"The Sword Princess's One Heaven Style?"
From the name, it seems to involve wielding a single sword in a manner related to the two-sword style.
"Exactly. This style is derived from the Sword Princess's Two Heavens Style that I learned from Lady Fenris in my youth. Although, I must say, it's simply a conversion from two swords to one. Even if you lose one sword during practice for some reason, you cannot claim that you cannot use the Two Heavens Style. It was developed to be manageable even when wielding just a single blade."
Hmm, could I possibly learn this Sword Princess's One Heaven Style that the old man speaks of? He called it a mere transformation from two swords to one, but the essence must be quite different. There must be significant differences in handling between dual-wielding and single-handed techniques.
However, I wondered if learning the One Sword Style of the Sword Princess was just the thing I needed to gain strength. Just as I thought about wanting to learn a new martial art, a person conveniently appeared to teach it to me. This was fortuitous for me.
As I was grappling with these conflicting thoughts, the inn's charming daughter, Niru, spotted us and rushed over. Well, she was actually heading toward my grandfather.
"Grandpa Niko, there you are! You really shouldn't wander off like that. I'm sorry, sir, for any trouble my grandpa might have caused. He hasn't been saying anything strange, has he? He's been a bit forgetful, claiming he learned swordsmanship from Lord Fenris when he was young…"
Wait, what? Did my grandfather really say he learned the Two Heavens Style from Fenris? So the One Sword Style was just a figment of his imagination…?
"Now, now, my dear grandchild. I truly did learn from Lord Fenris! I mastered the Sakura Blossom Cross Slash, you know!"
"Oh, yes, yes, I get it. Just stay quietly in your room, alright? Grandpa Niko, you really need to stop wandering around and making it hard for us to find you!"
As grandfather spoke to Niru, his eyes had changed completely; they now held a gentle warmth. Niru looked at him with a mix of exasperation and affection as she tried to lead him back to his room.
"Grandson, do you really have to stay in your room again?"
"Actually, I'm not your grandson; I'm your great-grandson. Get it together, Nico Grandpa. Oh, and I'm sorry for interrupting your sword practice, guests. If Nico Grandpa shows up again, just ignore him and let him be."
The old men wandered back toward the inn as I felt a mix of emotions but resumed my training.
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
I swung my sword continuously all morning, trying to shake off the commotion caused by the old man. After finishing my morning practice, I headed towards the inn for lunch. It seemed Ava hadn't returned to her senses yet, and Trinity was still out exploring the town. With no other company, I decided to have my meal alone.
"Oh, are you here for lunch?"
"Yeah, I'll take whatever set meal you recommend."
In the inn's dining area, Nuru was serving food to the guests, scattering her charming energy around. The place was surprisingly busy, so I was seated at the counter. Since lunch was charged separately from the accommodation fee, I paid for the set meal I ordered.
"I'm so sorry about earlier! Sometimes Nico Grandpa just can't help but tease guests practicing their sword skills."
"Oh, I don't mind at all. Wasn't he an adventurer in his younger days?"
"Is it because you're curious about the man swinging that sword?"
There's something about that old man's presence that feels extraordinary.
"What? The same Nico Grandpa who always lazes around in his room? No way!"
"No, that's not it. You wouldn't know, but Nico was quite the adventurer in his youth."
As Nil, who had been dismissive of my comment, spoke, her father—a robust canine figure—interjected from behind the counter.
"Wait, really? That Nico Grandpa? I can't believe it. He doesn't look the part at all."
"Well, while the whole priestess thing is probably a stretch, it's true that Nico was once an adventurer. My dad used to tell me stories about his exploits. But, don't just chat—make sure you handle the serving properly!"
"Ah, sorry!"
Startled by her father's reprimand, Nil hurriedly returned to her duties.
As I quietly finished the meal placed before me, I contemplated my plans for the afternoon. Admittedly, I was just going to keep training with the sword, still struggling to find my rhythm...
"Nil, I'm sorry, but could you take me to talk to the old man again?"
Once the lunch buzz settled down, I asked Nil to guide me to the old man.
"Eh? That's fine, but... are you seriously taking what Grandpa Nico and your father-in-law said to heart?"
"That's what I'm about to find out," I replied, even though I had already decided in my mind to learn the Kenpou Shihan Ittouryu style from Grandpa.
Guided by Niru, I finally reached the room where Grandpa was (or maybe trapped?).
"Grandpa, could you teach me the Kenpou Shihan Ittouryu you mentioned earlier?"
I spoke to him, but he seemed lost in thought, staring at me with a confused tilt of his head.
"Huh? What are you talking about? I'm just a senile old Gramps, after all!"
"Come on, Grandpa, enough of that act. I get it—you're pretending to be forgetful so your grandkids and great-grandkids don't take your tales seriously, but I believe you.
You said my footwork has a connection to the Kenpou Nitennryu, right? Well, I can just as easily say the opposite: your footwork is unmistakably that of someone who has trained in martial arts."
At that, Grandpa's eyes sharpened as they locked onto mine.
