We're Really Just Master and Apprentice!

"Is that staff heavy, Master Roxy?"

"No, I'll carry it myself."

Roxy pressed her lips together, still not quite used to the change in their relationship.

Cain nodded slightly. He glanced at his clenched fist, the corners of his mouth lifting.

Magic! This is great! I'm going to have a master who can teach me magic?! If I drink too much, I'll be able to cast Detoxification Magic! No more worrying about hangovers. Oh, yeah!

Roxy rubbed her forehead, feeling overwhelmed. She was still a student at the Magic University herself, yet she had somehow taken a Sword God of the Sword God Style as her apprentice...

No one would believe it if word got out.

Looking at the boy reaching out to her, Roxy gave him a faint smile. She pressed her lips together, sighed, then took his hand firmly and let him pull her to her feet.

His hand's a little rough. Roxy felt calluses on Cain's palm, probably from practicing with a sword. He must have worked so hard. She just didn't know whether he had any talent for magic.

The corners of Roxy's mouth lifted as she looked at Cain, who was visibly excited.

She wondered how disappointed he would be if he learned he had no talent for magic. After all, only one person in ten thousand had what it took to become a mage.

"We're in the same adventuring party, so would one silver coin a month be acceptable? The condition is that you stay in my party. If you agree, I'll..."

"No problem!"

"Oh. You agreed so quickly..."

Roxy brushed aside the loose strands of hair on her forehead. She pressed her lips together and studied Cain for a moment with her bright blue eyes before giving a small nod.

"All right, then. I look forward to working with you."

One silver coin was already a relatively low price. But staying in an adventuring party with the Second Sword God, someone at the very pinnacle of swordsmanship? There was no question she was getting the better end of the deal.

A reliable, powerful teammate was hard to find when taking on quests. Working with him would certainly be much safer and faster than tackling labyrinths alone.

Roxy nodded slightly, determination shining in her blue eyes. It's settled! I need to build a good relationship with Cain!

"Since we have a deal, I'll become your magic master. I look forward to working with you, Kain Brand Reiback."

Roxy smiled softly, removed her mage's hat, and gave a slight bow.

Cain's eyes brightened at Roxy's adorable smile. She used my full name. Master Roxy really respects me. I'm so happy.

"Ahem. Um... I hate to interrupt you two, but could you spare us some of the Mud Dragon Beasts' tails...?"

"Huh?!"

Roxy and Cain turned to see Soldat approaching. He scratched his cheek with an embarrassed expression, showing two rows of white teeth.

"I'm Soldat Heckler."

He's the adventurer who looked at me like I was nothing but trouble.

Cain rested a hand on the hilt of the stone sword on his back and edged closer to Roxy. Then he turned toward her.

"What should we do, Master?"

"Huh? You're asking me?! I mean, are you really letting me decide?!"

Roxy's mouth twitched. Most of the Mud Dragon Beast corpses scattered across the ground had been cut down by Cain. She had barely done anything. Did she really have the right to decide what to do with the spoils?!

"Of course. We're companions, aren't we? And you're my master. We should decide what to do with the spoils together. I have no objections."

But you look like you'll just go along with whatever I say...

Roxy's mouth twitched again. An unexpected sense of responsibility settled on her, along with a touch of gratitude. Cain looked entirely serious. It seemed he genuinely intended to listen to her opinion.

"W-wait a second! Second Sword God Cain—you are called Cain, right? We're not enemies. Please don't put your hand on your sword. It's, uh, very dangerous."

This guy's into little girls...

Soldat swallowed. Why was Cain so wary of him? He had absolutely no interest in women with little-girl figures. It wasn't as if he was going to steal her away.

Soldat had seen Cain give Roxy that proposal-like knightly salute earlier.

He's definitely into little girls! Was that how they made their relationship official? I can't believe it happened so fast!

Cain narrowed his eyes at Soldat's panicked expression. He slowly moved his hand away from the stone sword's hilt, though wariness remained in his gaze.

Roxy was unquestionably important to Cain now. She was the master who could teach him magic. But Master Roxy had no Battle Aura, which meant she had few ways to defend herself.

Judging by his Battle Aura, the man approaching her was a Sword Saint. If a Sword Saint wanted to get close to his master while they were out in the wilderness, and he had malicious intentions, Master Roxy would be in danger.

Cain remembered that Roxy had been at the Adventurers' Guild for ages without finding anyone willing to party with her. The people around her must have been prejudiced against her. Otherwise, someone as capable as Roxy would have found teammates. So what did this Sword Saint want, approaching them out of nowhere?

Cain didn't know what the man intended, but he was absolutely certain he could bring him down head-on the moment he tried to hurt his precious master. Or he could split him into two neat halves, just like the Armored Earth Dragons on the ground.

Cain didn't want to kill anyone. But if someone threatened the life of a person important to him, he would show no mercy.

"I'd advise you not to make any dangerous moves, Sword Saint."

"Wh-why would I? Don't be so tense, Sword God Cain. I mean you no harm."

Soldat's mouth twitched hard. That had been a warning, hadn't it? Would Cain attack without warning next time?

"You've finished your quest, right? The request for ten Mud Dragon tails. There are still so many corpses on the ground. O-of course we won't take them for free! Our adventuring party will pay you!"

"So, Second Sword God Cain, could you please stop holding your sword? I really don't mean her any harm!"

Soldat felt like crying. If Cain hadn't driven off the entire pack of Mud Dragon Beasts by himself, Soldat would never have come over to negotiate. Damn it, he's obsessed with little girls! How is he not getting the hint? I already said I'm not going to steal his woman!

"Y-you don't need to be so wary, Cain..."

Roxy's cheeks reddened as she pressed her lips together. She blinked at Cain, who had moved closer with a serious look in his eyes, then spoke softly and tugged at his sleeve.

Being protected felt wonderful, but Soldat's face had gone visibly pale. His legs even seemed to be trembling, as though he might run away at any moment.

"Don't worry, Master. I won't let him threaten you."

"That's not what I'm worried about..."

Roxy gave a helpless smile. It was her first time being protected by someone so powerful. The feeling was rather strange.

She looked at Soldat, who seemed close to losing his nerve and fleeing.

"Ahem. My name is Roxy Migurdia. He's my... apprentice, Kain Brand Reiback. Are you looking to buy these spoils?"

"Huh?! Your apprentice? Are you two in a student-teacher romance?!"

Soldat blurted out what he was thinking before he could stop himself. He hurriedly covered his mouth and waved both hands.

"S-sorry! I didn't mean it like that!"

Oh no, my stupid mouth! Why did I say that out loud? The Sword God isn't going to cut me down, is he?

"Huh!?"

Roxy's mouth fell open, and a blush raced across her cheeks. Her mind went blank, the light fading from her eyes.

What does he mean, a student-teacher romance?!

"Huh? What are you talking about? Roxy is my master in magic. We're companions and master and apprentice, not boyfriend and girlfriend."

Cain folded his arms, looking speechless. No wonder Soldat had been looking at him and Roxy so strangely from the start. That's what he was thinking? How rude!

Master Roxy was cute, but Cain wasn't into little girls. Well, he didn't think he was. In any case, he would never do anything improper to Master Roxy.

"Y-you're not together?! But I clearly saw you bow to her."

"That was the bow you give when asking someone to be your master. My Sword God master taught me! It wasn't a marriage proposal, you rude bastard!"