An Old Man from the Countryside Becomes a Swords Saint: I Was Just a Rural Sword Teacher, But My Successful Students Won’t Leave Me Alone! - Chapter 121

“This is the restaurant,” Quinella said. “The portions are moderate and delicious.”

“Ooh…” I said.

It’s been a while since we left the main gates of the Magician’s Academy. In terms of time, maybe it’s just a short 10-minute walk.

While being guided by Ms. Quinella, we arrived at the restaurant.

The North District is home to the Rebelis Royal Palace and the residences of the nobility. The restaurant I arrived at was a little small, but it had a clean and luxurious look that suited its location.

In terms of atmosphere, it resembles the store where Alexia and I went to buy formal clothes before. I’m starting to feel a little out of place after all. Is this alright?

By the way, while we were walking, some people looked at me with questioning gazes, but I decided to give up because there was nothing I could do about it. I feel sorry for Ms. Quinella, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

Being with Alexia and Selena almost numbed my senses, but even professors at the Magician’s Academy are undoubtedly genuine elites of society. In that sense, Ms. Quinella should also be quite a celebrity in Baltrain, and if she and an old man who popped out of nowhere were walking together, she would attract public attention.

“Seats are… still available, it seems,” Quinella said. “Shall we head in?”

“Ah, yeah,” I said.

However even though Ms. Quinella was also exposed to such gazes, she showed no embarrassment or fear. Is she being brazen or is she just used to it? Well, while thinking that it’s probably the latter, I followed Ms. Quinella who went ahead of me.

I feel like I’ve been in such a similar scenario since I came here to Baltrain. This script is when a woman goes in front and I, a man, follow behind her. Even though I thought I wasn’t very cool, to begin with, I reminded myself that I shouldn’t be a vain old man showing himself off.

“Welcome. Party of two?” the restaurant greeter asked.

Clang, the doorbell makes a calm but noticeable sound.

Well, unlike my favorite bar, the doorbell here is very elegantly made.

“Yes,” Quinella said.

“Then please, let me guide you to your seats,” the greeter said.

As expected, Ms. Quinella was a regular at this store, and the greeter reacted smoothly to our entrance. I’ll do my best to keep up with her without looking around too much. I’m a little uncool, after all.

Then, we were as shown to a terrace seat where we could enjoy our meal while looking at the quiet streets of the North District.

Hmmm, stylish. Eating a meal in the warm sunshine in the early afternoon is also nice.

“Fufu, you seem nervous again, hmm?” Quinella asked.

“Yeah, well… I don’t come to this kind of restaurant very often,” I said.

We got to our seats and took a breather, now Ms. Quinella resumed the conversation.

There are quite a few opportunities to go out to eat with Miu, but most of them are commoner establishments or popular places. We never went to such a high-grade place where I was worried about the atmosphere and behavior in the dining room. It seems that Miu would be more nervous than I am.

“It’s okay to be more relaxed,” Quinella said. “It’s not that strict of a restaurant.”

“Haha, thank you very much…” I said.

Apparently, this place seems to be quite high class, but it doesn’t seem to be that restrictive and exclusive of a place.

In terms of status alone, the time when I sat around the dining table with His Majesty Gladio at the Royal Palace of Rebelio would have been the highest I’ve ever gone, but if possible, I would like to avoid such scenarios in the future.

Well, I’m just going to have a meal with my colleague from the Magician’s Academy at a slightly upscale restaurant. If you think about it that way, it will make me feel a little more comfortable compared to this and that in the royal palace.

Even though I became a lecturer, it was a temporary, part-time position. I only go to the Magician’s Academy once a week, when there is a lecture on Sword Magic, so I can say that I have almost no friendships with other teachers.

Among them, Ms. Quinella was someone I could talk to relatively well, partly because of Miu’s circumstances. Or rather, other than the students, there are only Lucy, Thyssel, and Ms. Quinella to talk to. I don’t go to places like the staff room, so I can’t develop a friendly relationship at all.

“What would you like? The ravioli here is delicious,” Quinella said.

“Oh, then I’ll have some of that, too,” I said.

While we moistened our throats with the water the waiter brought to us, we spoke a bit about what we were going to order.

If Ms. Quinella, the regular, would order it regularly, it seems like a solid choice. Above all, a certain level of quality is guaranteed when you open a store in Baltrain’s North District. Even if you put your taste preferences aside for a while, you won’t find something that will be unappealing to your palate.

“Excuse me,” Quinella said. “Two orders of ravioli, please.”

“Which would you prefer?” the server said. “We have a tomato-based and a cheese-based ravioli.”

“Mr. Beryl, which one would you like?” Quinella asked.

“Umm… well then, I’ll have the tomato base,” I said.

“Then, please give us two orders of those,” Quinella said.

