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 170

“Do you really need me? For something like this,” Lucy said.

“That’s why I said it’s just in case…” I said.

It’s the next day.

After finishing the knights’ training as usual, I had a little snack at a shop in the Central District, and the sun was beginning to set in the west. I stopped by Lucy’s house since it was on my way.

As usual, I had Ms. Halwi take care of me, and I waited for a while enjoying delicious tea in the reception room.

Unlike when I visited earlier in the morning, Lucy came out with proper grooming and her eyes open fully, and this was the first thing she said after I explained the expedition to Frumwelk territory and her taking care of Miu for me during that time.

“Beryl,” Lucy said. “Aren’t you a little overprotective of your ward?”

“I’m aware of that, but after that, isn’t it a bit different to just leave her alone?” I asked.

Lucy let out a grand sigh.

I’m a little overprotective myself. At least I care much more than the consideration I received from my parents when I was the same age. Well, in my case, when I was Miu’s age, I was only thinking about becoming a swordsman, so the environment and circumstances were different.

However, even if it was still within the permissible range for me to be appalled that I was overprotective, it was a little surprising that Miu was also relatively easygoing. I thought she would say “I don’t mind that much.” for some reason, so I have to change my strategy a bit.

“I won’t go so far as to tell you to let her stay here,” I said. “It would be easier for Miu to have someone to rely on if something happened.”

“I know what you’re trying to say, but…” Lucy said.

To be honest, my strategy was to ask her to approve the circumstances and then work out the details. However, since the premise has collapsed, I decided to appeal to the emotional side rather than the theory.

“If you’re that worried, why don’t you send her to the dormitory?” Lucy asked.

“Because Miu said she would commute from home than go to the dormitory…” I said.

As Lucy said, I originally planned to put Miu in the Magician Academy’s dormitory. If that had happened, I wouldn’t have been so worried. It didn’t work out that way, and now I’m scratching my head.

But well, there’s nothing wrong with her choosing to live with me instead of living in the dormitory, so I’m not going to say anything about it now.

“Hmm? No, I mean in the short term.”

“Eh, you mean it’s possible?” I asked.

Now, when I was about to sink into thought again about what to do, Lucy brought me new information.

The academy dormitory can also be used for a short term stay. This old man learned that for the first time.

“You do need to apply,” Lucy said. “It’s not uncommon for parents to be away for work.”

“Well, sure…”

If you say so, it’s true, and it’s very possible that you’ll have to leave home for work or other reasons while your child is commuting to the Academy from home. When that happened, I didn’t think about the possibility that the Academy would have some kind of support system.

If this were a normal school, it wouldn’t be so, but if it became a school with the authority of the kingdom, it wouldn’t be surprising if it was that flexible.

A short-term dormitory stay is a perfect solution for the current situation. The process of getting Miu to get used to it is the same whether you live in a dormitory or somewhere else. In that case, the dormitory of the Academy where she already goes should be less stressful.

Even when she returns home from the dormitory, she doesn’t have many personal belongings and isn’t the type to make her room dirty, so I don’t have to worry about that.

“Oh, but it costs money. Inevitably so.”

“Of course, I understand that,” I said.

And in regards to the financial aspect, the current me can make enough money. The entrance fee wasn’t that expensive either, so I don’t think it would cost a huge amount of money to use the dormitory. Well, I’m really glad I had the money. I am so grateful for the current environment.

“Well then, let’s adjust this talk in that direction.”

“That’s fine. I don’t think she’s going to fuss about it either.”

Hmm. In that case, it would be better for me to visit the Academy again. If it’s not urgent, it might be okay to do it while there’s a lecture on the Sword Magic Department, but that’s not possible.

The worst thing is that the dormitory is full and can’t accept it her, but if that happens, I’ll ask Lucy again. She’s the one who proposed short-term use of her dormitory, so if that doesn’t work, she’ll have to take care of Miu again.

“But Frumwelk territory? I haven’t been there much.”

“I thought so. Is it because it’s along the border, after all?”

With the discussion about Miu coming to a close, the topic naturally turned to this expedition.

For the time being, I only told Lucy about my business. She may know this and that about royalty, and I think she at least has a guess. However, it is reasonable to think that all her usual discussions defied reason.

“There is that, but it’s simply because there’s no use for Supheniardvania. If this story goes well, I don’t know what’s next.”

While spinning those words, she elegantly sipped her tea.

If this story goes well, huh? After all, this girl doesn’t really understand the circumstances behind the scenes.

In the future, in other words, if marriage diplomacy succeeds between Rebelis and Supheniarvania. It’s a political marriage, but Prince Glenn and Princess Salacia don’t seem to think so badly about each other, so I’d like them to build a happy family somehow.

“Well, if you and Alexia have something to do with it, don’t fall behind no matter what happens.”

“I’m happy to hear that, but…”

I’m grateful that you appreciate my ability, but if something happens, I’ll be in trouble. It’s not like I’m going on a trip, but somehow I get the feeling that there’s something going on, what with her tone.

“Don’t worry. Right now, there doesn’t seem to be any noticeable movement from the royal family, the Pope, or the knights of the church.”

“How do you know?”

""

“What are you talking about, it’s me, isn’t it?”

“Oh, right……”

When asked why, I don’t know anyone other than Lucy who understands the reason because it’s her. Even so, I can’t help but be convinced of how amazing she is.

This woman named Lucy Diamond is a mysterious figure even if you don’t think about it coldly and rationally.

For now, from my point of view, she’s a person who repeatedly jumps sideways between a friend who takes care of me and someone who brings me troublesome projects, and she keeps going back and forth between those two, but I don’t want to stick my neck into this relationship. She is also a woman who you find hard to imagine what she’s thinking.

