Compared to the school life during the day, which was fun despite the struggles, the training at night was also fun, but the content was quite harsh. Inea-sensei was truly merciless.

  "I'm telling you now, I'm going to be Spartan. Try your best not to die."

  Those were her very first words when we started training. Moreover, her eyes were serious.

  "Yes."

  What kind of training is it that could kill me? I didn't know at the time, but I was about to find out very soon.

  On weekdays, we trained at the Qi Sword Arts building (commonly known as the Dojo), and on holidays, I was taken to unknown mountains or rivers. Sometimes we even stayed overnight to train in such great nature.

  Inea-sensei is a master user of Qi. So relatively speaking, she's not very good at magic, but it seems she can use Teleportation Magic thanks to the racial trait of the Nesla. Limited to places she has marked with Magic Power beforehand, she can take me and fly there in an instant.

  Thanks to that, the travel itself was easy. Only the travel...

  [At the Dojo]

  "First, do the various forms (Kata) I just showed you, one thousand times each. Don't slack off on a single swing; do it properly."

  From day one, I was suddenly handed a wooden sword and ordered to practice swinging it according to various forms. And one thousand times each? I've never even held a sword before.

  "Seriously...?"

  "Hoh. If you don't like it, you can quit, you know?"

  "No, I'll do my best."

  I might have become the disciple of an outrageous person.

  "One! Two! Three!"

  Firing myself up, I started with the form of swinging the sword vertically from above the head. Like the "Men" strike in Kendo. While being careful not to let the sword line waver from the center line of my body, I shouted out loud each time.

  I was swinging the sword energetically with a loud voice, but that was only at the beginning.

  "Hah... five hundred, forty-five... hah... five hundred... hah... hah... forty-six..."

  I was finally out of breath, and my voice lost its vigor. No good. My arms are numb, and I can't swing the sword properly anymore. It's only been five hundred times, yet there are still thousands left. Completing it all is absolutely impossible. Impossible!

  Just as my heart was about to break, perhaps she saw through me completely. Sensei, who walked up briskly with a stern face, flicked my forehead sharply.

  Snap!

  This hurt intensely, enough to make me drop the wooden sword and crouch down holding my forehead.

  "Hey. You're slacking off. You spoiled brat."

  "Hya, hyai! I'm sorry! I'll do it properly!"

  Answering with teary eyes, I managed to stand up. But my body couldn't keep up with my feelings. The next swing also lacked momentum due to fatigue. Witnessing my wimpiness, Sensei held her forehead as if she had a headache.

  "I thought you could at least handle this much normally... What kind of carefree world have you been living in? Your body is too flabby!"

  "Ugh. I'm sorry. I've never moved my body this much before..."

  "Haa... It can't be helped. Only for today, I'll watch you from the side until you finish."

  "Eh?"

  Until just now, she seemed to be leaving me to my own devices. Sensei is strict in words and attitude, but is she actually quite caring?

  "In exchange, if you slack off even a little, I'll punish you like earlier. Do it properly until the end."

  "Yes!"

  Hearing that Sensei would stay with me, my energy returned. Lifting my heavy arms, I resumed the practice swings.

  "Five hundred forty-eight! Five hundred forty-nine! Five hundred fif—"

  "Wait."

  But she stopped me immediately. I let out a stupid voice.

  "Hoe?"

  What's wrong? Sensei seemed exasperated beyond words.

  "Listen, you. You don't understand what I taught you at all. I told you the correct way to swing is like this."

  Saying that, she grabbed both my arms in a pose like hugging me from behind. At the sudden event, my heart jumped. B-because. Sensei's ample chest is pressing squishily against my back—!

  Unable to bear it, I spoke up.

  "U-um! Sensei!"

  "What is it?"

  "No, well... it's hitting me..."

  "Is that all? I'm holding your arms closely from behind, so it can't be helped."

  "B-but."

  That IS the problem! It's bad. In various ways!

  "Even though I say it's part of the instruction, why are you turning bright red and getting embarrassed? I know you're at that age, but you're too self-conscious."

  "Ugh. I'm sorry."

  Sensei is right. She's doing it seriously, so I shouldn't be bothered by it. That's right. What's hitting my back right now is a watermelon. Let's think of it as just a watermelon. Yeah, let's do that.

  A large and soft... watermelon. Water... melon... ...I'm an idiot. What am I thinking.

