Ken yo, kaku katariki – 67
#10 – Family Meeting
“…Let’s go! Argh!”
At the same time, the girl shouted.
My eyes widened as the magic energy activated around me.
From every direction, the presence of cannons made of magic energy.
Their numbers…exceeded one hundred.
And all of them fired towards me.
“Isn’t this excessive!?”
“Don’t complain while dodging them with ease! Raaghh!”
While the sounds and flashes filled the air, I dodged, cut down, and cursed.
“More-more-more-more!”
“Are you trying to kill me!?”
“Die! You bastard!”
She was trying to kill me!!
“Recently! Sylty only talks about you!!”
“Is that the reason!?”
I shuddered at the malice, but focused every nerve in my body towards detecting the attacks. If I got distracted, I would be hit.
—As for what I was doing.
Well, no explanation was needed. Training.
Detect the presence of hidden magic arts.
This was the thing that I needed to work on the most now.
The training with the candles. I got the hang of it in one day.
And so the answer was in me already.
I could not detect techniques from far away, but could if they were close.
The reason for this was…
Ki.
When the magic energy touched the ki that enveloped me, I could detect the activation.
—Cutting Form, A Thousand Nights.
The backbone of this technique was the creation of a ki net that spread out.
Which allowed me to detect vague movements of magic energy.
“There…!”
I swirled around and cut down the magic cannon attack.
And then stepped back, dodging the one that appeared above my head.
“You’re a tough one, damn it!!”
“Stop trying to kill me, you idiot!!”
They were starting to curve or have homing capabilities!?
I saw that Ms. Aize was in the corner and watching while clapping her hands and saying, ‘Woah!’
Uh, why don’t you go and stop her instead of watching!?
“I thought I was going to die.”
I said, which prompted a puzzled ‘Really?’ from Ms. Aize.
The training had lasted for nearly an hour. Ms. Stelia clicked her tongue in annoyance and ended it.
And so Ms. Aize and I were currently making our way back home.
Night had already fallen, and the gentle street lights illuminated the residential district.
“You seemed to be doing it with ease.”
“…No, well… She was still holding back a little.”
I had a feeling that she had yet to show her full capabilities.
In this world, there were people who were stronger than you could imagine. And she must be one of those people. Even though we were in different categories.
“Ms. Aize, you’ve also improved a lot.”
As long as she was not too far away, she was good enough to use the techniques during actual combat.
But Ms. Aize shook her head.
“Not at all. I am nowhere near Ms. Stelia yet.”
“I don’t think that’s a fair comparison.”
That person was a monster.
So that was what happened if you peaked in the path of magic arts. It was a little horrifying.
“Teacher, are you not going to learn the techniques?”
“Hmm. Maybe later.”
To be honest, I felt that if I continued, I would be able to see them.
And then I would likely be able to copy them as well.
…But perhaps that would be a bad idea?
“…I think you’re just as much of a monster.”
Haha. I chuckled. At this point, I was used to hearing such comments.
I was starting to understand where I stood when it came to strength. On the other hand, I also thought that there were others in this world who had strength that surpassed my imagination. …Like the old man.
(Where was he now? And what was he doing?)
The old man had told me to go and find him. But I had yet to even catch his shadow. Well, it wasn’t like I was actually making an effort..
The truth was, I felt that I wasn’t ready.
I may have developed my own techniques, but that was not enough to reach him.
(The way of a warrior is not finished in a day. It is not even finished in a lifetime…)
I turned to Ms. Aize.
When I first started as an instructor, I had doubts about teaching others, and sacrificing my own training me… But I now saw that teaching others was also like teaching myself.
The way of the warrior. The ‘way’ was not just about training. It was life itself.
Living as a person and cultivating. It was probably something that was necessary for your sword.
As I thought of such things and walked the night street. Suddenly…
I heard Ms. Aize muttering.
“…Father…?”
Huh? I looked up ahead.
There was a man with brown skin who stood beneath a lamp post.
“Father. Why…”
“Aize. I’m sorry.”
He said as he bowed his head.
“…What do you mean?”
She was confused by the sudden apology.
I was the same. From what I had heard of her parents, they did not seem like the type to apologize.
(Was this what Mr. Iria was talking about…)
Something was happening. But to come here directly…
“We ignored your feelings and arranged the engagement. Because we thought that you would have a comfortable life if you married a nobleman.”
“…Why are you saying this now?”
For Ms. Aize, it was a bit late for regrets.
After all, it had been so devastating that she had decided to cut off her family.
“I will win the tournament and become a noble. And then I will have nothing to do with you.”
Her voice was calm, but somehow different from usual.
There was passion which hinted at the anger within.
“Don’t say such things. We are family…!”
“…”
I looked at Ms. Aize, who was silent.
She seemed more sad than angry now.
“Please! Fenia is with us! We can all talk as a family!”
Ms. Aize turned to me.
As if wanting an answer. However…
“…”
I could not say anything.
This was her family, and so she should decide herself. What road to choose, and how to live.
Besides… I did not know.
What even was a family?
How should you deal with them?
Ms. Aize looked down for a moment and then raised her head.
“Fine.”
“Oh, you will…! We’re staying at a nearby hotel! Let’s go!”
He said happily, and taking Ms. Aize, he turned away.
Suddenly, she looked over her shoulder.
Our eyes met. I nodded.
It was my way of showing her that she could rely on me if it came to it.
She nodded back and followed the man.
After they were gone, a thought occurred to me.
(That guy. He didn’t look at me once.)
As if he couldn’t even see me.
After thinking for a moment, I took out my phone.
—The next day. Ms. Aize did not come to training.
https://www.patreon.com/tigertransations
Thanks for the chapter, I though as much.