Volume 1

    Chapter 24

    Half a year had passed since he came to the village of Seirei no tami . Rio was currently having his spirit art training in the plaza at the outskirt of the village like usual .

    「I’ve already taught all I can teach to you regarding spirit art . There’s nothing left for me to teach . 」

    Arthura muttered in admiration at the figure of Rio perfectly executing spirit arts before her .

    「This is also due to Arthura-dono’s help」

    With a light smile, Rio said his gratitude to Arthura for coaching him on spirit art .

    「Even so, in less than one year, to reach the point of freely using spirit art at will, it must be due to Rio-dono’s overwhelming talent . I only gave a little advice . You also become versed in many types of spirit art . My, my, the spirits really showered their affection on you . 」

    Receiving the gratitude from Rio, Arthura smiled at him .

    According to Arthura, Rio’s aptitude matched all spirit arts .

    He could manipulate every natural phenomenon such as fire, water, ice, earth, wind, and thunder . In addition, he can also cause various phenomenon . [1]

    Arthura could manipulate those phenomena too .

    However, it was impossible for her to freely manipulate each of them to similar degree .

    They could not come close to the fire element spirit art and witchcraft[genjutsu][2], her strongest arts .

    「The remaining subject related to spirit arts is Rio-dono’s unidentified contract spirit . 」

    Arthura was referring to the contract spirit in Rio, which remained unidentified till now .

    「Is there no way to know about the contracted spirit？」

    Adhering to Arthura’s direction, Rio had left that topic alone until now .

    「Uhm, someone who knows… the spirit sleeping inside you . I am not sure . Maybe there’s one person, but…… . . 」

    Arthura spoke in an unclear manner .

    「Is there some problem？   」

    「Uhm . Well, just a little actually」

    Rio tilted his head, not quite understanding what “Just a little” meant .

    「It’s a person that lives in Seirei no tami, right? 」

    「Nay, this person is actually a spirit itself . Moreover it’s an exceedingly high ranking existence .     In other words, a Quasi High Ranking Spirit[3] . It’s the spirit of the great tree, Dryad-sama」

    「Spirit of the great tree, could it be……」

    Rio looked towards the majestic figure of the gigantic tree, that towered over it’s surroundings .

    「Uhm, the living place of Dryad-sama is at that great tree in the center of this forest」

    Arthura arbitarily answered Rio .

    But, there was one thing that Rio couldn’t understand .

    「Can’t the other spirits see through the true form of the unknown spirit inside me？          」

    Rio considered since all of them were spirits, there was no need to go as far as asking the Dryad .

    「It’s a matter of fact that spirits can perceive the existence of other spirits . But, ordinary spirits can’t speak in words despite having intelligence . They act by reading their contract partners’ intention, and can point something out to them, in ambiguous way; but they aren’t able to talk about something clearly with the partners . Only top class spirits can perfectly convey their thoughts to people」

    Rio nodded his head on hearing those words .

    「I see ………… . . Can I go to the great tree?        」

    「That’s the problem . That place is something akin to a sacred place for seirei no tami .           With the exception of the spirit festival that is held once a year, even seirei no tami can’t just boldly enter that place . An approval is necessary for entering it other than that time」

    Rio’s intentions were already grasped by her with those words .

    「In other words, they didn’t know whether to let I, who is an outsider, enter it or not?          」

    Rio guessed rightly to Arthura’s worry .

    「Uhm, for our benefactor Rio-dono, it should be ………… . . it’s just like what you said . I’m sorry Rio-dono, since there’s still members of the elder council that don’t trust Rio-dono yet, even now」

    Arthura slightly frown and said that with an apologetic face .

    The news about a human boy staying in the village ?as benefactor of a girl of the seirei no tami? had already spread throughout the village . But, with the exception of a few seirei no tami, Rio’s had lived far from contact with others .

    It was already a fact that the seirei no tami didn’t have a good image for the human race, that’s why even the elder council of this village… no, it’s because they were the elders that they stubbornly remained wary of Rio .

    The elder council’s approval was necessary to go to the great tree, that was why it was necessary to gain their trust .

    「I will try to arrange it, so that you can somehow enter the great tree . Till that time, please wait patiently . Well, besides that, there should be a great number of things that Rio-dono needs to know . That fellow, Dominique, seems eager to teach his dwarf knowledge to Rio-dono . You will also be able to take pleasure in having Syldra as your personal tutor about elves . 」

    To wipe away the anxiety from the current situation, Arthura spoke cheerfully about Rio’s good fortune .

