Chapter 11

After parting with Ririko, Uesugi Toru simply wiped himself down, changed back into his school uniform, and returned to his seat.

Although he couldn't practice kendo at noon because of Kendo Club advisor Teacher Kondo Eiji, honestly, Uesugi Toru not only held no resentment toward him, but instead felt gratitude.

Because——

【Detected the appearance of a Jōkai Rift, you may now choose to enter the Common World for exploration.】

The moment he stepped onto the playground's rubber track, this prompt appeared before Uesugi Toru's eyes once again.

In other words, he might no longer need to go into the four-star Edo Castle to feed himself to small monsters.

Instead, he has a chance to explore a potentially existing low-star map.

Even if it's not a suitable low-star map, it still adds one more option.

If not for being punished to run laps today, Uesugi Toru, who had already decided on a "Kiai Technique in class, Kendo Hall after school" two-point routine school life, wouldn't have known how long it would take before he stepped onto the track.

Not only that, to make running laps easier, Uesugi Toru further increased his Kiai Technique Fragment proficiency, and could even apply some Kiai Technique knacks to his breathing while running.

【Your skill, Kiai Technique Fragment proficiency +18!】

……

The tradition of Japanese school hours differs from the neighbor; here they promote Happy and Relaxed Education, so not only does morning class start late, afternoon dismissal is also early, let alone any evening self-study lasting until nine or ten.

All for the sake of giving students more time to participate in clubs.

And if one aims to enter a good university through entrance exams, they have to pay out of pocket for cram schools after class; relying on the meager teaching in school is impossible.

【Your skill, Kiai Technique Fragment proficiency +12!】

When the end-of-class bell rang, Uesugi Toru, who had brushed up his Kiai Technique Fragment proficiency all afternoon, walked out the classroom door.

Just wanting to find Ririko, he discovered the person herself was already standing outside the door waiting for him.

Class had just ended, and Ririko's F Class is a full corridor's distance away from his A Class.

"You ran over?"

"Made up some random excuse and slipped out early; I'm the privileged class, you've known that since day one, right."

The two's question and answer also made Uesugi Toru's memories begin to surge.

Ririko, who won double championships at the "Gyokuryō Flag" kendo tournament last year, holds a status in school even higher than ordinary teachers.

For high schoolers practicing kendo, the Gyokuryō Flag is akin to Koshien in baseball.

Generally, participating teams select five members from the school's kendo club to serve as Vanguard, Second Vanguard, Middle Guard, Deputy General, and Commander respectively.

And Tokugawa Ririko, who held the Commander position, not only seized the individual championship.

Even in a desperate situation where all her teammates had lost, she accomplished the astonishing feat of "One Against Five," leading Sakura Capital High School to take the team championship, with the momentum to make the school famous nationwide.

If placed in a xuanhuan novel, Ririko would probably be an invincible heaven's pride suppressing all peers so they can't lift their heads.

Such a genius, the school holds her in the palm of their hand fearing she'll melt; perhaps only Kondo, who directly instructs her swordsmanship, dares to give her a cold face.

No wonder since this morning, Uesugi Toru felt the surrounding classmates' gazes toward him were a bit strange.

A figure at the top of the school hierarchy pyramid like Ririko is actually walking together with him, a bottom-tier little transparent nobody who has no specialties besides being handsome, likes 2D, and is silently unknown.

This matter alone is enough to become a piece of gossip.

Let alone Ririko also took him to the kendo club to wear kendo uniform, and the two running laps together in the afternoon was seen by many.

"Uesugi-kun, if you truly want to practice the sword, then the first thing to do is Heart Like Still Water."

In the corridor, Ririko spoke calmly.

"How exactly does one do that?"

Ririko instructed: "Let the inner heart discard external disturbances, and remain constant in a state as tranquil as a lake surface."

"Good."

Uesugi Toru collected his mind, and with each breath the Kiai Technique subconsciously circulated; after his spirit became tranquil, he directly filtered out the surrounding whispers.

