Chapter 39

"Alright, let's get started."

"Sure thing!"

At the training ground of the Reberio Knights, I face off against Kuruni.

It's already the end of another day of training, but unusually, there's no one else around. Normally, there are always a few people here, no matter what time it is.

It's almost evening, and the darkness is about to spread its legs. Maybe it's a bit too late.

The vast, silent training ground echoes with our voices due to the excess of space.

"First, let's try holding it normally."

"Got it!"

Following my voice, Kuruni takes up the Zweihänder.

We usually use wooden swords for regular training, but this is the first time she's holding a Zweihänder. So, I want her to get a feel for it with a real sword first.

We're not going to spar, though. I'm using a wooden sword.

"The basic handling isn't much different from the short sword you've been using. However, there are two major differences in how you use it."

"Hmm, I see."

While it's a large weapon, it's still classified as a sword. The basic handling isn't that different.

However, there are a few points to be careful about.

"First, you rarely perform a diagonal slash—where you raise the sword and bring it down."

"Really?"

Kuruni sounds surprised.

I understand. There's a romantic appeal to raising a large sword and bringing it down. It looks cool.

But in reality, almost no one does that.

"There are several reasons, but mainly because the energy you expend doesn't yield much in return. Try raising and lowering the sword a few times."

"Sure! ...Whoa! Yeah!"

Kuruni follows my instructions and practices the motion.

Honesty is indeed a weapon. It's important to practice first before questioning.

"...It's surprisingly tiring."

"Right. The size of the weapon affects the amount of strength you need. If you swing it recklessly, you'll tire out quickly."

Raising and lowering the sword primarily uses arm strength, which is hard to compensate for with other muscles, leading to quicker fatigue.

Using gravity and the full range of motion in your back and waist, the downward slash is indeed powerful. In terms of sheer force, it's probably the most powerful move.

However, that's only if you can land it.

And that assumes you're facing a single opponent.

"Of course, the downward slash is the most destructive. But it also leaves you vulnerable and is hard to land."

"Ugh, that's how it is, huh?"

"That's how it is."

If the opponent doesn't move, you can hit them. But, of course, whether it's a human or a monster, the enemies the knights face move.

If you were a miner digging for ore, it wouldn't be a problem. The mine doesn't move.

Raise the pickaxe and bring it down. It's a logical movement. But in combat, it's not necessarily the best approach.

"You should only perform a downward slash when facing a single opponent and are sure to hit. So, the basic movement is more of a sweeping motion."

"Sweeping...?"

It's also called a horizontal slash.

"Unlike a short sword, a Zweihänder has reach and weight, so you need to use centrifugal force effectively. You're not being swung by the sword; you're swinging it. Like this."

"Ah, I see!"

I demonstrate by pretending my wooden sword is a Zweihänder.

You don't swing with your arms; you cut with your waist. Of course, your arms move, but you need to abandon the idea of controlling it with arm strength. Swordsmanship isn't that simple.

"Obviously, it's easier to hit a target horizontally than vertically. Plus, it uses less energy than raising the sword."

"Hmm, I see..."

Kuruni listens to my lecture and practices the motion.

Good, she's getting the hang of it. She's already familiar with swordsmanship, so it should be easier once she understands the differences.

"Then, when you want to add some rotational power or perform a thrust, use the ricasso. This is the second difference."

The farther from the pivot point, the stronger the centrifugal force.

However, the farther it is, the more control you need. It's fine if you just swing it once, but in combat, that's not practical.

The ricasso on the Zweihänder is useful here. The center of gravity is closer to the middle of the handle, so it's less likely to be swung out of control. It also helps minimize wobbling when performing a thrust.

"Oh... Oh...? Ah, I see!"

Holding the grip, she swings it a few times, then adds her hand to the ricasso and tries swinging and thrusting. She seems to be trying to get a feel for it.

After a few trials, she seems to have found a comfortable grip.

"The key point, as I mentioned earlier, is not to rely on arm strength. You cut with your waist."

"Cut with your waist! That's a familiar phrase!"

It seems she remembered. That's great.

Cut with your waist.

One of the phrases I often taught at the dojo.

Those unfamiliar with swords tend to rely on arm strength. If they have strong muscles, they can get away with it to some extent, making it hard to correct.

That's why I teach this principle to new students at the dojo.

The same goes for diagonal slashes with long swords or short swords. You create a pause on one side when raising the sword and cut to the opposite side with your waist.

If you don't instill this movement and principle from the beginning, you won't improve. Weapons should be used with your whole body.

Of course, there are exceptions, and there might be unconventional swordsmen in the world. But those are exceptions for those who have mastered the basics. Anything else is just formless.

I don't want my students to be formless. That's why I focus on teaching the basic movements.

From there, if they discover new possibilities on their own, I won't say anything. I'd even welcome it. It's the unique potential they've reached.

However, unfortunately or whatever you want to call it,

Kuruni hasn't reached that level yet. She's young and has plenty of room to grow, so I think she'll do well if she trains steadily.

We're no longer master and student at the dojo, but it's my job as a special instructor to guide her to that level.

"There you go, using your arms again. Focus more on your waist and legs."

"Sure thing!"

"Think of your arms and body as connected parts. You're doing this because you're trying to move your arms independently."

"Ugh, it's hard...!"

"It's a matter of awareness. If you don't pay attention, it's impossible. Always be mindful when you swing the sword."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

"Good, good. Let's do ten more. One, two..."

"Ha! Ho! Ya!"

In the space where only the two of us are, there's no sweet atmosphere.

Just me and Kuruni, repeating the training.

It continues until the scorching sun sets in the west and the shadows at our feet are swallowed by the darkness.

In the 39th chapter, I finally got to show a bit of the old man's teaching scene.

Will Kuruni make a great leap forward? Who knows...

Also, regarding the book publication update, I've posted an activity report.

Please take a look if you're interested.