Chapter 32: Two Months Fly By, The Sword Must Be Faster Than Thought!
Sylphie arrived just before noon.
She stood just outside the fence, her body turned sideways as she carefully examined the weeds at her feet. If it weren't for her eyes occasionally darting towards the courtyard, Allen would have thought she was just passing by.
Paul, who had claimed he was going to add extra training for the whole day, couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief at this sight. He then clutched his forehead and shooed the two boys out to play. After being hounded by a child's "ten thousand whys" this morning, his brain was clearly overloaded.
Allen walked towards Sylphie, smiling and about to wave, but suddenly froze awkwardly.
It shouldn't matter if a kid saw me naked, right? Haha... it's fine... Although people in this world mature quite early...
"I-It's okay. About yesterday, I... I don't mind."
What is there for you to mind!
Allen pinched his forehead with a headache and said weakly, "Then... let's just pretend nothing happened... Rudy?... Hmm? Rudy??"
Allen realized Rudeus hadn't come over. He turned his head. Rudeus was a meter away, awkwardly greeting Sylphie. It wasn't just the awkwardness of having been naked together; he also wasn't good at interacting with girls his own physical age.
Allen blinked.
Although Rudy is a pervert, he still has the characteristics of a NEET at his core... A giant in words, a dwarf in action. He talks a big game, but when it comes to actual practice, he can develop psychological problems leading to impotence just because Eris runs away...
He couldn't help but chuckle. He turned around, threw an arm around Rudeus, and started walking out of the yard, grabbing Sylphie's shoulder with his other hand.
"Let's go! Time to teach Sylphie magic!"
"Don't put your arm around me, Allen!"
"Huh? Are you shy?"
"Shy—no! I need to go back and get my magic textbook!"
"Ah, oh!"
"Heh..."
"What are you laughing at, Sylphie?? I'm getting a textbook for you!"
"...Rudy, I-I wasn't laughing."
"If you're going to lie, at least manage your expression! What are you laughing at, Allen?"
"I'm laughing at how you'll be weak and powerless in the future, relying entirely on Sylphie's support."
"???"
"Author: Accidental Fire" (This seems to be a non-sequitur or signature from the original source)
"???"
---
Two months passed in a flash of laughter, and studies of swordsmanship and magic.
Time flew by, and soon it was the end of May.
Sylphie, just as in the original story, displayed extraordinary talent for magic. In just two months, she had mastered most of the spells in the textbook and was now learning no-incantation casting from Rudeus.
During this time, Rudeus spent his days secretly researching so-called "tactics" behind Allen's back. At first, he would discuss possibilities for dealing with Allen with Sylphie, but after accidentally discovering Sylphie secretly snitching to Allen, he never showed her any of his research results again.
June 1st.
After breakfast, Rudeus exchanged a look with Allen, then, amidst cheers of encouragement, he pumped his fist and went out the door.
Allen, on the other hand, slowly helped clear the table.
Zenith watched Allen with a smile.
"I was a little surprised to hear you two were having a match. You have to go easy on him, Allen~"
Allen smiled. He had a very good impression of Zenith. Perhaps because her personality was the closest to the types he knew in his past life, it made him feel a sense of familiarity. At the same time, she was genuinely kind to him.
It was a strange feeling of warmth... was this home?
Although Allen didn't quite understand the definition of home, having grown up in an orphanage.
"Rudy is much stronger than you think. You should be more worried about me than him."
Zenith looked at Allen, the corner of her mouth lifting into the same eerie smile as Rudeus's.
Allen shuddered.
Then he heard Zenith say, "After all, our child is a genius, and so well-behaved~"
Allen nodded like a pecking chicken.
If stealing his teacher's underwear counts as being a good boy.
Then, Zenith's smile returned to its normal, gentle state. She reached out and smoothed the hair that Allen deliberately kept neat and close to the corner of his eye.
"Allen, you're a genius, too~"
Allen blinked, looking at Zenith's expression, a little stunned, not knowing what to say.
Then, Zenith's face suddenly turned grim, and she leaned in close to Allen's.
"So you two won't be causing a scene at the clinic again today, right?"
Allen coughed awkwardly.
"That definitely won't happen... I'll be careful."
Zenith gave him a questioning, squint-eyed look, noncommittal.
"Uh... the poisoning incident last time was an accident."
"Alright, I won't scare you anymore. Go on, be safe."
"Okay."
---
Allen walked out of the house. Paul was already standing in the yard. He smiled at Allen, but was surprised to see him walk up and stand before him, his hand on his scabbard, in silence.
Paul tilted his head and asked in confusion, "Is this... are we still having our morning fencing practice?"
"Yes."
"Oh? Aren't you supposed to be fighting Rudy?"
"He's still preparing, running through his tactics one last time. We agreed I wouldn't watch. Sylphie will come get me when he's ready."
Paul looked down at the sword in his hand and smiled.
"I see."
The moment he spoke, Paul's sword was already out of its scabbard. His body became a blur, the tip of the blade aimed straight at Allen's neck!
Allen's pupils constricted sharply. The hand resting on his sword instantly tightened its grip.
"Nijuuzan!"
Sparks flew. Allen instantly swung his sword to parry Paul's blade, then followed up with a kick aimed at Paul's face.
"Bang!"
The fabric of his pants whipped through the air. Paul reached out and firmly blocked his lower leg, squinting at the surprised look on Allen's face.
"No good. You're still subconsciously using other styles. I don't know what technique you used for that slash, but it wasn't Water God Style... A North God technique I don't know? The follow-up whip kick is a classic North God counter-technique."
Allen's face was grim as he retracted his leg, jumped back, and created distance.
Paul rolled his neck and raised his sword above his head, assuming a highly aggressive high stance.
"If you keep using the styles you're comfortable with, your Sword God Style will never improve. I've told you this countless times over the past two months, haven't I?"
"Sorry. Years of habit are hard to change..."
When facing Paul's high-speed thrusts, he always subconsciously used his usual fighting methods to resolve them. This was the result after consciously trying to restrain himself. Before, he would have used the Water God Style without a second thought.
Why?
At the same level of swordsmanship, the Water God Style had a clear advantage over the Sword God Style. It was his subconscious, ingrained from his past life, seeking advantage and avoiding harm.
Allen let out a long breath.
Against the Sword God Style, before learning the Sword of Light, the main counter is to be faster than the opponent. Whoever strikes first wins... In that case, I need to seize the initiative...
His mind was still thinking when Paul's sword suddenly struck. He slashed at Allen's blade. As the swords ground against each other, his words struck Allen's heart like a pendulum.
"The sword must be faster than thought! So why are you still thinking?!"
The blades vibrated and slid apart. The follow-up slash was already tearing through the air by Allen's ear!
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