Magica Technica ～Sword Demon Rakshasa’s VRMMO Battle Record～

Chapter 41

041: Swordsaint's Cabin

Translated by Dawn

041: Swordsaint’s Cabin

<Enhancement Magic skill level has increased.>

<Sword of Plunder skill level has increased.>

<MP Auto Recovery skill level has increased.>

<Tame Monster Lumina’s level has increased.>

After defeating the camouflaged snake that had fallen from the trees, I remain vigilant, scanning my surroundings.

It seemed that this forest was populated with various reptilian creatures that excelled at ambushing their prey.

From the surprise attacks of the “Camouflage Python,” which struck from the treetops to the large bipedal lizard “Cover Lizard,” which approached stealthily through the dense foliage, and the “Mirage Chameleon” that hides on tree surfaces or among leaves and attacks with its whip-like tongue—many of these creatures aimed to catch their targets off guard.

If I hadn’t sensed their presence, I might have been hit by a few attacks.

Nevertheless, I welcomed the tension of this battlefield.

But be that as it may…

“Lumina, are you seriously trying to do that?”

“――――♪”

In the midst of this, Lumina, who perched on my shoulder, picked up a thin branch that fell to the ground and began to swing it, imitating my sword movements.

It seemed that she had taken an interest in my actions.

Though her imitation wasn’t particularly skilled, it was amusing to see her try. However, considering Lumina’s nature as a fairy with a different center of gravity from humans, perfectly imitating my movements would be difficult.

“You’re a magic type, and you barely have any physical strength to begin with. So, I’d rather you not try to imitate swinging a sword…”

“――――!”

“……But if you’re that determined, I find it hard to forbid you from doing it.”

Lumina’s face was serious, showing how determined she was to learn the ways of the sword.

Despite my hesitation to have a magic-based fairy imitating sword movements, seeing Lumina so committed to it made it hard for me to forbid her.

If she genuinely wanted to pursue this path, then I should let her do it. If she ended up giving up after trying her best, then that couldn’t be helped either.

“…Sigh. Well, just don’t overdo it, okay?”

“――――♪”

In response to my consent, Lumina nodded with satisfaction and resumed swinging the stick.

I should allow her to try, at least without pushing herself too hard.

Well, I was still being cautious about what was above my head, so for now, I should just observe how it went.

Taking a deep breath, I continued moving forward, paying attention to the surroundings.

Suddenly, I realized something.

(…Come to think of it, how did we get here?)

I glanced back for a moment, but all I saw are the same old trees surrounding us.

Looking up at the treetops again, I found nothing but leaves obscuring the sun, making it difficult to determine its position.

I’d been so focused on sensing ambush attacks that I’d neglected other aspects.

In short, I’d lost.

“Tch… Maybe I got a bit too carried away. From here, my ‘enhancement’ won’t reach outside the forest, after all…”

“――――?”

“Oh, well. It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”

In the dense forest, amidst the overgrown trees, an abrupt opening appeared.

It was like a hole in the forest, revealing a space where there were no trees.

In the center of that clearing stood a small cabin or some kind of building.

Clearly, it was an area that had been cut and shaped by human hands.

“Hmm… Is this… a human settlement?”

It was hard to sense the presence of humans directly, but it was evident that this space was shaped by human activity.

In the midst of a forest inhabited by dangerous creatures, was it possible that humans were living here?

“Well, shall we check it out?”

Originally, I didn’t have any specific purpose for entering this forest; leveling up to deal with demon attacks was the main goal. 

I didn’t have any urgent business to attend to, so making a detour should be fine. 

Moreover, it wasn’t too far from where I was. If I walked a bit further, I should be able to see it clearly.

“But, why would anyone choose to live in such a remote place?”

This forest was far from any main roads, and it was not meant for people to pass through. 

I hadn’t heard of any reports about a settlement in the heart of the forest, so the possibility of it being a hub for travelers seemed unlikely. 

It could very well be an abandoned cabin… Well, I would find out once I got closer.

As I approached the direction of the cabin, I suddenly noticed a light shining through the gaps in the trees.

“…..!”

“――――?”

In a forest where the dense foliage blocked most of the sunlight, the sudden brightness caught my attention. 

There was a hole in the forest where the light poured in, centered around the small cabin.

Indeed, it was strange that there were no trees in that specific area. It seemed like someone had cleared it recently, and there were signs of recent human activity, such as the presence of fields.

It was hard to believe, but there was no doubt that someone was living in the depths of this forest.

“What kind of eccentric person would live here…”

Even I wouldn’t want to live in a place like this, where dangerous creatures roamed freely. 

The only ones who could maintain a stable life in such a place would likely be highly skilled individuals.

With a grin forming on my face, I wondered what kind of person could possibly be living here.

