After finishing lunch, Ardi headed back to his private dojo. The morning Kenjutsu training had left his muscles a bit sore, but he was excited to try something new—archery. He had specifically asked for Emi Yumi's help, a seasoned Ashigaru archer with years of battlefield experience.

When Ardi entered the dojo, he found Emi standing by a rack of bows, adjusting the string on a traditional Japanese longbow called a yumi. Her black and red hakama flowed as she turned to face him.

"You called for me, My Lord?" Emi asked, bowing slightly in a calm, confident tone.

"Yes, Emi," Ardi replied with a friendly nod. "I want to learn proper archery techniques, and I can't think of anyone better to teach me."

Before Emi could reply, Ardi felt a strong gaze from his right. He turned to see Yui standing there with her arms crossed, her blue eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Master," Yui said, almost too sweetly, "why did you choose Emi to teach you?"

Ardi chuckled inwardly, sensing a hint of jealousy in her tone. Without thinking, he leaned in and gently kissed her on the lips right in front of Emi.

Yui's wings fluttered wildly, and her face turned bright red. "W-Wha—?!" she stammered. Before she could protest further, she transformed into her tiny fairy form and zipped out of the dojo in a burst of sparkling light.

Emi, who had been quietly observing, cleared her throat awkwardly, her cheeks flushing. "My Lord… I'll pretend I didn't see that."

Ardi chuckled softly. "Thanks, Emi. Now, shall we begin?"

Emi composed herself and nodded. "Of course. Let's start with the basics."

Lesson One: Understanding Kyūdō

Emi motioned for Ardi to follow her to the center of the dojo, where a makiwara—a straw-wrapped practice target—stood against a wooden wall. She picked up a yumi gracefully and motioned for Ardi to watch closely.

"Archery, especially kyūdō, isn't just about shooting arrows, My Lord," she explained. "It's a martial art that needs discipline, proper form, and breath control. A good archer doesn't force an arrow; they guide it with their whole body."

She then demonstrated the eight basic steps of traditional Japanese archery:

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Ashibumi – Set your stance.

Dōzukuri – Align your posture.

Yugamae – Get the bow ready.

Uchiokoshi – Lift the bow.

Hikiwake – Draw the bow back.

Kai – Fully draw and aim.

Hanare – Release the arrow.

Zanshin – Follow through and stay focused.

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With controlled grace, Emi performed each move deliberately. When she reached the full draw, she pulled the bowstring taut, took a deep breath, and released.

Thwack!

The arrow hit the center of the target perfectly.

"Now, My Lord, show me what you can do," Emi said.

Ardi took a yumi from the rack and stood before the target. Though his movements were a bit stiff, he tried to follow the eight steps Emi had demonstrated. He set his stance, adjusted his posture, and readied the bow.

"You're tensing your shoulders too much," Emi noted as she stepped closer. "Relax your upper body and let your stance support you."

Ardi exhaled and relaxed his shoulders. "That's better. Now, raise the bow like you're drawing energy from the earth."

Following her advice, Ardi lifted the yumi and pulled back the bowstring steadily. His grip was strong, but his movement still needed work.

"Take a deep breath, hold your aim, then release when the moment feels right," Emi reminded him.

Focusing intently, Ardi released the arrow.

Boom!

The arrow hit the makiwara with force, landing just outside the bullseye. It wasn't perfect, but it was a solid first try.

"Not bad for a beginner?" Ardi grinned.

Emi nodded approvingly. "You have potential, My Lord. Your stance and form are strong, but your release is too forceful. Archery isn't about strength—it's about balance and flow."

She stepped closer and gently adjusted his grip. "Try to let the bowstring snap back naturally. Let the arrow fly without forcing it."

Ardi nodded, taking her advice to heart.

For the next two hours, they practiced repeatedly. Ardi's aim gradually improved, and each shot became more refined. Emi patiently corrected his mistakes:

"Your left elbow is too high—lower it for stability.""Don't grip the bow too tightly. Hold it firmly but gently, like you're cradling something fragile.""Focus on the target, and also stay aware of your surroundings. An archer must be centered both physically and mentally."

By the end of the session, Ardi consistently hit closer to the center, and his posture had improved noticeably.

"That's enough for today, My Lord. You're making great progress, but overtraining can slow you down," Emi said, calling a break.

Ardi wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled. "Thank you, Emi. I'll work harder."

Emi bowed respectfully. "It's my honor, My Lord. You have the makings of a fine archer."

As Ardi left the dojo, Yui reappeared in her fairy form, arms crossed and pouting cutely.

"Still sulking?" Ardi chuckled and caught her mid-air.

"You spent the whole afternoon with another woman," Yui huffed.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Ardi smiled and gently kissed her forehead, making her wings flutter. "You're the only one for me, Yui."

Her pout softened as she hid her face against his collar. "Hmph. You better remember that."

