The Elf King's Exception? An Amazon's Passion!

The next morning.

The training ground, left in shambles after yesterday's fierce battle, had already been restored to pristine condition by the hardworking members of the Familia.

Kashu swept his gaze across the resolute faces before him, but found neither Tiona nor Tione among the executives.

Finn spread his hands, a knowing smile on his lips.

"Loki wasn't idle last night. She spent the entire night at it, but finally managed to get Tiona a high-grade grimoire."

"Tiona is busy awakening her magic now, while Tione is watching over her."

Kashu nodded in understanding, then turned to the others and began explaining the finer points of cultivating Breathing techniques in detail.

"First, everyone's affinity for magic differs greatly. Naturally, the Breathing technique that suits each of you perfectly will also be different."

"Second, this is your first time coming into contact with Breathing techniques. The introductory stage is crucial. I'll personally guide you from the side to make sure you stay on the right path. You could call it hands-on instruction."

"Please wait a moment."

Riveria's cool voice rang out. A subtle expression flickered across her exquisite face.

"Could you explain exactly what you mean by 'hands-on instruction'?"

Kashu's reply was calm and casual. "Nothing more than helping you correct subtle mistakes in your breathing. For women, lightly pressing specific points on the back with my fingertips to guide them will be enough."

Compared to the ancient Breathing techniques passed down by the Demon Slayer Corps, magical Breathing techniques were worlds apart in terms of difficulty.

During the initial stages, beginners had to constantly focus on coordinating their breathing with their magic. There was no room for carelessness.

Otherwise, magical backlash could easily occur. At best, it would injure the internal organs; at worst, it could cause the body to explode.

With the Transparent World, Kashu could accurately perceive every minute change in a person's condition during training. He was fully confident that he could effortlessly correct them from the side.

As for the little secret that the Transparent World could see through the human body—

He decided to bury it in his heart forever and never let anyone know!

"This..."

At his words, Riveria's delicate brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Clearly troubled by the prospect of physical contact, she could not help hesitating.

As elves born flawless and of noble blood, they carried within their bones a fastidiousness that ordinary people found difficult to understand.

That fastidiousness was not merely reflected in their spotless daily lives; it was even more deeply imprinted in the way they interacted with the outside world.

Elves allowed only those they truly acknowledged from the depths of their souls to touch their bodies. Beyond that, even an ill-timed touch from a god would be regarded as blasphemy and offense.

After some thought, Riveria ultimately decided to address the matter directly.

Otherwise, he was kindly offering, without reservation, a powerful secret technique that could raise them to an entirely new level, yet she felt resistance merely because of her instincts?

That would only leave both sides embarrassed and unhappy.

"Sorry, I..."

"Is it because of that almost stubborn fastidiousness of the elves?"

Kashu seemed to have already seen through her thoughts, yet he showed no sign of taking offense.

As for why?

Because his intuition was conveying the answer to him with crystal clarity.

Riveria would not reject his touch.

Kashu calmly stepped forward two paces and stopped in front of Riveria.

The faint smile in his deep eyes remained unchanged as he extended his long, strong hand, its knuckles clearly defined.

"Why not try it yourself? See whether your fastidiousness really rejects me."

At that moment, Bete, who had been silently watching, unconsciously lowered his crossed arms. He clicked his tongue inwardly, his expression complicated.

Meanwhile, the more seasoned Finn and Gareth exchanged a tacit glance, meaningful, teasing smiles tugging at their lips.

Only the pure-hearted Ais tilted her little head in confusion, unable to understand Riveria's hesitation.

Then the noble elf royal took a deep breath, as though she had made some momentous decision. Tentatively, she extended her slender, fair hand and gently clasped Kashu's outstretched palm.

The instant their hands clasped, the rejection and discomfort she had expected never came. Everything was calm and natural.

Riveria's beautiful eyes filled with astonishment. She abruptly raised her head to look at Kashu, waves crashing through her heart.

"We've only known each other for such a short time... Why is this happening?"

Kashu lightly tightened his fingers and raised their clasped hands before their eyes, a reassuring smile on his lips.

"Either way, this isn't a bad thing, is it? That means we can officially begin training now, right?"

Only then did Riveria snap back to herself, a blush quietly creeping across her cheeks.

She hurriedly withdrew her hand, awkwardly tucking stray hair behind her ear as she deliberately changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, why have Tiona and Tione been gone for so long? They still haven't returned."

"Who? Who was thinking about me? Was it Riveria?"

A lively shout came from afar, drawing closer.

Tiona came sprinting over like a fawn through the woods, waving a yellowed sheet of parchment high above her head.

With a nimble leap, she sprang directly onto Kashu's back and affectionately rubbed against him again and again.

"Look, look! I finally have magic of my own too!"

