"This is a good opportunity to experience the power of a hero firsthand. I don't mind if everyone comes all together this time." That's what I told the four of them, who had rested for a while and were completely refreshed. Everyone's expressions tightened at my words.
They seem to understand that I’m not underestimating them.
Anyway, we take our positions with wooden swords in our hands. "Whenever you're ready." I said as usual, without any particular posture.
*Shoo*
In an instant, as if they had coordinated beforehand, Iona and Makishia launch an attack like an arrow shot from a bow.
As expected, they have worked together countless times and seem to have a good grasp of each other's movements.
In addition, Makishima and Makishina attack as if this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Rather than receiving or dodging those attacks, I let them flow. "!?" In an instant, the sword cage was broken, everyone looked surprised.
There was no way I would have missed that moment, so I took Makishina out of the match at the start. After that, I continued to destroy them one by one. It took me less than 30 seconds to subdue them all, but everyone had sweat on their foreheads except me.
For them, it was a battle filled with tension and thrill. "This is the power of a hero...?" Makishima muttered with a shocked expression. "It's more than I imagined...!" Makishina, who doesn't often change her expression, has a flickering look in her eyes just like her sister.
With that settled, I decided to give my general comments. "Nice attack, both of you,"
I started.
"If it was anybody but me, I'm sure it would have been decided with the first move." It wasn't a compliment or anything, the two of them worked together pretty well.
Against most opponents, they should have been able to defeat them instantly.
"I would also like to commend the judgment of Shima, Shina, and Iona, who saw the attack and immediately went on the offensive." The fact that they saw an opportunity in that split second and took immediate action is highly commendable.
"But what followed after was not good."
In a sudden turn of events, I started to criticize.
"Even if the way I defended was beyond the scope of your imagination, everyone was too stunned."
I don't think anyone expected me to be able to land a blow so easily, but I'm sure they never dreamed that their attacks would be parried. It's not hard to imagine that someone's attack would create an opening for me, even if just for a moment, and that they would think of using that as a starting point for their attack.
They were probably upset because that plan had collapsed.
When faced with an unexpected event, human thinking stops.
The only way to prevent this is to practice increasing the number of imaginable patterns as much as possible. In short, one by one, we are steadily eliminating the unimaginable factors that make them surprised.
"That's why I would like everyone to memorize as many patterns as possible how an attack can be blocked."
After I assured them of this, I asked them to experience how they were defeated: the moment their attacks were defended, how the sword became heavy, how the sword became light, how their hands became numb, how they lost feeling in their hands for a moment, and so on. As for everyone's reaction to that?
"There really are many different patterns when it comes to being blocked from attacking." Iona says this to me with sincerity.
"The most practical case would be to numb the hand, which can nullify the opponent's slash for a few seconds, no questions asked." In a real battle, that's a big advantage.
However.
"But it does require a certain amount of arm strength and is more strenuous than other defensive methods, and I worry about the wear and tear on my equipment. You can't just rely on this method all the time. It is necessary to use it according to the situation. There are many different ways to prevent it, and that's why it is so useful." Everyone listened intently to what I had to say.
"If you keep doing too many special patterns, you won't be able to practice them, I'll try to slow down my reaction speed by accepting them."
Under these conditions, we started practicing again, but none of the four of them were willing to strike me. Or rather, they did not strike me.
It's not that they don't have a chance, it's just that I'm always in close proximity to Makishina, making it difficult for them to attack me. "What's wrong? If I have an opening, you can always attack me, right?" "I would love to, but Charles is always in the perfect position, so it's hard for me to find the right moment to make a move."
That's what Makishia says.
"As Shia just said, I'm sure everyone is finding my positioning difficult, but it's also a skill of sorts." I think I've given them enough of a sense of what I'm talking about, so I'll start explaining. "This is a move I often use in many-on-one situations."
The next thing to say is important, so I'll take it step by step.
"Using the enemy as a shield is a really effective method." "For Charles, it’s a shield, but for us, it’s an obstacle that we can’t attack." "That's right. Since I'm alone, I don't have to worry about my surroundings at all." "Yeah." "If you have friends, you have to be careful not to attack each other." "You're right. I was worried about that and couldn't move carelessly."
"Just because there are more of you doesn't always give you an advantage, especially if you're not used to working together." "If we are able to communicate with each other to some extent, as Shia and I do, there is no problem, but if not, we may end up dragging each other down, is that right?" "That's right. Poor cooperation is only harmful. That's why it's important to hone your individual strengths." "What do you mean by that?" "If you are skilled, you can follow the lead of others around you."
