Allen-Rowdle. Fifteen years old.

　I had no talent for ...... swordplay. I'm ashamed of myself.

　But I swung day after day.
　More than anyone else, for longer than anyone else, I just kept swinging.

Because my mother had always told me that hard work always pays off.

　My mother raised me this far with only a handful of women.
　My father died of an epidemic when I was still a baby. I was told that he was a sincere and honest man, but I don't remember his face or even being with him, so it didn't ring a bell. I heard that he looked like my mother with his clear eyes and my father with his dark hair.

　I don't remember much of my childhood, but I do remember that my mother worked hard for me day in and day out.

　Even the entrance and tuition fees for the sword academy I'm currently attending were paid for by my mother, who saved up her meager salary for years and years.

　That's why, no matter if I was scorned as a "failed swordsman" at the academy, bullied by my classmates, or treated as a nuisance by my teachers, I kept on swinging my sword, no matter how hard it was.

　I worked many, many times harder than others to become a great swordsman.
　And then I'll make life easy for my mother, who has put me through so much.

　--That's what I've been trying to do at the academy.

　All that effort will be wiped out tomorrow.


　It all started at ...... dusk this evening.


　I was swinging my sword alone in the schoolyard, as usual, when Dodriel-Burton appeared with two girls around her.

　Dodriel-Burton.
　He was the eldest son of Baron Burton, with his prominent blue hair pulled back.

　I hated him.

　He was always calling me a "failed swordsman" and bullying me.
　Normally, I would pretend not to hear him and let his sarcasm pass.
　But today, he said something to me that I just can't forgive.

"Take that ...... back, you ......!

"Oh come on ....... I'm sure you're not the only one.　If children are trash, then parents are trash, too. ...... I didn't say anything funny, did I?

Dodriel, you ......!

　I was about to grab him by the chest when I lost my temper.

"Don't touch me with your ...... filthy hands!　You're a failed swordsman!

　He kicked me in the stomach.

　He kicked me in the stomach. I was blown away by the sheer force of the kick.
　I fell on my butt in disgrace, but quickly got up and glared at him.

"Sure, I may be a talentless piece of garbage ....... But that doesn't mean you're trash!

　Then Dodriel cowered and sighed.
　The girls around me are laughing at me as I yell at them, my face turning red.

I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.　It's been a long time ago that the parents of trash like you are trash.

　Dodriel said with a sneer, as if to express his deepest sympathy.

You ......!

　I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.

You can't do that.　I'm sure you're not the only one.

"......".

　Private fights between students using swords are forbidden by the school rules.
　If you break this rule, you will be punished severely, such as suspension or expulsion from school.

　If I, a student at the bottom of the academy, did such a thing, ...... I would be expelled for sure.

If it was ......!　Dodriel Burton ...... will challenge you to a duel!

You're a failed swordsman for many years, and you want to challenge me, the most gifted swordsman in the school, to a duel. ......?

That's right!　If I win, you'll have to retract what you said earlier!

I'm sorry.　Interesting ...... Interesting, Allen!　If you win, I'll take back what I said!　If you win, I'll take my head off your shoulders and everything!　--But if you lose...

　But if you lose," he trailed off and lifted the corners of his mouth in an annoying gesture.

"...... And if I lose?

I'm going to have to ask you to quit ...... the academy on the spot.

I'm not sure what to say.

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

I'm not sure what to say.　I'm not sure if you've heard of this, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

"Yes, I do!　But this is not balanced!

　On the one hand, retraction of the previous statement. On the other hand, you're expelling me from the academy.
　These are not equal terms.

"Hey, hey, don't get me wrong, fallen swordsman.　Your quitting the academy is not worth it. I'm sure you're not the only one.

......

　I'm sorry, but ...... he was right.
　You will find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier.
　I don't even know when I'll be forced to quit because of my poor grades.



"All right, ....... I challenge you to a duel on these terms: .......

"Oh, I'll take it!　How about tomorrow morning at nine o'clock in the morning at the gym?

　I nodded my head.

I'll take care of the registration for the duel. I'll take care of the registration for the duel. Allen, at least try your best to make the duel work. I know it will be a futile effort, but... Hahahahahaha!

　That's how I ended up dueling the genius swordsman Dodriel tomorrow.

　Looking back on it now, I wonder what a stupid thing I've done.

(No, ......, but if he had said the same thing to me again, I would have challenged him to a duel as well.

　I'm not rotten enough to ignore someone making fun of my mother.

(But ...... Dodriel is strong.)

