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 165

“Well, it’s fine, but we’re still not good enough, aren’t we?” Nazia asked.

“At first, it’s the same for everyone,” I said. “Still, it’s not something you’ll keep hiding until you’re satisfied, right?”

“Yeah, well… yeah, you’re right…” Nazia said.

He seemed to be a little reluctant to show off his Sword Magic, low as his proficiency is. Although I understand his feelings very well, there is no point in keeping them hidden away all the time.

It’s embarrassing for anyone to show off their immature skills. So it is with me. However, if you worry about it and keep it hidden, your technique will never improve. My theory is that unless there is a special reason to keep it a secret, the technique will only shine when it is shown to others.

“It looks like it will take a little more time over on that side…” I said. “Alright, let’s line up in a horizontal line and fire one into the air each.”

I made everyone line up in a large schoolyard where no one else was around.

There was also a feeling that I would like to be the target, but it’s probably not something that can be endured in an actual battle yet. I’m confident that I can dodge their sword attacks, but it wouldn’t be a good idea to do that to dampen their morale.

It would be a bit of a problem if all five of them surrounded me and shot at once. On the contrary, I don’t have the confidence to dodge that barrage. So, let’s let it go comfortably into the air.

“If it’s Mr. Beryl, even if we all fired at once, it seems like you would be able to avoid it,” Lumitte said jokingly.

“I may be stronger than you guys, but I’m not superhuman, aren’t I…?” I countered.

No matter how strong you become, something that is physically impossible is impossible. If you’re surrounded by five people and beaten up by long-range attacks, you won’t be able to do anything against it.

If you try really hard, you might be able to overcome it, but at least that’s not something you do in a lecture at the Magician’s Academy. If it gets to that point, you’ll be fighting for your life.

“Ugigi… yoshi! It hurts now that I’m moving again…!” Cindy groaned.

“Cindy, don’t overdo it…” I said.

She was hit in the side with Miu’s wooden sword earlier, so she’s also trying to cast Sword Magic, but an injury like that can’t be instantly recovered or ignored.

I think they should get used to the pain somewhat if they go to the battlefield in the future. But even so, there aren’t many people who can get such a clean hit on their flanks and move around immediately after. I’ll teach them about that so that they can cool down properly after the lecture is over. As expected, it would be difficult to prepare ice, but a towel squeezed with cold water should be a good substitute.

“Yoshi, then let’s try it,” I said.

It looks like Cindy will still take some time to recover, so I have the other four hold their wooden swords.

It’s a strange feeling for a man who doesn’t know anything about magic to see Sword Magic. Won’t Thyssel get angry after this? I only had them make one shot each, so please forgive me somehow.

“… Muhn…!”

After receiving my signal, the four of them began to gather their power in their respective ways.

After all, compared to Thyssel and other mages, their movement is very slow. I can see a small amount of power that even my eyes can somehow catch, all gathering at the edges of their swords little by little.

Hmm, this would certainly be useful in an actual battle. You will definitely be attacked while you are accumulating power, and even if you are not attacked you will definitely be able to dodge.

I think it’s probably a little faster if it’s just collecting magic power and releasing it. However, I felt that they were struggling quite a bit because of the extra process of gathering magic power into their swords. As Thyssel had previously said, releasing magic itself is easy, but expanding and maintaining it is extremely difficult.

“Hah!”

And after the magical gathering and conversion were over, the first to fire off a Sword Magic spell was Lumitte.

Even when he had a match with me, he shot solidly even though he was full of openings, so he’s probably the best in this facet.

The Sword Magic from Lumitte’s wooden sword traveled about 5 meters through the air, upon which it dissipated. Anything more than that would be difficult to maintain.

“Uorah!”

“Yah!”

Next, Nazia and Feledora release their Sword Magic. Nazia’s spell seemed more powerful than Lumitte’s, but it flew a few meters less before disappearing. I see, Nazia’s blow is more powerful, but Lumitte’s range seems to be longer.

Feledora, on the other hand, had a long, narrow wave that continued to fly longer than Lumitte’s. This one doesn’t seem to be powerful, but it seems to have a long range. It’s interesting to see each person’s individuality even with a single casting of Sword Magic.

