Two months had passed since Kaori's older brother had been poisoned by her best friend's mother. After that event, the boy's training became less brutal.
Perhaps the 40-year-old felt a little guilty for what she had done to him? No one would ever know.
His master focused heavily on controlling [mana], different styles of martial arts, magical theory, and how to best use his powers, with ideas that Hajime considered brilliant.
The 17-year-old had no problem saying he had improved significantly in hand-to-hand combat; perhaps now he was physically stronger than Fumio.
"You really don't know how to handle a katana properly."
Hajime wouldn't call himself a proud person, but he had to admit, Veronica's comment had genuinely angered him.
The two were training, with the woman wanting to see how he fought with the different weapons they had available.
The 17-year-old was hopeless with all of them, except for katanas; only with those did he feel comfortable fighting.
Therefore, his Master's words couldn't help but wound his ego.
Perhaps he wasn't an exceptional and unbeatable swordsman, but so far he had fared well against all kinds of enemies.
The 40-year-old immediately noticed the effect of her comment. And she decided to twist the knife a little more.
"I don't usually use weapons, I prefer to use my hands to fight, but I know enough to see that you're full of problems. Try to attack me, come on, Hajime-chan!"
Goto's stepson didn't hesitate to draw his blade from the scabbard he held in his hand, or at least he tried.
With a well-placed kick, Veronica sent the weapon flying across the room.
"First flaw: you draw it too slowly. And when you do it quickly, your movements are not fluid. Someone with a good eye will take advantage of that. Pick it up and let's continue, student!"
Hajime reluctantly admitted that he couldn't deny that weakness. So he said nothing as he went to retrieve his weapon.
"Now hit me, or at least try!"
"AHHHH!"
With a war cry, the boy advanced. Even without [physical enhancement], his slashes were fast, strong, and precise.
Yes, Goto's stepson truly had great talent with the katana. Of course, this wasn't enough to bridge the gap in power and experience that separated him from Veronica White.
The woman was skipping around while humming a song, skillfully avoiding her apprentice's blows without even looking at them.
"Eheheheh! You can do better, Hajime-chan! I'm not even using my [magic], and that blade is very sharp! If you hit me, you might even tickle me!"
Hajime tried to anticipate his best friend's mother's next moves as they fought.
"(They seem like random movements, but there's actually a pattern behind them! Complex! But it's there! I just need to figure it out!)"
It took 5 minutes before the teenager understood that his master was moving in rotational patterns around him, thus avoiding oblique and vertical attacks, and with a few steps backward when she needed to avoid horizontal swings.
With a downward attack, Hajime made Veronica move to his left with a pirouette.
"(Perfect! Right where I wanted you!)"
Using his maximum speed and skill, the boy changed his grip on his katana to an inverse one.
His muscles strained as he stopped the previous movement to start his attack backward.
His master's eyes lit up slightly in surprise, not believing that Hajime would be able to do such a thing.
The woman was almost tempted to let herself be hit until she saw it, her student's fatal flaw.
With one hand, the woman firmly grabbed the 17-year-old's wrist, and with the other, his arm, projecting him over her and slamming him forcefully to the ground.
Hajime let go of his weapon due to the impact, spitting saliva and coughing.
"Second flaw: you hesitated for a second. It wasn't much, but a blink of an eye is enough to change the outcome of a fight. Do you know why you have this weakness?"
"aaah...n-no!"
"Simple, it's directly linked to your third flaw: your sword style. Stop me if I'm wrong, you learned kendo when you were little, right?"
A simple nod from the 17-year-old confirmed the 40-year-old's old memories.
"Kendo is a sword art, but its purpose is not to kill the opponent but to defeat them. Even if you only practiced for a short time, this kind of mindset is part of you and your style. Therefore, you are weaker when using a katana. Unconsciously, you limit yourself to avoid killing."
"What-?! But that's impossible!?"
"Oh, it is indeed. It's also quite understandable; I should complain about myself this time for not realizing it sooner."
Goto's stepson got up, thinking about the words he had just heard. He was incredulous; was that really how he was doing it? Was he holding back when he had a katana in his hand for fear of killing?
"Veronica-shishou, how do I overcome this weakness of mine!?"
"Oh, simple, you have to learn the true art of the sword, created and perfected by generations of Japanese samurai, kenjutsu. Unlike kendo, it was born to fight and kill enemies on the battlefield. Until you learn it, I doubt you can overcome the mental block you have in your head."
Using a weapon to defend oneself or fight was very different from using it to kill. It was like comparing heaven and earth.
Despite this, Hajime was more than ready to commit to learning kenjutsu. After all, he would never express his full potential with a katana if he limited himself his whole life.
"When do we start?" (Hajime)
"Calm your fiery spirits, Hajime-chan. I know I excite you, but don't let the blood rush to your....."
"Veronica-shishou! I'm serious!"
The [mage] laughed slightly at her student's words, but the 17-year-old felt a forced tone in her voice.
"Well, me too! More or less! And for the record, I don't intend to help you in this area!"
"What!? But why!?"
"Oh, simple. I don't know how to use a sword. Or other weapons. If pushed, I could use anything to defend myself, but the refinement, balance, technique, and precision needed to truly be a master in the use of a weapon... I lack them. And I can't teach you what I don't know. You'll have to do it on your own."
The 40-year-old's experience had allowed her to understand her student's shortcomings. But teaching him how to overcome them? That was another story entirely.
And so, a month later, Hajime still had to figure out a way to learn kenjutsu.
He could find information online, but it was different from having a master with him.
Veronica kept her word and didn't even try to teach her student how to use his katana better.
However, she granted him permission to take weapons from her secret room whenever he wanted and bring them outside.
Thus, Goto's stepson began to get into the habit of using the excuse of a night run to train in a rural area at an abandoned construction site, out of sight of everyone, where he could train in peace.
Where he would be away from prying eyes, or so he thought.
As he swung his weapon, imagining himself surrounded by enemies, the owner of the [grimoire] tried to imitate the moves he had seen in a video online.
He was doing better than he thought, but his progress was slow.
The 17-year-old still hadn't found a way to improve his draw speed.
"(I'm too clumsy and imprecise... damn! I can't always rely on my powers on missions, but my sword style is improving at a snail's pace!)"
While lost in his thoughts, after a lunge and an overly energetic swing, and due to 4 hours of training without using his powers, Hajime lost his balance and fell to the ground with a slight thud.
"Damn it!!!! How did I fall using a katana! It's not a Claymore!"
"It was your footwork that was the problem."
A voice surprised the boy, who jumped significantly. He didn't think anyone would come to this now-abandoned construction site at this hour.
"Who are you!? Show yourself!?"
"Sorry if I startled you, boy, but I was fascinated by your commitment to improving yourself."
A figure emerged from the bushes. Hajime didn't know it, but he had just met the person who would become his sword master.
And perhaps, one day, a great enemy of his.