─Chief Administrator Alaya has excellent situational judgment. She will send someone capable. Someone who can kill both you and me.
Fyat's guess was sharp.
Inside the guild master's office of the [Leading Mind] guild building.
The walls were adorned with the severed heads of men, hanging like decorations.
Alaya was extremely tense.
It was because of the robust man sitting in the chair. He was the one who had decapitated the men and displayed their heads on the wall.
The man, appearing to be in his late twenties to early thirties, had blond hair and a healthily tanned skin tone.
After listening to Alaya, the man spoke.
"Ha, that's so damn interesting. So, to summarize your words, Alaya, you're saying that Theo Lyn Waldeurk took Fyat in one fell swoop?"
Alaya bowed her head and answered.
"Yes, Master. At the same time, it also means that the guild's artifact taken by Fyat has fallen into their hands. All the aides accompanying her have died."
"That's incredibly fascinating. How did Fyat manage to draw [Eater]? I couldn't even do that."
"I'm sorry. We are still trying to understand the reason, Master."
The man waved his hand dismissively.
"Never mind, never mind. How could you figure out something that hasn't been discovered despite centuries of hard work?"
"But are you sure Fyat lost? It's hard to believe. Fyat's eyes would spin at the sight of a strong opponent, but her combat power is certain."
"It's a highly probable guess. Although I did not witness the duel between Theo Lyn Waldeurk and Fyat myself, the only reason for Fyat to accompany him would be her defeat."
"It's hard to believe. How could a genius, just a first-year at the Academy, a mere fledgling, defeat a dark elf who has lived for over 300 years?"
The man rested his chin in his hand and thought for a moment.
"Hmm... Thinking about it, it seems right that he defeated Fyat. Fyat views the world in black and white, just like her skin color. It's either kill or be killed."
"Please give your orders, Master."
"Theo Lyn Waldeurk and Fyat. Are both of them currently in Elinia Academy?"
"It's highly likely, Master. Theo Lyn Waldeurk was seen walking around the Academy yesterday, and Fyat entered the Academy with him and has not been seen leaving."
The man nodded his head.
"He knows how to think ahead. Staying within the Academy is indeed the safest option for now. What's the situation with the Magic City?"
"New personnel are on standby for deployment. According to our people planted nearby, the Order's forces have not yet moved."
"Then we should deal with that first. Ha, Maitri, that dumbass. Acts all smart but still a pain in the ass even after dying."
"Should I order the deployment of personnel, Master?"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"No need. If Fyat failed, what chance do the others have? We can't afford to mobilize a large force anyway."
"In that case..."
"Yes."
The man stood up. He cracked his neck side to side as he spoke.
"I'm going myself."
The man's name is David.
He's the guild master of the continent's second-largest guild, [Leading Mind].
He's more commonly known by his nickname, "Gold Sun," than his real name.
"I'll bring Theo Lyn Waldeurk's head while I'm at it, so get ready to hang it on the wall."
After visiting Fyat, Theo had breakfast.
The menu was sandwiches made by Aisha.
When Theo took a bite of the sandwich, Aisha asked,
"How does it taste?"
Theo briefly replied,
"Not bad."
Then, Theo continued to eat the sandwiches.
Aisha, looking a bit sulky, said,
"Is that all you have to say?"
"The use of multiple slices of bacon is impressive. You aimed to supplement the protein that might be lacking in a sandwich."
Aisha's mood quickly improved as she responded,
"Right! You're very particular about nutritional balance, Theo! I thought you'd worry about salt intake, so I used less salty bacon!"
Theo nodded,
"Excellent. But aren't you eating, Aisha?"
Aisha was just drinking milk.
She answered,
"I think I've gained some weight recently, so I'm on a diet."
Theo looked Aisha up and down.
"Hmm, I think it would be better for you to gain some weight."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Aisha looked at Theo with sparkling eyes.
"Really?"
"Yes. You might use a bow, but we never know what situation might arise. No matter how much you strengthen your body with mana, weight class is important in close combat."
Aisha responded with a weary look,
"I thought it was for another reason. Never mind."
Theo pointed at the milk carton in front of Aisha.
