Chapter Eleven: Uesugi Che’s Talent for Swordsmanship Was Far from Impressive

After parting ways with Ririko, Uesugi Kiyoshi quickly wiped himself down and changed back into his school uniform before returning to his seat.

Although he hadn’t been able to practice kendo at noon due to Kondo Eiya, the kendo club’s advisor, Kiyoshi honestly held no resentment toward him; in fact, he felt grateful.

Because—

【Detection of Tokoyo Rift confirmed. You may now choose to enter Tokoyo for exploration.】

The moment he stepped onto the rubber track of the school playground, this prompt appeared before his eyes once again.

In other words, he might no longer need to venture into the four-star Edo Castle to relentlessly fight minor monsters.

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

Even if it wasn’t the ideal low-star map, having an additional option was still better.

If not for being punished with running laps today, Kiyoshi—who had already settled into a straightforward school routine of “Qi breathing class during lessons, kendo club after school”—would have no idea when he would have ever set foot on the track.

Moreover, to make running laps easier, he had further improved his proficiency in the Qi Breathing Technique, applying some of its methods to his breathing while running.

【Your skill “Qi Breathing Technique: Fragment” proficiency +18!】

…

Unlike the neighboring schools, the traditional Japanese school here promoted a joyful and relaxed education system. Classes started later in the morning and ended earlier in the afternoon, with no late-night study sessions stretching until nine or ten.

The purpose was to give students more time to participate in clubs.

If the goal was to study hard to get into a good university, then one had to pay for after-school tutoring; the meager lessons offered by the school were hardly enough.

【Your skill “Qi Breathing Technique: Fragment” proficiency +12!】

When the dismissal bell rang, Kiyoshi, having sharpened his Qi Breathing Technique all afternoon, stepped out of the classroom.

Just as he was about to look for Ririko, he found her already waiting outside.

Despite the class just ending, the F class where Ririko belonged was separated from his own A class by a whole corridor.

“Did you run over here?”

“I just made up an excuse to leave early. I’m privileged—you’ve known that for a while, haven’t you?”

Their exchange triggered Kiyoshi’s memories.

Last year, at the “Gyokuryu Flag” kendo competition, Ririko had won double championships, elevating her status in school even above some teachers.

The Gyokuryu Flag was to high school kendo practitioners like the Koshien tournament was to baseball.

Usually, participating teams selected five members from their kendo clubs to serve as vanguard, second vanguard, middle guard, deputy captain, and captain.

Ririko Tokugawa, as captain, not only claimed the individual championship but also accomplished an astonishing “one against five” feat in a desperate situation where all her teammates had lost, leading Sakura City High to the team championship and making the school famous nationwide.

If this were a fantasy novel, Ririko would be the invincible prodigy who overshadowed all her peers.

Such a genius was cherished by the school as if she were made of glass, perhaps only her direct instructor, Kondo, dared to show her a cold face.

No wonder since this morning, Kiyoshi had sensed strange looks from his classmates.

Someone like Ririko, at the very top of the school’s social pyramid, walking side by side with a nobody like him—without any special talents and quietly obsessed with anime—was already juicy gossip.

Not to mention she had taken him to the kendo club to wear the uniform, and many had seen them running laps together that afternoon.

“Kiyoshi, if you truly want to practice kendo, the first thing you must do is calm your mind like still water.”

In the corridor, Ririko said calmly.

“How exactly do I do that?”

She explained, “You must dismiss all distractions from the outside world and keep your mind as steady and serene as a lake’s surface.”

“Alright.”

Kiyoshi focused, breathing steadily as the Qi Breathing Technique ran subconsciously through him. Once his mind calmed, he filtered out the whispers around him.

【You have comprehended the kendo state ‘Calm as Still Water.’ Willpower +3】

Feeling invigorated, Kiyoshi thought to himself, is mastering a kendo state really just about changing one’s mindset?

When they reached the quiet end of the hall, Kiyoshi suddenly noticed Ririko staring at him with an expression as if sizing up a strange creature.

“Is there something dirty on my face?” he asked.

After two seconds of silence, she asked, “Calm as Still Water… did you really achieve it?”

Kiyoshi was puzzled. “Isn’t it just ignoring what passersby say like it’s nonsense? What’s so hard about that?”

They looked at each other for a moment. When Ririko realized he wasn’t joking, she turned away and casually said, “Let’s hurry.”

To achieve Calm as Still Water instantly…

“Well, it’s not really that hard,” she took a deep breath, trying to maintain a neutral expression. “But Kiyoshi, you do seem to have a bit more natural kendo talent than ordinary people.”

Taking her words at face value, Kiyoshi bowed slightly. “Then I look forward to your guidance, Teacher Ririko.”

Ririko remained silent.

After changing into their kendo uniforms, she declined many invitations from club members to spar or coach, then led Kiyoshi to the deepest part of the dojo.

Entering a smaller dojo and shutting the heavy wooden door, the once noisy after-school kendo hall instantly fell silent.

Ririko, her high ponytail swaying, stood barefoot on the cool wooden floor.

“This is the room only Kondo-sensei uses when instructing me. Using it now to teach you kendo is making good use of it, isn’t it, Kiyoshi?”

She solemnly took a brand-new bamboo sword from her bag and handed it to him.

Kiyoshi took it with both hands. “Teacher Ririko, I will study diligently.”

Ririko nodded noncommittally, then sat cross-legged and began to explain.

“My kendo style is Ten’nen Rishin-ryu. Although I haven’t obtained the ‘Menkyo Kaiden’ certificate yet, since this is just friendly sparring among classmates, it’s acceptable.”

What a disclaimer.

Kiyoshi was about to complain internally when a prompt suddenly appeared before him.

【Ririko Tokugawa is imparting the Ten’nen Rishin-ryu kendo style to you…】

He straightened his spirit and listened attentively without the slightest negligence.

“Unlike modern kendo, we emphasize simplicity and practicality, flexibility and adaptability rather than scoring points in competitions…”

After ten or so minutes of explanation, Ririko stood up.

“Now, let’s learn how to stand and grip the sword.”

【You have learned the kendo style: Ten’nen Rishin-ryu.】

【Ten’nen Rishin-ryu (Uninitiated 0/200)】

【Effect: None yet】

Good grief, he had just learned the style, yet it was still “uninitiated,” and the proficiency required to move beyond uninitiated was twice as much as for the Qi Breathing Technique after initiation.

No wonder it was a legitimate sword style, not some fragmentary Qi Breathing Technique that could compare.

Two and a half hours later.

【After arduous training, your skill “Ten’nen Rishin-ryu” proficiency +1!】

Sweating profusely, Kiyoshi put down his bamboo sword and stared at the barely changed progress bar, lost in thought.

“Kiyoshi, your kendo talent doesn’t seem very promising.”

Ririko leaned on her sword with a pout, her tone tinged with schadenfreude and a bit of sarcasm.

“But don’t be too disappointed.” She crouched down and patted Kiyoshi’s shoulder with a caring tone. “Talent like that can’t be forced.”

She watched him silently for a moment, then softened her tone to offer comfort.

“Also, your breathing rhythm technique is pretty good.”

At the edge of Kiyoshi’s vision, a curious little head peeked out.

“Teach me?”

“Don’t rush. I will.”

Kiyoshi stared at the glaring “1” on the bar for a while longer, then rummaged through his backpack.

Finally, his gaze stopped at the two remaining shining vials of “Requiem Incense Ash.”

He said,

“Let me be still for a while first, to gather my thoughts.”