Chapter 5: Training

Near the kingdom of Estusia is a forest that serves as a training ground for fledgling knights and mages, as of now it is being used by the heroes in their training. Their mission is to subjugate a large monster nest.

“Hey watch out!” Ryuu shouts as he bisects an awfully large ant into two, his sword slicing it with ease.

“I know!” His classmate, Heizo Jun, replied. Using his large battle axe to deflect incoming poison spit from another giant ant before swinging his weapon down on another. Unbeknownst to him however another monster was able to sneak up behind him in the heat of the battle.

A black spider around the size of a large dog pounces towards him, its fangs readying to strike.

It was about to get him, until a glowing arrow whizzes past Jun’s head, stopping the spider’s sneak attack by embedding itself into the spider before exploding inside the arachnid.

“One down.” Maki Yoshino said to herself. Her bow being the origin of that arrow’s trajectory.

“Yoshino! Wha… What was that?!” Jun said in surprise.

“Sorry Jun! It was that new spell that I learned!” She said smiling while looking apologetically. Just as she said that, an infernal blaze separated the students from the monsters.

“From my soul is a burning desire! Copiosum Ignem Erupit!” Akari casted five fireballs and sent them towards some large centipedes, hitting their mark true, setting them ablaze.

The students are slowly pushing the arthropods back into their nest, their overwhelming might is too much for the monsters.

“Take this!” Takezawa shouted as he crushed another ant with his large gauntlets, regaining his footing as he punched another one into the air with a satisfying smack.

“I hate bugs.” He commented.

“Nice work Takezawa-kun!” Ryuu complimented him in the midst of the battle.

“Should you really be doing that right now?!” He replied.

“Its fine I got it all sorted out.” Ryuu said. His sword started glowing a pure bright white, his golden hair floating around as his eyes turned into a shade of gold.

“Clear out a line my great sword. Ferrum Aeternam!” His glowing sword extended two meters in front of him using his magic. He swung his sword proceeding to then cleave out an entire row of varying arthropods without difficulty.

“Woah!”

“That’s our Ryuu-sama for you.”

“Amazing!” Came the varying reply of the students.

“Tch… Showoff.” Takezawa muttered under his breath.

“Ok kids let’s wrap it up! In five minutes, everybody should have his or her items packed up along with your loot.” Captain Grant ordered as he surveyed the area for any stragglers, smiting them with his own great sword.

“Looks like they’re progressing a lot Grant.” A person riding a horse came up behind him. Captain grant turns around towards the person.

“Oh! Viscount Caullas! I didn’t expect you to be here.” Captain Grant kneeled before the man.

“Grant. You don’t need to do that.”

“Sorry Viscount, force of habit.” He stood back up, patting himself down.

“They seem to be in good hands. Even though they still make rookie mistakes.” Caullas pointed at the students.

“Powerful as they are, children will always be naïve. I’m training them for their own good, a mistake can cost them their lives. They need to understand that.”

“Indeed, that is true. Well expect me to come more often, I have taken a liking to some of them. Who knows, maybe I’ll personally tutor them.” Caullas hides a smirk from Grant.

“That would be of great help sir. I haven’t seen you fight in a while; the nobles aren’t nobles for nothing”

“It’s been a long time; I am feeling a bit rusty.” Caullas creates a small projection of a crow on his hand, amazingly without needing to chant.

“Nonsense! a great wizard like you can never be rusty.” Captain Grant assures him.

“Well, maybe that is true. I’ll proceed to go now.”

“Yes sir!” Grant saluted as Caullas walked back to his horse.

The students finally defeat the last of the arthropods and they manage to seal up the nest.

“That was certainly easier than last time.” One student remarked.

“I know right! We couldn’t even penetrate some of their armor, now it’s like a breeze”

“Haaaah… That was tiring.” Takezawa said to himself as he drank some water from a leather container. Wiping the sweat from his face.

“Damn it Akari-san. Don’t just use that fire ability of yours whenever you want, it was freaking hot in there.” He said towards her.

“Hehe sorry.” She replied.

“Man… I wonder what Hasegawa’s doing?” Takezawa pondered.

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“I won… So why am I in prison?!” Hasegawa shouted in his cellar, after winning the trial by combat and leaving the arena, he was quickly captured by elven guards and brought here without mercy. He still sports the bruise on his left eye he got during his capture.

“Damn you elves and your pride!” He shouted again. It has been a week since the duel and he was getting impatient.

A guard hits the cellar’s bars with his gauntlet.

“Shut up! There’s a visitor for you human.” A person walks down the stairs.

“Hello Hasegawa.” Myr said as she approached the cell.

“Oh, it’s you.” He grumbly said. “How’s your dad? Can he walk?”

