An Old Man from the Countryside Becomes a Swords Saint: I Was Just a Rural Sword Teacher, But My Successful Students Won’t Leave Me Alone! - Chapter 126

“Why did I… because it was fun…?” Thyssel said.

“Well, that is a prerequisite,” I said.

Why did you start learning swordsmanship? Of course, it depends on the person. Some people started learning because they were told by their parents or someone else close to them, while others started learning because they wanted to become stronger. Some would say it was a way of distracting themselves.

Speaking of people from our dojo, it was Alexia who got off to a vague start. Conversely, she took the initiative to learn from Kuruni and Thyssel.

However, no matter what the starting point is, in the end, you will not last long if the learners themselves do not find it enjoyable.

What’s more difficult is that just because you’re having fun, doesn’t mean the other person is having fun too.

“Then, why do you think it’s fun?” I asked.

“Hmm……”

The feeling and sensibility are different for each person.

Since there are so many different personalities and dispositions, it’s hard to come up with a one-size-fits-all answer.

In particular, Thyssel and Kuruni are the types who find the act of swinging a sword quite enjoyable. It would be a bit harsh to demand this from everyone.

Thyssel fell silent for a while when asked why she felt it was fun. It’s true that she likes swords, but she’s a bit at a loss as to how to rationalize it.

“Hmm… because you give me praise…?” Thyssel said.

“Yeah, that’s not bad either,” I said.

In the end, the answer that came out was a mundane one that people would recognize. But I think that’s enough. On the flip side, it means that if you swing your sword skillfully, you will be praised… in short, it means that Thyssel wants someone close to her who will recognize her efforts.

“I don’t mean to say it like this, exactly, but is that reason good enough?” Nazia said.

“I don’t mind at all,” I said. “I don’t know if it’s going too far, but that’s also one of the great aspirations.”

“Is that so…?” Nazia replied muttered in surprise.

To be honest, I don’t think it’s good to go too far for any reason, and I think it’s perfectly fine to have a mundane reason or attitude to learn something, not just for swordsmanship.

Even if the goal of wanting to become strong is a good one, if it goes too far, it’s not good for both body and mind. There is such a thing as the right amount of everything. It’s the same with the amount of practice and thoughts.

“You praised me a lot, Master,” Thyssel said.

“Hahaha, that is my credo, to unlock my student’s potential through praise,” I said.

“It makes me happy when I’m praised!” Cindy said. “Hah-ha-hah-ha!”

Of course, if you do something wrong, I will scold you, but I generally praise and encourage my students.

From an objective point of view, I think that my Old Man’s education was strict, but that I am able to continue to hold a sword till today is because my Old Man also praised me moderately.

After all, it is a pleasure to be recognized. Whether it is a teacher, a senior student, or a friend.

“…… Ah,” Thyssel said, her cheeks tightening again.

“… Did you remember something?” I asked.

Did I dig something up? One of the reasons why there are so few students in the Sword Magic Department.

“… I, never praised them,” Thyssel said.

That’s right.

I hate to say it, but despite Thyssel’s habit of wanting to be recognized for her efforts, she rarely praises others. However, that doesn’t mean that Thyssel has a bad personality, it’s simply because her competence is so high.

Thyssel is a genius.

While possessing a talent for swordsmanship, she also has a high aptitude for magic. She also has the ability to think and make judgments to make the most of both. She just doesn’t commit foolishness like growing complacent because of her abilities.

But on the contrary, she tends to ask others to do what she can do. If you look only at one side, this can be seen as an advantage as she’s not that egotistic, but it can also be a detriment if look at it from her as a teacher.

That’s why she can instruct others to do 1,000 swings without any hesitation.

Because she can. Because she did it, too. No, I didn’t let her do it at my dojo. Thyssel seems to do that much as part of her self-training.

“I understand that you are happy to be praised,” I said. “Then, with that same amount, you should also be praising your students, Thyssel.”

“…… Mm,” Thyssel went.

The 5 people who are still in the Sword Magic Department are, so to speak, passionate about it. Even if their professor, Thyssel, doesn’t praise them, even if her instructions are naive, they just swing their swords because they like doing it.

That’s why this kind of frank talk is possible to some extent. It’s usually hard to talk like this with ordinary students involved.

Of course, not everyone can do that. You could say it was asceticism, denying everything except that one thing, the overwhelming majority of people would drop out in the middle of it.

I’m teaching swordsmanship, but since I want them to learn something new, I want them to enjoy it. Of course, I can’t do it perfectly either, so there were a certain number of people who left our dojo halfheartedly before they were ready to graduate from it.

“Alright,” Thyssel said. “I’ll do my best to praise them for their efforts. You’re doing great, Cindy..”

“That was another clumsy move, wasn’t it?” I said.

“Not so much to me! Ha-ha-ha!” Cindy laughs.

“It seems it’s alright…” Thyssel said.

