Conversation

"Besides, what right do you have to teach me magic?" Eris swept her gaze over Rudeus before turning to Roa, who was clearly the leader.🍧♣  ♠😺

Roa thought for a moment before saying, "Because my magic is at the Water Saint level?"

For a moment, Philip and everyone else fell silent. Philip in particular, his hand gripping the teacup, trembled slightly.

He was somewhat surprised and looked the boy over again. He murmured, "To have achieved such attainments at that age... Paul, you really did have a fine son."

In truth, calling himself a Water Saint-level mage was already underselling Roa. If his King Rank spell, the Demon Sword, were taken into account, he could even call himself a King Rank mage. Moreover, Roa was among the very best at the King Rank level, especially considering the Demon Sword's unique properties.

But simply saying he was Water Saint level was enough to establish his authority.

Although swordsmen overwhelmingly surpassed mages in individual combat in this world, that depended on the circumstances.

When it came to personal battle prowess, swordsmen were indeed the strongest. But in terms of threat, mages came first.

Powerful mages needed a great deal of preparation time to release high-tier magic, and the spells' power also depended on specific conditions.

But without a doubt, once successfully cast, magic's ability to move mountains and fill seas became apparent.

Thus, to a country, a powerful mage was equivalent to a nuclear weapon, primarily serving to deter other nations.

While everyone else was astonished by Roa's strength, Eris felt nothing at all. In fact, she did not even have the most basic understanding of magic.

She was only interested in swordsmanship. The reason she did not reject magic was that it could conjure wind, fire, water, earth, and various other elements out of thin air, like a magic trick.

Eris said indifferently, "Ghislaine is a King Rank swordswoman. Are you stronger than Ghislaine?"

Roa fell into thought. An ordinary Water Saint-level mage would certainly be instantly killed by Ghislaine, and even Rudeus after growing into a King Rank mage would have a hard time.

But if he really had to face her, what chance of victory would he have?

Roa did not know. However, he did not make some boast about how Ghislaine was no match for him.

The problem was, how could two things from entirely different systems be compared?

Eris was already being unreasonable.

Roa did not mind, though. He shook his head and admitted that he was inferior to Ghislaine.

Perhaps after his projection returned, his swordsmanship would reach a new height.

However, although he admitted that he was inferior to Ghislaine, he had never said that he would go easy on Eris.

Roa stared straight into the girl's eyes with his reddish-gold irises and said indifferently, "Ghislaine is Ghislaine, and you are you. Although I'm not as good as Ghislaine, teaching you is still well within my abilities."

There was not a trace of emotion in the boy's eyes. A faint pressure radiated from him, causing Eris to instinctively look away, afraid to meet his gaze.

Once she came to her senses, however, Eris grew somewhat angry. Furious at her own weakness, she suddenly raised her lowered head and glared straight into Roa's eyes.

Their gazes met.

Roa did not yield either. He simply stared back at her.

Sensing the slightly heavy atmosphere, Philip spoke at an appropriate moment. "All right. Roa is so young, yet he already possesses Water Saint-level strength. Compared to teaching my daughter, who isn't even a Lower Rank mage, that should be more than enough. What about you, Rudeus? What are you good at?"

The atmosphere eased somewhat after Philip spoke. Roa stopped staring at Eris. It was clear that she had a very strong sense of pride, and if he embarrassed her like this, he would be the one to suffer during their future tutoring sessions.

He was not in the habit of causing trouble for himself.

Rudeus thought for a moment before answering, "I'm actually fairly talented at arithmetic."

That was what Rudeus said, but he did not get to the point.

Roa sighed and tactfully came to Rudeus's rescue. "I'm only going to teach Eris for a short time. In fact, I can only stay here for two years. Rudeus will handle the remaining three years in my place."

Philip fell silent.

Seeing Philip's expression, Roa spoke again. "Actually, Rudeus is also a Water Saint-level mage. His talent and strength are beyond question. If I hadn't come this time, Rudeus would presumably have been Eris's general tutor."

"Is that so?" Philip fell into deep thought.

Then, for the first time, he seriously examined the two boys.

Rudeus was clearly only five or six years old.

Roa, on the other hand, was obviously eleven. If one judged solely by accomplishments, Rudeus's achievements seemed to far surpass Roa's.

Yet from the looks of things, Roa was the one who had dominated the conversation all along, while Rudeus also seemed to unconsciously keep himself slightly behind Roa.

Philip began examining Roa. This time, he truly scrutinized him—not his appearance, but his build.

Philip was ultimately a seasoned man. When he was young, he had followed others in learning swordsmanship, though he had only understood the basics.

The aura around Roa was clearly that of someone who practiced the sword.

Although he was not deliberately displaying it, the faint dignity and pressure he gave off were unmistakable. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that Roa possessed a sharpness, like a blade that had remained sheathed for many years, waiting for the right moment to soar into the heavens.

And in fact, that was exactly the case.

Roa was indeed waiting for the right time. He was waiting for his projection to return.

Philip pondered before saying, "Since that's the case, let's give it a try. What do you think, Eris?"

Eris said, deeply displeased, "You're going to let these two brats teach me? Besides, you can get by without learning arithmetic, can't you?"

Rudeus stepped forward. "Arithmetic is actually very important."

That was what he said, and what awaited him was Eris glaring fiercely at him. Her hair stood on end as she charged in front of Rudeus and shouted, "I said it isn't important!"

"Uh." Rudeus instinctively wanted to shrink back. For some reason, however, Roa's words echoed in his mind: You need to change that personality of yours.

He steeled himself and said, "Actually, arithmetic is pretty important."

Eris walked straight up to Rudeus, a fierce glint in her eyes. "Oh? You still dare talk back?"

With that, she prepared to act, intending to slap Rudeus across the face.

Roa watched from the side. Naturally, he could not stand by and watch his younger brother get hit. He grabbed Rudeus by the collar and threw him backward. With an unhappy expression, he said, "Rudeus is your teacher, no matter how you look at it. What kind of attitude is that?"