Scathach nodded, then looked at Artorius.
"I won't need to, right, Teacher Scathach?"
Before she could speak, Arthur grinned and refused—but unfortunately, Scathach did not approve of this attempt to skip class. The very next second, Arthur was pinned in place by Scathach as well, enduring a barrage of spear thrusts like a raging storm.
Only after a round of attacks was complete did she release Arthur and declare the lesson finished. Arthur collapsed beside Mordred.
"That concludes today's instruction. Rest for a while, then begin practicing on your own. I'll come inspect your progress in an hour."
With that, Scathach turned and left.
Author's note:
Third update today.
My Little Sister Can't Possibly Be This Cute
"How was it, Little Mo? How did it feel?"
Still lying there, Arthur calmly asked Mordred.
"Powerful."
Mordred sounded somewhat moved.
"If we're talking about physical ability, I'm confident I wouldn't lose to her by much. But when it comes to technique, the gap is simply too great.
No wonder even when Brother and I joined forces, we couldn't defeat her. She truly is the legendary Scathach."
"Mm, mm."
Arthur nodded, confirming that Little Mo was right.
"But."
As she spoke, Mordred sprang to her feet. She looked as though her spirit and fighting resolve had already returned.
"I won't admit defeat just like this!"
She happily told Arthur, "I'll learn everything she teaches! I'll surpass her! I'll become an even stronger warrior than Scathach!
Because only then will I be worthy of the title of Brother's guardian."
"Little Mo..."
Looking at his brightly smiling little sister, Arthur felt a stir in his heart.
Ah, this was his little sister. So adorable, so dazzling. He had to cherish her properly!"
At the same time, Scathach, who had returned to the upper floors of the castle and was looking out through a window, revealed a pleased smile as well.
"I don't dislike a child like that."
This time, Scathach was referring to Mordred.
She and her brother had both successfully passed Scathach's assessment. During an hour of training, they had thoroughly mastered the most important part of the basic Spear Techniques Scathach taught: the "thrust." After that came other techniques such as "lift," "sweep," and "bind."
In a single day, Scathach taught Arthur and Mordred all the most basic foundational moves of Spear Techniques in one go—
This "teaching" was not merely telling them what to do.
If that were all, Arthur and Mordred would have known it long ago.
Just like before, even without Scathach's instruction, Mordred could easily thrust her spear through a peach.
The "teaching" here meant bringing the Pendragon siblings' mastery of these basic Spear Techniques to the level of "extremity."
They could now use these moves to a "perfect" degree—though this was not the "extremity" or "perfection" of the moves themselves, but the "extremity" and "perfection" limited by Arthur and Mordred's strength, intelligence, and comprehension. Even so, it was already exceedingly rare.
"Previously, even the best students I taught needed a full day to learn these things."
Scathach thought to herself.
"Their talent is no inferior to that person's. Heh heh."
She was even more satisfied with her disciples.
And so, the first day of training ended. At the final move, "block," Arthur perfectly deflected thousands of spear strikes aimed at him, and Scathach nodded in satisfaction. At the same time, Arthur and Mordred had reached their limits.
Although their bodies would not grow tired in the dream, their mental exertion still caused psychological fatigue.
"Go rest." Scathach said, "Rest for three hours, then return here to begin the second lesson."
The reason she did not give them time to sleep was naturally because Arthur and Little Mo were already "sleeping." Sleeping again would not restore any additional mental energy.
"Ah..."
As Scathach left without hesitation, Little Mo swayed over and leaned against Arthur's shoulder. "I'm so tired, Brother."
His adorable little sister, half deliberately and half sincerely, acted cute toward him. "I can't walk anymore~"
Arthur naturally understood Little Mo's hidden meaning.
Either, "I want Brother to carry and hold me," or, "I want Brother to kiss me before I get up."
Normally, Arthur certainly would not refuse Little Mo's little acts of affection.
But today, Arthur had an even better plan.
"I see. Then Brother will take you somewhere. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
Arthur said this with a cheerful smile. Then, under Little Mo's curious gaze, he took her hand. The next second, the scenery around them shifted, and Arthur and Mordred appeared in the forest beside the Holy Spring.
The air here was fresh, and the True Aether was incredibly dense, making Mordred, as a Dragon Princess, feel refreshed in both body and mind.