　He's the opposite of me-- the genius type.
　He is the opposite of me--he's a genius. He doesn't have much practice, but he's like a sponge and can learn any kata or sword technique in no time.
　Rumor has it that he has been recommended by a prestigious school in Tokyo for admission. .......

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

　My expulsion from the academy is at stake in this duel.

　More importantly, I had to get him to retract his outburst against my mother.

　After that, I returned to the dormitory and headed for the forest with my sword in hand.
　When I arrived at the place where I always swing my sword, I swung it with all my might.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft, ......!

　I just kept swinging my sword, selflessly and without hesitation.
　It's not that I was desperate for anything.
　This is all I can do.

　When I first entered the school, I bowed to various teachers at the sword academy and begged them to let me join their school.

　But .......

"Unfortunately, you have no talent. I'm afraid we can't let you pass through our doors.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!　How can you ask me to be your apprentice with such a poorly made sword?

Have you ever heard of ...... the word 'moderation'?

　"Do you know the word 'moderation'?
　There was nothing I could do.

　That's why I don't know any kata, don't know any stripes.

　All I was taught in the academy was how to swing and how to train my body.

　In other words, the only thing I could do as "training" was to swing my sword like this.

　Later, when the sun was setting and the moonlight was shining on me, I finally stopped swinging my sword.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ......!

　The laughter spontaneously came out of my mouth.

I'm an idiot,......!　There's no way you can win with this ......!

　There's no point in swinging a sword wildly.
　I'm going to lose to that genius tomorrow anyway. And it's going to be ugly.

　The difference between me and him can't be bridged in a day.
　Even if I had a few years, I wouldn't even be able to catch up.

(regretful ....... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry .......

　It's a shame, but ...... no matter how many times I simulate it in my head, I can't get a vision of beating that genius.

I'm not sure what to do .......

　I was so frustrated ...... that I burst into tears.

　I need strength.
　I want the power to defeat Dodriel.

　But I don't have enough of everything.

　I need power, I need talent, and most of all, I need time. ......

"...... d*mn it!

　That's when I hit the ground.

"Ho, ho, ho. ....... You seem to be in a lot of distress, young swordsman.

　Suddenly, I heard a shrill voice above me.

"Who are you?

　I looked up and saw a short old man standing there.

　His hair, eyebrows, and beard were all white.
　His waist was clearly bent, and he was holding a cane with one hand.
　What was most eerie was that he didn't feel any presence.

"Me?　I am. ...... I'm like the Hermit of Time.

　The mysterious old man, who called himself the Hermit of Time, rubbed his beard, which was so long it almost touched the ground.

"Now, young swordsman. If you have a problem, why don't you talk to this old man?

"...... Talking to you won't change anything.

Mmm ......, but isn't it just too painful to keep it to yourself?　Just talking to someone will make you feel a lot better. There's no need to be shy. You're talking to an old man with one foot in the coffin.

　The Hermit of Time laughed happily. The hermit laughed happily.

"...... Well, maybe.

　In desperation, I began to tell him about my current desperate situation.

　I have no talent with a sword.


　Being bullied at the Kenjutsu Gakuin.
　About my mother back home.
　About the duel tomorrow.

　And so, as I let out all the things I've been storing up for so long - I did feel a little better.

"I see. ....... So that's why you were so depressed. ......

　The hermit of time listened to my story seriously, without making fun of me.
　He may be a better listener than I thought.

If that's the case, ...... I might be able to help you out a bit.

"...... How?

　If there is a magic that can turn such a hopeless board upside down, I would like to know about it.
　The Hermit of Time grinned.

"Well, you'll have to use this," he said.

　Then he pulled out a red button the size of a fist from his pocket.

"What's that, ......?

"The 100 Million Year Button, a rare and magical item.

"A hundred million year button. ......?

"Mmm. Whoever presses this button will instantly have the same effect as if they had practiced for a hundred million years!　It's a very valuable item!

"...... smells fishy.

　That was my honest impression.

"Well, well, just listen to me. Just listen to what the old man has to say. ......?

　The hermit rubbed his hands together.

　The hermit rubbed his hands together and said, "I've just had my story told to me a few minutes ago, and I thought it would be a good idea to refuse it outright. ...... I was a little curious.

...... Make it short.

Oh!　Oh, you're listening to me!　Thank you, thank you, thank you!

　Then he cleared his throat loudly.

If you press this 100 million year button, you will be transported to another world where you will spend 100 million years. You are free in that world. You can just sit around. You can meditate. You may continue your training. You have a hundred million years of time on your hands.

"...... can I practice for 100 million years?

　That sounds like a dream to me right now.

