Another month had passed, but instead of training, all me and Toba did was study.
“Are you two listening?”
“Yes Luna”
“Yes…”
Although we could still do our usual bodybuilding routine, Luna wasn’t teaching us combat, magic, or anything practical.
“If you say so… Toba, where are we right now?”
“… Astra continent”
“And?” She raised her eyebrow with a half-satisfied smile that was begging to be completed.
“Porang region… Dwarf Forest.”
“GREAT JOB!”
“Waaah! Put down! Put down!”
Luna grabbed Toba and started spinning him in the air. The horrified look on his face, coupled with his “natural charm” and hoarse voice, made a scene that was supposed to look adorable seem quite terrifying.
“Now it’s Cona’s turn.” Luna said as she finally let Toba off from her grasp.
Poor guy, he gets the answer right and still gets punished…
“Ahem. Cona please name all the continents and their regions.” She said while closing her eyes like an arrogant teacher.
“What? Why is my question harder? I can’t remember all the regions!”
That is going too far lady! I can memorize stuff about dungeons and adventurers, but you can’t expect me to remember all those names!
“Cona…” She opened her eyes slightly and gave me a look that sent chills down my spine.
The reason I was easily being blackmailed was that she wouldn’t train me or Toba until we learned all she wanted us too. I quickly memorized stuff like which plants were poisonous and what animals to avoid, but geography bored me.
This small oneesan sure can be scary when she wants to.
Wait… “oneesan” huh… I just remembered something important. This might be my ticket to escape.
“Big sister Luna, the continents are Astra continent, Dahab continent, Goldland, New Nabuk, Crystallos, and Ruined Continent together with the Sea Serpent kingdom reserve.”
I tried to sound as cool and intelligent as possible, but the truth was I had just memorized the names and had no idea what each one was.
I could maybe point them on the map and say which ones were cold and which ones had deserts but that was it.
An adventurer should learn stuff as they go, right? No one likes an infodump.
“As for the regions… I can teach YOU something else instead.” It was time to test if she was a true nerd.
“Teach me?” She said while raising an eyebrow and decorating her face with a curious and innocent expression.
I didn’t answer and instead just gestured for her to follow me as I ran downstairs towards a particular book.
Everyday, Luna would copy books and magic circles, but she hadn’t reached that one yet, since the spellbooks on the second floor were her priority.
I had once asked her why she didn’t just take the books with her, and she said she didn’t want to get on the tower owner’s bad side, something about old wizards being dangerous and vengeful.
As I reached the shelf I wanted, I took out an old leather-bound book.
How could I forget about this? I give up on things way too easily…
The book in my hands was of course the Japanese dictionary that was translated to this world’s “common” language.
“You asked what was “oneesan” that time right? It’s a word written here; it means big sister.”
Hopefully I would now be able to start calling her by the appropriate title, using “big sister” just felt wrong. It was like the English translations that used “Mister” instead of adding “San” or “Sama” at the end, it’s just not the same thing.
Yes, I am a filthy weeb, and if the first nekomimi I find says “Mew” instead of “Nya”, I’ll shoot her in the head.
“This… Cona what is this?” Judging by her astonished expression, I’d say she already had a pretty good guess.
“It’s a dictionary for a different language, I had forgotten about it, but since Luna oneesama is always around books, I thought you would like it!”
“This language… I’ve never heard of it before.” My hunch was right on the spot, Luna was too big of a nerd not to be interested in this sort of thing.
It’s not free though, it’ll cost ya!
“Here is that word I said, O-nee-sa-ma.” I flipped to the corresponding page and pointed my finger to the translated meaning of the word.
“Older sister…” She said, still a little dazed by her new discovery.
Now it’s time for my negotiation.
“Since I showed oneesan something this great, can we go back to training? I’ll catch up on geography someday I swear! It’s just that I have so many things I want to learn from you!” I pleaded in a desperate manner.
Poor me, forced to have an education for free by a private teacher.
To my surprise, however, Luna’s lips curved into a devilish grin.
“Oh, you have huh?” Her tone was a little scary, but I wouldn’t let that deter me.
“Yes! I want to learn new spells, how to fight better, how to walk silently, how to whisper spells, how to- “
“Cona, don’t you know why I forced you two into all these classes lately?” She interrupted me, still with that scary face.