"So, this place is..."
"Maeve, Maeve? Are you here?"
Just as Little Mo was about to ask her brother where this place was, Arthur looked around and failed to spot that pink-haired, green-eyed woman. He called out twice, but still saw no one.
"She's not here. Then there's no problem."
Arthur muttered to himself, then told Mordred, "This is a hidden realm I found in Ireland."
"If you bathe here, you can quickly recover your strength."
"Eh, really?"
Little Mo was very interested in that.
"Yes, of course."
"Mm! Then let's try it!"
"Mm, mm, let's try it!"
So they tried it together.
The effect was truly just as Arthur had said. The mental exhaustion caused by their desperate training was completely restored. Little Mo even felt that she could immediately throw herself back into training without waiting three hours at all.
"Then let's go find Teacher Scathach right away."
Seeing Little Mo so full of fighting spirit, Arthur was very satisfied as well. After all, the stronger Little Mo became, the more it benefited him.
"Mm!"
Thus, the Pendragon siblings happily left the Holy Spring.
After their figures vanished from sight, a certain pink-haired woman who had been hiding in the grass finally crawled out cautiously.
Her heart was filled with regret.
Because just now, when she sensed Arthur's arrival, she had bristled up.
Then, when Arthur shouted, "Is Maeve here?" she hid at the fastest possible speed instead of responding.
And so, she could only watch helplessly as Arthur took another woman to enjoy the Holy Spring that should have belonged to her.
"B-Bastard. Does he think this place is his home?"
"I'm the master here!"
"Everything here should belong to me!"
After Arthur and Mordred had enjoyed themselves and left happily, the regret in Maeve's heart reached its peak.
"Why did I hide?! It's not like I did anything shameful...
No, I did do something shameful, but that Arthur doesn't know—
So what was I afraid of?!"
"Damn it, damn it, this is too damn irritating! That bastard boy! I have to make him mine!!!"
She swore to herself.
"Gulp gulp gulp..."
And so, today, Her Majesty the Queen filled her stomach with water once again.
Author's note:
Heroic Spirit Mordred gained Servant aptitude: Lancer.
You Still Aren't Ready
After returning to the castle, Arthur and Mordred found Scathach. Training happily began once more.
Their lives became regular.
Their daily training consisted of practicing until they were completely exhausted, then running to the Holy Spring to have Maeve fill their stomachs with water, before returning to train again.
Besides Spear Techniques, they also had to study magecraft. Delving deeper into Scathach's Magic Workshop left Arthur very satisfied.
Their magecraft lessons were taught separately. Little Mo was unhappy about that, but there was no helping it.
Her foundation in magecraft was terrible. Studying alongside Arthur would have been like a kindergarten child and a high school student attending the same class.
Thus, while Scathach taught Arthur, Mordred continued practicing Spear Techniques. The reverse was true as well.
And so, Scathach gained the opportunity to spend time alone with Arthur.
It was not particularly useful now. But perhaps it would come in handy in the future.
In the blink of an eye, the seventh day arrived, and Arthur and Mordred were about to awaken.
At that moment, Mordred was diligently practicing Spear Techniques in the training ground outside.
Over seven days, she had made tremendous progress. Not only had her Spear Techniques improved by a huge margin, but even her magecraft ability, which had previously been her weakness, had improved.
Meanwhile, inside Scathach's Magic Workshop.
She had thoroughly taught Artorius the meaning and use of the first Rune, "?", namely "wealth."
"In just seven days, you completely mastered one Rune. You truly are talented."
Seeing Artorius surrounded by frost-colored Runes, Scathach could not help but sigh.
When it came to talent in Spear Techniques, among her disciples, there were barely one or two who could compare to Arthur.
Likewise, there were barely one or two with comparable talent in magecraft.
But someone possessing both talents, both at the highest level, was utterly unique. There was only Artorius.
This feeling of being summoned by Fate made Scathach value Arthur even more.
"What exactly is your Grand Plan?"
She looked earnestly at Arthur. "It's about time you told me about it, isn't it?"
"You really are impatient, Teacher Scathach."
Arthur smiled cheerfully, then said to Scathach:
"If my plan doesn't suit your wishes, what will you do, Teacher?"
Before you continue