Ms. Quinella summoned a server and ordered so smoothly. In the end, I can’t help but feel that this person is also a member of the upper class. There is dignity in each and every word and gesture. She’s like a softer version of the outgoing Alexia. It’s kind of a weird analogy

“Have you gotten used to your work as a lecturer yet?” Ms. Quinella asked.

“Yes, well,” I said. “I’m getting by.”

While waiting for the food to come, we have a chat that feels like updating ourselves on our goings on.

As I said, I feel like I’m somehow getting by with my new position. Compared to when I was in the dojo, there are fewer students to teach, so being able to see each and every one of them is also important.

Besides, it seems that the value of the information that I was teaching the original lecturer, Thyssel, was even greater than I thought. So far, I am grateful that all the students have listened to what I have to say.

“Come to think of it, Lucy… the Headmistress said that you’re an excellent user of Defensive Magic, Ms. Quinella,” I said.

“My my,” Quinella said. “That’s not much to be proud about, is it?” Quinella said, giving me a soft smile. “Mr. Beryl, are you interested in magic, too?”

“Well, I would be lying if I said I didn’t. It’s because I’m a swordsman,” I said.

There are five general types of magic.

According to what I’ve heard, they are Offensive Magic, Defensive Magic, Recovery Magic, Enhancement Magic, and Life Magic.

I can understand Thyssel’s Sword Magic and Lucy’s magic is too powerful for me to fully understand. It’s still easy to visually understand what kind of effect they have and how much power it has.

I also know enhancement magic and recovery magic. Or rather, these were called Miracles and were used by the Supheniardvanian Knights.

Life magic is a somewhat unfamiliar word, but I can imagine that it’s probably non-offensive, or magic for making magical equipment or something.

However, when it comes to defensive magic, even if can understand the component words, I can’t understand what it entails.

As the name suggests, I can vaguely understand that it’s about protection, but I still didn’t quite understand how magical power would do that, specifically.

“I can understand the other types of magic, but it’s hard to imagine defensive magic…” I said.

“Fufu, that’s certainly true. Compared to offensive magic, it’s hard to understand it visually,” Quinella said.

She seems to have the same opinion if she expresses it so bluntly.

It’s true that you can’t imagine what magic that protects looks like. Even if you shoot down a flame with another flame, or hit it with water to extinguish it, they should all be from the same school of Offensive Magic.

“Then, shall we give it a try?” Quinella asked.

“Huh?” I said.

I was at a loss for words at the sudden proposal.

Do you mean magic by using it? Can we do this in the middle of a restaurant like this? Could this person be the same type of person as Lucy? If so, this old man would be surprised.

Putting my confusion aside, Ms. Quinella held out her right hand before me.

“Please try holding my hand. Squeeze it firmly,” Ms. Quinella said with a pleasant smile.

“Wait, what…?” I asked.

Hmm, I wonder if it’s okay to squeeze her hand here. Or rather, I don’t think it’s okay to touch a woman’s hand so casually.

“Please, feel free to do it,” Quinella said.

“I, I get it… here I go,” I said.

As I was at a loss about what to do, I’ve been given the go-ahead with no hesitation.

It’s hard to say that after I’ve come this far, I’m going to quit. It’s not like I’m prepared for it, but if I’m going to be allowed to touch some form of magic, I’ll take her word for it.

“Hup… h-huh…?” I asked.

I’ve grabbed her right hand, firmer than if I would have shaken it, but not to the point that I’d be committing violence against a woman.

Then, an indescribable feeling ran up my hand.

“Fufu, you can go harder, can’t you?” Quinella asked, looking relaxed.

I can’t say her words were a provocation but this sensation in my hand came off that way. If I believe here, she should be fine without me putting more strength on her.

“… I see,” I said. “Then, I won’t hold back…!”

Grrrr, I put my strength into my right hand.

To be honest, I’m squeezing down on her pretty tightly. If this was just an ordinary woman, it wouldn’t be strange for her to scream out in pain.

“Nghh…!” I grunt, putting all my strength into trying to crush her hand.

“And this is Defensive Magic,” Quinella said, her expression unmoved as before.

“Phew…” I huffed, “geeze, I get it now. That was amazing.”

“Thank you for the compliment,” Quinella said.

I release the pressure and unclench my right hand. My right shoulder was a little stiff from having squeezed with all my might.

But thanks to Ms. Quinella, I now know a little bit about what defensive magic is.

“Basically, just like you’ve witnessed, Defensive Magic involves creating a film of magical power,” Quinella said as she took her hand back. “The strength and size of the film depend on the skill of the user and the situation. In a small area like my hand, you can put out a considerable amount of strength, though that ultimately depends on the user.”

So that was the feeling I got when I clutched her right hand.

