[Ghislaine POV]
"It's the first time I've seen a beast woman here. What's up?"
The sudden voice cut through the tavern's ambient chatter as I enjoyed my drink. I turned to find a young boy—no more than nine—staring at me with peculiar confidence.
"Oh? It's the first time I'm being flirted with by a boy... or are you a demonkin?" I replied, narrowing my eyes. I've encountered countless individuals approaching me with such pretexts, their intentions rarely innocent.
The corner of his mouth twitched into a smirk. "Haha, you jest. I am a normal child you can meet anywhere within the village."
"Hmm, I don't believe the normal part, though." I squinted, studying him more carefully.
It had been several days since my arrival in Buena Village. My mission was straightforward—locate Paul's son and bring him back to serve as Lady Eris's tutor. The journey was considerable, but my adventuring background had prepared me well for extended travel. Though I missed Zenith's company, I knew I needed to return promptly after retrieving the child.
One thing had caught my attention upon arrival—this backwater village possessed impressively paved roads extending halfway toward the city. Clearly unfinished, but remarkable for a settlement of this size.
"Have you taken a liking to the paved road? Amazing, right?" The boy's voice pulled me from my thoughts, his tone suggesting he'd somehow anticipated my observations.
"Hoo, you know something about it?"
"I sure am... I'm the project leader, after all!" Pride emanated from his small frame as he puffed out his chest.
I might not be the most intellectually inclined, but even I recognized the absurdity of a child managing such construction.
"You might not believe this handsome 9-year-old had the talent to lead the construction. But you have to since that's the truth."
Narcissistic little one, isn't he?
His eyes suddenly widened with recognition. "Ah, I remember now... A shameless, perverted Sword King indeed. You must be Ghislaine... This kind of attire isn't something a sane person would wear. After all, even the night ladies wouldn't be as bold as you are..."
The rude remark ignited something primal within me. The minimal clothing I wore had been my preference since my early days as a warrior. In my younger years, such disrespect would have resulted in swift retribution. Though I restrained myself from drawing my blade, I couldn't suppress the surge of bloodlust that radiated from me, sending nearby patrons scurrying away in fear.
Oddly, the child remained unperturbed.
"Don't scare me too much. Don't you see this body already trembling? I'll leak in my pants if you continue to do so."
He delivered the line with remarkable composure, but the slight tremor in his hands betrayed his feigned nonchalance.
"Don't mock me," I growled. "I'm still a Sword King no matter what attire I use. It's not weird to be killed by some expert if you mock someone without any thought..."
"Pardon me, but your attire is just too enticing towards this humble kid..." He gestured around the tavern. "Heck, look around. If your body isn't that muscled, the men will pounce on you."
I scoffed and turned away. It wasn't as though I particularly cared about others' opinions.
"Please wear this robe, at least. I'm embarrassed even if you don't..."
He extended a simple but well-crafted robe toward me.
"Sure..."
I accepted the garment, and he departed as soon as I draped it over my shoulders. What an odd child. Paul had always appreciated my choice of attire, and I valued the freedom of movement it provided. Still, the additional layer wasn't entirely unwelcome.
"It's warmer, huh..." I muttered to myself, settling back to my drink.
[Claude POV]
The forest whispered around me as I moved silently between the shadows, dispatching beasts that threatened the village workers. Each movement was calculated, efficient—leaving no evidence of my presence.
The years had seen my swordsmanship and magical capabilities plateau at the intermediate-high level. Frustrating, but not unexpected. Although I couldn't boast about my abilities, especially with Rudeus surpassing me in magical aptitude, I knew patience would eventually yield results.
But there was one development I couldn't share with others: my ability to perceive mana.
The particles danced around me—visible, tangible. If my hypothesis proved correct, I would recognize the telltale signs when the teleportation incident approached. The countdown to that catastrophe wouldn't catch me unaware.
I'd made limited progress with space-time magic, only enough to create vacuums that destroyed the evidence of my hunts. Rather than risk drawing attention as some prodigy monster-slayer, I preferred that the village believe the creatures had simply fled or gone into hiding.
