Volume 1 Chapter 17 The Great Villain Of The World, Takes On A Disciple
"I've been waiting for you, Kou Tenhou. Let's start with a greeting."
After talking in the hall, I was guided to the reception room.
There was a woman around 20 years old and a boy about my age.
They were Raikou-sensei and her disciple, Sui Kaou.
Raikou-sensei was lying on a long bench, waving me over.
"My name is Shin U. I don't really like my real name, so just call me Raikou-sensei."
"I am Kou Tenhou. Thank you for allowing me to become your disciple."
I clasped my hands together.
"Good. That's a nice greeting... Now, Kaou. You should greet him too."
"...I'm Sui Kaou. Nice to meet you from now on."
Sui Kaou was staring at me with a sulky face.
Raikou-sensei was a tall woman. She had long hair tied back.
Her slender body was wrapped in a purple robe.
Her arms and legs were thin.
She looked like she had no strength, yet... she easily defeated that Enki. Plus, she moved around effortlessly in narrow alleys. Her attack power was high, and her mobility was the best. If she targeted you, you wouldn't be able to escape.
The only reason Enki got away was that Raikou-sensei stopped him by protecting me.
That was all.
Sui Kaou, standing behind Raikou-sensei, was a small boy.
He was a bit shorter than me. He had his hair in braids, hanging down his back.
Since he is Raikou-sensei's disciple, he must be a martial artist too.
But there's no character named Sui Kaou in "History of the Swordmaster."
Maybe he's not related to the game.
"I teach you martial arts to make sure you fulfill your 'duty.'."
Lying on the long bench, Raikou-sensei said.
"Of course, since you're working for Aika Country, you will be rewarded. If you want, you can ask Ryougen-kun to grant your wishes."
After saying that, Raikou-sensei added in a light tone,
"Well, since this Raikou is also Ryougen-kun's subordinate, I'll have my disciples work for Aika Country too. In return, I'll make sure to pay you properly, that's how it is."
"Yes. I will do my best!"
"I'm Sui Kaou. I will risk my life to fulfill my duty!!"
"You're so serious, Kaou."
Raikou-sensei poked Sui Kaou's back with his finger.
"I just taught you, 'The harder something is, the easier it breaks. Use both hard and soft.'."
"Yes! I'm sorry!!"
"That's it."
Raikou-sensei smiled wryly.
"Kaou. You finally have a junior disciple, so be happy about it."
"That's what you say, but I can't."
"Why not?"
"Teaching martial arts from you was supposed to be just for me. But suddenly, another disciple appears... My time to learn martial arts has decreased. I can't be happy about that."
"I don't think you need to worry that much. I plan to prepare enough teaching time for both of you."
"Still, I want to learn martial arts quickly and fulfill my 'duty.'."
Sui Kaou said this while looking down.
I kind of understood how he felt.
Sui Kaou――no, Kaou-shikei (senior disciple) was the only disciple of Master Raikou.
Until now, he had been learning martial arts one-on-one.
But from now on, Master Raikou would have to train me too.
Seeing how he was so focused on his 'duty,' it seemed like he was a serious person.
I didn't want to get in the way of someone like that.
Especially if he wasn't someone who appeared in the 'History of Swordmaster.'
If he wasn't related to the 'Kou Tenhou's Destruction ending,' we might be able to get along normally.
So――
"I don't intend to disturb you, Shikei."
After thinking for a while, I said this to the master and Shikei.
"What I want to learn are footwork and body techniques. My wish is to survive, not to fight. It would be enough if you could teach me just a part of the martial arts that Master Raikou has mastered."
"Just footwork and body techniques... is that all?"
"Yes. That's correct."
I bowed to Kaou-shikei.
"I don't ask for much. I don't want to take up your time. I just want to learn enough martial arts to fulfill my 'duty.'"
"...I, I see."
"Yes."
"...O-Okay. If that's the case, then it's fine."
She seemed to understand. That's good.
Master Raikou has mastered various martial arts.
'Four Divine Steps' is just one of them.
The character Raikou from the game 'History of Swordmaster' uses techniques that can go through walls to damage opponents and high-speed movement for clone attacks.
The strongest move is a combined attack with allies.
By coordinating their techniques and breathing, they swing their swords to cover each other's weaknesses. This technique is truly versatile. It's so powerful that there's even a way to play called 'Raikou Forbidden Binding' where you can't use her.
But I don't need that kind of strength.
I only want to learn footwork and body techniques.
I think that won't get in the way of my Shikei.
"I mentioned this to my senior, but... what do you think, Master?"
I looked at Raikou.
"My wish is to learn footwork and body techniques, is that alright?"
"Ah, yeah. That sounds good."
Huh?
Raikou looks surprised... why is that?
"By the way, Tenhou-kun."
"Yes, Master."
"What kind of martial arts have you practiced until now?"
"I haven't learned any martial arts."
"...No, that's strange, right?"
Raikou tilted her head.
"When I came to help, you were resisting 3 adults, right? And two of them were martial artists. If you haven't practiced martial arts, how did you buy time until we arrived?"
"I'm embarrassed to say this, but..."
"It's for reference in teaching. Speak up."
"I was training while looking at a book I bought at the market. It was a book on how to enhance 'ki' energy (nairyoku)."
"A book on guiding energy that you bought at the market?"
