Original subtitles

Um, can I interrupt for a minute?

It might be good to work on your distance a little.

What do you mean?

Like this, for example.

If your opponent is focused on watching your sword,

they won't pick up on a change in distance.

That's true.

It's a small thing,

but even half a step can determine whether you win or lose.

What I said wasn't worth all of them stopping to listen.

Let's leave it here for today.

Good job, everyone.

Thank you very much!

Sir Beryl, thank you for your instruction.

Here, use this.

Okay.

Thanks.

The reason everyone is so willing to listen to my advice

may be because of that first face-off with Henblitz.

It was nerve-racking.

Master!

Are you free this afternoon?

Huh? Yeah, I have no plans.

Okay, then I'll show you around the capital.

You don't know much beyond this area, do you?

Now that you mention it, I come here and go home, and that's it.

That's too bad.

Baltrain has a lot of sights to see.

Leave it to me!

I'll take you up on that, then.

Roger!

I'll go get changed.

I'm a week into my role as instructor.

I think I've settled into it well.

EPISODE 2

The Old Country Bumpkin is Astounded by a Wizard.

The Liberion Order's plans for the period have been approved as documented.

Thank you very much.

Please submit your budget to the Accounting Office.

Understood.

Commander.

I trust the special instructor you engaged is living up to expectations?

All is well. He has exceeded them.

If you want to master the sword, you shouldn't become a commander.

It wastes a lot of your time.

But...

There's no way I could have my Master

stay where he was.

We just moved to the neighboring town

and heard good things about this dojo.

We thought it would be a good time

for her to learn how to protect herself.

That's true.

Unlike the city, the Order doesn't really keep tabs on this area,

so it's good if you can defend yourself.

Allucia, say hello.

N... Nice to meet you.

I'm Beryl Gardenant.

Nice to meet you too, Allucia.

When we met, my first impression

was that he looked kind.

We started off with practice swings.

He explained things very carefully.

He trained us to move efficiently.

I'd never experienced anything like it before.

It was all new to me.

For the first year and a half,

we focused on these two things and basic kata practice.

But I was never bored.

I could feel myself getting stronger.

And the sword slowly felt more comfortable in my hands.

But best of all, the Master praised me,

even for the smallest things.

And that made me happy.

Why is Randrid hesitating like that?

How about we try some attack work?

S... Sure!

Hang on...

There's no opening for me to strike.

Why?

Now!

Thank you.

T... Thank you very much.

You have good instincts, Allucia.

You moved in at the right time, rather than just attacking randomly.

I understand now.

But back then...

I thought everyone who taught swordsmanship

could do what he did.

We're training at another dojo, so make the most of it.

Non-contact bouts, and no strikes above the neck.

And don't get hurt.

Yes, Master.

Thank you for your time today.

One point!

Allucia, you're next.

Yes, Master.

Begin.

Huh?

His entire body is a strike zone...

You little...

One point!

That was an easy win.

Going up against those with another style was a valuable experience.

Master, is it possible that our dojo is quite strong?

No, not at all.

But we all won.

And you won the mock bout against their master too...

Our two styles just happened to align well with each other.

It's hard to say which is stronger.

I want you to focus on what you gained, rather than if you won or lost.

Yes, Master.

You forget something?

I'll go back and get it.

You're looking for this, right?

Go get it.

Those weren't real bouts, so don't think you won!

You can hit us too.

But there's no way we'll lose to a hick in a real full-contact match.

No thank you.

If you don't want to, that's fine.

But we'll be breaking a few bones.

That's not a problem, right?

Owww...

Master!

Move!

Don't get in our way, old man!

I really don't want you using swordsmanship like this.

Damn you!

That's enough!

Master...

I heard a noise and came to check it out. What the hell's going on?!

But they made fools outta us...

Don't you get it, you blockhead?!

You'll never be a match for him, no matter how many of you there are!

His students were better than you, end of story!

H... Hey, hey.

They're at that hot-blooded age, so...

I take full responsibility for my students' misconduct.

Please forgive me.

Oh, please, that's not necessary.

I had this really bad feeling.

Good thing I checked things out.

But you got hurt, Master.

It's not that bad.

But...

But...

It was my fault...

You did nothing wrong, Allucia.

I should have gone with you right from the beginning.

I'm sorry I was so thoughtless and put you in a scary position.

But I'm so very glad

that you weren't hurt.

S... Sorry. It must have been scary for you, huh?

I'm really sorry.

There's time before the next carriage. Wanna get something to eat?

I sent everyone else home, so this will be our secret.

That's not it.

You're not hungry?

Then what...

I wasn't crying because I was scared

or because I was sad, either.

It was because I learned that when your heart is filled with emotion,

there's no stopping the tears.

I... I did it.

Yes. Well done.

You're strong enough, now.

No, Master! I still have...

There's nothing left for me to teach you.

I hope you can understand that.

The Master is so unbelievably unassuming he actually believes what he's saying.

I can't even hold a candle to him yet.

Very well. I will accept your decision.

I didn't want to leave.

But I didn't want to cause problems for him.

Having left the nest,

I wanted to prove that my Master's skill with a sword was second to none.

When I took the exam to join the Order,

the vague feeling I had always had became a certainty.

Not only the other candidates, but even the Order's examiners

couldn't compare to my Master for speed.

