How to Teach a Hero at the Academy

Chapter 15: Do You Believe in God? (3)

Monika recalled Abel's teachings.

For instance, before she was selected as a special scholarship student at CIAR,

around the time they handed over the two-tongued Tarkan to the Capital Defense Force.

“As I said, Aura is a power that manifests based on will.”

Abel said, gripping the hilt of his beloved sword.

“When will becomes upright, it becomes belief, and a firm belief is harder than faith. That is how a Holy Knight who has reached the pinnacle is able to wield Aura.”

Aura is the power to give shape to will.

A belief that has been diligently tempered is no different from the faith of a nation.

Is that really so. Monika tilted her head. She just looked down at the wooden sword held in her left hand.

It was small, and new. An item purchased with the bounty money paid by the Capital Defense Force. To keep a real sword as a personal possession, a complicated procedure was involved. The weapon Monika could hold right now was nothing more than a wooden sword with a harmless sheen.

“I don't have anything like that.”

Something like a belief……, I don't have it.

Muttering so, Monika looked around.

Her amber eyes were covered in green. A side of the temperate grassland stretching near the capital. In the sky above, an airship spewed out vaporized magic, and below the sky, vehicles came and went, burning magic stones. I wonder if the thought of just wanting to live a decent life can also become a belief. Having such idle thoughts, Monika pouted her lips.

A wind that blew in the midst of that.

Monika's hair stirred.

Her vision darkened due to her fluttering black hair.

“It's fine if you don't have it. You just have to make one.”

A voice that was heard subsequently.

Monika grabbed her hair and looked back at Abel.

Abel had approached Monika's side at some point. Abel bent his upper body and met Monika's gaze. Monika's outline was captured in Abel's blackish-blue eyes.

“Close your eyes, Monika.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Well……”

Monika frowned.

“You're going to knock me out, aren't you? When I come to my senses, I'll be sprawled out in some brutal place. And that place will probably be the base of an outlaw like Tarkan.”

“Rest assured. I won't kidnap you this time.”

“You broke into my residence even though you knew it was kidnapping?”

……That's even more malicious.

After letting out a puff of air through her nose, Monika closed her eyes. From beyond her closed eyes, Abel's voice was heard.

“Imagine a wall.”

“……A wall?”

“A wall so high that you can't see the end, and that you can never break through.”

“There is no such wall.”

“There probably is in the domain of the Pantheon.”

The Pantheon……, and.

Monika pronounced it out loud.

She had heard that the domain of the Pantheon was at the end of the sky. A place where the five main gods who created Epezeria resided, while countless foreign gods slept. It's possible there's something like that there. Monika shrugged.

“I've roughly imagined it. A giant and sturdy wall.”

It was a lie. There was only a blank page in Monika's mind. How splendid, and how safe a space must the Pantheon be. Monika didn't have the capacity to imagine such a place.

“You can only stick a single piece of paper there.”

A piece of paper.

Hearing Abel's words, Monika's mind, which had been a vast blank page, was blocked by a wall. It wasn't high, and it wasn't sturdy. It was just the wall of the funeral home she was using as her residence.

“Then you……”

There, I…….

“What would you write on the piece of paper.”

What did I write on it first?

Monika opened her eyes. Abel's expressionless face was revealed. Abel stood up as he was, then turned his back and started walking.

“A person cannot reach the domain of God. But they can probably engrave a single grain of thought somewhere there.”

A single thought that one wishes to place in the seat of God.

“That is belief.”

You take a piece of paper and write your most precious thought.

It can be a plausible declaration, or a place name, or a person's name. If the writing is not correct, you rewrite it. If your heart is not right, you open it again and again. And so, the paper, stained with handprints, sticks to the most precious wall.

“I understand what you're saying.”

Monika bowed her head.

When she put strength into her left hand, a green Aura flowing from her hand enveloped the wooden sword.

