"What about breakfast?"
Ren Yu suddenly found it a little funny and pointed at her empty hands.
"Uh... breakfast's still cooking. I just came to remind you."
"Really?"
Ren Yu raised his eyelids. Naturally, he did not believe Kiana's nonsense. Instead, his gaze fell on the somewhat reserved black-haired girl beside her.
"H-Hello! I'm Mei, Raiden Mei! Just call me Mei!"
Mei was a little uneasy at the moment.
So he really was that swordsmanship expert!
Kiana had not lied to her. She really did know this teacher.
And he was so young, yet he lived so close to her.
Seeing Mei's nervous appearance, then glancing at Kiana, who looked like she had been caught doing something bad, Ren Yu instantly guessed what had happened.
After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke.
"You came to learn swordsmanship from me?"
"May I?"
Having her thoughts seen through, Mei could not help feeling a little embarrassed.
But she was also somewhat hopeful.
Was he really going to teach me that kind of swordsmanship?
She had spent all night wondering how he had managed to unleash such tremendous power without using any Stigmata.
Yet no matter how many times she watched the recording in slow motion, she could not find the slightest clue.
In the recording, Ren Yu had seemed to be slashing wildly, without any order or technique to speak of.
Yet those sword moves, which did not even seem worthy of being called beginner-level, had somehow been so precise. Every slash had blocked all incoming attacks at exactly the right moment.
If his earlier movements could still be summed up as a return to simplicity, then she could not understand the later part at all.
That crimson radiance stretching for dozens of meters simply did not seem like something a human could produce.
Perhaps those powerful fighters could achieve the same thing with Valkyrie armor, but Ren Yu was not one of them.
He was a man.
And his weapon was merely a standard-issue longsword.
"I..."
Ren Yu opened his mouth, but in the end, faced with Mei's hopeful gaze, he shook his head.
"I can't teach you anything."
"Why?!"
Mei's eyes instantly dimmed.
"I'm willing to trade something else for it. Please!"
She bowed deeply, looking utterly sincere. It was obvious that she truly wanted to learn.
Kiana also chimed in.
"That's right, Teacher. Didn't you come to St. Freya Academy to find a successor? Mei had already mastered her family's inherited, uh, One-Cut Style when she was eight. Isn't that enough for her to inherit the swordsmanship passed down by your master?"
"Do you really want to watch such an amazing sword art be lost? I know you're highly talented and have high standards, Teacher, but Mei's talent isn't bad either. She can endure hardship, and she's focused and dedicated. If even she isn't qualified to learn it, then there probably aren't many people in this world who are."
"..."
Ren Yu fell silent.
So Kiana actually remembered the backstory I made up.
But where was he supposed to get a master or sword techniques?
Rubbing his temples, Ren Yu did not know what to say.
Only Passed to Men, Not Women
After a long while, Ren Yu finally shook his head and said, "I can't take you on. I haven't even completed my own training yet. What right do I have to pass on sword techniques?"
Hearing this, Kiana muttered unhappily under her breath.
"What era is this? You people still follow such outdated rules."
"Then, Teacher Yang, would you mind taking on an apprentice trainee?"
Born into a great family, Mei had understood from a young age what such secret techniques meant.
They were things passed down only to direct blood relatives or acknowledged disciples. If she could learn that kind of method, what did spending a little time matter?
Ren Yu immediately replied, "My swordsmanship is passed to men, not women."
"Then... all right."
Mei nodded. Though somewhat disappointed, she did not continue pestering him.
After all, it was someone else's treasured skill. If he had truly taught it to her so casually, that would have been strange instead.
Then, she suddenly lowered her head again, looking slightly apologetic.
"If you don't mind, Teacher, would you like to join us for a meal?"
"Breakfast?"
Ren Yu raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. I happened to make a little too much."
Before you continue