The recruitment of Alphs seems to have concluded successfully.
"Theo... Is there anything specific I should prepare?"
Although we're now on the same team, Alphs still appears to be quite anxious.
She hesitated and fixed her gaze on me.
There's really nothing in particular that needs to be prepared.
But now that we're here, I should assess Alphs' current skill level.
"There's nothing specific to prepare. However, if you have a technique you'd like to demonstrate, feel free."
"What kind of technique...?"
Alphs looked up at me, her eyes brimming with curiosity.
Strangely, her eyes reminded me of Little Fist waiting for its meal, bringing a smirk to my face.
"Seeing it in action will be quicker."
I moved towards the training ground.
"Oh, yes, yes-!"
Alphs quickly followed me.
Creak—
I opened the door and entered the training ground.
Inside, Piel de Chalon was there, possibly resting, as she was wiping off sweat.
As our eyes met, she greeted me, slightly flustered.
"Uh, um... hello."
"Nice to see you."
It's fortunate that Piel is here too.
I should pass on the breathing technique.
Since Piel's primary weapon is a sword, my insights will be should be of great help to her.
I picked up a practice longsword from the weapon rack and approached Piel.
Piel's eyes widened in surprise.
Theo had mentioned something unexpected.
"Teach me a breathing technique? Me?"
"Yes."
Theo's expression remained calm as he spoke.
She already knew from Aisha that Theo had taught a breathing technique to Neike, Eshild, and Aisha.
─That breathing technique was really amazing, Piel! Even with all the various training manuals in the Chalon family's arsenal, I doubt there's anything like it.
Aisha's voice echoed in her mind.
Eshild, present at that time, had nodded in agreement too.
She hadn't seen Neike's reaction, as he wasn't there.
But if that monster had willingly learned it, it couldn't be just any ordinary technique.
That's why she was quite intrigued.
"Well, if you're willing to teach, I'm willing to learn. But why would you just freely share such a valuable technique like the breathing technique?"
Piel narrowed her eyes as she looked at Theo.
She comes from a martial family.
She understood the value of unique breathing techniques, swordsmanship, and physical techniques.
'Why all of a sudden...?'
Unlike Neike, Eshild, and Aisha, she had caused him much trouble.
Yet, he was readily offering to teach her the technique...
It naturally raised questions.
Theo nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Piel asked earnestly.
Theo, just like with Alphs, quickly thought of a suitable answer.
─I plan to use your strength when we attack the magic city in the north.
...No, not that.
─Seeing Neike's spear skills after applying the breathing technique, I gained new traits. Piel, you're a genius second only to Neike. I want to see the swordsmanship you develop with the breathing technique for my own benefit.
...No, that's not right either.
'Well, no choice then. I have to tell the somewhat embarrassing truth.'
Having finished his thoughts, Theo looked at Piel with a calm gaze.
"I was once mentored in swordsmanship by 'Demon Hunter' Lord Maximin."
"And?"
"It's a debt from the Martial Arts Competition final."
"Oh, that─"
Unlike the calm Theo, Piel was greatly flustered.
During the finals, she had blurted out whatever came to mind in her excitement.
His figure standing in the arena, like a condemned prisoner awaiting his fate, looked so pitiable.
─Perhaps he prefers your true self, just as you are?
That was the response she got from the priest at the confessional that morning after she confessed about Theo.
Hearing that, she found myself wanting to express her true feelings that day.
He told me that my unabashed demeanor suited me well.
'I'm still not sure if he was serious or not. But thinking it over, it seems like I did the right thing.'
To think Theo considered it a 'debt'.
Her face felt hot.
It was embarrassing.
Piel cleared her throat and spoke.
"Ahem, alright. If you teach me, I'll put it to good use."
She wanted to express her thanks more elegantly, but this was as far as she could go.
Theo gave a faint smile and then signaled to Alphs.
Alphs reflexively nodded several times.
"Alright, watch closely."
Theo then began to swing the longsword after a brief warm-up.
About an hour later.
"Hmm, I think this way is better than what I was doing before."
Piel swung her practice rapier back and forth.
Swoosh, swish!
Before long, her swordsmanship had almost fully absorbed the breathing technique taught by Theo.
She had even applied it faster than Neike.
Theo observed her calmly.
'Perhaps it's because our swordsmanship styles are similar, she's adapting quickly.'
A significant part of his own swordsmanship came from Maximin and Piel.
Piel's swordsmanship also had a lot in common with Maximin's.
Thanks to this, Theo was discovering and improving more efficient ways to use the breathing technique.
Even though the breathing technique was the same, Neike's primary weapon was a spear, which required adjustments.
In contrast, Piel's main weapon, closely resembling a longsword, allowed for almost direct application.
Of course, differences in height and stats meant there were nuances to consider.
For example, Piel was about 25cm shorter than Theo, so her thrusts tended to be more upward.
Theo then turned his attention to Alphs, who was also practicing with a sword nearby.
"Hmm... Hoo, hah!"
Her skill level was quite basic compared to Piel's, barely incorporating the breathing technique.
Objectively, her learning speed was slower than Piel's.
'Well, let's appreciate that she's trying hard.'
Theo decided not to comment on Alphs.
She probably knew her own shortcomings well enough.
The most frustrated person right now would be her.
'The good thing is, she's using a longsword like in the game. When striking down, her arms tend to lift too high.'
Theo moved behind Alphs and gently grasped her wrists.
Her body trembled noticeably at his touch, but he decided to ignore it.
"When striking down, your arms are lifting too high. This height seems about right."
With those words, Theo adjusted her wrists to the appropriate height.
"Thank you, Theo."
Alphs, her face red to her ears, bowed deeply.
Theo instructed,
"No need to lower your gaze that much. Keep it steady."
"Ah, understood..."
As Alphs raised her flushed face, Theo smiled slightly.
"Everyone has their own pace, but it's better to correct such things before they become a habit. Let's keep practicing steadily like this."
"Yes, yes!"
Alphs responded with a voice full of determination.
Piel, observing this, frowned slightly.
Watching them, she felt strange.
Alphs, the girl with white hair, why was she blushing so much?
Theo's patient way of teaching was unlike him.
Piel continued her own sword practice, while Theo supervised Alphs's technique.
About 30 minutes passed.
Grrrumble──
A loud stomach rumble resonated through the training hall, coming from Alphs.
'Oh no, how embarrassing...'
Perhaps it was the intense training, but her stomach had quickly become empty.
For her, receiving such tailored instruction was a first, and she had exerted herself greatly.
'What will Theo think of me...?'
She worried if he would look down on her for lacking decorum.
With anxious eyes, Alphs glanced at Theo.
But then,
"Hmm, seems it's mealtime. If it's okay, let's go eat together. Piel, would you like to join? It's on me."
Theo suggested casually.
At his attitude, Alphs blinked in surprise.
Piel chuckled and said,
"No, I'll pay this time. You paid last time."
"Then I won't refuse."
"Right. But can you stop using that stiff, formal tone? I've never seen anyone, even among the older dukes who are heroes, talk like that."
"I can't help it."
"Anyway, let's hurry. Today's the last day of the festival, and with special performances, it's going to be packed."
"Alright. I'll just take a quick shower. Should take about 5 minutes."
Saying so, Theo turned and headed towards a corner of the training hall, towards the showers.
Piel clicked her tongue.
"Really, he's still the same."
She felt relieved seeing him back to normal, especially after he almost broke down the day before.
