Fist King - Prologue - Episode 9: Graduating from Logs

Fist King: I Will Save the Earth from Zero in Another Reincarnation, Starting from Real World

Initiation ④ Graduating from Logs

I started fresh, carving away at a log, and finally, just before closing time, a single wooden sword was complete.

However, since I couldn't take it home, I smashed it with a bash.

"Was it okay to smash it after all that work?"

As I was getting ready to leave, I heard a familiar voice. I turned around to see the girl who had spoken to me earlier, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

Her name was Taniya Karen, and she would be a third-year student at Swordsman First Junior High School starting next year.

She spoke to me every time I exchanged logs or during breaks, asking about tips for acquiring skills and why I used a mace. She told me I didn't need to use polite language when talking to her, so I spoke normally.

"The goal was to make it, and since I made it, it's fine now."

"Hmm... I wonder if I could learn skills if I could do that too?"

"I was able to do it, but I can't guarantee anything for you."

As I said this while tidying up, Taniya-san seemed to be pondering, arms crossed, grumbling to herself.

When I went to return the mace, the old man told me I'd worked hard late again today. As I said, "Thanks," and tried to hand him the mace, he didn't take it and just looked at me.

"Do you want that mace?"

"Huh?"

"We're getting all new weapons for next year, so that one's being disposed of today."

"Is that so?"

"You seem to like it, so if you want, I'll give it to you."

(If he's giving it to me, I'll take it.)

Judging so, I replied to the old man, asking for it.

Then, as if he had prepared it from the start, the old man handed me a bag for the mace. It was just the right size to sling over my shoulder, and as I thanked him and left the office, Taniya-san was waiting.

"Your house is over there, right? Want to walk together part of the way?"

"Yeah, let's do that."

Catching up to Taniya-san as she started walking, I left the training ground. On the way home, she was surprised that I got the mace, and we walked while she boasted about her sword being made of an alloy of iron and mithril.

As we were talking, Taniya-san suddenly stopped at an intersection.

"I'm going this way."

Taniya-san pointed to a different path than my direction of travel. I had one thing I wanted to ask Taniya-san, so I stopped.

"I wanted to ask you something. Do you know any place other than the training ground where I can swing a mace with all my might?"

"Are you still going to swing that mace?"

Taniya-san said this exasperatedly, but then she put her hand on her chin and thought seriously. Then, she told me what she came up with.

"Why don't you go outside town and hunt some monsters? It'd be good for money too, perfect, right?"

"That's it! Thank you!"

As I waved goodbye to Taniya-san, I realized I had forgotten something important.

(I just need to hunt monsters.)

Feeling the weight of the mace on my right shoulder, I rushed home to find out the details.