NOVEL WEB Chapter 11
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, let’s get started quickly.”
The new mansion’s training ground.
Other guards were busy on duty, leaving only Lowell and me standing in this empty training ground.
Finally, it was time to learn about the Void Family’s Vision Technique.
“First, let me clarify one thing. I don’t recommend practicing until you’ve fully mastered the basics.”
“Am I lacking in basics?”
“Yes, think of this as just a light preview.”
The rewards are indeed solid.
Even someone like me, who lacks basics, gets to learn something, right?
“First, do you know the difference between the existing basics and the Vision Technique I’m about to teach you?”
“What is it?”
“We’ve mixed the existing basics together.”
“…How so?”
Wait, you can combine them?
Weren’t they completely different styles?
“For example, like this.”
As if to demonstrate, Lowell stopped in front of me after saying that.
Yeah.
He just stopped, like he was frozen.
“What are you…”
Thinking this might be a technique, I was about to speak when I felt a slight tingle from behind.
Thud!
“Ouch!”
At the same time, I felt a shock on the back of my head and stumbled forward.
“Huh?”
“Who hit me?”
Turning around, I saw Lowell standing there.
“What?”
He was just in front of me…
Wait, he stopped and…
“No… huh.”
…He was definitely there, but now he’s gone?
“What the… what is this?”
“It’s the Void Family’s Vision Fleet.”
“What, like a clone?”
So he leaves an afterimage and uses Fleet to move away?
This seems hard to counter unless you’re a master who can keep Track active all the time.
“Yes, it’s a technique that mixes the existing Fleet with the Guard’s subtlety.”
“That’s possible?”
How do you even mix that?
I can’t even begin to understand how such a technique works.
“That’s why it’s called Vision.”
“Ah, I see.”
Well, if it were easy, it wouldn’t be called Vision, right?
Especially since it’s the Vision of the Void Family, the most powerful noble family in the Adel Kingdom.
If it were easy, it wouldn’t make sense.
“Is that all there is to Vision Fleet? Just leaving afterimages?”
Actually, I’m starting to get excited.
The fact that I can learn this technique…
“No. That’s just the most basic part of Vision Fleet.”
“Then that means…”
“There are intermediate and advanced versions.”
“Wow…”
This is just the basics of the basics? Vision techniques are truly different.
Commoners born without a family must feel bitter.
“However, what I can teach you here is just the basics I showed you.”
“…So you’re not teaching me everything.”
“Outsiders can only learn the basics. That’s the rule.”
Well, if they taught everything just because you built a rapport, it would become a common technique in a hundred years.
If Vision techniques spread, they could become weaknesses, so even teaching the basics is a real privilege.
“Still, just mastering the basics will take you years.”
“By my standards?”
“Yes, it usually takes about ten years for an average person to master all four techniques.”
“Hmm.”
Ten years is quite a long time.
How difficult must the advanced versions be?
“So, the difference between the basic Vision Fleet and the existing one is just the afterimage?”
Actually, just leaving an afterimage is impressive, but… I asked, feeling a bit disappointed.
“No. It’s more efficient and faster than the existing Fleet. And… even at the basic level, if you master it, you can do this.”
“There’s more?”
“Here, take this.”
After saying something that piqued my interest, Lowell handed me a wooden sword.
“Now, try stabbing me.”
“Alright.”
“…You’re quite eager.”
Well, it’s not like I’m going to draw blood, right?
And he must have something to show if he’s doing this.
So.
I took the wooden sword and got into position.
Then, without hesitation, I thrust the sword.
And then.
Thud.
The sword went in with a bit of resistance.
“Huh?”
I thought it was just an afterimage…
I was momentarily shocked, but something felt off.
It definitely felt like stabbing a person, but no blood came out.
The part where the sword went in also felt awkward.
“What is this…”
Just as I was surprised.
Thwack!
Another shock hit my head.
“You really didn’t hesitate to stab me.”
“Huh?”
“Respect your elders.”
Same situation as before.
So that was an afterimage left by using Fleet?
“How did you do that?”
“I applied Guard to the afterimage, making it as strong as a person.”
“Huh?”
“Even an average aura user would be momentarily fooled.”
“Ah, I see…”
Anyone would be fooled by this.
I just was, wasn’t I?
If this were a battlefield, I would have thought I won and then lost my head.
“Is this all part of the basics?”
“Yes, if you can do this, you’ve mastered the basics of Vision Fleet.”
…Now I see why it takes years.
And Vision techniques aren’t just limited to Fleet, right?
“How many of these are there?”
“Four, just like the basic techniques.”
“Can I learn all the basics?”
“Of course.”
Honestly, I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t learn the advanced versions.
…But now I think it’ll take years just to master the basics.
“It’s a long road ahead.”
“But you learn quickly, so it won’t take long.”
“Yes.”
Well, whatever.
I’ll just train all day while photosynthesizing.
If I train hard while I’m young, I’ll be able to do something later, right?
“Then tell me more about the rest.”
“Yes, next is the family’s Vision Rush…”
Just as I was about to look into the other techniques.
“Woof woof!!”
A familiar voice came from the backyard.
“Oh.”
“Ah.”
Both Lowell and I looked at each other with an “oops” expression.
“…Is today an early day?”
“Seems like the Lady wanted to play a lot.”
“No…”
“Woof woof!”
Before we could finish the conversation.
The Lady came running from the end of the garden.
“You said you’d stay still…!”
