Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Clumsiness
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The training hall was filled with humid air.
Clang!
"You're less rusty than I thought... No, I should say you've improved even more."
I lay sprawled on the floor, too exhausted to even lift my wooden sword, gasping for breath.
'I knew it would be like this...'
The intensity was on a whole different level from our usual spars.
Unlike before, where she let me strike first and targeted openings with seamless offense and defense,
in this spar, Serin unleashed sword strikes that sent chills down my spine from time to time.
It throbbed.
Even her light taps packed power that couldn't be ignored.
As proof, every part of my body ached without exception...
Thank goodness it was wooden swords; if they'd been real steel like usual, it wouldn't have ended with just bruises. There'd be holes punched clean through me everywhere.
- "...From now on in our spars, I'll use aura too."
- "...Pardon?"
- "Don't worry too much. It's just basic body reinforcement. And I have no intention of using sword energy."
Of course, she hadn't used aura from the start.
At first, she fought just like always, relying on a single steel sword to deflect my attacks.
The difference was that after subjugating the Demon of Deception, my skills had noticeably improved.
I'd grown accustomed to irregular attacks and creating variables. And I'd gotten somewhat familiar with Serin's swordsmanship too.
Squeeze...
It was just an instant—a fleeting gap.
But the fact that I'd parried Serin's sword and seized the initiative,
her expression mixing bewilderment with a strange pride...
Even now, struggling to catch my breath, it was reason enough to smile brightly.
"...Sorry if I went too hard. To not miss this chance with you, Rowen... I had no choice."
Serin had come over at some point and sat lightly beside me on the floor.
Her face showed regret tinged with an odd satisfaction.
Of course, upon seeing my body covered in bruises, she'd panicked in horror.
'No need to apologize...'
As I'd said before, Serin had a gentle, delicate heart.
If you considered how she usually enjoyed feeling gentle breezes, living peacefully with animals, and admiring blooming flowers, or that her sword ultimately aimed only at demons' hearts, it made sense.
Plus, as if shaking off embarrassment, her intimidating aura had flared fiercely for a moment, but once the spar began and her sword turned toward me, her face filled with guilt and anguish.
"Ahaha... No, Professor Serin."
I propped myself up and leaned back, looking at her.
Her glossy, alluring raven hair flowed captivatingly, her toned, perfectly balanced body drawing the eye.
Perhaps because she cherished her disciple, her bewitching red eyes held warm affection.
On Serin's usually composed, smiling face, an apologetic expression appeared, and faintly, I felt a twisted satisfaction stirring.
"Professor Serin must have had it much harder. I'm just grateful you make time for me."
I met her gaze with a clear smile.
Spars are generally between equals.
If there's a clear skill gap, it wouldn't even qualify as a spar.
I could have a satisfying one now precisely because the gap between Serin and me was so vast.
No matter how hard I tried, it was possible only because Serin could handle it all.
How awkward it must be for her to hold back just enough not to overwhelm me—didn't need to say it.
Parrying her sword was a fluke born of trickery and luck anyway.
Obviously, Serin could toy with someone like me without aura.
Feeling satisfied matching her when she limited herself felt premature too.
"Haa... What have I done..."
"...?"
As I murmured in my usual grateful tone,
Serin's calm face, listening attentively, began changing by the second.
Her lips quivered, her face flushed red as she let out a small sigh, wearing a strangely self-loathing expression.
'...What's wrong with her?'
Her reaction puzzled me; even trying to read her mind...
Shh,
"...Ugh, staring so openly like this is troublesome..."
Even with her head bowed deeply, she reached out to cover my eyes.
...Why is she acting like this for real?
Nothing seemed off during the spar...
Though I had no idea, it seemed some prick of conscience was nagging only her.
"Rowen works so hard... and here I am having weird thoughts..."
"...Pardon?"
"T-To be honest... I can't forget seeing you and student Lea so close together..."
Serin slumped, her face full of embarrassment.
From her lips came the admission that she couldn't shake the image of Lea and me sticking together.
Now it made sense—her odd expressions and small sighs during the spar.
'Didn't realize she was this pure...'