    Rio could ask for lessons directly from the elders of the seirei no tami .

    Besides the problems between races, some people may also took offence with teaching Rio knowledge of seirei no tami . However, Rio dismissed his concern on it and took it as a good opportunity .

    「I think it’s good to finish here for today . Shall we go look at how Latifa’s doing right now? 」

    Arthura let out a bright smile once she recalled her cute great-grandchild .

    「Hehh . I also want to see how she has grown」

    Rio accepted Arthura’s proposal, together they went to the plaza that was used for Latifa’s spirit art training .

    In that place were five people: Latifa, Oufia, Sara, Alma, and Uzuma .

    「Thi-this, greetings Arthura-dono, Rio-dono……」

    Though Uzuma was the first one in those five who noticed Rio and Arthura, she gave her greeting while lowering her head, as if being ashamed by something .

    「Uhm」

    「Hello . Uzuma-dono」

    Rio awkwardly returned her greeting in the seirei no tami language[4] after seeing her like that .

    Uzuma became surprised at how well Rio was in using the Seirei no tami language .

    「Could it be, you can already speak in the seirei no tami language？ 」

    She asked with eyes full of curiousity .

    「Yes, thanks to the lessons that I received constantly from Arthura-dono, now I can handle it if it’s a daily life conversation .      But it’s still a way to go, as I still feel awkward when using it」

    —-

    Rio continued his study of their language with hands on training by spending most of his everyday life conversing using the seirei no tami language .

    Thanks to that, his proficiency in the seirei no tami language reached a level where it wouldn’t be a problem for him to converse with it in his daily life .

    「Even so, that was still an incredible learning speed……」

    Alma whose beside her voiced her admiration .

    The others in the group also sent him their admiring gazes, it made Rio felt itchy .

    「Thank you very much . 」

    After he shyly gave his short gratitude, Rio turned towards Latifa, who was eagerly waiting for him to finish his conversation .

    「Latifa, are you studying properly?   」

    「Un!   I got better in using spirit arts! We had a Mock Combat just now . Uzuma-san’s really strong! Next, I will fight against Sara-oneechan」

    Latifa clung to Rio as she was talking .

    After burying her face into Rio body, she then looked up at Rio .

    「Is that so? Then, can Arthura-dono and I watch Latifa’s Mock Combat? 」

    「Um~, Okay! Sara-oneechan! Come on let’s fight!」

    Latifa dashed towards the center of the plaza in high spirits, wanting to show off her skills to Rio .

    「Geez, that child is really… She get into high spirits just because Rio-sama came」

    Sara chased Latifa’s back, expressing her feelings that it couldn’t be helped .

    After those two arrived at the center of the plaza, Oufia signalled the start .

    Strengthening their bodies and physical ability at the moment of the signal, those two started to move in an instant .

    Since Latifa had also already learnt spirit arts, the physical and body strengthening magic she was using was also from spirit arts .

    （So fast）

    Rio was surprised by that speed .

    Latifa’s speed increased by leaps and bounds when compared to when she first met Rio .

    The only grace of『Body Strengthening Magic (Hyper Physical Ability)』 was strengthening physical ability; it was different from spirit arts reinforcement, which also strengthened the user’s body and not just physical ability .

    But, it was the same for Sara, who was also strengthening her body and physical ability with spirit arts .

    By Rio’s observation, their speeds were almost equal .

    If that was the case, then it was left to their skill .

    In that regard, right now they were testing the water by executing feint attacks .

    Both of them were using wooden knives as weapons .

    Rio stood next to Uzuma and silently watched their match .

    However, a little while later, he noticed that Uzuma was struggling to calm herself .

    Though quite a long time had already passed since he came to the village of the seirei no tami, Uzuma still had that attitude, as if she was avoiding Rio .

    Although no hostility could be felt from her, it still felt awkward for him .

    「I don’t mind about that matter anymore . Uzuma-dono, you don’t have to worry about it . 」

    Thinking that their relationship had been stiff all this while, Rio resolved himself and said it out .

    Uzuma reacted with a surprise look at Rio .

    「Eh? Was I mistaken?」

    Rio had thought that maybe Uzuma was still regretting her misunderstanding, which caused her to gravely injure Rio .

