Why Does Sylphy Want to Learn Swordsmanship?!?

Rudy was stunned for a moment when he heard that.

"Huh?"

Sylphy also looked confused.

Rudy seemed to realize something and turned to look at Sylphy.

"Magic, huh? That could work too. When we're not around, Sylphy can use magic to fight back if she gets bullied."

"I—"

Allen nodded repeatedly as well.

"Right, so it's more suitable for you to teach her, since I don't know magic at all."

"Um..."

"Ah, that's a bit troublesome. But since it's Allen's request, I'll reluctantly agree."

"...You really wouldn't teach her unless I asked?"

"? Why would you teach her magic? Clearly, you should teach her—"

Sylphy failed to cut in twice. Looking from Allen to Rudy and back again, she realized neither of them had any intention of listening to her, and she grew anxious.

"I-I want to learn swordsmanship!"

As she spoke, the group had already reached the large tree on the hillside.

The wind was gentle.

It scattered the last words of Rudy's sentence—"it would be better for you to teach her swordsmanship"—into the air.

He blinked, then a smile slowly spread across his face. Turning to look at the dumbfounded Allen, he wore the grin of someone enjoying a good show.

Hehe, Lord Allen, it looks like your little boy doesn't want to learn magic from me. He wants to learn swordsmanship from you instead, huh? What are you standing there for?! This is the perfect chance to train him! Hurry up and agree!

Allen's mouth opened and closed like a goldfish's. He was completely dumbfounded.

Huh? This Butterfly Effect is getting way too ridiculous. You, a Laplace Factor bearer, want to learn swordsmanship? Are you messing with me?

"Why?"

Sylphy blinked.

Then she turned and stretched out her little hand toward Rudy, who was watching the show from the side, making a slashing motion. Her pointed ears twitched in the air as her hand blade adorably struck the empty space before her, accompanied by a whooshing sound from her mouth.

Rudy was completely unharmed, though the corner of his mouth twitched.

Allen stumbled on the spot.

"No! Wait a second. Don't tell me you think the outward release of battle aura in swordsmanship looks cool?"

Sylphy and Rudy both showed a trace of surprise, tilting their heads and looking up at Allen.

"Doesn't it?"

They spoke in unison again.

Allen froze for a moment, then his face fell.

Wait! This Butterfly Effect is a little too obvious. In the original story, Rudy thought swordsmanship was pretty good, but he never had this idea that it was cool, right? And Sylphy is even more outrageous—she specifically wants to learn hand-blade battle aura release. No, isn't that unsuitable for someone specializing in Silent Casting Healing Spells? What kind of healer charges into melee with a sword?

Sylphy watched Allen's expression gradually turn serious, and panic crept onto her face.

Rudy, meanwhile, put on an indifferent expression and walked off to admire the wild cursive script Allen had carved into the tree yesterday. Yet his occasionally twitching ears showed that he was still enjoying the spectacle.

Seeing that Allen had not spoken for a long time, Sylphy shrank her neck and let her gaze wander.

Th-this is bad. Does Allen not like the idea of me learning swordsmanship?

"Th-then..."

"I-If Allen doesn't like it, I can learn magic from Rudy instead. Th-that's fine too. Magic... is okay. I can help Allen... b-blow-dry his hair."

A gust of wind swept in, throwing Allen and Rudy's hair into complete disarray.

The two of them wore incredulous expressions as they stared blankly at Sylphy.

"Huh?"

"So that's how it is. Sylphy had never actually seen anyone properly use attack magic before..."

After a chaotic round of questioning, Allen discovered that Sylphy had never seen attack magic. Her father, Rolls, was skilled with a bow, but he knew absolutely nothing about magic. Her mother was a typical homemaker, adept at sewing, mending, cooking, and boiling water, but she could not use magic either.

So compared to magic that merely "produced hot water and blew hair dry," she preferred battle aura, which could fling mud straight into someone's face with a casual wave.

The latter looked more powerful.

It really matched the values of a child who was interested in whatever seemed impressive.

That makes sense. Rolls's mother, Eris, was also a swordswoman, so it's only natural that he grew up without learning magic. And Sylphy is only five, living in such a remote village. It's perfectly normal that she's never seen magic.

Allen watched Rudy chase Sylphy around the tree while using Burning Hand and Wind Blow Magic, shouting, "Hurry up and learn it so you can blow-dry your beloved Lord Allen's hair!" He could only rub his forehead helplessly.

What the hell is this about blow-drying beloved Lord Allen's hair?

"Rudy!"

Rudy was chasing Sylphy when he turned to look at Allen.

"Huh?"

"Stop fooling around. Since she's never seen proper attack magic, demonstrate some for her."

Rudy pulled a face.

"Can't she learn swordsmanship?"

Allen glanced at Sylphy, who was watching him cautiously, and sighed silently.

"I observed her. Her physical condition isn't suited for learning swordsmanship. Swordsmanship places great importance on talent. Don't be fooled by how Father usually acts carefree, as though he reached such a high level in swordsmanship just by practicing casually. Strictly speaking, he's a swordsmanship genius."

Rudy paused.

"I see..."

Allen looked at Rudy, and the smile on his face gradually faded. He had suddenly realized that Rudy had already reached Saint-ranked mastery in magic.

"...Rudy, according to Lokkishi, your talent for magic is terrifying. You can use Silent Casting, and you've already reached the level of a Water Saint-ranked Mage. And you only reached Water Saint rank because that was the highest level of magic she could use—not because Water Saint rank is your limit."

As Rudy listened to Allen repeat Lokkishi's praise of him, a smile gradually bloomed on his face.

But the next sentence froze that smile in place.

"So I'm curious. Just how strong are you now? If we put enough distance between us, which of us would be stronger?"

Rudy stared at Allen's serious expression and spoke in astonishment.

"What are you talking about? You're my swordsmanship teacher. Of course you're stronger, Allen."

Allen looked at Rudy expressionlessly.

"I mean, if my swordsmanship faced your magic, who would be stronger?"

Rudy's face fell even further.

"You can even trade blows with Father. Of course you're the stronger—"

"Do you really think so?"

Rudy stood there with his mouth open, staring at Allen, unable to say anything for a long while.

With his mild, non-aggressive personality, he was at a complete loss in the face of this unexpected turn. Even though Lokkishi had granted him the title of Water Saint-ranked Mage, it had never truly felt real to him. Much less fighting someone. Even when he became an adventurer in the future, he would be the type to avoid conflict with others whenever possible.

"Th-that's only natural, isn't it?"

"Use attack magic against me with everything you have. And let Sylphy see the power of attack magic while you're at it."

Rudy looked utterly flustered, not even noticing that Allen had said Sylphy rather than Sylph.

"...What kind of joke is that?"

The next instant, Rudy felt a breeze brush past the side of his face, and a gleaming blade was already pressed against his neck.

Under the sunlight, the slender blade glinted like a mirror.

Rudy saw his pale face reflected in it. Even though the flat of the blade faced his neck, he could still feel a chilling coldness from it.

He swallowed and followed the blade with his gaze.

Allen, who had been several meters away a moment ago, was now right in front of him.

Lowering his head and narrowing his eyes, he leaned down and stared directly into Rudy's shocked pupils.

"I said, regard me as an enemy, then use attack magic on me."

Rudy stared blankly into Allen's eyes and realized he was serious.