Training and Real Combat
Up next is... monster hunting...
Asherah?
...Three Raiders should be no trouble...
Asherah! Watch out!
Huh? Aaah!
Kyaaah!!
Are you okay?
S-sorry...
I must've been distracted. I'm okay.
Lately, it feels like Asherah hasn't been able to focus during training.
It's not that she's performing poorly. If anything, she's handling all the training with ease...
She doesn't seem to be in poor condition either. What could be the issue? Is she hungry?
Are you still having trouble with meals lately?
Huh? Oh, no.
I've been managing my meals just fine thanks to the tips you gave me last time.
Oh, right! Yesterday, I made some fire-chicken fried noodles again...
She looks like she's trying to change the subject.
You seem to be having trouble focusing on your training.
Oh, that's...
Well... Captain, I have an opinion.
I do like this kind of training, but...
Could you perhaps plan out our regimen more focused around quests and real combat?
Real combat?
Yeah. You know, they say you can only develop real skill through the real thing.
It feels like training alone isn't helping me grow fast enough...
I want to grow faster, and I can!
...I'm against it.
It's definitely true that real combat helps sharpen your skills.
I also believe that relying solely on training isn't enough, so I try to include some quests alongside training as part of the regimen.
But that doesn't mean focusing only on real combat while neglecting training is more effective.
If that were really the case, there'd be no need for training to exist at all.
There are no safety nets in real combat.
You never know what kind of accidents or injuries might occur. There's no guarantee that things will always go smoothly.
If you get too caught up in the thrill of success in real combat, you start becoming numb to its risks.
It's a trap many beginners fall into.
...
Is that so...
Since it's coming from you I'm sure it's the right thing. Yeah...
She says she agrees, but she doesn't look fully convinced.
But... this feels no different from when I was back home.
I didn't come to NOA just to go through the same drills in the safety of a cage.
At this rate, there's no point in me having run away from home to join the Journey...
You ran away from home...?
What? Oh no-no-no!
Ahaha, it's nothing!
R-right! There was this book about the Star Savior I read...!
Asherah hurriedly changed the subject again.
It was full of stories about the Star Savior's adventures.
There were tons of tales of how the Star Savior grew stronger through adventures with his companions.
I want to be like that too. And I really believe I can do it.
I think you can trust me a bit more, Captain.
Hmm.
She's not wrong.
The problem was her lack of focus, not her performance. Her results have been excellent.
It's only natural for her to be confident. She has the talent to back it up.
Alright then, the next training will be a quest involving real combat.
Really? Yay!
You're the best, Captain! You're the best!
What will it be? Hunting monsters? Exploring ruins? I'm down for anything!
Asherah beamed with joy, practically bursting with energy.
Seeing her bright smile lifted my spirits, but somewhere deep within, a vague sense of unease began to stir.
Even without rushing, she's bound to grow stronger.
But will she be able to patiently wait for that time to come?
Asherah is always full of energy. And because of that, she wants results just as quickly.
Everyone stumbles at one point eventually...
But if someone like Asherah, who's eager to run fast, ends up stumbling, I'm worried she might get hurt that much more.
Thanks to Asherah's renewed focus, the following training wrapped up successfully.