Chapter 25: Sylphy Wants to Learn Swordsmanship?!

Rudeus looked baffled for a moment.

"Huh?"

Sylphy also showed a puzzled expression.

Then Rudeus seemed to understand something and glanced at Sylphy.

"Magic, huh? I mean, that's not a bad idea. This way, if she gets bullied when we're not around, she could fight back with magic."

"I..."

Allen nodded repeatedly.

"Right, that's why you should teach her. I can't use magic at all."

"Well..."

"Ugh, what a hassle... but since it's your request, Allen, I'll reluctantly agree."

"Seriously? You wouldn't have taught her if I didn't say anything?"

"? Why should I teach her? You're the one she wants to learn from."

Sylphy tried to interject twice but failed. Looking at Allen and Rudeus, she realized neither of them was listening to her, and grew anxious.

"I—I want to learn swordsmanship!"

As she spoke, they arrived at the large tree on the hill.

The wind was gentle.

It blew away the last syllable of Rudeus's "you should teach her swordsmanship instead."

He blinked and slowly broke into a smile as he turned to Allen, who looked completely dumbfounded.

'Heh, Allen-dono, looks like your little sweetheart doesn't want to learn magic from me, but swordsmanship from you! What are you waiting for? Perfect opportunity for training! Say yes already!'

Allen opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish, dazed.

'Huh? This butterfly effect is insane. A Laplace Factor carrier wants to learn swordsmanship? Are you kidding me?'

"Why?"

Sylphy blinked.

She turned to Rudeus and mimicked a slicing motion with her hand. Her pointy ears twitched in the breeze as she delivered an adorable hand-chop to the air with a soft 'whoosh' sound.

Rudeus didn't flinch, just twitched at the corner of his mouth.

Allen stumbled in place.

"Wait! Don't tell me you think Douki (Battle Aura) bursts are cool?"

Sylphy and Rudeus tilted their heads and looked at him.

"Aren't they?"

They spoke in unison.

Allen was stunned for a moment, then his face collapsed into a deadpan.

'Whoa there! This butterfly effect is too much. In the original, Rudeus thought swordsmanship was neat, but he never thought it was THAT cool. And Sylphy? Wanting to learn Douki burst slashes? You're a healer-type no-chant magic specialist, not a frontline brawler!'

Sylphy noticed Allen's deepening frown and became uneasy.

Rudeus, meanwhile, wandered off to admire Allen's wild tree carvings from the day before, but his twitching ears betrayed that he was still enjoying the moment.

Sylphy, seeing Allen stay silent for so long, shrank back and looked around nervously.

'Oh no, does Allen not want me to learn swordsmanship?'

"Um, i-if Allen doesn't like it, then I'll learn magic from Rudeus... It's fine. Magic... is okay. I can blow-dry your hair..."

A breeze swept through, making Allen and Rudeus's hair a mess.

They both stared at her in disbelief.

"Huh?"

"I see... Sylphy has never seen real offensive magic."

After a flurry of confused back-and-forth, Allen realized Sylphy had never seen real combat magic. Her father, Rawls, was an archer, and knew nothing of magic. Her mother was a typical homemaker—good at sewing and cooking but knew no magic.

So compared to magic that just dried your hair, something that could smack someone with mud using Douki seemed way cooler.

It made perfect sense for a five-year-old.

'Well, Rawls' mother, Elinalise, was a swordswoman, so he never learned magic growing up. And Sylphy is just five, living in a remote village—no wonder she's never seen real magic.'

Allen glanced over at Rudeus, who was now chasing Sylphy around the tree with a hot-hand + blow-dry combo while yelling, "Learn this so you can blow-dry your beloved Allen-sama's hair!"

Allen facepalmed.

'Beloved Allen-sama's hair... what nonsense.'

"Rudeus!"

Rudeus paused mid-chase and looked back.

"Yeah?"

"Enough playing. Since she hasn't seen real offensive magic, show her."

Rudeus pulled a face.

"Can't she just learn swordsmanship?"

Allen looked at Sylphy, who was watching him nervously, and sighed.

"I've observed her. Her body isn't suited for swordsmanship. It's a skill that requires innate talent. Don't be fooled by Paul—Master Paul's—casual appearance. He's actually a swordsmanship genius."

Rudeus blinked.

"I see."

Allen's smile faded as he looked at Rudeus. He suddenly remembered something.

"Rudeus... according to Roxy, your magic talent is terrifying. You can cast without chanting and you've already reached the level of Water Saint (Mizu no Seikishi) magic. And the only reason you stopped there is because that's Roxy's highest tier—not your limit."

Rudeus beamed as Allen recounted Roxy's praise.

Then Allen followed up with a question that wiped the smile off his face.

"So I'm curious... if we put enough distance between us, who do you think would win: your magic or my swordsmanship?"

Rudeus blinked, confused.

"What are you talking about? You're my sword teacher. Of course you'd win."

Allen stared at him blankly.

"I mean seriously. Sword against magic. Who wins?"

Rudeus's face fell even more.

"You can even spar with Father... so obviously you'd—"

"Do you really believe that?"

Rudeus stood with his mouth open, unable to reply.

He was mild-tempered and avoided confrontation. Even with a Water Saint title, it didn't feel real to him. He wasn't the kind to fight people, even as an adventurer.

"Th-that's obvious, right...?"

"Use your full strength. Show Sylphy what real offensive magic looks like."

Rudeus panicked, not even realizing Allen had called her Sylphy and not Sylphiette.

"You're joking, right...?"

The next instant, a blade gleamed by his neck, cold wind brushing past his face.

Under the sunlight, the fine blade gleamed like a mirror.

Rudeus saw his own pale face in the blade. Though the blunt side faced his neck, he felt the chill.

He swallowed and looked up.

Allen, who had been meters away, now stood right before him.

He looked down, eyes narrowed, meeting Rudeus's stunned gaze.

"I said: treat me as your enemy and use your magic."

Rudeus stared into Allen's serious eyes and realized—he meant it.

(End of Chapter)

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