Rebirth From Ordinary Person To The Strongest

A week has passed since then.

During that time, my father took time off work to rigorously teach me swordsmanship.

The style I'm learning is called Yato-Ryu, a swordsmanship that my father describes as an attack-specialized style.

By "specialized," I mean that it has no defensive techniques, instead, it focuses on breaking through the opponent's defense and overpowering them from above. It's an extremely aggressive style of swordsmanship, clearly designed by someone who wanted to kill monsters as efficiently as possible.

But there's wisdom in the saying "the best defense is a good offense." Even though it's all about attacking, it can still lead to protecting oneself.

And since my resolution upon being reincarnated was to "kill before being killed," Yato-Ryu swordsmanship seems like a perfect fit for me.

However, the problem lies in my physical build. No matter how much I train, there are limits to what I can do with the body of a five-year-old.

But that's something that will resolve itself as I grow. Until then, I should focus on ingraining the sword forms into my body.

The fight with the Rank Five monster made it clear that the efforts I've put in so far have not been in vain. That battle was the culmination of all the magic practice I had done up to that point.

So here I am, fired up to learn swordsmanship, standing in the yard facing a wooden dummy with a practice sword in hand.

But this isn't just any ordinary dummy.

The dummy has Silvate Threads wrapped around it, and my father is controlling it. He believes that the best way to learn swordsmanship is through real combat, so he's taking the trouble to move the dummy himself!

Why doesn't he just spar with me directly? Well, it's because the difference in our skill levels is too great, and he might unintentionally hurt me. In close combat, this is especially true, so I agreed to my father's kind suggestion, and now I'm facing off against the dummy.

"Itsuki, I'll say it again: you must watch everything your opponent does. Focusing only on the eyes or feet is not enough. Keep a wide view."

"A wide view…"

"That's right. Experienced monsters will deceive you with their gaze or footwork. They'll trick you, then kill you the moment they gain the upper hand. So, you must see everything."

"…Got it."

I nodded and gripped my practice sword tightly.

My right arm and both legs were wrapped in Silvate Threads. This was to enhance them with Form Change: Body Enhancement. Yato-Ryu swordsmanship may be a sword art, but it's meant to be used in conjunction with magic.

As I focused on not missing any of the dummy's movements, I caught sight of it kicking off the ground.

Even though it's hanging from the Silvate Threads, it could still leap towards me without touching the ground, but my father is replicating realistic movements to make the training more effective!

"…Hah!"

I swung my sword in sync with the dummy's approach. But the dummy anticipated the distance and slowed down just outside my reach, narrowly avoiding my strike. Before I could recover, the dummy's wooden sword was coming down on me.

But I didn't stop there.

In the middle of my swing, I kicked off the ground, using the Silvate Threads to latch onto the dummy.

—Got you!

I didn't let the opportunity slip away. I kicked off the ground with my enhanced legs and delivered a dropkick, closing the gap and striking before the dummy could land its blow!

Thud! The force of my enhanced legs sent the dummy flying backward with a heavy sound.

"Good, Itsuki. That was a fine Teidan."

"…Thanks."

The most dangerous area within a sword's range is, obviously, where the blade can strike.

So, if you're going to escape, it's standard practice to get outside the reach of the blade.

However, in Yato-Ryu, a style focused on aggressive offense, escaping outward isn't an option. Instead, you dive inward, into the blade's range.

Of course, it's dangerous.

But the area inside the blade's reach is where the opponent's arm moves.

That means the inside is actually the safest place.

So, with courage, you step in, delivering a kick with all your weight behind it to pierce the opponent's vital points. This technique, which imagines the human body as a cannonball, is called Teidan.

It doesn't use the sword at all, but since it's a technique to recover when a sword strike misses, it's still considered swordsmanship. Is that really true, though?

"After using Teidan to create distance, you can either launch a magical attack or press the attack further."

Taking in my father's advice from a distance, I resolved that in a real fight, I would definitely use magic in such a situation.

As I readied my practice sword again, I heard a somewhat lackadaisical clapping from the veranda. It was Hina and my mother.

Wait, wasn't Hina watching TV just a moment ago?

"Itsuki, Hina said she wanted to watch her big brother practice."

"Big brother, so cool!"

What, really? For me?

Oh man, I'm embarrassed…

As I blushed, my father asked Hina,

"Hina, what about Dad? Is Dad cool?"

"…Umm! Dad's scary!"

"…Hmph."

The sight of this large, one-eyed man being visibly hurt by that remark was so funny that I couldn't help but laugh. I know my father loves Hina and me equally, but seriously, his appearance…

While I was thinking about that, the fallen dummy rose up again.

And once more, it kicked off the ground.

Quickly snapping back to focus, I readied my sword again.

Seeing this, the dummy changed its stance. It aimed to sweep at my legs from just above the ground!

In the next moment, I matched the dummy's wooden sword with my practice sword, then spun around as if I were performing a judo Ippon Seoi Nage, using my sword as an arm to maneuver inside the dummy's guard. Using that momentum, I slashed at the dummy!

Swordsmanship isn't just about the sword.

It's about making the sword move fluidly, almost like a dance.

This technique is called Maiken because of its graceful, dance-like movements.

"Good, Itsuki!"

As my father's words of encouragement reached me, the dummy staggered, almost as if it were alive.

It really showcases my father's skill.

I'm still a long way off.

"Haaah!"

But even with that in mind, I didn't miss the opening.

I stepped in forcefully, enhancing my practice sword, both arms, and both legs.

Then, with all my might, I brought the sword down!!!

Thud!!

The force of my swing generated a pressure wave, causing the air to vibrate and roar. The moment my practice sword connected with the dummy, it was split cleanly in two.

This is the most basic of basics.

Just a simple Fumikomi.

Seeing the dummy split in half, I exhaled deeply.

I thought this marked the end of the round.

But I was wrong! It wasn't over yet!

The dummy, which should have been cleaved in two, suddenly rose up with one arm and hurled its wooden sword at me!!

"What?!"

Caught off guard, my reaction was delayed.

The wooden sword, deflected slightly by my raised practice sword, smacked right into my forehead!

"Ouch, ouch!"

"Whoa! Big brother, that looks painful…"

As I lay there, knocked over by the impact, my father approached me.

"You let your guard down, Itsuki."

"Dad, that's not fair! I thought I'd beaten it!"

"What are you saying? Some monsters don't die even if you cut off their heads. It's premature to assume you've won just because you've split something in two."

"…I see."

As much as I wanted to argue back, my father's words left me without a comeback.

All I could do was groan.

Just as I was pressing my forehead, getting up, I heard my mother call out.

"Itsuki, come here."

"Huh? What is it, Mom?"

Answering her call, I walked over to the veranda, where she gently stroked my forehead.

The moment her warm hand touched it, the pain in my forehead started to fade away.

…That's Healing Magic!

"Thanks, Mom."

When I thanked her, she smiled warmly and said,

"I'll teach you after you finish practicing with your father."

Oh, right! I totally forgot!

I'd promised to learn healing magic as well!!!

I was so focused on swordsmanship that I'd completely forgotten, but there's also healing magic practice waiting for me!!!

Looking forward to getting even stronger, I couldn't help but grin.

…Time to push through this training!!!