Chapter 48 - Where the hell did you go, Kai?!

"So… you are telling me to teach you how to create your own sword techniques? Am I correct?"

"Yes," I said with puppy eyes.

"You know that's not going to work for me anymore."

"Tch."

"Hey, who taught you that?! Never mind. Anyways, why do I need to teach you how to create your own sword techniques if you can already develop one? Every swordsman develops their own sword styles over time so I don't need-"

"I know that. But I wanted to make something that I can call my own. You know, like yours. I heard from Oto-san that you abandoned the Royal Style and the Imperial Style and created your own style that managed to keep up with both the styles, if not better."

"Oh that. It's true that I have abandoned those two styles but my own style is just a combination of numerous styles including the Royal Style and the Imperial Style. I also incorporated some techniques in the East, the West, and the South. I made my own style after learning all of those numerous sword styles and polished it and made my own movements. I also made sure to try it out with inferior and superior opponents to test what works or not by sparring with many knights and even Oto-san to test how good it was-"

"And that's exactly it."

"What?"

"You had people helping you create and polish your own sword style, right?"

"Wait, is that what you meant?"

"Yeah, I can't test it out with other people since they aren't capable enough, not that I'm saying that they are weak, it's just that my body is a tad bit stronger than most…"

"Ooohhh… then how about Oto-san?"

"I did. However, I think of him as the superior swordsman the both of us so he is the superior opponent. I think the commander and the vice-commander will work for the inferior opponent. But I wanted someone in the middle that can do both at once."

"Did you just say that both our commanding and vice-commanding leaders in our army are inferior to you? Also, I am at least the same level as Oto-san, so what makes you think I am just someone in the middle?"

"Well, I did beat both of them in a minute at the same time with my eyes closed and didn't even attack."

"Then how did you manage to defeat them if you didn't attack?!"

"... I parried a bit too hard and the sword slipped into a certain angle which I unconsciously used a form and… yeah."

"... Is our army that weak or have you gotten too strong that you managed to defeat the top-ranked leaders of our army…"

"I mean, who do you think taught me?"

He became silent and face-palmed himself for not noticing what exactly he did to me. He forgot that he trained me brutally for years and he is someone who defeated the commander at a very young age so obviously I would be able to do it as well.

"Ok, ok. But why do you think that I'm just the middle?"

"Because you have trained me for so long that you should be able to become the middle man. Both the inferior and superior opponents that I chose don't fully know how I move and fight but you do, so you are perfect for it."

He made a very confused expression on his face before letting out a sigh.

"So because I know how you fight, I can properly adjust my level to match your needs?"

I smiled as to say that he is correct. He made a complicated expression before smirking, chuckling, and finally laughing.

"Hahaha! I thought you meant that I was weaker than Oto-san or something. Fine, I'll help you then."

"Thanks!"

And that basically started my two years of preparations. I still needed to do a lot of stuff but at least I have crossed that off on my list. Making my own sword style with my brother would be done once or twice a week and the rest of the days is either me training alone or me going out in the wild and training there instead by fighting monsters.

Though I do want to learn something else other than making my own sword style… Oh wait, I do have an idea.

I quickly rushed towards the capital and went through various streets until I finally reached an old-looking house. He should be here, right? However…

'Say, Kai doesn't seem to be here right now.'

'Maybe he went out on a walk?'

'That old geezer? I doubt that.'

Yes, I went to Kai's smithery. I visit this place from time to time when I wanted to make some minor improvements on my sword ever since my mother started giving me absurd challenges. The improvements were nothing crazy like my sister's staff. The improvements range from increased durability to elemental resistance and etc.

If I think about it, there were so many times that these improvements saved my life due to increased durability because I'm pretty sure my sword would have snapped a long time ago if I didn't ask for improvements on my sword.

Anyways, enough of that. Since I do go here from time to time, I became somewhat close to Kai and even began learning his thought patterns. From what he does at this specific time or what he does on this specific day and so on and so forth so I know for a fact that this guy barely goes outside. Heck, he refuses to go outside unless it is very urgent. There is also that…

'Doesn't the place feel strange to you, Lia?'

'Now that you say it, something does feel off. As if something is missing… oh!'

'You realized it now?'

'Yeah, I can't believe I missed that…'

It took her quite a good while to realize that Kai's smithery is gone. Usually, he would be in his smithery at this point in time, and yet not only is he not here but also his entire smithery is gone. I looked around a good time searching for clues but to no avail. I eventually asked the neighbors but even they don't know what happened, not that they even pay attention to this corner in the first place.

I ran around for a while and finally found someone who might have a clue about where he went.

"Oh, that old man? He left a while ago. I don't know where he was going but he was carrying quite a large bag on his back. That's all I know."

"Ok, thanks anyway. Say, what did the bag look like?"

"Hmm… I think it was an old-looking green bag that has scratches on it and with some kind of symbol…"

"Symbol? What did it look like?"

"I think it was a seahorse? I don't know, it looked like one."

'Wait, could it be?'

'Maybe…'

"Which direction did he go to?"

"Oh, it's in that direction right there-"

"Thanks! Here you go."

I tossed some coins to the man and quickly went in the direction that he told me. He was pointing straight to the capital. It was pretty weird for him to go to the capital considering he hates that place but if he is using that bag then maybe…

'Tomo, what are the chances that the bag that the man was talking about was the [Sub-space Bag]?'

'It's highly likely, after all, he is the only one that I know that has one and the description matches it.'

[Sub-space Bag], a very rare and old product that was made at the center of the continent that, as the name implies, has a sub-space on the bag. Kai's bag just so happened to have enough space in it to fit his entire smithery. If he did shove his smithery to the damn bag, then it means he was relocating somewhere.

'Is he going to stay in the capital? I don't think old man Kai would like to go there though…'

'I have no clue, we better find some clues.'

We ran around the capital and ask people if they saw someone carrying a large green bag with a seahorse symbol but they said they all said that they have never seen one. Goddamnit, where the hell did he-

The moment I was about to go to the adventurer's guild, I suddenly got a message from my brother through telepathy.

'Hey, Tomo, there is an old man looking for you here, can you come back?'

I had a hunch that he went there. That goddamn old geezer, you went to the f*ckin palace, huh.