Taking a Master

"Cain, we've collected all the Earth Dragon tails."

Roxy shouted to Cain ahead of her. The ringing from the Blade of Light was so loud that she could not tell whether her voice had reached his ears.

After shouting, Roxy raised her staff and began chanting at the Mud Dragon Beasts charging toward them.

After all, Cain had done all the hard work himself. She had barely used any mana and had only acted as a guide.

Although Roxy did not understand why Cain had agreed to her request to team up, he clearly could have completed this B-rank quest alone. These Heavy-Armored Mud Dragon Beasts were no match for him at all. Still, she had to show her worth.

Otherwise, he might decide she was useless, end their partnership, and join another adventurer party.

"Flowing-Water Spirit, bring down the power of bitter cold. Form thorns of eternal frost. Let freezing ice spikes pierce through the earth and span the path ahead, pierce flesh, and freeze wounds!"

"Frost Spike!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The enormous ice spikes bursting from the ground pierced through the bellies of the Heavy-Armored Mud Dragon Beasts that had been charging forward moments earlier.

Roxy panted lightly, a hint of a smile in her eyes. Well? This is an advanced spell that used forty percent of my mana. Its effect is comparable to Saint Rank magic. This much power should be impressive enough, right?

Seeing the Armored Earth Dragons hanging in the air with their bellies pierced, Cain, who had been preparing to use the Blade of Light to finish everything, brightened slightly.

Naturally, the surrounding adventurers saw it as well, and their eyes widened.

That was advanced ice magic, and over such a huge area?!

Not only was that Second Sword God formidable, but even the mage they had previously thought was just doing odd jobs at the guild tavern was this powerful?

When the adventurers, including Zoldat and his companions, saw Roxy holding up her staff and casting large-scale ice magic with a stern expression, they could not help but revise their opinions of her.

"Tch. I thought she was just a third-rate mage, but she's actually this capable? Just how blind was I...?"

Zoldat wanted to punch himself. He regretted it now. A week ago, outside the Adventurers' Guild, that blue-haired demon girl had asked passing adventurers whether they wanted to form a party, only to be rejected by everyone.

A third-rate mage, as he had subjectively judged her to be, actually possessed such outstanding strength.

"With magic like that, she must at least be a Water Saint-class mage..."

"Amazing?! Is this Roxy's magic?!"

Cain sheathed the katana Instant Void at his waist and let out a small sigh of relief. Turning back to look at Roxy, who was holding a leather bundle filled with Earth Dragon tails, he smiled happily.

Without a doubt, he had found an incredibly capable companion who could serve as both guide and mage.

"That was amazing magic, Roxy!"

Cain smiled at Roxy, utterly generous with his praise. Compared to the magic created by the other mages around them, Roxy's large-scale magic was in a league of its own from every perspective.

"Y-you praising me doesn't make me happy..."

What was that? It was obviously nowhere near his exquisite swordsmanship, which could cut Heavy-Armored Mud Dragon Beasts in two with a single strike, yet he was praising me anyway. Honestly...

Roxy pursed her lips, her face slightly red as she gripped her staff a little tighter. Still, she was a little happy inside. After all, she had actually been praised by someone who possessed Divine-Rank Swordsmanship in the Sword God Style, even though he seemed rather young.

Smelling the thick scent of blood ahead, the Earth Dragons saw the black-haired boy standing atop the corpses of their companions. They let out mournful cries and began retreating beyond the village.

Seeing this, Roxy and Cain sighed in relief and smiled at each other. Then they began searching through the piles of Mud Dragon Beast corpses for parts they could sell.

"Miss Roxy, can you teach me magic?"

Cain untied the waterskin at his waist, removed the cap, and offered it to Roxy.

Roxy pursed her lips slightly. She looked at the waterskin in Cain's hand, then at the brilliant smile on his face. In the end, she waved away the waterskin. Hugging the bulging leather bundle, she turned toward Cain and spoke with a serious expression.

"Mm, I don't teach magic for free."

"Huh? Is that so..."