"Yes. It says, 'By imitating the 4 beasts, guide the energy of heaven and earth.' I call that book 'Beast Body Guidance.'"
I chose my words carefully and replied.
"By mimicking the snake, cat, chicken, and turtle, you become one with nature and absorb a lot of energy."
"Oh, that one."
Master clapped her hands.
"I know it. Well, I should say I know it because my master wrote it."
"Your master's master?"
"Yeah. My master was poor. They sold their own Martial Arts Manual to make some quick cash. It had things that could be useful for health."
"Is that so..."
I was surprised.
So, the 'Beast Body Guidance' Martial Arts Manual was written by Master Raikou's master.
It came around and ended up with me.
Thanks to that, I was able to learn 'ki' energy and help Seirei.
...What a strange connection.
"However, my master was poor back then, so they might not have properly checked the book they wrote."
"...Huh?"
"Just to be sure, can I check your 'ki' strength and the condition of your meridians?"
"Of course."
"Let's see..."
Master Raikou took my hand.
She closed her eyes and lightly pressed her fingers against mine.
A heavy weight was transmitted to me.
This is... Master Raikou's 'ki' energy.
It was heavy and strong. When I tried to push back... it felt like I was being pulled instead.
Like a wave.
Strength and weight can be controlled freely. That's why it's strong, I guess.
"There are no abnormalities. Plus, it seems you've trained well."
"Thank you very much."
"With this much 'ki' energy, it's enough to learn martial arts with Kaou. I think you two will make good brother disciples."
"...If Master says so."
Kaou-shikei nodded reluctantly.
Then Master Raikou waved her hand and said,
"That's all for today. Tenhou, starting tomorrow, come to my dormitory. After some intense training, I'll ask you to help Ryougen-kun with his 'task.' Got it?"
"Yes, Master Raikou!!"
"Kaou, make sure to guide Tenhou to the training ground."
"I will follow the master's words."
"Good. Both of you, nice responses."
Master Raikou patted me and Kaou on the shoulders.
And so, I became a disciple of Master Raikou.
──After Tenhou and Kaou left, Raikou thought──
"I sent a strong 'ki' energy, but it didn't budge at all..."
Raikou remembered when she checked Tenhou's 'ki' energy.
There were no abnormalities in the meridians or the flow of energy.
"It's hard to believe he's a beginner."
Tenhou's 'ki' energy was powerful.
It was on par with Kaou, who had learned martial arts in his hometown and trained under Raikou for a month.
So how should she interpret Kou Eishin's words that 'Tenhou was born unable to use 'ki' energy'?
After the Seirei incident, Raikou took Tenhou to the general office.
At that time, Kou Eishin said, "Just because you can use 'ki' energy doesn't mean you should act recklessly."
Curious, Raikou asked Eishin about the situation.
"It's probably because Tenhou can use 'ki' energy thanks to the 'Beast Body Guidance' left by my master."
Resting her chin on her hand, Raikou took a sip of tea.
She had come to like bitter tea, all because of her master.
Raikou's master had never shaken off their frugal habits until they died. They brewed the tea as bitter as possible so that even the leftover leaves could be enjoyed. Raikou had picked up that habit.
"What should we do, Master? Your grand-disciple seems to have gained strange skills and 'ki' energy from 'Beast Body Guidance.'."
There's no doubt that 'Beast Body Guidance' is a method to acquire 'ki' energy.
However, that's just a comfort.
There's no way someone like Tenhou could truly master 'ki' energy.
Yet, Tenhou fought against 2 martial artists to help his sister escape.
Especially the man in black――Enki was an incredible dagger user. When he fled, he threw ten daggers at once. There was no way someone like him would miss his target.
Originally, Enki's dagger would have pierced Tenhou's leg. If that happened, Tenhou wouldn't be able to escape. Then, they could just cover his mouth and kidnap him. That's what Enki and the others would do.
However, Tenhou's leg, which was cut by the dagger, was only lightly injured.
Enki's dagger only grazed his leg. This means that――Tenhou dodged Enki's attack.
The same goes for Tenhou blocking a kick from a man named Ren.
That guy had learned a martial art that specialized in kicks.
It seems Tenhou blocked his kick using the turtle form of 'Beast Body Guidance,' but... she can't believe he could do that.
Normally, 'Beast Body Guidance' only slightly increases 'ki' energy.
"So, does that mean Tenhou unknowingly used a secret training method?"
If he doesn't have the talent, that guidance won't show its true power.
If he activated it, then Tenhou must have a natural talent.
In that case... if Kaou trains with Tenhou, he might be able to help Kaou become great.
"The problem is how Kaou feels about it."
Kaou was wary of Tenhou.
Even if it was to learn martial arts, would Kaou accept that training method?
"Wait, if we do it quietly, he won't know, right...?"
Kaou wants to get stronger. And he wants to do it as quickly as possible.
If Tenhou has the aptitude for the secret technique, then let's make use of it.
"They might help us develop our style, Master."
Raikou reached out to the long bench and touched the long sword that was leaning against it.
This was a cheap copy made to look like her master's sword.
Raikou couldn't master her master's sword.
"Is this why I have continued to live even after your death?"
Raikou drank the bitter tea again.
She remembered her master's face and smiled gently.
Then she began to think about how she would guide her students.
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