I don't have a belief yet. Is that why my Aura is this insipid grass color? The corners of Monika's mouth slowly rose. To think this flurry of light is such a great power. She couldn't feel it at all, but a strange sense of relief washed over her.

What could she achieve if she became a Holy Knight like this?

Monika thought about it. For now, she can only think of protecting herself.

“That's enough contemplation.”

At Abel's words, Monika lifted her head.

“From now on, I will teach you the basics of swordsmanship.”

But before that……,

and, muttering, Abel wore a faint smile.

“Shoot an Aura Blade at me.”

“……What?”

Monika's mouth opened into a circle.

Abel tilted his head with a blank expression, as if he couldn't understand Monika's reaction.

“Is there a problem?”

If I don't receive it with my body, I can't feel its power.

I have a duty to gain insight into your skills.

Abel said in a stoic tone.

“That is……, may I say just one thing?”

Monika fiddled with a blade of grass with the tip of her foot.

“There won't be another person like you in this world, Teacher.”

* * *

‘……I was wrong.’

To think there were two madmen like Teacher Abel.

A loud roar, as if scratching the wind, erupted. It was because the Aura Blade forged by Monika's Aura had hit Felix. Felix stood firm. Only three or four torn wounds were engraved on the back of his arm.

Seuuu──,

While the green-tinged blade wind scattered,

- He……, endured that?

A voice was heard from somewhere. Only then did Monika notice the gazes gathered around her. Not only the students taking 「Basics of Imperial Swordsmanship」, but all the students who had been training at the training ground were surrounding Monika and Felix. In the circular crowd, curiosity towards the Aura and astonishment towards Felix were swirling.

“Wonderful, Monika Lohengrin!”

Felix laughed, baring his teeth.

“Truly magnificent. It was a move that made me want to counterattack.”

“Are you alright, sir?”

Your arm is wounded…….

Monika muttered, conscious of the surrounding gazes.

“It's fine. This will be gone in a day. We're different from you Holy Knights. We train with the goal of reaching the limits of the body.”

Isn't that right, Dante? and.

Felix asked Dante, who was standing beside him.

“Th, that's right……. We who do not have divine power cultivate our martial arts based on our life force……”

Monika decided to nod her head. She thought she had heard it from Abel. Did he say that most knights who lack divine power train by controlling their own life force? And she had heard that there were those who hardened their muscles like armor. Felix must have blocked the Aura Blade in that way as well.

“By the way, Teacher……, why have you been in the same posture since a while ago……”

“Because I've thrown my back out. Hurry and move this old man to the infirmary.”

“……S, so you weren't alright after all!”

“Quiet! This will be all better after a day's rest!”

“B, but……”

Dante hurriedly bent down and offered his back to Felix. As he was being laboriously lifted onto Dante's back, Felix grinned as if he had just played a fun game. Then he shouted to the students.

“This period is for self-study! Everyone, go play with the wooden dolls!”

‘……Self-study from the very first lecture?’

How did it come to this?

Monika thought, fiddling with her prosthetic arm. Then she looked around. The students who had been gathered in a circle were scattering towards the shade. Monika's name was on their lips. But no one came to talk to her. There was also no sign of them intending to self-study according to Felix's command.

‘Then again.’

Monika slung the training longsword over her shoulder.

The weight of the unsharpened lump of iron was burdensome.

‘If you actually self-study just because they tell you to, you'd be a fool.’

I don't know since I've never been to school, but……,

Thinking so, Monika started walking.

‘I'm a fool.’

A human-shaped doll made of wood.

Monika faced it. While vital spots were marked to make it good for practicing swordsmanship, the joints were also bent in a circle to help learn the sense of combat.

‘This is not a person.’

Monika thought, placing her hand on the wooden doll.

It's different from when I hesitated to cut the scarecrow.

I shouldn't be like that now.

She gathered her mind and loosened her body.

There was no time to lie down leisurely in the shade. The fact that she had entered CIAR as a 4th-year student meant that she was at least 4 years behind in her studies. And that's not all. Everyone must have received prior learning through their families, or have come after graduating from a lower-level academy. Monika smiled bitterly.