Encountering Ghislaine this morning confirmed what I'd suspected—Rudeus's time in the village was rapidly approaching its conclusion. Not that I needed to intervene; I simply needed to ensure he received certain items before his departure.
I sheathed my sword, leaving no trace of the beast's demise, and headed toward the day's gathering. Unknown to me, Ghislaine would later detect the lingering scent of blood in the air and investigate—but by then, I would be elsewhere, demonstrating more modest skills alongside the village guard.
Small though I might be, I still needed to establish my capabilities without revealing the full extent of my power.
[Narrator POV]
"So, Roxy was in Shirone and already a Water King, huh." Rudeus murmured, eyes scanning the letter from his former mentor.
"Ooh, that's amazing. In this world, there are only five people at most that can use King Ranked magic..." Paul commented before awkwardly adding, "By the way, did you really steal Roxy-chan's panties?"
'Oh, crap,' Rudeus thought, turning away from his father's inquisitive gaze, the memory of his past transgression haunting him.
Atop his bed later that evening, he reread the letter, contemplating the path ahead.
The following day at breakfast, he summoned his courage.
"Father, can I ask you for something selfish?"
"No," Paul replied bluntly, only to receive swift kicks from both wives. "Ugh," he groaned, wincing.
"Rudy, you can ask anything you want," Zenith offered warmly, turning toward Paul with a pointed glare. "Your father will try to figure it out."
"This is when the master's ability and dignity as a husband and father will be tested," Lilia added, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Rudeus cleared his throat. "To tell you the truth, I haven't been making progress lately. So, I'd like to enroll in Ranoa Magic University..."
"Ho," Paul raised an eyebrow.
"But when Sylphy learned about it, she cried and told me that she didn't want me to leave."
"You lady-killer," Paul teased, a hint of pride in his voice. "Who did you inherit this from, huh?"
"While at it, I want to have her attend with me. But her family is not as rich as ours..."
"Therefore, I think if you can pay her tuition and mine, it will be for both of us. Please?"
Paul tapped his finger thoughtfully against the wooden table. "Hmm, both of you to Ranoa, huh? Denied."
Both Zenith and Lilia exchanged glances with Rudeus before nodding in agreement with Paul's decision.
"There are a couple of reasons," Paul explained. "First, you're still practicing swords. You can't even defeat Claude without your spell, and he's your junior in swordsmanship training."
"Although you're smart, you're still young... I can't give up my responsibility as a parent. We can probably afford your tuition, but adding Sylphy is another matter. We are not rich enough to spend money like water..." Paul's tone was firm but not unkind.
"In that case, can I ask for something else?" Rudeus countered.
"Sure."
"Can you help me find a job? I'd like to have one that has a good wage."
"Job? Why?"
Determination flashed in the boy's eyes. "Until Dad acknowledges me and allows me to leave home, I'll earn money for Sylphy's tuition."
"That's not a good thing for Sylphy."
"Yes, but I figured it was probably a good thing for me."
A slight smirk curved Paul's lips. "Got it. In that case, I'll see if I can find someone to help."
"Thank you very much," Rudeus replied, unable to hide his excitement.
A week passed swiftly.
"Heya, Norn, Aisha... Big brother Claude is here." Claude cradled the newborns in his arms, spinning gently as their delighted giggles filled the air. The babies were captivated, paying no attention to their father and brother sparring in the yard.
"Kyahaha!" Their laughter contrasted with the rhythmic clacking of wooden swords.
Zenith watched with maternal concern, momentarily distracting Rudeus. The lapse in concentration earned him a sharp rap on the head from Paul's training sword.
"Don't get distracted, Rudy."
"But... Claude is smirking at me! Hey, put your hands away from my little sisters!" Rudeus brandished his wooden sword threateningly.
"Pssh, just go and train..." Claude taunted. "It's not like you can defeat me. Go, go, go, don't disturb my date with my princesses." He punctuated his words by planting exaggerated kisses on the infants' foreheads.
"Keep that filthy mouth away from my sisters, orra!" Rudeus swung his sword at Claude, who deftly evaded the attack.
Paul observed their antics with an exasperated sigh, while Zenith and Lilia exchanged amused glances.
