Chapter 191: Yukinojo Wants to Become Strong!

Having repelled the pursuers, we were heading towards the priests’ village at the foot of Mt. Amatsukami using the pirates’ ship.

By the way, this ship originally belonged to the pirates, but it officially became my property as the right of the meritorious person who captured the pirates who ravaged the sea.

Well, the officials’ true intentions were probably just that dealing with a ship destined for the scrapyard was a hassle, though.

In fact, when I investigated the ship I received while repairing it, I found out it was quite an old and dilapidated vessel.

At this rate, I think it would have eventually sunk even without encountering a storm off the coast.

But well, since it’s a ship I went through the trouble of receiving, I decided to try modifying it in various ways while conducting repairs.

Fortunately, I had plenty of materials and time for modifications.

For that reason, while I was being taken care of at Seibei-san’s place, I was repairing the ship in my spare time between making potions and such, so I never had too much free time on my hands.

“Umu, to think a ship would truly fly in the sky… Are things like this used as a matter of course in foreign countries?”

“No, no, that’s only around Rex. Normal ships don’t fly in the sky, you know.”

“I-Is that so.”

Looking down at the ground from the edge of the ship with trepidation, Haruomi-san muttered fearfully, and hearing that, Mina-san denied it.

“That’s not true. If you look for them, airships are everywhere.”

“They are!?”

“No they aren’t!”

Well, the country we lived in was an inland country, and for some reason, it had a national character that didn’t try to use flight magic, so it’s no wonder Mina-san is unfamiliar with airships.

Even in my previous life, there were more than a few countries that banned specific technologies due to religious reasons or geographical and magical circumstances.

That’s because they might not be approved due to the land’s history or various circumstances, or the technology might act in a bad direction due to the characteristics of the land and become dangerous.

Therefore, to the people of such lands, technologies that are commonplace in outside countries look like a world overflowing with the unknown that they’ve never even seen.

However, that shouldn’t have been the case in the Eastern Country of the past.

Well, it’s not uncommon for a country where a disaster occurred caused by some technology to have that technology become taboo afterwards, so surely an accident caused by flight technology occurred in the Eastern Country after I died in my previous life.

Even in my previous life, there were countries where certain technologies were permanently sealed because of something an acquaintance engineer messed up.

Rather, looking at it globally, it was a common occurrence for a major accident to happen at a pace of about once a year and for a technology to be designated as dangerous… It happened often, yeah.

Anyway, due to such circumstances, it was a common occurrence that when people from lands where specific technologies were considered taboo went to outside countries, commonplace technologies looked like unknown technologies they had never even seen.

So it’s just that Mina-san and Haruomi-san don’t know about them; airships and flight magic exist normally.

“At the speed of this ship, we will arrive at Mt. Amatsukami in one day. Until then, please relax and rest your bodies, everyone.”

“R-Rest… Umu, I wonder if I can rest? …It won’t fall, right?”

“It’s fine. Because it’s something Rex made, after all.”

Well, it looks like a dilapidated ship, after all. It can’t be helped that he’s anxious.

“This country doesn’t have airships, and the destination has a landmark making it easy to spot, so it’s easy because there’s no problem taking my hands off the helm if I fix the course.”

Since I have the chance, maybe I should make various additional preparations before heading to Mt. Amatsukami.

The enemy knows we are coming and is lying in wait, so there’s no reason for us to charge in without a plan.

Since they’re going to attack anyway, I have to prepare to intercept them!

“…Haa.”

Then, I heard a sigh that sounded like it echoed from the bottom of hell.

“…Haa.”

Yeah, it’s Yukinojo-san.

Ever since he woke up, he had been sighing in that state the whole time.

Honestly, since we were at a loss on how to call out to him, everyone decided to just leave him be.

“Why am I so weak…”

Ah, he started talking.

“Even though I am the next Shogun of the Amatsumine Imperial State.”

Well, since Yukinojo-san seems to lack actual combat experience, I think it can’t be helped that he was caught off guard.

It seems he’s only touched upon the basics of combat training, too.

Rather, just experiencing actual combat and surviving is a stroke of luck.

In the sense that future growth can be expected, it’s not all bad things.

