Paul's Connections

When Rudeus woke up, the sun had already begun to sink westward.

The swaying carriage carried Ghislaine and Rudeus, seated facing each other, and the sudden situation left Rudeus completely unable to understand what had happened. Paul, however, had already anticipated that Rudeus would be confused when he woke, so he had deliberately left him a letter.

In the letter, Paul had specifically explained the matter of going to Fittoa Territory to become the young lady's private tutor.

Putting the process aside, this result really was what Rudeus had wanted.

Not only would he be paid two Asura Silver Coins every month, but once he completed the teaching assignment five years later, he would also receive, in one lump sum, enough money for two people to go to school on the Northern Continent. Roxy's lessons, after all, had cost four silver coins a month, and his own level could not compare to Roxy's at all. On top of that, he was still only a child, so this payment could be called extremely generous.

And besides that, he would also be able to learn swordsmanship from Ghislaine.

Ghislaine, after all, was a Sword King.

The fee to learn swordsmanship from Ghislaine was two Asura Gold Coins a month! That was just how absurd something called a Sword King was.

Two birds with one stone... no, he should say he had made a killing.

However, there was a price.

For these five years, he would not be able to go home, nor would he be able to write letters to Sylphy. This was all so that he and Sylphy could each develop the ability not to rely on the other.

Rudeus felt somewhat conflicted about that part.

But since Paul had already done this, there was no point in agonizing over it, and besides, what Paul said did make some sense.

"He could've at least given me a little warning. I didn't even pack my luggage..."

Rudeus grumbled quietly like that, then suddenly noticed there was another sheet of paper underneath Paul's letter. He pulled it out and took a look, immediately confirming that it was a letter written by Hilde.

On it was Hilde's handwriting, and the contents were very simple, only four words.

"Meet at the summit."

Did that mean that the next time they met, both of them had to be standing at the very top...

Looking at those simple words, the corners of Rudeus's mouth curled into a faint smile.

The strongest mage and the strongest swordsman, huh...

That seemed like a pretty good development too.

"Was there something written in the letter? You're smiling so happily."

Ghislaine, sitting opposite him, tilted her head and asked.

"It's nothing... Oh, right. Ghislaine, you saw my little sister, didn't you? What did you think of her?" Rudeus asked along with the flow.

"Little sister? You mean that child who looks a lot like Zenith, right?"

"That's right."

"How unusual. I thought she was the older sister."

"..."

"She's very talented in swordsmanship. In terms of talent alone, she's no weaker than Paul, maybe even stronger. As long as she trains hard, she might be able to become a Water King or Sword King," Ghislaine commented casually. "As for any rank higher than that, it's hard to say."

"I see."

Rudeus nodded.

"Actually, when I saw Ghislaine, I thought Father had hired you as her swordsmanship teacher. Her talent for swordsmanship is clearly far greater than mine, but she can't receive guidance from a good teacher. What a pity."

"...Kid, what you really want is for me to teach her as well, don't you?" Ghislaine said.

"Although Father and Mother expected me to learn swordsmanship and Hilde to learn magic, the reality is the exact opposite. I'm more talented in magic, while Hilde has talent in swordsmanship."

Rudeus picked up the letter Hilde had written and showed it to Ghislaine...

Oh, wait, Ghislaine probably couldn't read, could she?

"Although I don't know why she's so obsessed with becoming stronger, she made a promise with me that we would each reach the top in the field we're good at. If, by the time I become a God-Rank Mage, I can't see her anywhere, I might feel a little lonely."

"I see."

Ghislaine nodded. "But you don't need to worry about that. Paul may look careless and irresponsible, but he cares a lot about you."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Paul has already made arrangements. She's going to learn swordsmanship from a teacher better and stronger than me."

Better than a Sword King?

Hey, hey, hey, what kind of joke was that?

Did Paul really have connections that broad?

Wasn't a Sword King already one of the highest-level existences in this world?

Someone even stronger than a Sword King...

It couldn't be a Sword Emperor, could it?

"When I first heard Paul say he had some connection with that person, I was shocked too. But what shocked me even more was that Paul was actually willing to lower his head over this matter."

As Ghislaine said that, even she could not help sounding a little emotional.

It had been the same when he brought Ghislaine to Fittoa Territory. In order to secure a stable job, he had gone and knelt down, kowtowing to that guy Philip.

Although he had once been a frivolous playboy who would barge in and make a nuisance of himself whenever he saw someone or something he disliked.

Now, for the sake of his family, he could even give up his dignity.

As a man, he was already an unquestionably strong one.

Buena Village, the Greyrat home.

"Master Paul, Father has agreed."

"This is the letter of recommendation."

When Lilia handed the letter to Paul, his fingers were trembling.

To be honest, he had actually considered the possibility that he might be refused. After all, he had done something like that...

But this was all for Hilde.

Hilde's talent and ability had to be brought out to their fullest. Otherwise, it would be a shameful waste, and she would end up half-baked like him.

So Paul braced himself and asked Lilia to write a letter in her own hand to her father.

A man named Augusta.

Augusta's own swordsmanship was nothing remarkable. He might not even have been able to beat Paul. But he was friends with the current Water God, Leda—or more accurately, they had once studied at the same dojo, learned under the same master, and often sparred with each other... though the result was the same every time.

In short, they had quite a good relationship, to the point that it had once made Augusta's wife, Lilia's mother, jealous.

Speaking of which, Paul himself actually had some history with the Water God as well...

But that could be left aside for now.

Paul had once received swordsmanship instruction from Augusta, so if one were to count it, Augusta should have been half a teacher to him. Augusta had even once considered letting Paul inherit his family's dojo. In the end, however, Paul had not only failed to live up to Augusta's expectations, he had even raped Augusta's daughter, then fled in the night.

They were practically enemies.

However, Lilia had now become Paul's concubine.

Thinking that it was about time to formally say goodbye to the past.

Besides having Lilia explain the request, Paul himself also wrote a long letter of apology, saying he was deeply sorry for what had happened in the past and promising that he would treat Lilia well from then on.

Perhaps Paul's sincerity had been sufficient.

On the one hand, Augusta wrote back to Lilia, telling her that since she had settled down, she should live well. On the other hand, he also wrote back to Paul, telling him that as long as he treated Lilia well, he would let bygones be bygones, and that if Paul had time, it would be good for him to come back and visit.

Then he wrote the letter of recommendation.

A letter of recommendation for Hilde to go to the Water God Style dojo in the royal capital.

"That's how it is. This letter is very valuable, so keep it safe."

Paul personally handed the letter to Hilde and repeatedly reminded her of all sorts of things.

The journey from Buena Village to the royal capital was long, and Paul could not simply leave his family behind, so he could only let Hilde go on her own. Fortunately, not only had Hilde's swordsmanship already reached the intermediate level, she could also use magic above the intermediate level, so even traveling alone should not be a major problem.

The biggest problem was money.

Because there was no need to worry about Rudeus's side for the time being, they could spare some money for Hilde's tuition and living expenses at the dojo. But once Rudeus had to attend school, there might be times when money was needed urgently. When that time came, Hilde would have to figure things out herself.

Fortunately, Hilde already had an idea.

She planned to become a knight.