Maki's gaze shifted to the sword hilt jutting over Altaïr's shoulder. "That weapon on your back... is it a Great Sword or a Long Sword?"
"A Long Sword, though it can also be used as a Great Sword..."
"...What a strange weapon. All right, never mind that for now. Which weapon do you use most often?"
"The Long Sword."
"Hmm. You said earlier that you accidentally entered Demon Mode. I take it you're fairly skilled with Dual Blades as well?"
"Yes. I'm proficient with both Dual Blades and the Great Sword, and I often adapt techniques from both when wielding a Long Sword."
Maki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "For example?"
Without wasting words, Altaïr drew Tyrant Blade [Heaven Swallower], flicked the blade to enter Demon Mode, then unleashed Crimson Blade Slash, moving almost as fast as a Dual Blades user performing Blade Dance.
"Oh? Interesting."
Unlike the many people who were shocked the first time they saw this move, Maki merely found it interesting.
She drew the Long Sword from her own back, entered Demon Mode, and imitated Altaïr's rapid dance.
She did not reproduce it perfectly, but she copied at least seventy to eighty percent of the technique. Then, almost immediately, she began weaving her own style into the sword dance, making the initially stiff Blade Dance flow more smoothly with every movement.
Now it was Altaïr's turn to be shocked.
Such extraordinary coordination... Maki must possess the same gift he did.
With a flick of her blade, the dazzling flurry of steel vanished, and Maki sheathed her Long Sword.
"Chief Maki, you're actually more skilled with Dual Blades, aren't you?" Altaïr asked tentatively.
Maki smiled back. "What makes you say that?"
"Your musculature, and the way you moved during that sword dance."
Altaïr paused to gather his thoughts. "Once you added your own style, it looked less like you were using Demon Mode to accelerate Long Sword techniques and more like you were using the Long Sword in place of Dual Blades to perform Blade Dance."
"Good eye. Dual Blades are my main weapon."
"Then why are you carrying..."
"Oh, you mean this?" Maki glanced at the ornate Long Sword behind her. "Simply put, it is a treasured blade handed down through generations of Village Chiefs. I carry it while I'm in the village; you can think of it as a symbol of office. Thanks to a certain old man, I've also put some time into the Long Sword, so I suppose you could say I know how to use it."
"Now that I think of it, who taught you the Long Sword? Something about the finer points of your technique looked familiar."
"I learned from Master Amos, the Swift Sword," Altaïr replied honestly.
Master Amos had long since acknowledged Altaïr's swordsmanship, so he could rightly call himself Amos's disciple.
At the name, Maki's eyes lit up. "Master Amos? What a coincidence. I haven't heard anything about him in a long time. Has he been well?"
"He's in good health and now lives in seclusion in Dundorma." Curious, Altaïr asked, "Did you know Master Amos well, Chief Maki?"
"Mm, I suppose you could say that. We only hunted together once, but he saved my life. It was during that battle that he lost an arm. If not for that, he might have had a chance to reach even greater heights." Maki's voice held both apology and regret.
Altaïr blurted out, "What kind of Monster was it? I've asked Master Amos before, but he always changes the subject."
Maki's expression turned grave, and the look she fixed on Altaïr was sharp enough to wound. "This is not something you should know. Never ask about it again, not even after you've reached High Rank."
"...I understand." Altaïr nodded.
He was not excessively curious by nature. Since Maki had gone that far, he knew better than to pry.
Seeing that he had taken the warning to heart, Maki's expression softened, and she changed the subject.
"Since you're also skilled with Dual Blades, that makes things easier. There is a technique... although it might be more accurate to call it a Hunter Art.
"This Hunter Art could help solve your problem. Conversely, your condition could help you master it.
"But it is difficult to master, and dangerous as well. There is also a simplified version you can choose instead, and it is a fine technique in its own right."
Altaïr fell silent for a second. "Can I learn both?"
"...You've got some nerve." Maki chuckled. "I don't have much time to teach you.
"Three... No, forget it. Since you're Master Amos's disciple, I'll give you five days, including today.
"Normally, even the simplified technique takes about a week to learn. As for the Hunter Art, most people cannot even find the right approach in fifteen days, or fifty, much less five.
"If you're confident, then try. Just don't spread yourself too thin out of greed and end up learning nothing."
"Can we start now?" Altaïr looked at her, his eyes bright with eagerness.
Maki had said "five days, including today," which meant every second he wasted now cut into his training time.
"You..."
Maki whistled. A masked Felyne dressed in close-fitting black clothes appeared seemingly out of nowhere, landed before her, and dropped to one knee. "What are your orders, Village Chief? Need me to start up the Toadversary, meow?"
"No need." Maki shoved the Long Sword from her back into the Felyne's arms. "Take this home for me."
"Understood, meow!" Struggling beneath the sword's weight, the masked Felyne vanished in a flash.
"You should earn your keep. How about practicing in real combat while helping us thin out the Monsters around the village?"
"Of course, as long as you don't call it poaching."
Maki smiled in satisfaction, picked up a pair of blue-black Dual Blades from a nearby weapon rack, and tossed them to Altaïr.
Taking the hint, Altaïr unstrapped Tyrant Blade [Heaven Swallower] from his back and replaced it with the plain Kamura Glintblades, a sturdy pair with little else to recommend them.
After a moment's thought, he took a Long Sword as well and slung it across his back.
Maki picked up a pair of practice Dual Blades for herself, looked Altaïr up and down, and said, "Strip off that Regios Armor Set too."
With several metallic clatters, Altaïr's armor pieces fell to the ground one after another.
How is this kid so quick at taking off his armor?
Still grumbling to herself, Maki rummaged through the Training Area's item box, found a Kamura Armor Set in roughly his size, and tossed it to him.
Altaïr quickly pulled on the gear, which looked more like clothing than actual armor, then tied on the distinctive Kamura headband.
Maki scratched her chin as she looked him over.
Ordinarily, only novice Hunters from Kamura Village wore this attire. On Altaïr, who was clearly a foreigner, it looked rather awkward.
Well, awkward or not, it was not as though she could dye his hair black as well.
"You don't have a Wirebug, and I'm not going to dawdle while I wait for you. Find your own way to keep up. If you lose my trail, get lost, and waste too much time, don't complain that you weren't given long enough to learn."
Altaïr pulled out a Paintball.
Maki stared at him in silence.
Realizing that throwing a Paintball at the veteran teaching him might be inappropriate, Altaïr put it away and drank a bottle of Psychoserum instead.
He had only started carrying the stuff because Tidal Island was riddled with caves.
Seeing that she could not stump him, Maki grinned, motioned for him to follow, launched her Wirebug, and let the Ironsilk pull her onto a nearby rooftop before vanishing after a few swift bounds.
With his senses sharpened by the Psychoserum, Altaïr picked up Maki's scent trail.
He downed a bottle of Dash Juice, entered Demon Mode, and sprinted after her at full speed.
He would manage on his own today. Tomorrow, he would borrow Hibiki...
(Translated by yourtl.app)