| Author: Eltria | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mui | English Source: Re:Library |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | |
During the winter break, I used the opportunity to take on all the household chores so that my mother could focus solely on her recovery.
Despite our concerns, her condition did not significantly worsen, and three days later, she was noticeably improving even to me.
Although she still had occasional coughing fits, she did not have a fever, and there were no other apparent issues. Even now, she ate the dinner that Hom and I had prepared without leaving any leftovers, smiling happily with my father.
“…Thank you for the meal, Leafa. The chicken cooked in that special frying pan was crispy on the outside and wonderfully tender inside. It was delicious.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Relieved that her appetite had fully returned, I nodded with a smile. I had tried combining grated onions and finely chopped onions cooked until caramelized for the sauce, and it was all wiped clean with bread. My father’s plate was also empty long before.
“The sauce today had a lot of work put into it. Its depth and aroma stimulated my appetite greatly.”
“Indeed, mine too.”
I moved to my mother’s side who stood up while voicing her agreement, and took her empty plate.
“…Please don’t overexert yourself, Mother. Leave the household chores to Hom and me.”
Stopping my mother from trying to clear the table, I gently guided her back to her usual seat at the dining table. She nodded with a smile and patted us on the head alternately.
“Thank you, Leafa, Hom. It’s a great help to have you both here.”
“It is an honor to be of service, Lady Natal.”
Hom bowed deeply, looking humble.
“…”
I noticed my father looking at Hom with a stern expression.
“Is something bothering you, Father?”
“Ah, no… It’s just that there has been an increase in the black market trade of homunculi lately…”
Hesitant to share such information with his daughter and her homunculus, my father reluctantly explained the gist of the ongoing black market dealings.
Apparently, there was an organized slave market where homunculi were being traded at high prices.
“A cute homunculus in the form of a girl is rare. Hom is likely to be targeted.”
Understanding what my father was implying, I decided to focus on finding a solution rather than addressing his concerns directly. It had been three days since Hom’s awakening, and she should be getting used to breathing by now1. It was time to move to the next step.
“Then, for safety, we should teach her some self-defense techniques, Father.”
“…Yes, let’s do that. It’s a good idea to teach her now.”
Tomorrow, my father also had a rare day off. It would be a good opportunity to have him teach self-defense. While I had managed my time well with my mother through cooking and chores, I had hardly learned anything from my father, who was often away for work.
“…Thank you. It would be reassuring for Hom if you could instruct her, Father.”
“Yes. Please take care of me, Lord Rudra.”
Although the talk of the black market trade of homunculi was unsettling, it provided a timely opportunity to teach Hom some martial arts. Learning self-defense would be useful in emergencies. The real threats were the Kamut and the goddess, but no one would believe such a story, so this served as a good pretext.
Early the next morning, my father woke Hom and me up to learn the basics of martial arts in the yard.
“What I am about to teach you is for self-defense. These techniques are used by soldiers in combat and are designed to neutralize the enemy. Keep that in mind.”
Seeing my father teaching his professional skills felt like having a school teacher in the house. Given his position, he likely had many subordinates and regularly taught them as well.
I had never known much about my father’s work, which was closely tied to military secrets, so this was a fresh experience for me.
Father first explained the principles of martial arts, how to subdue an armed opponent, and the basics of non-lethal techniques such as throws.
“The most important aspect is the basic stance. In any combat situation, your first priority should be to protect yourself. Do you know why?”
“Hom, can you answer?”
Having a rough idea, I let Hom confirm the answer. After a moment’s thought, she looked my father straight in the eye and replied.
“To complete the mission calmly, it’s essential to minimize the damage received from the enemy.”
Although Hom’s emotions were suppressed, physical damage was not something that could be controlled through suppression alone. Understanding the principles would speed up her actions. As she answered, Hom mimicked the basic combat stance my father had naturally assumed.
“Exactly. When you take a hit, it’s hard to remain calm. If the damage is severe, you won’t be able to counterattack.”
Carefully, my father corrected Hom’s stance bit by bit.
“The key points of the basic stance are to tuck your chin in, raise your hands to eye level to protect your face, and keep your knees slightly bent to be ready to move… Spread your feet shoulder-width apart to enhance your initial movement speed.”
“…Like this, Lord Rudra?”
Following my father’s guidance, Hom adjusted her stance. Trying to emulate her, I noticed a flaw in her stance.
“If the goal is to enhance initial movement speed, it’s better to distribute your weight evenly between your front and back feet, Hom. This way, you’ll be ready to move in any direction.”
Hom adjusted her posture while stepping lightly, and my father nodded in satisfaction.
“Right. This way, you can defend against attacks at any moment. By protecting your chin, you greatly reduce the chance of severe head injuries.”
I see. While I wouldn’t be fighting myself, it might be beneficial to remember this stance.
Next, my father demonstrated basic breakfalls from various angles, always keeping his chin tucked and his navel in sight, using his arms to absorb the impact.
I struggled and often landed on my butt, but Hom quickly absorbed my father’s instructions and replicated his movements perfectly.
“You have a natural talent. Now, let’s move on to basic strikes and kicks.”
“Understood. Please instruct me.”
Hom assimilated the advanced techniques taught by my father, mirroring his movements as if she were his reflection. After mastering basic strikes and kicks, she moved on to more complex techniques such as chokeholds and throws.
My father ensured that Hom learned both offensive and defensive maneuvers. She practiced escaping from strikes, chokeholds, and throws using my father as her training partner.
“…Amazing. I didn’t expect Hom to be this proficient.”
While she initially struggled with the basic stance, Hom quickly absorbed all subsequent movements, perfectly replicating my father’s actions. Her rapid learning brought a youthful sparkle to my father’s eyes.
“…If we had such talent in our army, it would stir the blood of any soldier. I would love to see just how powerful a homunculus can be in combat2.”
“I don’t mind, Father.”
“…Are you sure? But, sparring with someone as young as Hom feels a bit unsettling.”
There was no need to worry. Even if Hom got hurt, she could be healed. The real concern was whether Hom could hold back. A part of me was curious to test this.
“…Hom, can you do it without injuring my father?”
“As you wish, Master.”
Hom took a basic stance and faced my father. My father’s expression shifted to that of a seasoned soldier, and their sparring began silently.
The result was more impressive than I had anticipated.
Hom focused solely on defense against my father’s attacks. She skillfully maneuvered him to a safe spot while avoiding his strikes, then tripped him and stopped just short of delivering a hand strike to his throat.
“Incredible… Such strength in this appearance…”
My father lay sprawled on the ground, catching his breath.
“To display such combat sense after just one lesson… It’s as if I were facing a Canado warrior.”
The Canado were a nomadic tribe living in the grasslands of the northern continent. They possessed naturally high physical abilities and were warrior people who hunted magic beasts for their daily sustenance. There was even a Canado district on the western side of this city, with Canado Street, a bustling main avenue lined with various shops of all sizes.
“Thank you, Lord Rudra. However, I still have much to learn to fully protect Master Leafa.”
“You admire Leafa as your master, don’t you? Well done, Hom.”
I was momentarily worried that Hom’s slip of the tongue might cause confusion, but my father simply accepted her words at face value and patted her head, which made me breathe a sigh of relief.
If Hom truly possessed physical abilities comparable to those of the Canado, then the formula I designed must be functioning correctly. The short period during which the oxygen supply device malfunctioned due to the electric shock incident might no longer be a concern3.
