Chapter 4

Well, even though I declared it in front of my parents, I’m still only five years old, so there’s very little I can do.

At this age, pushing myself too hard would have adverse effects. What I can do is build a healthy body by exercising regularly, eating well, and getting plenty of sleep.

Serious training should start around the age of eight. For now, I’ll do some light running to build my stamina.

Also… I suppose I should get my body used to the sword techniques I practiced in my previous life. It’s beneficial to do this during this period when learning is quick.

So, what I’m about to do is learn how to harness my fighting spirit. Right now, I’m sitting cross-legged in the vast garden outside the mansion. The posture doesn’t matter much, but it’s better to be as natural as possible.

The reason I’m sitting in the garden is that fighting spirit is a manifestation of one’s life force, and this life force absorbs the enormous vitality present in the earth.

To be more precise, fighting spirit is the transformation of life force into a combat-ready form.

All living beings, including humans, live on the earth. While there are creatures that wander in the sky like birds, they cannot live without the earth. Ultimately, all life in this world relies on the earth’s blessings.

There isn’t any solid evidence for this. However, I thought of it as a kind of ritual or charm, and I intend to acquire my fighting spirit on the ground.

“Kraze-sama… what are you doing…?”

My personal maid, Frill, spoke to me. Her fluffy chestnut hair was swaying.

Honestly, I don’t need a maid… but since I’m only five, it seems to be for safety reasons. My seven-year-old brother also has a personal maid, so this must be normal.

“I’m going to learn fighting spirit.”

“Fighting spirit…?”

“Yeah. Since I can’t use magic, it’s kind of a substitute.”

“I see…”

Frill is a bit of a mystery. Sometimes she seems clueless, yet she anticipates things before they happen.

Well, as a maid of the Raynostia Marquis family, she can’t be incompetent, but I still don’t quite understand her.

“Hmm…”

The method of learning fighting spirit is quite different from acquiring magic. Magic is more about becoming aware of what you already have. It’s always there, but you just don’t realize it. The usual method is for mages to channel their magic.

In contrast, fighting spirit isn’t as logical as magic. It’s more about opening up to it. You transform an imperceptible life force into perceptible fighting spirit. This is called opening the gate.

The gate resides deep within oneself. One must perceive and sense the opening of the gate. While it’s something anyone can do, there’s variation in how easily one can perceive and open it.

But I’m fine. I opened it once in my previous life. I remember the process and sensations perfectly.

Although the result of opening the gate is the same, the methods to achieve it vary among people. Some fast, some endure hardships, and some throw themselves into dangerous situations.

The method I’m using is none of these.

My method is… the path of the former swordsman.

Focus your consciousness inward.

“Deep descent… moving through the dark night. Unseparated by yin and yang, chaotic… connecting to the path of Pangu. Creation, heaven and earth, all things, life… advance through it and appear is the gate of battle. Neither pushed open nor pulled open… what I wish for is the writhing madness. Man returns to earth, and earth lives man. Only man opens… the light of reincarnation.”

…

It’s open.

Ah… this is it. This sensation. The gate that was seated in the abyss has opened. With the gate open, my life force… fighting spirit is overflowing.

My body is hot. Steam seems to be about to burst from my entire body. Anyone skilled in fighting spirit who saw me would notice that the gate is open.

“Hmm… hahahaha… ahahahaha!”

This body is amazing…! I have so much more fighting spirit than I did in my previous life, despite just opening it.

If I continue training diligently… it’s going to be incredible…

“U-um… is everything alright?”

Ah, I completely forgot about Frill. She must think I’m a strange child. Well, it’s possible she already thinks that, so it’s not a big deal.

“I’m fine. There’s no problem.”

Frill generally doesn’t press for details. As long as I handle it casually, it should be fine. I thought it would be the same as usual, but…

“No… it’s your body…”

“My body?”

“There’s something coming out of Kraze-sama’s body…”

“…You can see it!?”

That’s impossible. Fighting spirit can only be seen by someone who has opened the gate. Frill is unlikely to have opened the gate… I can tell because I just opened it. Frill has not opened the gate.

So why can she tell something is coming out of my body…? As I pondered this, Frill spoke hesitantly.

“I’m not sure what it is… but… it looks like a mist…”

“Mist?”

“Yes. A faint, glowing white mist…”

A glowing white mist… It’s clear that she’s not seeing the fighting spirit fully. However, even seeing just a bit is unusual.

I don’t know the cause. I’ve never seen or heard of it in my previous life. The only thing I can think of is that the gate is slightly open due to some trigger.

…Let me check a bit. I slowly calmed the overflowing fighting spirit within me.

“Frill. Can you still see the mist?”

“…No, it’s gone now.”

“I see…”

It’s likely that Frill’s gate is slightly open. I’m pretty sure of it. Therefore, she can see the fighting spirit outside, but it becomes invisible once it’s calmed inside.

Fighting spirit is not widely known. I’ve heard it developed in some island nation… but I’m not sure about its actual details.

…My father might know. It wouldn’t be surprising if he did. Should I consult him about Frill?

“Um… is there something wrong with me?”

Frill looks anxious again. Maybe she’s worried because I went silent with a serious face. It’s understandable to be anxious… though, can a five-year-old’s reaction be that worrying?

Well, first I’ll explain the situation to Frill.

“Frill. Do you know about fighting spirit?”

“…No, I don’t.”

“Well, to put it simply, it’s like magic.”

It’s actually different, but explaining it in detail is too much trouble.

“To learn fighting spirit, you need to open the gate deep within yourself. And it seems your gate is slightly open.”

“So that’s why I saw the mist coming from Kraze-sama’s body?”

“Yes. People who haven’t opened their gate see nothing… but those who have can clearly see the fighting spirit. Seeing the mist means you’re somewhere in between… that is, slightly open.”

“Is… is there something wrong with me?”

She lowers her eyebrows and looks worried again, reminding me of a puppy. Setting that aside, will any actual problems arise?

…I can’t say for sure. Since I’ve never seen it before, maybe it’s better to fully open the gate.

“Probably okay… I’d like to say, but honestly, I don’t know. So, let’s consult Father. He might know something.”

“Understood.”

He should be working right now… I’ll ask him tonight.