What’s going on? Did Luna suddenly turn into a sadist? This isn’t a nice character development.
“N-no…”
“Since you’re so eager to become an adventurer with Toba, and you only care about muscles and combat… I wanted to get all the basics of your education out of the way.”
“Eh?” Out of the way? That was not the choice of words I was expecting.
“I do have experience teaching kids like you… But I wouldn’t be able to apply my methods if you were busy with other matters.”
“M-methods?”
Why is this starting to sound like torture?
“Don’t worry about it. I was planning on giving you two a normal education, but after watching you fight, I realized it’s safer to help you get stronger, since you’ll head out into danger even if I don’t, and you’ll drag Toba along with you.” She said now in her usual manner, no devilish grin and scary voice.
“Phew, I see. You scared m- “
“But soon you’ll want to go right back to geography! Fufufufu.”
She closed the Japanese book and stored it inside her robe, as she giggled and looked at me with evil eyes full of mischief.
I have a bad feeling about this…
…
The day had passed, and after eating my daily amount of “chicken”, fruits, and rice that Luna brought in bulk from Alport, the nearest town, all that was left was for me and Toba to finish our workout for the day.
It was supposed to be leg day, but I feared what Luna would put us through starting tomorrow, so I just had us do a light full body workout to allow us a rest for once.
I also had us sleep at least 3 hours earlier since I had no clue about when Luna was going to wake us up.
As it turns out, all my worries were justified.
“WAAAAAAH! COLD! COLD!”
I suddenly woke up to Toba’s desperate screaming, and before I could react, a bucket of ice-cold water was thrown at me.
“AAAARGH! WHAT’S THIS ALL ABOUT?”
Even having prepared myself mentally, I wasn’t expecting this kind of harassment coming from the usually kind and forgiving Luna!
She had a cold expression that was trying to hide back laughter as she looked at my clattering teeth and said:
“You two are dead, if I was an enemy this would be the easiest ambush of my life.” She said as she glared at us, trying not to laugh.
I get it now; it seems I have made a mistake. I thought I was signing myself up for an anime training arc, but in reality, I just joined the army.
I got up, still dripping wet and cold all over, and smiled defiantly at Luna.
I had never joined the army back in Brazil, but I always told myself I would be exemplar if I did. It was time to give my daydreaming some meaning.
“We’re starting earlier than I expected.”
She paid me back the same smile as she answered my challenge.
“Hooh… You’re tougher than you look, Cona.”
“I’m tough alright.” I said as I struck my chest.
“And you may be hard inside, but around those muscles you’re still as soft as a bunny!” I said as I tried to reach and fondle her arms. I wanted to play a little with her so I could break her act, but I was too hasty.
She grabbed my arm instead, and next thing I saw I was staring at the ceiling as my back again collided with the water-soaked makeshift bed.
“I deserved that.”
Didn’t I just say I would be exemplar? I should take this more seriously.
“Let’s go, you two.”
Toba was still shivering in a corner when his ankle was grabbed by Luna, and as he was dragged across the black brick floor, he looked at me expecting some kind of help.
“Can’t help you buddy, our holidays are over. Get used to it soon so you don’t suffer.”
We arrived outside, and Luna instructed us to wait by the door while she went back inside to fetch some things.
Not long after, she brought back 3 short swords and 2 daggers, and with calm but precise movements, threw them all one by one and got them stuck to the ground. Not only was the distance between each one almost perfect, even the depth that each weapon penetrated was equal.
“Today you two are training with swords.” She said nonchalantly.
We both looked at her, expecting her next words, but they didn’t come.
After a little awkward silence, I walked up to one of the short swords stuck to the ground and lifted it up.
As soon as I did that, however, Luna, who was standing a small distance away, suddenly charged towards me!
I couldn’t see any weapons on her hands, so I thought she would attack me barehanded and backed down to brace myself, but instead she passed by the two daggers and picked them up.
The battle had just begun, and I lost the only advantage I had. Even worse, Toba was just standing there! It was clear that the training had started, and that we would get our asses kicked, but he still wasn’t moving.
“Toba grab a sword and help me!” I shouted as Luna’s two daggers collided with my sword, making me fall on my back.
