The cool morning air sent a chill through my body as I stood outside, gripping a wooden training sword. The village was still asleep, the sky painted in shades of deep blue as the first hints of sunlight peeked over the horizon.
I took a deep breath and adjusted my stance.
Last night’s conversation with Elder Jiro kept replaying in my mind. The seventh unrivaled one. It sounded ridiculous. Me? Some kind of legendary warrior?
But… what if it was true?
If I really had power, I needed to control it.
And if I didn’t… I needed to survive anyway.
So, I decided to train.
---
Step One: Warming Up
I stretched my arms, trying to recall the warm-ups I used to do back home. A few squats, a couple of push-ups, some basic footwork. Simple enough, right?
Wrong.
After about twenty minutes, my muscles were already burning, and I was gasping like a dying fish.
“Damn it… I thought I was in decent shape,” I muttered, wiping sweat off my forehead.
I wasn’t some weak office worker, but my body felt heavier here. Maybe it was this world’s gravity? Or maybe I was just weak compared to the monsters out there.
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Either way, I wasn’t stopping.
---
Step Two: Sword Practice (A.K.A. Swinging Sticks Like an Idiot)
I grabbed the wooden sword and started swinging it in controlled motions.
One. Two. Three.
At least, that’s what I thought I was doing.
From an outsider’s perspective, I probably looked like a drunk idiot flailing a stick.
That’s when I heard a yawn behind me.
“Hiroshi-san, what are you doing…?”
I turned to see Kaito, still half-asleep, his hair sticking up in every direction. He rubbed his eyes and stared at me like I was a madman.
“I’m training,” I said, trying to sound serious.
Kaito blinked. “You look like a dying goose.”
I nearly dropped my sword. “What?”
He grinned. “I mean, what kind of sword stance is that?”
I frowned, looking down at my posture. It wasn’t that bad… right?
Kaito stretched his arms, then picked up a stick from the ground. “Here, let me show you.”
---
Step Three: Learning from a Kid
Kaito took a stance, his movements suddenly sharp and refined.
SWISH. His stick cut through the air with a satisfying sound.
SWOOSH. Another swing, perfectly balanced.
I stared. “You… you actually know what you’re doing?”
He smirked. “Of course! My dad was a soldier before he retired. He taught me how to fight when I was little.”
I sighed. “Great. So I’m getting lessons from a twelve-year-old.”
Kaito grinned wider. “Thirteen, actually.”
“Right. That totally changes things.”
Kaito laughed. “Come on, watch closely! You need to stop swinging like an old man trying to swat flies.”
I groaned but followed his instructions. Surprisingly, he was a good teacher.
“Keep your knees bent a little.”
“Hold your grip firmer, but don’t tense up.”
“Move with your whole body, not just your arms!”
At first, it was awkward. But after a while, I started getting the hang of it.
---
Step Four: Sparring Disaster
“Okay, now let’s spar,” Kaito said, spinning his stick like a pro.
“Wait, wait, wait,” I said quickly. “I just learned how to hold the damn sword. Can we—”
WHACK.
Before I could finish, Kaito lunged forward and smacked my leg.
“OW!” I yelped, hopping on one foot.
Kaito laughed. “Too slow, Hiroshi-san!”
“Oh, you little—”
I swung back, but he dodged easily, poking me in the ribs.
“ACK!”
“Come on, you need to react faster!”
“I’ll react when I’m NOT BEING ATTACKED BY A GREMLIN!”
For the next few minutes, I desperately tried to land a hit, but Kaito danced around me like a damn ninja.
SWISH. Missed.
SWOOSH. Another miss.
BONK. Right on my forehead.
I collapsed onto the grass, groaning. “I hate this.”
Kaito burst into laughter. “You’re not bad for a beginner!”
I glared at him. “I hope a direwolf eats you.”
“That’s rude,” he snickered. “But don’t worry, Hiroshi-san. You’ll get better. Eventually.”
I sighed, staring up at the sky.
Maybe this world wasn’t so bad.
At least, I had a friend.
