Sign In

Chapter 5: Liam is Thirty Years Old

In my previous life, thirty years old was considered old.

But in this world, it's about the age of an elementary school student.

My body has grown larger than before, and I eat and sleep well.

Isn't my body larger than it was during my childhood in my previous life?

That aside, the problem is --.

"-- Still not enough?"

I held the sword in my left hand, still in its scabbard, and looked at the surrounding logs.

I managed to cut two out of the three logs placed before me.

However, the cut surfaces were all rough.

They were completely different from the clean cut surfaces my master showed me, as if they were cut from the beginning.

Compared to my master's clean cuts, the rough surfaces I made were embarrassing.

My master was looking at me with a serious expression.

Is he disappointed?

I bowed my head.

"I am sorry, Master. I still cannot reach your swordsmanship."

My master shook his head.

"The path of the sword is long and arduous. There is no end goal. Still, to have achieved this much in just twenty years is remarkable."

For the past twenty years, I've been thinking about how to do what my master does.

I didn't think repeating the basics would be enough, so I recalled my master's words.

It was magic.

"Yes! I used magic. I coated the blade thinly, and I found that by cutting with it, the reach extends. Is that correct?"

I believe this is correct, but it's very different from my master's ultimate techniques.

I thought I might be wrong, but my master started clapping.

"To have realized that much is very close to the correct answer. However, it's only half the story."

"Half the story?"

"Yes, that's right. If you are going to use magic, you must also learn magic."

"I am learning it, though?"

I am also a noble -- a Count, in fact -- so I am learning about magic.

However, in this era, individual magic is not considered very important.

In the face of a space battleship's beam, magic is powerless.

To put it bluntly, martial arts are the same.

In the extreme, individual strength is not necessary for my position.

But I am learning it because it might be useful in a pinch.

"Ah, that's just learning magic. It's not enough, is it?"

"I see!"

So, I need to learn it more seriously.

"I will increase my magic lessons immediately."

My master nodded.

"That would be for the best. Also, I will seal your advanced techniques for a while. Learn magic and -- let's see, ten years should be enough. Until then, I will prohibit anything other than basic practice."

I've come this far, and now this!

I thought that, but even I couldn't resist my master.

If I were to fight him, I would be cut in half in an instant.

"U-Understood."

"Good. On that note, is everything alright in your territory? Neglecting your duties as a lord for martial arts alone would be disqualifying."

What a kind person he is.

He's worried about me.

"It's fine. I'm proceeding with reforms in the territory, and we're finally seeing results."

Reorganization of the military.

Reform of the governing structure.

I've decided on the policy for territorial development, and new development plans have begun.

This world, having already achieved space exploration, has terrifyingly high development capabilities.

Would it be understandable if I said that skyscrapers are built in a few days?

Working machines and humanoid robots, piloted by people, are developing at an incredible speed.

"That's good. Then, let's confirm the basics again today."

"Yes!"

"However, doing it normally would be meaningless. From now on, let's try blindfolded and with weights."

"Blindfolded and with weights?"

My master attached weights to my sword and told me to wear a blindfold.

"Swing it until the heavy sword feels like swinging a branch. The blindfold is a lesson that you shouldn't rely solely on your eyes."

"Understood!"

This training is like something out of a manga.

But since my master says so, it must be correct.

-- More importantly, this world doesn't have much leisure, so entertainment hasn't developed much.

Should I invest in that as well?

Anshi watched Liam swinging the sword with weights while blindfolded.

(What is this guy! What is this guy!?)

Cold sweat had been pouring down his face since a moment ago.

Anshi never expected that Liam would reproduce the street performance he showed as a swordsmanship technique.

He had noticed Liam's movements becoming better than his own recently.

Anshi felt a sense of urgency towards Liam, who had independently reproduced that street performance as an ultimate technique, despite only being taught the basics.

(If they find out I was lying -- no. I'll be minced into pieces in an instant!)

Anshi was just saying plausible things with a plausible atmosphere.

Liam was already several levels above him as a swordsman, and he was confident he would lose in a normal fight.

(I have to stall for time and save money. I can't stay here anymore.)

He had already spent his reward because he could live just by lazing around.

He had gone to the city and indulged in repeated lavish spending, saying he was going to check on his disciples in various places.

He didn't have the money to escape.

(I-I'll save money from now on and prepare to escape. Yes. That's what I'll do!)

Anshi wiped away his cold sweat while watching Liam, who couldn't move as he pleased due to the blindfold.

(Still, to be able to do this with only the basics taught -- is this guy a genius?)

Anshi is not a teacher.

He didn't know if Liam had talent.

(I-I don't know. For now, it's just about buying time. Maybe I should find some plausible training methods from videos. Otherwise -- if they find out, I'll be killed!)

Anshi decided to endure for a while to earn the funds for his escape and living expenses.

Does blindfolding even have a purpose?

That's what I initially thought.

But look --.

"I understand what Master meant. I felt the sense of using my five senses other than sight. That means not relying on my eyes alone!"

I turned my face towards my master while blindfolded.

My master walked away, trying to escape my line of sight, and I heard surprised footsteps as I turned my head.

I surprised my master.

Isn't this also growth for me?

"U-Um, you have learned this well in such a short period. No, truly. How can you master it in just a few years?"

My growth seems to have been unexpected.

I can tell he's tilting his head even without seeing it.

I swung the sword with increased weight, twirling it with my fingertips.

"Look. I can swing it this easily now."

"R-Right -- no, you must not become complacent!"

"Eh?"

My master said something stern to me.

"Indeed, you have sharpened your senses other than sight. But that is all. You have not gained magical or supernatural senses."

