Chopi's Story

Today's weather is perfectly clear!

Hehe, it's the ideal day for training.

I have to hurry and become a brave and cool warrior like Tig!

Oh, you're here? So diligent as always.

Of course, Hermit Master Yu!

So, what should I teach you today?

Hmm, how about teaching you how to find the kind of grass that tickles your nose and makes you feel happy? It's great for battles.

Oh, I'm already good at finding that, Master!

I even picked a bunch on my way here! Would you like some?

Is that so? Then I'll teach you something else.

How about trying to hit a dagger with an arrow? Sounds good, right?

Wow, I'd love that! That sounds so cool!

But, Master, I only know how to use an axe. Can you do it with an axe too?

Hmm... that might be a bit difficult... let me think. In that case...

What I'll teach you today is...

Nothing!

What?!

What do you mean you'll teach me nothing?!

I mean exactly that. I feel like I have nothing left to teach you.

So it's time for you to leave my tutelage!

But Master, it's only my third day of training...?

You suddenly dragged me here, saying I was a good disciple candidate!

Ahem. How long you've trained isn't important.

What matters is what you've learned!

What have I learned...?

How should I know? I only brought you here to play with you.

Whaaat?!

Ah, err, no! I mean, that's your final assignment!

Reflect on what you've learned so far, and from now on, focus on improving by yourself!

Come now, I'll even sing you a graduation song.

To our radiant graduate, we give this diploma!

Am I seriously graduating?! But there's still so much I want to learn...

Goodness, what's all this commotion about?

Chief! Please help me!

I haven't even trained for a week, but Master wants me to graduate!

Hmm? What's this about, Yumimi?

Y-Yumimi? Who's that? I am the Hermit Master Yu!

*Whisper* This is a secret! A secret! *Whisper*

O-Oh? Is that so?

Well, listen to me, Chief.

*Whisper* I was only pretending to act like a master...

*Whisper* But I'm worried she'll realize I don't actually have anything to teach!

Haha, so that's how it is. Alright, I see.

Chopi, have you learned a lot from Yumimi- err, I mean, from your Master?

Yes! Even though it was a short time, Master is a truly wonderful teacher!

Then wouldn't it be good to trust your Master and do as she suggests?

But I don't think I'm ready on my own yet...

Master, do you really think I can manage by myself?

Of course! Believe in me who believes in you, and more importantly, believe in yourself!

Alright, I don't fully understand, but I'll give it a try.

From now on, I'll work hard to become a great warrior on my own!

Please cheer me on, both of you!

Since I graduated from the School of Yu, it's time for self-training starting today!

Hmm... what should I begin with? When in doubt...

100 push-ups! 100 sit-ups! 100 squats!

And a 10-kilometer run... yadadada!

Whew... Master said doing this every day will let me throw the ultimate punch!

Even though these exercises don't seem related to punches at all... Master must know best!

Right, Master?

Oh, right, I'm training by myself now.

It does feel a little lonely...

Maybe I'll take a lap around the village?

Yeah! Jogging slowly will count as training, and it won't be boring! Let's go!

Hehe, I love being in the village. It really puts my mind at ease.

Whoa, hey there, Chopi! Out for a walk?

Hi, Butter! Not a walk, just light training.

What were you up to? Your hands and feet are all covered in dirt.

Me? I was digging a pit!

A pit? Why?

Because I love digging pits!

Oh, and the Village Chief brought me some tasty chow!

Did you bury the chow in the pit? Why?

Because, if you bury food in the ground and dig it up later, it tastes better!

You should definitely try it next time!

Uh, sure. Maybe if I get the chance...

Hehe, you have to bury it as deep as your height! That's the secret to making it taste amazing.

Anyway, I'm off to brag to the Chief about my pit!

Oh, and one more thing!

Yes?

It's a secret that I buried the chow under the tree with five branches. You can't tell anyone, okay?!

Bye bye!

B-Bye bye...

Whew, Butter is always so cheerful.

Now, back to my walk- no, I mean my training run!