    But, from Uzuma’s reaction, it looked like it was due to completely different matter, that she was acting like that towards Rio .

    If that was the case, then what was the cause of her behaviour? When Rio worried how he must converse with her, Uzuma began to speak first .

    「……No, you’re not wrong . Part of the reason is also that? it’s just that Rio-dono is completely different from the image of the human race that I had, and… I am also troubled on how to face you . I’m really sorry . All of this happened due to my lack of manners . 」

    It turned out that her awkward manner toward Rio was related to the problems between races .

    Maybe her feelings of gratitude toward Rio for saving a girl of her brethren clashed with her guilt for severely wounding Rio from the misunderstanding . Then there was her unease towards Rio due to racial issues, all of that jumbled together in Uzuma’s mind .

    Because of deep historical origin, her prejudice towards his race was hard to remove with just his one or two small actions .

    「I understand that it’s not easy to change that bad image about humans . I will not try to change that . Instead, I would be grateful if you could just be yourself around me . You’d feel worn out, right, if you continued to try and force yourself? 」

    He shrugged his shoulders when saying that, while letting out an awkward smile .

    「……I wish to express my deepest gratitude for Rio-dono’s consideration toward me」

    Uzuma lowered her head towards Rio with a movement that made her look like a natural born military man .

    Arthura, Oufia, and Alma looked at those two from the side with great curiousity .

    On the other hand, while those two were in the middle of their conversation, Sara and Latifa’s match was almost at its climax .

    Latifa gave her best shot but, Sara was still way above her .

    Rio also thought that Sara herself was a truly talented fighter, despite there also being an age difference, her combat ability surpassed Latifa who was trained as an assassin .

    Though maybe Latifa could stand on the same ground as Sara when she grew up, as she continued her training . Most likely she would be chasing after Sara’s back, who is her senior, for a while .

    「U~~u, I was also defeated by Sara-oneechan」

    Latifa said that while looking down with a frustated look on her face .

    「That’s only natural since I’m older . Since I have continuously learnt the basics for a long time from the soldiers of the seirei no tami . With Latifa’s age, this is already good enough for you to become a soldier of the seirei no tami」

    Sara coaxed the bitter Latifa, who was slumping on the ground .

    「Yeah, you really are strong . I can’t do anything at all」

    Oufia also tried to coax Latifa .

    「That was because Oufia-neesan is a rearguard and spirit art user type; it’s only natural that you can’t win against a vanguard type like Sara-neesan or Uzuma-san in close combat 」

    And here, Alma added her tsukkomi .

    Maybe due to her honest personality, or was her own trait that she speaks what she thinks .

    「But, Onii-chan is still waaay stronger than Sara-oneechan and Uzuma-san！」

    Latifa said that with complete belief for Rio’s victory .

    「Mu, my pride as a warrior won’t just let that line be, but……」

    —-

    Uzuma’s pride as the warrior chief got ignited by the [of course he is] in Latifa’s tone .

    「I couldn’t do anything against onii-chan at all！Uzuma-san is waaay more powerful than me but, you still have yet to defeat onii-chan! 」

    「Latifa, Uzuma is the strongest young warrior in this village . Even if he excels in spirit arts, for Rio-sama, a child of the human, to win against her is just……… 」

    Sara, who was very familiar with Uzuma’s strength, said a different opinion to Latifa .

    「Then, we will find that out with combat .    Right, Onii-chan?        」

    Latifa looked at Rio with upturned eyes[5], fully believing in Rio’s power from the bottom of her heart .

    He really wanted to reject her request, seeing that it was turning in a really troublesome direction but, Rio wasn’t inconsiderate enough to betray the innocent expectations of Latifa .

    「Want to try it？」

    While smiling bitterly in his heart, Rio proposed a Mock Combat challenge to Uzuma .

    「Yeah, certainly」

    Uzuma replied instantly .

    It was as if she was really eager to do that .

    After choosing their weapons for the Mock Combat, those two took their places at the center of the plaza .

    The rule was the same as before, only physical and body strengthening spirit arts were permissible in the match .

    Uzuma, with her wooden spear, versus Rio, with his wooden sword .

    「BEGIN！」

    Uzuma dashed toward Rio, right at the start of the match .

    Her speed, with the added driving force of her wings, was basically like an arrow fired toward Rio .

    Despite her calm face, her spirit was ablaze .

    Maybe it was due to her extreme confidence in her own strength .

