According to Lyall,
“Leave the training spot to me. In fact, leave the lodging and meals to me, too.”
So, I decided to take him up on his offer.
This eliminates the need to worry about lodging and meals during my stay in Tobal.
Even so…
“There are a lot of dojos, aren’t there?”
Lyall nodded at my murmur.
“The area we were in earlier is the shopping district, and the place we are in now is what the locals call the dojo district. Other than that, Tobal consists of one large arena and a residential area.”
The town seems to be roughly divided into four blocks.
The fact that there is a block where dojos are concentrated is a feature that is unthinkable in other places.
“It seems that there used to be a dojo built by Zahat in the center of the dojo district. Now, only a bronze statue of Zahat remains, and it has become a public square.”
The hero who started this town is now a bronze statue. It’s a story that makes you feel the passage of time.
“We’re here.”
Lyall stopped at a particularly large dojo.
It’s on a different scale from other dojos.
There is a signboard on the gate, as befits a dojo.
When I read the letters on the signboard…
“National… Lyall Dojo?”
What’s this? Where do I even begin to question this?
“Neil, did you know about this dojo?”
“No, I went straight to the knight school, so I don’t know much about dojos. But if Lyall-san had his own style, I’d think there’d be rumors about it.”
“Well, to be precise, it’s not exactly my dojo.”
“Hmm? What do you mean, Uncle?”
Fina throws a question.
Considering the name of the dojo, there’s no other way to think about it.
“I don’t teach there.”
“?”
I don’t quite understand. Even though his name is clearly on the dojo, he doesn’t teach there…?
Perhaps sensing my bewilderment, Lyall scratched his head in annoyance and continued.
“It was a reward for the war. The king asked me directly if there was anything I wanted, and I asked for a battle with a strong opponent.”
He wanted to fight more right after the war ended. I wonder what kind of face the king made.
This king must be the late King Alan. I wonder how much military merit this person had accumulated.
“Yes. And then?”
“The king said that he couldn’t prepare it right away. Instead, he said he would build me the best dojo in the country. When I asked him how that was a substitute, guess what he said?”
“…?”
“He said, ‘If you wait ten years, strong people will emerge from there.’”
“That’s a long time.”
“He said it with such a straight face that I couldn’t help but agree on the condition that I wouldn’t have to teach anyone. He was an interesting king in his own way.”
I had often heard stories about the previous king from my grandfather, but I don’t know much about the deceased king. It’s kind of refreshing to hear stories from people who knew him directly.
“Hmm, is it practically like a training ground for the country? It’s okay if Lyall-san doesn’t teach.”
If people come to this dojo, some percentage of them will probably become soldiers. To increase the number of what might be called potential soldiers.
It means that he was a completely different type from King Spike, who would take such a roundabout strategy. I’m sure they would have liked Lyall to be an instructor.
“Probably. I’m sure I was used as a trigger to build a big dojo, but I don’t mind. I’m more than happy for more strong people to appear. As a result, a strange thing was created: a dojo that has my name on it but where I don’t teach.”
“That’s false advertising, isn’t it? Has that caused any problems?”
“I don’t know the details, but it seems that the country intervenes so that the students can train at a low cost. It seems to be cheaper than other dojos, so I don’t mind lending my name. Most people who enter are aware of this, and the instructors who teach are first-class, if not top-notch.”
They wanted to use Lyall-san as an advertising billboard.
It would definitely attract more people than just a national dojo.
To summarize, it’s a dojo built by the country for (ostensibly) “Lyall”.
It’s complicated!
Well, be that as it may.
“So, Neil’s training will be held here. It seems like there won’t be any problems, given the circumstances of its creation.”
“Yeah, there’s no problem. Don’t worry about the details. Come on, let’s go in.”
I’m not sure if we’ll get proper permission, but anyway.
Right now, it’s Neil’s training.
I hope it goes well.
“The Grand Master is back!”
“Grand Master, please give us some guidance!”
“I’m fine with a practical format.”
“Grand Master, please give me some advice on footwork…”
“I’ll see it in practice.”
“Grand Master, please watch our match and give us some advice.”
“No.”
As soon as we arrived, Lyall finished talking with one of the dojo’s instructors and was surrounded by the dojo’s students.
The age range was from teens to twenties, and the gender ratio was surprisingly about half and half.
Well, in this world, it depends on one’s aura.
The basic physical abilities of men are higher, though.
Lyall seems to be at the top of his game as a martial artist, so many people want to receive his guidance.
He’s even called Grand Master.
However, as mentioned earlier, he seems to have a stance of not teaching.
Judging from his remarks, it seems like he’s okay with matches…
“Um, are you a guest of the Grand Master?”
A black-haired girl with a laid-back tone spoke to me.
Black hair… it reminds me of Japan.
It’s rare in this country, you don’t see it very often.
She looks about fifteen years old and has a gentle face.
She looks like a human.
“Yes, you could say that.”
“I’m Mizuho, a student here. I’ve been told to take care of everyone.”
“I see, thank you.”
Her name is also Japanese-style, which makes me feel a sense of familiarity.
Well, I don’t look anything like Japanese-style right now.
She handed me a cup of tea, which I accepted.
