Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Back to the Academy (2)
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"Good work."
"Hek... hek..."
The moment they arrived at the Swordsmanship Department, Laura and Rainie—who had been running feebly—flopped straight onto the ground.
Yumi, who was as relaxed as I was, took care of the two of them.
"Hmph."
Marley, who was panting heavily just like them, looked at the two girls sprawled on the ground and flashed a victorious smile.
She had been whining that she couldn't run, couldn't run, but the moment Rainie and Laura started running alongside her, she ignited her competitive spirit and completed the run without a single complaint afterward.
As expected, exercising is more effective when done together rather than alone.
I approached the two pathetic girls who were gulping down the water Yumi handed them.
Perhaps thinking I was going to make them exercise more, they trembled in fear at the sight of me approaching.
As I mentioned before, I'm not a pervert who enjoys watching others suffer, so I gave them a gentle smile.
"Don't worry. That's it for today."
"Really...?"
After spending quite a long time together and building some bond and trust, I thought, but Rainie shot me a look full of distrust, as if she didn't believe me at all.
Feeling a slight pang, I nodded.
"Of course."
"Hnggg..."
Rainie grabbed the hand I offered and stood up.
A strong peach scent wafted from her.
"Then I'm really going...?"
"Yeah, see you."
Rainie, who hadn't let go of her wariness until the end, realized I had no intention of holding her back anymore, revived herself, and dashed off to the dormitory.
Laura was also glancing around cautiously, clinging to Yumi's back and trying to hide her body carefully.
I waved to the two as they left.
"See you tomorrow at 7 in front of the Swordsmanship Department!"
"...What?"
"You never know when the Four Heavenly Kings might show up again, so we need to build up your stamina while we have this gap!"
"..."
"If you don't show up, I'll hunt you down to the ends of the earth. You know how persistent I am, right?"
"..."
Sadly, no reply came.
But I had no doubt that they would show up on time.
With Marley's exercise helpers clocking out, I gently wiped the sweat from Marley's forehead with my handkerchief as she stood there blankly.
Marley obediently didn't resist my touch.
After wiping her sweat and neatly combing her slightly tousled hair with my fingers, Marley mumbled.
"Too. Skilled."
"Well, back in the territory, I often stroked Rainie and Laura's hair."
"That's what. Servants do."
"Those two are unusually sensitive, so it has to be me."
Marley narrowed her eyes.
"Practically. Family. Right?"
"Hmm..."
I pondered her words, reflecting on my relationship with them.
Stopping them from drinking, tidying their rooms, eating together, going out to play together.
It certainly seemed no different from family.
"Right? If I had to draw a line, it feels like looking at disobedient little sisters."
"Not. Little sisters."
"Then what is it like?"
Marley seemed lost in thought for a moment, spacing out, then smacked her lips.
"Like a. Married couple. A loving couple."
"..."
"Feels affectionate."
"Haha..."
I awkwardly laughed off her words.
Instead, to change the subject, I patted her shoulder.
"Alright, shall we get back to training?"
"...?"
Marley stared at me like I was spouting nonsense.
But I'm not one to back down from a look like that.
I met her gaze confidently and said.
"We're at the Swordsmanship Department, so you need to train more than Rainie and Laura, who don't even move their bodies."
"I've been. Training before that."
"You said you wanted to become a proper hero."
"..."
"Come on, let's go!"
I grabbed Marley's hand and dragged her to the training ground.
After that, we trained like crazy.
***
Academy girls' dormitory.
"Hmm..."
Daisy, who shared a dorm with Marley, was pacing anxiously with Marley's dinner prepared and waiting.
She had thought Marley would just train for an hour or two since she said she'd be back soon after a short session, so she prepared dinner for when she returned—but four hours had already passed.
Marley was skilled enough not to die wandering off somewhere, but it was impossible not to worry when she hadn't returned this late.
"Sigh..."
