Chapter 425
Chapter 425: The Powerhouses
――As dawn broke on the NeedAlun.
“Whoa!”
On the sunlit deck, Hien, the tiger beastman, charged at the old man, who stood in a relaxed, natural posture.
“Hah!”
“Gyaah!”
However, in a blink, the old man effortlessly threw Hien aside. Even from my perspective, Hien’s charge had considerable force—what a sight!
“Once more!”
“Very well.”
Hien got up and charged once again. Despite being thrown dramatically, it seemed he wasn’t seriously hurt. Must be the resilience of a beastman… No, I sensed a martial technique similar to the old man’s in his movements. Perhaps he learned how to mitigate the impact of being thrown? I’d like to know the trick if there is one.
“Hah!”
“Guh!”
This time, Hien tried to close in and restrain the old man but ended up on his knees after being swept off his feet and had his arm joint locked, rendering him immobile.
“Wow, impressive!”
“Indeed…”
Arthur and I, waiting on the deck as ship guards, were genuinely impressed. Arthur even seemed slightly exasperated.
From Hien’s fierce determination and his visibly frustrated expression, it didn’t seem like he was holding back out of consideration for the old man. Seeing an elderly man throw a powerfully agile beastman around was something I couldn’t have believed if I hadn’t witnessed it myself. I’d heard the tales, but I was half skeptical.
The old man truly is no ordinary person…! He must have been quite a skilled fighter in his younger days.
“Right here. You’re letting your center of gravity drop too softly.”
While grappling, the old man began lecturing Hien, patting Hien’s waist playfully.
“Since you’re strong, you’re being led by your own power. Your bad habit is lifting your waist too much in crucial moments. Settle down more.”
“Yes, Master.”
Hien lowered his waist firmly.
“Good. Now you’ve become quite formidable… However, your footwork is still lacking.”
With unbelievable speed, the old man shifted his legs and pushed against the back of Hien’s knee. Hien collapsed, looking extremely frustrated, with a face that screamed “How embarrassing…!”
“Hmm, well done!”
I couldn’t help but be captivated. …But if Hien were to use his claws or bite while grappling, what would the old man do? Hien has his own unique fighting style as a tiger beastman (including the use of claws and fangs), so I’m curious why he earnestly studies under the old man.
“Okay, now it’s Hans’s turn. Come here.”
“Yes!”
After finishing up with Hien, a skinny youth who had been waiting by the side approached nervously. This young man is Hans, who conspicuously lacked the air of confidence that Hien had.
If you think about it, Hien likely forced his way into becoming the old man’s disciple, which makes sense… but why is Hans part of our travel group? Now that I know the old man’s true identity, it’s a mystery. Could he, for all his outward appearance, be exceptional like Gizelle in the background?
“Hmm!”
“Gyeh!”
Whoa! He was thrown without mercy right off the bat!
“Too easy! Your footwork is lackluster, you’re too relaxed! Did you think this was a picnic? One more time!”
“I’m sorry!”
Whoa, suddenly super intense…!
While Hien’s session had a somewhat jovial tone, the old man now wore a stern expression and began to rigorously train Hans. I couldn’t help but worry if the frail Hans would break, or if his spirit would shatter—but surprisingly, Hans gritted his teeth and clung on with determination. He seems to have more guts than I thought…
“Ah, thank you very much…”
With the sun rising higher, and many crewmen waking up, the deck became lively. The practice session wrapped as Hans looked utterly exhausted, while the old man was completely dry of sweat.
“Good. Continue to improve.”
“Yes…!”
“Ah, it was tough today again. Here, have some water.”
As Hans wobbled back to the cabin, Shuken handed him a water flask and patted his shoulder encouragingly.
“Wow, you’re amazing, old man.”
I said to the old man, who received a flask of water from Kirk and took a breather.
“Hoho. You can’t live long without keeping your body in shape.”
But it doesn’t seem like he’s just keeping in shape…
“That martial art of yours seems exceptionally refined—does it belong to a specific school?”
“Indeed. It’s a hand-to-hand suppression technique passed down in my family since ancient times.”
The old man paused mid-sentence. What’s up with that?
“It’s a martial art focused on immobilizing others without causing harm.”
“I see…”
So it’s a technique not meant to kill but to subdue. How peaceful…
“Regarding the earlier grappling with Hien—what would you do if he were to bite or scratch you during a grapple?”
I asked, having been curious about that.
“Hohoho. Good question.”
The old man chuckled while stroking his beard.
“――Truth be told, there’s not much you can do.”
…Wait, really!?
“Basically, it’s a martial art designed for combat between humans. When a typical beastman leaps at you, you can use their strength to throw them, but…”
That’s easy to say, but it’s still quite a high level of difficulty… The old man can do it, though.
“While there are certainly grappling techniques for armored fighters on the battlefield, if someone like Hien closes in and grabs you before you can roll them or lock their joints, you’re toast.”
“I get it~”
Conversely, it means that while Hien is a beastman possessing raw explosive power, he’s learning tactics and techniques that are not simply reliant on that.
I finally understand why Hien is studying under the old man as I glanced towards Hien, who looked quite sullen.
“Old man, if you don’t mind, could you teach me a few moves?”
Unable to suppress my curiosity, I casually asked.
