Past noon, Eve showed up at the classroom just as planned. I met up with her in front of the classroom entrance and headed around back.
I guided her to a bench and had her sit there, looking like she couldn’t wait for the upcoming lesson.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes.”
“I see. You completed a solo request today, right?”
“O-Of course. I strictly followed what you told me, Sensei!”
Looking into her eyes, I confirmed she wasn’t lying. Then, Eve looked back at me with a strong gaze, like we were in a staring contest.
“Alright, then today we’re optimizing your combat arts. For now, let’s start with [Heavy Slash].”
“Umm, Sensei…”
“What is it?”
Plenty of spirit, which is good. Just as I thought to start today’s lesson right away, my momentum was thwarted.
Raising her hand hesitantly, Eve directed a troubled look at me.
“Yesterday, when I reproduced the combat arts, I had a strange sensation.”
“A strange sensation? What kind?”
“How should I put it… like something switching over… or a light turning on…”
“……?”
Honestly, I didn’t quite understand what she meant. I know Eve isn’t explaining it well, but even trying to understand, nothing comes to mind.
“Switching over… like a switch?”
“A switch?”
I muttered it in a low voice, remembering that certain thing that lights up when you flip it, but it seems it reached Eve’s ears.
“Even so, I’ve never had a sensation like that.”
“Is… that so.”
“Well, it’s not like anything inconvenient is happening, right?”
“Yes… my physical condition is perfect.”
“Then isn’t it fine? Let’s just leave it be for now.”
“…If you say so, Sensei.”
She still seemed a little unconvinced, but Eve changed her expression and straightened her posture.
I pulled yesterday’s results from my pocket and handed them to Eve.
“Yesterday, I tried thinking of movements that would suit you. If I summarize it on paper, it looks something like that. …I didn’t have much time so I didn’t write it out beautifully, but forgive me for that.”
Analyzing all of Eve’s combat arts and thinking of improvement plans in just a single day was impossible time-wise.
Therefore, it ended up in a half-hearted format—scribbled notes with the conclusions circled.
“…This… many…?”
However, upon receiving the papers, Eve stared intently at them and muttered. Her eyes were wide open, and her pupils wavered slightly.
“It’ll be easier to understand if you actually see the movements, right. Just as a reference, I’ll use the combat art in a form tailored to you.”
Wooden sword in hand, I stood up from the bench. I walked a little, turned to the side, and raised the wooden sword.
Conscious of the better angle, the better timing, and the better amount of force for Eve that I had spent time thinking about yesterday.
“Hah!”
I swung the wooden sword down. As expected, it wasn’t quite like when I used a [Heavy Slash] optimized for myself, but a powerful gust of wind blew for a moment.
“Well, that’s about it. Try it out, using what you just saw as a reference.”
“Yes!”
Replying with a loud voice, Eve sprang forward from the bench like she was bouncing. She drew the straight sword from her hip, pointed the tip to the heavens, closed her eyes, and adjusted her breathing.
“…Hah!”
Then she swung down the faintly glowing sword. The blade cut through the wind and stopped just before hitting the ground.
“…Hmm.”
It was such a subtle execution that I couldn’t help but groan. It was definitely a combat art, and the power seemed higher than yesterday, but it felt incomplete.
“How is it?”
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When I asked Eve for her impression just to be sure, a satisfied voice returned.
“I think it’s even better than yesterday.”
“…Is that so. …It’s just the angle bothers me a little. Raise your sword for me.”
“Like this?”
Eve raised her sword as told.
Stepping around behind her, I lightly touched her right hand and right arm to fine-tune the angle.
“Here, put strength into this part of your fist too… Yeah. Alright, go just like that.”
“…Haaah!”
Eve swung the sword down with all her might.
The sound of cutting the wind grew louder than before, and the faintly glowing blade traced a sharp trajectory. A success.
“A-Amazing… it’s stronger… than before…”
“Don’t forget that sensation. Try it a few more times.”
