I Was a Small Fish When I Reincarnated, but It Seems That I Can Become a Dragon, so I Will Do My Best - Extra Chapter 18

2-3. Blindfold Training

I can’t see anything in front of me.

I try to grasp the surroundings by feeling around, but it’s entirely useless.

Moving cautiously, I pay attention to small elevations like roots and soil.

While my footing is fine, it seems I walked straight into a tree branch, judging by the sound of it breaking.

I locate the position of the tree with my hands, ensure it’s safe, and move cautiously again.

And then, I ran into another branch.

“Ugh.”

How does Uchikage-Ojichan manage to see his surroundings in this situation? Since it’s training he used to do, he probably can move even with a blindfold. What is he looking at in a situation where he can’t see anything?

For now, since it’s the first day of blindfold training, attacks from the “Dark Medium” are not supposed to come. …So that means attacks will probably come soon.

I have a bad feeling about this from now on.

But seriously, I can’t see anything! Dodging attacks by feeling around is impossible!

What should I do? Why did Uchikage-Ojichan do this kind of training!?

“Yuuzen, don’t feel with your hands. Sense the presence.”

“Presence?”

“Everything in this world has a presence. Not only living beings but also small stones rolling underfoot, trees rooted in the earth, even fallen leaves from the tip of a branch—they all have a presence.”

“…I have to sense that?”

“Exactly.”

“No way.”

It’s not about sound but about presence. I have no idea what that even means.

For now, I stop and try to listen to the surrounding sounds.

I don’t have any other way to confirm my surroundings right now.

…I can only hear the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.

Since Uchikage-Ojichan isn’t talking, I don’t know where he is, and it seems there are no animals nearby.

Hmm… Is this training even meaningful?

Let’s wander around aimlessly for a while. Since I don’t understand the presence yet, I’ll keep moving to find it. Maybe I’ll notice something while walking.

Luckily, I’m tough, so there shouldn’t be any problems even if something happens.

And then, I stumble over a root and fall spectacularly.

“Argh!”

“You need time to get used to it. Spend a week in that condition.”

“A week!? Does that mean even when I eat!?”

“Yes. Living with blocked visual information is difficult, but once you get used to it, it’s not a big deal. Yuuzen should be able to grasp something soon. Now, I’ll leave for a while.”

“Eeeeh!?”

I didn’t agree to that! Don’t leave me here!

“Wait, wait!! Are you leaving me behind!?”

“This place is where Yuuzen has been training for five years. Even unconsciously, your body remembers the terrain. The goal of today’s training is to return to the Oni castle in that state. If you return before sunset, you pass and move on to the next step. If you can’t make it, I’ll come to get you. In that case, tomorrow’s training will extend the distance.”

“Awh. Come on!”

“Well then, do your best.”

I hear a swishing sound, and Uchikage-Ojichan is gone from this place. It seems he really left me behind. He is really serious about this!?

Moreover, I don’t even know what time it is now! How long until sunset!? Where is the sun!?

Hey, Uchikage-Ojichan, this training is really absurd!

“Uwaaaah! It’s absolutely impossible! It’s confirmed that the distance will be extended tomorrow! Nooooo! I can’t take this off…! How tightly did he tie it!?”

I try to remove the blindfold somehow, but it doesn’t seem to come off at all. This has become troublesome. How am I supposed to get back?

I don’t even know the way back!

Are there any useful skills or abilities?

Let’s recall the skills I can use now…

First is ‘Explosive Fist.’ It’s my most proficient ability, but I don’t think I can return to the castle using this.

Next is ‘Ivy Rope.’ It’s a skill to manipulate vines around me. It’s a skill that can capture opponents, but depending on how I use it, I might be able to move. I just used it for the first time earlier; I’ll experiment with it later. But it’s impossible if I can’t see!

Then there’s “’Herculean Fist.’ Uchikage-Ojichan mentioned that I unconsciously use this skill. It enhances the strength of my arms. It’s not comparable to the Oni, but I can exert stronger force than ordinary people.

…Yeah, that’s it. I only have these skills right now.

There’s not a single skill that seems useful for getting back.

Even though I trained for five years, these are the only skills I gained!

…How do you even increase skills? I don’t know.

“Ugh… First, I need to know the direction. I can’t return if I don’t know which way I’m facing.”

I can’t see the position of the sun either. Even if I had a tool to know the direction, I can’t do anything if I can’t see.

…Ah!!

I’ve got it!

I might be able to roughly figure out the direction of the sun!

Strike while the iron is hot!

I quickly use ‘Ivy Rope’ to wrap around my body. Since I know my position, it’s easy to summon the vine.

Then, I have it carry me up to a tree. Even if I can’t see, I can follow the vine to find a tree. If I’m carried up, sunlight should hit me.

So, the position of the sun should be roughly understood!

“Hmm… it’s mostly directly above, right?”

“Wow, you figured it out well.”

“Uwaaaah!?”

“Aaah!”

Suddenly called out, I jump in surprise, causing the vine to loosen, and I fall from the branch I was using as a foothold.

It catches on the branches a few times, rotating as it falls and hitting the ground with my body.

Rolling on the ground, I lie down and raise only my upper body.

“…Who?”

Perplexed by the unfamiliar voice, I tilt my head.