Chapter 4: Liam, Thirty years old

Usually when youd think about a thirty year old, youd imagine a fully grown adult.

But thirty years old in this universe is still the equivalent of an elementary school child.1

I had grown a little taller than I was before from sleeping and eating well.

Is this body not healthier than the one from my previous lifes childhood?

Everything is great, except for-

-another failure?

I sheathed the sword I held in my left hand as I inspected the surrounding logs.

Of the three that I set up, I was only able to cut through two.

And even then, all the cuts are extremely rough.

They were completely different from the cut that Master showed me.

My jagged slices are an embarrassment in comparison to Masters. His were cut so cleanly that you wouldve believed him if he had told you that they were cut beforehand.

Master has a perplexed expression on his face as he watched me.

Is he disappointed?

I lowered my head in shame.

Im sorry Master, Im still nowhere close to reaching your level of skill.

Master shook his head.

The path of the sword is long and steep, there is no end goal. With that said, youve done well to progress this far in only twenty years.

Ive pondered about how I could replicate Master these past twenty years.

I didnt think Id be able to do it even after I became proficient in the basics, and then I remembered Masters words.

Magic existed in this universe.

Thats it! I need to use magic! Condense the magic power into a thin blade and extend it from my sword! Is that the correct answer?

I thought that was correct, but the results were still far too different from Masters demonstration.

While I was wondering about what I did wrong, Master started to applaud.

If youve noticed this much, then youve gotten close to the truth.

Ive gotten close?

Er, yeah, thats right. Now that youve figured out that you need to use magic, you must now focus on mastering that magic.

I need to learn magic?

Im a noble and yet Im also learning how to use magic

In recent times, the magic power of individuals arent considered that important.

Magic would be powerless against space battleship lazers.

Taking that into account, martial arts were pretty much in the same boat.

If taken to the extremes, I could be completely incompetent in these things and be fine.

Even so, these lessons will no doubt be useful in times of crisis.

Yes, but in the end thats just magic. Its not enough.

Understood!

I need to study many things in earnest.

Ill try to include some magic classes soon.

Master nodded.

This is good, but Im going to have to seal that technique for a while. Its true that you need to learn magic, but youre not ready for it yet, so for the next decade Im going to prohibit any training other than the basics.

Even though I was finally able to achieve something!

I shouted those complaints in my mind, but I couldnt go against Master.

If I tried to fight against this person, Id be split into two in an instant.

Okay, I understand.

Well for now, why not focus on your government affairs? If the lord of a territory solely focused on his martial abilities, then hed be a failure of a lord.

Is that what hes thinking?

He must be worried about me.

Its okay, while were still in the process of reforming the land, the results are finally starting to bear fruit.

The military was reorganized.

The government was reformed.

Decisions were made to develop the territory, and the plans have already been set in motion.

In a universe that has already made advancements into space exploration, the development capability of society is insanely high.

Can you imagine skyscrapers being built in only a few days?

Machines and androids controlled by the people can complete the construction things at dizzying speeds.

Youve done well, but like always we cant neglect the basics.

Yes!

It looks like doing it normally wont help you develop any further, so for now I want you to continue while strapped on with weights and blindfolded.

You want me to wear a blindfold and weights?

Master proceeded to tie weights onto the sword and blindfolded me.

Keep swinging the heavier blade until it feels like youre swinging a small branch, and the blindfold should help you learn how to not rely on eyesight alone.

Understood!

Its like the training sessions Id see in a cartoon.

But everything that Master says is absolute!

now that I think about it, the entertainment industry hasnt developed that much due to the lack of time.

Should I try to invest a bit more there?

Yasushi watched Liam as he swung the weighted sword blindfolded.

(What the hell is this?! What the hell are you?!)

His cold sweat had been going on non-stop for a while.

Theres no way Yasushi couldve predicted that hed actually transform his street magic trick into an actual secret swordsmanship technique.

Yasushi even thought that Liams movements were even better than himself recently.