‘Let's begin.’

First, I'll review the stances Abel taught me.

The system called Imperial Swordsmanship, or Numeros Formal Swordsmanship, was structured around practicality. Among them, civilian swordsmanship focused on seizing the initiative. The stances of the swordsmanship were also divided according to which part of the target one was aiming for.

‘First, the Eagle's Beak.’

A stance for striking down on the opponent's head.

‘Second, the Elephant's Tusk.’

A stance for preparing a thrust by holding the blade at an angle.

‘Third, the Lion's Mane.’

A stance intended for defense and checking by holding the handle at head height.

‘And the last is…….’

──Hwiik, and.

Monika cut down the empty air with all her might.

‘……The Laurel Crown.’

The stance after cutting an opponent with a sword.

Monika repeated this in order. The four basic stances were intended to allow the user to naturally practice their cutting. Sweat soon formed on Monika's neck as she held the stances with strength.

‘Next is…….’

Monika stood at a distance from the wooden doll.

She lowered her stance, gripping the hilt with both hands. The height of the blade was at the target's chest. The height of her gaze was just above the blade. Then, after taking a shallow breath,

‘Cut.’

Tuk, and.

Monika's foot, kicking off the ground.

Numeros Formal Swordsmanship, 1st Section, ‘Instant Pierce’.

Monika's weight, which had been concentrated on the soles of her feet, moved to the tip of her sword. The tip of the training longsword pierces the wooden doll's chest. Paseok, and. The scratches on the wooden doll's vital spot increased.

Swish──,

At the same time, Monika's body tilted in a semicircle.

Numeros Formal Swordsmanship, 2nd Section, ‘Wind Bite’.

Monika used her whole body to cut the wooden doll. While one leg extended to the side supported her weight, the blade tilted diagonally and grazed past the wooden doll's torso.

Heueup, and.

A deep breath in.

Monika put strength into the hilt.

Numeros Formal Swordsmanship, 3rd Section, ‘Full Bloom’.

A technique of jumping up as if performing a sword dance and cutting down wildly.

Monika, who had jumped high, tried to swing the training longsword as she had been taught, but……,

The hilt slipped from her grasp.

It fell onto the sand,

“……Eugeuk!”

Monika also tumbled down.

“Damn it!”

Monika wiped her mouth and looked up at the sky.

It was frustrating that her body wouldn't move as her mind wished, but strangely, she didn't feel any fatigue. Rather, it seemed a strange vitality circulated every time she gripped the hilt. It must be thanks to the Aura flowing in her body.

Supporting the weight of the sword,

and sustaining the body's movements,

Monika sensed that the Aura was helping with everything.

‘Come to think of it…….’

Did he say that the sword acts as a Tuning fork for the Aura?

Monika recalled Abel's teachings.

He had said that normally, the Aura only circulates within the body, but by holding a weapon like a sword, a resonance phenomenon can be caused. It was possible not only to add strength to various parts of the body by adjusting the Aura concentrated in the weapon, but also to apply it in ways other than an Aura Blade.

‘That's all a distant story.’

For now, even releasing an Aura Blade twice a day is a struggle.

It couldn't be helped. Because concentrating the Aura was like gathering blood to a single point.

‘Let's practice again.’

Monika brushed off the dust and stood up.

A bitter smile graced her lips.

“M, Monika.”

At that moment, a small voice reached Monika.

Monika's gaze tilted.

Under the sunset light that had begun to descend at some point, she saw Dante with a hesitant expression. Unlike his young and small appearance, the Badge pinned to his uniform blazer indicated that he was a senior student. Monika walked towards Dante.

“What is it? Dante……”

……Senior.

Monika added in a trailing voice.

“I was taking my teacher to the infirmary, and……, well, I saw you training……”

Dante's words trailed off as he picked up Monika's training longsword. At the same time as he gripped the hilt, Dante's gaze sharpened. Dante turned his body towards the wooden doll with a disciplined stance, then,

──Chwarak!

