Book 14 Chapter 31

Hero's Hometown,

In the central part of the Empire (4)

I stayed in <Central North> for a total of about ten days. During that time, I ate cake every evening.

Cake…….

I admitted. That this was truly the [strongest] in the world of food. The hegemon of taste, sweetness, and all of it.

Of course, in exchange for indulging in the strongest, I had to continue teaching Gid magic. Such peace also eventually met its end.

On the evening of the tenth day, Lista said this:

"Rin, I'm gradually tracking down the whereabouts of delicious apples. We need to go for a tasting soon."

Then, I might leave this city even tomorrow.

Thinking it would be good to give the Book of Genesis one last look, I went to the inner fortress in the evening.

However, when I visited the lord's inner fortress, the library was empty. No, it was locked.

"Young Master Gid is currently at the training ground."

Princess Duren, dressed in a maid's uniform, said that. Does that mean I can't enter the library without Gorilla 2? I'll have to drag him here, even if I have to grab him by the collar.

Clack, clack, clack, clack!

The sound of wooden swords clashing dominated this training ground.

But every time the sound was heard, the personal butler and maid who were waiting twitched uncomfortably.

In the center, a handsome blond swordsman was continuously striking Gorilla 2. After blocking or deflecting Gorilla 2's wooden sword, he would strike at the openings.

"Your hands are idle, Young Master! And your footwork, I believe I've pointed it out many times!"

"S-sorry!"

"When an attack is to be made, the foot must advance first. If your weight isn't behind it, your attack will lack power!"

The handsome man rained down one-sided attacks while pointing out various things.

Something was strange.

It was a world of difference from when I learned magic from the Headmaster. Is swordsmanship training originally that harsh?

- Rin, shall we try solving this using this formula today?

My own ability to achieve was tremendous, even in my own eyes.

My growth rate was remarkably fast, and underlying that was the Headmaster's gentle voice, who conducted the lessons at my eye level.

What I mean is, it was fun. Not too difficult, yet not too easy either. Which meant the sense of accomplishment was fantastic.

How strange…….

It's only after coming out into the world that I truly realize how perfect the Headmaster is.

"When will that end?"

When I asked the personal butler, he shook his head as if he didn't know either. Damn it, I want to read my book soon.

"It's because you dabble in useless and pointless subjects like magic that your progress in swordsmanship is so slow!"

Nevertheless, Gorilla 2 truly worked hard.

He dropped the wooden sword several times, and even though blood seeped from his blistered palms, he kept getting up and gripping the sword.

I soon became interested in the swordsmanship instructor's skill.

Is that guy quite strong?

Then, wouldn't I be able to test the new magic I devised while finding the Beastman of the Field this time?

My heart began to pound. What would be a good reason to join?

"I'm not someone who would worry much even if the world ended tomorrow, but I can't just let the words 'magic is useless and pointless' slide."

If he countered that, I also had a line ready to counter him.

"I aim to be the strongest mage, but I haven't abandoned my humanity. This isn't education. It's torture."

I hope you don't misunderstand, as this isn't truly heartfelt, but merely a line to create a pretext.

The swordsman and Gorilla 2 looked at me with surprised expressions the moment the first line was heard.

However, a smile of triumph soon settled in the swordsmanship instructor's eyes.

"What is it, unknown brat from the North? This is swordsmanship training time. Not your playtime. Or do you want to try and face me?"

"Yeah."

"Of course, you wouldn't want to. I am skilled enough to be invited as a swordsmanship teacher by the Aflertas family… What did you say?"

If he's a swordsmanship teacher for a sword master's family, he'd be quite useful for a warm-up. As an answer to his question, I went and stood next to Gorilla 2, and the handsome swordsman burst into a roaring laugh.

"Hah, hahahahahaha! Good. Young Master, watch closely. I will clearly demonstrate the superiority of swordsmanship and the inferiority of magic right here."

"No, PM……"

"Move aside."

"Alright, how long will it take to use magic? I'll specially wait for your first spell."

Huk… I was touched at that moment.

Could he be the strongest, contrary to appearances?

One of the strongest's actions, to utter the line, 'I'll give you a handicap,' so casually?

Well then, let's play.

I also happened to have magic I wanted to test on a person.

"Osarius-style Hand Seal, Thunder (雷) - Field (場) - Water (水)."

* * *

Swordsmanship instructor, Billien, could not believe the phenomenon unfolding before his eyes.

Just three hand movements.

Those hand movements were forming waves of intensely powerful magic at the feet of the straw-hatted brat.

"Hyah!"

And every time the brat extended a hand towards him, lightning bolts flew.

Fast, and… heavy.

Every time he barely deflected one, his wrist ached as if it would break.

"Ku-up!"

The lightning strikes that were deflected smashed various parts of the training ground. Since it was basic swordsmanship training, the defensive barrier hadn't been activated.

Bang, bang, KWA-GWA-GWA-GWA-GWA-GWANG!

He had never heard of it. No, he had heard a joke about it. Something about how those who couldn't use proper magic counted by combining their fingers.

"What on earth is that… How does he have that much power at that age?"

Approach was impossible.

No matter how fast he tried to approach, the opponent would use lightning strikes just by extending a finger.

As the distance to the caster decreased, the energy loss rate became smaller, so the power grew even stronger. In short, a broken wrist was the least of his worries.

"This is what happens when you solve one more math problem instead of bullying the weak."

If things continued like this, Billien's defeat was clear.

The moment word got out that he lost to a brat with no rank, he would not only be kicked out of his position as a swordsmanship instructor, but he would also miss out on his share of [the King's Flesh] when the operation concluded.

And from now on, he wouldn't even be able to call himself a 1.5-chain (鎖) Knight anywhere.

"I am, I am a 1.5-chain Knight who can link one and a half more chains…!"

He was exerting all his might, but the straw-hatted brat was laughing.

That was the opening.

The brat seemed to be meticulously observing Billien's reactions, much like a boy teasing an ant.

He didn't seem to have the leisure to even care what effects Billien's deflected lightning strikes were having on the training ground.

'No, is he simply not interested at all? If so, I might be able to seize an opportunity.'

Billien tightened his grip on the hilt.

Behind his back, one and a half chains entangled, manifesting an output of magical power.

The concentrated magic danced on the blade. There would only be one chance.

"Hyah!"

The straw-hatted brat pointed at Billien again with his hand… and a powerful lightning strike immediately rushed in.

"Tzwaat!"

The trajectory that deflected the lightning strike, and at the end of that trajectory was none other than… Gid Aflertas and his personal butler and maid.

KWA-AA-AANG!

The power of the lightning strike was beyond imagination, so it landed on a trajectory more dangerous than expected.

"Y-young Master!"

Gid, the butler, and the maid, caught in the explosion, tumbled across the ground. All were severely battered and in a coma.

Just as planned.

Billien rushed over and checked Gid's pulse. He was alive. As soon as he confirmed it, he shouted loudly:

"Guards! This unknown brat tried to murder the Young Master! Arrest him immediately!"