The Roots of Shiranui
Magic Combat Arts… a technique Julius and Yukimi acquired during one of their adventures, when they accepted a request to subjugate a certain undead monster.
That undead had driven back countless high-ranking adventurers, and eventually the request had made its way to Julius and Yukimi.
Back then, Julius and Yukimi had excellent success rates as adventurers, and difficult requests would often come to them.
Armed with silver weapons said to be effective against undead, the two headed for the ruins of an old castle that served as the creature’s lair.
Waiting there was a skeleton carrying a sword that shone like a holy sword. It stood there proudly, its entire body wrapped in mist-like mana…
Its strength and speed were beyond anything normal. Even with the two of them fighting together… it had truly been an even battle.
It was such a powerful enemy that they only barely managed to defeat it after fighting for three days and three nights.
What that undead had used was something that could be called the prototype of Magic Combat Arts. From there, Julius refined it into the current form of Magic Combat Arts.
And it became the technique that formed the origin of the world’s strongest adventurer clan, Shiranui…
I had to make the entire Hero Party capable of using this and finish the training camp.
This technique boosted Body Reinforcement skills another level higher by using mana.
At that moment, something shimmering like a heat haze would rise from the body.
A fire lit by someone unknown.
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The Hero Party had all acquired the minimum required classes, but just like they’d felt during the previous Orc King and Orc General battle, their problem was their lack of explosive firepower when it really counted.
I planned to cover that weakness with Magic Combat Arts.
Body Reinforcement was a necessary skill for front-line classes, and even rear guards benefited from having it.
The Hero Party had all acquired it through class training, and by combining it with mana, it became Magic Combat Arts… but even Milian and Almeria, who possessed high mana reserves, could barely maintain it for three minutes.
That was how terrible the mana efficiency of this technique was… but the effect was incredible, and everyone was struggling to adapt to movements they’d never been capable of before.
“Until you get used to it, keep repeating recovery and usage. Little by little, increase the duration. The goal is maintaining it for one hour.”
The moment Julius finished speaking, everyone collapsed from mana exhaustion.
“Looks like we’ve still got a long road ahead. Well, for now, rest up and we’ll take it slow starting tomorrow. If it weren’t for that hellish circuit training on the way to the South Territory, I might never have taught them this technique. I’m planning to use the Hero Party, but maybe there’s still enough attachment left in me that I don’t want them to die…”
After muttering that, I left the rest to Giri, Elia, and Nemesia, then started walking with Yukimi.
Right now, we’d brought the Hero Party to a weapon shop in the South Territory.
Weapons that had evolved independently in order to fight the monsters of the Forest of Demons.
The Hero Party stared in shock, eyes sparkling.
There were swords that emitted flames, special bows that created arrows from mana without needing real arrows, staffs that assisted with magic… a nonstop parade of items that anyone living by the sword would desperately want.
“That sword’s amazing… I want it.”
“If I could make arrows out of mana…”
“... I want this staff…”
“Are there no shields?”
“Everyone, please calm down.”
Even the Hero Party was reacting like this. They were nobles.
And not just nobles, high-ranking nobles. Yet even they had their eyes shining at the quality of these weapons.
That was because neither the South Territory nor the Yotsuba General Trading Company sold their special weapons and armor outside their own territory.
So even high-ranking nobles had never known.
In this world, there existed people who could easily take on an entire country with just their weapons and armor alone.
Naturally, equipment that directly translated into military strength was handled with extreme caution.
“If you manage to use Magic Combat Arts, I’ll give every member of the Hero Party weapons and armor as presents. My katana was made by Sammy the ‘Castlebreaker,’ captain of the Second Unit, and me together. Hero-boy, you’ve always wanted a holy sword, haven’t you? So I’ll prepare one for you.”
“?...Really? A holy sword? You mean one of those holy swords from stories? There’s one in a backwater place like this? And humans can actually forge something like that?”
Hero-boy, your nostrils are flaring way too much. And you’re spitting everywhere. Your fly’s open too.
And that holy sword is… wait, why are you getting energetic over there? You’re way too excited.
“Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll prepare it properly, so work hard on your Magic Combat Arts training.”
That sword the skeleton using the prototype Magic Combat Arts had been carrying… it really had been a holy sword.
A holy sword whose power had faded over many long years. Sammy and I reforged it together.
And made it even stronger.
“Not just for Waltz, I’ll prepare something comparable to holy swords for everyone, so stick it out to the end. Also, Waltz, your fly’s completely open and your ‘contents’ are about to say hello… you don’t need that holy sword at the moment, okay?”
Everyone looked downward at Hero Waltz-kun.
There, standing tall and proud toward the heavens, was a fully erect holy sword, radiating its overwhelming presence.
Princess Elizabeth looked exasperated, Almeria immediately turned her face away, and Milian yawned, probably not understanding what was going on.
But among them was one person who reacted far too strongly.
Yes. The Crown Prince of my homeland himself.
The difference between himself and Waltz was apparently too much to bear, and he was literally pressing his head to the ground, desperately holding back tears.
(Don’t cry, young man. Tomorrow will bring good things too… probably. Hopefully.)
Your Highness, a man’s worth isn’t determined by size alone… there should be more important things than that…
So I quietly placed a hand on the Crown Prince’s shoulder, raised only my thumb with my right hand, and…
“Don’t sweat it!”
… I gave him the biggest smile I could manage.
The Crown Prince actually started crying out loud. His damage meter had entered the red zone.
Still, as expected of Hero Waltz. There shouldn’t have been anything in this situation that could’ve made you “perk up,” so what exactly happened inside your head?
It’s a mystery… and one I absolutely do not want to know…
What do you think about this chapter?
