Chapter 65

Splitting Fixed Objects.

I perfectly completed the first step task given by Godwin.

By splitting logs.

After splitting 100 logs in half and then each of those pieces again, it amounted to having split logs 300 times.

It was a skill that consumed much more strength and stamina than the Imperial Style 8, so I felt muscle pain coming on and collapsed, utterly exhausted, on the floor.

If I hadn’t received a vitality infusion from Hiresia, I wouldn’t have been able to finish it all in one day.

This is why it’s good to have connections.

Anyway, after finishing the first step like that, my proficiency exactly increased by 3%.

Considering that proficiency increases quickly at the beginning and it becomes harder as one progresses to the mid and late stages, this wasn’t a significant increase.

But there’s a reason for that.

Because I trained with a fixed object, an easy target.

In terms of martial arts, it’s like only hitting a sandbag vigorously.

Of course, there’s no way proficiency would increase much with that.

Eventually, I have to practice with a moving target.

‘That’s exactly the second step.’

The second task given by Godwin.

Splitting a moving object, not a fixed one.

For that, I needed an assistant.

“Let’s get this over with quickly. It’s going to be boring.”

Hiresia yawned openly and said.

If it had been before, she would have been too bothered to even listen to the request, but thanks to the power of favorability, I was able to get her help.

Of course, as a token of gratitude, I decided to buy her a melt-in-the-mouth tenderloin steak.

“Ready anytime. Let’s start.”

I said, taking my stance.

“Yeah, yeah.”

Yesterday, Hiresia threw a piece of log that had been cut three times and was easy to handle.

It seemed carelessly thrown, but it was just within the reach of my sword.

Whoosh!

Thwack!

However, my sword cut only the empty air, and the piece of log fell to the ground intact.

I stood there awkwardly, feeling embarrassed.

“Hmm… As expected, it’s not easy to cut a moving object.”

I said, as if I knew this would happen, and corrected my awkward posture.

It’s not strange to fail at first since I’m not familiar with this technique.

Of course.

“Well, it’s the first time, after all.”

I confidently cracked my neck side to side.

I failed, but I roughly grasped it.

The trajectory and timing.

Now, even if it comes at a tricky position, I felt like I could slice it cleanly.

“Ah, really? Okay, try again.”

It seemed like Hiresia was teasing me with a playful expression, or maybe it was just my imagination.

Swoosh.

She threw the log piece again.

Oh.

Good, good.

This time, the piece of log came flying in a position that was very easy to cut.

Right in front of the center of my body.

This is it.

“Haap!”

With a powerful shout, I delivered a decisive blow like an executioner.

But then.

What? What?

The piece of log that seemed to come straight suddenly curved outward like a slider.

Whoosh!

Thwack!

Damn.

“Come on, even so, a curveball? How long have we known each other that you’re being too harsh?”

I protested immediately, too flabbergasted.

Throwing a slider with a piece of log… Where in the world would you find an elf doing that?

“What’s a curveball?”

Hiresia asked, her eyes wide with confusion.

Ah, right, there’s no baseball here.

“I mean, the log piece you threw that curved outward. Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“Huh? I believed in you.”

She blinked in confusion, not understanding.

In front of that expression, I didn’t have the energy to protest further.

“Even if I’m second-best in our grade you shouldn’t trust me too much and should adjust a little.”

“Disappointing.”

“Ugh.”

“Kidding. I will adjust it impressively.”

Wow, now she’s handling it well.

Impressive.

“As expected of my senior, I always had faith in you.”

“Doesn’t that sound soulless?”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. I’m counting on you.”

I took my stance again.

“Here it goes.”

Swoosh.

Hiresia threw the log piece.

This time, it also came towards the center, a perfect position to cut.

Surely it wouldn’t swerve at a dog-like angle this time.

If it did, shes really not human… no, not even an elf.

I concentrated and put strength into my sword.

Crack!

Finally, the log piece was cleanly split in half.

Yes, this is the feeling.

I sheathed my sword with a slightly refreshed expression, but Hiresia was about to throw the next piece.

“Wait, wait.”

I waved my hand.

“Why?”

“There’s a delay. Let’s take a break.”

“So many conditions.”

“I’ve just mentioned one…”

“Fine. Now I clearly know your level. You’re lacking enough to need to be nurtured.”

Her look was like that of someone watching a newbie on his first day at a labor site, and I was taken aback.

But it wasn’t just that.

“I will spoon-feed you the technique, so keep your eyes open.”

Like a dependable and warm-hearted senior looking after a clueless newbie.

That kind of senior elf looking at me was precious.

Unknowingly, a strange emotion welled up within me.

An emotion of wanting to rely on her fully.

This is why there are men who openly like being led by a capable older woman.

“Uh… um… yes.”

I mumbled, and my face must have turned red because she reacted immediately.

“Why are you blushing?”

Her ears twitched.

That one was definitely easier to read than humans.

“I’m embarrassed.”

I scratched the back of my head trying to recuperate.

“Hmm… Ah, as long as you know. Work hard.”

“Yes, I will do my best.”

The atmosphere settled again, and my gaze became serious.

Hiresia seemed to like that attitude and smiled faintly.

“The beginning is just a warm-up.”

Swoosh.

Hiresia began throwing the log pieces again.

Just as she said, the pieces flew from the front, the easiest position to cut.

Crack!

Of course, I split it easily.

“How long is the delay?”

“10 seconds.”

Although the technique is simple, it has a skill delay time because it’s a powerful strike.

It’s a skill that can’t be used consecutively.

“Ugh, how tedious?”

