In my previous life, being thirty meant being an old man.
But in this world, I'm about the age of a primary school student.
My body has grown larger than before, and I eat well and sleep well.
Isn't my body even larger than when I was a child in my previous life?
That aside, the problem is—
"Still no good, huh?"
Holding the sword in its sheath in my left hand, I looked at the logs around me.
Out of the three logs placed, I managed to cut two of them somehow.
But the cuts were rough.
They were completely different from the cuts I had seen from my master.
The rough cross-sections, compared to my master's perfectly smooth ones, were embarrassing.
My master looked at me with a serious expression.
Is he disappointed?
I bowed my head.
"I'm sorry, Master. I still can't match your sword."
My master shook his head.
"The path of the sword is long and arduous. There is no end goal. Still, to have come this far in about twenty years is quite an achievement."
For these twenty years, I've been thinking about how to do the same as my master.
I didn't think I could do it just by repeating the basics, so I remembered my master's words.
It was magic.
"Yes! I used magic. I wrapped it thinly around the blade and found that it extended the reach. Is that correct?"
I think this is right, but it's too different from my master's secret technique.
I thought I might be wrong, but my master clapped.
"If you can notice that, you're very close to the right answer. However, it's a one-handed approach."
"One-handed approach?"
"Yes, that's right. If you're going to use magic, you must also learn magic."
"But I am learning it?"
I am a noble, and even a count, so I have been studying magic.
However, in this era, personal magic is not considered very important.
In front of the beam from a space battleship, magic is powerless.
In conclusion, martial arts are the same.
To be blunt, personal skill is not necessary for my position.
But I know it can be useful in a pinch.
"That's just learning magic. It's not enough, is it?"
"Exactly! You need to study it seriously."
My master nodded.
"That's right. Then, I'll seal the secret techniques for a while. Study magic—let's say, for ten years. Until then, I'll prohibit anything other than basic training."
After all this effort!
I thought, but even I can't resist my master.
If I fight him, I'll be cut in half in an instant.
"I understand."
"Good. By the way, is everything in the territory okay? It's not good to focus only on martial arts."
What a kind person he is.
He's worried about me.
"It's fine. I'm pushing forward with reforms in the territory, and we're finally seeing results."
Reorganizing the army.
Reforming the governance system.
Deciding on a development policy for the territory, and new development plans have started.
In this world, where space exploration has already been achieved, the development capability is incredibly high.
If I say that a high-rise building can be built in a few days, you'll understand.
People in work machines and humanoid robots develop at an incredible speed.
"That's good. Then, let's review the basics today."
"Yes!"
"But, it won't mean anything if we just do it normally. From now on, let's try it with a blindfold and weights."
"Blindfold and weights?"
My master attached weights to the sword and told me to put on a blindfold.
"Swing the heavy sword until it feels like you're swinging a branch. The blindfold is to teach you not to rely only on your eyes."
"I understand!"
It's like a manga training scene.
But since it's what my master says, it must be right.
—By the way, this world doesn't have much leisure time, so entertainment hasn't developed much.
Should I invest in that area?
◇
Anshi watched Liam swinging a sword with a blindfold and weights.
(What is this guy! What is he!)
He had been sweating cold sweat for a while.
He never thought that Liam would recreate the street performance he had shown as a sword technique.
Recently, he had thought that Liam's movements were even more impressive than his own.
Anshi had been feeling anxious about Liam, who had recreated the street performance as a secret technique on his own, despite only being taught the basics.
(If he finds out I was lying—no, I'll be cut to pieces in an instant!)
Anshi had only pretended to be a master, creating a convincing atmosphere.
Liam was already several levels above him as a swordsman, and Anshi was confident he would lose in a normal fight.
(I have to buy time and save money. I can't stay here anymore.)
He had already spent all his rewards, living a carefree life and traveling to cities to indulge in luxury.
He didn't have enough money to escape.
(I'll save money and prepare to escape. Yes, that's what I'll do!)
While wiping his cold sweat, Anshi watched Liam, who couldn't move as he wanted with the blindfold on.
(Still, to be able to do this much with only the basics—could this guy be a genius?)
Anshi was not a teacher and couldn't tell if Liam had talent.
(I don't know. For now, I need to buy time. I'll find some training methods that look convincing in videos. Otherwise—I'll be killed if I'm found out!)
Anshi decided to endure for a while to save money for his escape and to earn a living.
◇
Is a blindfold even useful?
I thought that at first.
But, how about this—
"I understand what Master meant. I can use the other five senses besides sight. That's what you meant by not relying only on your eyes, right!"
I looked at Master with the blindfold on.
When Master tried to walk out of my sight, I turned my head and heard a surprised step.
I surprised Master.
Am I growing?
"Y-Yes, you've learned it well in this short time. Really, how did you master it in just a few years?"
My growth was unexpected.
I could tell he was scratching his head, even though I couldn't see him.
I played with the sword, which had more weights, with my fingertips.
"Look. I can swing it so easily now."
"S-Sure—no, don't get too cocky!"
"Huh?"
Master said something harsh to me.
"Indeed, you've sharpened your senses other than sight. But that's all. You haven't gained any magical or supernatural senses."