He glided as if dancing and struck down the wooden doll.

It was the Numeros Formal Swordsmanship, 3rd Section, ‘Full Bloom’, which Monika had failed at. Monika's eyes widened at the extremely skilled movement. Dante himself just landed lightly and took a shallow breath.

“I, it's important not to be greedy.”

Dante said, holding out the hilt to Monika.

“When you're gliding, you get……, excited. So you move m, more than necessary.”

So……, and.

Dante's words trailed off as he moved his lips.

“I, I also……, lost my family in the war. A, I heard your story through rumors……. Because you're famous……. Anyway, if my teacher hadn't made me a special scholarship student, maybe……, maybe I would also……”

Be working at a magic stone quarry.

Muttering so, Dante rolled his eyes.

“That is……, why I'm saying this is……”

Looking at Dante, who was twisting his body, unable to choose his words, Monika wore a sigh-mixed smile. He's so timid, yet his swordsmanship is amazing. Thinking so, Monika opened her mouth.

“Will you help me with my training?”

At Monika's question, Dante lifted his head with a surprised expression.

“Y, yeah! I'll help. If you're okay with it……”

“Thank you very much, Senior.”

A moment of silence.

By the way……, and.

Monika carefully opened her mouth.

“A dog is chewing on your pants leg. Are you okay?”

“Whaaat?”

Dante was startled and checked his feet. It was as Monika had said. A dog that had approached from somewhere was biting Dante's pants leg. Dante, with a pale face, struggled to get the dog off. Despite its small body, the dog did not retreat easily.

‘……Wait.’

Meanwhile, Monika's gaze narrowed.

‘That dog…….’

I've seen it before.

Thinking so, Monika picked up the dog with both hands.

Abundant white fur. A cute tail like a snowflake.

The one I saw after taking the special scholarship student selection test for sure……,

“Teacher……, Abel?”

Monika asked the dog.

It was unmistakable. It was the dog that Abel had used as a familiar.

“Surely it's not you again, Teacher?”

──Woof!

The dog barked loudly and licked its tongue.

It wasn't? That's a relief.

Monika was relieved and placed the dog on the sand. Did we meet purely by chance? As Monika was about to stroke the dog with a complicated expression,

- Marx! Where did you go in the middle of your meal!

- Kant! Are you there? Answer me if you are!

- Guys, please, let's just agree on one name for the dog…….

- No! Marx is too much of a dog name!

Cheerful shouts were heard.

The janitors of CIAR, of the same age, were walking around the training ground.

‘Were they taking care of a stray dog?’

Then again, it was like that when I was working too.

It's a bit of a burden to run into those kids……,

As Monika was pursing her lips, thinking so,

“That dog, you see.”

A soft voice that lingered by her ear.

Fleur was crouching beside Monika at some point.

‘Why is she here too!’

Monika's face turned pale upon seeing the suddenly appeared Fleur. Fleur, as if finding Monika's expression amusing, propped her chin on her hand with her eyes shining with laughter.

“That dog……, came to see his dead wife's dog. She was buried here a few days ago. He's been wandering around here ever since.”

“Y, you startled me! When did you get here?”

When Monika asked, clutching her chest,

“I was here since a while ago.”

Fleur answered in a light tone.

“You were so engrossed in your practice, so I was watching. I also saw you shoot an Aura Blade at a professor. You're a really amazing child.”

Monika's face distorted with embarrassment.

Dante, who was staring blankly at the two.

The janitors who had found the dog at some point and approached.

The dog, burrowing into Monika's arms.

‘……Why did everyone gather here!’

Monika, who was blushing while hugging the dog.

“I came to bring the dead dog back to life.”

Towards everyone,

Fleur adjusted her flower crown and asked.

“How about it, would you like to watch?”

The evening wind shook the petals woven into the flower crown.