I was hoping for it, but unfortunately, it wasn’t Japanese tea.
It’s herbal tea.
“You’re so beautiful, with your lovely red hair and eyes. It’s so rare and wonderful.”
“Oh, um, thank you.”
It’s red like this.
Yeah.
It’s a one-sided sense of familiarity.
We both have unusual appearances in this country.
“Black hair… I wonder how that person is doing…”
“Fina?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. By the way.”
“Yes? What is it, beautiful elf lady?”
“Thank you, I’m a half-elf, though. It’s fine that that uncle is a battle maniac, but why doesn’t anyone want to fight him? Isn’t it a valuable experience?”
“Ah, that’s… Well, it looks like a challenger has just appeared, so if you watch, you’ll understand.”
“P-please take care of me!”
A young man who looks like a bear-like beastman appeared.
Even from a distance, I can see his legs shaking.
“I’ll pick up your bones…”
“Whoa, seriously? You’re going?”
“G-good luck!”
The reactions of the students, who probably know what’s about to happen, are like this.
Hmm, he’s going to go easy on him, right? It’s not like he’s going to be beaten to a pulp, right?
An elderly man who seems to be the assistant instructor declares the start of the match.
“Here I go.”
The moment Lyall said that, the young man was blown away.
“That’s enough!”
“Huh?”
The match ended as soon as it started.
It’s not the kind of tragedy I expected, but this is…
“W-well, as you can see, the Grand Master doesn’t try to hide the difference in skill at all.”
No holding back.
Ah, but the young man who was blown away doesn’t seem to be injured.
He’s completely knocked out. It seems he’s holding back “only” on the impact.
“Normally, you’d watch your opponent’s movements, receive them, and then point out areas for improvement, right…?”
“That’s right, handsome brother with a flower in each hand. Normally, you’d consider the difference in skill. But not holding back in a match can also be taken as facing combat more sincerely than anyone else.”
“No, she’s my sister, and Katia-san is… that’s not it! That person really has no intention of teaching anyone, does he?”
“Probably not. But just standing before an overwhelmingly strong person is an experience for us.”
“I’m starting to get worried… Am I going to be okay?”
Hmm.
Well, in Neil’s case, he has secured the promise to “teach” him, so it should be fine.
It’s not like he’ll have to fight over and over again until he improves.
I see the other students dragging the fallen young man away and nursing him.
…Is he going to be okay?
“Because the matches are so short, as you can see, most of the students have already experienced a match with the Grand Master. The Grand Master doesn’t come here very often, but he usually has a few matches before going home.”
“By the way, what are the results of the other matches?”
“They’re no different from the current one. In fact, since the dojo was founded, only a handful of students have had a decent match before completing their training.”
“Ah, I see. Certainly, if this happens every time you challenge him…”
“It’s tough.”
“Mentally.”
The students of the dojo probably train every day…
Even if they know it’s not pointless, they’ll be discouraged if they’re instantly killed every time.
It’s like there’s no point in trying, or they don’t know if they’re making any progress.
A wall that’s too high will kill the motivation of all but a few special people.
That’s why they were asking for advice without a match.
It seems that they are being mentally, not physically, destroyed.
“I don’t know if it’s because of that, but everyone from here is reputed to be humble.”
“Is that a good thing…?”
“It’s questionable.”
“It’s questionable.”
I have a feeling that their noses are being broken to pieces before they get cocky.
I’m worried that the students’ hearts will be twisted.
“Hey, what were you talking about?”
Lyall came back.
“We were telling the guests how tough it is to fight the Grand Master.”
“Is that so? I didn’t injure anyone, did I?”
“I don’t think that’s what they meant.”
“Huh? Ah, it’s natural to always go all out in a match, right?”
Lyall looks like he’s saying, “What are you talking about?”
Is it natural…?
“You really have no intention of teaching, do you?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I’ll lend my name to the dojo, but I won’t teach. I’m always accepting match applications, so if you want to learn techniques, steal them yourself.”
“Will strong people properly grow up with that?”
“Recently, Mizuho’s sister, who’s standing over there, was strong.”
Eh, really?
“Yes, she’s my sister, and I’m proud of her.”
Wow.
But, the older sister of this fluffy girl is strong…?
It’s hard to imagine.
In the first place, I can’t even imagine this girl fighting.
“Hmm. I’m curious about what kind of person she is.”
“If you go to the royal capital, you’ll probably meet her. Anyway, I don’t usually teach people, but this time is special, Neil. Put your luggage away and come back quickly. You don’t have much time, do you?”
Oh, it seems that he will properly teach him this time.
That’s good, Neil.
“Seriously, thank you! It’s all thanks to Katia-san!”
But, of course, there are people who can’t stay silent.
“The Grand Master is going to teach!?”
“Why!? He wouldn’t do it no matter how much we asked him to!?”
“It’s discrimination! It’s tyranny!”
The students’ reactions are understandable.
Voices of dissatisfaction were raised from all over.
“Shut up, you guys, stop eavesdropping! Hey Mizuho, hurry up and show the guests to their room!”
“Yes, right away. This way, please.”
Guided by Mizuho-san, we left the noisy dojo.