Mentor and Mentee
"Die! Die!"
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Once again today, I was getting beaten to a pulp by Alissa under the pretense of sparring. The difference from before was that her attacks could no longer snap my consciousness. Ever since my durability stat surpassed her strength stat, I stopped passing out. Of course, that didn't make her combinations hurt any less.
"Go down! I said go down already!"
After a feint came the liver shot that crumpled my stance, followed immediately by an uppercut. Then the one-two straight, capped off with a stab straight to the solar plexus. My breath seized in my throat and my vision flashed white, but my body endured even that. It was all thanks to the dramatically improved recovery I'd gained after absorbing the Phoenix Egg, even without resorting to Hwasin-hwa.
Fuck, this is gonna kill me.
After what felt like an eternity, once all the students had gathered, Sara made an important announcement.
"You all remember that the mentor-mentee classes begin next week, yes? We'll be pairing one second-year with one first-year for instruction. There's a frontline dispatch in a month, so keep that in mind."
The time had finally arrived. In the original episode, Abel was supposed to be paired with Isis, get sent to the front lines, stumble into a dungeon, and inherit a paladin's legacy. From that point on, Abel would stop being just an outstanding student and become the center of everyone's attention as a paladin candidate for the Holy Church.
Of course, unlike the game, I'd already made contact with the Church long ago, so I had no idea how events would shift. Still, this was one of the essential hurdles I had to clear if I wanted to reach an ending.
A few days later, I stood face to face with my assigned mentor.
"Luan. Please take good care of me."
Isis, dressed in a tracksuit that still shamelessly displayed her seductive curves, held out her hand. I took it with a somewhat dazed expression.
"Wait, why are you here, Sister?"
"Why? Do you dislike having me as your mentor?"
"No. It's just... unexpected."
"Is it? Well, please take care of me for the next month."
How the hell had this happened? Abel and Isis were supposed to be an absolute pair, yet that fixed condition had shattered.
This completely throws the whole route out the window.
I glanced behind me. Abel had been paired with a rather pretty senior sporting a ponytail. Her face looked familiar—she was probably a supporting character. Since I couldn't recall her name, I stared hard in her direction. Before I knew it, Isis had stepped right beside me. She puffed her cheeks and asked,
"What are you staring at?"
"Huh? Oh, I was just looking at a friend."
"Really? You weren't looking at Veronica?"
"Uh... no, not really."
"Suspicious."
Isis wore a clearly sulky expression. This wasn't the first time today she'd shown a side of herself she normally kept hidden. The gap was honestly adorable. Was she a little excited about this class?
Right, her name was Veronica.
I'd been wracking my brain trying to remember, but Isis's words brought it back instantly. She was a sword-and-spear warrior who'd played an active role in several events. If I remembered correctly, she died during the clash with the dark cult in the second semester of her second year.
I'd have to wait and see how this change affected her.
While I was lost in thought, Isis suddenly glanced at Veronica, then stepped back.
"Luan, I'll be right back after a quick stop at the changing room."
"Now? Right this second?"
"Yes. Just wait a moment."
Whatever the rush was, Isis even used her movement technique and vanished in the blink of an eye. She reappeared three minutes later. When she did, her hairstyle had changed from sleek straight hair to a neat ponytail.
"Sister. What's with the new look?"
"H-huh? Why? Does it look different?"
Was she seriously asking? For a second I was confused, but the way she kept moving her body, deliberately swinging the ponytail and showing off her elegant neckline, made her intentions crystal clear. Isis was blatantly fishing for me to notice the change. It was so cute it was almost criminal.
God, I just want to—!
In my head I wanted to shove her to the floor and fuck her senseless whether anyone was watching or not. Obviously that wasn't an option.
Shaking off the fantasy, I complimented her in the most natural tone I could manage.
"The ponytail looks really good on you."
"Does it? I-I usually wear it like this when training, actually."
The lie was written all over her face. If I went around asking people, she'd be exposed in seconds... Though knowing her, she probably wasn't planning to abuse her student council president authority to silence everyone.
Today's Isis was unusually sloppy and full of openings.
"You wear it like that all the time?"
"Yes! I just forgot earlier, that's all."
Her desperate attempt not to get caught was almost pitiful. I wanted to play along, but there were some things I simply couldn't yield on.
"It's a little disappointing, actually."
"H-huh? Why? Is there something strange about it?"
"No, not at all. I just really like your straight hair too, Sister. The ponytail is pretty, but I think the way your hair flows and dances every time you swing your spear is truly beautiful."
"...Beautiful?"
"Yes. It's my favorite look, honestly."
"......"
At my completely sincere confession, Isis fell silent for a moment. Then she quietly reached behind her head and untied the hair tie. The ponytail unraveled instantly, returning to the straight style from three minutes ago.
"Then... let's train like this."
"Are you sure? Won't it be uncomfortable?"
