— Day 1 of Special Training.
“Today, we’ll start by practicing ‘Orders’ using this,” I said, handing Ringo a beloved item perfect for mapping and jotting down adventure notes: a Memo Pad.
Before a silently bewildered Ringo, I demonstrated. I opened a random page on the Memo Pad, held it, and issued a verbal order. Instantly, words appeared on the open page.
“Today, we’ll start by practicing ‘Orders’ using this.”
Ringo gasped at the words that materialized. In addition to writing directly with a pen, the Memo Pad could also record words by issuing orders while holding it. Seeing this, Ringo finally understood that this was training for using skills.
I had previously explained that ‘Orders’ were essential for using skills. I was the only one in this world who used skills through Orders, but I deliberately kept that fact hidden. There was no need to confuse Ringo with unnecessary information.
Hesitantly, Ringo took the Memo Pad and, for some reason, poked its surface tentatively. I then taught Ringo how to use it. It wasn’t a complicated process—just hold the Memo Pad and issue an order. However, that very act of “just issuing an order” was the difficult part.
To explain again, an Order is a skill for sending commands to the computer in VR Space, a process of loading the words or images in one’s mind into the VR Machine. It’s supposed to be a skill anyone can learn, and over half of modern Japanese people can use it without issue. However, it’s said to be more difficult for older people or those with no connection to VR. The existence of books like “VR for Beginners Over Fifty” and “5-Minute VR Operation Training” in bookstores is proof of this.
As someone who grew up with VR equipment, a so-called “VR New Generation,” Orders come naturally to me.
“Uh, um, the trick to Orders is… Ah, right! I think you first visualize the words in your mind and imagine sending them to the VR Machine…”
“…VR?”
“Ah, no, sorry. Not the VR Machine, but, uh…”
Conversely, it’s difficult to explain how to use Orders to someone else now. It’s something I could do instinctively from childhood, so I have no experience of struggling to learn it.
However, I continued explaining, stumbling repeatedly.
“…So, it’s said that it’s best to choose familiar, short words at first.”
I conveyed all the information I had to Ringo.
“…Okay, I’ll try.”
Facing Ringo’s honest nod, I felt relieved.
“Well, I’ll be over there,” I said, leaving the spot with those few words. I would have loved to watch Ringo closely, but Ringo probably couldn’t concentrate with me nearby, and I had many other things to do.
It wasn’t just acquiring the Instant Skill. I had to raise proficiency, gain levels, refine the Demon Lord weakening plan in detail, and I had no time to waste.
But, I would regret that decision a few hours later.
(Um, is… this okay…?)
I hesitated, wondering if I should speak to Ringo, who hadn’t moved an inch. Ringo had been standing there for several hours, holding the Memo Pad, barely moving. Ringo only moved when Butcher appeared, aiding me as if nothing had happened. Ringo blinked occasionally, proving Ringo was alive, but this was clearly not a normal situation. However, if Ringo was earnestly practicing Orders, I shouldn’t interfere.
The problem was that Ringo’s stance gave no clue about the situation. Ringo looked incredibly serious, and also like Ringo was spacing out, sleeping while standing, or just expressionless.
As I watched Ringo for nearly a few minutes, undecided,
“…Ah.”
Without any preamble, Ringo’s mouth moved slightly.
“W-What is it?!”
I rushed to Ringo’s side at incredible speed. Ringo thrust the Memo Pad at me. On the pristine top left corner of the Memo Pad were just three letters:
“Soma.”
— Day 2 of Special Training.
After repeating the process many times, Ringo grasped the knack and could now issue Orders with considerable accuracy. However, Ringo, still unaccustomed to Orders, still took several seconds to output the simple three-letter word “Soma.” If Orders were to be used for skill activation, they needed to be executed quickly and at will. This would require repetitive practice.
When I told Ringo this, Ringo began concentrating intently on the task, still standing like a doll. The difference from before was that the results were clearly reflected in the Memo Pad. I checked a few times, but it was still impossible to gauge Ringo’s inner state from the outside. Ringo seemed to be concentrating several levels deeper than appearances suggested, not reacting even when I approached.