Emi, watching the exchange, shook her head with an amused smile. "You two really are an unusual pair."

Ardi laughed, holding Yui a bit closer. "That we are."

As the sun set, Ardi walked toward Daimyo Manor, reflecting on his growth. Today, he had taken another step forward—not just as a warrior, but as a leader.

The night was calm, bathed in silver moonlight that cast long shadows over the courtyard. The gentle rustle of leaves and distant chirps of crickets created a peaceful atmosphere.

Stepping outside, Ardi stretched as the cool night air touched his skin. With a thought, his Nexus Garb shifted seamlessly into a sleek, black shinobi outfit, perfect for stealth—even though he had no immediate spy mission. His curiosity drove him to learn more about the ways of the shadows.

From the darkness, Ren, his loyal shinobi, was already standing guard. The masked warrior bowed slightly. "My Lord, what brings you out at this hour?"

Ardi smiled. "Ren, I want you to teach me some shinobi techniques—stealth, infiltration, and reconnaissance. The basics."

Ren hesitated, his face hidden behind his mask. "My Lord… are you sure? Shinobi skills take years to master. You're a lord—you don't have to burden yourself with that."

Ardi chuckled and motioned for Ren to sit with him under the moonlight. "Come, Ren. Let's talk."

With a flick of his hand, Yui appeared, hovering beside him in her fairy form, her silver hair shining in the moonlight. "Master, should I ask Megumin to bring tea and snacks?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"Please do," Ardi replied. "A warm drink would be nice."

Yui vanished in a trail of sparkling light, leaving Ardi and Ren in quiet company.

Ren knelt beside Ardi on the cool grass, waiting silently. Soon, the other shinobi emerged quietly and formed a loose circle, their loyalty clear without being asked.

Ardi exhaled softly, looking at each of them. "Ren, I want to learn your ways because my journey doesn't end on this island."

Ren's posture stiffened, and the others exchanged curious glances.

Ardi continued, "The system has given me a choice—an opportunity to travel to different worlds. Worlds filled with danger, chaos, and power beyond our imagination. If I am to survive and come back stronger to protect our village, I need to push myself further."

Ren listened quietly, absorbing his lord's words. He had always known Ardi was special, but the thought of traveling between dimensions was almost unbelievable.

Before Ren could speak, soft footsteps approached. Megumin arrived carrying a wooden tray with a steaming teapot and some sweets. Her eyes showed confusion as she took in the tense mood.

"My Lord… what's going on here?" she asked hesitantly.

Ardi smiled reassuringly. "Nothing too serious—just a bit of late-night storytelling."

Megumin frowned as she set the tray down and looked at Yui, who was now back in her human form. "My Lady, what is he talking about?"

Yui chuckled softly. "It's a long story, but simply put—our Lord is preparing for something beyond this world."

Megumin looked even more puzzled, but before she could ask more, Ardi clapped his hands. "Enough heavy talk for now. Let's drink."

The shinobi hesitated, then one by one, they reached for their teacups. Ren took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through him, and exhaled slowly.

For the next hour, Ardi shared his thoughts. He talked about the five worlds he could visit—the war-torn lands of Warcraft, the zombie chaos of Resident Evil, the brutal survival in Attack on Titan, the quirky yet dangerous world of Konosuba, and the legendary battlefield of Fate/Zero. His tone shifted between serious reflection and casual humor. He wasn't looking for answers—just sharing his burdens with those he trusted.

When he finished, six pairs of eyes were fixed on him, silent and serious.

Ardi chuckled. "You all look too serious. Drink your tea before it gets cold."

The tension eased as the shinobi exchanged glances and relaxed in his presence.

Ren set his cup down. "My Lord… you are unlike any ruler I've ever served."

Ardi tilted his head. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Ren smirked beneath his mask. "A good thing. You don't treat us like tools—you treat us like people. Like family."

Ardi's gaze softened. "Because that's exactly what you are."

At that moment, Ren and the others silently vowed to stand by their lord no matter what, not out of duty but out of genuine respect.

Megumin, who had been listening, spoke up. "But… I'm just a chef. I don't fight like the shinobi. How can I help?"

Ardi turned to her with a warm grin. "Megumin, don't overthink it. You already do more than you realize. As long as you keep making delicious meals, I'll always have the strength to fight."

Megumin blushed and looked away. "Hmph… Just make sure you eat properly."

Yui giggled. "Master, you really have a way with words."

Ardi winked. "Of course—I have to, with a fairy as adorable as you by my side."

Yui blushed and quickly sipped her tea to hide her fluster.

As the night deepened, Ardi looked up at the moon and felt lighter than he had in a long time. No matter what challenges lay ahead, he knew he wouldn't face them alone.

Tonight, he wasn't just a lord—tonight, he was simply Ardi. And that was enough.