Some Daily Life 2

In the yard, Paul and I faced each other with wooden swords in hand.

"Rudeus, let me see whether your swordsmanship has improved these past few years."

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Father."

I turned to look to the side. Eris, Sylphie, Aisha, and Norn were all watching.

"Big brother, do your best!"

Aisha shouted that, while Norn turned her head and watched Aisha for a moment, then, as if she had made up her mind about something, spoke up as well.

"Daddy... do your best..."

Eris and Sylphie watched in silence.

All right! To maintain my image as the perfect big brother, I absolutely couldn't lose! Even if I had to use magic in a despicable way!

I had already worked out the formula for victory in my head, but just then, Paul spoke.

"Ah, right. Rudeus, you can't use magic."

"Huh?"

"Opening!"

The instant I froze, Paul charged straight at me.

I had only just raised my wooden sword when Paul knocked it flying, then kicked me down to the ground.

A moment later, a wooden sword was pressed against my throat.

"Daddy... you're amazing!"

"Big brother, uh..."

Norn and Aisha spoke at the same time.

"Rudeus~ You really haven't improved at all~"

Paul said with a sleazy grin.

Damn it, that Paul... He just wanted to show off in front of his daughters.

"I can't help it. Ghislaine said I don't have any talent for swordsmanship either."

I stubbornly said as I climbed up from the ground.

But Paul spoke with understanding.

"Yeah... If even Ghislaine said you have no talent... then you really have no talent..."

"Father, aren't you going to encourage your own son a little?"

"You're so smart, you definitely understand it yourself. Besides, Ghislaine is a genuine instinctive type. If she thinks you have no talent for swordsmanship..."

Fine, true enough.

Every one of Paul's styles seemed to have reached Advanced rank. You could call him an outstanding figure in the field of swordsmanship.

If he worked a little harder, he could become even stronger.

But... right now, he probably didn't have much motivation to work hard anyway.

While I was thinking, Eris stepped forward and stammered, "U-Uncle Paul! C-could I... have a spar with you?"

"Of course. But it'd be best if you're not doing this because I beat Rudeus and you want to avenge him."

"N-no... that's not it... I just want to spar with you... Ghislaine said... Rudeus's father... is pretty strong."

"Oh? Ghislaine actually said that about me? That makes me a little happy. Well then, let's begin."

"Yes!"

And so, I moved over to the spectators' side.

Eris challenged Paul purely out of a desire to experience the swordsmanship of someone strong.

Up until now, her only sparring partner had been Ghislaine.

Ghislaine was strong. She was probably even stronger than Paul.

But Paul was someone who had reached Advanced rank in every style. He wouldn't be much easier to deal with than Ghislaine.

"Rudy... does it hurt?"

Sylphie came close to my side.

"Hm? Just a little."

"Mm..."

Sylphie nodded, then placed her hand on the spot where I'd been kicked. At the same time, she activated magic.

Healing magic that didn't need chanting... and it seemed to be Advanced rank, too.

"Does it still hurt now?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you, Sylphie."

"Mm..."

Sylphie's ears twitched, as if she were very happy.

Was this the same principle as Ghislaine's tail?

We watched Eris and Paul spar like that.

Should I have expected nothing less from an advanced swordswoman? Eris's reactions were clearly much faster than mine.

That guy Paul... He was obviously holding back a lot against Eris. When he fought me, he even kicked me, but against Eris he stayed on defense the whole time.

Still, even if Paul got serious, he probably wouldn't be able to take Eris down all that smoothly...

"Big Sister Eris is so amazing."

Aisha sighed in admiration as she walked over beside me.

I didn't know what she meant by that. Damn it, if I could use magic, I'd definitely have a chance!

But that wasn't something a loser should say. No matter how you heard it, it sounded like an excuse.

"Aisha, Rudy is a mage. In pure swordsmanship, of course he wouldn't be a match for Uncle Paul."

Sylphie spoke up in my defense.

"I know that!"

"Mm."

Wait... Did getting instantly killed by Paul just now really make me look that lame?

Had the image of me as the perfect older brother in Aisha and Norn's hearts just been shattered on the spot?

No, I had to reclaim my dignity as an older brother.

After Eris and Paul finished one round of sparring, I spoke up.

"Father, how about another round with me?"

"Nope! I still have to go on patrol~"

"Daddy! I want to go too."

"Sure."

And just like that, Paul ran away with Norn in his arms.

Damn you, Paul...

That afternoon, we continued yesterday's training under that big tree.

I called it training, but really, Sylphie just asked a few questions, went to experiment after getting answers, then went off to chat with Eris about girl stuff once she was done.

Aisha sat on my lap, practicing magic over and over.

"Brother, do you think magic and swordsmanship can be practiced together?"

"Of course. I used to think that way too, but I don't have any talent for swordsmanship."

"I think you're amazing, Brother!"

"Even though Father instantly killed me?"

"That was because Daddy ambushed you! If you hadn't been ambushed, you definitely would've held out for a while before losing!"

"So I'd still lose."

"But you're a mage, Brother. Being able to last even a little at that distance would already be really impressive, right?"

I rubbed Aisha's head.

Every time I did that, Aisha would grin foolishly.

"You sure know a lot."

"Hehe."

Was this really just a child who was almost four?

Aisha's intelligence sometimes made me suspect she was a reincarnator too.

She learned magic as soon as she was taught, and could even shorten incantations on her own.

"If it's you, Aisha, maybe you really could..."

"Could what?"

Aisha sat on my lap and lifted her head to look up at me.

"Magic and swordsmanship. If you combined them, you'd definitely be strong. The name would probably be Magic Swordsman."

"Magic Swordsman... So cool!"

"Right? I used to want to become a Magic Swordsman too~"

"Can I start practicing swordsmanship now, then?"

I lowered my head and looked at Aisha.

A four-year-old's body was still far too small.

There was no point in starting practice now. Ghislaine had once said that for talented people, it made no difference when they began training.

I had started practicing swordsmanship at five and had only barely reached Intermediate by now, while Eris had trained for less than four years and already reached Advanced.

That was the difference in talent. It did not have much to do with effort.

I patted Aisha on the head.

"It's still too early. If you start practicing now, you might not grow tall later, you know. You should focus on practicing magic first."

"Okay!"

Aisha nodded obediently.

She really was a little sister who put one's mind at ease.