Year's End

Bang!

With one final side kick, Chiba slammed his foot hard into the wooden post. Steam rose from his body as he exhaled a puff of white mist. After taking a slight breath, Chiba fixed his gaze on the post, which was as thick as a person could wrap their arms around, withdrew his foot, and shouted over his shoulder.

"Hirohiko, it's fine now. Where did you find this wood? It's so sturdy!"

As he spoke, Chiba walked over and placed his steaming hand on the post, gently rubbing it as he felt the grain of the wood.

During the five-thousand-rep daily training sessions just now, Chiba could feel how different this post was from the others. Whether it was the hardness he felt upon striking it or the sound it made, everything indicated that this was exceptionally tough wood.

"Hm? What is it?"

Just then, the back door of the cabin was pushed open. Hirohiko poked half his head out and spoke.

As he spoke, he also exhaled a puff of white mist.

Pfft!

Then came a muffled thud at his feet. Hirohiko looked down to see a clump of snow lying shattered on the doorstep.

Was it snowing?

Last night?

The thought surfaced in his mind without him realizing it.

Then he looked up and saw a world blanketed in white. The small woods surrounding the cabin had all been draped in snowy finery. Thick snow covered the ground and even the roof. As far as the eye could see, heaven and earth were pure white, as though even winter's chill had taken on a layer of snowy color.

"I'm asking, where did you find this wood? It's incredibly sturdy!"

Chiba asked again.

"I found it in a forest about ten kilometers west of the village while I