【You have comprehended the Swordsmanship realm "Heart Like Still Water", Will +3】

Spirit revived, Uesugi Toru thought: Is this Swordsmanship realm cabbage? Change a thought and you break through.

When they walked downstairs to where no one was, Uesugi Toru suddenly discovered Ririko staring at him with eyes sizing up a monster.

Uesugi Toru: "Is there something dirty on my face?"

After two seconds of silence, Ririko asked: "Heart Like Still Water... you achieved it?"

Uesugi Toru, confused: "Isn't it just treating what passersby say as farts, what's so hard about that?"

They faced each other for a while; after Ririko discovered he didn't seem to be joking, she turned her head away, pretending nothing happened, and said: "Walk faster."

Completing Heart Like Still Water in an instant...

"Although indeed there's nothing hard about it." Ririko took a deep breath, striving to maintain an expressionless face, "But Uesugi-kun, you do have a bit more Swordsmanship talent than ordinary people."

Uesugi Toru took her words as truth, cupped his hands: "Then afterwards, I'll have to trouble Teacher Ririko."

Ririko didn't speak.

After changing into kendo uniform, Ririko first refused a pile of club members' invitations for sparring guidance, then took Uesugi Toru into the deepest part of the Kendo Hall.

Upon entering a small training hall and pulling shut the heavy wooden door, the originally noisy after-school Kendo Hall instantly quieted down.

Ririko, hair tied in a high ponytail, stood barefoot on the cold wooden floor: "This is the partitioned room Teacher Kondo uses when guiding me; using it to teach you swordsmanship now counts as making the best use of things, Uesugi-kun."

She took out a brand-new bamboo sword from the bag and solemnly handed it to Uesugi Toru.

Uesugi Toru received it with both hands: "Teacher Ririko, I will study seriously."

Ririko nodded noncommittally, then sat cross-legged and began explaining: "My swordsmanship style is Tennen Rishin-ryu; although I haven't obtained the 'Menkyo Kaiden' certification, this only counts as exchange between classmates, so it's permissible."

What a disclaimer.

As Uesugi Toru was complaining in his heart, he saw a prompt suddenly pop up before his eyes.

【Tokugawa Ririko is transmitting the Swordsmanship style·Tennen Rishin-ryu to you...】

His spirit revived, and he listened without the slightest negligence.

Unlike modern swordsmanship, we place greater emphasis on simplicity and practicality, on flexibility rather than how to score points in a match……

After more than ten minutes of explanation, Shizuku stood up: "Come, first learn how to stand and hold the sword."

【You have learned Swordsmanship · Tennen Rishin-ryu.】

【Tennen Rishin-ryu (Uninitiated 0/200)】

【Effect: None】

Good grief, he's already learned swordsmanship yet is still "uninitiated," and just the proficiency for being uninitiated requires double that of Kiai Technique after initiation.

All that can be said is, as expected of an orthodox sword school, not something a mere Kiai Technique fragment can compare with.

Two and a half hours later.

【After arduous training, your skill, Tennen Rishin-ryu proficiency +1!】

Sweat-drenched Uesugi Toru put down his bamboo sword, gazing at the nearly motionless progress bar as he fell into thought.

"Uesugi-kun, your swordsmanship talent doesn't seem very promising."

Shizuku leaned on her sword with a stern small face, yet her tone was full of gloating, carrying quite a sarcastic flavor.

"But don't be too disappointed." She crouched down and patted Uesugi Toru's shoulder, her tone concerned, "Uesugi-kun, talent is something that cannot be forced."

She looked at the silent Uesugi Toru for a while, then softened her tone, adding a word of comfort: "And, your breathing rhythm technique is not bad."

A curious little head peeked out from the edge of Uesugi Toru's vision: "Teach me?"

"Don't rush, I'll teach you."

Uesugi Toru stared at that glaring "1" for a while, then began rummaging through his Storage Backpack, finally stopping his gaze upon seeing the remaining two portions of String Hun Xiang Hui glowing brightly.

He said:

"Let me be quiet for a while, gather my thoughts."

End of Chapter