I feel like Cindy is special in some way. I feel like it would make her happy to be praised for waking up in the morning.

“Umm… then, if I praise my students, will the class become popular…?” Thyssel asked.

“Hmm, I don’t know. I feel like it’s going to be difficult still,” I said.

She starts to worry all over again.

Seeing things like this, it’s hard for her to convey her true intentions, but I think she’s thinking about the Sword Magic Department’s future.

There must be a desire to teach the swordsmanship that she learned at my dojo, and there must also be a desire to spread the Sword Magic she learned from Lucy.

No matter which path she takes, I want her to cherish it from now on. Without the enthusiasm of the teacher, the teachings will never spread.

Well, actually, every teacher seems to be doing enough to praise their students in between classes. I feel that it would be a little difficult to increase the number of students in the Sword Magic Course with just that.

“Just for example,” I said, turning to the others. “If everyone is just swinging their swords and being praised for it, do you think you all will keep going with just that?”

Since Thyssel seems to be a bit stuck, let’s change targets. For some reason, the atmosphere of a birthday party is gone, but it can’t be helped because it happened in the flow of the story.

“I’d be happy to!” Cindy yelled.

Yeah, she would be. But as far as the current topic is concerned, I’m starting to feel that her opinion is a bit unreliable.

“At first, I think I’ll be happy about it,” Lumitte said. “However… if it’s the same thing all the time, it might lose its novelty…”

“Yeah, right?” Nazia said. “We’re not dogs, y’know.”

Yes. People get used to doing the same things all the time. It’s the same with practice, and it’s the same with the act of being praised.

“However, based on what Mr. Beryl taught me, I think the basics are also very important,” Feledora said.

“Yes, there is no doubt about it. I’m sure it’s the same with magic,” I said.

However, as with swordsmanship and magic, the basics are important. It’s not an easy thing to learn overnight. If it is that simple, it is not systematized as an academic field in the first place. Inevitably, repeated training is required.

So, personally, I think it’s very important to have that seasoning as a teacher.

If you do nothing but new things, you will get a lot of attention, but the essential skills will not improve easily. On the other hand, people always get tired of doing basic practice all the time. All the more so if it’s a simple task like practice swinging.

“… Balance is important, isn’t it?” Miu said.

“Exactly. Good on you, Miu,” I said.

“…… Stop,” Miu grumbled.

Miu was pretty close to the answer. So, when I tried to praise her as usual, she was surprised.

“…While teaching the basics firmly, sometimes I show them something different to keep their interest and praise them…?” Thyssel said.

“Yeah, I think your thinking has gotten better,” I said.

It seems that Thyssel’s way of thinking hasn’t been completely settled yet, but I think it’s almost the correct answer. Well, this is also one of the teaching methods that I came up with, and there is no guarantee that it is absolutely correct.

“… I see. Even when Master taught me, he taught me many things. He praised me. It was fun,” Thyssel said.

“Thank you. Now it’s your turn to teach others that feeling,” I said.

It seems that she was able to derive her own answer from this question and answer.

This is a way of thinking that is hard to acquire just by being taught. Just as strong people don’t necessarily make good leaders, the ability to acquire skills and the ability to pass on those skills are two different things.

Of course, I like to swing my own sword, but maybe I like teaching others how to use it more than that.

“Yeah. Strict and fun. I’ll do my best,” Thyssel said.

“Strictness in moderation, I hope…?” I said.

After all, there are many things that can’t be stopped once Thyssel starts doing it. There is no choice but to get used to the strength around that in the future.

“Please stop the 1,000 swings practice,” Feledora said.

“If I feel the need, I’ll do it,” Nazia said.

“Ugh…” Miu groaned.

“Hahaha,” I laughed.

No, well, swinging practice is practice, and it’s important. But humans aren’t strong enough to keep doing that over and over again.

“Are you feeling a little sad?” I said. “Sorry about doing it during your birthday party.”

“No no! I heard a good story!” Cindy said.

Although it was a necessary talk for Thyssel’s growth, it might have been a little out of place to do it at a celebration like this.

After apologizing, today’s birthday girl didn’t seem to mind at all. This character is her great advantage. I want her to continue to grow in good health. And while I’m at it, I want her to be on good terms with Miu.

“Well, that’s the end of that discussion,” I said. “We still have food, so let’s keep eating.”

“Yes!” Cindy said.

It would be a waste to leave the special dishes cold. Here we are now, students who are eating and growing at the prime of their life.

Unfortunately, it’s still too early for them to drink alcohol, but I would like them to drink and eat well and use it for their growth.

“――――――!”

“……Hmm?”

Somehow, the conversation settled down in a good way, and idle chit-chat flourished

It’s time to finish eating most of the food and it’s about time to call it a night.

And then, from the school building which was supposed to be quiet after dark with there being no classes, I heard an out-of-place scream.