048. Bout
The next morning. After eating the breakfast Nora had prepared for us, we decided to have a light hand-to-hand combat at her suggestion.
We were both dressed in comfortable clothing and had only 1.5-meter-long oak sticks in our hands as weapons.
「Surprisingly,......, I mean, does Nora have a martial arts background, too?」
「It's not that big of a deal. My father always believed that "if you are going to make equipment, you have to know their characteristics to some extent". I think I can use it to the extent that I like it.」
「I see. One more thing. If we are going to have hand-to-hand combat, I think it would be easier to understand with bare hands――why the stick, though?」
「......It may sound like I'm replying to a question with a question, but do you know what was the first weapon that the human race has had in their hands since they first appeared in this world?」
I was at a loss for words when I was asked this question.
「It varies from person to person, but―My father answered, "A stone and a piece of the stick". I agree with him, and if the human race is really a "creature evolved from monkeys," it makes a certain amount of sense, and since I make your equipment in the first place, a stick is easier to grasp than bare hands, right?」
「Indeed it is.」
After I was convinced, I faced Nora in the backyard and we bowed to each other, then we had a mock match. The result.
「I-I can't believe it! You ...... No matter how much I look at you, you're too weak!」
After 30 minutes.
I was beaten so thoroughly that all I could do was sit on the ground, sweating profusely and breathing heavily.
Nora, on the other hand, was only sweating lightly.
「Let me ask you something just in case. Did you go easy on me just because I'm a woman?」
I wasn't sure how I should answer that question.
「......My bad. That's what I thought for the first minute. But...」
After that, I was serious about going for it.
In fact, I used [Physical Enhancement], and from about halfway through, I went at her with the intention of killing her, but the difference in our ability was too great and I couldn't do anything about it.
「Before I say anything about the weapons, there is too much waste in your movements. But on the other hand, you are strangely intuitive at the right moment, you use tactics and stuff. You hardly fell for my lures and traps. You were like an intelligent beast」
「......W-well, thank you....」
I replied, but Nora still allowed me to use swords, spears, boomerangs, and folia [Energy Bolts] in my hand-to-hand combat.
「...... Damn!」
It was a complete defeat.
Almost nothing worked.
I was being played from beginning to end - that was the only impression I got.
（I――Was I this weak!?)
The shock was so strong that my head was all messed up.
Never before had I experienced a frustrating setback ― not even with regard to folia, and I had been doing reasonably well at exterminating demonic beasts.
Is that why?
Unknowingly, I was getting carried away ― I had worked so hard and accumulated so many results ...... Perhaps such thoughts were in my mind.
「I'm " amazed" in so many ways. How did you get to the E class with that kind of performance―On the other hand, your basic abilities are not bad. You have a lot of force for a man, and you have good intuition. How should I put it? I get the impression that you're very mismatched.」
「 .......I guess」
I've been training almost exclusively on my own.
I have never had a mentor, and I have never felt any inconvenience in actual combat. But
「Come to think of it. I don't think I've had many experiences fighting against other people.」
I've been dealing only with demonic beasts, so in a sense, it's only natural, but...
「Oh, I see. There are indeed many differences between "against humans" and "against demonic beasts".」
Nora muttered as if she was satisfied, but after saying, "Wait a minute," she went back into the store and came back a few minutes later with something.
「Can we have another bout just to make sure? And the catch is ...... here」
I received what was thrown at me and was surprised to see it.
「Is this ...... a shinai (bamboo sword) ?」
Although the details are different, it is unmistakably a sword made of bamboo.
「It's safer than a stick, and if you've been fighting with a sword as your main weapon, I might be able to learn more about your habits.」
I nodded silently and bout with Nora again. And then...
「G-goddamn it ......!」
I was defeated again.
As expected, I don't think I'm going to be able to get back on my feet for a bit――I had the illusion that everything I've accumulated so far was crumbling away, but
「It wasn't that bad to be that depressed, you know? There was still a lot of unnecessary movement, and from someone who has mastered the technique to a certain extent, it looked like there were a lot of gaps ...... but now I kind of get it. You are, for better or worse, "too free".」
「Too free?」
「Yes. At best, you're thinking "out of the box". At worst, I'd say "nonsense", I suppose? If we're going to go a little further――maybe it's better to say 'common sense doesn't apply' as well.」
「............」
I looked at Nora's face with seriousness.
「Maybe it's because you're from another world, but you don't have what we consider to be "natural" or "common sense". That can have both positive and negative effects, but you have been in such a state for so long that you are forming a type of "Yuuto" that is unprecedented.」
When she told me this, I thought I heard something click in my mind.
「If you were in a brand-new state of mind, with no real knowledge of anything, it might have been a little different. ...... But rather than correcting yourself badly, maybe it would be better for you to let you do whatever you want. So, here is the weapon I chose for you.」
What she handed me was a long-handled weapon more than two meters long.
It is not a spear. It is not a stick. It is neither a naginata nor an axe.
「Is this a ...... halberd?」
「Yes,♪ As you can see, it is a spear and an axe. It is a versatile weapon with a mallet instead of a pick. It can be used for various situations such as "slashing", "thrusting", and "hitting".」
「Ooohhhh! ――B-but.....」
I held it in one hand, and it feels much heavier than it looks.
「Besides ― since there's only a butt end on the other side, the balance between the left and right sides is too extreme.」
「In addition, because of its "versatility," it requires a certain amount of skill to use it freely in the rapidly changing battle situation. But――」
「......Yeah. Maybe this is the best fit for me!」
I could clearly feel my instincts appealing to me, not logic.
I swung it around for a while.
「Gunnu. I-It's true. This is really difficult!?」
It's heavy, the balance is extreme, and the fact that it can do so many things makes it difficult to even swing it properly.
I couldn't help but shake the "core of my body," and I couldn't put as much force on it as I wanted. However.
「......Hahaha. Ahahahahaha!!」
I got somewhat amused and continued swinging the halberd on the spot to the point that even I knew it was awkward.
「Yuuto. Do that for a while and listen to that child's (halberd) voice. Also, if you feel something or have a thought, let me know right away. It's off-the-shelf, so I'll make you a halberd that suits you better!」
「Sure!」
While replying, I just kept on swinging the halberd like a child who has been given a new toy - unbelievably, I did so without a break until the sun went down, and was completely taken aback by Nora.
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