I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

The courtyard, constructed entirely by Kiichi, had changed significantly since its initial form.

The place exuded a rich Japanese aesthetic. A small pond in one corner produced a gentle trickling sound, accompanied by the melodic chirping of birds.

A thin stream of water flowed into a hollow bamboo tube. Once the tube filled, it tipped forward, spilling the water and striking a stone below with a crisp, rhythmic clack.

Swoosh!

An arrow sliced through the air, hitting the bullseye with precision.

The target was already riddled with arrows, most of which were clustered around the center.

Sara held her stance, bowstring still taut, her sharp golden eyes reminiscent of a hawk mid-hunt.

As her left hand lowered the bow, her right hand instinctively reached for another arrow from her quiver—only to find it empty.

It was then Sara realized she had run out of arrows for the day.

Through this period of training, Kiichi had discovered that Sara was an incredibly diligent student—almost excessively so.

Most teachers struggled to get their students to focus. Kiichi, on the other hand, had the opposite problem. Sara often trained to the point of losing herself in the practice, requiring Kiichi to step in and remind her to stop.

For archery, Kiichi's requirement was simple: practice until all the arrows in the quiver were used up, and then stop for the day.

If her student were Ushiwakamaru instead, Kiichi would probably have had her run a hundred laps around the mountain—while being chased by magical beasts.

But Sara, despite being a youkai with a Vision, was still growing. Pushing her too hard could hinder her development. Thus, Kiichi carefully controlled the intensity of Sara's training to ensure it remained appropriate.

For now, Sara needed to focus more on knowledge and techniques than physical endurance.

Coming back to her senses, Sara found her gaze drifting toward the courtyard gate.

Her master had left early in the morning and hadn't returned yet, leaving Sara with a subtle feeling of disappointment.

Still, accustomed to living independently, Sara quickly pushed those feelings aside, masking them behind her usual calm demeanor.

After archery, it was time for elemental training.

Kiichi had created a daily training regimen for Sara but left the order and timing flexible. "If you complete all your tasks properly," Kiichi had once said, "you're free to swim in the pond or sunbathe on the lawn for the rest of the day! Work hard when it's time to work, and play freely when it's time to play—that's the balance of life."

Though Sara hadn't been studying under Kiichi for long, she could already feel herself growing stronger every day, filling her with a sense of satisfaction.

She was especially captivated by the military strategies Kiichi taught. From the very first day, Sara had been drawn to their endless complexity and depth.

Walking up to the target, Sara examined her work with a slight frown.

"This… still isn't perfect."

She pulled the arrows from the target, placed them back in the quiver, and slung both the quiver and her wooden bow over her shoulder. Just as she was about to head back—

"Hey, my little apprentice! Did you miss me?"

Kiichi appeared out of nowhere, wrapping her arms around Sara from behind. The usually stoic girl was caught off guard, her composure breaking as a blush spread across her cheeks.

"M-Master! Let me go!"

"Aww, little Sara is blushing! How adorable—you're much cuter than that brat Ushiwakamaru."

Once released, Sara clutched her chest, her heartbeat pounding noticeably fast.

"I wasn't blushing…"

"Mm-hmm~"

Kiichi's playful attitude was something Sara was already used to, though it never failed to leave her feeling flustered.

After calming herself, Sara's curiosity got the better of her.

"Master, who is this… Ushiwakamaru? You talk about her so often." Her golden eyes sparkled with intrigue.

"Ushiwakamaru… huh…"

At the mention of the name, Kiichi's playful smile faded, replaced by a complicated expression.

For Sara, this was a rare sight. It wasn't often she saw her master look so conflicted.

"Well, for you, she'd be your senior sister," Kiichi finally said.

"...My senior sister?"

So there was someone who had been taken as Kiichi's disciple before her. Judging by how often her master mentioned Ushiwakamaru, Sara figured this senior must hold a special place in Kiichi's heart.

But why was she called "Ushiwakamaru"? Did the name imply she was some kind of ruler or leader?

"Indeed. Over the years, I've taught many people, but Ushiwakamaru was undoubtedly the most extraordinary." Kiichi stroked her chin as she reminisced. "She was exceptional. The moment I saw her, I knew—whether as a warrior or a strategist, she was unparalleled."

Kiichi's tone carried an odd undertone, sparking Sara's curiosity further.

It almost seemed as though her master… regretted Ushiwakamaru's excellence?

"Isn't being exceptional a good thing?" Sara asked hesitantly.

"If it's within the realm of human 'exceptionalism,' then yes, it's wonderful."

Sara furrowed her brow, unable to grasp the deeper meaning behind her master's words.

"How should I put this…" Kiichi glanced at the clouds drifting above as she struggled to find the right words. "From the moment I saw her, I realized—though she had a human form, her essence, her very soul, was something that inspired fear in gods, demons, and yokai alike. She was a ma—a being fundamentally different from humanity.

"That human shell of hers was merely a facade. Her intrinsic difference made it impossible for her to belong among humans. In the end, they branded her a monster and killed her. I doubt she ever understood why people bore such hatred toward her, even as a blade pierced her heart. Like a fish in the depths of a pond, unable to comprehend the freedom of birds in the sky."

Kiichi spoke at length, but Sara found it hard to fully understand.

Still, the story left her with an inexplicable sense of melancholy.

"Oops, seems I got carried away. Was that too much for you to follow? Just think of it as me rambling to myself. These are heavy topics, not meant for someone your age. The older you get, the more you can't help but reminisce—human or yokai, it's the same."

With a soft smile, Kiichi reached out to ruffle Sara's hair.

"Alright, pack up. I'm taking you out for some fun."

Sara looked at her master in surprise, prompting a casual explanation.

"You can't grow by isolating yourself. What's written on paper can only teach so much. Experience—that's the real treasure. Without practical application, even the most well-memorized knowledge is useless."

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