Years and months have passed since then, and I am once again engaging in a practical-style sparring match with Master. That said, he is still holding back a lot, though.
"—Haa!!"
Master's Zanpakutō was swung down.
It is just a sword technique swung down vigorously from top to bottom, but combined with Master's gigantic body and immense strength, that single blow was intense enough to make one gasp.
However, I have grown now too.
Seeing through it, I draw the attack in sufficiently and dodge it at the last moment. While dodging the repeated downward swings in the same manner, I close the distance to Master at once.
"Hado no Ni, Shō!" (Way of Destruction No. 2: Shō/Thrust)
"Mm!"
Aiming for the instant he raised his arm, I fire Kido.
What I chanted was one I learned from Master in the past, one that fires a fireball from the fingertip. I fired that attack aiming at his torso, but Master easily caught it with his palm.
It seems there was zero damage, just turning slightly red.
"Now!"
But that is enough.
Closing the distance at once with Shunpo (Flash Step) during the moment his movement stopped, I swing my blade—to be precise, a wooden sword—aiming at his thigh.
"Naive!"
Master responds, not letting me.
He moved to re-establish the distance between us, and that blow cut through the air.
"In that case... Bakudo no Ichi, Sai!" (Way of Binding No. 1: Sai/Restrain)
"What!?"
Thinking 'then how about this', I fire a Bakudo as a follow-up.
This is also something Master taught me as training progressed, a technique to seal the movements of the target's limbs. However, after all, it is the lowest-level technique. Much less when I, with such a difference in ability, cast it on Master, there is no way it could stop his movements.
Master's movement did not stop; only one single arm was stopped.
"Excuse me!"
I jump onto that stopped arm, and using it as a foothold, I jump even higher.
By sealing Master's literal strong arm with Bakudo, I fixed it in place and used it as a pedestal.
"Yaaaaaaah!!"
"I see, so that's how you come!!"
Aiming at Master's face looming before my eyes, I swing my sword again. Master swung his Zanpakutō with his other freely moving arm while laughing somewhat happily at my movements.
Our two blades collide, and I am the one sent flying. However, I land without losing my posture and immediately re-stance to respond to the next move.
"That's enough!"
And there, Master's voice calling for a halt echoed. At those words, I also lower my stance.
"Hrm, with this, there should be no problem. You pass."
"Eh...!? R-Really!?"
After closing his eyes briefly, Master said so. I couldn't believe those words instantly and instinctively asked back.
"There is no point in lying. With your current ability, passing the Spiritual Arts Academy exam should be a certainty."
"Th-Thank goodness... finally, finally..."
I can finally graduate, right?
Just like when full-scale training started sometime ago, my eyes get hot. I cannot suppress the welling emotions.
Because, because—
"It was long... Fifty years is..."
"Yes, truly... With this, I can finally take the Spiritual Arts Academy exam, right!?"
—As expected, it is too long. Just how untalented am I...
But, that is that. I finally reached the second step of the journey of a thousand miles!
Regarding Zankensoki (Swordsmanship, Hand-to-Hand, Hoho, Kido), which are the basics of a Soul Reaper, after this long, long training period, I have finally become able to do them to a "so-so" degree.
Regarding swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat, I can do them to the extent of the sparring with Master just now. The Airi-chan who gets swung around by the sword and falls over is no more!
As for Hoho, although the distance is short, I can now use Shunpo. With this, I can move in an instant.
Since the theory itself is simple, it seems various ingenuity and applications are possible.
For Kido too, as just now, I was taught the single-digit numbers. Even with this, combining Hado and Bakudo, I can use eighteen techniques.
...However, what on earth is "Rondanini's black dog"...?
It appears often in the chants for Bakudo, but I have never heard of it.
If it were the Hound of the Baskervilles or the Hounds of Tindalos, I would know...
"Regarding that... there is one thing I must apologize to you for."
"Sniff... hue...? W-What is it?"
"If we were only thinking about passing the Spiritual Arts Academy, you had grown to a skill level with no issues ten years ago."
"...Eh?"
That means... I had passing-level ability a long time ago, right?
"Th-Then why...!?"
"Thinking from your potential for growth, it seemed you would not be able to keep up partway and would drop out with just that ability. Rather than let that happen—I thought so and prolonged it until today. Sorry."
"I see..."
Certainly, it took fifty years to get here. In that case, it is easier later on if I train more beforehand.
Normally, if one had fifty years, it wouldn't be strange to have become a full-fledged Soul Reaper...
Come to think of it, during these fifty years, there were opportunities to meet Soul Reapers. They came to investigate Hollows appearing in Rukongai or something.
Those Soul Reapers probably became Soul Reapers without taking this much time...
Ahaha... I wonder why? Tears are coming out again.
"Besides, above all, you are..."
"Um... is there something else?"
"...No, I shall leave this unsaid."
...Eh!?
Master's words strike a pursuing blow to me, who is crying in my heart...
W-What on earth was he trying to say!? Was there some blunder on my part...? Aside from incompetence, I think there were generally no problems...
"More importantly, about the future."
"That's right!"
"Let's see, first—"
First, aiming to pass the entrance exam...
"—First, you must obtain permission to enter the Seireitei."
"...Eh?"
Permission to enter... you say? What is that??
"What is with that face? Mm, surely it cannot be that you did not know?"
Saying that, Master explained while sighing.
To enter the Seireitei from Rukongai, it seems necessary to show a pass to the gatekeeper of each Seireimon.
Obtaining that pass is troublesome; there are apparently a massive number of complicated procedures, truly so-called red tape, and it takes several weeks to finish everything.
It is just a guess, but I feel like those "several weeks" are "at earliest, several weeks." In reality, it seems it would take more time due to incomplete documents or something...
Simultaneous with the application for the pass, I also apply for the entrance exam to the Shino Academy (Spiritual Arts Academy) in parallel. At the time of application, the presence or absence of spiritual power is confirmed, and if it is confirmed that one has spiritual power, they proceed directly to the exam.
However, acceptance for the exam itself starts around autumn.
...Right now, spring has just ended.
The entrance procedure itself doesn't cost money, but the application seems troublesome.
The exam can only be taken once a year. Once passing the entrance exam, it seems another procedure to enroll in the Academy becomes necessary.
In addition, the pass has a set period saying "You may pass from this day to this day," so if I don't finish my business in the Seireitei during that time, I will be punished for illegal overstaying next.
"Ugh..."
At the content which I understood was "troublesome" just by hearing it, I instinctively couldn't hide my sour face.
"In other words... first I have to request Master to issue a pass, right?"
"Correct."
"Matching that, I also have to apply for the entrance request to the Shino Academy, right?"
"...Correct."
"But since it is not the season now, if I don't wait, the pass will also go to waste, right?"
"...Correct."
...Umm...
"Can I ask you for training for just a little longer?"
"...I don't mind."
So this is what it feels like to have cold water poured on one's joy.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]