Part 19 – In Pursuit of Learning…
After the fight between me and Lucas, I decided to learn a new combat skill—something that could help me survive in this world.
Long-range archery seemed perfect.
It worked well for tracking enemies and could easily be combined with wind magic.
As an archer, you need sharp eyes and fast reflexes.
Anyway, the master I wanted to learn from was Hiroshi Maito—
A Japanese samurai mentioned in the book.
In the story, after the hero Henry clashed with a member of the Black Church, that person summoned Hiroshi from the Black Fortress.
Hiroshi had exceptional archery skills and defeated Henry.
Only when Selif arrived to help Henry did they barely manage to defeat Hiroshi Maito.
As Hiroshi was dying—his soul triggered a flashback, showing a glimpse of his life.
Hiroshi lived around 7,000 years before the founding of the Walls.
He came from a noble and famous Japanese samurai family.
His father was a feudal lord.
But Hiroshi was unlike other samurai.
He was cheerful, playful, almost clownish—completely opposite to the strict, serious samurai code.
And unlike other samurai, he wasn't skilled with swords—he was a master archer.
That disappointed his father, who eventually exiled him.
Hiroshi wandered into the deserts.
Then something happened to someone Hiroshi loved deeply—
It turned him into a vengeful soul.
He began hunting down feudal lords.
But the lords, with help from other samurai and the people, defeated and killed him.
Yet Hiroshi's soul remained in this world.
During the Second Wall War, he was summoned again by Manuel Torj Flora, one of the Black Mage commanders.
After the war, Hiroshi stayed in this world.
The author never explained why—only revealed where Hiroshi now lived.
And I was heading there.
I secretly found a map in the Church and snuck out.
If I went to the healer with my wounds, they'd discover the fight with Lucas—and I'd never be allowed out again.
So early in the morning, I wrote a note and left it on the library desk—where I usually sit in the mornings.
I said I was out buying supplies and would return by evening.
Oh no—why can't I find anything?
I was in an uninhabitable zone.
Not even birds could fly here—let alone humans.
For good reason.
The area was full of waste and trash.
The air was polluted with green mana particles—deadly magic used by Black Mages.
No one lived here.
You might ask—how did I survive here?
I bought a filtered mask from the market.
It used mana and magic to neutralize the green mana.
But that didn't matter.
I searched and searched—found nothing.
I decided to sit down.
I'd been searching since morning, and now It was noon.
I didn't care how toxic the ground was.
All I saw was garbage and ruins.
No sign of a house.
Why can't I find it? Why?
…Until my eyes caught something.
Yes! A Japanese-style house!
I found it!
I walked toward It and opened the door.
Creak
The door made a horrible sound—old and broken.
Even though it was dark, I scanned the place carefully.
Then my eyes locked onto—
Oh * what is that?
I drew my sword, ready to fight.
It wasn't a normal bat.
It was mutated.
Why do I say mutated?
Its body was covered in fur.
Its wings looked like eagle wings.
Its face resembled a monkey.
And it had no bat ears.
The bat saw me and lowered its wings from Its face.
Oh no—I forgot about bat sound attacks.
Their sonic screeches could cause nosebleeds and knockouts.
Luckily, Master Ziar had taught me how to counter this tactic.
I quickly removed my hands from my ears and cast the counter-spell.
This spell disabled the bat's vocal cords—its weapon.
The bat realized It was helpless.
It spread its wings to fly.
I grabbed a sword lying on the ground and prepared to strike.
The bat flew off—to the right, into an unknown place.
I followed, staying alert.
Knock knock
The door started opening and closing.
I heard something dragging across the wall.
That meant—
It was Hiroshi's doing.
All these tactics were his.
In the flashback from the Second Wall War, when Torj came to summon Hiroshi—he did the same things.
More sounds followed.
I decided to end this nonsense.
"I know it's you. Stop with the games."
Hiroshi: "What are you talking about? I can't hear you."
"Then how did you know what I just said?"
Hiroshi: "No, not now."
"Nope. I spoke—you understood—and replied."
Hiroshi: "No, look—what are you even looking for? I truly pity you."
"I don't need your pity. I just want to learn from you."
Hiroshi: "What?"
Suddenly—he appeared right in front of me.
His face looked exactly like the book described:
Almond-shaped eyes, tied-back hair, slightly taller than me.
Hiroshi was 168 cm tall.
Hiroshi: "What did you just say?"
"I said—I want to learn archery from you."
Hahaha Hiroshi laughed.
"Laughing on water—delicious."
Hiroshi: "So how do you know I even teach archery?"
"Well… uh… from there… I mean here… I mean…"
Hiroshi: "No need to answer.
Instead—you'll have to pass my test."
"What? A test?!"
End of Part 19