“Yes! A-Alright, at this rate…”
Stepping away a bit from Eve, who had answered energetically, I watched her repeatedly perform [Heavy Slash] on the spot.
Occasionally the angle or force was a little off, but as she repeated the reps, it gradually stabilized.
(As I thought, she learns fast… The only issue is whether she retains it, but… even if she forgets, with this learning speed it’ll work out somehow…)
It was something I felt yesterday too, but I reaffirmed the talent of this student named Eve, and nodded to myself repeatedly.
But as I watched, I noticed something. Eve’s movements looked perfectly optimized to my eyes, but somehow her expression wasn’t bright.
“…Hmm?”
I stared intently at her expression. It was subtle, but it looked like something just wasn’t clicking for her.
I’ve seen many students with those kinds of eyes in my previous world.
“Eve, listen well. What I just taught you is, at the end of the day, the method I thought suited you. Because I’m not you, there’s a chance it’s not optimal. If you think of a better way to swing your sword, don’t hesitate to try it.”
An instructor can teach methods, but whether those methods fit depends on the person.
The method I once thought was best not being the best for the student—that’s a common occurrence. I conveyed that to Eve, but she looked at me with a bewildered face.
“N-No… there’s no way…”
“Listen here, Eve, this is a class for you to get stronger. I’m glad you’re trying to save my face, but if it means you getting stronger, I couldn’t care less about that stuff. Or what, do you plan on leaving everything to me?”
“…That’s…”
Eve lowered the outer corners of her eyebrows a little, stopped her sword-swinging hand, and closed her eyes.
A few seconds passed. When she opened her eyes again, they were completely devoid of hesitation, looking straight ahead.
Eve raised her sword. Seeing that, I reflexively activated the recording crystal.
“Haaah!”
A different angle, timing, and application of force from just before. The swung-down straight sword tore through the air, whipping up an even stronger gust of wind.
She found it. By her own power, the method that allowed her to exert her maximum potential.
To Eve, who froze in surprise, I put away the recording crystal and clapped my hands, giving her a round of applause. I understood that feeling well. It was probably the sensation of a door being thrown open all at once.
“Well done. Don’t forget that feeling. Through trial and error, always continue searching for the method that suits you. If you do, the door will open.”
After saying it, I felt a little embarrassed, wondering if that line was a bit too cheesy.
I gave a small cough to cover it up.
“…First, we’ll start by getting you used to that [Heavy Slash] you just did.”
“Yes! Thank you very much, Sensei!”
At her powerful reply and how she happily stared at her own sword, I nodded in satisfaction.
[“You’re dead weight.”]
[“Why do you always get in my way? Are you kidding me?”]
I don’t know if the expression “since I could remember” is correct, but… ever since I gained awareness, my heart has been black and gray.
I was weak, and couldn’t be of any use. I couldn’t even slightly achieve my goal of “wanting to help people.”
That’s why it was only natural that I caused trouble for those around me, and was resented and hated.
It’s my fault. But, it hurts. It’s painful. Both my incapable self, and the eyes of those around me.
Of course, it wasn’t like everyone was like that.
For example, the guild receptionist I first met.
For example, Satoria-san, the guild receptionist in this town.
She was kind to me. She let white into my heart.
However, compared to the black and gray, that white was small, frail, and seemed like it would disappear.
[“Alright… Eve, you pass. Take classes at my classroom.”]
It was then that a single, large white appeared.
Endy-san, who I met at the guild in Ester… no, Sensei.
Other than Satoria-san and the others, he was the first… person to look at me with a comforting gaze. But Sensei is different from Satoria-san and the others. Even though it’s the same white, Sensei’s is vast, and shines so brightly it drowns out the surrounding black and gray.
The answer to why is surely because he grants my wish of “wanting to help people” more than anyone else.
Sensei’s classes are filled with things I’ve never experienced, or even seen before.
If I follow this person, my wish can come true. I was convinced of that, and I still am.
Besides.
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