“He’s ok, still shocked that a mere human was able to make him concede defeat. Father’s just resting, elves after all are masters of magic healing, although his healing is relatively slow.” She pulls out a key and opens the cellar door.

“The council calls for you.” She said.

“For what?”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“I don’t know, rest be assured. I don’t think that anyone’s challenging you soon.” She smiles.

“Why do you keep laughing or smiling Myr? This is no laughing matter.” He asks her, stepping out of the cell. With limited food and water, Hasegawa looks slightly emaciated.

“…It’s all I have left.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

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Once again Hasegawa is in front of the council, this time the entire room as absolutely quiet, no one wants to incur the wrath of the one that took down their chief.

“So, who wants to judge me seriously now?” Anger seething through his voice

Taken aback at this sudden violent intent one of the elders speak up “We do not intend to harm you Hasegawa” Surprisingly the elder used his real name rather than human.

“If that’s true then why did you put me in prison, huh?” He demanded. Gaspar slightly irritated at the informal tone Hasegawa used against one of the elders, replied.

“Stop using that tone in front of our great elders, human.”

“Then answer my question.” Between the two of them, the elf commander and the human, sparks of fury flash between the two of them, as Gaspar faces Hasegawa.

“There have been reports of another human raid on our village from our spies. The high council thought that you might be able to help.”

“Wha-What right do they have to force me to stay?”

“This is your sentence for unlawfully disabling our leader.” Gaspar said with a straight face, although his resolve is slightly trembling.

“U-Unlawful? That’s bullshit! It was a fair and straight duel.” He argued back.

“And our leader is bed-ridden for probably a few weeks! Your mysterious weapon is affecting our healing magic. When first raid in god knows for how long, is bound to happen in around two weeks.”

‘Affects healing magic? So, this isn’t a normal gun?’

“It’s his fault anyways.” Hasegawa quipped.

“I know that my brother in law isn’t the best fighter, but he is the pillar of this village. What we need is morale.”

“So what?”

“All I’m saying is that, you help us, we let you go. The one who defeated our chief is now helping us repel the invaders, isn’t that good enough to reassure the people?”

Hasegawa sighed “Fine I’ll help. But on one condition.”

“Give me thirty elf soldiers to train, and the best metal workers and alchemists you have.”

“What are you going to do with them?” Gaspar questioned him.

“Do you want me to help or not? I’ll teach them what I know.”

“Fine, don’t think of running away human.”

‘I really hate this place now.’

“It seems that everything is sorted out now.” One of the elders remarked.

“We accept Hasegawa’s condition, prepare human, you will start training the soldiers two days from now. Give him one of the spare huts.” Another elder ordered.

“So, this is my hut?” Hasegawa points at a worn-down house at the outskirts of the village, it was currently nighttime. The hut itself was quite large with multiple rooms but the age can clearly be seen with the holes and rotten wood scattered about.

“It’s not that bad.” Myr tries to assure him.

“Why does animosity against humans by elves have to be so strong” He complained.

“I’m so sorry about that, I’m working hard to return the elves back to their peaceful ways.” Myr said.

“Yeah, good luck with that.” Hasegawa said off-handedly.

“I’m going to go now. Good night.” Myr said as she closes the door.

‘At least I have somewhere to stay now that isn’t a cell.’ He thought to himself. Placing his stuff on a table, he sits on a chair inspecting the Luger.

‘I need someone to work with this. Explaining the concept of firearms is easy but the process of making one is hard enough.’

‘Since the encounter with Qhyrros I’ve been having visions in my sleep. Blueprints and stuff flash in my dreams.’

That was when he heard something in the other room in the hut. A fizzing sound of some sorts. Standing back up he slowly walks towards the door the sounds are coming from. Looking through a small hole through the door he sees a small enchanting circle with raw materials placed around its circumference.

An elf is walking around inspecting the items. His white lab gown covered in blue liquid.

“Let’s hope this works.” The elf said to himself. Adjusting his glasses. Hasegawa keeps watching when the elf’s ears perk up.

That was when the elf looked straight at him through the hole.

Alarmed by this Hasegawa stumbles backwards, just in time for him to miss the door when the elf opened it.

“Oh look, it’s you. The human known as Hasegawa.” The elf helps him up.

“Who are you? How do you know me?” Hasegawa asked.

“I’m Erlen. It’s pretty easy to guess who you are. Being the only human here with the recent events and all.” Erlen

“What are you doing here?”

“I live here.”

“Live here? This place looks abandoned!” Hasegawa remarked.

“I know, I know.” The Erlen sighed, scratching the black hair on his head. “I’m not really good at cleaning. Maybe that’s why I was sent to the outskirts and probably my projects were a nuisance.”

“What were you doing there?” He points at Erlen’s materials.

“Oh, it was my next transfusion project.” The elf simply stated.