  Shaking my head, I switched gears properly this time. Calm down. Deep breath. Deep breath.

  "Ready?"

  "Please."

  Having Sensei hold my arms, I was taught the correct way to swing the wooden sword thoroughly. Then, I tried it alone again.

  "L-like this?"

  When I did it faithfully only in form, the wooden sword cut through the air with a dull sound like disturbing the air. Bun.

  "Wrong. Remove more unnecessary tension from your body."

  "Sorry. Then—is this it?"

  Trying to be as natural as possible so as not to strain. Imagine the sword as part of my body. How was Sensei doing it? Remember. —Alright. How's this.

  I swung through at once. Then this time, a light sound was made. Hyun!

  There was a sensation of cutting without much air resistance. Although Sensei still had a stern face, she finally nodded.

  "That's it. That grip and swing. Carve that firmly into your head and body."

  I did it. This is it! As told, I carved it into my heart so I would never forget.

  Then, perhaps because I got the knack, I became able to swing properly from the next time. The correct way of swinging doesn't put force in weird places, so it also suppresses the accumulation of fatigue. Getting used to it, this swinging feeling gradually became addictive.

  "Oh. Somehow this is a bit easier to swing!"

  "Hm? What is that tone?"

  "Ah! It is a little easier to swing, Inea-sensei!"

  "Hmph. Good grief. The future looks bleak."

  After this, while receiving painful punishments from Sensei occasionally, I managed to finish thousands of practice swings while feeling like dying. I thought humans can do most things if they are desperate enough. By the way, needless to say, I suffered from muscle pain beyond description for a while from the next day.

  [At the Riverbank]

  "Control of Life Energy is the basis of everything. First, become able to do that."

  "What should I do?"

  "Concentrate your mind and feel it."

  Inea-sensei was an intuitive type in some places. Even if told to concentrate and feel... I didn't understand at all. I'm not a hermit. There's no way I'd know.

  Eventually, seeing me troubled with no way out, she called out in a tone of "good grief" again.

  "Can't be helped. It will be a bit rough, but I'll pound Qi into you and make your body remember."

  Sensei clenched her fist tightly. What is she going to do? Just as I thought that—.

  "Ubuh!"

  An intense punch sank into my stomach, stopping my breath! Severe pain and a shock that numbed my whole body struck me.

  "Geho! Goho!"

  "How is it?"

  Making my body remember... t-that's absurd!

  "Something... hot..."

  However, there was certainly a strange sensation—as if I grasped something—as if something hot flowed into me.

  "That's it. Remember the sensation of that flow precisely and become able to manipulate it yourself."

  "Y-yes."

  "Want another one?"

  "No... please... spare me......"

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  I fainted from the pain right there.

  [At the Dojo]

  "I did it..."

  In my left hand, a faintly white-colored short blade was grasped. It couldn't compare to the vivid white sword Sensei creates. It was such a fragile thing that seemed likely to disappear just by blowing on it.

  After painstaking efforts, I was finally able to produce a Qi Sword. With this, male-me has finally joined the ranks of fantasy residents, just like female-me. Yes! I finally did it! Even me!

  Becoming happy, I jumped at Sensei, who was quietly practicing swings in the back, without looking aside.

  "I did it! I did it! Sensei! I can bring out a Qi Sword now!"

  I was frolicking greatly. It couldn't be helped since I was happy enough to die.

  "Hoh. Well done. So. How long can you maintain it?"

  But Sensei just praised me with one word (even this was rare so I was happy), and her reaction was truly curt.

  "Ah, no. Only about ten seconds yet."

  When I said honestly, Sensei shrugged her shoulders with a "good grief" as usual and said something outrageous.

  "Even if you can bring out a Qi Sword, it is meaningless if you cannot maintain it. Do it until you can keep it out for at least five hours."

  "Five hours... you say..."

  I despaired.

  [Deep in the Mountains]

  Sensei often made me do reckless things.

  "You can't see it from here, but there is a large carnivorous beast over there. Well? Can you sense its Qi properly?"

  "Yes. I can tell."

  Just as Sensei said, I could confirm one strong life reaction deep in the dense trees. Thanks to training, I had become able to sense the Qi of surrounding creatures if I concentrated. Right now I can only tell vaguely, but she says if I accumulate training, I will be able to know the opponent's position and strength accurately.

  "What about that carnivorous beast?"

  Sensei smiled faintly and happily.