    Rio was smiling lightly at Uzuma’s straightforward manner . [6]

    Uzuma instantly shortened the distance to Rio and stabbed her spear at Rio; naturally her body and physical ability were strengthened with magical power . [TN : magical power here using 魔力[maryoku] not the MANA from before]

    Rio warded the disorderly thrust from Uzuma, which come at him like an avalanche .

    Uzuma showed an astonished face at Rio, who parried her attack easily without any wasted movement .

    Uzuma distanced herself from Rio for an instant and then lunged at him from a low stance, almost like crawling on the ground . She struck at his chest with her spear from below, like the fish jumping against the rapids .

    Though Rio stopped the blow that came from the front, Uzuma exerted more force into the strike .

    Rio’s body lightly floated from the impact .

    With the her heels stomping hard and wings flapping powerfully, Uzuma sent Rio flying with her charge .

    The distance between them opened for a brief moment .

    Uzuma leapt toward Rio, who was thrown in the air, as if to not let him escape, and then accurately sent four thrusts, aiming at Rio limbs .

    Rio parried her spear with his sword and evaded her attacks by twisting his body and shifting his limbs .

    Then, using the recoil, he sent a horizontal slash towards Uzuma’s body .

    Uzuma instantly dodged his counter by flapping her wings to drive herself backwards .

    Matching her in a aerial battle was really difficult . [7]

    Both of them landed on the ground while keeping their distance .

    It lasted but an instant . In one single step, Rio suddenly shrunk their distance . [8]

    「!!! 」

    The offensive was reversed . Rio’s figure disappeared from Uzuma in that split second .

    However, due to her natural instincts, she barely managed to block Rio’s attack, which also destroyed her stance .

    Uzuma tried to separate from Rio and fix her stance .

    However, without letting the chance go, Rio rushed at her . He erased the space that was needed for her to manipulate her spear; his sharp thrusts came one after another towards the gaps in her defence .

    「KUH!!」

    Now it was Uzuma’s turn to find herself in a disadvantage situation .

    Though she could still barely defend herself from Rio’s attack, Rio was already superior from the number of attacks .

    If it was using real weapons, Uzuma’s body would already be full of small cuts .

    In that constant barrage, Uzuma made a slip and Rio unleashed a powerful blow at that opportunity with a large swing of his sword .

    Uzuma stopped the blow which sent her body flying backwards a little .

    Uzuma warded the impact of that attack by flapping her wings, then slowly descended to the ground .

    「……With this match, I recognize you as a warrior . Looks like I need to fight you at my full power」

    Uzuma said that with a different tone than she normally used .

    At the same time, Uzuma’s stance changed .

    [Biku], a chill ran through Rio’s body .

    Then, she instantly closed their gap and threw a fierce stab, aimed at Rio’s body .

    Rio immediately side-stepped to escape, as he could not block that crushing pressure .

    A prickling sensation suddenly felt his neck? he turned his neck sideways .

    In the next moment, there was the sound of something passing through the air; it was Uzuma’s kick, which was aimed at where Rio’s head was, just a moment ago .

    「Hoou, Good . You managed to dodge that .    But, how about this! 」

    She blasted a heavy strike at Rio , along with those words .

    But, Rio had stopped that blow .

    His expression distorted as he received it, the one-handed sword he used was gripped with his both hands; Uzuma pressed at him with a nonchalant expression .

    Rio retreated backwards a great distance from the clash to ward the power in that strike .

    「Isn’t this already a little surpassing the level of a Mock Combat?」

    Rio said that with a wry smile .

    「Of course! There’s no reason for me to hold back my joy against this kind of strong opponent! 」

    Uzuma exclaimed that loudly while letting out a ferocious smile .

    Rio thought that it couldn’t be helped, since she was a little bit of a Battle Junkie .  [9]

    Rio could only smile lightly .

    He couldn’t rebutt her since somehow or another he was also similar to her .

    Rio felt a little delighted . It had been a long time since he found an opponent on which he could go all out .

    It was a good idea to spare his thoughts and go wild like this, once a while .

    But, Uzuma greatly surpassed him with her current physical ability .

    At this rate it would be a thin line separating winner and loser .

    （Then, let’s get ourselves equal）

    Thereupon, the ODO overflowing from Rio’s body rised, it also flowed with great density .