"Mm, you'll have to pay more!"

"Right, and you'll have to acknowledge me as your master."

The moment Roxy said that, she regretted it a little. She suddenly felt that she had gotten carried away.

After all, the person before her was the Second Sword God from the Sword God's Holy Land, a genuine top-tier expert.

And he seemed to respect his own master greatly. How could he possibly acknowledge her as his master...?

I regret that so much. Could he just pretend he never heard those arrogant words...?

But a Divine Swordsman of the Sword God Style wanting to learn magic? No matter how she thought about it, that was far too strange.

I hope he won't end our adventurer partnership over this. After all, this is the first time I've met such an outstanding swordsman. Whether we're completing quests or exploring dungeons in the future, having him around would make things so much easier. Should I apologize a little...? No, that would just make things even stranger!

Roxy fiddled with her hair, lips pursed and face embarrassed, while an intense battle raged inside her heart.

Uh... I heard all of that. Don't make that face like you never said anything.

The corner of Cain's eye twitched. Watching Roxy absentmindedly play with the blue bangs by her forehead, he smiled helplessly.

Everything Roxy was thinking was written all over her face.

But as long as he acknowledged her as his master, she would teach him magic?

He did not mind. If he could not even meet such a small condition in order to gain the power of magic, Cain felt he might as well return to the Sword God's Holy Land and lie around doing nothing. Besides, he did not dislike Roxy.

Having made up his mind, Cain nodded slightly. He solemnly adjusted his clothes, dropped to one knee before Roxy, placed a hand over his chest, and assumed the standard salute of a royal knight. His expression was serious as he looked at the stunned Roxy.

Cain believed this posture was the most respectful and humble one possible. It would both show the utmost respect he held for Master Roxy and demonstrate how seriously he regarded her magic instruction.

His master had taught him that this was the proper etiquette whenever asking an important person for help or making a request concerning an important matter. Since he was asking Roxy to teach him magic, both conditions applied.

H-he's taking that pose for what?! Is he proposing to me?! Why is he getting down on one knee?!

Unlike what Cain had intended, Roxy, covering her flushed cheeks, apparently had not understood his true feelings at all.

Roxy's mind now felt completely stuffed with something. The light had vanished from her eyes as she stared blankly at Cain, who was kneeling on one knee before her with a serious smile.

Having traveled through many nations, she had seen this formality at weddings between noble knights. Of course, what had remained in her memory were the disgusting fetishes shared among nobles.

Th-this guy isn't some kind of lolicon too, is he...?

Frightened, Roxy swallowed. Still, she decided to test the waters. If he really was proposing to her or something, then she would naturally...

After pausing, Roxy remembered his identity. He seemed to be the Second Sword God from the Sword God's Holy Land. At this distance, she definitely could not beat him. This is bad, this is bad...

Forget her—even a mage of the same Divine Rank would most likely be instantly killed by a swordsman of equal rank if he got close enough, much less a Sword God of the Sword God Style, renowned for speed and reflexes.

Mm... If I reject him, he won't suddenly fly into a rage and kill me, right...? I don't want to die...

Roxy swallowed, her face turning somewhat pale as she carefully asked,

"Y-you... what are you doing?"

"Mm? I'm asking Master Roxy to teach me magic?"

"Phew... So that's what it was... Wait!"

"No, why did you suddenly change how you address me?!"

"Anyway, hurry up and get up. That's not how you become someone's disciple, idiot!"

Roxy let out a heavy sigh of relief, two patches of red returning to her cheeks. As she pursed her lips, she felt a faint sense of disappointment amid her relief. Thank goodness it wasn't a proposal... But it still stings a little that he didn't see me as a woman.

Wait! Cain still seems pretty young. What am I even thinking?!

Cain looked at the tense-faced Roxy and smiled faintly.

"So Master agreed!"

"Could you not change how you address me so quickly?!"

"Alright, Master Roxy!"

"..."

With delight in his expression, Cain slowly rose to his feet and took the leather bundle from Roxy's hands, carrying it himself.