“By any chance are you an alchemist?” Hasegawa guessed. The evidence pointing out one job.

“Yes. I am an alchemist, thank you very much for noticing, but I have to get going. I need to finish the circle.” Erlen then walks back to his room.

“Wait!” Hasegawa stops him. He turns around to see Hasegawa holding a mysterious black object in his hand.

“Is that?” Erlen looks at the strange object his eyes widening, remembering the news of a human being able to incapacitate the chief in an instance using a never before seen weapon.

“Yeah it is.” Hasegawa smirked; he got his attention.

“This is the weapon that defeated your chief, and right now, I need to make more of these.” He said.

“You’ve piqued my interest. But you do know that I can’t simply just make duplicates. With the law of equal exchange and all.” Erlen sighed.

“I know, but you do know the concept of gunpowder and guns, right?” Hasegawa asked

“No, but I like the sound of it.” Erlen’s ears stand up again, his mind craving for new knowledge. Adjusting his glasses again, Erlen inspects the weapon closely.

“Wanna be partners, I need an alchemist for the job, you help me and you get to make one of these things. Also do you know where we can get some metal?” Hasegawa places his hand out in a handshake.

“Pshh. Metal? It’s easy to get it if you know where to look. I accept your deal partner.” Erlen accepts it, as he started to explain the concept to his new business partner.

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“I have gathered all of you here today to work under the human known as Hasegawa!” Gaspar commanded this ragtag bunch of soldiers and artisans in the field right outside the forest. Gesturing towards Hasegawa who started his introduction.

“Hey everyone! I’m pretty sure nobody doesn’t know of me. Afterall I’m the one who gave your chief such an embarrassing defeat.” He boasted. Getting the ire of the elven soldiers.

“BOOO!” One footman said.

“Cheater!”

“Don’t think you can just say that!”

Myr interjected. “Guys! Guys! Calm down!” She pleaded. The sight of the chief’s daughter protecting the human increased their hatred for him more, but they decided to shut up.

“Anyways, before being rudely interrupted. I will be training you to use this.” Hasegawa signals Erlen to come out with the prototype they made.

It was a long-barreled breech loading rifle. Erlen looking pretty happy that he managed to help in creating the new weapon. He happily starts.

“This is what is known as a gun.” He shows off the rifle.

“It basically shoots out small metal pieces using an explosion, these are known as bullets.” He pulls out a crude bullet from his pocket.

“At an alarmingly fast rate.” Erlen finishes.

“Myr, can you get the special object?”

“Sure thing.” Myr said as she went towards the forest.

“Why would we need to use that If we have arrows and magic?” One elf soldier pointed out, trying to make Hasegawa look bad.

But Hasegawa prepared for questions like this.

“A gun is faster than a spell caster and packs a lot more punch than your simple arrow.”

“I don’t believe that.” An elf mage stands his ground. “I challenge you and that weapon to a speed cast.”

“A speed cast?” Hasegawa asked, he has never heard of this before.

“Two mages challenge each other who can hit the target first. I’ll be using my fastest spell and you will use that ugly weapon of yours.”

“Fine.”

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Hasegawa and the elf stand side by side to each other, with two wooden targets placed around six metes in front of them.

“Mages! ready your chants” Myr shouted. Hasegawa opened the chamber at the end of the rifle’s barrel, placing the bullet in.

‘I hope this doesn’t explode in my hands.’ He shakenly thought to himself.

The mage starts readying his mana, his aura glowing, surrounding his body.

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

“Zero!” AS Myr said the word zero the mage starts to chant his spell.

“Strike thr-” Before the mage could even finish a loud boom and crack is heard, Hasegawa pressed the trigger starting a chemical reaction that propelled the bullet, hitting the target.

“Hmm. Seems like the barrel’s a bit curved…” The bullet having missed the center by five centimeters.

“Wha-! How!” The mage stands there, stupefied at the speed and power.

Once again Hasegawa turns towards the soldiers, who all have their mouths open.

“This will now be the weapon of choice for all of you.” Happy at startling the soldiers. Hasegawa looks at Gaspar’s surprised face then back to the soldiers.

“From now on, you will all be known as Attack Infantry One!” He said, standing proud and tall. “I will tailor make you into disciplined soldiers in my image!”

A loud grumbling sound is heard. Scraping metal and ratchets clunking together. A metal beast appearing from the horizon.

“This will be the start of a new era for us all!” Hasegawa shouted.

The Panzer one arrives at the field, attracting many onlookers. It stops right in front of the fleeing soldiers. The driver’s hatch opens as Myr emerges from the vehicle.

“It was fun riding this! Haha!” Myr said.

“Looks like you picked up fast in two days.” Hasegawa commented.

“Elves! Training will not be easy. I repeat! Training will not be easy.”

‘Or at least I won’t make it easy. Hahaha’