Even though he had only taught him the basics, Yasushi couldnt help but feel embarrassed by Liam who had developed an entire secret technique on his own.

(If he finds out that I was lying, Id stand no chance! Id be chopped up in an instant!)

With an atmosphere like that, theres no way he could come clean now.

Liam was already several steps higher than himself as a swordsman, he had already lost what little confidence in his blade he had left.

(In any case, I was stupid enough to not save any money. I cant run away anymore!)

The rewards were already exhausted because he already spent them on luxuries.

Hed sneak out to the city every now and then, saying that he was going to check on the state on his other disciples in various other places.

There wasnt enough money to escape.

(Theres no other choice, lets save up the funds and disappear! Yes, thats the plan. Lets do it!)

Now that he was blindfolded, Yasushi could finally wipe his cold sweat in front of the steadfast Liam.

(I really only taught him the basics could he be a genius?)

Yasushi was no teacher.

He couldnt have possibly known Liam was this talented.

(Argh, I dont care anymore! In any case, its earning time now. I need to research some ways to train him, or else Ill be killed!)

Yasushi swore to endure living frugally for a while as he saved up enough money to escape.

Does it really make sense to be blindfolded?

At the beginning I questioned this thought process.

But now-

I finally understand what you were trying to convey to me Master! I can now perceive what it means to use my senses other than sight! You wanted me to know that it wasnt enough to just see things with my eyes alone!

I told Master as such while I was still blindfolded.

Master tried to walk away while I was blindfolded, but amazingly enough, I immediately discern his position just from the slight sounds of his footsteps.

Did I surprise you Master?

Is this not proof that Im growing up?

W-well, its quite surprising that you had gotten this far in such a short period of time. No, really. Just how were you able to learn this in just a few years?

It seems like my growth was unprecedented.

I was now able to perceive people even when I wasnt looking at them.

And I could easily swing the weighted sword with only my fingertips now.

Look at my progress, Master! I can now swing it this easily!

Oh, umm-yeah! Dont get conceited!

Huh?

Master went on to scold me.

While it may be true that youve refined your senses other than vision, that all youve done. You still havent learned how to perceive things with magic.

After being reminded of magic, I couldnt help but be surprised that there was still so much for me to learn.

Youve enlightened me, Master!

Of course I have! Now then, your current sword is too light, so Im going to prepare a custom one for you.

Excitement started welling up inside me after hearing that I was going to get a customized sword.

Im looking forward to it, Master!

Aw man, that was a close one

What does that mean?

It felt like Master was frightened for a moment there.

Is it just my imagination?

(Give me a break already, dammit!)

Yasushi couldnt feel anything but fear towards Liam who had turned towards him even while blindfolded.

A heavy sword was easily being swung with just his fingertips.

Isnt that kid able to live normally blindfolded now?

Even if Yasushi tried to run away, hed find him.

(What do I do?! What the hell am I supposed to do?! I didnt think that hed actually learn anything from this!)

Yasushi intended to earn himself some more time, but his plans had already gone awry in just a couple years.

(Was this kid always a genius?! Then tell me something like that in the beginning!)

In the first place, Yasushi was never a teacher. He was just a con-man.

It was impossible for him to measure Liams talent and potential.

(Ill order the heaviest sword I can find, Ill extend its length as well. Ill make it so its almost impossible for him to swing it.)

Develop his sixth sense, learn to see the unseen, strengthen his magic etc.

Yasushi pondered ways he could extend the training when another plan popped into his head.

(Thats it! Ill use that!)

Yasushi walked up to the mansions warehouse.

Furniture and fragile items that were removed from the demolished building were stored here.

Yasushi had sold the antiques he had stolen from here, even if most of them were fakes.

Among all the items was a very old humanoid machine, a mobile knight.

It was a lumbering giant that stood 24 meters tall in comparison to the recent 14 meter-tall models.

It was an ancient machine that was hundreds of years old, something that had fallen out of use several generations ago.

It was the machine that Liams great grandfather had piloted.

Yasushi had come to the warehouse with Amagi and pointed towards the knight.