Hearing "magical" and "supernatural," I was surprised that there was still more to come.

"There were still ways to not rely on my eyes!"

"O-Of course! Also, that sword must be too light for you now. I will prepare a special sword."

Hearing about a special sword made me happy.

"I'm looking forward to it!"

"Th-That's good."

What could it mean?

I feel like my master is trembling.

Is it just my imagination?

(Don't mess with me, hey!)

Anshi was terrified of Liam, who was turning his face towards him while blindfolded.

He was swinging the sword with increased weights with his fingertips.

Couldn't he live his life blindfolded now?

Even if I run, his face follows.

(What do I do? What do I do!? I never thought he'd master it this quickly!)

I thought I could buy time by giving him unreasonable tasks, but I never imagined he'd master it in a few years.

(Is this guy a genius? If so, tell me sooner!)

In the first place, he's disqualified as a teacher. Anshi is a con artist.

It's impossible for him to gauge Liam's talent.

(I'll have them make a super heavy sword and give it to him. Also, should it be longer? If it's longer, it'll be difficult to swing, right?)

I just said things like sixth sense, supernatural, and magical.

Anshi devised another plan, thinking he could buy some time.

(That's it! I'll use that!)

Anshi went to the warehouse prepared in the mansion.

Art objects and items that were difficult to handle, salvaged from the dismantled mansion, were stored there.

He had tried selling antique items stolen from here, but most of them turned out to be fakes.

Among them was a very old humanoid weapon -- a Mobile Knight.

This very large humanoid weapon was not the current mainstream 14-meter class, but a 24-meter class.

It was very old, a model several generations out of date, made hundreds of years ago.

It seemed to be what Liam's great-grandfather used.

Anshi brought Amagi to the warehouse and pointed at the Mobile Knight.

"Make this old unit usable. It will be Liam-dono's training unit."

Amagi looked at Anshi with a doubtful gaze.

"This is a very old unit. Wouldn't it be better to prepare a current model?"

"That won't do!"

Anshi was concerned that the latest Mobile Knights were easy to operate.

As generations passed, operation became much easier.

The performance also improved significantly, and someone like Liam, who had time, could learn to operate it in a few years.

That wouldn't buy him time.

"This is also for Liam-dono's sake. Please repair it so it can be used."

"However, parts no longer exist. Repairing it will take time. The mainstream models are 14-meter and 18-meter class, so there are limited factories that can handle units of this size --"

Amagi's polite response to Anshi is because Liam recognizes him as a master.

Otherwise, his response would be much more casual.

(I don't care about your circumstances! That's right, I'll make them spend money on this too. That way, they won't have the resources to chase me. I'm so smart!)

Anshi recalled that the basic frame of old Mobile Knights.

The humanoid frame was very sturdy.

"Old units are built sturdily. If new parts are attached, it will be more durable than current Mobile Knights."

"No, it's not that simple --"

Anshi decided to push through with his demands to Amagi, who was denying him.

"In any case! Rebuild it properly. It will be better for Liam-dono. Yes, the operation method should be manual. The recent automatic assists are not good."

After making various requests, Amagi reluctantly agreed.

Due to Liam's orders, they are supposed to comply with Anshi's instructions as much as possible.

"I will arrange it immediately."

"Please do. No matter how much it costs. It's for Liam-dono's sake!"

Anshi made various demands to further tighten the finances, which were already in debt.

After Anshi left, Amagi looked up at the Mobile Knight -- unit name [Avid].

Many parts of the basic frame were exposed, and some parts, like the armor frame, were rusted.

Looking up at the battered Avid, Amagi pondered.

(Is that man truly a master? Liam-sama has become stronger, but I don't think that man is that amazing.)

Judging by his usual lifestyle, Anshi didn't seem like a master.

However, results were being produced.

And --.

(No matter how much I investigate, I can't find anything suspicious. Rather, it's unnaturally --)

It was difficult to dismiss Anshi because he was producing results.

Moreover, no matter how much his background was investigated, there was nothing suspicious.

Amagi didn't know what was going on.

"-- If it's an order, I will just execute it. However, this is troublesome."

Currently, large 24-meter class Mobile Knights were not used much.

Therefore, not every factory could maintain them.

It was necessary to take it to a large factory that was technically excellent and could also create parts.

It's like taking a classic sports car to a small local repair shop. There are no parts, and they don't know how to maintain it.

"The manufacturer is -- one of the Empire's factories?"

One of the weapon factories managed by the Empire was the manufacturer of Avid.

It still existed, and it was the only place that could be entrusted with maintenance.

Amagi checked the requests Anshi had made.

"There are quite a lot of requests. I wonder if the budget can be secured -- anyway, I'll try contacting them."

He decided to call a mechanic to check Avid's condition before contacting them.

As he was thinking about the arrangements and stepping out of the warehouse, Liam was walking around blindfolded.

He looked very happy.

"That footsteps are Amagi's."

"That is correct, Master."

He walked as if he could see his surroundings, even though he was blindfolded.

"Master, it's dangerous to walk around in that state."

"No problem. This is also training. More importantly, I heard you were preparing my Mobile Knight?"

Amagi spoke about the Mobile Knight Anshi had requested.

"He said he would repair an old Mobile Knight and make it usable. It would be more financially helpful if he prepared a 14-meter class unit, though."

Liam put his hand on his chin and tilted his head.

"I'm sure Master has his reasons. Please do your best. I'll just walk around the mansion like this."

Amagi watched Liam leave, still blindfolded.

He was worried that Liam might fall.

Join our Discord Community
Connect with like-minded individuals, participate in discussions, and stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates. You can also request translations for other novels.