第４６１堀：長き旅の終わり (Part1)
Chapter 461: The End of a Long Journey
Side: ???
"Do not fixate on a single thing. It is the multitude of experiences that lead to the path."
I recall the face of my master, who had mastered the sword, as he said those words. Though he himself claimed he had never truly mastered it, I believe that if anyone had, it was him. Compared to that arrogant Sword God who merely swung a glorified stick, I can state with certainty that my master was the true God of the Sword.
"...Living a long life brings many things."
I mutter this to myself and begin my daily routine of practice swings. First with a wooden sword, then with a katana—fluid, straight, natural, as if breathing... By now, it is less of a routine and more of a vital life function.
This training here will likely be my last. Even as I think this, I continue to swing, practicing my forms with singular focus. There is no reason for me to remain here any longer. My objective is about to be achieved. And that, I suspect, will be the end of me.
This is likely my final chance to land a single strike on that Nogosh.
*Whoosh!*
"Hm? A stray thought?"
The sound of the blade cutting the air was muddy. I still have a long way to go. But for that Nogosh, this should be enough. I know it. I have already surpassed that fool, and therefore, this will surely be the end.
"I must take responsibility. I have caused trouble for the Hero of Ranks and the Dungeon Master of Weed."
In the end, this has become a selfish personal vendetta, and the fact remains that I have been a hindrance to the young people of this era. My master once told me to use whatever tools were at my disposal, but I feel a pang of guilt for having utilized the young people of my homeland, whom I was asked to help if the opportunity arose. Therefore, once this revenge is concluded, my final duty will be to hand everything over to them and await my judgment.
"...Phew. That should be enough."
While I was lost in thought, my daily routine came to an end. Now, all that remains is to abandon this place. I will not be returning here.
"Well, I haven't grown all that attached to it anyway."
This base is merely one of many. The other dungeons have been reclaimed and shut down, leaving them as nothing more than ruins, save for the ones that are necessary. "Necessary" refers to those managed by towns that rely on the dungeon for their livelihood. This one, however, remains undiscovered, and there is no reason to keep it.
"Heh. It’s a funny thing. Despite being a Dungeon Master, my base of operations is just a nearby village."
I deactivate the dungeon, shoulder my belongings, and head toward the village. Yes, for the past twenty years or so, I have been wandering from land to land like this. If I were concerned for my own safety, staying holed up in a dungeon would be the correct choice, but I follow my master’s teachings: do not fixate on one thing, and gain many experiences. That is why I walk the world in the flesh.
Of course, I didn't start this immediately. It was only after being thoroughly tempered by my master, and continuing that training for a while after he was gone, that I finally reached this point. Well, it took a few hundred years of hiding away to get here.
It was only twenty years out of a long life, but the outside world was staggering. It was shocking when I first went out with my master, but I have come to understand the meaning of walking the world on one's own two feet.
"I never even walked to a village like this before..."
I think back to my former self, contrasting it with my current form as I crunch through the weeds underfoot, and I feel a touch of nostalgia. Truly, I can say now that my father’s territory deserved to be destroyed. Knowing only the outside and ignoring the inside is meaningless, and knowing only the inside while ignoring the outside is the same. What is necessary is to have many means at one's disposal when the time comes.
People cannot be perfect. First, one must know their own powerlessness, and then, the will to keep moving forward and the posture of learning from many things are what matter—that is what my master often said. To achieve that, he told me to go outside. Of course, it would be meaningless if I couldn't protect myself, so I continued my training desperately, which is how I am here today.
"Hey, Old Man! Over here!"
At the sound of that voice, I see a boy waving at me from the village gate. My younger self would have probably said something foolish like, "How rude!" But I am not that person anymore.
"Hey there. You're energetic as always, Dayatsu."
"Yeah. Are you doing sword training today too, Old Man?"
"Indeed. I still have a long way to go."
"I don't get it. You're already so strong, how can you say you have a long way to go?"
He is a child who lives in the village, and we talk often. It’s a common story; he is the third son and cannot inherit the family home, so he plans to leave the village in the future to become an adventurer. Because of that, he trains with me often to learn the sword. Of course, he isn't ready for the kind of training that involves going outside, so he always waits for me at the village gate like this. He is more honest than I was as a child, and I look forward to his future. I imagine my master must have felt the same way when raising his disciples.
"When are you gonna take me out for real training?"
"That’s still a long way off. For now, you must value the basics."
"Geez, alright, alright. I don't want a repeat of last time, anyway."
A few months ago, Dayatsu overestimated his own strength, went into the forest alone, and was attacked by a monster. I had to rush to find and save him. That was the one time I was glad to have the abilities of a Dungeon Master. I scolded him properly after saving him, but that, too, was a necessary experience for Dayatsu. I, too, did such reckless things. It is a path everyone must walk.
"Well, same as always today, then? Let's finish training quickly. Then we can have breakfast."
"...Aye, that sounds right."
I see. My guidance of Dayatsu is coming to an end as well. This village is just one of many training grounds I have. The problem with living a long life is that I am ageless. If I were an elf, it would be fine, but since I am human, I attract suspicion. There is also the fact that I am a Dungeon Master, so I could never stay in one place for too long. I only settled in this village about two years ago. I thought it would last longer as a training ground for the day that must come, but for better or worse, it has ended quite abruptly.
"Did you say something, Old Man?"
"No. Come, let’s begin the training. We don't want to miss breakfast."
"Yeah!"
And so, the two of us swing our wooden swords together. What I am teaching Dayatsu is the sword, not my master's katana techniques. The katana is my trump card, so, sorry as I am to Dayatsu, I do not teach it to him. Well, I was taught swordsmanship originally, and my master taught me as well, so I believe I am teaching him reasonably well.
As I think of this, my final training session with Dayatsu concludes. I didn't shorten it or lengthen it just because it was the last time. ...This is fine.
I go to Dayatsu's house and am treated to breakfast, just as always. Ah, it’s not as if I’m just a freeloader; I provide them with wild vegetables and monsters I’ve hunted nearby.
"Alright, breakfast is done. Dayatsu, let’s head to the fields."
"I know, I know, Dad."
I call out to the two of them as they start to stand up.
"What is it?"
"Oh? Does this mean we're going outside today!?"
"Don't be an idiot. I wouldn't take a liability like you with me."
"That's right. As the old man says, that's not it."
"Geez. Then what is it?"
I gently hold out the sword to Dayatsu, who is asking me this.
"Huh? A sword?"
"Yes. I am returning to my journey now. I can no longer teach you, Dayatsu."