Then, the crewmen on the deck began to murmur.
“Whoa…”
“Seriously?”
“The Hero…”
What’s with everyone? They seem overly frightened. Even if the old man is powerful, no need to be this scared—right, Antendeixis?
“Indeed, indeed! Absolutely cowardly, these folks!!!”
Antendeixis laughed joyfully. Yet, why is Arthur holding his forehead?
“Hoho, of course—”
“Wait a moment, old man. This one is mine.”
Just as the old man was about to eagerly agree, Kirk stepped forward, holding up his hand.
“……”
With tense shoulders and a formidable gaze. I see, if he’s part of the old man’s crew, he too must have mastered the same hand-to-hand suppression techniques.
If I want the old man to take me on, I’ll have to get past him first—such an intimidating atmosphere was emanating.
“Haha!”
Sure, I don’t dislike this kind of vibe. I drew my sword, handing Adamas over to Arthur, and got into a ready stance for combat.
Kirk mirrored my movements. The surrounding crewmen, turned spectators, slowly backed away, akin to a retreating tide.
Staring each other down, Kirk and I—
“……”
Oh no.
I can’t move.
This Kirk dude is no joke.
I somewhat know where to strike, but I can also predict the counterattacks coming my way.
And if we were to seriously clash, I suspect it wouldn’t end well for either of us—and Kirk seems to sense that too.
“……”
Thus, we remained locked in our stare, paralyzed. Just in case of serious injury, Arthur could treat me, but I can’t exert force in what should be an informal practice, yet at the same time, I can’t hold back either…
“Hohoho. Looks like you’re evenly matched.”
The old man chuckled while stepping between us.
“Kirk, step back… Now, I’ll take you on.”
He smiled, radiating a mix of friendliness and confidence, waving me over.
…This is the opposite of Kirk! The old man stands naturally, seeming as though he could easily strike anywhere…!! I took an offensive stance, calculating my opening, but—
“…Hmm. A rather unusual stance you have there.”
The old man remarked with newfound interest.
Chills ran down my spine.
I realized then: my stance had become a mix of demonic and beastman techniques. Since I’ve been training with Garunya and Sophia in the Demon Lord Kingdom, I haven’t been able to use standard human martial arts…!
“…I’ve been taught by a beastman acquaintance.”
I said, grinning as I switched to a standard fighting stance.
“Ha!”
Before I could give any more away, I lunged at the old man without holding back! A straightforward attack aimed at his midsection—
“Hoho.”
The moment I thought I’d hit him without any moderation, the old man smoothly dodged, sliding into my guard. I was pushed back—it felt like hitting a rock!? The instant I sought to push back, the world spun in a blur.
“Ouch.”
Before I knew it, I had been rolled onto the deck. As I quickly tried to get up, the old man’s knee pressed down on my chest, preventing any motion.
“…I give up.”
“Hohoho. I felt the pressure too; your spirit is commendable.”
The old man laughed, extending his hand to help me up.
Wow…
He’s incredible! Seriously strong!
“Old man, please tell me you’re not a Sword Saint or something?”
He’s old, yet has perfected his fighting skills as a human? I know of examples where beings from different races have mastered martial arts. It’s not an impossible notion…!
As I regarded him with admiration, the old man shook his head with a wry smile, saying, “No, no.”
“Nothing that impressive. Besides—”
As the old man snapped his fingers, a flame flickered to life on the tip of his finger.
Not silver. Just regular fire.
“—Unfortunately, the laws of nature frown upon me.”
A mage, huh? As expected of someone skilled to be directly under the royal family…!!
Weird to say, but being involved with the Holy Church or being in the Demon Lord Kingdom can warp your perception. Mages are incredibly rare in the Allied Territories…in reality…
Much rarer than Heroes or Priests, who you can always meet at the Holy Church.
“Weak in magic is rather inconvenient, huh?”
Antendeixis snickered mischievously. Truly, it’s such a serious issue. I still feel nostalgic for the fire attribute from my previous life, especially when wanting to light a torch or start a campfire…
…Wait a second.
“Old man, you could burn your opponents if you wanted, right…?”
As I pointed this out, the old man grinned meaningfully.
Earlier, he said he wouldn’t be able to deal with Hien using his claws and fangs while grappling, but if he wanted, he could easily handle it…
Pretending to be a lightly-armored mage, he could evade engaging and finish me off with magic. That’s just cruelly powerful. …At least in the Allied Territories.
“Wow… I surrender. If you wouldn’t mind, please guide me again!”
“Hohoho. Of course, I’d be glad to.”
Amidst the commotion, I asked, and he readily agreed.
Yes! I’m going to ask him about that joint-locking technique and how to mitigate the impact of being thrown!
As the sun rose brighter, the crewmen, who had been tense, started moving about busily—after all, we were entering waters filled with reefs soon—so the practice came to a close.
“Wow, really, I was shocked by how strong you are, old man!”
Leaning back in my deck chair, which was our post as ship guards, I excitedly turned to Arthur.
“Yeah… it really is…”
Arthur gazed into the distance for some reason.
“I wonder why he’s so strong…?”
Why, well, it’s simply because he’s a master, right?
I tilted my head while the NeedAlun turned its bow toward the land.
We were about to arrive at our next port town—Bakkosu.
