After Chijō Kana completed her training task, the reward feedback turned out to be a sword technique.
Suddenly, a flood of memories about training in the sword technique Wave Break surged into Nanatsuki's mind, as if he had truly spent days immersed in mastering the move.
[Wave Break: Surging like endless waves, layered and flowing, the blade is cloaked in crashing water—making truth and illusion indistinguishable.]
As he reflected on those memories, Nanatsuki realized that Wave Break wasn't just any sword technique—it was one that fused Kidō into its execution!
When Wave Break was unleashed, the strike was accompanied by splashes like ocean waves, making it hard for enemies to pinpoint the true path of the blade. Meanwhile, those water splashes carried offensive power of their own.
Hearing Chijō Kana cheer with excitement, Muguruma Kensei and Hirako Shinji paused their training and came over to offer congratulations.
"Kana already learned a sword technique? That's so fast! Sensei, when do we get to learn sword techniques?" Muguruma Kensei asked.
"Yeah, just drilling the basics is so boring," Hirako Shinji chimed in, clearly eager to move forward.
"Kana had a decent foundation in swordsmanship to begin with, which is why she was able to finish her basic phase so quickly," Nanatsuki replied with a smile. "You two need to drill every stance and movement until it becomes second nature—muscle memory. The basics are the foundation. Only when that's solid can you go further."
Nanatsuki added, "Though Kensei, you're pretty much done with the basics. You can move to the next stage. But Shinji still needs a bit more time."
A quick glance at their task windows confirmed it—Muguruma Kensei's task was marked complete, while Hirako Shinji's wasn't yet.
[Guide Muguruma Kensei through basic sword training – (Completed)]
Nanatsuki focused his attention on the completed task.
[Disciple Muguruma Kensei has completed basic sword training. Reward settlement in progress…]
[Reward: +1000 General Ability EXP]
[Reward: Hadō #11: Lightning Stitch (Beginner)]
Kensei's training reward turned out to be a Kidō spell.
Nanatsuki's Kidō interface now showed a new entry: a beginner-level Lightning Stitch, a technique that channels electricity along objects to strike enemies.
In addition to that, there was the 1000 points of General Ability EXP.
On top of that, Chijō Kana's sword technique reward had already given him 5000 General EXP. All together, that was a total of 6000 EXP.
Currently, Nanatsuki's Reiatsu level was 52. Each level required 2000 EXP to level up. He poured all 6000 points into his Reiatsu stat.
His Reiatsu jumped three levels, from 52 to 55.
"Then please guide me in learning a sword technique, Sensei!" Muguruma Kensei said, lighting up with joy.
"Huh? That leaves me as the only one still stuck doing basics?" Hirako Shinji said, clearly exasperated.
"What's there to be afraid of? Kana and I still have to practice Flagfish Suburi," Kensei said, patting Shinji on the shoulder.
"Alright, starting today, you'll begin sword technique training," Nanatsuki told Kensei.
[New Training Task Added: Guide Muguruma Kensei to complete one sword technique (In Progress)]
Just as expected, the new training task had been generated.
But before Nanatsuki could begin instructing Kensei, he wanted to try out his newly learned technique.
"Hold on—I feel like I've got a great rhythm right now. I want to test the blade," Nanatsuki said, walking up to a training dummy while mentally replaying the memories of Wave Break.
The three students held their breath, afraid to miss a single moment.
He gripped the sword in both hands, tilting the blade diagonally behind him.
Reiatsu surged.
With a dragging step, he unleashed a powerful slash at the dummy.
In that instant, the blade vanished—and in its place, a wave of water exploded outward.
The dummy was engulfed in a crashing surge like a tidal wave.
Then, as quickly as it came, the water receded, revealing the training dummy—now cleanly severed in two, with dozens of small punctures on its surface.
"Sensei! What's that technique called? It's so powerful!" Chijō Kana's eyes widened.
"And I couldn't even tell which direction the blade was swinging," Hirako Shinji added. "I watched carefully, but I only saw water hit the dummy. I didn't see the blade at all!"
"Same here," Muguruma Kensei said. "Just the splash… no sword."
"This technique is called Wave Break. It's a sword technique fused with Kidō. It requires extremely refined control over Reiatsu. Once your control improves, I'll teach it to you," Nanatsuki explained.
Wave Break wasn't just visually impressive—it was deadly. The three disciples were filled with admiration and envy, desperate to learn it, though their current Reiatsu control was still in the beginner stage—nowhere near enough to handle it.
Nanatsuki fetched a rolled-up tatami mat and instructed Kensei to start with wood-blade cutting drills.
"Kensei, use a dulled wooden sword and try to cut through this upright mat," he said.
Kensei had seen Kana practice this before and knew it wasn't easy. He took it seriously and got to work.
Meanwhile, Hirako Shinji continued diligently practicing his basics, hoping to reach the next stage soon.
As for Kana, she continued working on piercing the training dummy with Shun Strike. She had only barely learned the basics.
She still needed around ten seconds to gather Reiatsu onto the blade and charge up—far too slow for actual combat. Her goal was to master it well enough to use fluidly in battle.
Nanatsuki arrived at the Kotetsu estate.
He knocked on the door, and after a short moment, a cute round-faced girl peeked her head out.
She looked to be around eleven or twelve years old, with silvery-white hair.
As she tilted her head, her playful silver ponytail slipped down beside her cheek.
"Excuse me, who are you?" she asked timidly.
Nanatsuki activated his interface—immediately, a translucent panel appeared in his field of vision.
[Kotetsu Isane]
[Talent: S]
[Reiatsu: Lv8]
[Reputation Level: Stranger]
[Status: Energetic (Who is he…?)]
'A familiar face… though only from my side,' Nanatsuki thought.
Kotetsu Isane was the daughter of Director Kotetsu, and in the future, she would become a Shinigami capable of succeeding the captaincy of the 4th Division.
'No wonder—she's already stronger than I was at that age.'
"Hello, I'm Katori Nanatsuki, the swordsmanship instructor from the Spiritual Arts Academy. I'm here to visit Director Kotetsu," he said warmly.
"You're Teacher Katori?" the round-faced girl opened the door all the way. "Please, come in."
Nanatsuki took off his shoes at the entryway and followed her inside.
"Isane, who's here?" came a voice from deeper in the hallway.
Kotetsu Ayane emerged from a back room, wearing a plain white kimono that emphasized her serene beauty.
"So it's you, Nanatsuki-kun. Please, follow me," she said, then turned to Kotetsu Isane. "Go fetch some tea and snacks for the tea room."
Nanatsuki followed Kotetsu Ayane to a quiet tea room overlooking a small garden. They sat down at the low table.
Kotetsu Ayane lit the iron kettle and began to boil water.