Capítulo 16: Amusing Holiday
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--- Chapter 16 ---
The holiday starts early.
Tenma was helping Tamako in the kitchen, making udon and other dishes to celebrate New Year's Eve. However, being unable to wield any knife makes things difficult for him.
Thankfully, Tenma found a loophole for this problem. He could use gloves with the desired thickness to prevent his talent from breaking any blade he touched.
Tenma didn't think of this in the past because he had no skill or ability to create 'good' gloves. After getting Expert Crafting and Skilled Blacksmith, he can 'passable' gloves using a tanned bear's hide.
Of course, this doesn't mean Tenma would change his path from using the spear.
Although Tenma can use swords now, being unable to touch them with his skin makes it hard for him to connect with them. It felt like his senses of touch were not in one with the swords.
On the other hand, he felt more satisfaction when wielding a spear. The rate of his improvement is faster, which would leave swords in the dust if he decided to focus on the latter within the same time frame.
At the moment, Tenma is slicing vegetables quickly with his chef knife. His speed is overwhelming, creating some blurs in the kitchen. He's using this to train his 'dexterity' and eye coordination, allowing him to fight better.
Outside the kitchen, a young girl is watching Tenma intently. She never left her eyes off him, yet showed no expression.
She is around four but looks thin and malnourished. She has black hair and brown eyes. She wore a makeshift white kimono Tamako made for her.
The girl's name is Fujiwara Eri. After Tenma saved her and her mother, she was the first one to awaken from her sleep.
However, Tenma and Tamako quickly found that she was mute.
Ever since she woke up, she only stared at Tenma with her blank face.
It seems Eri suffered a great 'deal' of trauma from her father's death and cruel treatment in the nobleman's house.
Meanwhile, Eri's mother, Fujiwara Tsume, is still sleeping. Tenma found nothing wrong with her body besides some bruises and cuts, which means her problem lies within the spirit.
She suffered just as much if not more, trauma than her daughter.
The sorrow of losing her husband is too much, after all.
So, Tsume might stay in a state of coma indefinitely.
But who knows? Miracle exists.
"Eri-chan, do you want a warm tea?" Tamako, being the kind person she was, offered the girl a drink.
Eri nodded and accepted the warm cup, still staring at Tenma's back.
'This kid is a problem.' Tenma was helpless.
After cooking the food, Tenma left the kitchen and let Tamako take over the plating. He sat down by the warm kotatsu and stared at the scenery outside.
Eri sat beside Tenma, drinking her tea silently.
She peeked at Tenma and wanted to open her mouth but hesitated.
"T-Than... you."
"Hmm?" Tenma glanced at her.
"T-Thank... you," Eri said with difficulty. She even had to adjust her breathing and bravery for it.
Tenma smiled and patted Eri's head gently, "Don't worry... Your mom will be fine."
"Do you know why?"
"Because she is strong."
Eri was stunned by Tenma's words before nodding.
Tamako comes from the kitchen with a tray, serving the oven and other side dishes.
"Let's eat!" She cheerfully said.
Everyone sat around the kotatsu and enjoyed their New Year's Eve meal.
Later that day, Tenma and Eri went to the village and watched the New Year festival. They didn't do much, only buying snacks and a white fox mask that Eri particularly liked.
Not surprisingly, Auntie and the young women in the festival were 'deeply' staring at Tenma with strange expressions. Not the kind of disgust. But deep fascination. Yes, they probably didn't expect Tenma to change so much in a few months.
He's growing from a tall boy to a handsome teenager. Yup, the kind that is irresistible to single women.
(A/N: Bishounen Charm XD)
In fact, some 'young' women are staring at Tenma with burning red eyes as if they could see through his clothes.
For a moment, Tenma wondered if they were awakening Sharingan.
Of course, that's just a brief intermission in Tenma's holiday.
On the way home, Eri fell on the snow and stopped herself from crying.
Tenma pulled her up and asked, "Why didn't you cry?"
"S-Strong... people don't," Eri replied, holding her tears.
"Haha, interesting." Tenma couldn't help but chuckle in amusement. Then, he carried Eri home.
Eri wiped her tears and looked at the street with a newfound joy. She hugged Tenma's neck and thought, 'Tenma... Smells nice.'
...
...
The next day!
Tenma woke up at five in the morning. A cold breeze brushed his face as he sat on his futon and stretched.
He scratched his head and walked to the chimney, starting a fire and feeding firewood to warm the house.
After that, Tenma drank a mouthful of water and started his morning routine.
He's doing ten times the amount of a bald hero's routine. He might not destroy the solar system soon, but at least he will get somewhere with this exercise.
Tenma picked White Night and began swinging slowly, tightening his muscles. A warm sensation appeared from his beating heart and spread all over his body.
The effects of Tao and the Breathing Technique are really miraculous.
They complimented each other well.
Tenma was able to exploit Spear Breathing to further enhance 'Life Force' into an excited state, allowing him to achieve "Total Breathing: Constant" without maintaining arduous and fixed breathing.
He also developed "Enhanced Recovery: Bloom" with Flower Tao, which speeds up his healing speed and regeneration by a few seconds faster.
A few seconds might not be much, but every fraction counts in the life-and-death battle.
Tenma couldn't afford to stay weakened and become a sitting duck on the battlefield. Once Tenma mastered "Enhanced Recovery: Bloom." he only needed to adjust his breath and return to combat immediately.
He will show Demons their regeneration is nothing.
"There is a saying that the human's body is a treasure trove... Abandoning it means they don't believe in themselves."
"I should unearth every raw hidden potential in my body before my Kama and Otsutsuki's bloodline takes over."
Tenma's goal was clear. Kill all Demons, become the strongest of this world, and continue to another one to ascend.
Before Tenma knew it, he already swung his spear ten thousand times.
Sunlight fell on his face, warming him even further.
"How comfortable."
"Hmm, what are you doing there, Eri?"
Eri is standing on the backyard door, wearing a bear coat and holding a thin wooden stick. She was imitating Tenma, but her clumsy swing made her look cuter than anything.
'That's not how you swing a spear...'
As Eri failed, she swung her wooden stick again and fell. She stood up with tears and a determined look.
'What is this adorable creature?' Tenma thought upon seeing this. He gave this child an amused gaze, unaware he was still a child.
After watching for a few minutes, Tenma walked to Eri and gave her some pointers. Of course, he instructed her to focus on stance and breathing first.
Eri obediently followed Tenma, wanting to be stronger like him.
Even when Eri fell into cold snow and choked on them, she kept getting up and trained herself.
...
...
Three weeks later!
Tenma watched Eri running in the backyard.
Her once-malnourished figure has become healthy, allowing her to follow Tenma's modified routine without problem. Her cheeks flushed due to the coldness.
"Okay, this is your final lap. Keep going, Eri-chan!" Tamako, who stood beside Tenma, encouraged the little girl.
Eri nodded and maintained her pace, huffing heavily.
Tenma shoved rice balls into his mouth and wondered, 'They should be here anytime soon.'
Around six days ago, Kasugai Crow came to the house and told Tenma that Kanae would visit him soon.
Tenma was happy, but he didn't see any sign of Kanae. Suddenly, his Tao spotted two strong Life Forces walking to the house.
His lips curled into a smile.
"They are here."
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