It was not the soft skin of a woman, but something cold, resilient, and strong. Definitely not the feeling of human skin.

As she said, to say she had covered it with magical power was the most fitting.

No matter how hard I gripped it, I had a feeling that I could not break through with human grip strength. With this, if you are a skilled person, you may be able to deflect a sword or an arrow.

“If it’s something simple like before, it’s relatively easy to defend against,” Quinella said. “If it were something more powerful like a weapon or magic, however, things would be different.”

“I see……” I said.

I had absolutely no connection with or talent for magic, but to be honest, I’m a little envious of this.

To put it in extreme terms, if you can handle close combat while deploying this magical defense film, you’ll be an invincible swordsman who can combine offense and defense.

Of course, it’s just an ideal story, and the reality is probably not so simple as Ms. Quinella said, but even so, from a swordsman’s point of view, I felt it was as attractive as offensive magic.

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“It’s a tremendous power, isn’t it?” I said. “I’m suddenly interested in it, too.”

“Fufu. I’m glad to hear that,” Quinella said.

Ms. Quinella probably wasn’t taking it that seriously, either.

She simply protected one right hand from this old man’s grip. If this was a single swing at my full power, what would the result have been? As a person involved in martial arts in any form, the implications are endlessly interesting.

“By the way, the Headmistress can do it faster and stronger,” Quinella said.

“Yeah, I had thought of that already, but she’s an amazing person, isn’t she…?” I said.

“Yes, she’s definitely an amazing person,” Quinella said.

From the first time we met until today, my relationship with Lucy was quite blunt and frank, so I can’t help but feel that there is still a gap in my view of her vs the rest of the world.

No, well, I knew that she was an amazing person from the moment I met her, but we’ve somehow ended up at the level of a bad friend I can’t feel comfortable around.

I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I would like to believe that the relationship itself is a good one.

I thought about it again, but even if my relationship with her turned sour, or in the worst case, hostile, I couldn’t imagine winning against Lucy. I will end up getting beaten up helplessly. Both her power and abilities are far different from mine.

From the next time we meet, I wonder if it would be better to call her politely like Ms. Lucy or Headmistress Lucy. It was an experience that once again made me realize how amazing magic and Lucy was to the point where I had to think about these things.

“Thank you for waiting,” the server said. “Your tomato-based ravioli.”

And after getting a glimpse of magic, our food arrives.

Oh, it looks delicious. This lightly charred pasta is appetizing.

“Well then, shall we dig in?” Quinella asked.

“Yes, let’s,” I said.

We put our hands together and say our grace.

When I cut in with a knife, the scent of the fresh oil fills my nostrils along with the steamy aroma. Oh, the inside is minced meat and potatoes. It’s a simple combination, but it’s a dish that I can enjoy deeply because of its taste.

“Hoo… mm, it’s delicious,” I said.

When I put it in my mouth, the juiciness of the meat, the aroma of the oil, and the sourness of the tomato sauce just melt in my mouth, creating an exquisite taste.

As expected, this is a store in the North District. It might be a little pricey, but I’ve come to feel that it’s not bad to have lunch at a place like this once in a while. I don’t feel like coming alone, though. It might be a good idea to visit places like this as part of Miu’s education.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Quinella said.

“No, it’s really delicious,” I said. “Thank you.”

She’s the one who I have to thank here, she has cared about me like this, and brought me to this restaurant with delicious food.

I couldn’t help but smile at this new friend, created from my relationship with Thyssel.

“Come to think of it, Thyssel was also an excellent student at the Magician’s Academy,” I said.

“Yes, she was a very quiet and obedient student,” Quinella said. “She was quite the bookworm, always reading tomes on magic and science.”

“That’s very like her…” I said.

“What was she like when you were teaching her, Mr. Beryl?”

“She was constantly swinging her sword,” I said. “She seemed to be addicted to just wielding it.”

“My, my. Ufufu,” Quinella chuckles.

And the topic naturally shifts to Thyssel.

She was the kind of girl who didn’t miss self-practice, whenever she had a chance, she would swing it. She’s probably the type that tends to focus on one thing at a time. It seems that her talent was fully demonstrated even at the Magician’s Academy where she ended up moving to.

“Well, that girl, sometimes she concentrates too much and doesn’t listen to what people are saying…” Quinella said.

“I get it,” I said. “Her focus is incredible.”

However, she tends to focus a little too deeply. Concentration is an important factor in mastering one path. It seems that her personality had not changed at the Magician’s Academy.

“Yeah, this kind of thing also happens at the Academy–” Quinella starts.

“Oh, is that so–” I add.

Ms. Quinella is a caring person and also a good conversationalist. While we ate lunch gracefully, the witty talk almost made my responses effortless.

And so, we had a fun lunch over some lip-smackingly good ravioli.