Clarifying Their Feelings

"You never considered what you'd do if Roxy fell for someone else over the next ten years or so?! Wouldn't your incredibly precious Dragon Jade have gone down the drain then?"

"Between feelings that could disappear at any moment and a huge sum of money that could keep you fed and clothed in real life, plus a top-tier helper, anyone would choose the latter, right?"

Cain was slightly stunned. Seeing the seriousness and faint disappointment on Zoldat's face, he realized the man had actually been thinking of him, and more than half the anger in his heart dissipated.

Of course, Cain had never regretted giving Roxy the Dragon Jade, nor would he ask for it back. It was already Roxy's possession. What he had wanted back then was Teacher Roxy's safety, not Roxy's affection.

"Sorry, Zoldat. I got a little worked up just now."

Cain scratched his cheek, sincerely apologizing to Zoldat on the ground with a serious expression as he held out his hand.

"It's fine. I only told you because I've seen cases like this. After all, those things... Tch! They actually happened right before my eyes. Honestly, I think highly of the two of you, but there are some things I still need to remind you about."

Zoldat smiled faintly, grabbed Cain's outstretched hand, and stood up. He patted Cain's shoulder, his expression now calmer.

Cain nodded slightly as he looked at Zoldat, his gaze still firm.

"But even if Teacher doesn't like me in the future, or falls for someone else, I have no intention of asking for the Dragon Jade back."

"I gave it to her to protect Teacher Roxy's safety, and because I genuinely acknowledge and admire Teacher Roxy from the bottom of my heart. Of course, my feelings for her may have played a part, but that has nothing to do with whether Teacher likes me or not."

"Once I gave it away, I gave it away! I, Cain, the Second Sword God, will never take back something I've given away, especially not something I gave to Teacher Roxy. I swore on my name that I would protect her safety, so I have to preserve at least that much pride."

Zoldat could not help but laugh as he looked at Cain, who still held firmly to his opinion with unwavering eyes.

"Seriously, that's why you're young. But Cain is only twelve, right? Being young and hot-blooded can be a good thing in some ways."

What an honest idiot Sword God. Still, he suited Zoldat's tastes quite well. Smiling, Zoldat patted Cain on the shoulder.

Then came a loud clatter.

Cain turned around in confusion and saw a petite figure with two blue braids covering her flushed face as she ran awkwardly through the inn's doors. A kettle she had accidentally knocked over lay where she had been standing.

Teacher Roxy...

Wait! Could this guy Zoldat have...

Cain seemed to understand something. His mouth twitched as he turned back to look at Zoldat, who wore a teasing smile.

This guy had probably seen her long ago... Teacher Roxy was right over there!

Cain was extremely sensitive to killing intent and danger, but the cost was that he was somewhat dull when it came to sensing nonthreatening presences and targets.

"Hehe, she ran away all embarrassed." Zoldat crossed his arms, looking as though he was enjoying a show.

"So you deliberately said those things..."

"What else? Why would I risk getting beaten up by you to say all that?"

Cain pursed his lips.

"Why..."

Zoldat crossed his arms and gave a helpless smile.

"Heh, neither of you wanted to make your feelings clear. As the captain, I had to give you a hand."

With that, Zoldat spread his hands, looking as though he expected no thanks.

Cain's eye twitched hard. This guy was clearly just enjoying the drama...

The drama between him and Teacher Roxy...

Cain slowly pulled two wooden swords from the snowbank and handed one to Zoldat, revealing a rather kindly smile.

As a result, Zoldat was put through extra training by Cain until nightfall.

That night, after training until late, Cain sat in his room reading the spells in his magic book. This would deepen his memory of magic, though with the system's support, Cain's threshold for learning magic was very low.

Teacher Roxy hadn't come tonight...

I'm unhappy.

Cain puffed out his cheeks, spun the pen in his hand, then closed the magic book and sighed.

That Zoldat... Teacher Roxy was so shy, yet he tricked me into saying those things. He was clearly making Teacher Roxy hear my true feelings and forcing her to make a choice.

Cain decided he would give him more extra training tomorrow! Until he became a Sword King! Yes, it was for Zoldat's own good. There was absolutely no other reason.

Knock, knock, knock!

Just then, Cain heard someone knocking on his door.

"Even if you apologize, I won't forgive you, Zoldat."

Cain spoke with a sigh and pulled open the door.

Then Cain froze.

The person behind the door was not Zoldat, but his Teacher Roxy.

Roxy wore a pure white nightgown, her small face flushed red. She held a large white pillow tightly in both arms, while her soft blue hair draped down loosely with faint droplets of water still clinging to it. Roxy looked like a lotus rising from the water. Tiny droplets rested on her adorable face as she pursed her lips. She appeared to have just finished bathing.

Roxy pressed her lips together and hugged the white pillow in her arms tighter. With timidity and embarrassment in her eyes, she looked at the stunned Cain. Her blue eyes also held a trace of unease.

Cute, beautiful, pure, ahoge.

Cain scratched his slightly heated cheek.

"R-Roxy, Teacher, what is this...?"

"Cain... I can't really sleep..."

Roxy spoke in a soft, tender voice that carried both fear and tentative probing.

"Um, Cain, can I... come in?"

"O-Of course..."

Cain pursed his lips and stepped aside.

"Thank you..." Roxy bowed slightly while holding her pillow, then slowly entered the room.

How could Roxy have forgotten Cain...

That morning, when Roxy had come out to ask Cain for some rock sugar to soak in water, she had heard every single word.

She did not know how to prove her feelings, so she could only use the most direct method to express them...

Though she might be called shameless... or be told other terribly hurtful things...

But Roxy did not want to miss her chance again. She wanted to fight for herself just once, while her foolish disciple was still by her side, before some other bad woman stole him away...

Roxy pressed her lips together and forcibly endured the embarrassment in her heart. She blinked her large, timid eyes as she looked around the room. Sure enough, it was a double room, with two beds inside.

Yes, dear disciple, please use the Divine Rank Blade of Light on that bastard Zoldat for the sake of your useless teacher.

Holding the large white pillow, Roxy sat on the bed against the wall. The orange Dragon Jade necklace still hung around her fair, slender neck. Roxy looked at Cain on the opposite bed, who was scratching his slightly reddened cheek, and blinked uneasily.

What if I guessed wrong...

No, that was basically impossible!

She knew how precious that Dragon Jade was. Cain had given something like that to her, and Roxy no longer knew how she could repay him. Other than offering herself, Roxy could not think of any way to repay Cain for everything he had done for her.

Though Roxy believed her body probably was not particularly attractive...

"C-Cain, don't misunderstand. Actually, I just wanted to tutor you in magic and, a-and stay here for the night while I was at it... Yes, that's all. Of course, if you're uncomfortable or really mind it, I'll leave."

"I-Is that so? Actually, I don't really mind staying with Teacher. I just don't know whether Teacher... Of course, I won't do anything excessive to Teacher. I promise."

Cain was somewhat incoherent. Still, it was truly wonderful that Teacher Roxy had not come to hate him because of Zoldat's antics.

"Is that so? I-I don't mind either... But please don't do anything bad to your teacher either... Because Cain is still a minor, right..."