Sometimes I think that if there is a favor, there is more to it than that.

But at the very least, if she’s not an enemy, there shouldn’t be a problem. If anything, it’s more difficult when this woman turns into an enemy. I have no intention of fighting, but even now that I won the duel with Pops, I don’t feel like I can win against her.

I can’t help but feel like she’s outside the realm of swordsmanship and magic. I feel like I’m human but also not human.

Or rather, originally, Lucy was talking about things that Alexia had told her not to talk about, so I almost jumped on the bandwagon as well.

For some reason, I don’t want to spill the beans, so I am thinking about another topic.

“… Ah, that’s right.”

“Hmm? Is there anything else?”

Magic. With that word popping up in my mind, the half-forgotten question popped up again.

It’s related to Miu, so it wouldn’t be so unnatural as a change of topic. If you say I’m curious, I’m curious, and I’m going to listen to it while I’m in the middle of the day.

“A while ago, I went to see a lecture at the Sword Magic Department for the first time in a long time,” I said. “At that time, I saw the students’ Sword Magic.”

“Hou?” Lucy says, her eyebrows twitching.

She really enjoys talking about magic.

“So, only Miu’s is red… or should I say, it’s kind of like flames,” I said. “According to Thyssel, it’s her clumsiness.”

“I see.”

When I talked about the scene in the Sword Magic Department lecture I saw the other day, Lucy nodded with a satisfied expression.

“To be precise, it’s not exactly ‘clumsy,’” Lucy said.

“What do you mean?”

Such a little correction comes from her.

What worries me is that Miu fired sword magic with a different wavelength than the other students and that Thyssel said it was clumsy.

In short, I would like to know about Miu’s position in the academy, or how well she is doing in the process of mastering magic.

When it comes to magic, the amount of talent determines almost everything. There is no doubt about it. However, then, is the dexterity of manipulating magic also defined by talent at the same time? As an educator, it was a topic of concern.

Well, frankly speaking, I want to know if Miu is something like a dropout, or if she’s a unique person with a sharp talent. It’s not like I’m thinking about what to do after knowing that, but I’m worried about her relative grades, someone who is my child in some way.

“It is believed that the presence or absence of magical power itself depends on innate talent.”

“Uhn.”

“Magic that you are objectively good at… we say that it fits or doesn’t fit, but it seems that the temperament that the person has and the environment they grow up in greatly affects it.”

“Huh.”

“For example, the fact that Thyss has a high aptitude for Sword Magic is largely due to the fact that she originally studied swordsmanship.”

“I see……”

What can I say about magic? Something like your personality appears. Come to think of it, swordsmanship can be summed up in one word, but the swordsmanship handled by the person’s temperament and compatibility is quite different. It’s the same even if you ask the same teacher for teaching.

Certainly, even if Miu’s original personality was put aside, the environment in which she was placed herself would have been extremely harsh. That kind of temperament was nurtured in her, and it’s not surprising that she has an aptitude for offensive magic or even flames.

If you go along that line, you’ll end up feeling like Ms. Quinella and others are dealing with magic that matches their personality. That bighearted and kind personality seems to be perfect for dealing with defensive magic.

“Of course, there are strengths and weaknesses. In that sense alone, Miu’s current strength may not be highly apt for Sword Magic.”

“… It’s kind of complicated to understand,” I said. “Can I ask why?”

Even though I, myself, want to learn, it’s a bit difficult to start throwing it out because I don’t have the aptitude for that academic field. No, I am aware that this is idealistic and selfish.

“The characteristic of Sword Magic is to give sharpness to magic power. To give magic power a specific attribute, it is easier to use unmodified white as much as possible. Now does the term ‘sharp flames’ make any sense to you?”

“Ah… I feel like I understand it somehow.”

Of course, I can’t put into practice what Lucy said, but I somehow understood it.

Giving flames and sharpness to the unmodified white energy of magic is probably a separate task. Trying to do both at the same time can be difficult. Just as it is difficult to imagine burning water or cold flames.

“However, you do know the future, don’t you? If she succeeds, she might create some blazing flames.”

“Haha, it should look amazing.”

It makes me want to think of flames with slashing power flying from a distance. If such a technique is acquired, it will be a tremendous power. Well, whether or not it can be realized depends on her from now on.

“By the way, can you do it, Lucy? Burning sword slashes.”

“It’s not impossible, but even from my point of view, it’s in the category of being somewhat troublesome,” Lucy said. “To put it in the words I just said, it’s a bit unfamiliar to me.”

“So you also have strengths and weaknesses in magic.”

“That’s right. If you can’t do it, your strengths and weaknesses are completely different from the task at hand. You know that too.”

“Well”

I know what she’s trying to say. Of course, I can slash hard myself, but if you ask me if I’m good at it, I’m not. After all, I’m good at parrying and counterattacking, and it suits my nature.

“At least, she’s better at converting magic into flames than the others, isn’t she?” Lucy said. “That’s a splendid advantage and a talent.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Finally, the matter I was worried about was pointed out, and this discussion came to an end.

No, but I didn’t tell you the real intention of this question, so how can you know exactly what I’m thinking? After all, she can read people’s minds with magic, and her observation eyes are excellent to the extent that such suspicions cannot be dispelled. I wonder if this is also part of my experience. I don’t think I can.

“Is that all you wanted to talk about? The Academy is still open now, so if you’re in a hurry, you should go.”

“Oh, that’s right. I’ll go do that.”

As she said, it’s best to move quickly with this kind of thing. The sun hasn’t set yet, and on the other hand, the lectures at the Academy seem to be over at this time, so it might be convenient for them. Let’s move quickly.