Huh? What's that strange sound?

It sounds like someone's digging...

Wait! Someone IS digging! And it's under the tree with five branches!

Who's there?! Who dares try to steal the chow?!

Hnn... hyah?!

...Master?! What are you doing here?!

Th-That's right, it's me! Your former Master!

Th-This is actually a trial for you! I was testing whether you'd keep training hard after graduation!

It absolutely wasn't because the chow seemed ownerless, and I was trying to sneak some!

Oh... so that's what this was about! You scared me for a second there!

But as expected of you, Master. You're so bold!

Huh? What do you mean?

Of all things, you targeted Butter's pit!

That's something no one else would ever dare to do!

...Wait, this is Butter's pit? Then this chow is...?

Hmm... I followed the familiar scent of soil, and sure enough... it's my pit...!

Aaah, no! I didn't know it belonged to you, Butter! I'll put it back, I promise!

*Sigh*

One...

Aaah! No, stop! I already lost count of how many cans there were!

H-Huh? Why are you so panicked?

I'll put it back, just please forgive me this one time...! *Sniff*

This pathetic side of you, Master... it's the first time I've ever seen it.

Whew... Straight punch, one! Straight punch, two!

...Straight punch, ninety-nine! Straight punch... one hundred!!

Phew! That's enough training for today!

But hmm... something feels lacking.

I wish I could check if my form is correct, but I can't do that on my own.

Brave and skilled warriors probably don't have to worry about things like this, right?

Yeah, Tig could probably just use some kind of cloning technique to observe herself, like whoosh!

Of course, for Tig, the greatest warrior in the village, cloning techniques must be standard!

Ahh... Tig... I wish I could be even a fraction as amazing as you...

...It's kind of noisy, isn't it?

Seriously, who is it? Who's out there disturbing me all the way out here?

I can't focus, not at all! I need to teach them a lesson!

It seems to be coming from around here.

Oh, I found them! They're a bit far away... what are they saying?

Hehe, understood. I'll make sure this good gets delivered!

That person will probably be so thrilled that it'll be impossible to contain the excitement!

Sure, leave the delivery to me.

Those Werebeasts... could they be the left and right hands of the Chow Rebels?!

Th-That means... the person in front of them is...?!

Hmph. Make sure to warn that one not to mess around with it recklessly.

If it gets noisy, it'll be a hassle.

It, it's Tig!!!

Once we're done, let's meet at the usual spot.

Alright. See you later.

...Gone. Hey, why don't you come out already?

H-Huh?! How did you know I was hiding?! Oh, wait. Of course you'd know, Tig!

Y-You probably don't know who I am. I'm training as a warrior over there!

I'm still a rookie compared to you, though!

No, I know who you are. You're Chopi, right?

Yumimi was telling me you were playing with her up until a while ago.

Tig knows my name! She noticed me!!

Heh, sorry for the noise today. I had some work to take care of.

No, no! Thanks to that, I got to meet you, Tig! I feel so lucky!

Heh heh, it doesn't feel bad to be treated like this.

Your work must've been something important for the Chow Rebels, right?

Oh, don't worry! I'll never tell anyone! Keeping secrets is second nature to me!

I was just sending a new toy I found to Kommy...

I've always admired you, Tig! You're the reason I want to become a warrior!

Hey, what I'm trying to say is-

HOW DO I BECOME AN AMAZING, PERFECT, AND BEAUTIFUL WARRIOR LIKE YOU? I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY, BUT EVEN JUST ONE TIP WOULD—OMIGOSH, EVEN YOUR STERN EXPRESSION IS SO COOL!

STRENGTH, BEAUTY... AND YOU'RE THE ULTIMATE LEGEND, TIG! THIS MUST BE FATE, NO, DESTINY THAT WE MET. OH, COULD YOU PLEASE SIGN MY AXE JUST ONCE? IF YOU DO, I'LL TREASURE IT LIKE A FAMILY HEIRLOOM!

...Stop!! Quiet down!!!

Yes! Ma'am!

