disciple Clovis, Fairdo immediately interjects. Clovis, who is trembling, is also thinking that he is being quite bold.

"Still, Eastern clothes. It's been a long time since I've seen them."

"Right, it's been a long time for me too."

Fairdo, stopping his banter, narrows his eyes and reminisces about Sasaki's Eastern clothes.

Sasaki's Eastern clothes, which are somewhat unique, consist of a raincoat, gauntlets, loincloth, leg guards, tabi socks, and straw sandals.

While they are rare in this area, the exchange with the Eastern countries has become more active in recent years compared to when Sasaki and his friends were young, so these once exotic clothes are now seen as foreign attire.

All of these items, which Clovis had been keeping for Sasaki, are specially made and boast the highest level of physical and magical defense. Combined with the demon sword at his waist, they are worth as much as a castle.

"Since you're here, how about a match for old times' sake?"

(L-L-Look! E-Eh!? Only I can watch!? If the senior disciples find out, they'll seriously attack me demanding to know why I'm not teaching them!)

When Sasaki grins and shakes the sword at his waist while looking at Fairdo, Clovis instinctively covers his mouth to suppress a childlike scream.

A match between the legendary sword saint and, if Clovis's guess is correct, another legendary figure would be a major event that could cause strong people from all over the world to fight over the viewing seats.

However, there is one problem.

"The whole area will be blown away."

"Yeah, that's true."

"Ah, that's..."

At Fairdo's exasperated words, Clovis, who doesn't want his dojo to be blown away, suddenly becomes calm. Knowing Sasaki's abnormal sword range, Clovis understands that this is a real possibility.

"Alright. Thanks, Clovis. I'll spend the night at the inn where they're staying, and I'll see you in a few years. Take care of Karl."

"Yes, Master."

Sasaki, who has put on all the items he had left with Clovis, entrusts Karl, whom he has been mentoring for the past few years, to Clovis. Sasaki would have liked to mentor Karl until the end, but considering the time left, it would only be half-hearted, so he has no choice but to entrust him to a disciple he trusts.

"I hope you have good weather on your journey."

"I know, I know."

Clovis, instead of wishing for a safe journey, wishes for good weather, and Sasaki grins.

It's a journey with the former hero, holy maiden, and sword saint.

Far from peaceful...

And there is no one who can harm the safety of the journey.

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