“It shouldn’t be tedious for you. It’s just 10 seconds, not a minute or 30 seconds…”

“I’m putting up with it because it’s you.”

I was taken aback by her words that could once again lead to a strange atmosphere, but fortunately, she seemed to have said it without much thought.”Let’s keep going.”

Hiresia’s hand moved again.

Whoosh.

Thud!

Whoosh.

Crack!

Whoosh.

Crunch!

She continuously threw the log pieces neatly timed with the delay.

What was amazing was that none of the throws were to the same position.

She slightly varied the position to make the logs easier to cut.

Her control was incredible.

It seems her sense of hand was as exceptional as her archery skills.

Anyway, thanks to that, the training became much easier.

“Now that we’re warmed up, let’s move on to the next.”

Swish.

The position of the log piece changed.

If earlier it was at a distance that made it too easy to cut through the center of the blade, this time it was at a distance that touched the outside and the inside of the blade.

Throwing randomly to the outside and inside made it a bit tricky.

Still

Crunch!

It was a timing that allowed enough room to hit.

Crunch! Thud! Crack! Pop!

I destroyed the log pieces coming at me relentlessly.

Sweat had started to trickle down my forehead.

my body was also drenched in sweat.

It was a technique that definitely used up physical strength.

“Huff.”

I caught my breath for a moment during the delay time.

“Good, now let’s make it more difficult.”

Hiresia nodded as if to say well done and changed the trajectory of the log pieces again.

The position of a precarious sword strike distance that I failed at initially.

I wouldn’t fail once or twice.

Crunch!

My sword split the log piece in half as if to show off.

Crunch! Crack! Thud! Crunch! Crack! Thud!

Ten times in a row like that.

I didn’t fail even once.

“It’s certainly better than the beginning. But the enemy doesn’t just come from the front, right?”

Whoosh.

Hiresia suddenly threw a log piece to my left.

Flick!

I reacted immediately and swung my sword, but I clearly didn’t cut it completely.

It was only half cut.

“Not enough. But you can do it.”

A reality check and encouragement.

A good senior indeed.

It was a good choice to ask for her help.

Maybe I’ll get more results than I thought.

I said with a smile,

“Of course. Let’s continue.”

And so I repeated the training of cutting the log pieces coming quickly from the left and right until it was perfected.

Not only that, but I even practiced cutting the log pieces coming from behind with my back turned.

This was a training I had never tried even in gameplay.

Turning around and cutting with precision was harder than I could have imagined.

There were countless misses.

I was completely exhausted too.

But in the end, the hard work paid off.

Crack! Crunch! Crack!

Three consecutive successes.

Then Hiresia finally stopped her hand.

“It seems you’ve got it now. Let’s move on to the next.”

“Pant…pant… There’s more? Heave… Just a moment, please. I’m really about to pass out.

Heave….

“Ah, now that you mention it, you do look like it. But we can’t stop here, can we? I’ll save you some energy.”

Hiresia approached me, completely exhausted, and placed her hand on my chest.

Soon, a familiar energy entered me.

[Hiresia has cast ‘Vitality Infusion’ with all her might on you.]

[Your body starts to overflow with vitality.]

A sudden surge of energy throughout the body.

It felt like getting a new body.

Now I felt alive.

“Huff… Thank you, senior.”

“Hmph, you know now. Let’s continue.”

“But what now…?”

I was curious.

We had finished the back as well, but there was still more training to do?

“Do you think the opponent will always come with honest movements?”

“That’s not it.”

“So try training with irregular trajectories too. This is really the last one.”

“Hmm, I see.”

I understood for sure.

Real opponents are not log pieces coming honestly flying.

Of course, there will be a fair number of enemies that are worse or similar to those honest movements, but one must always keep in mind that there are also enemies with movements far surpassing them.

So, it means to train for unusual situations as well.

I didn’t think she would take care of such details.

I didn’t think she would help me this seriously.

Does that mean we’ve become closer?

“Let’s finish before it gets dark.”

“Yes, let’s start.”

Whoosh.

The training started again.

And this training was at least twice as hard as all the previous training combined.

This was because log pieces with large changes in angle came flying randomly from all directions.

“Damn it.”

It was a series of misses.

Even if it hit, it only grazed off the blade.

“Your reaction is slow. You need to react faster.”

Hiresia advised.

“How do I do that?”

“You think too much. Reduce your thoughts, and use your eyes properly. You must be able to read the movement the moment it leaves my hand.”

“I see.”

Fast judgment.

Quick response.

That’s exactly what she was emphasizing with her advice.

I knew the importance of it.

But I was lacking awareness.

I need to keep that awareness in my mind and try to grow it through training.

From now on.

“You can do it. Focus.”

Hiresia encouraged me.

Perhaps those obvious words were a source of strength for me.

Because I felt sincerity.

I clenched my teeth and raised my concentration to the maximum.

And the training began again.

“Well done. You’ve worked really hard.”

I could see Hiresia looking at me with an approving look and a faint smile.

“Huff………….. Huff..“

I sat down on the floor as if collapsing, breathing heavily.

It was really hard enough to lose my mind.

If it hadn’t been for Hiresia’s vitality infusion and sincere encouragement, I would have collapsed already.

But still.

I finally managed to respond perfectly to any trajectory or direction.

My body was terribly tired, but the sense of accomplishment made me feel good.

I think I’ve become stronger.

I wonder what the results will be.

Unable to contain my curiosity, I opened the skill window.

-The will of an executioner trying to kill a convict with a single blow has evolved further through Hiresia’s training.

-There is no blind spot in this strike.

-Proficiency 20.1%

What, what is this?!