Several days later, in the basement of Akira's mansion.
There was a large training hall there. Like a typical martial arts dojo. But since Tamamo built it with Territory Creation, it was very sturdy and, due to spatial distortion effects, was as large as an auditorium.
"Wow~! Our house has a place like this? Amazing!"
Mitsuri, who had changed into training clothes, looked around with sparkling eyes.
"This is the underground training hall where Akira-sama spars with the Servants, or where we train."
Kanae, who was in charge of Mitsuri's education, kindly explained. Next to her, Shinobu stood with her arms crossed, and Tsubaki stood holding a wooden sword.
"I'm glad that Mitsuri-san is actively trying to become stronger. But it's still too early to learn swordsmanship. Today, you'll only learn the most basics: body control and breathing techniques."
"Yes! I'll do my best, teachers! I'll work hard!"
Mitsuri swung her arms energetically, full of enthusiasm.
On a high platform in one corner of the training hall, Akira and Kanao sat watching this scene. Kanao quietly stared at Mitsuri with her hands on her knees.
The first lesson was how to grip a sword. Tsubaki was in charge.
"Mitsuri-sama, first, try gripping this wooden sword. Don't put too much force, lightly as if holding an egg. So that the sword doesn't slip in your hand."
Mitsuri took the wooden sword Tsubaki handed over.
"Yes! Lightly, as if holding an egg… Hup!"
Crack!
With a crisp cracking sound, the handle of the sturdy oak wooden sword shattered into powder. Only wood splinters remained in Mitsuri's hand.
"...Huh?"
"Your muscles are truly exceptional. That's a special wooden sword, so it's tough."
Shinobu once again marveled at Mitsuri's incredible strength and sent a gaze of envy.
Tsubaki, not flustered, handed over a thicker and heavier training wooden sword with an iron core.
"Mitsuri-sama, having great strength is an advantage. But for a swordsman, properly distributing power is essential. You need to know when to apply force and when to release it. Now, this time, try swinging lightly towards the air."
"Yes! This time, really lightly! Swish~!"
Whoosh~ Bang!
Although she said she would swing lightly, typhoon-like wind pressure occurred in the path of the wooden sword. She was already strong, but perhaps from eating the meals prepared by the women in this house.
Since even just eating food strengthens the body, she generated wind pressure that she couldn't have produced before coming here to marry.
"Eek! Sor, sorry! Why am I like this? I can't control my strength!"
Mitsuri made a sad face. Normally, she lived hiding her strength, and now that she was told to use her naturally enhanced power freely, her strength ran wild like an unbridled colt.
The second lesson was breathing basics. Kanae was in charge.
"Mitsuri-san, let's stop swinging the sword for now and try breathing? Inhale as much air as possible into the lungs to maximize blood circulation and heart rate. That is Total Concentration Breathing."
Following Kanae's demonstration, Mitsuri also took a deep breath.
"Huuu~! Puh!"
"Well done. For a first time, your lung capacity is tremendous. The amount of air you suck in at once is more than Tsubaki-san's."
Mitsuri hehe laughed at Kanae's praise. But moving while maintaining breathing was a different problem.
Thud!
"Ouchie… Sniff, when I try to run while breathing, my legs don't move as I want."
Mitsuri had excellent flexibility, but her breathing and body rhythm didn't match, making her creak like a doll.
At that moment. From the far corner of the training hall, a sharp metallic sound as if tearing the air echoed.
Clang! Clash! Crash!
Everyone's gaze simultaneously turned that way.
There were two afterimages there. One was Okita in Shinsengumi haori, the other was Ushiwakamaru in light clothing.
But it was even hard to say they were visible. The two were clashing swords at a speed that the naked eye could never follow.
Every time the blades collided, sparks flew, but before those sparks disappeared, they were already exchanging blows in another position.
"Hah! Hahaha! You're fast today too, Okita-dono!"
"Ushiwaka-san, you're the one! Even after using your back like that yesterday, you're flying around like a tengu!"
The two Heroic Spirits were sparring while laughing joyfully, but as a result, the surrounding ground was dug up and the air screamed.
It was truly a battle of heroes, far surpassing the human realm.
"Wo, wow…! What is that?! Fireworks?! How can people be that fast?!"
Mitsuri gaped in astonishment. It was a feast of overwhelming speed and technique, on a different dimension from her own monstrous strength.
The expressions of the Kocho sisters also stiffened as they watched.
"... Amazing no matter when you see it. Even with Total Concentration Breathing maintained constantly and eyes wide open, you can barely see the afterimages."
Kanae sweated coldly and marveled.
"Sigh…. Really, the difference in level is so great that I don't even feel jealous. To think that's just light warm-up."
Shinobu clenched her fan tightly, veins popping on her forehead. It was a moment to realize the power of beings fundamentally different from themselves who strive to become stronger.
On the platform above, Akira looked on as if familiar, resting his chin, and Kanao also watched the spark-flying spar with a calm expression.
From Mitsuri's body, which was losing its soul at the overwhelming sight, a fatal signal sounded.
Grrr~
A huge stomach growl sound loud enough to echo throughout the training hall.
"...Ah."
Mitsuri staggered. The excited look from watching the heroes' fight moments ago was gone, and her legs trembled as if she didn't even have the strength to stand.
"Hehe… When I'm hungry, I don't have any strength…."
"My, to be hungry after seeing such an incredible sight. Mitsuri-san is truly amazing."
Then, Kanao walked over. In her hand was a three-tiered lunchbox that Benienma had packed in the morning.
"Mitsuri-san, please eat."
"Wow! Kanao-chan! Thank you! I was really hungry!"
Mitsuri gratefully opened the lunchbox and began to inhale it in an instant.
"Mmm~ I feel power surging! I'll do it again! Teachers!"
With the atmosphere that had been tense from watching the heroes' spar instantly relaxed at the sight of Mitsuri overflowing with vitality as soon as food entered.
Time passed, and by the time afternoon training was ending. Mitsuri was still clumsy, but with monstrous stamina and learning ability, she quickly picked up the basics.
Akira approached Mitsuri, who was cooling down.
"You worked hard, Mitsuri. You did really well today."
"Akira-san! How was I? I must be far from becoming like those sisters, right?"
Mitsuri asked in a slightly discouraged voice after seeing Okita and Ushiwakamaru.
"Don't compare yourself to those anomalies. You have your own talent. You just need to find your own breathing that can utilize your muscle density and flexibility."
"My own breathing?"
"Yes. Later, when your basics are solid, I'll help you. For now, focus only on the fundamentals."
"Okay! I understand! I'll trust only Akira-san's words!"
Mitsuri smiled brightly as if relieved by Akira's words.
Kanao, standing nearby, quietly handed over a towel.
"You worked hard, Mitsuri-san."
"Thank you, Kanao-chan!"
Mitsuri hugged Kanao tightly. Kanao seemed a bit surprised, but didn't avoid it and stayed quietly embraced.
Akira thought while watching that scene. Even though she's clumsily imitating now, soon she will find her own breathing. Love Breathing.
Of course, since it's based on Flame Breathing, she needs to learn Flame Breathing.
Akira had no intention of finding a swordsman who uses Flame Breathing. Didn't he properly see Flame Breathing not long ago when he met Shinjuro?
He could extract that memory with magecraft and show it to Mitsuri, and she could learn from that. Mitsuri is also a genius, a genius who creates her own breathing, so it should be sufficiently possible.