  "Nothing, it's simple. Go and finish it off alone."

  "Eeeeh!? No way!"

  That's definitely impossible! It's like telling a mouse to defeat a cat. Well, if I could use magic, I might be able to manage a little... But even that ray of hope was cut off ruthlessly.

  "Yeah. Of course, don't use any magic. That wouldn't be training. If you use it or run away, I'll leave you in this mountain."

  "Wait a minute! I only just learned how to bring out a Qi Sword the other day! No matter how you think about it, the opponent is...!"

  "Do not underestimate the power of the Qi Sword. Even a dull blade like yours can manage if it hits. Besides, a death match with a superior opponent will be an incomparable experience."

  "So it is a superior opponent!"

  [In the Middle of the Lasil Great Plains]

  Another time, I was abandoned in the middle of the Plains of Death.

  "Listen. Return to Sacris from here on your own within two days. I will not help you at all."

  "Sensei. I almost died here about three months ago."

  "That was because you were weak. I taught you physical enhancement by Qi the other day, right? Use that. Your legs and loins should be dramatically strengthened."

  "No, even so, this vastness is..."

  "Rest assured. I have a policy of not making you do things you absolutely cannot do. Well, if there is about a 10% chance, I will make you do it, though. Then, see you at the Dojo."

  Saying just that, Sensei used Teleportation Magic and went home quickly by herself.

  "Ah! She left... I'll complain when I get back."

  I thought one gets used to Sensei's unreasonable demands.

  [On Top of a Cliff]

  "This is..."

  Between a cliff and a cliff, a single rope narrower than the width of a shoe was stretched. The rope was constantly swaying due to the strong wind blowing. Honestly, it's quite scary. If I fall, I'll definitely die. But, being brought to a place like this means...

  "Training for concentration and sense of balance."

  "Am I... crossing this?"

  "Yes."

  I thought you'd say that. Sensei.

  "Being reckless again..."

  "Just go quickly."

  "Yes. Understood."

  [At the Dojo]

  Practice in the form of facing each other one-on-one and striking was also often held.

  "Strike from anywhere. Every time you make a naive move, I will give you the strongest pain within the range of not fainting, as many times as needed. It will also be training to endure pain."

  "I've thought this for a while, but Sensei, you're a sadist, aren't you?"

  "Did you say something?"

  "No."

  I ready the Qi Sword in my left hand. A basic stance close to Kendo, exactly as Sensei taught me. And I fix my eyes on Sensei holding a wooden training sword in front of me.

  Now. Where should I attack from? As expected of Sensei. I can't see any openings at all. Even though at a glance it looks like she's in the same stance as me, everything was different.

  The powerful Qi she wears without a single disorder, and the sharp gaze like an eagle aiming at its prey. Combined, an intimidating feeling close to pain, like stinging the skin, attacks me. Just facing her like this makes me feel like my body is being torn apart. Sensei looks much larger than she actually is.

  "What's wrong? If you're not coming, I'll go."

  "No. I'm coming."

  Thinking won't help. The difference in ability is obvious. Unnecessary tricks are useless. Just collide with full force.

  I dash out and unleash a full-power swing from the front. But it cut through the air in vain. Before I could blink, I received an impact from behind. My bones creaked. Kicked!? Even recognizing it was too late. I should have been around the center of the Dojo, but before I knew it, the wall was right there.

  I tried to at least break the fall. In a posture ready to curl up immediately, I landed on the tatami from my feet. Rolling vigorously as it was, I finally stopped when I hit the wall.

  "Ugh!"

  I stand up staggeringly. Pathetic like a newborn chick, but I don't have the composure to look cool. What Sensei said wasn't an exaggeration or anything. It hurts. It hurts like hell. Tears are about to come out. But I can't be daunted by this much. I can't become strong if I run away. Sensei will be disappointed too.

  I ready the sword again. I look at Sensei firmly.

  Over there, she was just looking back at me quietly from the initial standing position where we faced each other, looking as if she hadn't moved even a step. It seems like a lie that she unleashed such a sharp kick. Sensei is strong after all. Unless I attack boldly with the intention of killing, I will never hit her.

  Alright. One more time.

  Setting the sword around my right hip, I charge straight at Sensei who stands motionless. Soon, we reached the distance where our swords could reach each other. Aiming for the torso this time, I—

  "Naive."

  Just as I tried to swing, my wrist was struck. Severe pain runs through me again.

