Ch.77. Talent (2)

“That target looks good.”

The closest target. It appears to be about 25m away, which isn’t bad for a first practice.

Sione stood in the spot I designated, holding the bow loosely while waiting for my next instruction.

Without delay, I demonstrated how she should proceed while explaining the method.

“Nock the arrow on the bowstring. This bow has low draw weight, so like this. Use your index finger and thumb to hold the end of the arrow.”

“Hmm… like this?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Hmm. This looks different from what you were using earlier.”

She’s already noticed my finger positioning. I never imagined she’d observe such minute details.

I thought she’d only be watching the arrow fly.

She seemed to have carefully observed not just the straightness of the bow but the entire method and process of shooting.

She appears more enthusiastic than I expected, which isn’t bad from a teaching standpoint.

“What I used earlier is a different technique.”

“You’re not going to teach me that method?”

“Isn’t this your first time holding a bow, Lady Sione? It would be better for you to get accustomed to the bow with this method first before learning that one.”

I strongly feel that the split finger technique wouldn’t be suitable for Sione right now.

There’s an easier method called the pinch draw, and I don’t want to see her give up in frustration if she struggles with the Mediterranean draw.

She seemed to understand my reasoning and nodded.

“Turn sideways toward the target. Then raise your arm to shoot the bow.”

“Yes, I’ve seen archers take this stance. Is this right?”

“It’s correct, but… your arm is a bit low.”

“You want me to raise it higher than this?”

“Yes, raise it until your arm is parallel to the ground.”

“Nngh.”

Oh no, she’s in much worse shape than I thought…

It seems quite difficult for her to lift not only her arm but also the weight of the bow to a horizontal position.

As a result, her arm kept dropping and returning to position repeatedly.

Wait, sister, we haven’t even tried drawing the bowstring yet, and you’re already struggling like this?

My sister was in much worse shape than I thought.

“…Your posture keeps slipping.”

“…The bow is heavier than I expected. Just wait a moment.”

This isn’t something that will be resolved by waiting.

I put down my bow and approached her from behind.

“I’ll help position you from behind.”

“What?”

“Excuse me.”

I moved behind Sione and spread my arms as if embracing her.

Her frame was quite large compared to my thin build, so it ended up looking like I was hugging her.

My left hand supported her arm, and my right hand waited to assist her right arm that would soon draw the bowstring.

“How is this?”

“Aren’t you too close?”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“Ahem…”

“Ah.”

Sione was having inappropriate thoughts during this sacred teaching moment.

I’m trying my best to teach her, and she dares to think like that?

I’d love to give her a few disciplinary taps as a loving teacher.

It’s truly unfortunate that the difference in status between student and teacher is as vast as heaven and earth, preventing me from addressing this properly.

I shook my head inwardly.

“It’s fine. Will your chest wear out from touching? Don’t worry about it.”

“Still, it’s not just that.”

“Is there filth on my body?”

“No, that’s not…”

“Then there’s no problem. Now, focus on the bow instead of your chest.”

“…Understood.”

I don’t understand what’s so concerning about my unremarkable body.

This is one of the most incomprehensible reactions I’ve encountered since arriving in this world.

Well, in the end, I just need to be careful first.

I refocused on my explanation.

“Good. Turn your left arm slightly this way so it can properly support the bow.”

“This should be enough.”

“That’s perfect. Now all that’s left is to draw the bowstring and shoot.”

She had already placed the arrow on the bowstring using the pinch draw method I taught her.

Now she just needed to slowly draw the bowstring using the dead release technique.

“Now, draw the bowstring until the back of your hand touches your chin, with your elbow pointing upward at a gentle angle.”

*Trembling*

“This is harder to draw than I expected. Is it always like this?”

“The bow needs tension for the arrow to fly forward. If it’s too difficult, you could use Mana…”

Ah, Mana. In her self-deprecating monologue yesterday, Sione mentioned she had reached the level of a sword user.

It’s hard to believe based on what I’m seeing now, but if what she said is true, she must have quite a bit of Mana.

If she had used Mana to hold the bow or draw the string, I wouldn’t have needed to help her like this.

Why am I only thinking of this now?

And I don’t understand why Sione was letting her Mana go to waste.

“Now it’s working better.”

After my suggestion, Sione began channeling Mana and drew the bowstring steadily.

Following my instructions, the back of her hand touched her chin.

Since we’ve come this far, I should help her until she completes the shot.

I continued with my explanation.

“This is the basic stance.”

“Basic stance, I’ll remember that.”

“It’s fine if you fail on your first try. Just aim at the target as you feel it. I’ll correct you if you’re too far off.”