"Charles, as an adventurer, you have experience in forming parties with people from various jobs, right?" Iona confirms that. "Yeah. Basically, I was solo. But I've formed parties with a lot of different people. I'm pretty good at finding my role." I have shared joys and sorrows with a wide variety of adventurers, from those who are strong enough to rely on, to those just starting out who need someone to look after them. That experience gave me a certain amount of confidence. "Cooperation is of course important, but I believe that individual strength comes before that. Above all, individual strength is essential to building solid collaboration."
"I understand what you're saying. But don't you think that the most important factor in gaining an advantage in a battle is numbers?"
Makishima said.
However.
"It is naive to think that we can get by with the strength of numbers. I would like to ask you what you plan to do in a battle with a dragon that cannot be wounded by ordinary attacks, or in a dungeon where the passageways are too narrow, and you cannot rely on sheer numbers." "Let us suppose, for example, that there are a hundred orcs." "Ah." "Would Charles win against that many?"
"I can beat a hundred of them in no time at all." I answered immediately.
"Heroes are really an existence that is beyond the norm..."
The Orcs are a monster that is synonymous with stubbornness and toughness.
Makishima let out a sound of shock at being dismissed so easily.
I'll end that conversation and move on to the next topic. "Next, let's talk about how to fight." "Yeah." "You all come from a family of knights, so the way you fight is very straightforward." "What do you mean?"
"As you know, Iona, I kick you around, make you fall, I have a very dirty way of fighting." "This is the first time I've heard of that. Charles's fighting style is brilliant."
"I am a hero, after all. I have to behave in a way that lives up to the name. So, I have to prove that I can win a hundred times in a fight, even if I have to fight a hundred times." "Yes, I understand that." "If not, that's a different story. I will not hesitate to use my footwork or any other technique." "May I ask why?" "Because it works. That's the only reason. The most important thing is that it's effective, especially for those who have only ever wielded a sword in the comfort of their own home."
I said this while remembering the knights who picked a fight with me.
"Of course, the same goes for positioning the enemy as a shield, that I did earlier."
I'm going to break it up there because the next point is important.
"The battle is all about how you can do what your opponent doesn't want you to do."
"Isn't that cowardly?"
"That's an extreme statement, though. For example, Shia." "What is it?" "Do you think this is cowardly, attacking from an angle that is difficult to block?"
"No, it’s only natural when risking your lives. Such things are commonplace."
"Yes. That's what I want to say. What I'm telling you to do is an extension of that."
I don't want it to be taken at face value and misinterpreted. "As a knight or a knight apprentice, everyone is obligated to behave in a fair and dignified manner." "Yes." "A knight or apprentice knight is obliged to behave in a fair and proper manner, but you must remember, even if only in a corner of your mind, that this kind of ingenuity is necessary to gain an advantage in battle. Especially if the opponent is not a human being but a monster." "Yes, I'll keep that in mind.""Now, since I've talked too long, I'll ask you to stay with me a little longer and then we'll call it a night." "What will you teach us this time?"
"We have four promising knights and knight apprentices. Since this is a good opportunity, I would like to show everyone some of the hero's secret techniques, the Brave Arts." "Are you sure?" "Of course. Training the younger generation is also an important role of mine." That's why I asked the four of them to help me and prepare a target.
"There's no point in showing limited arts, secret skills limited to bloodline that the four of you can't learn. Shall we focus on blade arts?" As a further preparation, have them draw a dot on the target. "Charles, what is that?" "It's a target. I'll aim for that." While saying that, I readied my sword. And. Unleash a technique toward the target. "Ha!" *Kaa*
My sword pierced the dot with precision.
"This is the hero's secret technique, Brave Art, 'Threaded Path.' I want Shina, who is known for her precision attacks, to learn this."
As the name suggests is like threading a needle, emphasizing precision and accuracy in attacks.
It is often used to accurately hit a weak point. I change targets and demonstrates a new technique. "Ah! *Gaga gaga gaga gaga* In an instant, countless holes appear in the target. "Charles, what was that?"
"Path of a Hundred Piercings. It’s another secret technique, as the name suggests it's a flurry of rapid, precise attacks—perfect for someone like Shima who relies on speed and agility in battle."
This one is the exact opposite of the 'Threaded path' and focuses on a flurry of random attacks.
Unlike the "Threaded path", it does not have penetrating power, but it is superior in rapid-fire performance for that reason.
Today's training ended with a show of Brave Arts, the hero's secret technique. The two of them, who now had firsthand experience of my abilities, seemed to understand why Iona and Makishia decided to study with me. After we finished practicing, we decided to have a chat at a coffee shop in town to deepen our friendship.
Chapter length 4688 characters.
Note: Chapter contains technique names which I struggle with so if anyone has better suggestions for them, please comment below.
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