Their playful chase was interrupted by the arrival of a carriage. A striking woman stepped out, her powerful presence immediately commanding attention.
"Ooh, you've arrived, Ghislaine," Paul greeted her with familiarity.
"Hey, where's the robe?! You can't just blatantly walk around just with your underwear!" Claude called out, recognizing the Sword King from their earlier encounter.
"Is he your kid?" Ghislaine asked Paul, her eye twitching at the child's audacity.
"Nah, he's my disciple," Paul explained, massaging his temples.
"Oh? You had one?" Surprise colored her voice; Paul's reputation for shirking responsibility preceded him.
"Just recently... yeah."
"The pipsqueak is the one you told me about, right?"
As Paul nodded in confirmation, Zenith appeared beside them, welcoming Ghislaine with genuine warmth.
Claude approached, still holding the babies, with Rudeus trailing behind—the latter's eyes fixated on Ghislaine's minimal attire.
"Eyo, nice to meet you, Ghislaine. I'm the most handsome man in the village, Claude," he announced. "This one is Norn, Zenith's daughter. The other one is Aisha, Lilia's daughter..." He gestured toward each infant and their respective mothers, his eyes sliding meaningfully toward Paul.
"Hoo, Paul is the same no matter where he is, huh..." Ghislaine remarked with a knowing smirk.
"I know... sigh..." Zenith's response carried a weight of resigned acceptance.
"I told you so, but never expected you'd agree with it." As a devout follower of the Millis religion, which espoused monogamy and devotion, Zenith's acceptance of a second wife was indeed surprising.
Their shared history as adventuring companions had forged a deep understanding between Ghislaine and Zenith. Yet seeing her friend accommodate Paul's arrangement remained unexpected.
"It's great that she does not look like Paul," Ghislaine observed, examining the infants.
"You make me look bad," Paul grumbled.
"Touch your chest and feel it. Then ask whether you're really bad or not." Claude instructed. As Paul complied with closed eyes, Claude leaned in to whisper: "You're not bad. You're worse than bad... a perverted lecher."
"Urgh... Damn you, kid! I'll whip your ass!"
"Kuahaha!" Claude hastily transferred the babies to Zenith and Ghislaine before dashing away from Paul's wrath.
It was Ghislaine's first time holding an infant. As Aisha squirmed in her powerful arms, something softened in the warrior's expression. Beneath her battle-hardened exterior, maternal instincts stirred unexpectedly.
Lilia watched with quiet approval while Zenith concealed her amusement behind her hand.
The three women shared a moment of feminine camaraderie as the males observed from a distance—except for Claude, who found himself cornered by the father-son duo.
Paul broke the tranquil moment with a question. "Since you are here, does that mean you can take care of it right?"
"Take care of our Rudeus," Zenith added with a gentle smile.
"Rudeus, take care. I can't wait to see you home..." She pressed a tender kiss to his forehead.
"Master Rudeus, please take care... I'll feel lonely," Lilia said softly.
"Please, wait a minute... What do you mean by that?" Confusion clouded Rudeus's features. Meanwhile, Claude reclined on the grass, feigning sleep to observe the unfolding scene.
"Hey, Rudy... What do you think if I told you to keep your distance from Sylphy?" Paul asked suddenly.
"Huh? Of course, I'd refuse it."
"Right..."
"Why are you suddenly asking..."
"Nah, nothing..." Paul cracked his neck ominously. "I won't be able to win even if I try to persuade you."
"Huuh?" Before Rudeus could process the strange exchange, Paul seized him by the nape and threw him forcefully.
Startled into defensive action, Rudeus unleashed a fireball to create distance. As Paul advanced undeterred, Rudeus cast a quagmire spell, transforming the ground beneath his father's feet into clinging mud.
The effort proved futile against Paul's expertise. Employing Water God-style swordsmanship, he maneuvered behind his son with fluid grace. Yet when he pressed the wooden blade against Rudeus's back, an unexpected resistance met his attack.
"What's... this?"
A translucent barrier repelled Paul's strike.
