Off to Roa

"They've really gone..."

Paul watched the carriage grow more distant and couldn't help sighing.

Although he had been the one to suggest sending the two out to gain experience, now that the time had actually come, he found himself reluctant to let them go.

Is this what being a father feels like?

"Darling..."

Zenith leaned against Paul and comforted him.

"Zenith..."

While the two were being affectionate, a green figure suddenly darted out of the doorway and attacked Paul without a word.

"Water Ball!"

The Beginner Rank spell Water Ball shot from Sylphie's hands.

Seeing that it was Sylphie, Paul didn't dodge her attack and let her vent.

The water ball struck Paul's head, soaking his hair. Water dripped from the tips and ran down his face.

"Why? Why did you make Rudeus and Rad leave..."

Tears spilled from Sylphie's eyes as she gazed at the departing carriage, overcome with sadness.

Paul said nothing. He simply held Sylphie quietly as she kept pounding him with her fists.

"Why? Why..."

Faced with Sylphie's repeated questions, Paul crouched down, bringing his eyes as close to level with hers as possible.

"You might not believe me, but this is for your sake and Rudeus's. You two depend on each other too much right now, and that isn't good for either of you."

"Besides, it's not as if Rad and Rudeus aren't coming back. But you need to learn to be independent in the meantime. You wouldn't want Rudeus to come back and find a Sylphie who does nothing but cry, would you?"

Paul's words worked, and Sylphie stopped crying. Her eyes were red, and her voice was a little hoarse and aggrieved.

"I-I understand. The next time we meet, I'll definitely give Rudeus and Rad a big surprise!"

The girl's firm declaration earned the approval of Paul, Zenith, and Lilia.

"Then I can teach you how to cook, Sylphie. That way, you can make Rad and Rudeus a wonderful meal!"

Zenith looked at Sylphie gently as she spoke.

"Okay!"

There was a hint of sadness and warmth in the atmosphere here, but things were different on Radeus's end.

The carriage wheels rolled steadily over the uneven ground. Sitting inside, Radeus felt every jolt as he looked at the village far behind them, unsure what to say.

Have we been sold?

A bold thought surfaced in Radeus's mind.

Surely not?

Radeus looked at Ghislaine, who was sitting beside him. Just then, Ghislaine looked at him too, and their eyes met.

Only after quite a while did Radeus muster the courage to speak.

"Um, you're Miss Ghislaine, right?"

"Yes. You're Paul's son, Radeus, right? No need for honorifics. Just call me Ghislaine."

Ghislaine spoke to Radeus.

"That's right, I'm Radeus. You can just call me Rad, then. The one in dreamland beside me is my younger brother, Rudeus."

"Um, could I ask where we're going?"

Radeus asked Ghislaine.

Suddenly, Ghislaine tossed an envelope from her hand, hitting Radeus in the face.

"Read it. I can't read, so you'll have to read it aloud. Paul put everything in there!"

Holding the envelope, Radeus thought to himself.

What kind of Pirate King speech is that? Am I about to enter the Great Pirate Era?

Just then, Rudeus slowly woke beside him. He rubbed his eyes and looked around groggily.

"Hmm? Where am I?"

"In a carriage. Dad has successfully sold us off!"

Radeus joked with the newly awakened Rudeus.

"Huh? HUH!!!"

Radeus's words nearly frightened Rudeus into passing out.

Seeing Rudeus's shocked expression made Radeus feel a little better.

"I'm kidding. But Dad left us a letter. He said he put everything in it!"

"Who do you think you are, Roger?"

Rudeus picked up on Radeus's joke quite naturally.

"Nice one, bro. Nice one!"

Radeus gave Rudeus a thumbs-up.

"All right, hurry up and read!"

Watching the two still fooling around, Ghislaine urged them on.

Radeus opened the envelope and began reading together with Rudeus.

The very first line was enough to make them both lose their composure.

"My dear sons, Radeus and Rudeus, I'm sure you have no idea what's happened."

"If you have questions, ask the musclehead beside you..."

Reading this, Radeus and Rudeus glanced at Ghislaine's solid muscles and couldn't help nodding.

That description doesn't seem wrong!

"That's what I'd like to say, but that muscle-brained idiot's head is full of muscle too, so I doubt she could explain it properly!"

"What did he say?! I'll kill him!"

Hearing this, Ghislaine couldn't hold back anymore. Burning with anger, she drew her sword, ready to go kill Paul.

"Calm down, calm down, Ghislaine. This has to be a joke! Don't take it seriously. Don't take it seriously."

The two hurried to soothe her. Given Ghislaine's temperament, she would probably charge out of the carriage the next second otherwise.

"Hmm... so that's what it was?"

Upon hearing that it was a joke, Ghislaine's anger immediately dissipated.

Is she really an idiot? Elastic and Unrestrained Anger.

Radeus looked at Ghislaine, who had already settled down.

The letter moved on to the actual business next.

The job Paul had found for Rudeus was to tutor a nine-year-old young lady living in Roa.

Radeus, meanwhile, would accompany Rudeus as his bodyguard...

A bodyguard? Me?

Radeus lost his composure again when he reached this part.

A seven-year-old serving as another seven-year-old's bodyguard. You really outdid yourself, Paul!

Ghislaine, sitting beside them, was the young lady's bodyguard and swordsmanship instructor. She would teach the two swordsmanship, and in exchange, she wanted to learn magic.

There was also a particular note telling them not to underestimate Ghislaine. As a Sword King of the Sword God Style, no one was better suited than her.

She's actually a Sword King!

The two looked at Ghislaine in astonishment. They hadn't expected the woman before them, all muscle, to actually be a Sword King.

Looks like I'll be able to learn the Sword of Light!

Radeus thought excitedly. He no longer minded having been dumped into a carriage without explanation.

After all, if he could learn the Sword of Light, what else was there to say?

Doesn't that mean I can learn the Sound Sword too?

Rudeus thought, his face equally excited.

Not a chance. Give up!

Radeus cut short Rudeus's unrealistic fantasy on the spot.

You bastard!!!

The end of the letter stated that Rudeus was not allowed to contact home before he turned twelve, but Radeus could.

Radeus looked smugly at Rudeus and gave him a thumbs-down.

I'm not going to be able to take much more of this!

Paul also stressed that Ghislaine was his woman, and neither of them was to make a move on her.

At this point, Radeus and Rudeus exchanged a glance.

Don't write irrelevant stuff like that!

But Ghislaine didn't angrily object upon hearing this, either. It seemed to be true, not a joke after all.

Holy shit, Paul, you're seriously fucking awesome!