  "Ngh... Not yet!"

  Enduring the pain, I launch attacks one after another. But after all, it's an amateur's sword. Sensei saw through every single one of them completely. No matter what I did, I was easily dodged and parried. I want to at least make her block. But my sword swings through the air as if dancing with it.

  Matching the timing of my attacks, she often struck my gap-filled parts. My naive movements are being reproved constantly. Painful. Tough. Not hitting at all. But I won't give up!

  Seeing me struggle desperately out of stubbornness, Sensei looked strangely happy.

  "Good. Come with that spirit."

  After that, I continued to be beaten up lightly. In between practice, Sensei threw teachings one after another.

  "Do not try to follow movements with only your eyes. Read the Qi emitted from the opponent."

  "Aim for weak spots. Aim for the gaps in consciousness."

  "Even while thinking with your head, you won't make it in time unless you move by intuition."

  Carving those grateful words into my chest, I challenged her earnestly until I was exhausted and couldn't move. In the end, I couldn't land a single attack that day.

  [Deep in the Mountains]

  Sensei liked to share her knowledge. Perhaps because she's long-lived, she really knows a lot about various things.

  "By the way, why do you think it is Qi 'Sword Arts'?"

  "I've been wondering about that for a while. Why don't we use Qi in more various forms like magic?"

  "Yeah. At first, one would think so."

  "But I sort of understand now. Because Qi disperses easily in the outside world, right?"

  I once tried to shoot something like a Qigong wave (I admired it too), but it was impossible no matter what. Qi that leaves the hand disperses into the atmosphere shortly.

  "Correct. Qi fades as it moves away from the user's body, its source, and weakens exponentially. Therefore, my master devised the Qi Sword that is emitted directly from the hand. It is one answer to utilize Qi in its most powerful form."

  "Heh. So there was a reason like that."

  It wasn't just to look cool; there was a proper practical reason.

  "Mhm. And due to this nature of Qi, you cannot make a decent attack unless you approach the target. Unlike magic, which has no problem with long-range use, it is inconvenient."

  "I see. Approach, huh."

  Sensei's knowledge talk like this was often helpful. Pleased that I nodded obediently, Sensei continued with a slightly proud face.

  "However, Qi has advantages that magic does not. One is that it can enhance physical abilities. And that it is possible to heal targets, including oneself."

  "If it's healing, I'm indebted to it every day."

  That's all thanks to the Great Inea-sensei's grateful training.

  "Fufu, indeed. These things are not easy with magic. It shouldn't be impossible if you devise a way, but it would be greatly inferior in terms of ease and effect."

  "That's true."

  Yeah. Just as Sensei says. Learning magic in this world, I found out that there is no magic to directly enhance physical abilities, and Healing Magic doesn't exist either. Especially the absence of the latter was unexpected given the image from games and such.

  Technically, some potions have healing effects, but that doesn't mean they heal instantly. At best, they remain at a faint effect of assisting natural healing. Also, such things are usually only available at clinics. The fees for those clinics are too high for commoners to visit casually.

  In that respect, if you use Qi, you can get healing effects fast enough to be considerable, if not instant, and you can directly enhance physical abilities significantly. These were the main superiorities of Qi over Magic Power.

  "Also, in this world, there are rare, troublesome Anti-Magic Creatures that have high resistance to magic. Humans with Magic Power have some magic resistance, but there are guys who are beyond that."

  "There are such scary things?"

  "Moreover. It's probably not limited to this world. My master said so too. But even against such opponents, attacks by Qi are effective. You should remember that."

  "Yes."

  Anti-Magic Creatures. It seems tough to deal with them in a female body. As I was thinking that, Sensei muttered.

  "By the way. The Sacris Sword Corps was originally a squad to fight against things difficult to deal with by magic, like Anti-Magic Creatures. But..."

  Sensei looked at my face and nodded at something.

  "Qi Sword Arts is harder to master compared to magic. Year by year, applicants decreased—"

  Looking around the empty Dojo with no one but her and me, Sensei dropped her shoulders.

  "Now it's in this state. Few even know the name of Qi Sword Arts, and barely some powerful people can handle the rudiments."

  "Sensei..."

  "I also give guidance to enthusiastic ones in the Sword Corps once a month... but that is the best resistance I can offer. Is this also the flow of the times?"

  Sensei showed a slightly lonely face. It was unbearable to see her like that. It might be just a comfort, but. With the thought of "at least me," I said.

