Chapter 42

Roya stepped forward and helped his fallen father to his feet.

Paul stood up, a hint of emotion in his voice as he said, "Roya, you've grown up. You deserve a better teacher. In a few days, I'll ask an old friend of mine to teach you swordsmanship."

Roya immediately knew who Paul was referring to—Ghislaine, the Sword King.

It seemed the storyline involving Eris was about to begin.

But the thought of Eris's fiery temper gave Roya a headache, to be honest. Unlike Roxy, who had a gentle disposition, Eris's attitude toward strangers was downright unreasonable.

As Roya sank into his thoughts, Paul suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence. "Roya, can you tell me how you dodged that strike?"

Paul was genuinely puzzled. By all logic, a boy his age shouldn't have been able to evade that slashing attack, yet the evidence was right in front of him, leaving Paul baffled.

Roya couldn't exactly explain it in terms of skills, so he simply said, "Instinct, I guess. I sensed how you were going to move and dodged ahead of time."

A wry smile tugged at Paul's lips as he replied, "Your talent is downright terrifying, kid. If my old master saw you, he'd probably be itching to take you on as a disciple."

Paul sighed with a mix of pride and nostalgia before turning to Rudeus, who was standing off to the side in a daze. "Rudeus, get over here and train."

Rudeus swallowed hard, forcing a strained smile. He knew his father's rough personality all too well—after taking a hit to his pride with Roya, Paul was bound to take it out on someone else.

But Rudeus was no match for Paul. Even with magic, he wasn't sure he could win.

Sure enough, amid Paul's loud reprimands, Rudeus was thoroughly trounced, eventually knocked flat by a single swing of Paul's sword.

Paul shook his head in exasperation. "Can't you take a page out of your big brother's book? The gap in skill is just too wide."

Sprawled on the ground, Rudeus replied with a blank expression, "Father, there's probably only one freak like Roya in the whole world."

Paul let out a sigh and waved a hand dismissively. "Get ready over the next few days."

Curious, Rudeus asked, "What's going on? Ready for what?"

Paul hauled Rudeus to his feet, brushing the dirt off his clothes. "It's time for you two to take a trip. Plus, you'll need to earn some tuition money for your Sylphie. Our family might have some savings, but it's nowhere near enough to put two people through school—let alone three."

Then, turning to Roya, Paul added, "You'll train under Ghislaine. Learn everything you can from that muscle-bound woman's swordsmanship, and once you've mastered it, go study under the Sword God."

The Sword God—one of the Seven Great Powers, a figure of awe-inspiring strength.

Ranked sixth among the Seven Great Powers, the "Sword God" was unique as the only human among them. Like the "Battle God," the title of "Sword God" didn't come with a fixed name. This was largely because humans, with their shorter lifespans, rarely held the title for long. Those who did claim it had fought their way to the top of the world's strongest with nothing but human grit—a testament to their incredible power.

Humans, frankly, weren't particularly remarkable. They lacked the longevity of the long-eared race, the bizarre traits of the demon race, or the mighty, imposing bodies of the dragon race. By comparison, humans were ordinary.

Yet every so often, a young human with extraordinary talent would emerge.

The Sword God was the standout of his generation.

To earn that title was to prove oneself the pinnacle of human combat prowess in their era.

Roya nodded knowingly. Indeed, if he wanted to defeat the Dragon God, he'd need to grow stronger—and fast—in the real world.

At that thought, Roya's mind shifted to his other self in the world of Sword Art Online.

"It's starting, huh? I hope you won't let me down," the boy murmured to himself.

He pulled up his status panel.

[Character: Roya Greyrat]

[Age: 10]

[Strength: E-]

[Agility: E+]

[Stamina: E]

[Intelligence: B+]

[Talents: Immaculate Body (Stage 1), Fool (Stage 1), Greedy Sword Heart (Level 1)]

[Skills: Advanced Magical Knowledge, Sword God Style Swordsmanship (Advanced), Thunderstorm Cloudburst (Water Saint Level), Magic Sword, Demon Seed]

[Evaluation: You've gained the basic qualifications to venture into the world.]

This was Roya's current status.

Honestly, he was fairly satisfied with his progress. Through sheer hard work, he'd reached this level, and since his body hadn't fully matured yet, there was still plenty of potential to tap into.

But his current strength wasn't enough. He needed more power.

With his present abilities, he couldn't hope to become a "Shadow Eminence."

To Roya, a Shadow Eminence meant someone cool, overwhelmingly powerful, and pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

Think of it like an upgraded version of Ains Ooal Gown from Overlord.

Roya resumed his training, while also experimenting with new ways to harness magic.

Time flew by. Two days wasn't long—it passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, Paul called Rudeus and Roya into the living room with a serious expression.

Paul looked them over, his stern face softening slightly—though it tightened again when his gaze landed on Rudeus.

Noticing this, Rudeus could only sigh inwardly.

After a long pause, Paul spoke. "Rudeus, Roya, today's the day you leave."

Roya nodded calmly. He'd been ready for this—everything he needed was already packed into a single bundle, good to go at a moment's notice.

Rudeus, on the other hand, seemed a little reluctant. Paul had already warned them that this trip could last a long time.

That meant no seeing Sylphie for a while. Rudeus tried asking Paul if they could bring her along.

Paul shot him a look that screamed "Are you an idiot?"—leaving Rudeus thoroughly embarrassed.

Roya, however, felt indifferent. Going on this journey was inevitable. Even if Paul hadn't said anything, Roya would've set out on his own to embark on a new adventure.

Sure, grinding levels in one spot like the "Ten-Mile Slope Sword God" was satisfying, but there was a wider world out there. Even his Sword Art Online counterpart, Naoki, was starting to push himself—how could Roya afford to slack off?

The weather was clear and sunny. The sound of hooves clattered in the distance as a muscular beastman warrior stepped down from a carriage. Her face was cold, marked by a jagged scar and an eyepatch. Her features were sharp, exuding a commanding, big-sister vibe, though her expression was fierce and distant. She wore revealing leather armor, her body covered in scars that told tales of countless battles.

She stepped off the carriage with an air of indifference, her eyes landing on Roya and Rudeus. Glancing around curiously, she asked, "Where's Paul?"

Zenith, standing nearby, explained to Ghislaine, "Paul's inside with his other two daughters. These are my boys—Paul wants them to train under you."