Staring at the lovingly prepared meal cooling down made her heart ache.
In the past, she would have eaten first and prepared a fresh meal when Marley returned.
But ever since she started receiving essence from Raden, food tasted so bad that Daisy couldn't eat it anymore.
Pondering seriously with her head in her hands in front of the elaborate spread, Daisy decided she couldn't just wait any longer and would go look herself.
It was late at night, but no one in the Swordsmanship Department—or anywhere—could dare harm Daisy, who was dead last in theory but overwhelmingly first in practical combat.
So, without much worry, she grabbed a sword and left her room.
"Yaaawn..."
At the entrance, the dorm supervisor nicknamed "Demon Tribe Granny" was, for once, not sleeping but yawning widely while on guard.
She usually slept openly 364 days a year without fail, but tonight must be that one remaining day.
"Sigh..."
Even a lax dorm supervisor would surely stop her from leaving openly this late at night.
Giving up on the front gate, Daisy returned to the second floor where her room was.
Slide.
Deciding to go out the window—and having left it open for her return—Daisy deftly leaped from the dorm building with light footsteps.
Thud.
Mindful of the late hour so as not to wake other students, she landed quietly, looked around carefully to confirm no witnesses, and headed to the training ground.
Zuuuuu...
The academy at night exuded an eerie atmosphere.
Being a wealthy academy, lighting magic tools were installed here and there, so visibility wasn't an issue.
But she couldn't help feeling a slight chill.
"Ugh, what the heck are you doing out this late at night?"
Daisy muttered to herself to shake off the fear as she walked.
She had only ever seen the Swordsmanship Department building during the day, so seeing it at night without lights felt a bit novel.
After walking another ten minutes or so, she arrived near the training ground.
Clack!
The sound of a wooden sword clashing with a scarecrow echoed from the training ground.
'Good, she's there.'
If Marley hadn't been at the training ground, it would have been a hassle to search, but fortunately, she seemed to still be training.
Shaking off the lingering anxiety, Daisy smiled brightly and entered the training ground.
She planned to lightly scold her not to wander around so late.
"Put a bit more strength into your grip."
"Like this?"
"No, not like that—angle it more sharply."
"This?"
"Oh, perfect!"
"Hehe..."
She froze at the man's voice coming from inside the training ground and instinctively hid her body.
She also suppressed and concealed the aura unconsciously emanating from her.
Fortunately, they didn't notice Daisy's arrival and continued their friendly training conversation.
"Relax your shoulders a bit more there."
"Okay."
"Good. Now I'll move your body, so try to remember this sensation well?"
"Got it."
Daisy knew who the owner of the man's voice from the training ground was.
It was Raden, who handled her swordsmanship lessons every day and occasionally even provided essence.
It was because it was Raden that she didn't barge in immediately—if it had been some unfamiliar man's voice, Daisy would have charged in and torn him away right then.
In her mind, Marley was still a baby who needed protecting.
"Good. That's much more natural than before."
"I feel it too."
"Shall we try a defensive stance this time?"
"Do it again."
"Huh?"
"You're good at teaching. Really helpful."
"Well, if you say so."
Eavesdropping on the two like a pervert, Daisy suddenly grew curious about how they were training.
Daisy herself acknowledged that Raden had considerable skill in swordsmanship.
However, she had never felt he was particularly outstanding at teaching it.
Yet here was the picky Marley admitting he taught well—what incredible training method was he using that he never showed in lessons?
Daisy was a woman with a huge drive to improve her swordsmanship through training.
So, to check out the training method Marley was raving about, she peeked her head out.
And was stunned.
"Follow my lead well."
"Okay. I'm all yours."
"How's that? Smooth, right?"
"Amazing. Not stiff at all."
Raden was behind Marley, who held the sword, manipulating her body—and the posture looked no different from a back hug.
The motherly instinct toward Marley deep inside Daisy exploded.
"Hey! Get away from Marley!"