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. Nobody 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 constitution 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 assemble. 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 participate in war?」 (Velt)
「That’s right.」 (Taira)
Even though it’s not related to me, when it comes to
someone I know participating 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
participating in war, does he think I’m a coward? I’m in the same class 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 participated 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 participate 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 nobody 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 nobody
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.