I Want to Cuddle Up to Roxy

Under her dumbfounded gaze, almost everyone managed to cast the Water Ball spell on the very first try.

Roxy fell silent. Roxy was deep in thought.

Roxy was shaken.

With a sigh, the helpless look on her little face turned into a wry smile. She could hardly believe that all three members of this family were geniuses.

"Can you cast intermediate magic?" Roxy asked.

This time, Roa didn't hide anything. He nodded and said, "The book only describes intermediate magic. It doesn't cover anything more advanced."

"Is that so?" Roxy seemed strangely relieved. She silently encouraged herself, then adopted a pompous, old-fashioned tone. "Actually, casting intermediate magic at your age isn't all that impressive. Especially you, Roa—you mustn't let it go to your head."

Then Roxy began explaining the things to keep in mind when casting advanced magic. She really was a good teacher; she always explained things in simple, easy-to-understand terms.

The morning passed. Sylphy stayed at Paul's house for lunch, then headed home, while Roa and Rudeus were told by Paul to practice swordsmanship.

"A man must have a sword in his heart, so he can protect the people who matter to him—" That was what he'd said.

His original speech had been too long, so Roa only remembered those two lines.

Their formal sword training began in the afternoon.

For the most part, they practiced swinging their swords and performing the proper forms.

For example, they would use the wooden training dummies in the yard as opponents, focusing on their forms and attacks. Or they would spar with Paul, practicing footwork and shifting their center of gravity. That sort of thing.

Swordsmanship was highly valued in this world.

Starting with the basics was a good thing.

The heroes of this world all used swords. There were occasional axe- or hammer-wielders, but they were in the minority.

No one used spears. That was because the loathsome Spelud Tribe wielded trident-spears. So spears were considered weapons of demons—that was common knowledge. Several such demons appeared in books, usually as murderous fiends who slaughtered anyone in their path, friend or foe.

Perhaps because of this, swordsmanship here was better than in the world he'd lived in before.

If someone became skilled enough, they could even slice through boulders with a single stroke or launch Sword Qi at an opponent in the distance.

Paul himself could split a boulder in half with one swing.

Roa wanted to understand how it worked, so he flattered and praised Paul until he got him to demonstrate several times. His young son, who could already use advanced magic, happily clapped for him. Paul must have been in a good mood.

Still, no matter how many times Roa watched, he couldn't figure out how it worked.

When Roa asked Paul to explain, he said, "You just step forward with a 'hup' and bring your sword down with a 'whoosh'!"

Paul was a terrible teacher. His swordsmanship was excellent, but he really wasn't good at teaching.

Still, following Paul's training routine, Roa began to get the hang of it.

Whenever he swung his sword, some inexplicable instinct told him the easiest way to swing, the best way to strike, and the safest way to withdraw his blade.

It was like dividing a line segment in two. Roa could almost instinctively mark the exact point of the golden ratio.

Every time Roa struck, he hit his opponent's weak point just right. The more he practiced, the more deeply this instinct seemed etched into his bones.

Roa was puzzled. "I don't know why, but I always have this instinct telling me how I should swing my sword."

Paul fell silent for a long time that day. His eyes glimmered with tears as he explained, "You have an extraordinarily high talent for swordsmanship."

Fortunately, there was also Rudeus. He had talent, but he wasn't quite as monstrous, which was enough to put Paul at ease.

A son who was too outstanding could make his father feel like he'd lost face.

There were three main schools of swordsmanship in this world. The first was the Sword God Style, which emphasized offense. It advocated striking first and relied heavily on speed. Attack was the best defense—that was the core principle of the Sword God Style. If its practitioners couldn't defeat their opponent with a single strike, they would use hit-and-run tactics until they won. It was similar to the real-world Satsuma Jigen-ryū.

The second was the Water God Style, the complete opposite of the Sword God Style. It focused on defense, with parrying and counterattacking at its core. Since it prioritized defense, Water God Style practitioners rarely took the initiative. However, masters could counter every kind of attack, including magic and ranged weapons. This style was usually studied by court knights and nobles.

The third was the North God Style. It was more like the art of war than swordsmanship. It had no set techniques; instead, practitioners adopted different strategies to suit each situation. Paul called it adapting to circumstances, but in practice, North God Style practitioners often relied on dirty tricks and clever schemes to win.

However, at the highest levels, the North God Style could achieve victory through unexpected means. It was especially suited to people who were injured or disabled, since they could still keep fighting. That was why it was popular among mercenaries and adventurers. In short, each of the three swordsmanship styles had its own strengths and situations in which it was useful.

Paul was strong, and there was no doubt about his talent. He was an Advanced Swordsman in the Water God Style, the North God Style, and the Sword God Style.

Don't underestimate Advanced Swordsmen. In truth, apart from Sword Kings and the Sword God, their skill was nothing to scoff at. Swordsmanship wasn't like magic; it could only be improved through years of practice.

Time passed quickly. By the time the two boys finished training, the sun had set and night was falling.

Today was not only the day Roxy had arrived; it was also the day the Power of Time and Space was fully charged.

[Power of Time and Space 100/100]

[You can now capture a one-star small world. Capture it?]

That evening, Paul and Zenith prepared a lavish dinner.

The roast chicken steamed with heat, its tempting sheen shining under the lamplight. Soft, delicious bread, hot soup made with unknown vegetables, and various side dishes filled the table. Fragrant aromas and steam filled the hall.

"That smells delicious." Roxy stared hungrily at the food before her. It was probably the best meal she'd eaten in the past year.

Everyone began to eat. Roa chewed the chicken politely. Its tender, delicious meat filled his mouth, and oil practically dripped from every bite.

Surprisingly good.

"Still, it seems we don't have any spare rooms," Paul said suddenly, as if he'd just thought of something.

That was true. Roa and Rudeus had always slept in separate rooms, and the house wasn't very big. There was only so much space.

Roa's eyes lit up when he heard that. He discreetly shot Rudeus a meaningful look.

Rudeus blinked. His hand, which had been busy scooping up rice, paused. He gave Roa a knowing look.