Chapter 8 - 08: the hero, arrives

Since the olden days, it's said that the scene of training is plain and not interesting

Therefore, I shouldn't talk too detailed about my training process either

In the first year

The first year was the year of studying the basics

In order to learn Holy Wisdom Art, firstly you must have the reasoning power which will not waver in any time

Every day, I practiced meditation to calm my heart and tried not to be agitated.

Even when the rain fell, the wind blew, the thunder struck or a roaring sound resounded, I was able to not get agitated

It was the second year when I achieved that result

From the second year, I did nothing but reading books

The theme was to accumulate knowledge

『For wisdom, intelligence and knowledge are like two revolving wheels-tanu. Idiots whose knowledge wheel revolves but the intelligence one doesn't won't be able to make the best use of it-tanu, but even so it's not a bad thing to have knowledge-tanu』 (summary: wisdom = intelligence + knowledge, having knowledge but no intelligence = can't use wisdom art, but it's still better to accumulate knowledge even if you don't have intelligence to make use of it)

Those are the words of the sage

Through day and night, even forgetting to eat or sleep, at the end of the second year, I finished reading the library of thousands books hidden inside the mountain by the sage

Third year

『Finally it's the actually training-tanu. You can hit me with everything you have accumulated so far-tanu』

The training in the third year is combat training at last

I challenged the 『tanu-sage』 himself and was beaten within 10 seconds

Damn it

The tanuki is strong after all

As expected of a sage, even with the appearance of a small tanuki, his power and speed are unimaginable

I was easily overwhelmed

『Tanuki mode change! Winter fur form-tanu!』

「The tanuki's body becomes fluffy and his defense increases!?」

『Tanuki mode change! Summer fur form-tanu!』

「This time it's the swift, agile type!」

But after being beaten over and over, I was able to hold on, little by little....

At the second half of the third year, I was able to fight equality against the 『Tanu-sage』

『It's wrong-tanu! Right-tanu! My body was heavy as I stuffed myself for winter-tanu, that's why-tanu!』

The tanuki made up some unsightly excuses

However, I could feel that I have become stronger

Leaving my hometown, begging a tanuki to teach me, everything is proved to be worthwhile

In the third year, I was convinced

Then in the next year

It was the fourth year

The ninety five year of the empire

I chanted

Instantly, a huge flame bursts out from my hand and flies toward the sky

The power is amazing

If I aimed at the ground instead of the sky, it probably wouldn't just end up in a big fire

I'm sure it would become a sea of fire spreading to the horizon

In 『Beast Fantasy』 series, this is the skill higher than the highest grade of fire magic

The maximum fire magic

『I'm surprised-tanu. It has been 3 full years since when you came to my place for training, but you have become this strong in such a short time-tanu』

「It's all thanks to master's guidance」

After 3 years, we have gotten used to this teacher-student relationship

In fact, the guidance of 『Tanu-sage』 was more thorough than I expected

Not only I have learned Holy Wisdom Art, my magical power also increased as you can see

By the way, the magic in 『Beast Fantasy』 series is different from Holy Wisdom Art and Evil Beast Art

The source of magic was based on the spirit who organize the world

Holy Wisdom Art or Evil Beast Art are the so-called skills

『To tell the truth, I already had nothing to teach you anymore-tanu. Even so, you are continuing to train here-tanu?』

「If you are fine with it...」

When I left, the time limit was 5 years

In my hometown, the Behemoth Empire, all 15-year-old males must join the army

I was 10 years old when I left, so 5 years until 15

My training will end at that time

Then I will return and join the army...that's the gist of it

3 full years has passed since I started studying under 『Tanu-sage』

The remaining time is 2 years

As I already received the approval stamp of master, the training can be considered finished and I can return to the empire earlier, but I'm not yet satisfied

I still want to continue training, there is a secret I want to master

A secret that right now, no one in this world knows....

『Beast Fantasy』 series's strongest technique....

I will master it within the remaining 2 years

『......tanu?』

「What's wrong, master?」

During the training, the 『Tanu-sage』 was distracted

Did this omnivorous tanuki spot a flying grasshopper?

『The wild sense of the sage just informed me-tanu. Someone has entered this mountain-tanu』

Isnt the wild sense of the sage too inconsistent?

Without answering my retort, 『Tanu-sage』 started running

『Hurry up-tanu! This presence is not hostile but it's extremely weak-tanu! It would be serious if it is attacked by the bears in the forest-tanu!』

「Please wait, master! Master!?」

I hurriedly chased after him

Let's run

However, can I win against the animal's leg strength!?

He is four-legged but I only have two!

The chance of being separated and getting lost is high!!

『That direction-tanu! Hurry up-tanu!』

「Fine!!」 (あいさー)

But I didn't get lost

Instead, the『Tanu-sage』 was running out of steam on the way, so I had to carry him on my shoulder

「Show me your guts, you wild animal!」

『I am a sage-tanu! The wildness is replaced by intelligence-tanu! Excessive exercise may make me lose intelligence-tanu!』

You just mentioned your wild sense a while ago!

Stop using intelligence and wildness for your convenience!

Meanwhile, I run through the mountain, following 『Tanu-sage』 instruction

As the scenery changed, making me afraid and think "we didn't get lost, right?", suddenly...!

『Found it-tanu! Over there-tanu!』

It was here

A human collapsed in the middle of the mountain

From the appearance, he's surely a survivor

Lightly dressed, not even a single equipment for mountain climbing

Even if this world is a middle age-ish fantasy world, going to the mountain with such light equipment is a suicidal act

...well, I don't know the real situation

Let's try waking him up

The survivor is a small child

About 9 or 10 years old from his look

As expected, he used up all of his stamina to force his way through the mountain, and is unconscious

If master's wild sense didn't spot him, he would have been dead here

「Why is there a small child here...!?」

No, no need to pry into it now

Right now I must take care of this child first

「Shall we leave the mountain? This child's parents must be worried. We should bring him there as fast as possible...!」

『No, bring him to the hermitage-tanu』

Said master

『There is no village nearby-tanu. Therefore searching for people related to this kid is a waste of time-tanu. Also, this kid is greatly exhausted-tanu. We must nurse him immediately-tanu』

The only establishment nearby that can be used is master's hermitage

「I understand」

Carrying the unconscious child, I turn back to the way we came from

The child's body was surprisingly light, I couldn't feel any burden on my back

「How did he become this thin...!?」

Who is this kid?

Master said there is no village nearby

Then, where did this child come from?

With this small body.

At that time, I was careless and forgot about the most important thing

Why did I become 『Tanu-sage』's apprentice?

It was because the protagonist of 『Beast Fantasy 4』 studied under this beast sage

And today, this kid, who came under the tanuki after me....

The protagonist of 『Beast Fantasy 4』

The hero of wisdom, Sero!?