The Brother-Betraying Teacher

The next afternoon, three guests came to my house. One of them was Isolte, and the other two were a mature woman with blue hair and a middle-aged man with brown hair and brown eyes, a scar on the left side of his face, and an overall air of steadiness. Both of them wore knight uniforms.

The moment I saw them, I knew who they were. They had to be Isolte's parents. I'd never run into a situation like this before, where they actually came to my door. Honestly, it was a little awkward. I felt embarrassed enough to want to cover my face.

Still, it was also the two knights' first time visiting a noble's home. They looked a little nervous too. I exchanged formal greetings with them seriously, and the two knights returned a proper knight's salute.

After we sat down in the reception room, they stated the purpose of their visit.

Then the scar-faced man said to me, "Your Excellency Guardian Knight, I am a patrol knight of the commoner district. My name is Mateo Cruel. This on my left is my wife, Emery Cruel, and this young lady on my right is my daughter, Isolte Cruel.

"I believe you have already guessed why we have come to disturb you this time. Last night, my daughter informed us that she wished to go to the Biheril Kingdom to become an adventurer and train herself at the same time.

"As her parents, when it comes to such a request from a ten-year-old girl, we absolutely cannot agree.

"However, she also said yesterday that this was the opinion of Lady Reida Reia, the Water God. That left us with some questions, so my wife and I went this morning to the main dojo of the Water God Style, met Lady Reida Reia, the Water God, and learned from her the whole story of this matter, as well as the reason she told Isolte to go.

"My wife and I are both swordsmen of the Water God Style. Our aptitude is ordinary, and currently we are both advanced-rank in the Water God Style. I doubt we will reach the heights of Saint-rank in this lifetime. Our daughter's understanding of the Water God Style has already far surpassed ours, and we are proud of that.

"But we are still worried about a ten-year-old child. We fear she will not be able to protect herself properly. Therefore, I would like to ask you for specific information about Bradycond, your traveling companion this time, before considering whether to let Isolte go with you."

"Mr. Mateo, Ms. Emery, I would be very happy to answer your questions. My other teacher, Bradycond, is a Water King-rank magician. She is a Long-Eared, and is currently serving as a court magician in the royal palace.

"She should already be over three hundred and fifty years old, with rich life experience. In addition, she is also the author of the bestselling book Travels Across the World. She has walked across most of the land in the world, and her footprints can be found on every continent. Her adventuring experience is also extremely ample, and she has challenged all sorts of labyrinths and ruins.

"Actually, none of that is important. Originally, this journey was not intended to include Isolte. This time, it is a trial given to me by my magic teacher Bradycond. It is meant to train my practical combat ability, and to let me grow from the one being protected into a protector. So this trip will not be very safe. There will be all kinds of hardships and dangers along the way. If we make it through, we will be transformed. Of course, there will also be danger, and accidents may happen at any time. All I can do is make sufficient preparations and grow through difficulty.

"As for whether Isolte should come along, I cannot make that decision. All I can say is this: do you hope that, in the future, she will stand on the side being protected, or grow into a protector?"

In truth, I had selfish motives. I hoped Isolte would come adventuring with me. Who liked adventuring with a man and an old woman? Having one or several young, beautiful female companions—wasn't that delicious?

Just thinking about it made me excited, but I couldn't force Isolte to travel with me either. After all, we had not yet reached that point.

Isolte's father pondered for a long time, as if he had figured something out, but he did not make a decision directly.

He only said, "I understand. Thank you for your answer," then rose and bowed, preparing to leave.

Just then, Isolte's mother suddenly said, "Young Master Dolin, I would like to ask how you see our Isolte?"

I'd been found out. Women really were attentive in this area. After thinking deeply for a while, I said:

"Senior Sister and I often practice sword techniques and spar together in the Water God Style sword dojo. In the past, when I practiced the Water God Style sword formation—the Flowing Water Sword Formation—with Senior Sister, she once said: 'This formation emphasizes advancing and retreating as one. If you hesitate by even half a breath, the sword momentum will break.' I thought about it carefully for a long time before realizing that she had actually grasped the rhythm of my breathing while I practiced the sword with perfect clarity. It was rather like a sword sheath and a sword edge whose hearts were linked. Now I say these words to you: I am willing to become Senior Sister's sword sheath. Even if a thousand armies press down like mountains collapsing, I will be her strong support from behind. No matter if arrow rain pierces the clouds and wind blades split armor, I will protect her back so that it never bends by the slightest degree."