“Mm.”

After a moment, Sione finished aiming.

“Now, release the arrow.”

Twang!

The first arrow left Sione’s hand.

Her eyes followed the arrow.

Thud!

Her arrow struck the target.

Not in the center, but not at the edge either.

Seeing her arrow hit a target 25m away, Sione looked at her hand in wonder.

“I’ll try once more on my own.”

Sione shot another arrow as I had taught her.

Thunk!

This time her arrow hit the edge of the target.

“I think I’m starting to understand how to do this.”

She shot again.

This time she hit closer to the center than the edge.

“One more time.”

She carefully aimed using the dead release technique and then let go.

Her gaze followed the arrow and froze when it hit its mark.

“You hit the center perfectly.”

“I feel like I could hit the center again if I shot one more time. What do you think?”

“We’ll know if you try, won’t we?”

“…I’ll shoot once more.”

“I’ll get the arrows for you.”

Sione took the arrows I brought her and concentrated again.

Her eyes were completely different from when she was lying in bed in her room eating cookies.

The previously dull, unfocused gaze was gone, replaced by eyes deeply absorbed in something. It was refreshing to see.

I never thought I’d see her with such eyes except when eating.

Have I saved a person?

“Thank you.”

Sione took the arrow and immediately took action.

Twang! Thunk!

Once again, the arrow hit the center.

“……”

After quietly observing her result, she grabbed the quiver and moved to a different position.

From the 25m target to one that looked about 40m away.

I silently watched her.

“Do you think I can hit this one too?”

She picked up an arrow and took her stance, but seemed nervous when it came time to shoot.

Hit or miss. The distance looked almost 50m.

It would be difficult for someone who had only shot a bow three or four times to aim for the center.

Moreover, her bow, unlike Earth’s archery bows, had no sight attached. And now the cold dawn breeze was making it sway.

Honestly, I thought her arrow would miss the target or at best hit the edge.

But in this situation, I didn’t want to say anything discouraging.

“An arrow traces its most satisfying trajectory when its owner believes in themselves without wavering. Just—”

Sione glanced at me while holding the dead release.

“Clear your mind of distractions and shoot. Then you will hit.”

“Good.”

Whoosh!!

This arrow made a sharper sound than her previous shots as it flew.

Thwip!!

The rapidly shot arrow embedded itself in the target.

Not in the center, but not at the edge either.

But what mattered to her was simply that her arrow had hit the target.

“…I hit it!”

The corners of her mouth, usually drooping, curved upward.

Having succeeded once, she seemed to gain confidence and shot two more arrows.

One might think the first hit was luck, but every arrow she shot struck the target.

“…I’m shooting better than when I started.”

I began archery with a much better compound bow than the one she was using.

I remember aiming at targets around 50m away like she was doing now. But my arrows rarely hit the target, barely grazing the edge at best.

I had intended to give her a hobby, but it seems she may have discovered a talent.

In the midst of this, Sione called to me with a collapsed posture.

“Come help me.”

“Help, you say?”

Why now when she was shooting so well just a moment ago?

“This time I want to accomplish it with only what I have, without borrowing the power of Mana.”

She moved to face a target 70m away, nocked an arrow, and began to draw.

With trembling arms, she spoke.

“I feel like I can gain confidence in myself with this one shot.”

“…Please wait a moment. I’ll come help you right away.”

I approached her, supported her left arm holding the bow, and helped her draw the bowstring.

Once her posture was set, she aimed while trying to steady her trembling right arm.

“I’m letting go now.”

“Thank you.”

I removed my hands that had been helping support her arms.

And then.

“Hah.”

Sione’s breath stopped, and from her momentarily still posture, a single line shot forth.

At the same time, her arms went limp.

Not noticing her collapsed posture, she was dripping with sweat, having put all her energy into that one shot.

“Ha, haha.”

A weak laugh, like air escaping.

Then Sione’s face lit up with what seemed to be her brightest, most radiant smile yet.

“The sword didn’t work out, but the bow. With a bow, things might be different.”

Her arrow had barely hit the edge of the target.

It might have been the result of luck.

But even if it was just luck, it was enough to show her the possibility she had been thirsting for.

Sione turned around with an excited expression and met my eyes.

“Can you continue teaching me archery?”

“Of course.”

“In that case—”

As the sun rose and the sky at the horizon began to turn red, she made a promise.

“…I want to come here at this time every day from now on.”

After hesitating, Sione said with a determined expression.

“Will you help me?”

I nodded in agreement to Sione’s words.

“An excellent choice.”

From rotten food to fermented delicacy.

My master, who had been rotting alive while shut in her room, was beginning to change.