"That should be enough for now."
"Yesss..."
It started around seven in the morning, right? And now...
What time is it?
...Judging from the position of the sun, I think it's probably past noon.
The swordsmanship training is finally over... After being constantly forced to respond at the very limit over and over again, both my mind and body are tattered.
Naturally, since I failed many times, my Shihakusho is also tattered. Severe tears are carved into the clothes... surely it would be cheaper to buy a new one than to repair this poorly...
...Eh!? W-Wait a minute!? Did I just say it's past noon!?
"...It is still just past noon..."
"Did you say something?"
"N-No, nothing!!"
She called out to me just as my shoulders were slumping, and I hurriedly pretended everything was fine.
"Now then, we will move on to training as a soldier of the Fourth Division."
"As a soldier of the Fourth Division...?"
"Yes, Kaido."
If it's Kaido, I can manage a little... but I'm quite beaten up right now, so can I do it well? Besides, to use Kaido, the recipient needs to be—
—Eh? Wind...?
"...?"
Just now, the Captain definitely flashed her sword.
But it was a speed where I couldn't even see the blade's path, let alone when she drew it. Only the wind created by the swing of the sword...
"Ouch!?!"
Sharp pain arrived a moment later.
My chest was slashed diagonally, and blood spurred out.
"C-Captain!?"
"What is the matter? You are an injured person; aren't you going to treat it?"
I-Injured person... Ah! You don't mean, that's what this is about!?
"Kuh... S-Somehow, with this level..."
Understanding her intent, I hurriedly used Kaido to treat myself. For this level of injury, spiritual pressure healing alone should be enough.
It took time, but I managed to close the wound.
"...Phew."
"Failure, I see."
"Eh!?"
"It is an injury of only that degree, and furthermore, it is an injury you sustained yourself, is it not? You would need to be at least twice as fast as you were just now to even be considered for grading."
That's strict...
"Since it is damage to your own body in the first place, you should know best what has happened to it. And since you are healing your own body, you should also know best how to heal it... Am I wrong?"
As if reading my mind that I couldn't accept this, the Captain threw harsh words at me.
"Soldiers of the Fourth Division are those responsible for the relief of Soul Reapers from other squads. That means nothing less than being entrusted with the lives of others. You should grasp the fact that you hold the power of life and death in your hands more solemnly."
Indeed... that is true. I didn't intend to take it lightly, but...
"Or did you intend to save others with immature skills that cannot even satisfactorily heal yourself?"
"I am... sorry... My thinking was naive..."
Feeling the depths of my heart heat up, I bowed my head to the Captain.
"As long as you understand. And as you know, I am also immature. Let us improve together."
"Yes!"
"A good answer. Then—"
Saying that, the Captain drew her sword with a very nice smile.
Seeing that figure, I also asked while wearing a smile—if I had to compare, the kind of special smile one wears when bumping into a giant snake deep in the jungle.
"Um, Captain... that sword is..."
"It is simple. I will cut you, so please heal it with Kaido."
"Eeeeeeeeeh!?"
"Until just now, it was swordsmanship training, so I held back to merely grazing the skin, but from here on, I will actually cut flesh. If I hit a bad spot, you might lose an arm or so, so be careful... Ah, that would be training in itself. Then there is no problem, right?"
Saying that, the Captain let her sword fly.
What she is saying isn't wrong, but I feel like this is definitely wrong!
Desperately suppressing the urge to scream that, the Kaido training using myself as the experimental subject continued until I collapsed from running out of spiritual power.
"Okay, that is all."
"Yesss..."
The Kaido training has ended, for now. The fact that my arms, legs, and fingers remain without being lopped off is probably nothing short of a miracle.
"I have duties tomorrow as well, so I will take my leave now. Ah, yes. You should reach the Seireitei if you head straight west from here. Do not be late for the start of work."
"Ugh... I have work tomorrow too, don't I..."
Forget work, I'm worried about whether I can even wake up tomorrow.
For the time being, I prepared to go home—but before that, I took a bamboo tube out of my luggage to take a breather...
Ah, I forgot.
"Captain. Are you not hungry? If you'd like..."
"Oh, what is that?"
I had forgotten because we were training continuously without a lunch break, but I had made a bento.
It was just a very simple lunch consisting of a few salted rice balls, though.
"I made a little extra just in case... It's simple food, so I don't know if it will suit your taste, but..."
"It looks delicious. I will have one."
Saying that, she picked up a rice ball and ate it.
It was just that, but it made me happy.
"Hmm... This is... this taste..."
"Ah, was it perhaps bad? It's just a salted rice ball, so it shouldn't be that strange..."
The moment she ate it, she showed an expression as if pondering something. Could it be I'm going to get scolded...
"...Recruit Yukawa."
"Yes!"
"Won't you become exclusive to the kitchen staff?"
"...Eh?"
Umm, that is...
"It seems you have more talent for this."
"P-Please spare me from that at least..."
As I thought, I'm only being evaluated for parts other than the essential duties of a Soul Reaper...
Ah, it was around the time the area became pitch black that I was able to return to the Seireitei.
Desperately maneuvering my heavy body, it took many times longer than the trip there.
I think it was a miracle that I returned safely without being attacked by anyone.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]