I had nearly burned out my brain cells and only barely squeezed out those words. I hoped my mother-in-law would be satisfied... I was a little scared.

It felt like I had said something, yet also like I had said nothing at all. This was way too hard.

Isolte's mother did not press further. She left with Isolte. Just as they were about to walk out the main gate, I remembered something.

I called out to Isolte. Her parents did not stop, as if they were planning to wait for her outside the gate. I handed her a black box that I had prepared to bring to her tomorrow.

And I secretly said to her, "I was originally going to give this to you when we set out tomorrow, but now I don't know whether we'll see each other again tomorrow. I'll give this to you first. Consider it the birthday present I prepared for you in advance."

She stared at me blankly and said, "Such a big box. What kind of present is inside? I can't accept it."

I smiled and rubbed her hair. "You saved my life. This gift is much cheaper than my life. As for the rest of the debt I owe, I'll slowly repay you in the future. Remember, don't let your parents find out. Open it somewhere no one is around after you get home."

After Isolte left, I returned to the villa. We were setting out tomorrow, so I needed to check the items I would bring this time.

Aside from the set of guard equipment I used last time when I went to meet Ariel, I had also prepared an extra set for Isolte. If she did not come, I would have a servant take it back home.

I did not need to worry about daily necessities. Lilith would prepare those for me.

In addition to the healing and detoxification magic scrolls I had brought before, I also brought some attack magic scrolls. I would hand these scrolls to Lilith for self-defense.

There was a dagger with magical added effects. Its effects were poison and paralysis. The poison had to be removed with intermediate detoxification magic. The paralysis could only slow bodily movements, but after testing, even advanced detoxification magic could not dispel it. I hoped I would never have to use this dagger.

There was also an ordinary wand embedded with a magic stone the size of an egg. I had someone pick this wand out from the market. It was not expensive, worth only one gold coin. It would be the main weapon I prepared.

I did not want others to know my trump card. So when I was outside, I would use this wand as my weapon to mislead enemies and make them think I was an ordinary magician.

My melee main-hand weapon, Meteor, had already been wrapped in black cloth. Because it was relatively short, I would hide it behind my back. When the time came, a cloak would cover it, and no one would see it.

After finishing my preparations, I took a bath at home. Then I climbed into bed and entered dreamland.

At 8:30 the next morning, Lilith and I set out on our journey. I drove the sturdiest carriage selected from home, paired with two strong shaft horses that could endure the cold.

After all, Lilith had brought many kitchen utensils, seasonings, clothes, and the like. I did not want to end up carrying them on my back by the end.

After picking up Teacher Bradycond as agreed and setting out together, we arrived at the north gate of Ars at 9:30. This was the place Isolte and I had agreed to meet yesterday.

I did not see her. Thinking about it, that was only natural. She was still just a ten-year-old child. Who would let a ten-year-old child go out on an adventurous journey?

After leaving the gate, I prepared to turn back and take one more look at Ars. But unexpectedly, I discovered a blue-haired girl smiling at me.

"I was even thinking of running up behind you and quietly asking, 'Guess who I am?' But then you turned back and gave me no face at all. Sigh, I was discovered so easily."

"Haha, Senior Sister, I've said it before. A true expert can notice someone behind him from very far away, and I am that expert. Next time, I should pretend not to know, then seize the chance to let you taste my grappling technique."

"Do I look good today?" She spun around in her clothes. The clothes probably were not the main point. She wore something similar in color to what she used to wear when we went out together, but more convenient. However, the blue tied at her waist was spotted by me.

That was a very beautiful sword I had found in the warehouse. After appraisal, its blade was found to be forged from cold-pool refined iron and thousand-year profound ice marrow. Its entire body showed a semi-transparent ice-blue, like a frozen stream, and when light passed through it, it refracted rippling waves.

The edge of the blade shone with a faint, eerie blue glimmer. Flowing water-pattern runes were carved across its surface, and when magic power was injected, the runes would activate, forming murmuring water vapor that coiled around the blade. When swung, it was accompanied by the clear, cold sound of water.

The blade was thin and light. Its length was approximately two feet eight inches, around eighty-five centimeters, and it weighed only four hundred grams.