Prepare this old machine. Its going to become Liams new training equipment.

Amagi turned a suspicious gaze towards Yasushi.

This is a very outdated machine, should I prepare a current model instead?

That would be very bad!

Yasushi knew that modern knights were easier to maneuver.

As new models and generations came out, movement and other actions became much more user-friendly.

Their performance have also been dramatically improved, so if someone like Liam started piloting one of those, hed be able to master it in just a few years.

Yasushi wouldnt be able to buy enough time at all.

This is also for Sir Liams sake, I want him to use this one after its been repaired.

But the parts arent in commision anymore, itd only delay the repair time. Its universally accepted to use 14 and 18-class models, so there arent that many factories that can even handle something of this size.

Amagi only responded politely to Yasushi because Liam recognised him as his master.

If Liam didnt, then her response wouldve been far more vulgar.

(You dont think I dont know that?! Ill make you spend what little money you have left on this, then you wont have the time nor the funds needed to chase me. Im a genius!)

Yasushi knew the basic mechanics of the old knight models.

He knew that they were built to be very sturdy.

The old machines are solidly built, with some new parts it can be far more robust than the current knights.

Im telling you, its not that simp-

As Amagi tried to deny it, Yasushi pushed through with his opinion.

This is final! Repair this machine! This is all for Sir Liams sake. The control method is ideal, because its a manual. Its not good to rely on recent models auto-assistance.

Amagi reluctantly consented while after he continued to spout on for a while.

Liam had told her to respond to Yasushis instructions to the best of her abilities.

Ill make the arrangements immediately.

Also, make sure to spend as much as you can. Remember, this is all for Sir Liams sake!

Even though he knew they were in debt, Yasushi put in various orders to further tighten the houses finances.

Inside the warehouse that Yasushi had already departed from.

Amagi looked up at the mobile knight- designation, [Avid].

There were many exposed parts that showed the basic frame, and some parts of the armored frame were rusted.

Looking up at the tattered Avid, Amagi couldnt help but think,

(Is that person even qualified to teach? Im certain that my Master is stronger than him, and he doesnt give off the feeling of someone that special.)

Just by looking at his way of way of living, Yasushi definitely didnt look like he was qualified.

But he produced results.

In addition to that-

(No information comes out about him no matter how much I investigate him. Rather, thats just even more unnatural)

With that said, it was difficult to dismiss Yasushi because he produced results.

Besides, theres no problem as long as his suspicious sides dont interfere with his job.

Amagi was exasperated as to how things came to this.

its an order, so Ill just do it.

In current times, large twenty-four meter class knights werent widely used.

Therefore, if they were hoping to maintain it, they couldnt hire just any factory.

They had to bring in a large factory that had the superior facilities capable of making the needed parts.

To give an example, itd be like taking a classic sports car to a small garage workshop. If they didnt have the parts, then they wouldnt be able to fix it.

I need to call in a manufacturer from the Empire.

Its one of the Empires weapon factories who were responsible for building Avid.

They still existed, so they were the only place where the repairs could really be trusted.

Amagi double-checked the Yasushis request.

Thats a big demand, but it is possible to secure a budget. I should call someone in first though

She wanted to have a mechanic check on Avids condition before contacting the factory.

As she left the warehouse thinking about what to do, she found Liam walking around blindfolded.

Her mood instantly brightened.

Those footsteps have to be Amagi!

You are correct, Master.

He was walking around as if he could the surroundings clearly despite the blindfold.

Master, its dangerous to walk around in that condition.

Its no problem, this is just practice. Anyways, I heard that you were going to prepare a knight for me?

Amagi began to talk about the knight Yasushi recommended,

Were planning to bring in one of the old-fashioned knights, but in my opinion itd be better if we budgeted for a fourteen-meter class instead.

Liam started to rub his chin while tilting his head.

Its my Masters idea, so Ill talk to him about it, but for now Im going to continue walking around the estate as is.

Liam then began to walk away blindfolded.

Amagi couldnt help but feel uneasy when looking at such a sight.

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