Puff puff.
Her small cheeks were puffed up.
…Did she get upset because I broke my promise?
“Well, you see…”
This is really awkward.
It would be easier if an adult man was angry.
But a Lady, who’s two heads shorter than me, is sulking like this… there’s no answer.
So, while I was choosing my words.
“Lady, it’s training time now.”
Lowell spoke up instead of me, who was at a loss for words.
Isn’t that too honest?
If the Lady, who’s trying to keep me as a dog, hears this, her eyes might glow menacingly again, so I thought I should stop her…
“Training? Why does a dog need training?”
“Animals need training too, Lady. No, beasts need even more training.”
“Lowell?”
What are you even saying?
“Uh… is that so?”
But surprisingly, that worked on the Lady.
“A pet dog in a noble house must have dignity.”
“But it’s just a dog let loose in the yard?”
“But isn’t it a bit special? Especially since it’s in the garden where guests might come, it needs even more training.”
…Is this really a conversation to have in front of a person?
But since Lowell is defending me, I kept quiet.
“Hmm, hmm… is that so?”
Well, it’s good that she’s being persuaded.
Well, I’ve always been treated like a dog anyway.
If I can train, it’s all good…
“Then! I’ll train him!”
“You will, Lady?”
“Yes! The owner should do the training, right?”
…I thought it was over, but another hurdle has come.
This time, the Lady is looking at me with sparkling eyes.
“Paw!”
“…Yes.”
“Good job! Now, head!”
“Here it is…”
What is this even?
I sighed inwardly and bowed my head, and the Lady patted my head with her cute little hand.
Pat pat.
“He doesn’t need training, does he? He listens so well.”
“He’s a smart one, so he knows the basics. That’s why he needs more professional training.”
“Professional? Like what?”
“Like disc throwing.”
“Disc!”
At the mention of a disc, the Lady’s eyes lit up.
Ah, not dangerously, but purely with anticipation.
“Then should I throw the disc?”
“Today, I’ll demonstrate, so just watch first.”
“Okay!”
With that, the Lady cheerfully headed to one side of the training ground.
And in no time, other servants gathered nearby, hurriedly bringing chairs and parasols for the Lady to sit under.
“So, what now?”
It’s impressive how he handled the sulking Lady like that.
But now, are we really going to do disc throwing?
“Exactly, I’ll throw the disc, and you catch it.”
“…Where do we get the disc?”
“I’ll get it right away.”
Get the disc right away?
I looked at Lowell to see where he was getting it from, but something felt off.
“Huh?”
Why did he just stop?
He’s not moving at all…
Ah, could it be?
I waved my arm, and it passed right through him.
Is he using Fleet now?
No warning or anything.
But where did he go…
“I’m back.”
“Boo.”
…How long has it been since he left?
And he came back before the afterimage he left disappeared.
“Ha… how strong are you in this kingdom?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, is there anyone faster than Lowell?”
This isn’t some shonen manga with overpowered characters.
Is it even possible for a person to be like this?
“Well, the family head is at a higher level than me.”
“Wow…”
“And there are many strong people in the Empire too.”
“Ah, the Empire.”
Oh right, there’s the Empire.
The Adel Kingdom is a powerful country that has conquered others, but the Empire is on a whole different level.
This place is like a neighborhood bully.
The Empire is the continent’s overlord.
But I can’t imagine Lowell kneeling to anyone.
Wait.
If the Void Family has Vision techniques, other noble families must have their own, right?
Well, now’s not the time to worry about that.
I have to stop training and do disc throwing.
And I’m the one catching the disc.
“Where did you get the disc?”
“It was in the doghouse in the yard.”
“Ah.”
Now that I think about it, I think I saw that disc when I was looking around the house.
“Now, step back. I’ll throw it.”
“What is this… sigh, alright.”
What is this old, wrinkled man doing? I don’t get it.
But I decided to play along for now.
So.
I stepped back a bit.
Lowell swung the disc and threw it at me.
It’s faster than I thought.
But I thought I could catch it…
Tingle.
The disc felt… unusual.
Looking closely, it seemed to be swelling…
“Block it.”
Hearing Lowell’s voice, I immediately activated Guard, one of the basic techniques.
Then.
Boom!!
The disc exploded in front of me.
What the hell.
“Woof woof!”
“It’s a firecracker, Lady.”
“Is… is that so?”
“Yes, he’s fine.”
Fine… yeah, he’s fine.
It was just a loud explosion.
“…What is this?”
“It’s the Void Family’s Vision Rush.”
“Disc throwing is a Vision technique?”
“Specifically, it’s about imbuing an object with Rush and making it explode.”
“Wow.”
Isn’t this insane?
Imbuing an object with aura is already incredibly difficult.
But on top of that, you add Rush and throw it?
“…Can I learn this too?”
Even though I got hit by the explosion, I’m more interested in the technique.
A ranged Rush throw is like a bomb, right? It’d be useful.
“It’s a bit dangerous, so I’ll teach you after you’ve mastered the basic Rush.”
“So you’ll teach me?”
“Of course.”
“Haha.”
Well, whatever.
Even if it looks weird.
He’s teaching me such an awesome technique.
“Bring more discs.”
“Shall we try catching them without exploding this time?”
“How do we do that?”
“I’ll teach you the Void Family’s Vision Guard.”
“Wow.”
Anyway, like that.
Even if the method is a bit unusual.
I continued to learn about the Void Family’s Vision techniques.