Guiding Swordsmanship

Roxy could sense the terrifying mana contained within that tiny Fireball just now. If something like that exploded inside the inn, the whole place would probably be blown flat.

"Sorry, but what did you think of that spell, Teacher Roxy? I think I'm fairly proficient with Fire Magic."

"Yes, it was certainly impressive. But there was far too much mana packed inside, which was very wasteful. If it were an explosive Fire Magic spell, it could easily affect you as well. I wouldn't recommend that you use such a suicidal spell, Cain."

Mages might be able to wield dazzling magic, but their foremost priority was ensuring their own safety. Keeping a certain distance before attacking was the most basic and safest practice for a fragile mage.

Otherwise, once an enemy got close, it did not matter what kind of mage they were unless they could use Chantless Casting like Cain.

A mage who could not use Battle Aura would still be killed in close combat by a swordsman who could use it, even if the mage was a Divine Mage.

Melee fighters who could reinforce themselves with Battle Aura generally held an enormous advantage over mages, because mages usually could not use Battle Aura and also needed long chants. Once an enemy closed in, they basically lost their ability to resist.

Of course, mages like Roxy could use all kinds of close-range and long-range magic to make up for those weaknesses.

How well one used Battle Aura, its quality, and its total amount were all important factors in determining a swordsman's strength. The immense, blade-sharp Battle Aura Cain had tempered since childhood was almost impossible to find anywhere else on the continent.

Of course, Battle Aura was something that depended on talent.

The night grew later. Roxy patted her full little belly and smiled contentedly. Cain smiled faintly as he handed her a handkerchief and pointed at the corner of her mouth.

Roxy touched the corner of her lips. There was cream there. She instinctively licked it; it was sweet. Her face reddened slightly as she used the handkerchief Cain had offered to wipe her lips.

As she stepped out of the room, Roxy wore a satisfied smile and waved to Cain as they bid each other goodnight.

"Good night, Teacher Roxy."

"Good night, Cain."

Roxy returned to her room across the hall to rest. The inn's rooms were rather spacious, with exquisite yet rustic furnishings. Most importantly, each room had a magical bathtub for soaking.

Roxy stretched lazily. As she opened her door, entered, and closed it, she could not help secretly poking her head out for one last look, only to meet Cain's smiling gaze.

Her face flushed with embarrassment, and Roxy pulled her little head back inside as fast as lightning. She patted her somewhat flat chest, took several deep breaths, and steadied herself.

Could I really be... Roxy covered her slightly reddened cheeks and pressed her lips together. Under normal circumstances, she would never have entered a man's room, but...

Well, it was my disciple's room. There was nothing I could do if I needed to guide him, right? Roxy felt that it should have been fine. And of course, nothing had happened. Cain was a gentleman. He had not become disgusted with her or tried anything because they had pretended to be a couple in the restaurant earlier...

What am I even thinking?! Why did I want to pretend to be Cain's girlfriend back then...?

Roxy felt as though her thoughts were a mess. There was an indescribable feeling within her, one she had experienced before, but every time, it had ended in disappointment or her quietly withdrawing...

Roxy shook her head. What exactly was I expecting from a disciple who's only twelve...?

Roxy set down her staff and forcefully shook Cain's dependable back shielding her, along with his bright, youthful smile, out of her mind. She slowly took a deep breath, turned on the switch above the bathtub, filled it with hot water, removed her clothes, and lay down to soak.

The warm water washed away all the exhaustion from her body, and a comfortable smile gradually appeared on Roxy's face.

"I'll protect you, Teacher!"

That sudden sentence appearing in her mind made Roxy press her lips together in the bathtub. For some reason, her heartbeat began to quicken.

She curled herself up and sank into the tub, leaving only half her little head above the water. Bubbles rose with a gurgle, and in the end, she could only helplessly mutter,

"Idiot... idiot disciple..."

Knock, knock, knock! Cain, who was inside trying out the intermediate earth spell Rock Cannonball from a magic book, smiled faintly when he heard the knocking.

"Did Teacher forget to take something?"

Cain spoke as he opened the door, but when he saw who stood outside, the light in his eyes faded.

"What, it's Zoldat. Is something the matter?"

"Hey, don't look so disappointed when you see my face..."

Zoldat scratched his hair.

"Seriously, Roxy was here just now, wasn't she?"

"Yes, Teacher went back to rest. What is it?"

"Ahem, I see. I see." Zoldat wore a knowing smile.

But when he saw Cain expressionlessly place a hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, he hurriedly coughed twice.

"Um, Cain, you said that if I helped you, you'd teach me swordsmanship, right?"

So he wanted swordsmanship instruction.

Cain had thought this guy had come over with nothing better to do than gossip.

"No problem. I can teach you, but it's too late today. Are you sure you want to learn now?"

"There's actually no need to be in such a hurry." Zoldat scratched his hair and continued with a smile.

"But the swordsmanship of a Sword God Style Sword God... honestly, it feels like a dream. As a swordsman, I really want to witness your swordsmanship. Of course, not by fighting you."

Is he really that eager...?

Cain nodded slightly and looked at the moon hanging high outside the window.

"All right. But it's too late today, so I can only guide you for a little while."

Outside the inn, Zoldat looked at the beginner's wooden practice sword in Cain's hand with some confusion.

"Cain, can that thing really cut through rock?!"

Cain merely smiled faintly at that. Holding the wooden longsword only used during beginner training, he gently stroked its blade with his right hand. His thoughts drifted back to when he had first earned the title of Sword Saint at the Sword God's Holy Land.

Back then, he had asked his master, the Sword God Gall, the same question: could a wooden sword cut through rock? His master's answer had been no.

He had said, "Within the realm of humans, a wooden sword cannot cut through rock. But once you surpass the realm of humans and touch the threshold of Divine Rank, you can achieve it."

"But what exactly is Divine Rank? Even now, Master, I still don't quite understand."

Cain muttered to himself, then looked at Zoldat and smiled. Zoldat reminded him of Master Gall, and that made him a little happy.

"What is it? Uh, did I say something wrong?" Zoldat scratched his cheek as he looked at Cain's smile.

"Zoldat, why do you want to learn the sword?"

"Huh? To protect myself, of course, and to kill magical beasts for commission money. But what does that have to do with learning swordsmanship?"

"It doesn't just have something to do with it. It's extremely important!"

Cain's expression became somewhat serious as he continued.

"A person without desire cannot learn swordsmanship. At least, that's how it is with Sword God Style. Such a person can only reach Sword Saint at most. Someone talented might barely reach Sword King, but they would still be second-rate swordsmen."

As he spoke, Cain looked seriously at Zoldat and asked calmly,

"So, Zoldat, what desires do you have? Or dreams, or anything else. Anything you wish to achieve through effort will do. It determines how far you can walk on the path of the sword. Of course, it doesn't matter if you lie. I'll still teach you with all my strength."

Zoldat swallowed.

"D-desire... Does wanting to marry several wives count?"

Cain folded his arms and nodded with a faint smile.

"It counts! That is also a kind of desire. But aside from a few exceptions, that kind of sword path generally does not go very far."

Zoldat pursed his lips and scratched his hair as he thought for a long time. In the end, he still sighed.

"I don't have any special desires. I just hope to use my sword to protect my companions in my adventurer party, as well as my own life."

The seriousness on Cain's face eased when he heard that. He lightly patted Zoldat's shoulder and showed a faint smile.

"You pass."