Having devoted her life to the sword, distant from romance,
Lea's bold advances must have burned into her mind indelibly.
"And... over one missing ring, acting like a brat... I don't even know why I'm like this."
Gazing at the lone ring on her finger with misty eyes,
Serin caressed the quietly shining band as if it were precious.
"..."
Gone was the fox-like allure that bewitched all who saw her.
She resembled a drenched fox on a rainy day, limp and forlorn.
"As a master, picking on my precious disciple... Am I unfit to be a teacher...?"
Her pitiful aura tugged at the heart just watching.
With her overwhelming talent, Serin had no master.
She'd swung, slashed, and thrust her sword alone, growing up isolated without proper guidance. To her, a disciple held special meaning.
To spare them her pains, to let them bask in the care and love she'd lacked, she craved teaching and guiding someone...
That's why she'd given everything to me, sensing a kindred spirit.
"Maybe because I treasure Rowen... I've been suppressing you too much."
Most people are clumsy at new things.
Someone who's wielded magic lifelong can't swing a sword, nor a lifelong swordsman chant spells.
For Serin, who'd lived alone, human bonds must have been impossibly hard.
'...Glad I became Serin's disciple.'
Her face twisted in pain, like thorns pricking.
She'd feared disappointing me with her clumsiness, pushing me away again, but meeting her was fate.
"...So from now on, no need to mind me. If you want to date student Lea... go ahead. If the ring bothers you, I'll get another artifact."
Clumsy with people.
Unaccustomed to love received, she knew not how to give it.
Inexperienced in greed, she yielded treasures easily.
Yet unable to let go, she watched from afar, heart aching.
"Still... still, I hope you cherish our time together. I'm not much of a master, but surely helpful..."
Shh,
That's why I cherished her more.
Clumsy, unable to even be greedy, sacrificing herself foolishly.
Yet ultimately giving all for others.
It evoked my past self, a stinging ache in my heart.
"...Professor Serin."
Thump, thump.
Her eyes twitched anxiously, fingers fidgeting.
Unable to bear it, I'd pulled her into my arms before I knew it.
"...I didn't hate any of it. Not you caring about me, not you cherishing me."
She was so... small.
Traversing battlefields, subjugating demons, pillar for all, offering support, facing two archdemons, safeguarding new hope at the end—her shoulders, so fragile, it was hard to believe they bore such weight.
"I love your usual relaxed smile. Your anxious look fearing I'll get hurt is good too, and your sulky scolding."
Thump-!
Was it her heartbeat or mine?
A wild, fierce pounding unlike the norm.
"..."
Squeeze...
A trembling embrace around my waist spread through me.
Glancing down,
Serin had buried her face in my chest.
"So... no need to mind me from now on."
I hugged her deeper, whispering calmly.
"Treat me rough if you want. Scold me, suppress me more than this—it's fine."
Shh, shh.
I held her as she tried pulling away.
Stroking her hair to instill warm security, so she couldn't flee.
"Still, during our time together, I hope you smile happily. Because... you're my precious master."
Flinch...
Twisting her self-mocking words back at her, a faint, elated tremor came from my embrace.
...This should do it?
As her precious disciple,
Serin was equally precious to me as master.
I couldn't bear seeing her mope.
That's why I'd embarrassed myself to comfort her.
"..."
After releasing her squirming form, as I watched her face flush crimson, ears scarlet, I grinned mischievously to break the awkward air.
"And that thrust you showed last time helped a ton. Watch..."
Shiiiing...!
I picked up the fallen sword, infusing aura.
It gleamed, sword energy faintly coating it.
No—beyond that, forming the blade aura I'd grown used to.
"Heh heh... See? I can do thrusts now too. A bit clumsy, but... all thanks to my master."
Cough, cough!
Not fully mastered, it strained me some, but enough to cheer her up?
"R-Rowen! You're bleeding...!"
Of course, Serin thought differently, rushing over in tears.
"Y-You little punk worrying me...! You want a real scolding?!"
Smack!
Her flick hurt plenty,
but seeing her chuckle softly brought a strange smile to my lips.