Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 41: Sword Dao Training from the Hanamaru Family

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Sword Dao Training from the Hanamaru Family

At nighttime,

The cold moon of the night cast its glow, painting everything on the ground with a layer of bright silver.

After dinner, in the small courtyard outside the Hanamaru family living room.

Hanamaru Hanabi sat on a small wooden platform outside the living room, the orange-yellow light from inside shining through the glass door, illuminating her back. Her fair legs swung in the air.

The clattering sounds of dishes being washed could still be heard from inside. She looked at the two people wielding swords on the grass ahead, resting her small hands on her legs, clasping them together.

Her expression was both serious and somewhat curious.

Pa! Pa!

The sound of bamboo swords clashing constantly vibrated the air around, creating noise.

Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hiroki simultaneously gripped their bamboo swords tightly, jumping back a step together.

Hanamaru Hiroki had his gaze fixed on Uesugi Sakura’s serious expression and asked with a frown:

"You kid, have you studied Sword Dao? This doesn’t seem like the level a novice should have."

"..."

"I’ve only seen it on TV."

Uesugi Sakura responded, although he tried hard to act like a novice and often deliberately showed flaws to make himself appear especially clumsy and slow.

But for some reason, from the very beginning, the more he fought, the more fluid it felt, often his body would instinctively meet the sword head-on.

This was his first time holding a bamboo sword. Initially, it was indeed very uncomfortable, but with the support of [Sword Dao Lv5], he quickly exhibited the proficiency expected of an experienced swordsman.

"Only seen it on TV?!"

Hanamaru Hiroki was shocked to hear this because Uesugi Sakura didn’t seem to be lying, but his experience told him this was utterly impossible,

"Do you think I’d believe a word of that nonsense? Your skill is already considered top-tier in school."

"But, that’s really how it is..."

Uesugi Sakura didn’t want to lie. He indeed had no prior experience with wielding a sword, and there was no advantage in deceiving his father-in-law.

Moreover, Hanabi also knew he had never learned any Sword Dao.

Hanamaru Hiroki still didn’t believe it. To him, the level Uesugi Sakura had just shown was akin to that of a third-rank swordsman.

Whether it was the speed of response or the posture of wielding the sword, it showed at least more than two years of training.

A third-rank swordsman is already at the entry-level of Sword Dao, with a fundamental understanding of their own "path."

Is such a swordsman a novice handling a sword for the first time?

Is it truly just a beginner who had only watched Sword Dao on TV?

Hanamaru Hanabi, who was watching from the side, saw her father still frowning and said:

"Dad... Uesugi hasn’t practiced Sword Dao before, it was just recently that he joined the school’s Kyudo Club."

"You’ve also joined the Kyudo Club?"

Hanamaru Hiroki looked again at Uesugi Sakura in front of him and suddenly realized he couldn’t quite understand this kid.

It was one thing for him to be smart as a child, but to now have this level of ability on his first attempt at wielding a sword, is he a genius?

"Yes... I did." Uesugi Sakura forced a smile.

This kid, always different from a young age, still so unique as he grows up.

Hanamaru Hiroki thought to himself, keeping an unchanged, exceptionally serious expression because he currently held dual roles in front of this boy.

Master and father-in-law.

Those two roles combined meant there wouldn’t be an easy path for Uesugi Sakura.

Even though Uesugi Sakura’s skill level as a novice with a sword could be termed as genius, it was still completely inadequate in Hanamaru Hiroki’s eyes.

After all, he was a rare—Seventh Rank—swordsman in all of Japan.

"Be careful!"

Hanamaru Hiroki lunged forward, raising the bamboo sword high with both hands and striking down vertically.

Pa!

Uesugi Sakura extended his bamboo sword to a slightly inclined angle to block this strike.

This was the insight provided by his [Sword Dao Lv5] training experience.

While blocking the attack, it created distance between him and the opponent, making it difficult for further attacks.

"Not bad, kid."

Hanamaru Hiroki smiled, truly appreciating him. With a bit more training, he could definitely become a rising star in the Kendo World.

However,

for now, polishing his edge to understand that there’s always someone better is necessary.

"Men!"

With a loud shout, Hanamaru Hiroki raised the bamboo sword again and struck down fiercely.

Uesugi Sakura reached out to meet it again, his bamboo sword quaking heavily, yet still enduring the impact.

Without hesitation, Hanamaru Hiroki raised the bamboo sword again, tightening his grip.

"Men! Men! Men! Men! Men!"

In an instant, a rapid succession of strikes came crashing down with immense force and fierce momentum, continuously pounding on Uesugi Sakura’s bamboo sword.

The speed was so fast, filled with the remnants of sword swings! The pressure was immense!

Pa pa pa!

The bamboo sword being struck released dust, distinctly visible in the moonlight.

Uesugi Sakura had no time to react, struck into a stupor, his throat tightening, his wrists trembling with numbness, his body instinctively recoiling.

"Men!"

Pa!

This particular clash resounded loudly, reverberating in Uesugi Sakura’s ears, resounding boomingly.

The next second,

he felt the bamboo sword leave his hand, immediately witnessing a swift downward strike appear right before his nose.

"Men."

The final ’men’ was spoken especially calmly.

Because the outcome was already determined.

The sword edge slicing through the air, howling against Uesugi Sakura’s face, lifting his hair upward, cold and nerve-wracking.

Before him was merely the ordinary round edge of a bamboo sword, yet it sent chills down Uesugi Sakura’s spine.

His gaze focused on the bamboo sword quietly suspended before his nose, evoking fear.

Just a bit more, and this bamboo sword would have struck his face.

His bamboo sword lay quietly on the grass at his feet, the only thing occupying his entire view was the round sword edge.

He hadn’t been able to react to anything.

Hanamaru Hanabi, who was watching from the side, now nervously covered her face with both hands. Through the gaps of her fingers, she saw the two standing face to face... and exclaimed in a soft, surprised voice:

"Dad... amazing..."

She had never seen Hanamaru Hiroki demonstrate his Sword Dao skills before.

"Obviously, you couldn’t even react to the simplest consecutive full attacks, still too green."

Hanamaru Hiroki lowered the bamboo sword blocking in front of Uesugi Sakura, switching it to his right hand, holding it single-handedly,

"In my training, there are no protective gear, pain will be your best teacher, allowing you to recall every moment how you got hurt.

"Fortunately, you can prepare properly for the next time."

Hanamaru Hiroki looked at Uesugi Sakura, who was slightly regaining his composure, and stepped back,

"Just now, I was already lenient with you. It won’t be as easy next time, pick up your sword and continue to train with me."

Still somewhat shaken from the previous strike, Uesugi Sakura softly reminded: "Uncle, isn’t this too difficult for a novice like me?"

"Heh heh,"

Upon hearing this, Hanamaru Hiroki smiled, his silhouette especially pronounced against the moonlight,

"What do you think? Novice swordsman, Uesugi Sakura."

His hidden meaning was clear without needing to say anything more.

"I..."

Uesugi Sakura paused, today he got to glimpse the true nature of his neighbor, Uncle Hiroki.

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