Training...?

　I couldn't help but cringe at the unexpected words.
　Everyone else was wondering as well as I was.

　The word "special training" doesn't ring a bell.
　Or rather, what kind of special training is it?
　Normally, it's supposed to be a way to hone your combat skills...
　Why would you do that?

'Well........that training is for fighting, right?
'Yes, sir. Besides that, is there anything else?

　I asked, and Suzu-san nodded with a smirk.
　Since it was Suz-san, wouldn't she bring up some strange special training?　What a little thought.
　He seems like an easy person to understand, and in fact, I don't really understand him.

Why do you want to talk about that?
Hmmm ... right out of the box?
Yeah, go ahead.
Mr. Lane and his friends are weak.
"Ug.

　That's a real zap.
　You can say whatever you want to say.

　It's just ... there are some things I don't agree with.
　I mean, we're new to this party, and it's only been a short time, but...
　I think I've done a fair amount of field work.
　I've dealt with a variety of people, fought demons, and sometimes even demonkind.

　But even so, it's a bit off-putting to be called weak.
　Then Suzu-san, who seemed to see right through my inner thoughts, said, "I'm sorry," she said.

''I'm sorry, I don't mean to humiliate Rain-san and the others for nothing. Just that you are proud of them, aren't you?　I think you're mistaken.　.... or something like that.
Again, I'm going to be very clear...
'Do you think you and Mr. Lane and the others consider yourselves to be strong?'
It's...

　When asked that question, I'm at a loss for words.

　Are we strong?
　Do you have the power?

　There are some things I can't answer clearly.
　What I think back to is the time we fought the demon race.
　At that time, we all fought as hard as we could, but we were unable to deliver a decisive blow. We had prolonged the fight.

　What if it had been one-on-one back then?
　What if one of them is missing?
　The demon tribe could not be defeated and could still be on the loose.
　A great deal of damage could have been created.

　After all.........
　We're just relying on numbers and high specs, right?

'If you don't say anything back, that means you approve of my words, right?

　Suzu says with a look in her eyes as if she is looking into our hearts.
　It's a little frustrating to admit, but...
　But there was no point in looking good here, so I gave a small nod.

'I don't think I'm strong,'
'With all the strongest species available, including Kanade?　Even though Mr. Lane, who unites everyone like that, gets a lot of power from a lot of contracts?
'If it's a spec, I think it's as high as anyone else's. I think everyone is strong. It's just....
"Just?
I don't have the skills to fight.

　Everyone has never had any combat training.
　Kanade didn't hone his combat skills because he left his village because he wanted to see the outside world.
　Nina is still a child and was only enshrined, so I don't need to tell you.

　I heard that Tania had been on a training journey, but I haven't heard of her learning combat skills in earnest.
　Sora and Luna apparently learned offensive magic to protect the gate that leads to the village of the spirit race, but they didn't seem to have learned how to handle it efficiently.

　Tina is just a ghost, so there's no chance for her to fight.

　And I'm all self-taught, except for my tame skills.
　When I was in the party of the brave, I was left to do only chores, and I had no time for that....
　After that, he didn't try to hone his combat skills.

　........because we never encountered a situation that required our combat skills.

'There have been many things that have happened in the past, but the reason we have been able to overcome them is because everyone's specs are so high...............................
I see.

　Suzu nods with a satisfied look on her face after hearing my words.
　Then she clasps her hands together and says with a smile, "Yes, I passed.

''Yes, I passed.
What?
It's hard to admit one's own weaknesses... but Ms. Lane was able to face herself properly and admit her weaknesses, which is not easy to do. That's not something that's easy to do. As long as you don't forget that kind of attitude, you can become strong.
'Huh...'

　I'm not sure, but it seems he was being tested without knowing it.

　When I glanced at Kanade, he looked like he was saying, "Oh dear.
　As far as Kanade was concerned, Suzu seemed to do this kind of thing a lot.

　What would have happened if he hadn't been able to pass the current test?
　

Now let's get back to the beginning.

　Suzu continued to speak, still with a smile on her face, her emotions unreadable.

