Have you ever tried your hand at constructing a plastic bottle rocket? It is a curious little device where one fills a bottle with water and compressed air, only to release a valve that sends the contents spraying out in a violent rush. The resulting reaction, quite predictably, sends the bottle soaring through the air. Since discovering that my Magic¹ affinity was centered on water, I had spent a great deal of time wondering if I could put this principle to some practical use. Ideally, I would have loved to replicate a high-pressure water jet, but creating an ultra-fine, high-speed stream proved to be devilishly difficult. A simple water gun, after all, isn't going to cut through much of anything.
That was when my thoughts turned to the art of Iai². If I could somehow harness the propulsive power of water to achieve a high-speed draw, perhaps even a pathetic mid-boss like Kraut³ could hold his own in a fight.
Since I couldn't exactly whip up compressed air, I tried to substitute it by controlling the water pressure... and the result was my Sword⁴ flying across the room. If this were a live-streamed game, the 'lol's would be flooding the screen. You wouldn't even be able to see the action for all the grass growing in the comments.
In short, it was a spectacular failure. Yet, even so, there was a glimmer of something there. A sense that I was on the right track, however briefly.
* * *
"Master!" Heliotrope⁵ shouted.
"Young Master!" Sebastian⁶ added, his voice equally stern.
I found myself being thoroughly scolded by the two of them. Given my social standing, being lectured by my servants was a first, and a small, twisted part of me felt almost touched by it... actually, scratch that. It was absolutely terrifying-ssu. My eyes were practically brimming with tears-ssu.
To be fair, even if it was only a wooden Sword, I had taken a direct vertical strike to the crown of my head while completely unguarded. If Heliotrope hadn't held back, I would have been a rather messy sight to behold. We're talking the kind of scene that requires heavy pixelation for a television broadcast.
"Master, mock battles are strictly forbidden for the time being. You will focus entirely on your basic swings," Heliotrope said.
"Yes, ma'm," I replied.
A master taking orders from his maid-what had the world come to? Mind you, I had no intention of arguing. It was entirely my fault for getting overexcited and trying an untested move in a live session. But come on, it was a katana! It was Iai! As a former otaku, I really couldn't help myself!
Of course, the end result was the blade flying off just like one of those plastic bottle rockets. I didn't need the simulation to be that accurate, thank you very much. When I thought about it, that legendary Manslayer from the stories could flick a blade out with just a thumb. Compared to me, a reincarnated soul, that man was a hundred times more of a cheat.
Since my beautiful maid was clearly incensed, I decided to practice my Iai draws properly. Without any Magic involved. It turned out to be quite the challenge. The blade refused to slide out smoothly; the moment I tried to increase my speed, it snagged on the scabbard. I had no choice but to start slowly, verifying every tiny movement as I repeated the motion.
Standing in the dead center of the training grounds, repeating the same sluggish motion over and over, I was a bit of a spectacle. I could feel the gazes of the knights lingering on me. I wondered if this was how the old ladies in the park felt while practicing Tai Chi. Probably not, I suspected.
"I see. Simply drawing the Sword from its sheath with great speed... I believe I understand what you were aiming for now, Master. But tell me, where did you learn of this 'Iai'?" Heliotrope asked.
"Hmm, I wonder where it was? I can't quite recall," I said.
My heart gave a nervous thump, but I managed to breeze past it using the 'Compulsive Liar' skill typical of a bratty noble. It was a relief to get away with it, but the fact that lies came to me so naturally left me with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. I hoped my nose wasn't growing. I preferred to keep the fact that I had been reincarnated as Kraut a secret. Explaining it would be an utter chore, and there was no telling how it might affect this game world. Mostly, though, it was just the effort of explaining it that I dreaded.
I repeated the motion dozens, then hundreds of times. Even though the blade was made of Mithril⁷ and relatively light, swinging a metal weapon continuously was exhausting. Still, I kept at it with single-minded focus. Unlike a protagonist, I had no natural talent. All I could do was refuse to stop moving. Geniuses tend to leave ordinary people in the dust without a second thought, vanishing into the distance.
Once Primeria starts to grow, she'll likely tear past me at such a speed that I'll never even see her in the rearview mirror again. That is why I cannot afford to stop-not yesterday, not today, and not tomorrow. For the tortoise to stand any chance against the hare, he must simply keep walking, step after painful step.
Summary:
Kraut attempts to use his water Magic to create a high-speed 'Iai' sword draw based on the physics of a bottle rocket, but fails spectacularly. His servants, Heliotrope and Sebastian, scold him for his recklessness and ban him from mock combat. Forced to practice basic techniques, Kraut reflects on his lack of talent compared to the story's true geniuses. He resolves to keep working hard through sheer repetition to avoid being left behind entirely. The chapter emphasizes his determination to survive in a world where he is otherwise a minor villain.
Character Insight:
This chapter highlights Kraut's grounded self-awareness; he doesn't see himself as a 'chosen one' but as a 'tortoise' who must outwork others just to stay relevant. His use of real-world physics (the bottle rocket) shows a creative mind trying to bridge the gap between his modern knowledge and magical reality. Additionally, the dynamic with Heliotrope and Sebastian suggests that while he is technically their master, he respects their competence and is genuinely intimidated by their concern, showing a shift away from the original Kraut's arrogant personality.
Behind the Scene:
The author uses Kraut's otaku background to reference classic samurai tropes and 'grass' (w/www) internet slang, grounding the 'villain' in a very relatable, modern perspective.
T/L:
1 ↩ Magic: The supernatural system in this world, often categorized by elemental affinities.
2 ↩ Iai: A Japanese martial art focusing on the quick-draw of a sword.
3 ↩ Kraut: The name of the character the protagonist has been reincarnated into, originally a minor villain.
4 ↩ Sword: Specifically referring to a katana-style blade Kraut uses.
5 ↩ Heliotrope: Named after the flower, likely signifying loyalty or devotion.
6 ↩ Sebastian: A stereotypical name for a high-ranking, capable butler in Japanese media.
7 ↩ Mithril: A fictional, high-quality fantasy metal known for being lightweight and durable.
Notes:
• Kraut - The eldest son of a Duke's family. He has blue eyes, a straight nose, and short silver hair. Despite his handsome facial features, he is notably obese. He was previously arrogant and selfish before regaining memories of a past life.
• Heliotrope - Kraut's exclusive maid, fifteen years old (six years older than Kraut). She has long black hair reaching her waist and a cool, beautiful face. She is a 'slave battle maid' who was formerly a noble lady from a fallen northern country. She wears a Victorian-style long-dress maid outfit.
• Sebastian - An elderly butler serving the Weltheim household.
• Primeria - A main heroine of 'Sword, Magic, and the Cadenas'. Currently the illegitimate child of a Viscount family with high magical power and beauty. Destined to be adopted by the Weltheim Duke family when Kraut is twelve.