Then I pressed on, eager for his teachings.
"I came to this world to search for my childhood friend.
Right now, they've gone missing after heading to the divine realm of Arcadia. I have to go to Arcadia to find them."
To do that, I need strength.
"Old man, grant me your strength!"
The old man studied me keenly for a moment before nodding as if he had come to a conclusion.
"Hmm, very well. It would be a shame to let a martial art I've painstakingly developed vanish without passing it on. My life is short, and this meeting is surely a twist of fate. I shall teach you the fundamentals of the Sword Princess One Sword Style."
Wait, so he's only teaching me because it would be a waste otherwise?
And hasn't he taught this style to anyone until now?
I had a sinking feeling that it might be a genuine combat style... a little unsettling.
"Oh, by the way. We plan to leave here tomorrow, so could you teach me the basics of the Sword Princess One Sword Style before today ends?"
"What? You're asking for the impossible… It's not feasible to master a martial art to a practical level in just one day! …Ah, I see, you're pressed for time to find your childhood friend. Very well, but you'll need to be prepared for the challenge ahead."
The old man's demeanor shifted from his earlier daze to one full of vigor and focus as he began strategizing the upcoming training, his intensity palpable.
"Bring it on!"
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
In the backyard of the same inn where we trained that morning, the old man and I faced each other.
I was fully equipped now, clad in dragon leather armor that would allow me to jump straight into battle.
By the way, the mithril shield has been removed as it is unnecessary for the Sword Princess One-Sword Style.
The old man was clad in armor made from a mix of fire Drake and water Drake scales, carrying a red sword forged from fire Drake fangs on one side and a blue sword made from water Drake fangs on the other.
In the corner of the backyard, Niru-chan was idly watching us with a skeptical expression, likely because there were no guests at that time.
"Now, before I teach you the Sword Princess One-Sword Style, you must absolutely adhere to this instruction," he declared.
"Huh? What is it? You didn't mention anything like that earlier," I replied, slightly confused by his sudden demand for strict obedience.
"Refer to me as your master!"
His voice echoed across the backyard.
"....No way."
"Gah! What a shock... my disciple is defying me out of the blue!"
With my cruel response, the old man knelt down and hung his head in despair.
"Come on, gramps, just teach me already."
"How heartless... You could at least indulge me a bit. Now, since your time is limited, I will teach you the Sword Princess One-Sword Style through practical application. It's simple — you'll dance with my Sword Princess Two-Sword Style. That's all."
To dance with him... So he meant to say I should acquire enough skill to match his Sword Princess Two-Sword Style.
"You will need to focus on three key areas."
"First, you must never stop moving. Dodge every attack with your footwork. With your current agility, that shouldn't be too difficult.
Second, continue chanting your spells while you move. No matter how intense your movements, do not let your spell falter. Focus your training on the magic you can currently use; you can learn other spells later.
Third, synchronize your swordplay and magic to unleash your magical sword at the right moment. If your dodging and spellcasting are not timed together, it cannot be called the Sword Princess Style.
You must internalize all of this through practice."
I nodded in understanding. Dodging attacks with footwork while chanting spells and releasing my magical sword at the perfect moment—that was the foundation and essence of the Sword Princess One Sword Style.
"Now, shall we begin the training?"
The old man raised his swords and stepped toward me. True to his earlier declaration, he was relentless. He swung his blades, not just stopping short, but genuinely aiming to strike through my armor.
I desperately dodged his attacks, trying to weave the spells he commanded while instinctively finding the right moment to unleash my magical sword.
"You're too slow! Step in stronger with half a step!"
"Your spell is breaking! Chant quickly and briefly in your limited breath!"
"Your timing is off! Observe your opponent's movements and your own, then chant your spell and transform it into your magical sword!"
The old man's relentless criticism was coming in thick and fast. What's more, he was moving about and attacking even more than I was. Seriously, this old man was something else.
"... No way... I can't believe Grandpa Niko is this incredible..."
Nir-chan's eyes widened in astonishment at the old man's astonishing attacks. To her, he looked like a forgetful old man wandering around, but right before her eyes, he was wielding the rare and advanced dual sword style known as the Sword Princess Niten Ryu. It was no wonder she was shocked.
The training continued until dusk. At one point, Trinity returned to watch my training and asked, "What are you doing?" But I was in no position to answer. By the way, Nir-chan had to return to her duties at the inn, so after glancing at the beginning of the session, she headed back. She seemed a bit shaken and wobbled a little on her feet.
Almost simultaneously with Trinity's return, Ava-san awakened from her slumber. She observed our clash quietly, seemingly satisfied by what she saw. Trinity, perhaps bored from watching us, started chatting with Ava-san, and they quickly got engrossed in their conversation.
"Gasp... wheeze... huff... wheeze..."
Lying flat on my back, battered with bruises, scrapes, and cuts, I struggled to catch my breath, splayed out on the ground.
"Phew... that's enough for today. It's impossible to master a sword style in just one day, so you'll need to continue training at least until tomorrow," the old man declared.