"Aren't you embarrassed to surprise attack me? I developed this barrier magic to defeat that damn Claude, but it's actually used in a fight against my father... ugh." Pain flashed across Rudeus's face from the impact.
"Whistle Good one, little bro... Your older brother is proud of you," Claude applauded from the sidelines.
Those were the last words Rudeus heard before a flying sword crossed his vision and darkness claimed him. Paul had switched to North God Style, striking his son's temple with the wooden sword's handle.
Claude clicked his tongue at the display. "Are you really alright with it? With how the village developed, there shouldn't be a problem to make more money in the village, you know?"
"I am sure, he needs to know about the outside world more. And understand how dangerous and skewed the world is—whether the nobles' or commoners' side—before thinking about going to the university..." Paul's voice carried unwavering conviction.
"I can see what you're afraid of, but isn't he too young for it?"
Paul regarded his apprentice with a curious expression before shrugging. "It's my choice. While it might be wrong, I will still do this and apologize later rather than being right but failing to act..."
Ghislaine, overhearing their exchange, laughed heartily. "To think that I will see Paul being this responsible! Ha! What a great story to tell to my master!"
Paul's response was a wry smile as she carried the unconscious Rudeus to the waiting carriage.
"Well, I can't take too long here, since the baggage has been claimed. I'll take my leave. See you again, Paul, Zenith, and you, boy..." She handed the babies back to Lilia.
"Before that, can you help me for a bit?" Claude tossed a wooden sword in her direction.
"You want to have a spar with me, boy?"
"Yes, the name is Claude but... I'd love to have a bout with you."
Ghislaine glanced at Paul, who offered a permissive nod. Claude assumed his stance, preparing magical projectiles for when she engaged.
The moment she settled into position, elemental magic bullets streaked toward her from multiple angles. Claude followed the barrage with a direct assault.
The child's strategy and capability astonished even a Sword King of her caliber. Though she deflected his attacks effortlessly, his approach was unlike anything she'd witnessed in her extensive career—not even at the Holy Land of Swords, the Sword God school's headquarters.
Though familiar with Rudeus's magical prowess, this was different. Something in Claude's eyes suggested knowledge beyond his years.
A knowing smirk touched Ghislaine's lips. "It seems this kid is outside of your capability to teach, right, Paul?" She continued deflecting Claude's relentless assault, toying with him despite his best efforts.
Though visibly frustrated, Claude remained too focused on formulating his next attack to respond.
Paul shrugged in resignation. The boy's talents extended beyond swordsmanship and magic to include management—precisely why he couldn't subject Claude to the same training approach as Rudeus.
"I've already told him to go to the HQ, but he refused... you might be able to give him some advice and show him a thing or two."
"Hmph, that's why you need to learn better when you have the chance... now, let this be the payment for the robe you gave me."
Ghislaine increased her force, sending Claude skidding backward.
"This is one of the skills that makes the Sword God style called the strongest of the three schools."
She shifted into a different stance, channeling Touki into her blade. Power gathered visibly around the weapon before she unleashed it with a decisive swing.
"Longsword of Light!"
A brilliant beam erupted from her blade. Rather than dodge, Claude met the attack head-on, fascinated by its execution. He activated a magical barrier through an item in his possession.
As the techniques collided, Claude studied every aspect of her form—the stance, the gathering of Touki, the conversion of mana. Even as he absorbed this knowledge, he recognized that his barrier was insufficient against the Sword King's power.
Just as the light threatened to engulf him, Paul intervened, throwing a shield into the beam's path before pulling Claude to safety.
"That was so close... Kid, are you trying to die?" Paul scolded, dropping Claude unceremoniously onto the ground.
"Woah... That's so cool..."
Ghislaine merely chuckled before engaging Paul in conversation, leaving Claude to process what he'd learned.
Channeling his newfound understanding, Claude attempted to recreate the conversion between mana and Touki. After several failures, his third attempt produced results.
Whoosh!
A slender beam of light materialized before him, halting Ghislaine and Paul's discussion mid-sentence. Zenith and Lilia stared in disbelief, while the previously crying infants fell silent, their tiny hands clapping at the spectacle of Claude's improvised beam saber.
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