Chapter 39: Learning to Protect Himself

Perhaps size simply was not an indicator of maturity for their species.

"Well, as long as you all grow up healthy, that’s enough for me. Just don’t push yourselves too hard, okay?"

[ Okay! I love you, Nuoya! ]

Even when they talked, the slimes were unbelievably adorable.

Just listening to Mochi made Qiu Nuoya feel at ease.

"Hey, Nuoya..." Igor looked at him curiously. "Can you actually talk to slimes?"

"Hm? Yes. Somehow I suddenly became able to understand them. Maybe it’s because Mochi became my familiar?"

"Normally, even Beast Tamers can’t communicate that easily with their familiars," Igor replied. "Maybe with highly intelligent monsters, but I’ve never heard of anyone being able to hold a conversation with a slime."

"Huh?"

Qiu Nuoya blinked his eyes in surprise.

He had simply assumed that making a monster into a familiar naturally allowed them to understand each other.

"So that’s not how it usually works?"

"I can’t say for certain," Igor admitted. "I’ve never met a Beast Tamer who kept a slime as a familiar in the first place."

"Really? I would’ve thought slimes were perfect for beginners."

"That’s exactly why," Igor replied. "From what I’ve heard, every Beast Tamer has a limit to how many familiars they can tame. As far as I know, I’ve never seen a Beast Tamer who worked as an adventurer waste one of those precious slots on a slime."

That made sense.

In combat, slimes were practically useless.

Still, they were perfect when it came to providing comfort.

This was also the first time Qiu Nuoya had heard that there was a limit to the number of monsters a Beast Tamer could command.

In his case, did Mochi count as one familiar?

Or did all the slimes inside Mochi count separately?

He had no idea.

Well, there was no point worrying about it now.

He did not even know whether he would ever tame another familiar.

As long as Mochi stayed happy and healthy, that was enough for him.

The following day, Igor kept his promise and began teaching Qiu Nuoya hand to hand combat.

What Qiu Nuoya wanted to learn was not how to defeat opponents, but how to protect himself.

Although his movements were clumsy, he carefully repeated every technique Igor demonstrated, practicing how to respond whenever an opponent attacked in a particular way.

To his surprise, he discovered that even someone with a smaller build and less physical strength could still defend themselves if they used the right techniques.

So this is what they mean by "softness overcomes strength."

"That’s amazing, Igor!" Qiu Nuoya exclaimed. "With this, I might actually be able to fight against adults!"

Igor had taught him how to deliberately step into an opponent’s range and target vulnerable points.

By taking advantage of his small stature and agility, Qiu Nuoya could move in ways larger opponents found difficult to respond to.

He was so excited that he could barely contain himself.

However, Igor shook his head.

"Don’t get overconfident. This isn’t practical combat."

"It isn’t? It seems strong enough to fight with..."

"It’s self defense, not martial arts," Igor explained. "No matter how agile you are, if your opponent is much bigger and stronger, they’ll overpower you the moment they get a proper hold of you. Self defense techniques only work because they catch people off guard. If you’re trying to win a straight fight, they’re not enough. At best, these techniques create an opening so you can escape."

Qiu Nuoya nodded in understanding.

That was true.

There was no way he could defeat someone like Igor in hand to hand combat after only a few lessons.

These techniques existed solely to create a chance to flee when cornered.

Thinking they would allow him to defeat an opponent would only be arrogance.

"But, Nuoya, you’ve got good instincts," Igor said. "Once you get a little older and raise your adventurer rank, I’ll teach you practical martial arts too."

Qiu Nuoya nodded.

Right now, his hand to hand combat skills were still nothing more than the basics.

Fortunately, steadily improving little by little was something he excelled at.

He would simply keep practicing through repetition.

"By the way, Nuoya," Igor said, glancing to the side, "someone’s been watching us for a while. Do you know him?"

"Hm?"

Igor gestured with his eyes.

Following his gaze, Qiu Nuoya spotted a young boy peeking out from behind a tree some distance away, trying to stay hidden while watching them.

"Ah, it’s Warren! Hey! Come over here!"

"Hm?" Igor looked surprised. "Isn’t that the kid who kept picking fights with you until recently?"

"Yes, that’s him. But we’ve become friends lately. He even gave me this leather armor after he outgrew it."

At Qiu Nuoya’s call, Warren panicked for a moment.

Eventually, however, he seemed to give up hiding and slowly walked over, his face stiff with nervousness.

"You could’ve just come over instead of hiding."

"Yeah... well..." Warren answered bluntly.

It was obvious that standing before the adventurer he admired had made him nervous.

Even though he had no trouble talking back to Qiu Nuoya, he could not even bring himself to look directly at Igor.

"This is Warren," Qiu Nuoya said. "He really admires you, Igor. He..."

"Mmph!"

Before he could finish, Warren hurriedly clamped a hand over Qiu Nuoya’s mouth.

"You don’t have to say that!" he whispered through gritted teeth. "I told you I needed time to prepare myself!"

Qiu Nuoya blinked his eyes.

He still did not understand why Warren was so nervous.

It was not as if Igor was going to eat him.

"You two seem to get along well," Igor said with a smile. "Nuoya tells me you’ve been looking after him. Thank you."

"It’s nothing," Warren replied awkwardly. "You’re a swordsman, right?"

"Yes, sir."

Warren barely spoke, making it difficult for the conversation to continue.

Igor looked slightly troubled as he glanced at Qiu Nuoya.

But even with that expression, there was not much Qiu Nuoya could do.