Chapter 40

"......Yeah, since it's the first day, let's call it a day here."

"Y-Yes, sir..."

Well, after repeating the basic stances and swings, quite a bit of time had passed.

There was still light in the training ground, but outside it was already pitch black. We had clearly surpassed the time of sunset.

Hmm, I stayed a bit too long, or rather, I got a bit too enthusiastic. Even Kurni, who should have confidence in her physical strength, looked completely exhausted.

"For a while, let's focus on the basic stances and handling."

"Yes, sir!"

The way of the sword is not achieved in a day.

If one could improve just by swinging a sword for a few hours in a single day, no one would struggle. Swordsmanship is something that is only acquired after countless, grueling repetitions of practice.

Well, I think that's true for anything. If one could master magic in a day or two, there would be no need for a magic academy.

From what I saw today, Kurni's movements are still pretty decent.

However, as expected, or rather, she has a bad habit of trying to swing the sword with her arm strength. She might not be aware of it herself.

It will take time to correct, but she has good potential, and on the other hand, she has enough strength to swing a sword with her arm. We'll take it step by step.

Still, it's difficult to identify such habits unless you really focus on each individual and have a clear understanding of what to look for.

She's swinging without realizing she's doing it wrong. It's quite difficult to notice just by watching from the side. That's why there are roles like instructors.

I want to keep a close eye on Kurni until I can give her the farewell sword. There's a question mark about whether to give her a Zweihänder, but...

"My arms hurt, but my waist and thighs are really sore..."

"That's a good sign. It means you're using the right parts of your body."

With a Zweihänder, which is larger than a short sword, it's important to have a solid stance. There's more strain on your legs and waist.

I don't want to push her too hard, so I'll stop before her body starts to really protest. It's late, after all.

Still, it's quite a sight to see a petite knight like Kurni swinging a large weapon.

This is probably influenced by my personal preferences, but it looks graceful to watch. Maybe because I use a longsword, a rather ordinary weapon, it stands out even more.

"Wow, it's dark."

"Sure enough, there's hardly anyone around, huh?"

When we reached the front of the hall from the training ground, there was no one in sight except for the knights standing guard. It's late, so that's to be expected.

"Kurni, do you want me to walk you home?"

"No, no, I'm fine! I'm a knight, after all!"

"Okay, if you say so."

I suggested it because walking alone at night, even in the capital, can be dangerous, but she declined quite firmly.

I thought even an old guy like me could serve as a deterrent, but she is a knight, and I can't force her.

"Alright, Kurni, be careful."

"Yes, sir! Good work, sir!"

"Thanks, good work."

We parted ways at the front of the hall, and I walked alone in the darkness.

Of course, it's not completely dark with streetlights and other sources of light, but visibility is still limited.

From the knight's hall to my inn is a bit of a walk. During this time, I briefly reflected on today's events.

I'm an old man, and I've lived a long time, so I tend to forget things quickly if I don't take the time to recall them.

Kurni's aptitude for a two-handed sword seemed not bad.

She's naturally strong, and while she's not used to handling it, she's not being overwhelmed by the sword. Her legs and waist seem sturdy, and the style of planting her feet and swinging a large sword seems to suit her.

The only concern is that a Zweihänder might make her stand out among the knights, but since Alusia said it's fine, I think it will be okay.

"..."

As I was reflecting on the training, I noticed a figure walking towards me.

Since I was leaving the knight's hall and heading towards the inn, this street was mostly deserted. Even though visibility was poor in the darkness, my eyes were drawn to the figure. Not many people are out after dark.

The moonlight helped a bit, and I could see that the person walking towards me was wearing a robe that blended into the darkness. The hood was pulled deep, so I couldn't see the face.

Well, even if I could see the face, it wouldn't change much.

Walking alone in a robe at this hour isn't exactly commendable, but I'm also an old guy walking alone, so I'm not in a position to judge.

It's hard to make a judgment just by looking from the side. Maybe I should head to the inn before the guards notice me.

"Oops."

The street isn't that narrow, but if I keep going, I'll bump into the person coming from the front. It's not good to stare, so I thought I'd quickly step aside and head back to the inn for a drink—

"---I don't like that kind of thing, you know."

As we were about to pass each other, a hand that had been hidden in the darkness grabbed mine.

I had a vague feeling that something was off, but this guy is a pickpocket.

And a very skilled one at that. He walked naturally and then reached straight into my pocket.

But I have pretty good eyes, even if I am an old man.

"Damn it! Let go!"

"Not a chance."

The pickpocket, whose arm I had grabbed, froze for a moment but quickly started struggling.

From the voice, it sounded like a woman, and a young one at that.

Hmm, it's a bit sad to see such a young person in this situation. I have to turn her over to the guards now.

"Damn!"

"Whoa!?"

Whoosh.

Suddenly, a burst of flame erupted from the arm I was holding.

---Magic!?

I instinctively took a defensive stance against the heat and flames. Of course, in the process, I let go of the arm I was holding.

"!"

"Oh!"

By the time I realized it, it was too late.

The woman, who had freed herself from my grip with the flames, ran into an alley in the central district without looking back.

I thought about chasing her for a moment, but I've only been in Baltrain for a short time. I don't know the area well, and I'm not familiar with the alleys off the main streets.

It was also very dark. Even if I chased her, there was no guarantee I would catch her.

I felt a bit frustrated. Well, I wasn't actually pickpocketed, so there was no real damage.

"..."

As I was looking in the direction the pickpocket had run, I noticed a part of the ground glowing in the moonlight.

Out of curiosity, I approached and found that it was a pendant.

"Maybe it's something she dropped."

When I picked it up, it was quite old and had some fine scratches, but it seemed to have been well-maintained, as there was no dust or dirt on it.

I'm not sure if the knights handle such things, but I'll turn it in as a lost item tomorrow. Alusia or Hembritz might know where to take it.

"...I really don't like fire."

Lucy and Zeno Graybull. I haven't had good experiences with fire recently.

But for a magic user to become a pickpocket, there must be some special circumstances. From her voice, she seemed to be around Kurni's age or younger.

Well, even if there are special circumstances, there's nothing I can do about it.

A bit of unfortunate business happened today. That's all I can do to sort out my feelings. I'm not a hero, not a Robin Hood, and not a noble champion of justice. I don't consider myself a bad person, but...

"I'll head back."

On days like this, the best thing to do is to go home, take a bath, and go to bed.

Of course, there was no response to my muttering. The only sound in the empty streets of the capital, Baltrain, was the echo of my footsteps.