"Yes!　Plus, you'll have a home, a place to sleep, and a huge bathhouse!　And you won't have to worry about food!　There's a magical pantry with an endless supply of food!　Plus, it's a different world, so you don't have to worry about lifespan!

"......!

　You'll have plenty of time to eat and sleep, and you'll never grow old.
　The environment was so ideal that I couldn't help but gulp.

And the best thing about this 100 million year button is that for you here(・・・・・), that 100 million years will pass in an instant!

"...... What do you mean?

　What do you mean?
　A hundred million years is a hundred million years. A hundred million years is a hundred million years. It can't be over in an instant.

In fact, the moment you return to the real world from the other world of ......, the entire memory of 100 million years will be erased!　In other words, for you right now, the moment you press the button...

So, the moment you press the button, you'll have done 100 million years of training!

Exactly!　Thank you for being so understanding!

　When the hermit had finished his explanation, he said, "How's that?　Isn't it amazing? The hermit, when he had finished his explanation, said, "How's that?
　I stared at the red button.

(...... if I could really train for a hundred million years ......)

　I might be able to beat Dodriel .......

　Four or five years is not enough time to catch up with Dodriel.
　But with a hundred million years of time, ...... even a talentless swordsman like me can catch up to that genius - or even surpass him.

　As I thought about this, I was suddenly brought back to reality.

　I realized how stupid I was thinking.

(I really don't know what I'm thinking about seriously. ......)

　It's too good to be true. .......

　It's not a fairy tale, there's no such thing as a dream .......

Huh. ....... Is that the end of the story?　I don't have time for this nonsense.

"Oh, ......?　Didn't you like it?

I think it's great. ...... if that story is true.

It's not a lie!　I've never lied in my life!

Well, I'm glad to hear it.

　So I picked up my sword again and began to swing.
　I know I can't win anyway, but ...... I wanted to do the best I could.



"Mugu ....... Just once, just once, can you try to push it?　It's a request from an old man in his infancy. ......!

　The Hermit of Time rubbed his hands together and begged.
　I had never expected such a desperate request.

"Oh, ......, okay, okay.

　Pressing the button just once would satisfy him.
　Just as I was about to reach for the button, the Immortal of Time suddenly opened his mouth with a serious look on his face.

"Young swordsman. I have one piece of advice for you.

"Huh, ...... is there anything more?

"Never--never commit suicide, will you?　Even though this is the other world, your body is only one. If you die, it's the end.

"Yes, yes, I understand.

　And so I pressed the button that the hermit of time held.
　But, as I thought, there was no change in .......

"Well, well, well.　How do you feel after a hundred million years of just swinging a sword?

　The Immortal of Time asked me with a heartfelt smile.

"Nothing's changed. That's a lie.

　There was nothing to be disappointed about.
　There is no such thing as a hundred million year button.

"Ho, ho, ho!　Too big a change for you to notice!　Seeing is believing... why don't you swing your sword and show me?

　You're so persistent. .......

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it'll be fine.

"Hmph!

　At that moment, a tremendous wind blew.


"Where's ............?


　If my eyes weren't out of whack, I'd say my sword had just branched into three.
　The space bent--so fast that I recognized it.

"Ho-ho-ho!　That's great!　Look at you, young swordsman!

　The Immortal of Time clapped his hands and laughed.

(Seriously, ......?)

　This time, he tried a sideways cut.

"Ha!

　Three seconds after he swung his sword sideways. Three seconds after I swung my sword straight across, I heard the delayed sound of the wind cutting through the air.

　My sword left the sound behind.

What's ...... this ......?

　It's not just ...... about the sword fitting into your body.
　It's not just the sword fitting into your body, it's the incredible feeling of omnipotence that surrounds you, as if you and the sword are one.

How do you feel?　It's like being born again, isn't it?

　The Immortal of Time smiled happily at me as I groped my hands in wonder.

The Time Immortal laughed happily as I groped my hands in wonder.　I really feel like I've been reborn. ......!

　I looked down and saw the 100 million year button in the hermit's hand.

I looked down and saw the 100 million year button in the hermit's hand. "Let me press it again, ....... Let me press it again. ......?

　I've gotten stronger, sure.

　I was getting stronger, but I still didn't know if I could beat Dodriel.

　There was such a big wall between us that I couldn't see the difference in power between the two.

"Yes, yes, yes!　You can push me as many times as you want until you're satisfied!

"Oh, really?　Thank you, thank you ......!

　Then I pressed the button again and again.

　No--I pressed it (・・・・・・・).


　I pressed (......) the d*mned 100 million year button.