Training

Just like what Captain Kaze had said, there aren't demons on sight at all. The trip was pretty much safe at the point where all of the medic division members could relax for a bit. Enjoying the vast dead surroundings, no trees… just rocks and dirt.

Seeing this place had made Ren realize that war has ruined everything here. He began to wonder what started this war actually… he knows that the demons were a force of evil but there must be something that triggers the war at first.

As someone that hasn't finished or even knows any of the lore of the game Code Sage before. Ren had no idea what world history was.

But Ren is aware that asking about it would somehow make him like he isn't in this world. So he refrains from asking that question and decides to unravel the mystery of this world itself. As soon as he's out of this job of his at the moment.

…

It's finally the time to take a stop, as the horses were looking pretty tired already. With that, Ren knew that the time for his training would begin soon enough. He feels very excited for it, he really hoped that he could master the basics in a few days.

"It seems like we're going to rest here. Are you ready for your training Ren?" Riku said that.

"Of course, I can't wait to start the training…"

"Let me tell you something, I would be very strict with you. As swordsmanship skill isn't something that we knights take that lightly…"

"That would be no problem, it's better for you to be strict with me. That way I would learn it better." Ren said that.

"I like that spirit! No wonder you have been chosen to work here despite being a priest."

Riku said as she grabbed one of the swords that she brought upon with her as a spare. She then tossed the sword towards Ren.

Ren catches it in surprise, wondering why Riku is giving him a real sword. As if- He then realized the intention of Riku but still wasn't sure if that really what she meant by giving him this steel sword.

"Riku? Are we training with real swords…" Ren asked that question.

"Yes, we are, is there any problem with that?"

That was the answer which Ren feared the most coming from Riku.

"Really? Isn't training with a real sword when I was still a novice a bit dangerous…"

"Well you're right, it's dangerous but I don't bring a wooden sword with me. Seeing your enthusiasm, I feel like you don't mind whether we train with a real sword… Is-"

Hearing that, Ren can't possibly deny that. As it would label him as a coward and also show that he really isn't that passionate about learning the way of a sword.

"No, of course I don't mind. I was just a bit surprised, that's it."

"I see… well it would be fine, even if you got injured… you could basically heal yourself right?"

"You do have a point there, so let's start training then." Ren said that.

…

As the carriage finally made a stop in the barren land, both of them quickly headed out of the carriage and proceeded with the training immediately. While the other members of the division do their own thing in the meantime.

Just like what Riku said, she was really strict on the training… Every mistake that Ren had made would get a punishment. Even knowing that Ren was a beginner at this, Riku simply doesn't care about it.

Despite the harsh training that was given, Ren didn't give in yet as he really wanted to master swordsmanship.

To endure all of this, he thought of this as a tutorial of a game that he always played. One that finished it would obtain a skill, which was the basics of using a sword.

The first lesson that Ren was taught was how to properly wield a sword in the hand. As it was the common mistake that everyone makes. It was pretty basic so he was able to pass it very quickly.

"I think you really had a talent in swordsmanship here, I wonder why you became a priest in the first place?" Riku asked that question while training Ren.

That question makes Ren think for a while, as he comes to this world without knowing any backstory of the character that he had made. He does know why he chose a priest class before but there's no way Ren could tell that towards Riku.

As he was afraid that it would make Riku think he's crazy…

So the best answer that Ren could give towards Riku is-

"To be honest, I just wanted to be able to help in some sort of way in this world. That's why I became a priest." Ren said that he can't think of a better reason than that.

"I see that's noble indeed, too think that my reason to become a knight is for my very own selfish reason." Riku said that as her mood was looking quite down.

"Hey… it doesn't matter who it for as-"

Before Ren could finish his sentence, Zain interrupted him as he was running towards the both of them and yelling something from afar.

Both Riku and Ren look at Zain… it seems like he had something important that he wanted to rely on them.

"What's matter Zain! Did some of the healing potions break on the trip?" Ren said that loudly.

"No!- It's- coming…" Zain words couldn't be heard by them as he was still quite far from the both of them.

When Zain finally came closer, his words began to sound clear and both of them were shocked upon hearing what was said by Zain.

They can't believe that this was really happening at this moment.

"Are you sure Zain! Are there really demons up ahead and it's coming our way?" Riku said that she needed some confirmation.