“Well, let’s peek at the Memo Pad then,” I thought with a mischievous impulse, looking over Ringo’s shoulder.
I silently reached out and closed the Memo Pad.
“…Sōma?”
Finally noticing me, Ringo looked up. With a strained smile, I said,
“You’re working really hard. But practicing only with familiar words won’t help, so let’s try mixing in other words next time.”
“…Mm, understood.”
Seeing Ringo nod obediently, I couldn’t help but sweat, though there was no reason to be afraid.
— Day 3 of Special Training.
Today, too, Ringo was standing blankly with the Memo Pad in hand. Based on the previous day, I assumed Ringo was working hard despite appearances, but the progress of the training was still invisible. So, I peeked behind the seemingly concentrated Ringo and was astonished.
The beginning was endearing, with associations of food, but then…
I felt a wave of dizziness from the sudden increase in gore and looked away from the Memo Pad. Nevertheless, I leaned forward to read more,
“Ah…”
At that moment, Ringo snatched the Memo Pad away.
“…This is no good.”
Looking closely, Ringo’s face was slightly red. Was it because of the rambling associations? It seemed Ringo didn’t want this seen. Praying that Ringo was hiding it not out of a hidden desire to eat me, I returned to my own tasks.
— Day 4 of Special Training.
That day, Maki contacted me, and we left Deus Plain for the first time in a while. While I occasionally met with Ringo’s companions for strategic advice, some quests required my direct intervention to clear. Although I preferred Ringo and I to avoid action until the training ended, there were important quests that wouldn’t unlock the next stage unless completed, so they couldn’t be postponed indefinitely. Today, we decided to clear them all at once.
However, as I had warned before, I had resolved to master the 3x Speed Skill Cancel and had forbidden myself from using skills at normal speeds. I couldn’t use skills at 3x speed yet and had to resolve quests without Skill Cancel. I anticipated a tough battle, but in the end, my worries were unfounded. My stats, improved by leveling up and Seeds, had reached a level where I could overwhelm most dungeon monsters. Furthermore, Ringo took the lead in defeating enemies, so we didn’t struggle with monsters. We returned to town earlier than planned and spent the remaining time on special training in Deus Plain.
— Day 5 of Special Training.
Today, too, Ringo stood there blankly, but I knew Ringo was working hard behind the scenes. I calmly watched Ringo stand still. While it might sound like only Ringo was working hard, I was also progressing with my own tasks during this time. Of course, I was leveling up Torch Sisyo, and together with Ringo, we defeated recurring Butchers to reliably earn experience and Power Seeds. I also provided timely plans and instructions for our companions.
Moreover, the biggest factor in my strengthening: “Incarnation of Rage.” After seeing the danger of this skill firsthand during the Butcher battle, I hesitated. But I couldn’t avoid it forever. Once I confirmed there were no enemies around, I tried using it.
It seemed that 3x speed was indeed close to the limit of human, or at least my, processing capacity. The lack of tension from having no surrounding enemies might have contributed, but I was shaken by the sheer speed—though only that first time. Now, I no longer panicked just from using “Incarnation of Rage.” I was also gradually getting used to the 3x speed skills, starting with the relatively easy Midarezakura long cancels. Now, I could successfully cancel lower-difficulty skills with relative frequency. On this day, a conviction grew within me that our special training would soon bear fruit.
— Day 6 of Special Training.
Today, I finally taught Ringo a skill. Activating a skill was easy with the Order system. Ringo demonstrated it with surprising ease, almost disappointingly so. However, the real challenge began afterward. I lent Ringo Torch Sisyo and instructed Ringo to use Step-type skills as much as possible and to strike Torch Sisyo whenever there was free time. The plan was to raise proficiency in movement and weapon skills, thereby increasing the number of usable skills. Ringo chose Wakizashi as the main weapon and raised proficiency in daggers and Ninjato. I thought it overlapped a bit with Ena, but it was best for Ringo to train with what was easiest. Although we didn’t use Marimite Dojo, Ringo couldn’t learn Shukuchi, but mastered Jump, High Step, and most dagger and Ninjato skills within the day.