    「Mu, what’s with that kind of ODO density」

    Uzuma opened her eyes wide at the armor of ODO that was enveloping Rio’s body . [TL : 555-Henshin!!!]

    He was strengthening his body and physical ability with spirit arts, and rose it to the next level with a quantity of ODO clad his body like armor .

    Even if his base strength fell behind Uzuma, who was a beastman, he just needed to strengthen his body and physical ability with his ODO till he surpassed her .

    That kind of realization had just come to Rio . [TL : cough*Kamen*cough*Rider*cough]

    But, just realising it was not enough .

    Whether or not his body could cope with that massive quantity of ODO all at once was another story .

    It was necessary for him to control the massive amount of ODO and find a suitable amount for him to be clad in .

    —-

    「Could it be that, till now, you did not went all out?」

    Uzuma said that while smiling lightly .

    「Nope, I was going all out . Maybe it’s embarrassing for me to say it, but, I have never had a chance to strengthen myself to this level 」

    「I see . Though it doesn’t seem that you’re using all your power yet」

    Uzuma wielded her spear, and suddenly appeared in front of Rio .

    「Not at all, I’m almost hitting my upper limit, you know」

    Rio said that while stopping Uzuma’s direct frontal blow, just like that  .

    「And you say that with nonchalant expression！   HAAAA！」

    Then she send wild thrusts with random tempo to Rio .

    Rio evaded those attacks, each one after the other, with minimum movement like flowing water . Then, matching the with flow of her breath, he closed in to Uzuma’s bosom as she was thrusting her spear and swung his sword at the exposed chest .

    「KUH!!」

    When she stopped Rio’s attack with emergency posture, rotating her spear using the part that was hit by Rio’s sword as its center, she use Rio’s own power to launch a sweeping strike at his face .

    Rio dodged that attack by turning his head sideways .

    Immediately followed by countless of their attacks countering each other .

    If those had been metal weapons, spark would have flown in every direction along with the clanking sound of weapons .

    A series of heavy blows rained upon Rio .

    However, Rio warded all of those attacks without moving even a single step .

    「AMAZING！ No matter how I hit, none of it is getting through!」

    Uzuma said that with a delighted face .

    With resolution to put her life on the line, Uzuma then launched a surprise attack, a daring spear uppercut as she sprung at Rio, just to force Rio to inch from his spot .

    Rio avoided that attack by side-stepping for a half step, and launched a counter .

    「KUH」

    Rio’s wooden sword finally struck Uzuma’s body .

    Though he stopped his blow just before it landed, Uzuma’s expression was vexed, as she knew that she had been completely unable to protect herself from that blow .

    「……It’s my loss . Thank you very much . It was already beyond a little excessive」

    Uzuma instantly returned to her usual calm and composed self, and politely bowed to Rio .

    Rio noticed that there was a tinge of red on her face .

    (Maybe she was embarrassed by her previous fighting spirit)

    「Don’t worry, it was the same for me . I also enjoyed it . If you don’t mind it, please have a match with me again」

    「Yeah, with pleasure」

    Uzuma chimed her approval at Rio’s proposal with a happy expression . [10]

    Her awkward demeanour from before had completely vanished .

    Somehow they managed to grasp each others character during their short match .

    Sara, Oufia, Alma, and Arthura were still dumfounded with their jaws wide open, even after those two had finished their match . [11]

    「Ne, let’s just say！ Onii-chan is powerful, right!」

    Amongst them, only Latifa puffed up her plains-like chest with a triumphant face, as if saying [That’s only natural right!?] .

    [1] [TL : manipulating is different from causing][2] [TL : Genjutsu here can also translated as magic, but I choose to use witchcraft since magic here using Madou not genjutsu][3] [TL : 準高位精霊(Quasi High Rank Spirit)– any better idea?][4] [TL : it sound like japanese to me][5] [TL : Pleading eyes][6] [TN : the raw indicated single minded Uzuma, but let it be straight forward instead, since they’re having a match not a test][7] [TL : SHE IS A BIRD!!! Once again, SHE IS A BIRD . It’s only natural for her to FLY][8] [TL : Shundo[instant movement]][9] [TL : Junkie is heavy user, someone who can’t live without it or something similiar to it; like an alcohol junkie (alcoholic) or drug junkie, or food junkie (made me remember of Bambino)][10] [TL : is this a flag again][11] [TL : modified the sentence a bit for a bit of fun]

    To connect with Uzuma’s words that comes after .