I entered the Order with top marks, and that certainty only grew.

My Master's visual acuity and reaction speed are extraordinary.

My goal was set.

I could not leave my Master as he was.

I rose to the rank of Commander and achieved further success.

By the time I had the power to engage an instructor myself,

it had been ten years since I had left the dojo.

But my Master remained as he had always been.

No, his skills had become even sharper than I remembered.

Some may think I'm going overboard.

But my Master deserves a stage befitting of him.

And I couldn't help but be the one to set it up.

Commander, you're back.

How did training go today?

Sir Beryl's repertoire and the depth

of his knowledge and insight constantly amaze me.

I was just reviewing what he taught us.

That's good to hear.

So, the Master has already left for the day?

Curuni said she wanted to show him around the capital.

I'll show you around the capital.

Leave it to me!

I'll take you up on that, then.

So she and Master Beryl headed out together.

Showing the Master around the capital... I wanted to do that, too.

Doing so could be classed as a bona fide date, no joke about it.

Did you say something?

No, nothing.

There are so many shops.

It's a far cry from my village with its general store and inn.

If you're going to stroll around the city, the Western District is just the best.

Isn't it the Northern District that has the most tourist spots?

Like the palace and the church.

Only visitors from the sticks like to go and see that kinda stuff.

Right.

And I'm one of those old farts from the sticks, you know.

Oh, Master Beryl.

I was right. It's been ages.

- Who's she? - Fice!

Good to see you!

Curuni, you know her?

Master, you don't remember her?

Master Beryl, you're so mean. I'm sad, boo-hoo.

Y... Yeah, well I...

This jog your memory? Flash, flash.

A farewell sword...

So, she completed the training at my dojo...

Fice...

No way, Ficelle?!

Correct. But you were too slow. I'm so sad.

I say this to every old student I see, but you've changed so much!

It's been five years. I've grown since then.

Oh, yeah, your last two years with us, you trained with Curuni, didn't you?

Fice is amazing!

She's the star of the Magic Corps now!

Huh? The Magic Corps?

But our dojo teaches swordsmanship...

You doing some shopping, Fice?

Yeah. I'm after some magical accessories.

Magical... accessories?

With this, even an amateur can use magic.

But they're expensive.

I can use magic without one.

So, you really are a wizard, Ficelle.

I worked really hard.

Very few people become wizards.

I'd say it was harder than she lets on.

It's sad she's left her swordsmanship days behind,

but I'm really proud of her.

He snatched my purse!

I'll handle this. You don't need to do anything, Master.

Owww!

Okay, don't try anything funny.

I'm with the Order.

Dammit!

She's fast. And she definitely knows how to catch criminals.

Cracking down on crime is part of our job.

That was some great teamwork. And your magic was amazing, too.

Sword magic. I place magic on the sword and let it fly.

I'm putting the sword skills you taught me to good use.

To think that sword skills could be applied like that...

Yeah. Thanks.

I'm the one that should be thanking you.

Nah, it should be me.

You're up early.

Yeah, I just woke up all of a sudden.

Here, have one of these.

Thanks.

There's nothing like an early morning stroll.

I can't stay an old fart from the sticks forever.

I have to remember my way around here.

Hey, you there.

I have time.

Maybe I'll go to the commercial area in the Western District.

Hey, you. Wait up.

I promised Curuni and Ficelle I'd treat them to a meal sometime.

If I can find a nice place to eat at...

Don't you dare ignore me!

W... What?! Me?!

Um... Are you lost, little miss?

Who're you calling "little miss"?

Unbelievable! You're Beryl Gardenant, correct?

That's me.

My name is Lucy Diamond.

I'm the Commander of the Magic Corps of Liberis Kingdom.

So, you're playing Magic Corps, huh?

Kids in the city sure play some unusual games.

Where do you live, little miss Lucy?

Stop with the "little miss"!

And I'm not playing games!

Argh... Okay, how about this?

You're really part of the Magic Corps?

I see I've convinced you.

Going for a walk is more fun when you have someone with you, right?

I heard from Fice

that her old sword master was in Baltrain.

Oh, Ficelle? I saw her for the first time in ages the other day.

She looked very excited when she told me she'd met you.

She must have been so happy.

If she was, that makes me happy, too.

Her sword magic is exceptional.

She has a talent for magic, but her sword skills are incredible, too.

I'd say she had a good teacher.

No, it was all her own effort.

I just taught her the basics.

Wanna give it a try, little miss?

Stop treating me like a kid. I'm a lot older than you!

She says that, but with the way she looks...

Okay, here should be fine.

A vacant lot in a place like this?

There used to be a building.

Replacing the old with the new. That's the capital for you.

I'm very fond of magic, you see.

I spend every day honing my skills and studying.

I know what you mean. I swing my sword every day, too.

I want to see how I've improved. And I want to test what I've studied.

Does a swordsman think of such things?

Yes. Seeing how much you've improved is important.

I want to test it out.

Against a strong opponent.

Ah, you have excellent reflexes.

I take it she's not joking around.

It's fun to eat and walk.

But eating as you stroll around makes for constant snacking,

and when you're over 30, that's going to lead to excess weight.

That sucks.

Next time : "The Old Country Bumpkin Weathers a Fierce Attack."