'Like Rain-san said, you all have high specs, but you haven't been able to make use of them. So, you struggled against me. Right?
Well....
'Well...'

　Tania and Kanade admitted, albeit reluctantly.
　They oozed with regret, but that didn't mean they were going to make any poor excuses.
　Suzu seemed to like that attitude, and she smiled at them.

I believe that admitting weakness is, in fact, strength. What's wrong is not being able to face your own strength.
Meow ... mom, is that a compliment?
'It's a compliment, okay?　I'm so happy that Kanade is growing up so well, mother.
Meow I'm getting mixed up.

　Well, it wouldn't feel so good to be praised for admitting that you're weak.
　After all, it would only remind you of your own lack of ability.

''I mean, I digress.

　Suzu undoes her own derailed story.

'I won't be doing anything to bring Kanade back, will I?　Kanade seems to be best with Rain and the others, you know. But I'm worried about you, though. Shouldn't you learn to fight a bit more?　And. Conveniently, I don't have to return to the village yet, and if you don't mind, I can teach you how to fight.　That's what I'm trying to talk about.
I see...
'Lane and the others will continue to be adventurers, won't they?　Maybe there will be a time when you will run into an incredibly strong opponent. Don't you think it's necessary to train for those times?


　What Suzu-san says has a point.
　Since the battle with the demons the other day, I've been thinking about it.
　If we are relying on ground power to fight, we might be stuck in a dead end someday.
　It's better to learn some serious fighting skills while there's still time to spare.

　That's something I haven't talked to everyone about yet...
　It's something I've been thinking about in secret.

　So the timing is good, but........
　Just what do people think?
　It's not a decision I can make on my own.

What do you think, Kanade?
'Hmmm... I guess I agree with you. I thought it was a bit lacking... and if I could get the strongest mother in the cat spirit race to train me, I'd be even stronger... and that would help Rain. So..........and then he would praise me.......
Yeah?
'Nah, not even nymphet!　And anyway, I guess I agree.

　Despite his somewhat suspicious behavior, Kanade voted in favor.

'What about Tania?'
I agree with you.
''Well that's a bit surprising. I was expecting someone to teach me or to rebel against me.
You have no idea what you're talking about, do you? Well, I would have been opposed to having a half-hearted opponent teach me, but I have no problem with you, Suz-san. My goal is to become a master at what I do, so if I can become stronger, I'm welcome to do so.

　Tania also voted in favor.........
　So what about Sora and Luna?

I see... what about Sora and Luna?
"Sora is....
I am for it!

　Luna shouts loudly as she pushes Sola away.

'I have always thought. I want to become stronger. I want to be stronger, I want to make this power known to the world. If you want to train for that, I'll be happy to do it.
Is that the motive...?
'I'll let Sora explain. Luna could do a lot of things if she had more power. Even when we dealt with the demon race the other day, we were able to minimize the damage. I don't want to have to go through that kind of frustration, so I want to try harder...
"Mmm, don't speak for me!
By the way, I feel the same way about Sora as Luna.

　Sola and Luna seem to agree with me.
　It would be easier to understand if they said it in a normal way. I can't help but chuckle.

'What about Nina?'
I'm not... um... well, I mean...
Calm down. Speak your mind at your own pace and say what you think.
Ummmmm..... I haven't been very helpful... but I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. If I can be of help... I'll do my best, too.
'Well yes, I understand how Nina feels.

　It's not that Nina isn't helpful or anything, but....
　I didn't want to mention it now.
　I don't know if I'd be able to get through if I just said the words.
　These things are about his feelings.
　If he wants to train in order to improve his feelings, there is no reason to object to it.

''Well ... finally, what do you think Tina?　Well, I'm sure it's hard for Tina to fight or something.
Home?　We're for it.
'Really?　You say that so easily.
I'd like to fight if I could learn to fight, too. I'm willing to train for that purpose. I want to repay Rayne and the others for their kindness.
Okay.

　Everyone seems to be on the same page.
　I turn to Suzu-san.

'Well you may have already figured it out after what you just said, but.....Special training, can I ask you to do that?
"Yes, I'll take care of it.