That being said, it only has meaning if the person himself realizes it.

If the people around him say this and that too much, it won’t lead to Yukinojo-san’s growth.

That’s why when someone is lost like that, the unspoken agreement among warriors is to leave them alone until they make some kind of decision themselves.

Seeing that Haruomi-san, who is his vassal, is staying silent, it seems that hasn’t changed even in the current Eastern Country.

“With this, I cannot face my late father! Uwoooooh!!”

Looking at his state, it doesn’t seem like he’s given up and rotting away.

Will he recover quickly with this?

Just as I thought that, Yukinojo-san stood up and turned towards me.

“Rex!”

“Yes?”

What is it so suddenly?

“Will you not teach me your fighting techniques!”

“Eh? Mine?”

Surprisingly, Yukinojo-san asked me to teach him combat techniques.

“But wouldn’t it be better to learn from a skilled warrior of the Eastern Country… this country, rather than from me? My techniques are techniques from an outside country, after all.”

For what it’s worth, I’ve learned the sword techniques of this country from an acquaintance in my previous life, so I can do them to some extent, but there’s no doubt it’s better to learn from an expert.

After all, my Eastern Country swordsmanship is an arranged swordsmanship combined with the sword techniques I know, and it’s an old technique.

“No, you are Mina‘s master, who lightly handled the pursuers that even our country’s elites could not stand against. If so, it is obvious that you are stronger than any master in our country! I do not want to be a burden anymore… No, I want to become stronger than anyone else!”

Unable to forgive his own weakness, Yukinojo-san begged to study under me.

“Young Master! You are the next Shogun of the Amatsumine Imperial State! No matter how strong they are, to learn the sword techniques of a foreign country is…!”

Haruomi-san, who had been watching quietly until now, objected, likely thinking that was going too far.

However, Yukinojo-san shook his head side to side at Haruomi-san’s words.

“No, Haruomi. As you said, I am the next Shogun. That is precisely why, as the one who rules the country, I cannot afford to pick and choose the means to gain strength. There is no reason for the weak. Only by showing power first can one enforce reason upon the masses. Is that not the way of the samurai of our country?”

“…It is exactly as you say.”

Told that in order to push his will through, it was more certain to learn strong foreign techniques without caring about appearances rather than obsessing over the country’s traditional martial arts, Haruomi-san nodded in frustration.

Hmm, he probably doesn’t feel good feeling like their traditional martial arts, which are their pride, were denied.

But this is troubling. I understand Yukinojo-san’s feelings, but to begin with, there’s only one day left until Mt. Amatsukami, and what we can do in just one day is limited.

“Isn’t it fine? Why not let him try?”

The one who said that was Mina-san.

“If he feels like doing anything, you should just let him try first. And if it doesn’t work out, he can just cleanly give up and find another method, right?”

“Oh! As expected of Mina! You are understanding!”

“It’s only one day until the priests’ village, and he won’t be able to learn much in that amount of time anyway.”

Mina-san persuaded the dissatisfied Haruomi-san.

Hearing that, Haruomi-san also agreed that it was true now that she mentioned it.

“Certainly, now that you mention it, it is just as Lady Mina says. It seems I also lacked calmness.”

Thank goodness. Haruomi-san seems to have calmed down too.

“So that’s how it is, but is it okay, Rex? Won’t you train him even if it’s just for one day? Even if he’s like this, he’s still our client, after all.”

“‘Even if he’s like this’ and ‘still’ are unnecessary, are they not!?”

Yukinojo-san leaked a complaint at Mina-san’s ruthless word—no, words—but the Mina-san in question completely ignored him.

But I see, the reason Mina-san affirmed Yukinojo-san’s training was apparently aiming to ease his mood in this situation.

Certainly, rather than being told it’s impossible to struggle in a situation with no time, it’s probably better for his mental health to be doing something.

To make a statement considering the client’s mental stability as well, as expected of Team Dragon Slayers’ brains!

“If that’s the case, I understand.”

“Oh! You have my thanks, Rex!”

Being able to train with me, Yukinojo-san raised a voice of joy.

“Thank you, Rex.”

