Chapter 112
"Ah, dammit!!"
Day two of spear training in the Hollow Garden. After practicing thrusts today, I had a sparring session with Master Iris. No physical enhancement, no magic—just pure spearplay.
"Hmm. As I thought, Yuuka, you’ve got talent. You learn fast, and your fundamentals are solid. More than anything, you don’t hesitate."
"…R-Really?"
Flat on my back after getting thoroughly beaten, I received a compliment from my master. I’m happy to be praised, but for some reason, I can’t feel entirely happy about it.
"Yes. We’re still working on the basics, but you absorb everything I teach and immediately incorporate it into your technique. You’ve got a knack for martial arts. That kind of talent is rare nowadays."
"Thank you."
Whether I really have that kind of talent, I don’t know. But if Master says so, I guess it must be true. It’s not like I’d know that about myself.
"Hmm. That reminds me—I forgot to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"You said you wanted to grow stronger to protect Albert and those you care about. I don’t doubt that. But why did you choose the spear?"
"Ah…"
Why I decided to learn the spear. There are plenty of other weapons out there—so why this one? By the way, guns exist in the demon realm too. They're called ‘magic guns.’ Designed for hunting magical beasts, they’re more powerful than human-world firearms. Apparently, Lord Nova—Albert’s father and the Demon King—analyzed guns as representative human weapons and reproduced them, then had copies made. His royal guards carry them as magic tools, but they’re not widely circulated among the general public.
"…This is going to sound unbelievably shallow, so please don’t get mad?"
"Hmm. Go ahead, let’s hear it."
So she won’t promise not to get mad, huh… Oh well. Might as well just be honest.
"I thought… veteran spearmen kinda look cool."
"I can’t say I don’t get it, but yes, that’s shallow."
"Ugh…!"
Cut down without hesitation. I knew it was shallow, but hearing someone else say it still stings. But come on—it’s a classic fantasy weapon, right? And realistically, spears are historically reliable melee weapons.
Back in middle and high school, I thought Western two-handed swords like claymores or flamberges, and one-and-a-half-handed bastard swords—or even katanas—were cool. But lately, I’ve found axes and spears to have a more mature, rugged kind of appeal. There's just something about seasoned spearmen—they’ve got that understated, silver-veteran charm.
"And… I want to get good at using my main weapon, the halberd. It’s a poleaxe, after all."
Because, like—come on. A lightning-element maid who wields a halberd? That’s cool as hell, right? Might be a bit much with all the elements, but there’s something romantic about it!
"I see. So it’s admiration, then."
"Sorry it’s so shallow…"
"I’m not angry. Wanting to learn the spear for that reason is fine. Everyone has their own reasons. And I’m not exactly in a position to judge others."
"Why did you choose the spear, Master?"
"Hmm. It’s a silly story from my youth, but—I wanted to be popular with girls."
"How cliché."
It was shockingly mundane. I’d expected something more… I don’t know, dramatic. Though, I guess I’m one to talk.
"My father told me strong men are popular with women. So I trained like crazy to become stronger and, before I knew it, people were calling me a master spearman. I figured while I was at it, I might as well create a new fighting style. That’s how the ‘Dark Spear Style’ was born."
“That ‘might as well’ sounds way too casual for something that huge.”
Any veteran spearman would be floored. He wanted to get girls, so he got strong—and incidentally created a whole new martial arts style? But maybe that’s how great things are born—out of pure, shameless desire. Who knows.
"Well, after many twists and turns, I met my wife, got married, and had kids. So, in the end, everything turned out alright."
"If it made you happy, then that’s all that matters."
That really is all that matters. Sorry if I’m lacking in vocabulary today.
"But you know, I came to regret not passing on the Dark Spear Style to anyone. After years of honing those techniques, the idea of them disappearing felt... lonely. That’s when Lord Cloud found me and had me reincarnated."
"I didn’t know you had a past like that."
"I don’t know why Lord Cloud picked me, but I assume he intended to use me as one of his pawns. Until I met you, I worked under him like a hound, to repay my debt."
Hearing that, there was something I had to ask. Or rather, something that had been bothering me for a long time.
"Master, it’s okay if you can’t tell me, but… may I ask something?"
"If it’s something I can answer, I will."
"What is the true goal of the Supreme Demon Cult?"
"As the name implies, the resurrection of the Supreme Demon."
"Then why are you trying to resurrect them?"
It can’t be cheap or easy to bring back something like that. Gathering all those people, even reincarnating Master—it all takes effort. What’s so important that they’d go that far?
"I was told… it’s for purification."
"Purification of what?"
My heart was pounding loudly before I realized. Something about this felt very wrong. But I had to ask. If this is what we’re fighting against—then I had to know.
Master looked troubled but, as if giving up, finally said:
"Everything. The human realm, the demon realm… everything in this world."
That was her answer.
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