— Day 7 of Special Training.
Judging that Ringo had acquired a sufficient number of necessary skills, we moved on to practicing Skill Cancel. I had clearly explained how to cancel, but Ringo struggled with this. Issuing Orders consecutively and timing them correctly seemed to be a formidable task. Due to Stamina limitations, continuous practice was not possible. We also considered magic, so Ringo spent the remaining time raising proficiency with elemental weapons. Ultimately, Ringo rarely succeeded in cancelling that day, and the few successes were almost accidental. However, I wasn’t worried. Ringo had reached a certain standard in basic Order activation. Success was now just a matter of time. My own 3x speed Skill Cancel success rate was also gradually increasing. The completion of our special training was near.
— Day 8 of Special Training.
Something astonishing happened. Ringo demonstrated basic cancels, from Step to High Step Skill Cancel, to me.
“W-Wait! Again, do it again!!”
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Following my instructions, Ringo once again managed to succeed in the Step to High Step Skill Cancel. Yet, I still couldn’t accept what my eyes were telling me. After all, Skill Cancel was an advanced technique in Nekoneko. Even for me, who could use Orders properly, it took considerable time to master. Yet, yet…
“…It’s unsettling.”
The way Ringo moved was utterly, overwhelmingly unsettling! No, that’s not quite right. It wasn’t a nauseating feeling or visceral disgust. It was more like a disquieting sense, as if, “Huh? Human bodies don’t move like that?” or “That kind of movement is physically impossible!” It felt profoundly off. NPCs didn’t use Skill Cancel, and videos were usually from a first-person perspective, so I had never clearly seen the movements of Skill Cancel like this. This was… no. This was really not okay, I thought, and then I noticed something was wrong with Ringo.
“Ah…”
I had just blurted out my honest feelings without thinking. Was that okay? Did I shouldn’t say “unsettling” to a girl?
“Ringo?!”
As that thought occurred to me, Ringo’s body swayed. I rushed over and, carefully avoiding applying any unnecessary force, gently caught Ringo.
“A-Are you alright? Sorry, what I said earlier…”
Ringo looked at me, perhaps quite shocked, with a pale face. But Ringo mustered remaining strength and whispered,
“…A Soma’s movements aren’t like… this, you know?”
And those were the last words Ringo spoke that day. In my arms, Ringo’s body went limp. Ringo’s face, which had been looking at me, naturally fell forward, and our eyes no longer met.
“Ringo? Hey, Ringo?”
Sensing an abnormality, I panicked. I shook Ringo desperately. Still, Ringo didn’t respond.
“Stop this prank.”
No matter how much I pleaded, Ringo wouldn’t answer. Seeing that, I understood.
“Say something. Anything…”
Ringo’s face, as I peered into it, looked the same as always. Yet, those lovely lips would never again utter a word, and those beautiful blue eyes would never again shine as they looked at me.
“Hey, please, I beg you…”
Unable to give up, I called out again and again, but it was all in vain.
“Ringo. Hey, Rin, Go…”
In the end, no matter how I called out, Ringo would never open their mouth again…
…and Ringo, completely sulking, ignored me all day.
— Day 9 of Special Training.
And then, the fateful morning arrived.
“…Soma.”
Ringo looked at me with concern, but I shook my head. “As expected, I want to do this alone for the last time. I won’t overdo it like the first day, so please watch from a distance.”
“…………Mm, understood.”
After a slightly long silence, I watched Ringo run off, then turned to face forward. In my sight was the now-familiar white giant.
(Come to think of it, you’ve been a great help for a long time.)
How long had it been since I first encountered you through a bug? Perhaps, this King Butcher was the monster I had fought the most since coming to this world.
“But, that ends today.”
Now was the time to demonstrate the culmination of these days of special training. Suppressing my eagerness, I deliberately took my time to ready Fire of Sh.
“Well then, shall we begin the graduation exam?”
As if responding to my words, the King Butcher let out a mighty roar.
This was probably the last breather before the assault on the Demon Lord’s Castle.
