“It’s impossible, impossible, impossible. To continue evading for 10 seconds with the master as an opponent. The master’s strength is on the level where it could be called a cheat.”
That day, I complained incessantly while doing my duty of waiting on ojou-sama with Mercè-san, at the evening party.
In the end, I was knocked out by the master in a single hit from behind.
I was defeated in the span of 3 seconds.
Although I was healed with healing magic, the second half of my training, which was supposed to be in swordsmanship, was cancelled just to be sure.
I was told to rest until evening.
When it is time for the evening party, I went to serve ojou-sama with Mercè-san.
The topic of conversation is of the mock battle this afternoon.
[But to last 3 seconds with father as an opponent is amazing.]
“Thank you very much. However, being barely able to avoid……Honestly, it is so embarrassing. Moreover, to have special training everyday until I can evade for more than 10 seconds. Gigi-san is being too unreasonable.”
Drooping her shoulder, ojou-sama looks flustered.
She looks so cute.
She wrote on the mini blackboard.
[How about closing the distance rather than increasing it next time? If you could deal with father’s feints calmly, I think you would surely be able to persevere for 10 seconds.]
“Was there a feint used?”
[Yes. After the first strike, he used a feint causing Lute-san to escape backwards, so that he could give pursuit.]
In other words, I thought that I was acting on my thoughts, but in reality it was all within master’s grasp.
(That is like herding fish.)
Master seemed to be able to pull off those extreme reactions because he knew of the actions I will take.
“However, ojou-sama has good judgement. Without even using magic,” I blurted out and frantically shut my mouth.
I am not sensitive enough and threaded onto her trauma.
“?”
Ojou-sama tilted her head.
To smooth over the words I blurted out, I hurriedly requested more advice to improve my condition.
“Is, is there any other advice? With ojou-sama’s input, I might be able to break through the 10 second barrier. If there is anything that you noticed, I’d appreciate it if you let me know.”
I do not distrust ojou-sama, I am willing to accept any guidance in order to fix the flaws that are observed in me.
In close range combat that is almost to the point of touching each other – arm’s length – bulging muscles from training will make it hard to throw fast punches.
There is certainly great worth in attempting close range combat.
I was also taught of the master’s minor habits.
Thus, the evening party turned into a location for the strategy meeting for the fight against the count tomorrow.
After that, I invited Gigi-san to my room just like last night, to inform him that ojou-sama will be observing tomorrow’s fight again. Incidentally, I also wanted to try asking a doubt that has been bugging me.
How could ojou-sama, who couldn’t even cast magic to strengthen her body, be able to keep track of the master’s smallest movements which even I couldn’t do.
Gigi-san was amazed as he explained.
“The vampire race not only has night vision, but also good eyesight and kinetic vision. Ojou-sama’s eyes seems to be exceptional even amongst them, the madam did explain that on the first day Lute arrived, didn’t she.”
I had forgotten about it.
But, that should not be a level that could be described just with ‘good eyes’……
To be capable of capturing the master’s every action without the aid of magic, from her bedroom window on the 2nd storey.
“Ojou-sama’s eyes are more outstanding than Lute can ever imagine.”
Gigi-san folded his arms while reminiscing the past.
He recounted……
Before ojou-sama became a hikikomori, she came came across the nest of Giant Bats in the forest behind the castle.
Giant bats are 2 meters large, enormous bats that could suck dry the blood of livestock, children, and adults.
The forest is situated around 1 kilometer away from the castle.
Master decided for their extermination after judging them to be dangerous.
At night, they waited for the giant bats to gather at their nest so that they could be eliminated in one fell swoop.
The master and madam stopped their smiles as they observed their surroundings, and proceeded on to the extermination.
They had taken 2 of their subordinates into the forest.
Head of security, Gigi-san was left at the castle as a precaution.
The giant bats would undoubtedly lose to master and madam, and a deafening roar that would shake anyone to the core resounded.
It was the sound that marks their victory.
But unfortunately, a single giant bat managed to escape.
It flee in the direction of the castle.
Although Gigi-san tried to defeat it with magic……
The giant bat swooped down at the plains between the forest and castle.
The giant bat was blazing towards ojou-sama.
Out of nowhere, she took out bow and arrows, and in that windy night, her single arrow pierced through the giant bat that had blended into the darkness of the night sky.
She even managed to accurately shoot through it’s eye socket which was only about 5 cm in size.
The forehead of the giant bat is very tough and arrows were unable to pierce through it.
Therefore, even though it is common sense for bow users to shoot the eyes, for a child to accurately shoot her arrow without mistake, is reason enough to cause anyone to shudder at such an impossible feat.
“As I stood in front of the giant bat’s carcass that was shot, I was convinced. If Chrisse ojou-sama had potential as a magician, she would have dwarfed even her parents’ already outstanding talent.”
Gigi-san hung his head solemnly.
But, he soon raised his head.
“Sorry, please forget that last part…… Anyway, ojou-sama has grown to look forward to observing the training session. This is a once in a lifetime chance. Lute has to break through the 10 second hurdle with ojou-sama’s advice during training tomorrow. In that way, we can create an opportunity for ojou-sama to renew her confidence by letting her taste a sense of achievement from completing this pseudo-goal. It is a very heavy responsibility.”
“Then please advise the master to go easy on me during the mock battle.”
I spoke in such a tone to Gigi-san who had placed additional needless pressure on me.
However, Gigi-san dismissed it with a “In that case, it wouldn’t be training anymore.”
Whew. Really, that is such an exhausting exchange.
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