Know Yourself

Going over preparation for the training, I ask, “And what do you use this ladder for?”

Enuma answers, “It’s ladder training.”

Asking again, “What’s that?”

Fully motivated, I changed into my exercise clothes of short-sleeved half-pants, went out to the large garden of the mansion and sat down to do some stretching and warmups per the instruction of my new master.

My curiosity is still wondering about the mysterious use for the ladder.

Enuma lecturing, “This is about increasing one’s agility and perception. To grant you the Ultimate Step. Gain the ‘Magical Step Technique.”

The technique has a shitty name,but I won’t say anything. Even if I don’t say it, He would find out what I’m thinking. Well that’s it for Sadie, I’ll take it seriously.

Enuma said, “Fine, we will settle this later. First, stretch your body firmly, gradually. Concentrate.”

I reply, “Haven’t I done enough already? I’m pretty limber.”

Enuma continued, “Still. This is to improve physical ability and make a daily habit of it.”

I sigh, “Geez fine. But can you tell me what kind of training we’re going to do? Do I have to be flexible, what’s the ladder for, and anything else?”

Enuma says, “Hmm… Well, if you’re curious”

I’ll do whatever I’m told for the time being and put in a serious effort.

But I wanted to know what the hell I was going to do.

Then, Enuma explained, “First of all, you take the time to warm up by stretching then ladder training. After that, body technique exercises, and practice magic and forbidden arts which best suit your physique.”

Hearing to words “Forbidden Arts” mentioned so casually at the end made me nervous, but the other party is the Great Demon King. I answer, ”Oh, wait a minute.”

Enuma replying, “What? Surely you have no complaints, right?”

If the Great Demon King teaches you magic, what is the cost? However, one more thing that bothered me. I ask, “When do we train my swordsmanship?”

Yes, I’m the category of ‘Magic Swordsman’, same as my father. I’ve been practicing it since I was a kid and am still swinging 5,000 times a day. Even if Enuma says too many times for training is useless.

Enuma announced “About the sword. You do not possess the aptitude for the same heavy-handed swordsmanship as Heero. In other words, you lack the talent to be Heero.”

I am getting steamed with anger. Oh, you’re wrong, a ridiculous remark was made. The idea of it somehow my life would be completely pointless, right?

Enuma lectures, “It seems you have mixed feelings about your father, yet at the root you probably long for him. Hence your techniques and swordsmanship imitate your father.”

I mention, “Well, I’ve been imitating him since I was a kid.”

Enuma clarifies, “True, this is just an imitation though. Enough for a weak opponent, but you can never achieve a breakthrough.“

I’m the son of a hero, but I’m not cut out to be a magic swordsman. It can’t be, all my life I’ve been told and been compared to my father, now you say I was never talented. It sounds rather awful.

Enuma says, “On our first meeting between the seals, you tried to attack me with a ‘Magic Sword’ technique, did you not?”

I recall, “Oh, at that time. I remember it”

Enuma said, “Yes. At that point I was already aware. You have no talent for that style.”

I still could not easily accept the sudden remark. It’s only natural. I was denied all I’ve accumulated in my lifetime. Still steamed with anger, “Well, seriously. How do you know that?”

Enuma explains, “Hmm, can’t be helped. This is a long-winded explanation, but humans, demons, and demonic beasts each have distinct forms and distinct masses. Features, such as speed and reflexes, also differ. Nothing in this world can fit everything the same. Do you understand this?”

I agreed with him, “That’s true, but-”

Enuma continued, “At the same time, the swordsman uses a sword, and the brawler brawls… meaning each has a body and function that suits them.”

Enuma explains it in a very theoretical manner,”For instance, a giant orc may have an ideal body for swinging a club and attacking with power. Do you believe that giant orcs are good at ballet and finesse?”

I don’t think on it too hard, ”That is. Sure”

Enuma continues to lecture, ”Following that logic, for you a ‘Magic Swordsman’, rather Heero’s fighting style is unsuitable. He is the type to focus a suicide attack on a single point without thinking ahead. He utilizes the firepower of his magic in the sword with unrelenting force to defeat his opponent. This is realized when the person possesses great muscle mass, a tremendous amount of magical power, endurance and fortitude to resist a half-hearted counterattack. None of this applies to you.”

Rather than understanding, the more I listen to the long explanation, the more depressed I feel.

Enuma continues, “You are Heero’s son, but your inherent strength and magical power differs from your father’s. No matter how much you imitate Heero, you can never surpass him.”

Above all, it’s as the Demon King says, so I guess that explanation is true.

I can’t be my father.

I don’t have that talent.

Naturally, it was a shock. However, by being given clear guidance by someone like this, I immediately had a lot on my mind.

Think on my effort to get this far, I say, ”Haha Ever since I was little. All that time, I was swinging my sword.”

It became a habit. On rainy and windy days, I never missed my practice. The skin on my hands peeled and would bleed, and my legs would get smashed. Even so, I never had the talent to catch my father.

Enuma lecturing, “On the other hand, you have ample flexibility, as you have mentioned. It is a supple body that springs. Perhaps you are more akin to your mother.”

Astonished I blurt out, “Huh!?”

Enuma lecturing, “If you train with a sword, your fighting style will inevitably be built up around the sword. In other words, the function of your own body. you must begin by making the most of yourself by facing your individuality. To reexamine the functions of the body, physical techniques are the best.”

I was in the middle of a shock, so I couldn’t hear everything, but his last words reached my ears. I have another “talent”.

Enuma continues to lecture, ”If you are bound as a swordsman, you may be best suited to wielding that gentle, flowing sword. However, if you are to wield it, you must be intimate with the functions of your own body rather than the arm of the sword. To master it in two months time might be feasible.”

I looked up naturally and tried to listen to Enuma’s words without speaking.

Enuma said to me, I’ll never be able to beat my father, even if I imitate my father. Because it sounded like he was saying, I have my own talent.

Unlike my father, my personality is my own. I never thought of it.

Enuma went into roasting my father by saying, ”And Heero is a single-cell idiot. He can only use simple, power-driven magic with an emphasis on destructive force, but fine spells were beyond him. Magic is not just about having magical power; it also requires a brain to understand the theory behind events. You are better than Heero in that respect. Expand the magic more.”

It’s not just the sword. It is true that my father can use basic magic in overwhelming force, but I have heard that his grasp at the more detailed auxiliary system of magic is not good. Surprisingly, I was idolizing my father so much that I did not see his faults.

Enuma lecturing, “Do you understand? If you diligently apply yourself to training, of course, you will win the championship in two months. If you bestow more time, it is possible to raise you to the level where you can defeat Heero!”

Those words, it wasn’t just big talk or being swept by the momentum of our conversation.

There was simply an idea and the chance of the victory in properly following Enuma. And the rest depends on if I can put it into practice or not.

Yes, the rest is up to me. I could not help laughing at such a question. My father, everyone around me, will be surprised. The son of the hero will not fight as a Magic Swordsman.

Enuma asks, “You do not approve?”

I speak up, “Somehow, I have a rather pleasant feeling about this! Not like I’m my father’s son. More like I’m myself! I feel like a curse upon me has been reduced a little bit, and it made me feel better.”

I got it. I was shocked, depressed, but I felt a weight off my shoulders. I felt liberated from something. I’ve already found that I don’t need to imitate my father and feel complex. And now that I’m free of such a thing, I’d rather have the elation of something new that suits me.

I said, “Please, Enuma. Lead me to the right path.”

At this time, regardless of Sadie or any motivation, I myself felt ‘I want to do it’, and I was genuinely saying that.