Ugh... my head is spinning...

*Sigh...* So you want me to teach you how to get stronger, right?

Yes!!!

Then first... learn some awareness.

Awareness! Got it!

You mean sharpening my observation of the opponent and sensing the flow of battle, right?

As expected of the leader of the Chow Rebels. Your teachings are profound!

I just meant stop talking so much...

Fights are done with weapons, not with words! Don't turn into someone who battles with their mouth!

Uwaaah! I see!

That makes so much sense!

Thank you for the wisdom, Tig! I'll definitely become a great warrior!

...This is so boring.

So boring I could fall asleep!!

Aaaahhh!! Day after day, every single day!!

Training in the same spot alone is no fun! I'm sick of it!

*Sigh...* Training is just so dull right now...

...Hmph! I can't let myself lie around like this! I'll never become a warrior like Tig if I keep this up!

I've got to get moving! Even if it's just to refresh my mood!

Whoo! I've come pretty far!

The air is so fresh, and I can smell the water... I really like it here!

Since I've come all this way, I want to do something different from my usual training.

Let's see, is there anything interesting around here?

Oh, there's a big pile of wood over there! Who stacked it all up?

It should be fine if I mess with it, right? Doesn't seem like anyone owns it.

Hehe, I can't resist a neatly stacked pile of wood.

I'll turn it all into firewood!

Hiyah! Hiiiyah!

Whew, working up a sweat feels so good!

Master always said chopping wood is a full-body workout and great training!

You there. Little Werebeast.

Ack! Wh-Who are you?!

Are you the one who chopped all the wood over there into firewood?

Uh, yeah, that was me...

Wait, was that your wood?

You could say that.

I'm sorry! I chopped it all up without even asking for permission!

I got so into it that I... I'm really sorry!

Why are you apologizing? I actually want to thank you.

Huh? Really?

Yeah. I was planning to burn it all, but once I'd stacked it, it turned out to be way too big to deal with.

But now that you've chopped it into small pieces, it'll be much easier to burn.

Thanks to you, they're bite-sized and easy to handle.

Phew... for a second...

I thought I was going to get scolded for doing something no one asked me to do.

Haha, well, you sure went all out with your axe for something like that.

There's not a single piece of wood left in the pile.

You've got quite the determination, don't you? What's your name?

I'm Chopi! I'll be a brave warrior someday!

Chopi, huh? Alright, I got it memorized.

I'm Ifrit. As you can see, I'm a fire elemental.

You've got the sharpest and brightest eyes I've seen in a Werebeast lately. Your future looks bright.

Chopi, if you ever need my help, just call for me. You helped me, so I'll help you in return.

Oh, come on, I was just chopping wood for training, that's all.

Still, if it helps, why don't you visit our forest sometime?

There's lots of fun stuff there! Let's play together!

Ah... Sorry, but I'll have to pass on the forest.

If I let my guard down even a little, I could start a massive fire.

Hah, haha... now that you mention it, that makes sense.

Then I'll come visit you here again next time! That's okay, right?

Of course! You're welcome anytime.

Next time, I'll show you an amazing fireworks display.

And I'll show you my wood-chopping skills.

You're my first Elemental friend! This is going to be so much fun!

Hey, Chopi! Chopi, where are you?

Yes, Chief! I'm right here!

What did you need me for?

Could you run a quick errand for me?

I have something that needs to be delivered, but I completely forgot about it.

Sure, give it to me! I'll take care of it!

Ah, that's my Chopi, always so dependable.

You'll need to take it to Belitein of the Witch Commune. Can you handle that?

Uh, Belitein?

It's dark and smelly there...

My brave Chopi, you can do it.

Here, this pouch needs to be delivered by the end of today. Got it?

Ngh... okay... I'll get it done...

Well, I made it here somehow.

I guess because it's underground, it's so dark and cramped.

Ugh, this place gives me the creeps. I'd better finish this errand quickly and leave!

I need to head to the potion store, right?

...

This is weird. I thought I was going the right way.

Let's see... if I sniff around...

