Nagai Koto c9

Nagai Koto Chapter 009
The Long Journey Until I Reunite With You

What I, As A Foolish Child, Aimed For

Shalt has been pretty down. He's been sitting on the floor hugging his knees in the corner of the weapon shop.

「Oi, stop being like that and cheer up will you~ It’s not like I was bullying you or something.」 (Velt)
「It’s not that. It’s just, it was shocking...... How weak I was... Even though...... I believed that I could join the hero and spread the light of justice......」 (Shalt)
「Well, you were able to learn something good right? There are countless people in the world who won't play fair.」 (Velt)
「But......」 (Shalt)

Our duel ended, the spectators dispersed, and the atmosphere of the royal capital returned to normal. n.o.body agreed to the outcome, but either way I had pulled down Shalt’s pants and gave him bruises with my low kicks, causing him to be unable to fight any further. The old man at the weapon shop told me I didn’t have the qualifications, competency, talent nor readiness, but Taira said the opposite, giving me a seemingly frustrated look.

「Velt, have you not decided on a weapon yet?」 (Taira)
「Hm? Ah, not yet. After all, there’s nothing that gives me that sort of “pow” feeling. Rather, is it really fine for me to buy anything?」 (Velt)
「Yeah. Today’s fight was interesting after all. In addition, it was a good experience for the path Shalt is taking.」 (Taira)

Against my words of protest, Taira had raised his voice.

「If you’re a kid like Shalt...... Then between the artisan Hasan’s Lightning Blade and the favored sword of the Dragonslayers, the Dragon Buster Sword, it would be difficult for you to choose a weapon right away wouldn’t it?」 (Taira)
「It’s not that, I don’t know how to handle weapons like that you know. I want to carry around something shorter, lighter, and easier to wield.」 (Velt)
「Easier to use? But shouldn’t you find a weapon fit for your spells? For example, since Shalt’s forte is in wind and ice magic which emphasizes speed, he is using a rapier.」 (Taira)
「I’m the opposite. I’ll first find a suitable weapon, then learn spells to combine with it.」 (Velt)

Taira was unbelievably generous. For some reason he praised my efforts and offered to buy me a single weapon I wanted. With an amount of money I’ve never seen before, he mainly used this store which attracted customers and admirably carried out its duties without a problem. Well, it’s not like I know how to properly wield a weapon anyways.

「Fu~n.」 (Taira)
「Wha-What is it?」 (Velt)
「Well, it’s as I thought. In a way it’s shallow, but your way of thinking is a bit different.」 (Taira)

With Taira’s words, I internally retorted with, 「That’s how it is.」
In actuality, my mental age is 17.

「To tell you the truth, when Shalt first came to this store, he naturally demanded a strong weapon like the Dragon Buster Sword. As expected, he longed for the age of brave warriors, master swordsmen, and heroes. After thinking about that kid’s const.i.tution and magic techniques, I chose the rapier as his most suitable weapon.」 (Taira)
「Err, exactly what do you want to say?」 (Velt)
「Kids pick up weapons because they yearn for them (heroes). However, you’re a lot more pragmatic compared to when I met you, and you’re even asking for a weapon focused on functionality. As I thought, you’re not ordinary.」 (Taira)
「Heroes, huh... It’s not like I have much of an interest in em’. In any case, it’d be fine if I were to become an old man that tends to his crops.」 (Velt)
「That... are you serious? Recently the princess has been borrowing agricultural books from the castle library...」 (Taira)
「No, she’s not related to it.」 (Velt)

A brat that doesn’t seem to think like a child. That might be how I am.

For example if we were talking about baseball, it’d be like a beginner aiming to be a pitcher or cleanup hitter. That’s how children should be, full of possibilities. However, my way of thinking was efficient and unlike like a child’s wasn’t it. If I were to give an example, I would be the type of person who would start with the dream of bunting. Because of that, Taira was somehow internally conflicted due to me.

「Hey Velt. Don’t tell anybody else about this, but in two years, Shalt will leave this country after he graduates and attend the Great Empire’s national military academy.」 (Taira)
「The Great Empire’s national military academy? By that, you mean in the center of the continent...... Where heroes and the like go?」 (Velt)
「That’s right. The center of the continent, where the royalty and aristocracy first began, the number one educational system in the continent where mankind’s most talented child prodigies gather. The princess will also be going there after two years.」 (Taira)

I’ve heard about it before. The academic city where humanity’s elites and the wealthy a.s.semble. Frankly somewhere I have no fate with.

「So, what about it?」 (Velt)
「Then, once those two graduate from the military academy... they will immediately enlist in humanity’s united army.」 (Taira)
「......To partic.i.p.ate in war?」 (Velt)
「That’s right.」 (Taira)

Even though it’s not related to me, when it comes to someone I know partic.i.p.ating in war, it’s... Difficult for me to say. To be frank, there is war in this world, and I have heard of many countries falling to ruin from it, but I have yet to understand what war is. In my time as Asakura Ryuuma, the world I lived in had many wars. But, I didn’t have interest in any of them. The majority of high school students wouldn’t have any interest either. That is, I was in a world where I didn’t have to take up arms to end a war, there shouldn’t have been any anyone with eighth grader’s syndrome who would either... War was something I’d see on the other side of the television screen, it was a world with no relation to me.
(TN: 8th grade syndrome = chuunibyou syndrome. Basically where someone imagines fantastical things and daydreams of glory, and sometimes act upon it.)

With sarcasm, I asked, 「I wonder, since General Taira knows that I have no intentions of partic.i.p.ating in war, does he think I’m a coward? I’m in the same cla.s.s and age as my childhood friend who wants to change the world with his strong will after all.」 (Velt)

However Taira didn’t seem to mind with his response.

