Time flew like an arrow.
It sure did-the sun kept sneaking around to cast shadows on him.
Before he knew it, half a month had passed since he arrived in Roа.
The lessons had progressed far more smoothly than expected.
Over the past few days of grueling training, Eris and Ghislaine had relied on their astonishing talent for swordsmanship.
They had successfully mastered the technique of coating their swords in mana, officially crossing the threshold into the ranks of "Elementary Rank magic swordsmen."
Compared to their rapid progress in martial skills, however, their academic lessons... were another story.
Deep inside the mansion, three figures sat together around a desk.
Rudeus sighed helplessly and prodded a few candies on the desk with his finger, making one last attempt:
"Eris, pay attention. There are nine delicious candies here. If we want to divide them equally among the three of us, what's the quickest, most efficient way to do it?"
Without a second's hesitation, Eris slapped the desk, puffed out her chest, and shouted with complete confidence:
"That's easy! We just take turns taking one until they're all gone!"
She planted her hands on her hips, her pretty little face full of pride. Her eyes seemed to say, See? I'm a genius!
"Uh... Lady Eris," Rudeus said, rubbing his aching temples:
"Do you even understand what 'quickly and efficiently' means? I want an efficient mathematical method, like division."
"What's efficiency? Do we really need it?" Eris pouted:
"We'll end up dividing them equally anyway. As long as we get to eat them, that's all that matters, right~?"
"..."
At that moment, Rudeus truly had nothing to say.
Memories of his previous life flashed through his mind like lightning...
He finally understood the despair and anguish his teachers must have felt when he talked back to them at school.
Boo-hoo, teachers from my previous life, I'm sorry! I finally understand you!
Seeing that a step-by-step approach to teaching wasn't going to work, he took a deep breath and decided to put the "power of money" to work-
[Ding! 320 system points spent. Successfully exchanged for: advanced mathematical calculation enhancement potion ×2, all-language (Human Language, Fighting God Language, Demon God Language, Beast God Language, Heaven God Language, Sea God Language) mastery potion ×2.]
As the system notification sounded in his mind, he reached into his clothes, pretending to pull something out of his "Magic Pocket." In reality, he neatly lined up bottle after bottle of colorful little potions, each giving off a fantastical glow, on the desk.
"Rudeus, what are these sparkly, fancy little bottles?"
Eris's attention was instantly captured. Her big eyes sparkled as she leaned closer:
"And can you teach me that magic you just used to make things appear out of nowhere? It's so cool!"
Rudeus silently divided the potions into two portions and pushed one in front of each of them. Putting on an air of mystery, he said in a low voice:
"Drink all of these. Once you do, you'll never have to take those headache-inducing academic lessons again."
"Really?! That's great!"
When Eris heard she could get out of academic lessons, why would she stop to wonder whether the potions might be something strange?
She grabbed the potions, tilted her head back, and gulped them down one bottle after another as though they were fruit juice.
Ghislaine, sitting beside her, seemed somewhat hesitant. Her distinctive beast ears twitched slightly as her gaze moved back and forth between the potions and Rudeus's face.
"Ghislaine, trust me and drink them," Rudeus urged softly.
Seeing this, Ghislaine took a deep breath, then silently picked up the potions and drank them down too.
A moment later, Eris wiped the remaining drops from the corner of her mouth, and Rudeus immediately asked tentatively:
"Well? How do you feel?"
Eris blinked and rubbed her belly:
"I don't think... I feel anything special, but they were sweet and sour. They tasted pretty good."
"Ahem. In that case, try writing out the candy question I just asked you, word for word, in Beast God Language, and solve it with a mathematical equation."
"That's impossible. I don't know Beast God Language, and that equation thing..."
Before Eris could finish, her expression turned solemn-
As if struck by a flash of inspiration, she instinctively grabbed the paper and pen beside her.
The scratching of a pen soon filled the study.
In less than half a minute, Eris slammed the paper down in front of Rudeus, her face filled with delight and astonishment:
"Rudeus! Look, look!! I think I suddenly understand it all! I actually wrote it out!!"
Rudeus picked up the paper and gave it a quick glance.
The Beast God Language handwriting was crooked, but the calculation of nine divided by three was perfect, with impeccable logic and no flaws.
He nodded slightly, a satisfied smile curling his lips:
"Mm, good. Completely correct. Starting today, you two have officially graduated from academic lessons. From now on, all the time that used to go to those lessons will be spent practicing magic!"
"Hooray-!!"
Eris leaped straight out of her chair with excitement, cheering loudly enough to nearly lift the roof off.
The easy, pleasant days flew by, and before they knew it, their second day off had arrived.
With no teaching duties for a change, Rudeus suggested going into town with Eris.
Eris was so happy to hear the news that she spent hours in her room choosing an outfit.
It wasn't until noon that she finally emerged shyly through the mansion gates.
She had changed into a well-tailored noblewoman's dress, its skirt trimmed with delicate lace that made her brilliant, fiery red hair stand out even more.
"Eris, you look even cuter than usual today," Rudeus said, unable to keep himself from offering the heartfelt compliment as he looked at her.
At the compliment, the usually carefree and violent young lady actually blushed. She lowered her head in a slight fluster, twisting her fingers as she spoke quietly:
"R-really? My mother spent a long time picking this outfit..."
"Ah~ so Lady Hilda chose it. It really suits you." Rudeus smiled in understanding.
"Th-then let's go!" As if to hide her embarrassment, Eris grabbed Rudeus's hand and strode energetically forward.
Behind them, Ghislaine followed silently at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, like a dutiful guardian deity.
Roа was on the frontier, after all. Although this was a shopping street,
There weren't many traveling merchants on it, and the trinkets they peddled seemed rather dull to a well-traveled modern person.
There were no bustling modern-style food streets here, much less any proper entertainment venues.
But Eris clearly didn't care. She eagerly pulled Rudeus along, and at last they squeezed into a boutique selling magic-imbued items.