Hearing about magical and supernatural senses, I was surprised that there was still more to learn.
"There's still a way to do it without relying on sight!"
"Of course! And, that sword is too light now. I'll prepare a special sword."
Hearing about a special sword, I was excited.
"I'm looking forward to it!"
"That's good."
What's going on?
I can't help but feel that Master is scared.
Is it just my imagination?
◇
(F**k, man!)
Anshi was terrified of Liam, who turned his face towards him while blindfolded.
Liam was playing with the sword, which had more weights, with his fingertips.
Can he live with a blindfold on now?
Even if he runs, Liam will chase him.
(What do I do? What do I do! I didn't expect him to master it so quickly!)
He had intended to buy time with unreasonable requests, but he never thought Liam would master it in just a few years.
(Could this guy be a genius? If so, he should have said so earlier!)
Anshi was a fraud, not a qualified teacher.
He couldn't measure Liam's talent.
(I'll have him make a really heavy sword and carry it. And, make it longer? That should make it harder to swing.)
He mentioned sixth sense, supernatural, and magical, just to buy time.
Thinking of another plan, Anshi had an idea.
(That's it! I'll use that!)
◇
Anshi went to the warehouse prepared in the mansion.
Artifacts and items that were difficult to handle were stored there, moved from the dismantled mansion.
He had tried to sell the stolen antiques, but most of them were fakes.
Among them was a very old humanoid weapon—a mobile knight.
The very large humanoid weapon was not the current mainstream 14-meter class but a 24-meter class.
It was very old, made hundreds of years ago, and several generations outdated.
It seemed to have been used by Liam's great-grandfather.
Anshi brought Tenshi to the warehouse and pointed to the mobile knight.
"Make this old machine operational. It will be Liam's training machine."
Tenshi looked at Anshi with a doubtful gaze.
"This is a very old machine. Wouldn't it be better to prepare a current one?"
"That won't do!"
Anshi was worried that the latest mobile knights were easy to operate.
With each generation, the operation had become much easier.
The performance had also improved significantly, and someone with time like Liam could learn to operate it in a few years.
That wouldn't buy him time.
"This is for Liam's benefit. Please repair it to make it operational."
"But the parts no longer exist. It will take time to repair. The mainstream is 14-meter and 18-meter classes, so there are few factories that can handle this size—"
Tenshi was polite to Anshi because Liam recognized him as a master.
Otherwise, the response would be much more casual.
(Who cares about your situation! I'll make you spend money on this. Then, you won't have the time to chase me. I'm so smart!)
Anshi remembered that the basic frame of old machines was very sturdy.
"The old machines are well-built. If you attach new parts, it will be sturdier than the current mobile knights."
"No, it's not that simple—"
Ignoring Tenshi's objections, Anshi decided to push through.
"Anyway! Rebuild it properly. It will be better for Liam. Yes, the manual for operation is good. The recent ones with auto-assist are no good."
After making various requests, Tenshi reluctantly agreed.
Following Liam's orders, Tenshi was to comply with Anshi's instructions as much as possible.
"I'll arrange it immediately."
"Thank you. No matter how much it costs, it's for Liam's benefit!"
In debt and to tighten the finances, Anshi made various requests.
◇
After Anshi left the warehouse.
Tenshi looked up at the mobile knight—unit name [Avide].
The basic frame was mostly exposed, and some armor frames were rusted.
Looking up at the dilapidated Avide, Tenshi pondered.
(Is that man really a master? Indeed, Sir Liam has become stronger, but I don't think that man is that amazing.)
From his daily behavior, Anshi didn't seem like a master.
But, the results were there.
And—
(No matter how much I investigate, nothing suspicious comes up. Rather, it's unnaturally so—)
It was difficult to fire Anshi because of the results.
Moreover, his background had no suspicious points.
Tenshi couldn't figure out what was going on.
"—If it's an order, I'll just execute it. But, it's a problem."
Currently, 24-meter class large mobile knights were not widely used.
Therefore, not just any factory could handle the repairs.
It needed to be taken to a large factory with advanced technology and the ability to create parts.
It's like bringing a classic sports car to a small local repair shop. There are no parts, and they don't know how to repair it.
"The manufacturer is— one of the empire's factories."
One of the empire's weapon factories, which still exists, was the manufacturer of Avide.
It was the only place that could handle the repairs.
Tenshi confirmed Anshi's requests.
"There are quite a few requests. I'm not sure if the budget will be secured—anyway, I'll contact them."
He called a mechanic to check Avide's condition and then contacted them.
While thinking about the arrangements, he went outside the warehouse and saw Liam walking with a blindfold.
He looked very happy.
"That's Tenshi's footsteps, right?"
"Yes, Sir."
Even with a blindfold, he walked as if he could see everything around him.
"Sir, it's dangerous to walk around like that."
"It's fine. It's part of the training. By the way, I heard you're preparing my mobile knight?"
Tenshi talked about the mobile knight Anshi had requested.
"They said they will repair an old mobile knight to make it operational. It would be cheaper to prepare a 14-meter class one, but—"
Liam put his hand on his chin and tilted his head.
"It's Master's idea. Just do it. I'll walk around the mansion like this."
Tenshi watched Liam leave with a blindfold on, worried he might fall.