CHAPTER 02
---
"You really love that story, huh, master?"
"Of course. That story showcases my heroism," he said, reclining on the grass with his sword beside him.
"Right, right. Thank you."
It's been three years since then. I'm already ten years old.
The forest guardian was impressive, not just in skills and appearance but also in attitude.
"By the way... How long would it take for me to break the seal?" I asked the guardian.
This forest is no ordinary one. During specific times when the dark moon's eclipse occurs, every being inside is sealed and unable to leave until the next eclipse.
"Hmm... Let me see... I suppose six more years. Until then, I'll teach you sword techniques," he replied, smiling.
He's been training me in sword skills for three years now.
By the way, his name is Yoru; he can only come out at night. I guess that's why he's named that.
"By the way, Master, the first time I saw you, you looked like a human in your twenties, but your appearance hasn't changed since then. How old exactly are you?"
"Oh, I've been waiting so long for you to ask me that question. I've been alive since the time of the Arbiter."
"The Arbiter?"
"Mhm," he nodded. "The Arbiter of Shadows, to be specific."
--- Arbiter of Shadows, huh?
"But exactly how old are you?" I asked again.
"Mmmm... Let me see... About ten—"
"Eh? About ten? You're younger than me?"
I didn't think Yoru was younger than me.
"No, no, I mean about ten million years."
...Maybe because that's impossible.
"Ten million, I see. I didn't realize you were that old, Master."
"Mhm, mhm..." he said with a smug smile, nodding. "Wait, are you calling me an old geezer?!"
"N-no, of course not."
--- I thought about it, though.
"R-rather, you still look young and handsome despite your age."
"Mhm, mhm," his prideful smile returned. "Of course, it's me after all."
--- Good, he bought it.
"Okay, okay, break time's over. Let's get back to training," he said as he stood up and grabbed his sword.
I readied a stance, but Yoru didn't. He just stood there with a sword in his hand.
I rushed toward him, faster than ever before.
I swung my sword downward, aiming for his unguarded head.
As expected, Yoru raised his sword to block my attack—
—but that was my trap. I pulled the blade's tip by the hilt, spun it around my hand, and used it like a dagger. Gripping it in my right hand, I swung with full speed at his abdomen.
His blade missed the empty air.
My blade aimed for his unguarded abdomen; he had nothing to block with.
Evading should have been impossible given his bad footing.
His blade was too far to block.
--- It's a sure hit. I've won.
But something felt off.
Now that I could, I sharpened my senses.
The thing that made me feel uneasy—
--- He's smirking!!
My blade was blocked; it didn't reach him.
He did the same thing to me.
As he stopped my attack,
his blade was already aimed at my throat.
--- I'm already dead. I have no way of evading it—
--- But that 'I' was already gone. Yoru had sharpened and trained me so that I wouldn't fail him.
I kicked the ground with my foot to leap backward,
repositioning my sword in my hand.
I delivered multiple slashes during my escape.
But Yoru wasn't someone to underestimate; he made more slashes than I did,
even with his sluggish grip.
--- Tch.
As I set my foot on the ground,
the barrage ended.
Yoru wasn't serious right now, but I was already overwhelmed by him.
There was no time to rest.
I tightened my grip on the hilt
and prepared to slash again.
With his sluggish grip,
he wouldn't be able to take it.
The same thing he did to that demon general: multiple slashes in one beat.
--- Thinking that was dumb.
He didn't respond with a barrage, but his one swing was enough to cancel out my entire attack.
Even worse,
my hands felt numb.
His strike was so strong that my sword vibrated rapidly.
My hands hurt; I spit blood.
My legs trembled.
It wasn't just the strength of his swing.
He shook his hand multiple times in a very fast way without redirecting the sword to create strong vibrations.
I fell to the ground.
"You've grown stronger since last time,"
he said, offering me his hand.
I guess I'm really no match for him.
I wiped the blood from my mouth and reached for his hand.
My muscles felt weak.
"Haha, sorry, did I overdo it?"
--- Don't talk like it's not obvious!
Not that I could say that to him directly.