The hilt was wrapped in ice-silk soft leather, its spiral patterns fitting the shape of the hand, and a deep-sea sapphire was embedded at the end, capable of storing water-attribute magic power.

I couldn't look up the sword's name, so I named it Azure Water Heart. I didn't know which generation of the Prodia Family had collected it. I played the spendthrift for once too, taking it straight out and giving it to Isolte.

I had tested it:

This sword possessed the following skills.

Passive skills:

When the wielder cast water-element spells, the runes on the blade resonated, increasing spell power by 15% and reducing mana consumption by 10%.

Frost-Condensing Blade: attacks carried a frostbite effect. When the sword tip touched a target, it could instantly condense water vapor into frost, briefly slowing the enemy's movements.

Active skill:

Water Moon Slash: with a swing of the sword, it released two arc-shaped water-element Sword Qi, shaped like crescent moons. Each dealt water-element magic damage and left a brief puddle area on the ground, reducing enemy movement speed. However, it consumed the mana in the sapphire at the end of the sword, and it needed to be replenished after use.

While holding the sword, as long as the sapphire in the hilt still had mana, it could continuously release gentle water elements, slowly healing the wielder's minor injuries such as cuts and bruises, but it had no effect on serious wounds.

After actual testing, this sword was much more practical than my Meteor. If it were taken out to auction, it would probably be worth tens of thousands of gold coins.

After glancing at her, I said, "Stop spinning around. That outfit of yours doesn't have the slightest defensive ability. Hurry and get into the carriage. I prepared a set of chain mail and protective gear for you. Safety comes first when you're out and about. Remember, don't be careless."

She shot me a glance and said disdainfully, "I wonder who it was last time, being so careless he nearly got an arrow through the forehead?" Without waiting for my reply, she went into the carriage.

I didn't clap back at her. What she said made a lot of sense. Since Isolte was changing clothes in the carriage, I sat outside on the carriage shaft and drove us off.

When Teacher Bradycond saw there was another girl in the carriage, she shook her head helplessly. She thought: This is supposed to be a trial for him. A way to temper himself. Looks like she's treating this whole journey like a vacation.

There wasn't much worth mentioning about what we saw along the way. At first, Lilith and Isolte were still curious and would look at the sky and admire the scenery from outside the carriage. But the Asura Kingdom was just one great plain, with fields lining both sides of the road. If we had come in autumn, there would still have been vast swaths of wheat to see.

But it was winter now, and there were only endless wild grasses along the roadside.

The two of them quickly got bored.

We traveled for two weeks and finally reached the Red Dragon Upper Jaw.

That day, we camped in the wilderness. For every day we camped, we took turns keeping night watch. Usually, it was Isolte, Bradycond, and I who took turns.

Lilith was responsible for cooking and other miscellaneous chores.

That evening, while we were eating dinner, Teacher Bradycond discussed the specific route to the Biheril Kingdom with me. She also told me which Demonic Beasts on the road were relatively dangerous. I was still thinking that she was probably a bit worried about us now that we had left the borders of the Asura Kingdom.

"Don't worry, Teacher. Between every city, there are post roads worn out by merchants. As long as we follow the post roads, we basically won't go wrong. There aren't many monsters on either side of the post roads either, so don't worry!"

Seeing me so confident, Teacher went to sleep. Today, she was on the second half of the night watch.

Early the next morning. One, two, three—there was one less person among us. Teacher Bradycond was actually gone. Her luggage was gone too. I had Isolte and Lilith stay where they were, then searched far along the area near the post road, but I didn't find her.

When I returned to the campsite, I found Lilith and Isolte looking at a letter together. I leaned my head over too.

"Good disciple, your trial has only now officially begun.

Do your best! I'll be waiting for you at the Adventurers' Guild in Forest Song City of the Biheril Kingdom. I'll wait for you for two years at most.

If you don't arrive within two years, then turn around and go home. I won't wait for you there anymore!

Good disciple, the first lesson this trial teaches you is this: when you're outside, the greatest person you can rely on is yourself. You can't count on anyone else."

Isolte and Lilith both looked at me at the same time. I responded with a helpless bitter smile. I hadn't expected this kind of development either. I had thought she was a reliable guard like Ruijerd. In reality, she was a huge scam.

"Pack up. We're setting out."

Leading our little team, we set foot on our journey.