Ugh, there are so many weird smells, I can't tell anything apart.

And it's probably just my imagination, but it feels like someone keeps staring at me...

...Time to run!

...!!

Huff... huff... I ran so far, so I should be safe now, right?

Honestly, who sneaks around like that...

Who's there?!

This is... a rock? Then someone is really—

...Too late.

Ahhh! Someone grabbed me from behind!!

Who are you?! Let go of me!!

Hehehe, how could I leave something this irresistible alone...?!

Nom.

Kyaaah!! M-My ear?! Why are you biting my ear?!

...Huh? What's this? Why does this "sweet potato" taste like fur?

Because I'm not a sweet potato!

What?! You're not a sweet potato?!

I thought you were a massive, walking king-sized sweet potato!

Where in the world would you find a walking sweet potato?!

Let go of me right now!!

This... this is shocking... Even though I've been working for a whole week with only five hours of sleep each day...

To think I'd confuse a purple-furred Werebeast with a sweet potato... this is unbelievable!

Shouldn't you be apologizing to me first?

Apologize? To a sweet potato?

I said I'm not a sweet potato!!

Ugh, forget it! Just go away and get some sleep or something!

Are all witches always this self-centered? Ugh...

Ahhh... the sweet potato is walking away... the delicious sweet potato... *sniff* I want to eat it... sweet potato...

Ahem, Chopi. Have you been well?

Uwah, Master! It's been a while!

Whatever you faced since we parted, I can sense the maturity in you from what you've experienced.

Whew... Master, so much has happened to me.

But I managed to endure it all, thanks to the things you taught me!

Ehehe, right? It might have seemed like I was just fooling around, but it was all for your sake!

I was curious about what else you've learned so far, so I came by.

Let's hear it. Tell me about what you've picked up from the wide world out there.

Yes, Master!

First... I learned about the strength of gentleness from Butter.

Butter may be clumsy, but that very quality makes others in the village take good care of her.

I realized that accepting help from others when needed is also a kind of strength!

And, of course, I haven't forgotten the sacrifice you made to teach me that lesson.

Butter... she was so terrifying... truly...

Ahem! Let's leave that story behind now! Forget about it!

What else did you learn?

While training in the forest, I met Tig and gained new insights.

Even someone as strong as Tig carefully observes and remains aware of their surroundings.

I learned that you shouldn't show off your strength and must never let your guard down!

That's right. I heard about how much you talked Tig's ear off.

Hmm... but Tig could use a good scolding every now and then.

And I also heard you climbed up to the Elemental Lake?

Yes, I met Ifrit, the fire elemental, there.

I learned that Elias is vast, and there are incredible beings beyond the forest.

And I also learned that you can befriend anyone if your hearts align. Hehe.

That's right! The strong don't face every trial alone.

Always cherish your friends.

Yes, Master!

What else did you learn?

Finally, I met a witch named Levi.

She mistook me for a giant sweet potato, but...

I realized that no matter how skilled you are, it's useless if you're not mentally sound.

I learned that staying up for days while doing important tasks is a bad idea.

S-Sweet potato? Sounds delicious- err, um! You've learned something important!

Good. I've listened to your stories!

You've had so many experiences. You're a student I'm truly proud of!

Master...!

Now, I'll tell you about something you can do with what you've learned.

Chopi, I want you to teach students using everything you've seen, heard, and experienced.

Wait, you want me to teach students? Does that mean...?

That's right. Become a teacher, Chopi. You're qualified for it.

Take what others have taught you and share it with those who come after you.

...Understood. If you say so, Master, I'll give teaching a try.

But if I become a teacher, what will you do?

There's no need for two teachers in one forest, is there?

Once you become a teacher, I'll try out something called "retirement."

Retirement?

Yes. I hear retirement involves relaxing, meddling in others' affairs, and having fun.

It sounds so convenient and enjoyable, doesn't it?

Anyway, I'm counting on you to guide the warriors of our forest, Master Chopi.

You can count on me! I'll work even harder to improve myself!