“… Fuh!”

And finally, it’s Miu’s turn. Although she can manipulate magic, her proficiency is probably the lowest. I guess she had a hard time gathering her magical power at the tip of her sword.

“Oh?”

And her spell was a little different from the other three.

To be more specific, the other three were colorless to almost yellow… compared to what Thyssel showed in the Lono Ambrosia match, although the scale was different, Miu’s spell was visibly red.

Or rather, isn’t that the flame itself?

Seeing a color that is clearly different from the other three, and feeling a faint heat, that’s what I instinctively feel.

“Iyaah, everyone is amazing. If you can use this in actual battle, you will definitely be strong,” I said.

Well, that’s it. Now I have to praise my students. Focusing only on Miu would be favoritism. I have to be patient here.

However, I think I know the strength of a magician, but it’s amazing to see it again like this.

At the same time, you can see how Lucy and Thyssel who do these things without difficulty are outstanding. The students who are training here now are also excellent, but I can only feel that Thyssel was a prodigy.

“Well, I know we’re strong, but I don’t feel like I can do it while moving…” Nazia said.

“Hahaha… it might just be a matter of practice,” I said.

“Keh, it’s still a long way to go then,” Nazia grumbles.

I don’t think he’ll be able to do it anytime soon. The tone is bad, but his expression doesn’t give the slightest hint of desperation.

I’ve spent quite a few years cultivating the skills I have now. If you can learn the technique so easily, no one will have a hard time. It should be the same whether it’s swordsmanship or magic.

“If it’s a movement that fits the logic of swordsmanship, I can teach you, but when it comes to magical power and magical spells, you have to listen carefully to Prof. Thyssel and your other teachers,” I said.

To put it another way, I can’t teach them anything related to magic. It can’t be helped because it’s a fact that can’t be overcome with effort. I wouldn’t say that I don’t have aspirations either, but at the same time, I’ve given up on those heights.

“As for me, I would like to hit Mr. Beryl with my sword,” Nazia said.

“Hahaha, you’re still a long way away from catching up to me,” I said. “That’s far enough for now.”

“Haah, it looks like that’s going to be an even longer road than magic…” Nazia said.

The idea certainly feels like Nazia’s.

It’s always been that way since I first met him, but his true nature is closer to that of a swordsman than a magician. He possessed the spirit of a warrior to the extent that he might have aspired to be an adventurer or a knight had his magical talents not manifested.

However, although his spirit is wonderful, I can’t afford to be defeated. At least for the next fifteen years, I won’t be able to lose.

This is simply the number of years that I assumed till the time when I reach the age of 60, but well, as a goal, it would be appropriate around there. My Pops put down his sword before turning 60, but it’s a vague goal of surpassing that. Pops is still strong enough, though.

“Master, we’ve come to the end of the class. Lecture time is about to end,” Thyssel said.

“Oops, is it already that time?”

And now from watching the other students, Thyssel joined us. It looks like class time is coming to an end. The time I spend with swords and conversations is really fulfilling, and I feel that time passes quickly.

The students had the basics hammered into them through practice swinging, and were looking quite exhausted. All of them have a background in magic, and since they are enrolled in the Magician’s Academy, it is rare for them to be familiar with the art of fighting by directly moving their bodies, rather than with a tool. Lumitte and Nazia are more of an exception.

Even though it was just a swing, just moving the heavy wooden sword repeatedly from top to bottom was painful at first. Well, if you can’t do that, you can’t even build a foundation for Sword Magic, so I want them to do their best in that area.

“I just watched it, but everyone still has a long way to go. They don’t have enough training,” Thyssel said.

“Well, that’s the thing…?” I said.

What should I say about this, can’t she say it gently?

Compared to me and Thyssel, they learned less. If they become so skilled it astounds us in that short period, it’s already a supernatural miracle that has surpassed being a prodigy.

“Also, Miu is still bad at converting magic power,” Thyssel said.

“Uu…” I went.

She must have watched the round of Sword Magic they fired off just now. And now there were harsh words thrown at Miu, the only one who manipulated magic with a visibly different wave from the others.