For now, there was no sign of anyone inside the cabin. Although it looked like someone had been living there, it seemed that they were currently absent.

“……Hmm.”

I walked all around the cabin.

Indeed, there was no sign of anyone, but there were plenty of traces of someone living here.

Stacked firewood, a well-tended garden, and the ground heavily trodden to the point where footsteps resounded.

This wasn’t the result of regular living. The imprints of strong steps and stomping to support one’s body were repeated an incredible number of times.

It seemed that the resident of this cabin was engaged in self-training right next to it.

Moreover, the area that had been trodden was quite extensive. This suggested that he was engaged in simulated battles with an imaginary opponent.

To tread over such a large area, he must have repeated it countless times. Despite having plenty of real opponents in the surroundings, it was quite diligent of him.

“Well, living in such a remote place, this person is quite—”

—In a moment, I sensed movement in the air and instinctively turned to look behind me.

About five meters away, I was taken aback that someone could get this close without me sensing them. Observing the person, I saw white hair and short hair, sharp eyes that glinted like blades. Though not tall, his well-trained physique made him appear larger.

At his waist was a single long sword. The hilt showed signs of being well-used, indicating that he had been wielding it for a long time. 

He seemed to have just hunted as he had a deer slung over his shoulder. The old man grinned as he looked at me.

“Oh? It’s rare to have guests in a place like this. And with a fairy, no less.”

“My apologies. We were wandering through the forest and stumbled upon this place. I am Kuon, and this is Lumina. And you are?”

“Oaks. Enough of the small talk. Come in.”

With a brief introduction, the old man named Oaks turned on his heels and headed toward the entrance of the cabin.

Feeling slightly puzzled, I exchanged glances with Lumina, but there was no point in lingering here indefinitely.

For now, I should follow his invitation.

Once inside the cabin, I found a simple living space. It seemed designed for a solitary life, with only the necessities like a bed and cooking utensils. It wasn’t a luxurious dwelling by any means, but it suited this old man’s stoic personality perfectly.

“Sit wherever you want.”

“…Got it.”

Without particularly minding us, Oaks started to butcher the deer in the kitchen. Observing his back as he worked, I sat on a nearby chair with a wry smile.

His butchering skills were incredibly adept, suggesting that he was used to hunting and gardening for his food.

It was evident that he lived a modest, self-sufficient life, and he didn’t seem to have any particular purpose for residing in the depths of the forest.

Eventually, after finishing the deer’s processing, Oaks washed his hands and turned to face us.

Sitting across the table, he twisted his neck and raised his voice toward me.

“Now then, young one. Let me ask you again… What brought you here?”

“As I mentioned before, I just got lost and happened to end up here. I was planning to train and head to Philaia.”

“You got lost, huh? Are you an outsider? If so, couldn’t you have checked the map of the surroundings?”

“Ah…”

It suddenly occurred to me that there was indeed such a function, but I had completely forgotten about it.

I quickly opened the menu and, sure enough, there was an option to view the map of the surrounding area.

As soon as I checked, the geography of the vicinity was displayed.

“……’Swordsaint’s Cabin’?”

At the concise name, my eyes widened in surprise.

‘Swordsaint’s Cabin’… From the name, it seemed that the person living in this cabin was the ‘Swordsaint.’ 

Considering the old man’s strength I witnessed so far, it made sense that he bore such a title.

Upon hearing my murmur, the old man closed his eyes and smirked. It seemed like he was amused.

“That’s what they call it, huh? It’s not that big of a deal, you know.”

“I wonder about that. At the very least, it seems to be a fact that you are an immensely powerful individual.”

“As for you, your strength isn’t insignificant either. You’re not just an ordinary swordsman.”

“Well, who knows? I still consider myself inexperienced.”

The way of the sword had no end, and there was no definitive answer in the path of the sword.

It was a lifelong journey, and as long as you live, there could be no completion.

Therefore, I was still not satisfied with my own strength. 

After all, I barely won against that grumpy old geezer. I wanted to become stronger to the point where I could defeat him more convincingly.

As I pondered this within myself, Oaks raised an eyebrow with a grin.

“You’re a strange youngster. You’re already powerful enough for your age.”

“Whether it’s enough or not is for me to decide.”

“…Well, I suppose that’s true. Yes, there’s no doubt about it.”

Laughing heartily, Oaks seemed to find some understanding with me. 

As fellow swordsmen who had determined their own paths in life through the way of the sword, it was only natural to find some resonance with each other.

With that in mind, our next course of action was clear. As the invited guest, I couldn’t be too forward, but…

“This is a good opportunity. Let’s have a little spar, young one.”

“Heh… Sounds good. I’d be more than happy to join you.”

If he extended the invitation, there was no way I would decline. Filling myself with sword energy, I followed Oaks outside of the cabin.