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 77

“Is it okay if we sit down?” I asked.

“Oh, yes, please.”

I got a strange look from Selena, but there is nothing to worry about it. It would be quite an unusual sight if an old man who came from the countryside suddenly had a child in tow.

However, we first came here to eat. This is just a matter of explaining. So, for the time being, we sat down first.

“Yeah, now where do I start…?” I said, my right hand naturally reaching for my chin.

“I guess there are some complicated circumstances, huh…?” Selena added.

Even without the details, it seems that Selena has guessed that it’s complicated, and I am very grateful for that. After all, if you are a first-class adventurer, you do have to be sensitive to the subtleties of social interaction, right?

However, even if only for a while, we are sitting together at the dining table. Let’s be brief.

“Well, I’ll introduce you first,” I said. “This is Miu.”

“… Hey,” Miu said, quietly bowing.

It seems that Miu is not accustomed to interacting with people formally, but when she goes to the Academy in the future, such scenes will come up. I may have to teach her proper greetings right now.

“… Selena Lysandera. Master has taken care of me in the past.”

On the other hand, Selena also seemed to be unable to grasp what kind of attitude she should take toward Miu. She probably decided to be like her usual self for the time being. Her voice is a little harsher than when she was talking to me.

“Oh, right…” I said. “To make it short, I’m now her guardian and live with her.”

“Nnbuh!?” Selena spat her drink out.

“Woah!?”

Well, that wasn’t surprising. Fortunately, she didn’t spit out that much and it didn’t hit me or Miu.

“Cough! Ex-Excuse me…” Selena said.

“Oh no, I’m sorry I surprised you,” I said.

I apologized for now but was there anything there that would shock Selena so much? I didn’t think there was.

“By the way, what about Citrus?” Selena asked.

“Oh, of course, I told her, too,” I said.

Now the Knights of Rebelio was in discussion.

Alexia knew about Miu and knew what happened to some extent, so I think the story would end without any problems.

“We-Well, I don’t think that’s a problem for me to stick my head into… hey, you,” Selena said, her expression and tone more severe than before.

“… Wh-What?” Miu stammers.

At first glance, she seems to have been agitated, but she just spilled her drink.

I knew Selena since she was young, so I can’t help but smile at this.

“Don’t bother Master,” Selena said.

“I-I won’t…” Miu said, wavering.

“Hahaha, take it easy on her, Selena,” I said.

That said, if an adult who was such a strong person suddenly looks so intimidating, Miu would be scared more than necessary.

Miu is still young, and I would like to cut her some more slack. I’m going to be careful at least, but I want her to spend her time at ease.

“Well, let’s eat just eat for the time being,” I said. “Excuse me, an order of assorted sausages.”

“Got it!” a nearby server said.

Since I came to a delicatessen, the products on offer are, of course, sausages. I used to eat sausages at the bar near the inn I stayed at until recently, but what is the taste of this specialty store? Let’s find out.

“How are you these days, Selena?” I asked.

I felt a bit awkward until the food was here, so I made small talk with Selena.

“I’ve been doing my fair share,” Selena said. “Recently, there are a lot of monster hunts in the vicinity of the capital. It’s just the way the season is,” she said as she stabbed a sausage, ate it, then drank some water.

“What’s going on? What’s up this season?” I asked, suddenly curious.

The distribution of monsters and their characteristics are rough and complicated things to keep track of. Organisms of all manner of sizes mesh together to form a wild ecosystem.

Even in Bidden Village, there are quite a few wild animals that tend to appear depending on the time of year. I’m completely ignorant of such patterns near Baltrain, so I also wanted to reinforce that area of knowledge.

Yeah, it’s not about wanting to aim to become famous and go hunting for monsters. As a person who lives by the sword, I’m a little worried about that kind of thing.

“Didn’t you know, Master?” Selena asked. “A Supheniardvanian diplomatic mission will be visiting soon.”

“Oh?” I asked.

I thought it was a matter of monster movements, but apparently, it wasn’t. Selena seemed surprised I hadn’t known.

But Supheniardvania, she said? I’m not familiar with the country, but I don’t have a very good impression of it because of recent events.

No, I understand in my head that it was the Suphine Faith’s Knights, not the country of Supheniardvania.