“I apologize for the trouble.”

Thanked by Mina-san and Haruomi-san, I told them not to worry about it, and stood in the middle of the deck with Yukinojo-san.

“Then, shall we go with a light mock battle first?”

“Umu!”

“Rex—! Give him a hard smash! We don’t have time, so being a little strict is just right! …To the extent that you don’t kill him, though.”

“It’s okay, Mina-san.”

I wouldn’t make a blunder like causing a major injury in training, as expected.

I cast magic on my sword and Yukinojo-san’s sword.

“SAFETY EFFECT“

When the magic activated, both of our swords glowed faintly green.

“Oh!? What is this!?”

“It is impact protection magic. With this, we can train without injuring each other even with real swords. It’s magic for when we can’t prepare blunted swords specifically for mock battles, or when we want to train with our familiar, favorite weapons.”

“Oh! That is convenient!”

Hearing that he could train safely while keeping his favorite weapon, Yukinojo-san made merry.

“Then, are you ready?”

“Umu! Mina, I leave the signal to you.”

“Yes, yes. Well then, begin!”

Hearing Mina-san’s half-hearted signal, Yukinojo-san charged straight in.

“Taryaaaaaah!!”

“Naive!”

Just as Yukinojo-san raised his sword, I stepped into his chest in one stride and landed a horizontal sweeping strike with my sword.

“Guboaaaaaaah!?”

“Wait, ehh!?”

And then, surprisingly, Yukinojo-san took the attack head-on without even parrying the damage for some reason, and was blown away towards the bow.

No, he intentionally took the attack and used the power of my attack as energy to retreat backwards!

While making it look like he took a direct hit, I bet the damage to his bones and internal organs is zero!

Pegyan!

“Huh?”

Just as I thought that, Yukinojo-san didn’t even land, but crashed into the side of the ship on the bow side and bounced right up, skipping like a skipping stone as he headed towards the tip of the ram.

What on earth is he planning!?

And then, reaching the tip of the ram, Yukinojo-san just fell right off the ship.

“Aaaaaaaah~~~~~~~”

“…Wait, he fell!?”

“Yukinojo!?”

“Young Master!?”

Hurriedly chasing after him with flight magic, I carried the limp and unconscious Yukinojo-san and returned to the ship.

“Wow, that was a close call, huh.”

“Close call does not begin to cover it! The future of our country was nearly closed off into darkness!”

“I am truly sorry.”

Because his lord nearly died all of a sudden, I was scolded by Haruomi-san with a terrifying attitude.

I really did something I’m sorry for, as expected.

Since it was no longer a situation for training, I cast recovery magic on Yukinojo-san and decided to let him rest for now.

“Hmm, we can’t really do training like this. Alright, first I’ll prepare a magic item to protect Yukinojo-san’s safety!”

Since there’s no time, changing my way of thinking, I decided to make a magic item to protect Yukinojo-san’s body.

“I’ll prepare magic items for fall prevention, detoxification, and physical defense, and have him equip them. First and foremost is safety!”

Having decided that, I immediately begin developing magic items using the materials I have on hand.

I’m a bit worried because I lack the quality of materials and facilities to make them seriously, but since I’ve gathered decent materials lately, I should be able to make something reasonable.

“I’ll process the materials from the Venom Beat to incorporate a detox function, and turn the Golden Dragon scales into powder once before solidifying them into a golden scale-work ring. Also, I’ll turn the bark of the Ancient Plant into a string shape and… alright, it’s done!”

Since the defensive magic items were completed, I immediately attach them to the sleeping Yukinojo-san’s arm.

“With this, it’ll be safe even if something happens!”

Yeah, with this I won’t need to go out of my way to cast protection magic, so it’ll make training easier—killing two birds with one stone!

While doing that, the sky took on a reddish hue, and Mt. Amatsukami got considerably closer.

“I wonder if they’ll attack once it becomes night?”

We are flying defenselessly in the sky, so we must be clearly visible to the enemy too.

“Now then, shall we resume modifying the ship!”

I don’t know how much preparation I can do to counter the Majins’ attacks in the short time remaining, but even so, I’ll do as much preparation as I can!