"Give me some milk."
"Okay."
Scurry─
Aisha poured milk into Theo's glass.
Gulp, gulp.
After finishing the milk in one go, Theo stood up.
'I should practice until lunch.'
Theo told Aisha,
"I'll be training in my room, so knock before you enter if you need something."
"Got it."
As Theo was warming up with preparatory exercises before training in his room,
Creak─
The door opened without a knock.
Theo looked over irritably.
"Theo, let's train together."
There stood Ao, wearing pink pajamas, holding a practice longsword in her small hand.
Smirk-
Without realizing it, Theo smiled.
"Joint training starts in the afternoon. Rest until then, Ao."
Ao shook her head and said with a determined expression,
"No, I want to do it together now."
"Can't be helped. Then, change into something more comfortable to move in and come back."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})"Okay."
Ao immediately ran off to change, thumping away.
A short while later, Ao returned wearing a T-shirt and shorts.
"Theo, is this okay to wear?"
After observing Ao's outfit for a moment, Theo nodded.
"······Yes, that's fine."
Ao was wearing Aisha's clothes.
Originally a crop top and short shorts, they looked like a regular T-shirt and shorts on Ao, likely due to the difference in height.
"Preparatory exercises before training are very important. We'll start with stretching, so follow my lead."
"Okay, got it."
Theo began with a full-body stretch, starting from the neck and ending at the ankles.
Ao mimicked Theo's movements.
'She's following along well.'
Theo's keen senses could gauge someone's skill level just by watching their simple movements.
'It's not just mimicry; she understands the purpose behind each stretching movement for different body parts.'
Theo decided to speed up the pace.
"That's enough for stretching. Let's start learning some techniques."
"Okay."
'Given Ao's level, it might be good to show her real combat practice right away.'
Theo took out two practice longswords from his [Subspace Bag] and called out towards the door.
"Aisha, instead of snooping around, join us for a swordsmanship duel if you have nothing else to do."
"······!"
Aisha, who had been hiding near the door, jumped in surprise.
'How······ did he know?'
She awkwardly smiled as she came forward from the doorway.
"I wasn't snooping······! I was just waiting around in case Ao suddenly needed something!"
"Sure, sure. Here, catch."
Aisha caught the practice longsword thrown by Theo.
Standing in front of Theo, she said,
"Now that I think about it, it's been a long time since we've crossed swords. You said you'd teach me swordsmanship before······"
"It somehow got brushed aside. I'll teach you plenty now, including interest."
Theo took out a set of practice armor from his [Subspace Bag] and handed it to Aisha.
"Put this on. Even if the swords are blunt, you can still get hurt."
Aisha squinted at the armor set with disdain.
"Ew······ the design is awful. And I don't need this, you know? I've been practicing swordsmanship on my own, even though you didn't teach me."
"Is that so? Then I won't bother giving you the first move."
"······Wait a moment. Technically, I'm an archer, right? It doesn't seem fair for a swordsman to fight an archer with swords."
"Then I'll give you the first move."
"Okay, let's go!"
With that, Aisha lunged at Theo with her sword.
Theo, wearing a satisfied smile, twisted his body to the side, dodging her thrust.
'She really has been practicing since then.'
Aisha skillfully executed the basic swordsmanship techniques Theo had taught her.
"You're quick. Then try to handle this!"
Aisha launched a series of attacks at Theo.
She mixed in unconventional moves, like slightly swinging her sword to prompt his evasive actions and then trying to kick his thigh.
Theo did not counterattack.
He simply kept a satisfied smile, dodging all of Aisha's attacks.
After a while, a sweaty Aisha, with a defeated look in her eyes, said,
"Damn... How can I not land a single hit? I give up, Theo."
Theo, who hadn't sweated a drop, patted Aisha on the shoulder.
"Well done. You've been working hard on your close combat training. I'm impressed, Aisha."
"I'm a woman who does what she says, you know? Next time, let's spar with bows."
"If the opportunity arises."
As Theo and Aisha were talking,
"Okay, I got it."
Ao, who had been watching their spar, held her sword. She then looked at Theo and said,
"Theo, spar with me. I think I understand how to move now."