“For maintaining friendly relations, we have this kind of event once a year,” Selena said between bites of her sausage. “That’s why we adventurers sweep east and west to improve security.”

“I see.”

Even if the Adventurer’s Guild is a neutral organization that straddles state lines, as long as it is doing business in a certain part of a nation, it cannot escape from such obligations. It seems that they are not working for the country directly, but the Kingdom is officially asking the Adventurer’s Guild to maintain the security of the area.

“If that happens, will the Knights move, too?” I asked.

“Maybe they will?” Selena said. “Where you stand will depend on Citrus.”

If possible, I would like to avoid meeting the mission since I’m an old man from the countryside. I want to spend my days leisurely teaching swordsmanship.

However, as long as I have received an important title as Special Instructor, I’m sure the state will compel me to. Oh, this is bad. I don’t have formal wear or ceremonial armor.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting for your sausage platter,” the server said as they came back with our order.

Yeah, this is nice. There are a few varieties of sausages from baked to boiled. This is moderately appetizing.

“I’m digging in,” I said. “Don’t forget to eat, too, Miu.”

“… Ye-Yeah,” she said, a bit nervous.

I immediately took a bite of the boiled sausage.

When I chew the tender meat, the juices slowly spill out. Good, the meat must be like this.

Miu also seems to be reluctant, but she stabbed a sausage with a fork and ate it. I hope she eats well and grows up well.

“By the way,” I said, “Miu’s going to the Magician’s Academy.”

“Oh? She’s a magician candidate?” Selena asked as her look towards Miu changed a bit.

Specifically, it feels like from a “fucking brat” she’s become a “fucking brat with promise.” No, it hasn’t changed that much. What exactly is with Selena’s hostile gaze?

“The Magician’s Academy is a place where the youngest ones are even more competitive… it’s going to be tough,” Selena said.

“Ugh… I, I know that…” Miu mumbled.

“Come on, now, don’t scare her too much,” I said.

For sure, the Magician’s Academy is a gathering place for elites who are different from the Knights. Even in a world where talent determines everything, competition with others is inevitable.

But, Selena, aren’t you putting too much pressure on a young girl? This old man is a little scared of your intensity.

“Even though it’s only on the documents, she’s going to be a direct descendant of yours, Master, so she has to be at least this tempered,” Selena said.

“What do you guys think I am…?” I asked.

I’m not sure if it’s Selena or Alexia, but their expectations for me are too high. What do you mean, a direct descendant?

“Well, I know you’re strong, Pops…” Miu said.

“Pops, meaning…?” Selena said, her gaze intensifying.

“Hii,” Miu squealed, her shoulders jumping.

“Now now, there, there,” I said.

Stop the pressure. It doesn’t matter what she calls me.

I just want to have fun while chatting with Miu and Selena. Why did all this pressure come in?

“Selena, I’d appreciate it if you left it at that,” I said.

“… Yes. Sorry, my bad.”

Her “bad?” This old man is puzzled.

It’s no longer an atmosphere for a meal, so I hurriedly correct the trajectory.

Everyone wants to eat with friends rather than being harassed by other people. I want to think that it is the same for Miu and Selena.

“Don’t worry too much either, Miu,” I said.

“… Yeah,” Miu said, holding a sausage.

Even though it’s delicious food, is Miu enjoying the taste? It doesn’t feel like it.

“… I’m sorry, I think I was too rough on her,” Selena said. “I’d like to apologize, food’s on me.”

“Hmm? No, no, no need to go that far,” I said.

I have no intention of looking so poor I can’t buy a young girl lunch, so I decline the offer. Above all else, it would not be in good taste for Miu.

“I see…” Selena said. “Still, I’m sorry. You are such a great man, Master.”

“… Mm,” Miu said. “I’m kind of realizing that…”

“That’s an overstatement. I’m no different from the average man,” I said.

A great man. How big am I in Selena’s eyes? Miu shouldn’t be jumping on with her, either.

I don’t feel bad because she adores me, but I’m still not used to this kind of treatment. I’ve always been treated like that by Alexia and Henblitz, but I’m just confused and uncomfortable.

Whatever. At least it’s important that Selena and Miu don’t keep up the terrible atmosphere right now.

Miu seems to have calmed down a little, so let’s enjoy the sausages for now.