“I thought the color was different, but… was that bad?” I said.

“Yeah, it’s bad,” Thyssel said.

“…”

I may have heard this wrong. I’m sorry. Was it a little troublesome to ask her to clarify more about it?

Miu was Miu, and she fell silent after hearing her harsh words. I’m a little confused as to whether or not I should say that she is being sensible because she doesn’t cry or yell.

“… To be precise, she’s not bad,” Thyssel said. “She can’t convert magic into anything other than Fire. It’s really clumsy.”

“I-I see…?” I said.

I wonder if Thyssel sensed this subtle atmosphere. She just didn’t finish with a bad word, she put in a follow-up that could be taken as a “just in case” statement.

Thinking back for an example, Lucy manipulates a very wide variety of magics. She used Fire, Thunder, Water, and Ice, and also used spells that I couldn’t understand. The same is true of that magic that instantly made the darkness disappear.

Even if the comparison is too bad to compare with the current subject, it certainly feels a little wasteful to say that magical power can only be converted into flames. I wonder if it’s something that will change with future training, or if the aptitude is determined from birth.

“But her output is high. It’s amazing. Still clumsy, though.”

“…… Fuhn,” Miu snorted.

High output means that it has a large amount of magical power or a large amount that can be converted into flames at once, or something like that. As usual, I don’t know much about magic, so I can only understand this area from my imagination.

I might have been able to convey something if I could feel the magical power, but it can’t be helped because I really don’t understand. I don’t think it’s something that can be learned through training.

“Then, right now, she’s a gem full of talent, isn’t she?” I said.

“You could say that,” Thyssel said.

It seemed neither an affirmation nor a denial.

Having a talent for something and being able to use it skillfully may seem similar, but they are completely different. From what I’m used to, it’s like there are swordsmen who have a lot of talent in swordsmanship, but who are all about attacking. So that part is still easy for me to understand.

Of course, there is a big difference between talent and skill. Whether or not it can be extended later in life.

In that sense, Miu certainly has a sleeping talent, but she hasn’t been able to awaken it well.

Whether it wakes up or wakes up slowly depends on the situation and the user’s preference, but if it can’t wake up, it’s a user’s lack of power. As long as she can create flames with magic, there is no doubt that this talent is sleeping.

Well, it depends on the work of Thyssel and the teachers at the Magician’s Academy rather than me. I’ll say it again and again, but because I don’t have the slightest talent for magic, there’s not much I can do.

“Ah.”

“Oh.”

As I was thinking about such things, Gohn Gohn, the now-familiar bell sounds resounds today.

It’s the bell rang signaling the end of the lecture. As always, I have no idea where this is coming from and what it is doing. I think it’s some kind of magic, but after all the study of magic is profound. It is a story that Lucy and others who practice magic are eager to study.

“Everyone, good work today,” I said.

“Thank you for your guidance!”

After exchanging greetings, today’s lecture ended.

Yeah, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been here, partly because of the school’s summer vacation, but it’s great that everyone seems to be growing.

In particular, I’m glad that Miu is steadily learning the basics of Sword Magic.

Of course, as an educator, I can’t favor a particular student. Even so, I think it’s okay to be happy in your heart.

The swordsmanship is also inexperienced, but she is skilled enough to swing firmly. Because of the environment that she grew up in, she is open-minded in a good way. She does not avoid the act of hitting her opponent with a wooden sword.

To be honest, this is pretty big for learning the art of fighting. It’s very important to be considerate of others, but it can also be a weakness at times. Well, in Miu’s case, politeness and etiquette are a bit lacking. It feels like there’s more to come.

“Iyaah, I’m looking forward to it,” I said.

“? About what?” Thyssel asked.

“To see the growth of the next generation with my own eyes.”

Of course, it’s a bit unreasonable to call the students of the Sword Magic Department my disciples. If anything, they would be Thyssel’s disciples.

But even so, it is undoubtedly a growth of those coming after me. It’s fun to walk the path of the sword myself, but it’s equally fun to watch the growth of young people. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the charm and reward of being a teacher are packed here.