「It’s not that. Shalt and the princess are hard workers, and aside from becoming powerful, they have clear goals in mind. That is what the other kids will also...... No, in this day and age, with children having natural talent in magic and combat techniques, that is how most of them will think. However, you have not partic.i.p.ated in war, nor do you have any interest, as you’ve said. But I can’t help to think that you have some sort of goal in mind. Exactly what are you trying to accomplish by gaining power?」 (Taira)

Although I don’t plan to partic.i.p.ate in the fighting, what am I trying to do? It’s not like I can say it, but If I had to state my intention......

I sighed.
「If you wanted to hear it, it’s not something grandiose. In the first place I had already said that I have no interest in war nor heroes, but rather than indifferent, it’s more like I just don’t know anything. The point is, I don’t understand anything about the world you see.」 (Velt)
「Hmm. In that case, what is someone like you aiming for then?」 (Taira)
「Like I said, It’s not like I’m going out to do something big. If I had to say it... Regret... I have some serious regrets left from dying in my previous life.」 (Velt)
「......I see...... All the more I don’t understand.」 (Taira)
「Listen, don’t figure it out. It’s possible that just about n.o.body in this world will understand you know.」 (Velt)

I’ll let him in on this much.

Having died and been reborn in this fantasy world, I and am now looking to find some sign of the girl I liked that I died with who may have reincarnated. With that, who the heck is going to believe me? For now, living with that as my objective will be fine. It doesn’t matter if n.o.body understands.

「Well, it’s those two’s choice if they want to go to war, I don’t want them to die, but I expect it would be a natural result...... Hm? That’s......」 (Velt)

At that moment, I had casually looked over and stopped my gaze at a mountain of boxes. Placed at the corner of the store were boxes with a mess of swords and bows sticking out.

「Old man, what’s with these boxes?」 (Velt)
「Ah, those are the goods that I can’t sell anymore, I plan to dispose of ‘em.」 (Shopkeeper)
「I see.」 (Velt)
「Right, when it comes to those things, all of their edges have been blunted to make it safe. Like that it’ll be fine to just pick ‘em up.」 (Shopkeeper)
「Huh, inventory disposal. Well, these worn out items wouldn't have much use as expected.」 (Velt)

They were just a bunch of useless items.

Thinking that, when I was about to abandon hope, something at the corner of my eye caught my attention.

「Ah? What’s this?」 (Velt)

It was something like the hilt of a sword. However, there was no blade. Despite that, it felt heavy and stiff.

「Ah, that’s not a weapon ya’know? It’s somethin’ mixed in with the wholesale goods.」 (Shopkeeper)
「Not a weapon? Then, what is it?」 (Velt)
「That’s a Congo Demi-human tribe’s teacher’s cane.」 (Shopkeeper)
「Teacher’s cane? Something that is as thick as a sword hilt?」 (Velt)
「Umu. Try swingin’ it down with some vigor.」 (Shopkeeper)

Doing as he said, I swung the cane downwards. I could feel the weight of the swing.

「O-Ooh!」 (Velt)
「The Congo tribe members are no less than twice the size of a normal human being. Because of that, even somethin’ like a teacher’s cane would be as thick and heavy ta' match.」 (Shopkeeper)

Something like a teacher’s cane... I had seen something like this before during Asakura Ryuuma’s lifetime, but I’d never held one before. Despite that, I had found something that fit well in my hands. That is, rather than a teacher’s cane, it seemed to me that it was nothing else but a flexible baton.

「Why is something like this in a weapon store?」 (Velt)
「Umu, there was once a time where I was able to enjoy dealin’ with the weapons of the demons and demi-humans, but that was unintentionally mixed in with the rest. There was no buyer for the teacher’s cane, nor a way to use it, so I was thinkin’ of getting rid of it.」 (Shopkeeper)

My heart began to throb, and in some way I felt something that I was lacking.

「I’m interested. So give it to me」 (Velt)
「Ho? Is that really fine?」 (Shopkeeper)
「Yeah. It’s not a weapon, and it was going to be thrown away, so it’s not a big deal right?」 (Velt)
「U-Umu, well, it’s not somethin’ to sell anyways.」 (Shopkeeper)

As I thought, he’s an old man. Why doesn’t he realize it? With this, no matter how hard you hit, it'll be powerful. I guess he wasn’t able to figure it out? No, he’s the same as Taira.
(TN:Used to traditional weapons)

They stared at me in amazement as I chose something that wasn’t made to be a weapon. However, it’s convenient for me.

「Give me two of them.」 (Velt)
「Yeah, go and play make-believe with those things, do whatever you want.」 (Shopkeeper)

I’m pretty sure I’ll be laughing like a kid who’s been playing tricks, but it’s just because I’ve finally gotten something I’ve really wanted.

「O-Oi Oi, no matter how you look at it, is that really fine? I can buy something else for you, you know?」 (Taira)
「This is fine. With the money, treat me to a steak instead. Right now, I’ve found something better for me than traditional weapons.」 (Velt)
「A weapon? Teacher’s canes?」 (Taira)

Once I left the store, I immediately prepared the canes in both my hands. Then, I began to fight an imaginary opponent. I would parried my opponent’s attack with my left, and struck my opponent’s throat with the right. Then I delivered a roundhouse kick. Not bad at all.

「It's a bit heavy for me right now, but I'll become accustomed to the weight soon enough.」 (Velt)

I was able to see clearly, and I will master these. Even though this is a fantasy world, it’s not like I have to fight the way they do. With a way that has the most potential, I’ll deal with what's to come at that time. I will deflect dangerous weapons with the sweep of my baton, and disrupt my opponents with kicks like I did in my high school days. Through fire and lightning, I will continue forward even without magic, this I swear to myself.