The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Talent (1)

Early the next day, I went to find Sione.

"Lady Sione, please wake up."

"Why are you disturbing me at this ungodly hour...?"

"Didn't we make an arrangement yesterday?"

"Ah..."

Being shaken awake before dawn, Sione looked at me as if thinking 'what kind of bastard does this,' but it wasn't a problem.

"Nngh..."

Remembering our conversation from yesterday, she got up and prepared to go out.

"Please wear this. The dawn air is still cold."

"How very thoughtful."

"I'm honored you think so."

"...I don't like your attitude."

Though grumbling, Sione put on the coat I offered.

I'd been worried it might be too small given her substantial frame, but seeing it fit perfectly was a relief.

"It suits you well."

"...You seem unusually talkative today, or is that just my imagination?"

"If it displeases you, I'll speak less."

"Never mind. Do as you like."

Sione turned her head sharply and went outside.

Her reaction was amusing, acting shy in her own way after yesterday's events had made her somewhat friendlier.

The archery range was in a corner of the training grounds.

Having confirmed yesterday that practice bows and arrows were available at the range, we didn't need to bring anything else.

Whoosh.

The dawn wind blew.

Even in spring, the early morning air was quite cold.

This weakened body was particularly sensitive to cold, and the passing wind made me shiver involuntarily.

"Sss..."

Ugh, look at these goosebumps.

Still, though I'd woken earlier than usual and wasn't fully awake, this perfectly timed wind helped clear my drowsiness.

Seeing my state, Sione glanced at me and took off her coat.

"You look quite cold. You should wear this."

Sione Sianella showing such consideration...?

The same Sione who'd guard her snacks suspiciously, refusing to share with anyone?

Though unbelievable, she even held out her coat to me.

"My arm's getting tired, hurry and take it."

"Are you sure it's alright for me to wear it?"

"With all this fat I've packed on, I'll get warm enough just moving around a bit, so I don't really need a coat."

"Pardon?"

"...I'm saying I'll be hot, so you wear it."

I took the coat from Sione and put it on.

The coat, still warm from her body heat, quickly helped drive away my chill.

"Thank you, Lady Sione."

"Don't mention it."

Walking with light conversation, we soon arrived at the training grounds.

Given the early hour, there wasn't a soul in sight around the grounds.

Fortunately, Sione wouldn't have to flee from anyone's presence.

"...I thought I'd never set foot here again."

Sione gazed across the wide training grounds.

She seemed to be recalling memories.

"Would you like to look around the grounds for a moment?"

"No, there's no need. Let's go straight to the archery range."

"As you wish."

We entered the archery range.

The sun was starting to rise, making the targets clearly visible as the darkness that would have hindered our vision lifted.

I began looking for suitable bows for Sione and myself.

Let's check the closest one first?

I picked up a bow and drew its string.

"This one's too heavy."

The draw weight was too strong for a beginner.

Sione's substantial arms, made of fat rather than muscle, would certainly struggle to draw the string.

Though she could manage with mana, it would be better to start with something manageable to build interest rather than something difficult.

"These two should do."

After testing several more bows' strings, I selected two with appropriate draw weights.

Just right for beginners, with crisp tension.

One that even my delicate male arms could draw with sufficient tension, and one slightly heavier for Sione, since she was a woman.

I handed Sione the bow I'd chosen for her.

"Please use this one, my lady."

"...You chose quite seriously."

"When selecting a bow for Lady Sione, I couldn't be anything but thorough."

I shouldered the quiver.

Archery had been my hobby on Earth, and even as a Hunter I'd specialized in the bow.

My heart seemed to beat faster than usual at the thought of shooting a bow again after so long.

"Before I instruct you, may I try shooting first?"

"Go ahead."

"I'll finish quickly."

I stood facing a target that appeared to be about 40 meters away.

"It's been so long, I'm a bit nervous."

What if I miss?

My usual confidence with the bow began to waver and fade.

Before being dropped here, I'd hit targets between the eyes at over a hundred meters.

Now I felt uncertain about a target less than half that distance.

I'm getting rusty, really rusty.

"Ssp... hah."

Taking a light breath, I positioned my body at an angle to the target.

Then calmly began nocking an arrow.

For this first casual shot, I decided to use the pinch draw...

I held the arrow with my index finger and thumb in a pinching grip while drawing the string.

Hmm... the draw weight is heavier than expected.

But regardless of the unexpected weight, I continued pulling the string.

Dead release. I drew the string until my hand reached my chin, then held.

With my hand at my chin, maintaining form, even with a lighter bow than others, it was inevitably taxing.

The trapezius muscles needed for drawing weren't fully developed yet either.

This body still wasn't well-suited for archery in many ways.

I circulated a bit of mana to my weaker areas to steady my slightly trembling arms.

As men in this world were inferior with mana...

Even using just a tiny bit of mana left me feeling drained, the void in my mana reserves clearly noticeable.

...Can't be helped. It's just how men's bodies are built in this place.

I calmly considered factors like wind direction while aiming at the target, then—

"Hup!"

Twang.

I released the tautly drawn string while holding my breath for a moment.

Whoosh!! Thud!!

The arrow pierced the air and struck dead center of the round wooden target.

"Haven't lost my touch yet."

Though I'd worried about missing when first taking stance...

After one success, my confidence began building endlessly.

Not stopping there, I drew another arrow from the quiver and nocked it.

"This time, the way I used to."

Having tried the pinch draw, I should try my old familiar method too.

The Mediterranean or split-finger draw.

Placing the arrow vertically between middle and index fingers, while hooking the string with the final joints of both fingers plus the ring finger.

Unlike before, instead of drawing to full, stopping, then releasing— I released as I completed the drawing motion backward.

Sliding release. The arrow shot faster and fiercer than with the dead release.

Crack! Thunk!!

This arrow split the previous one and embedded itself in the center again.

"What a relief."

Seeing the arrows fly true to my wishes, it seemed my sense for archery remained intact despite this changed body.

When I finished and turned around, I found Sione staring at me in disbelief.

"...Surely someone who only learned archery superficially couldn't display such skill."

"What do you think?"

"This time, I'd like to watch from beside you rather than behind. Could you do it once more?"

"Of course."

After confirming she'd taken position beside me with her bow in hand, I shot again.

This time too, I used the sliding release.

The series of movements from nocking to shooting flowed like water.

As the string was drawn back, gathering sufficient power, I released it with a light snap.

"Ah..."

I heard Sione's small exclamation.

Though I'd only drawn and released the string once—

She seemed particularly amazed that every arrow struck the center rather than the edges of the target.

I lowered the bow.

Using muscles I rarely used made my arms start to feel stiff.

Since it would be awkward to use mana to solve this...

I thought it better to rest a bit before shooting more.

I looked at Sione with a slight smile.

"What do you think?"

"...That was impressive."

Looking at her expression, I suspected she'd soon ask how I'd achieved this level of archery skill, applying reasonable doubt.

After all, hitting dead center at 40 meters without any deviation couldn't be ignored.

To avoid thinking up troublesome excuses, I'd have to speak first.

The moment I saw her lips begin to move, I cut in:

"It's not such remarkable skill, but as I said yesterday, it's sufficient to teach the basics to a beginner."

With a few more shots to regain my feel, I could probably manage 70 meters in my current state.

Since I'd only shown her 40-meter shots, I humbly understated my true ability.

I drew an arrow from the quiver and held it out to Sione.

"Now it's your turn to shoot, Lady Sione."

Now it was Sione's turn to try the bow.

Well, after the demonstration, time to give it a try?

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