CH 61

Three weeks have passed since I joined “Night Sky’s Silver Rabbit”.

During these three weeks, we’ve dived into the lower layers several times, collecting materials we were targeting while strengthening our coordination, and as a result, our cooperation has remarkably improved.

It goes without saying for the four original members, but I have also come to be able to understand each of their ways of thinking.

In addition to that, we are in a state where we can communicate with each other all the time thanks to Selma’s Talent.

There are considerably fewer misses in our link up.

It’s already fine for us to challenge the deep layers, but right now I am waiting for my sword to be finished.

Once my sword is completed, exploration of the deep layers will finally begin.

On days when I am not exploring with the 1st Unit, I help Selma with her paperwork and devote myself to instructing the 10th Squad.

In addition to that, the President took me to have dinner with the sponsors and to visit the executives to give my greetings, but nothing of note happened, so I won’t mention more.

And currently, the members of the 10th Group are training at the indoor training area in the premises of “Night Sky’s Silver Rabbit”.

“So – ti – red! Want – to – rest!” 

Carol’s voice echoes throughout the room, making it difficult to judge whether it’s actually too tough or if she has room to spare.

“Hey! Five more minutes to break! Work hard!”

“Woo – hoo. Master – is a – demon!”

In front of my eyes, at a distance of five metres from the centre of a certain spot, six pillars, equally spaced and about two metres high, stand like a fence.

I randomly activate [Flash] on the pillars, generating a slightly yellowish-colored light that I suppress so that it doesn’t blind. 

Carol then dashes over and touches the pillar from which the light emanates.

Immediately after Carol touches it, I cast the [Flash] again at another location and she dashes to touch that pillar again, and so on.

This makes Carol have to repeatedly accelerate, decelerate, and change direction.

Like this, she can develop her agility.

In the future, I plan to convert Carol from an Evasion Defender to a Vanguard Attacker.

But even if she converts, she’ll still need agility.

Carol’s weapon is a dagger, which has a short reach.

So to attack, she has to get close to her opponent, and even as a Vanguard Attacker, it doesn’t mean that no attacks will come for her. 

Whether to perform a hit and run or to evade an enemy’s attack, it’s necessary to improve one’s agility. 

You might be saying wouldn’t it be fine to raise it with [Agility Up]?

The extent through which base abilities are increased through support magic depends on the original abilities of the person.

This being the case, if an individual’s base agility is improved, when receiving support magic, they stand to benefit even more. 

◇

“Hah! Ei! Yaaah!”

A short distance away from Carol, Log is practising forms with a wooden spear.

As a result of the party’s discussion, it was decided that Log would also join the Vanguard and be taught spearmanship.

The reason for the spear is because among the weapons with reach, it’s relatively easier to handle. 

To reduce the possibility of being approached too closely by demonic beasts and being unable to reapply buffs, it’s better to attack while keeping distance from the enemy. 

It’s been about two weeks since I’ve taught him the spear.

Little by little he’s getting better. 

If he can do this much in such a short period of time, he might just have a talent for spearmanship as well.

Looking at Log’s current movements, I think it’s about time to move on to more practical instruction.

Though I say that, I can only teach the basics of spearmanship.

That’s why from here on I’m thinking of having Will instruct.

The double-bladed sword is a weapon that requires training not only in swordsmanship but also in stick fighting, so he’s more familiar with spearmanship than I am.

Regarding this, I’ve already gotten his permission.

He can’t come every day when there’s no exploration, but it seems like he can make it about once a week or so. 

I’m very grateful.

◇

“297…… 290…… 283…… 276, ah, left hand–“

Sophie is sitting in a chair next to me, mouthing numbers.

And occasionally she’s lightly tapping her thighs with her left and right hands.

What I’m having Sophie do is parallel construction practice. 

To master parallel construction, one must be able to multitask.

For this reason, I have Sophie say the numbers from 500 minus 7 and to tap her thigh with her left hand once every three times and with her right hand once every four times.

Once she can do this without difficulty, she should be able to get the hang of parallel construction.

She still looks like she’s struggling right now but I think she’s got a good sense of it.

This might help her learn parallel construction faster than I expected.

◇ ◇

“Alright! Let’s take a quick break!”

“Daaa. Ti – red.”

When I call for a break, Carol immediately lies down on the spot.

She’s a girl, so I think it’s better she doesn’t lie spread eagle though…….

Log is out of breath and wiping the sweat off his face.

Sophie’s also slumped over, leaning against the backrest.

All of them are quite tired.

“Master! How’s my spear technique?”

Log comes up to me and then stares at me with puppy dog eyes.

As you might think, after nearly three weeks, I’m used to this.

“You’ve become fairly good. Maybe it’s time to move beyond just forms and to more practical instruction.”

“Really!? Nice!”

Log fist pumps in joy.

Seriously, if people put their minds to changing, they can change this much. 

I don’t know much about how this guy used to act.

But he’s a totally different person from my first impression. 

“Even so, Master is amazing!”

Log praises me for no reason.

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

“Well, while repeatedly casting [Flash], you were able to properly grasp what Sophie and I were doing, right? It might be a piece of cake for Master to cast so many spells in parallel, but in the end, that’s something I can’t do, so that’s why it’s amazing, I was thinking.”

Log’s always extolling me.

I’m glad that he admires me, but given how he seems to trust me blindly, on the other hand, it’s enough to make me uneasy. 

I wish he could somehow strike a good balance, but that’s a difficult thing to achieve.

◇ ◇.

Until the evening, I provide them with various training plans, and when everything is finished, I call it a day.

And after finishing today’s instruction, I walk over to Grandpa’s store.