A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 129

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

Next to the cavalry station was a field reserved for the cavalry to train on. When the morning’s preparatory exercises finished up, all of the soldiers formed ranks.

They were getting ready to begin the training sessions for the day. Harold stood before the soldiers and was about to begin the morning ceremony to start the first session.

Then, he saw Smith coming towards them. 

“Harold – I am sorry to disturb you so suddenly, but could I ask you to do me the honor of having a mock battle with me?” asked Smith.

“…Hmm” said Smith, and looked over at his cavalrymen.

“We do not mind. Observation is training in itself, after all,” said the vice-captain, and Harold nodded.

“Alright. Why the sudden proposal, though?” asked Harold.

“Yesterday, during teatime after our dinner, Takeo-sama suggested it to me,” said Smith.

“He what?” asked Harold

“Up until now, I have always thought that it was a bad thing to not be able to win,” said Smith, “However, Takeo-sama taught me that winning is not the most important thing. The most important thing is to avoid losing. He also told me that I should gain experience by fighting someone of higher rank than me in a mock battle, and not worry about injuring my opponent.”

“I see. I can feel the weight of those words since they come from someone who had a serious battle with Lady Alice,” said Harold.

“Yes. To tell you the truth, I didn’t want to go through with this battle,” said Smith, “I always run away from confrontation. I always feel like I haven’t learned enough swordsmanship from my training, and that I can’t win, so I accept defeat right away… I see myself always thinking that I can’t win, and… Today, that person I see in myself… I want to change that person in this mock battle with you, Harold.”

“I see… Vice-captain, would you be our referee?” asked Harold.

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Harold and Smith gave each other some space, to start. The distance between them was about 4 meters. 

Harold was fully equipped, with a full set of armor, including plates on his arms and legs. He had thought that he would put on his breastplate after the morning ceremonies, but this mock battle came up so suddenly. It was his fault for not already wearing it. He didn’t like wasting time before a battle by having to put his armor on.

Smith wore leather-bound armor.  In the Elvis household, full plate armor was made only for those who were of age.

“Alright… Begin!” said the vice-captain, signaling the start of the battle. The two fighters readied their swords.

Harold had trained Smith as his instructor in the past, but the face that Smith saw before him now was something he had never seen before. 

He thought that observing Lady Alice and Takeo’s mock battle and hearing Takeo’s words after the battle had had a good influence on him.  He was starting to progress in the right direction. The fact that he could feel that growth and progression made him happy.

Smith had no plans of losing because of mercy.

He wanted Harold to come at him, over and over. Every time, he would push him back and feel the strength of the wall that is the top military officer of this land.

————————

The first one to make a move was Smith. He came cutting in at Harold with a direct, frontal attack.

It was the attack typical of a young man – brash and without thinking of consequences.

Clang!

Harold easily defended with this sword, though. After stopping the blow, he forcibly pushed Smith’s sword away and counter-attacked with a powerful sword stroke meant to mow down young Smith.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

Smith desperately defended and managed to meet swords with Harold, but his footing was off, and he was sent flying back.  

They had distance between them once again, and they both readied their swords for a second time.

Even that one slash he took was vastly different from anything Smith had ever felt during their training together.

The usual Smith would not have the strength to get even this far.

Harold was glad to see it.

————————

Harold defended against Smith’s attack, fended off his sword, and then blasted him back with a counter-attack… This scene repeated itself four times.

Smith got to thinking.

He couldn’t reach him, even if he went at him with his full strength… What should he do?

If they continued like this, his energy would run out before Harold’s did. In fact, his arm was already going numb.

“I’m stuck… It feels good to fight all out, though… I wonder if Lady Alice and Takeo-sama felt like this during their battle…”

Smith was enjoying the situation. Yesterday, he couldn’t have even imagined himself doing this.

“Today’s goal is to land one attack that will wound your opponent…”

…He would attack over and over. He would defend, too, until an opportunity arose… That’s all he had, for now. 

Smith rushed in for his fifth attack.

————————

Harold was thinking.

Seven times, now… Smith had attacked in the same way every time, stepping in towards him, and striking from above with his sword… It was true, though, that that was all Harold had taught him…

Smith had been coming to training sessions seriously, but he had always given up quickly and hadn’t put much time in. Since Harold’s one-on-one battles mostly came down to a single blow, he had not bothered teaching Smith any intricate moves.

…He figured he should end the battle, now. He decided he would move in pursuit of Smith, and finish things up.

Just as he was thinking that, Smith came in for his eighth attack. He came in with a frontal slashing attack.

Clang!

Harold defended against the attack with his sword easily, pushed back Smith’s sword with force, and mowed him down with a counter-attack. He put a little more strength into it and sent Smith flying. Harold then stepped forward to pursue Smith.

Then, a loud clapping sound rang out, followed by a clang. He felt an intense pain run through his left thigh.

“Guh!” Harold let slip a groan of anguish.

He hadn’t meant to look away, but before he knew it, Smith had run in at his right side.

“Guah!” cried Harold, and reflexively twisted his body around. Smith’s sword had just grazed the side of his torso, and he had taken a slight cut.

“You little-,” said Harold. He let go of his sword and planted his fist into Smith’s face, sending him flying with a punch.

Harold lost his balance from the recoil of his punch, and he too fell to the ground. He stood up quickly, though, and readied his sword.

“Stop! The winner is the Captain!” declared the vice-captain.

Smith had fainted from the punch to his face.

..

.

The cavalry’s mages quickly came forth and healed both of their wounds.

Smith then opened his eyes and tried to grasp the situation.

“…I… lost, right?…” he asked.

“Yes,” said Harold.

“…Even though I lost, I feel good…” said Smith, “This is a first for me.”

“Is that so,” said Harold.

Smith nodded at Harold’s words and got up.

“Harold, thank you for your help today,” said Smith.

Smith bowed and left the area. Harold watched Smith’s back attentively as he walked away.

..

. 

As soon as Smith left his field of view, Harold noticed two people he recognized coming over from out of a thicket. Just as he was about to object to their presence, one of them spoke out first.

“Well, Harold. It’s time for you to fight me, now,” declared the lady with an Odd Eye, holding a wooden sword in one hand.

Harold’s face went pale, and all he could do was cry on the inside.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]