A Promise for Ten Years from Now

Cain frowned slightly at her words.

"Miss Roxy, you're amazing!"

"Huh!?"

"It's not just your talent for magic. You can even draw up designs this complicated. I'll never surpass you at that."

Of course, he still had to visit the Magic University—for the Magic Armor Roxy had designed.

"Anyone who marries you will be happy, Miss Roxy! So have a little confidence."

"D-don't say something so embarrassing with a straight face! And so loudly, too, you silly student!"

Roxy blushed and gave her silly student a light tap on the head. Honestly, saying something like that out of nowhere... Watching Cain stand there with his arms crossed and such a solemn expression, she wondered if he expected too much of her as his teacher.

Roxy slowly exhaled, then looked at the silly student beside her with a slightly more serious gaze.

"Um, Cain..."

"What is it, Miss Roxy?" Roxy blushed and pressed her lips together as Cain looked at her intently.

"Cain, my blue hair looks green in the sunlight."

"Yeah. So?"

"Don't you think my hair looks a lot like a Superd's?"

The Superd Tribe was rumored to be terrifying. Most of all, people said they ate children.

Cain crossed his arms and tilted his head, puzzled as Roxy raised her little hands like claws and tried to scare him.

"So what? If a Superd tried to hurt you, Miss Roxy, I'd cut him down immediately. You don't need to be afraid."

Cain said it earnestly, one eye open. He did not look as though he was joking.

So what if they're Superd? Even if the legendary Demon King Laplace showed up, I wouldn't let him lay a finger on my sweet, slightly goofy teacher.

Oh, right. I forgot this student of mine is the Second Sword God, a Divine Rank master of the Sword God Style. How reassuring. My dependable, silly student.

Roxy sighed helplessly. Her blue eyes glimmered as she gazed gently at Cain. Then a thought occurred to her, and she turned away, her cheeks growing redder by the moment.

"Cain, do you..." Before she could finish, Roxy hurriedly shook her head.

Honestly, what am I thinking? No, no! How could I ask something so improper?

Cain is only twelve. He wouldn't understand feelings like that. I can't do this—not until he's ten years older, at least. If I ask now, we might not even be able to stay teacher and student, let alone companions!

Overcome with embarrassment, Roxy patted her chest, shook her head slightly, and took a deep breath to steady herself.

Seeing her expression, Cain smiled helplessly and relaxed a little. Could Miss Roxy be any more obvious? It must be something embarrassing.

Does she want to learn Swordsmanship? I'd teach her everything I know, even if she has no talent for it. But judging by how red her cute cheeks are, it's probably something even more embarrassing...

Of course he liked Roxy—as a teacher and a friend. Even without that bond, he would still like her as a friend.

But he could not leave her flustered like this forever.

"Oh, right. Didn't Zoldat invite us to a feast? We can collect our reward for the hunt while we're there. It's getting late, so we should..."

Cain offered Roxy a way out.

But his words stopped there. As he rose, someone caught the hem of his clothes. Roxy looked up at him with her beautiful blue eyes, a faint light flickering in them.

"Cain, do you like me as a teacher? I mean, the way a student likes his teacher."

Cain saw the unease in her smile. His eyes shifted slightly, and he gave a helpless sigh.

There was no hiding the flutter of feeling in her gaze. Cain thought he understood what she really meant—what she truly felt.

But Cain knew he could not give Roxy any assurances or promises now. He had a dream he had to pursue: to gain power beyond the gods, to keep growing stronger, and then...

"Of course I do! You're amazing, Miss Roxy. I like having such a dependable teacher."

"I-is that so..."

Roxy blinked her sky-blue eyes at Cain's earnest expression. She pressed her lips together and tightened her grip on her pen.

"I-if you can say the same thing to me ten years from now, Cain, I might be very happy."

Saying it eased something in Roxy's heart, and she let out a quiet breath of relief.

That should do. My silly student won't catch on, will he? Swordsmen are all so oblivious, and I was subtle about it.

It won't hurt our bond as teacher and student, and I can keep adventuring with Cain. But asking him that almost feels like tying him down. It feels a little unfair...

Still, the thought of some woman appearing out of nowhere and stealing her wonderful student left a bitter taste in Roxy's mouth.

I was here first! I don't want to give him up to another girl! At the very least, she'd have to genuinely love Cain!

Roxy blushed at the thought, but her spirits suddenly sank. With her silly student's potential, he might become someone important across the whole continent in ten years.

He'll have plenty of admirers then. If he finds a beautiful woman with a great figure who loves him and they start a family, I'll probably have no choice but to quietly step aside...

By then, he'll probably have forgotten his silly teacher. Aside from being a little cute, I'm flat-chested and don't have much charm as a woman.

Huh? Why does Miss Roxy look so down all of a sudden?

It's not as though I turned her down...

Cain watched Roxy clutch her pen, plainly lost in thought. He pressed his lips together and smiled helplessly.

He would never forget Roxy, even if it meant people might call him a lolicon.

"I'll remember this promise. I swear it on my name as a Sword God."

Cain looked at Roxy with resolve written across his face.

Roxy breathed out in relief. Closing one eye, she smiled gently and tapped a finger against the tip of Cain's nose.

"It's our little promise, okay? If you forget, I'll be very sad."

"How could I forget? You're my first magic teacher, Miss Roxy."

"Mm. I hope so."

Cain propped his cheek on his hand and looked at Roxy's doubtful expression, feeling as though his teacher, Sword God Gall, would have taken this as a challenge to his credibility.

After gathering their things, Roxy and Cain left the inn and walked together down the street toward the Ranoa Adventurers' Guild.