It was almost a perfect recreation of the time I guarded against the bandit’s attack a month ago, only this time the shock my arms receive was much greater, and the force was enough to knock me down.
I still had my guard up as I fell, but Luna struck my sword near the base with the quick movement of her left dagger, pushing it to the side and leaving me completely stance broken and exposed.
Before she could strike at my neck, however, we heard a fierce shout coming from behind her.
“DON’T HURT BROTHER!”
Toba shouted angrily as he struck at Luna with terrifying strength.
She quickly turned her body to block his blow with the same dagger she used to break my defense earlier, but when the weapons collided, they both broke in multiple pieces!
Me and Toba were both stunned by what happened, and before we could react Luna thrusted her foot at me like it was a sharp blade, stopping inches before my neck.
When I realized what was happening, she had already moved, and her other dagger was pointing at Toba’s throat.
Time seemed to have stopped and everyone paused for a moment, but after a few seconds she pulled back her dagger, allowing us to finally relax as we began breathing heavily.
The battle had lasted only a couple of seconds, but I was tired as if I had just run a marathon.
I was the first to break the silence.
“Holy shit Toba, you’re strong!”
“Cona, language!”
“Sorry.”
I always knew Toba had an absurd strength for his size, but now I knew just how much he was holding back before.
All it took was for him to think I was in immediate danger, and he managed to strike so hard even Luna’s dagger broke. Granted, his sword also broke, but that was from a lack of technique, not strength.
“Luna… Huff… Not angry?” as expected, Toba was extremely confused. If not for Luna’s dagger getting extremely close to his neck before, I’m sure he wouldn’t have surrendered.
“Luna is not angry, Toba, I’m just training you both so you can react when someone really wants to hurt you two.”
“And…? Huff, huff… How did we do?”
“First off, I’m sure you noticed but you wasted your opportunity to keep me from grabbing my weapons. In a battle, you need to know when to give in and when to push, if you waste an opportunity and fall back when you don’t have to, that false sense of security will soon be over as the enemy will regain the advantage and defeat you.”
I nodded. She was completely right, as the inexperienced coward I currently am, I am way too quick to retreat and seek temporary safety.
“Second, that shout you gave Toba was an example of terrible team coordination. Even while fighting creatures that can’t understand you, just by your tone of voice, body language, and the context you’re in, they may be able to figure out what order you’re giving, as well as your intentions.”
“You need to be able to understand and coordinate each other’s movements while giving as little information to the enemy as possible.” She really looked like a proud teacher right now, far from the seemingly innocent and carefree Luna I was accustomed to.
I nodded again, but this time I had a question.
“Should I come up with a secret code?”
“No need, as your reflexes and senses improve, and you both get used to fighting together, just saying each other’s names will be enough to convey what you need without giving away too much. If an enemy is smart enough to figure out your strategy even while keeping your words to a minimum, you need to rely on experience and instinct to catch him by surprise with natural coordination.”
“Got it!”
I could imagine what she was talking about. Even in the small glimpses I had of her fighting seriously, I could tell her senses were a world apart from mine. If you’re aware enough of the events around you, just a neutral verbal warning will be enough to clue you in on what you’re supposed to do or avoid.
“As for when you fell down, that was another instance for you to be offensive rather than defensive. You need to keep your opponent occupied long enough for you to be able to stand again and get out of the disadvantage you’re in. Strike with low risk but strong moves that’ll probably not hit, but will keep him from being risky himself.”
Before I could even nod, she turned her head away from me.
“As for you, Toba.”
Poor Toba was still a little confused, but he looked like he at least understood this was training, so he put all the coal he had into the furnaces in his brain and tried his best to pay attention.
“You did well to rush into Cona’s aid, but like I said to him, you shouldn’t stand there waiting for a wakeup call.”
Toba had his eyes completely fixated on Luna; he was trying so hard to concentrate he didn’t even manage to nod.
“Your blow, however, had really good timing, intentionally or not. If I was a normal opponent, you would have ended the fight there.”
“You also could have broken my weapon without breaking yours in the process, but you’ll learn that with time. I’ll teach you how to put your exceptional strength to good use.”
Luna closed her eyes for a moment, and a smile finally returned to her face, albeit a slight and slow one.
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