Chapter 57: Assault

The black market where people of various races roam around.

After being tormented by Gon and Rica all day, I stopped by briefly before going to pick up Olivia.

“I heard it was around here..”

I need to find the voodoo practitioner.

I had to find a way to block those things called Loa that I saw that day.

“This must be it.”

While wandering the black market, I found a shop decorated with skulls and covered in somewhat dangerous-looking paintings.

This is the voodoo supplies specialty shop.

“Hello.”

“Welcome.”

As I entered, a bald black man glanced at me.

Maybe because he was a black man covered in piercings and tattoos, he looked somewhat scary.

I should say he gave off a strong feeling of being truly versed in voodoo.

Voodoo is like South American shamanism, right?

It felt like I might get cursed in my sleep if I offended this man.

“Um, I came here recommended by Raphanel.”

When I took out the letter of recommendation Raphanel gave me and handed it to the voodoo practitioner, he examined the paper for a while and then asked with a serious expression.

“If she sent you, something must have happened. What’s the matter?”

“Well, you see.”

I explained to him about what I saw.

About the three villainesses and what they tried to do to me.

“What, the villainesses just teased you and left?”

“Yes. Is this perhaps a serious situation?”

“It’s serious if you consider it serious. Looked at differently, it could also be an opportunity. There are those who practice austerities their whole lives to communicate with Loa.”

“I don’t particularly want to communicate with them.”

“Then try using this.”

The voodoo practitioner handed me a small wooden box.

“It’s a substitute doll.”

“A substitute doll?”

“Yes. A doll that will endure the villainesses’ mischief in your place. When you get home, put your lips to the doll’s mouth and blow in your breath. Then the villainesses won’t be able to distinguish between you and the doll. They’ll torment the substitute doll instead of you.”

“Is that really true! Oh!”

Yes, this is what I wanted.

A tool that will cleanly solve the problem I’m currently facing.

“But you need to check on the doll occasionally.”

“I just need to check on it?”

“Yes. If you find the doll torn, come to me without fail. If it’s dyed a different color, make sure to wash it. If it’s not washed, they’ll notice it’s a doll. And if the doll disappears from the wooden box.. you’ve already been found out. There’s no way if you can’t find the doll before night comes.”

“I guess I need to check this every day.”

“Yes. And make sure to take the wooden box with you when you enter the labyrinth. Then there should be no problem.”

“I understand.”

If I had to sleep in the labyrinth, I needed to put the wooden box in my spatial pocket.

“The price is 1 gold.”

“That’s more expensive than I thought.”

“This is cheap. I’m only charging the cost price because you’re an acquaintance of Raphanel.”

“I see..”

“That doll. It’s quite valuable. It’s very difficult to make.”

Still, 1 gold is much cheaper than the price of a life.

“If you keep seeing the three sisters, come back again. We’ll try a different method then. And even if they speak to you, never answer. The moment you answer means you’re willing to ‘communicate’. Even if they find out you can see them. You must not answer. If you answer, they’ll keep tormenting you.”

“I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”

I left the shop carrying the wooden box containing the doll.

I felt relieved with this.

I felt at ease thinking I had solved all the immediate problems.

---

It’s already the 4th day of frequenting the martial arts hall.

For the past 3 days, I’ve been doing nothing but physical training under Gon and Rica.

It seems I’ve learned how to increase muscle rather than how to fight.

Somehow it feels like muscles are growing quickly and my body is gradually changing.

Judging by the results showing in just 3 days, I think Shaka’s legacy might be taking effect.

Anyway, as muscles grow, it definitely feels satisfying to exercise.

“You’re a friend with fast muscle growth. Maybe being a warrior was your true calling.”

“You didn’t seem to approve at first.”

“At that time, I didn’t know muscles would grow this fast.”

Gon seemed to quite like me.

He grins every time he sees me.

“By the way, Rica isn’t here today.”

“I’m not sure either. She didn’t come.”

“I see.”

She was always lifting weights alone in the martial arts hall.

It seems something came up today.

Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen the young lady since that day either.

Yuria hasn’t returned yet either.

I’m also living a busy life, exercising all day and falling asleep as soon as I get home.

Everyone is spending their time diligently.

“Um, I think I need to enter the labyrinth soon. When will you teach me how to fight?”

“I was planning to start teaching you how warriors fight from today.”

“Finally!”

After 4 days, Gon told me to pick up a weapon.

There were 5 weapons in front of me.

These were the weapons Gon could teach.

“One-handed sword and axe. Hammer and club. And shield.”

A one-handed sword with a wide blade suitable for slashing, an axe good for splitting skulls.

And a hammer that seems best for crushing bones, and a club that seems to perform above average no matter who uses it.