  "Sensei. I won't give up halfway. I might be clumsy, I might disappoint you in various ways. But I will definitely master Qi Sword Arts someday."

  At my determination, Sensei opened her eyes wide as if slightly surprised. And, not blatantly, but—she relaxed her lips a little happily.

  "Hmph. Then, I must train you even more."

  "Please keep it moderate."

  [At the Dojo]

  "Has it been half a year since you came?"

  "It's been that long already."

  Half a year had passed since I started training three-legged race style with Sensei. It was tough in various ways, but looking back, it seems like strict but warm and fun days.

  "Yu. It's late today, why don't you stay over at my place?"

  "What's wrong? Suddenly."

  She always sends me back to the dorm, so to propose such a thing. It feels a bit unlike Sensei.

  "Just because."

  I take back my words. Sensei was Sensei after all.

  "Sure. I can stay."

  "Is that so."

  Sensei's face at that time looked awfully happy.

  We laid out just two futons in the vast Dojo and lay down together. The Dojo, which is usually noisy with the two of us moving around, was now quietly silent. Enough to hear my own heartbeat without putting my hand on my chest.

  "Sleeping together like this... it's been a long time. Somehow it reminds me of the old days..."

  Sensei's face illuminated by the moonlight seemed to be nostalgic for the past, and somewhat sorrowful too. When she muttered, "Though the positions are reversed now," her expression had returned to normal, though.

  "Yu. Is the training strict after all? Have you ever thought you hated it?"

  "Of course I have. I wonder how many times I prepared myself for death."

  "Hoh. That was bad of me."

  Sensei said in a cheerful tone, not seeming to think it was bad at all. Looking back on this and that, I also continued with a small laugh.

  "But thanks to that, I feel I've been trained considerably both mentally and physically. Sensei, you're caring after all."

  "Fufu. Is that so. But I have merely pounded the basics into you. I have prepared a tougher menu for the future."

  "Bring it on."

  There, the conversation broke off once, and a brief silence returned. Sensei muttered.

  "You too, will eventually go somewhere like my master, won't you?"

  "I don't know. But, I don't want to go..."

  If I can't return to Earth, at least I want to stay here forever. Living on this planet, I had come to think so.

  "You think so?"

  Sensei looked surprised. I somehow felt like telling Sensei about my circumstances. Maybe the lonely moonlight of the night makes me do so.

  "My parents died when I was small. Since then, I had no one to call family. Friends I could open my heart to also disappeared before I knew it. Since then, I've been alone all the time."

  "Alone, huh."

  Sensei, who muttered that, had completely hidden her usual strict face. She was staring at me intently with eyes that grieved and pitied as if it were her own matter.

  "Still, I loved the planet I was born on. I can't explain well why I loved it. Maybe it's just patriotism. I didn't want to leave. And yet, for reasons I don't understand well, I was blown to this planet."

  "I see. No family, no friends, and chased from your hometown. It must have been painful."

  Sensei was unusually sympathetic. I nodded obediently.

  "Honestly, I was sad at first. I was anxious, and I didn't expect much from life here."

  But now.

  "I made precious friends, and I have Sensei too. Then, I ended up liking this place too. I think I don't want to leave. Is it selfish talk?"

  "Not at all. I think it's a normal emotion as a human."

  "But... if the story about FabLs is true. Someday I have to leave here too. If I have to feel like this everywhere I go, I..."

  Will I be able to endure it? Honestly, I'm not confident.

  At that moment, Sensei's hand touched my head. Stroking my head, she looked at me with eyes full of kindness and affection that she usually doesn't show. It was a little embarrassing, but while being stroked, I felt the anxious mood lightening.

  Eventually, Sensei conveyed words as if choosing them one by one.

  "I cannot do anything about your circumstances. However, I can say this much."

  With a voice that seemed to convey Sensei's sincere heart.

  "Even if the time for parting comes someday. Yu. It does not mean I will disappear from you."

  "Sensei..."

  "When you swing your sword. What I taught you, what I will teach you from now on. I am in there. It is the same for others. Even if places are separated, hearts are connected."

  Hearts are connected, huh. It's a cliché, but maybe thinking so is the correct answer. But I was still too young to reach such enlightenment.

  "It would be nice if I could think like that. Maybe it's still impossible for me. I can't accept it easily."

  "You will be able to think so eventually. Surely."