Caught off guard by the sudden "attack," Kashu scrambled to steady the overly excited Amazon girl on his back, his voice carrying a touch of helplessness.

"Yes, yes, I'm looking. Get off me first."

"Okaaay~"

Tiona Hiryute

LV.5

Strength: A(889)

Endurance: A(867)

Dexterity: B(778)

Agility: A(801)

Magic: I(0)

Fist Strike: G

Diving: G

Abnormal Resistance: H

Crush: I

--Magic--

[Passionate Poem]

· Enhancement magic, activated in battle.

· Increases Strength and Endurance. The boost continuously rises with the duration of battle.

· Gains a high bonus when fighting alongside a recognized hero.

--Skills--

[Berserk Rampage]

· Attack power rises each time damage is taken.

[Great Brawl]

· All abilities receive a high bonus when near death.

Kashu quickly scanned every word on the parchment and immediately understood.

As enhancement magic activated in battle, [Passionate Poem], combined with Tiona's highly explosive skills [Berserk Rampage] and [Great Brawl], would undoubtedly greatly improve her ability to turn the tables in unfavorable battles and her endurance in prolonged combat.

Though its enhancement might not match the top-tier granting magic renowned for extreme boosts, it was undoubtedly a highly practical type of magic.

Besides, the core of cultivating Breathing techniques was being able to refine and control one's own magic. There was no strict requirement for the type of magic Tiona ultimately awakened.

Then, perhaps because Kashu's earlier public display of his status among the executives had set a rather poor "example," Tiona was now brimming with excitement as well. Without the slightest concern, she passed the parchment around among everyone, seemingly having completely lost any concept of keeping one's status confidential.

"Cough!"

Kashu gave a slightly helpless cough and clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention back as he explained loudly.

"All right, let's put the chatting aside for now. Next, I'll determine one by one which Breathing technique suits each of you best."

"So, who wants to go first?"

"Me!" ×2

Ais and Tiona shouted almost in unison.

Their eyes met, and Tiona was the first to scratch the back of her head carelessly and laugh brightly.

"In that case, Ais can go first."

The doll princess who thirsted for strength and was single-mindedly bent on revenge did not hesitate in the slightest. She strode firmly forward and stopped directly in front of Kashu.

With a crisp motion, she swept her soft golden hair from the back of her neck to the front.

Her fitted, form-hugging combat dress armor outlined her graceful curves while fully exposing her smooth, slender back, flawless and without a trace of excess flesh, before Kashu.

Kashu's expression remained unchanged. Having already activated the Transparent World, the sight of a girl's back could not stir his mind in the slightest.

Very quickly, the Breathing style best suited to Ais was determined—

Just as expected, it was the swift and agile Wind Breathing.

The suitable Breathing techniques for the others were determined as well—

Finn, Thunder Breathing.

Gareth, Stone Breathing.

Riveria, Water Breathing.

Bete, Moon Breathing.

Tione, Flame Breathing.

Tiona, Flame Breathing.

Kashu personally guided each of them through the basics of combining breathing with magic.

Aside from Riveria, whose body remained faintly tense throughout, everyone else threw themselves into this novel training with tremendous enthusiasm.

Perhaps because the powerful physiques of Level 5 adventurers were already far beyond those of ordinary humans, the executives made few mistakes while learning the Breathing techniques. Their progress was so rapid that it was astonishing.

This was especially true for Ais and Riveria, whose magic values already surpassed everyone else's.

Under Kashu's guidance, specks of glowing magical particles had begun dancing around their bodies, creating a beautiful sight.

"Huff—cough, cough!"

Too eager for progress, Ais unconsciously sped up her breathing, trying to gather magic faster. Instead, she accidentally injured herself internally, and a streak of glaring blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

She hurriedly raised a hand and wiped away the blood, slightly flustered.

Yet Riveria, standing nearby, still keenly noticed that subtle scene.

Her brows drew together, and with a severity rarely seen from her, she reprimanded her.

"Ais! You cannot simply do as you please in everything! Especially when trying a completely new form of training you have never encountered before, you should be even more cautious!"

Ais pressed her lips together in grievance and protested softly.

"But I..."

Riveria's expression was stern and brooked no argument.

"No buts!"

Kashu glanced at the two as they argued and spoke up at the right moment.

"Riveria is right. You really shouldn't rush for quick results. What you're doing now is merely the first step of a journey of ten thousand miles."

"After this, you'll need to maintain this breathing rhythm twenty-four hours a day, without interruption, before you can truly be considered to have reached the introductory standard."

"Twenty-four hours!?"

Bete, who had only just barely found a trace of the path to Moon Breathing under Kashu's guidance, instinctively covered his still-aching chest. A grave, shocked look flashed through his eyes.

This guy... He really is a monster through and through. That kind of requirement...

Bitterness filled his heart. His understanding of Kashu deepened once again, along with an unprecedented pressure.