“Is there something to learn separately for the shield too?”

“Even the act of blocking well requires skill. Always take the shield and then choose one weapon.”

“Yes, I understand.”

An experienced warrior should be able to handle various weapons.

Unlike swordsmen who focus solely on swords or knights who handle spears based on sword techniques, warriors are those who can use anything as a weapon as long as they can grasp and swing it.

Therefore, it seemed they preferred weapons closer to blunt instruments rather than weapons requiring tremendous skill or proficiency or those with many aspects to delve into.

“The axe is good. It combines the advantages of blunt and sharp weapons. Clubs and maces are good too. Mass is violence.”

“What about swords?”

“Swords are good too. You can drain the enemy’s stamina by causing bleeding. Actually, anything is good as long as the center of gravity is well balanced.”

After deliberating between the sword and axe, I picked up the axe.

It seemed good for both slashing and crushing by pressing down with its mass.

“The axe is an excellent weapon. Traditionally, there’s a saying that it’s good to wield an axe if you want to talk to monsters.”

“What? Really?”

“Really. The axe is the most excellent means of communication. Now then, 300 repetitions of chopping firewood.”

“Wait, 300 repetitions of chopping firewood..!?”

“The most important thing in handling an axe is ultimately the sense of splitting the target… feeling the ‘grain’.”

Gon told me to chop firewood until I could feel the grain.

Following his words, I started chopping the firewood behind the martial arts hall.

He even made me chop firewood while holding a shield, saying I needed to become one with the equipment.

“Can you feel the grain?”

“Something like the timing when it splits well? I think I can feel something like that.”

“You understand what the grain is properly. Your learning speed is incredibly fast. Yes, as you said, that feeling of it splitting well is important. If you can grasp that, you can split the opponent in half whether they’re wearing armor or harder than stone.”

“Oh….!”

“Next, let’s realize how to handle a shield.”

When he told me to lift the shield, I took the most basic defensive stance I learned from Gon.

“Yes, that stance. Now, from here on, I’ll beat it into your body quickly. After all, combat is something you learn by getting hit. From today until the day you enter the labyrinth, it’s endless sparring with me along with basic physical training.”

“Wait a moment!!!!”

BANG!!!

I lifted the shield more strongly to block Gon’s charge.

I definitely blocked it, but my body floated up and was blown backward.

It wasn’t something that could be dealt with by simply blocking.

It was the impact of colliding head-on with an oncoming car.

“Ugh.”

“Just now, your body’s balance was broken. Can’t you withstand even this level of charge? Stand up again. Even if your body is blown away, try not to fall as much as possible. If you fall, it’s over.”

“No, are you telling me to keep balance in mid-air?”

“There are many large creatures in the labyrinth. Even high orcs are bigger than adult human males. Are you going to fall every time you’re attacked? You said you wanted to become a warrior. If you’re going to collapse so easily, get out and join the swordsman guild.”

“Crazy. Your words are harsh. What do you mean skinny swordsman? That’s a disgrace to warriors.”

“If you don’t want to hear insults about becoming a swordsman, stop whining and get up. I learned from my father while being cursed at too, so this is inherited scolding and inherited love. Warriors don’t whine.”

Gon said he would make me realize how to be pushed back stably without falling.

That was literally a method of learning through the body.

“For an East Asian with a small build like you, guts and stubbornness are essential. Stop falling over and over. If you fall, all your companions behind you will die too. Are you going to throw your companions to the monsters as food?”

“Sigh.. I’ll try again.”

“Good. Excellent. Endure. Endure. I said endure.”

Gon charged at me again.

Even though it was a short distance, the pressure was enormous.

The large barbarian’s charge alone was a huge violence.

‘This man isn’t teaching systematic techniques. I have to learn by getting hit. I need to grasp the senses Shaka left me through Gon.’

I gritted my teeth and stared straight at the charging Gon.

The most important thing for a warrior is ultimately the will to endure.

BANG!!!

Once again, Gon slammed into the shield, and my body floated up and was blown backward.

‘If I’m blown away and fall like this, it’s over.’

I need to land on both feet without losing balance from the blown-away posture.

Or endure to the end so that the body isn’t blown away.

Both are difficult for me right now.

“Ugh..!”

I fell backward again.

As my back hit the ground, my lungs were compressed and my breath burst out.

I coughed incessantly and my vision spun.

“Does it hurt? Don’t savor the pain. Swallow it and get up quickly.”

“Ugh.. Isn’t this teaching method too crude?”

“Don’t question my teaching. If you will it, it can be done. That’s the mindset of a warrior. Did you truly try to endure? Didn’t you give up? You were scared of my charge. Why were you scared? This isn’t a place where you can run away even if you want to. Endure to the end. There are companions behind you.”

“Haa.. Damn it.”

I stood up again.

“Keep your balance properly. Why do you give up on balancing when you know you’ll be blown away anyway? Don’t give up. Stand up. I’m going again.”

For the next 2 hours, I literally practiced only enduring, and by the time the practice shield was tattered, I was able to stand on two legs after taking Gon’s charge.

“Ha! You endured. To think you could do this in just one day. You’re certainly fast. When your body is blown away by an opponent of a higher weight class. You just learned how to keep balance and not fall. Don’t forget that sensation. You have enough muscle strength. If you have the will to endure, you can endure.”

“Um, my back hurts too much.”

“Don’t exaggerate. We’re moving on to the next stage.”

“Next stage?”

“Yes. This time, you knock me down.”

“What? Me? No, how is that…”

“You’re questioning my words again. If you try, you can do it. Don’t question. If I say you can do it, you can do it.”

“Damn…”

After that, I kept repeating the action of charging at Gon.

“Put more strength into it! In the end, being a warrior is all about not falling and knocking others down!”

“Is that all there is to it? You bastard who only eats and mates.”

“Oh my. Are you charging mindlessly without putting strength in your waist again?”

“Are you lacking in intelligence? If weight doesn’t work, aim for my legs. Is your weapon just for decoration!”

“You bastard! You’re not coming straight! Ram into me! Your charge has no soul! You inadequate fool.”

Gon mercilessly pushed me away, struck me, and blew me away as I charged at him.

“Haa. Shit.”

Curses come out naturally.

My body felt so heavy that it was hard to even stand up.

“Whew. Let’s stop here for today. Still, you pushed me back a little just now. Your learning speed is fast. Excellent.”

“Yes.. Thank you..”

He pushed me mercilessly during the strict training, but always praised the parts that deserved praise when the training ended.

How should I put it. He was truly like a master.

“So when are you entering the labyrinth?”

“In two days… no. I think in three days.”

“Is that so? Come every day for the remaining three days. In addition to the enduring and pushing back I taught you today, I’ll further develop your ability to shout battle cries, unyielding spirit, and pain tolerance.”

“Ah, um.. Wednesday might be difficult.”

“Why?”

“I need to go to the magic tower…”

“I see. Then I’ll beat as much as I can into you in the remaining two days. How far into the labyrinth are you planning to go?”

“For now, just the 1st or 2nd floor of the upper levels.”

“Aren’t you skilled enough to go down to the 4th floor? If you form a good team, even the underground city might be possible?”

“For now, the underground city area is still under control so we can’t go down.. and I have friends I need to guide right away. They haven’t fully adapted to mana, so we can’t go below the 2nd floor.”

“So you’re a guide. I see. Training newcomers is tough. Good luck. Clean up everything before you leave.”

“Yes…”

Gon left abruptly.

After catching my breath for a moment, I got up, cleaned up, and left the martial arts hall.

The sun is setting. It’s evening.

I need to go pick up Olivia quickly.

Tiny, Olivia’s music teacher, should have gone home by now, so Olivia is probably waiting for me alone, eagerly.

I quickly walked towards the building where the druid club was located to hurry and pick up Olivia.

‘I should take a shortcut.’

It seemed I needed to take a shortcut to get there before it got too late.

If I cut through the alleyway, I could go straight to the druid club building without having to go around.

I want to quickly bring Olivia home, eat dinner, and rest.

My muscles hurt too much. Especially my back ached so much it was hard to stand.

‘What should I eat for dinner?’

As I was thinking about dinner while walking quickly through the shortcut.

I heard someone calling me from behind.

-Hey!

It’s a woman’s voice.

It’s a voice I’ve heard somewhere before.

Ah! I remember. It’s definitely.. the voice of one of the three villainesses.

Damn! I turned around!

It was already too late to pretend I didn’t hear or notice.

I had unconsciously turned around at the voice I heard.

If it’s one of the three villainess sisters as I expected, the best thing to do is to pretend I misheard and continue on my way.

“….!”

But what’s this.

Behind me were not villainesses, but men wearing pitch-black masks and black clothes.

The men approaching me stopped in their tracks, perhaps surprised that they were discovered.

I too was so shocked by their appearance that I couldn’t move.

The alleyway was quiet.

This place is usually deserted.

There weren’t many people passing by.

Probably no one would come looking either.

“Shit.”

I immediately drew a weapon from my spatial pocket.

At the same time, three men rushed towards me like arrows being shot.

A pitch-black dagger approaches.

If I couldn’t block it properly, I would surely die.