"I-I'm fine! I fight with my hair down anyway. It's not like your opponent will politely wait for you to tie it up first."
"That's true. So are we starting the instruction right away?"
"Yes! First, shall we have a simple spar? Come at me!"
"Alright. Here I come!"
I immediately activated the Moon Shadow Step. My body blurred as if melting into thin air, leaving afterimages in my wake as I closed the distance in a flash.
Bang!
My fist stopped dead in Isis's open palm. She'd blocked it cleanly, but her eyes were wide with surprise.
"L-Luan. What technique was that?"
"It's a footwork I picked up after entering the academy. What do you think?"
"...Incredible. It's an excellent technique. However... No, never mind. Let's keep sparring."
Isis had looked momentarily troubled, as if something was bothering her, but she shook her head to clear her thoughts and assumed a combat stance. I pressed the attack again.
For a long while afterward, Isis didn't counter. She focused purely on defense. Then, after even more time had passed—
"Now I'll attack too."
After the warning, Isis launched her counteroffensive. Her fist traced the optimal path and shot forward without a single wasted motion. There was nothing particularly mysterious about the strike, yet dealing with it was incredibly difficult. It was fast enough that dodging was nearly impossible, yet not so weak that it could be blocked without consequence. In the end, it forced the opponent to accept a certain amount of damage.
Of course, since this was only a spar, she'd adjusted the power to my level. Right now, Isis was trying to draw out something from me—something she didn't recognize.
If that's what you want, I'll play along.
Shatter!
Two streams of mana spiraled out from my dantian like a vortex and erupted from my fist.
BOOM!
The collision sent a powerful shockwave through both of us, forcing each of us back a step. Isis lowered her fist, then looked up.
"Luan. You've learned a different mana cultivation method."
"It shows that obviously?"
"Yes. I could tell clearly just now. There's zero trace of the Priuli style in your mana flow. If anything, it's the complete opposite. Rough. Hot."
The Priuli family's mana cultivation method was defined by iron-wall solidity and stability. In contrast, the Taeguk Hwasin-gong I practiced specialized in pure, destructive flame. It made sense that Isis would sense it that way.
She asked with an almost fearful expression.
"Did you... abandon the family?"
"What? Abandon the family?"
"You didn't learn a new mana method because you wanted to sever ties with the family, did you? Is that why you refused the position of family head? That's... the only thing I can think of."
From her perspective, every action I'd taken must have looked suspicious. It seemed I'd unintentionally planted anxiety in her heart.
"It's not like that. Honestly, I don't have any lingering attachment to the family itself, but I wasn't planning to cut ties completely."
"Really? Then... you won't abandon your sister?"
Isis's eyes sparkled with hope. At some point she'd stepped right up to me, staring up with those wide, dependent eyes. The sight was so disarmingly cute I couldn't help but smile.
I nodded as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Of course not. Why would I ever abandon you, Sister? If anything, I should be the one clinging to you. Even if I distance myself from the family, I'll stay by your side for the rest of my life."
Just stay in touch? Honestly, if the situation allowed it, I wanted to cross the line far beyond mere siblings.
"You mean it? You're not lying, right?"
"I'm completely serious."
"...That's a relief. Such a relief."
Isis pressed a hand to her chest. Her fingertips were still trembling, as if the mere thought of being separated from me had shaken her that deeply.
If someone saw us right now, they'd definitely think we were lovers.
While I grumbled internally, I unconsciously reached out and stroked her hair. The silk-like strands tickled my palm. Isis flinched at the sudden contact and looked up at me. Her silver eyes swirled with emotion.
"L-Luan? What are you doing?"
"Ah, sorry. You were so cute I did it without thinking."
"C-cute?"
"Yes. You feel more like a little sister than an older sister right now."
Since I was an orphan, I didn't actually know what having a real little sister was like. Though if I did, we'd probably fight every single day. I kept stroking her hair while watching Isis's face flush bright red—until she finally couldn't endure it anymore and pulled away.
"S-stop that! You can't tease your sister like this."
"I'm not teasing you, though."
"A-anyway! I'm not at an age where I should be called cute."
"What does age have to do with it? Cute is cute."
"Ugh... R-really, you..."
When I refused to back down even an inch, Isis waved her hands helplessly, then suddenly retreated a step. Her expression hardened as she asked,
"Do you do this to other girls too?"
"Other girls?"
"Yes! That... Deborah, wasn't it? You two seemed very close. You said you weren't dating, though."
"Deborah? I haven't patted her head before."
"Really?"
"Yes. I swear on the heavens I haven't."
"I see... Hmm..."
Isis looked strangely relieved. I wondered what she'd say if I told her that while I hadn't stroked Deborah's head, I'd buried myself deep inside her. Of course, I'd never say that out loud.
While I was entertaining thoughts I could never voice, Isis regained her composure and returned to the main topic.
"By the way, Luan. Who taught you those techniques? You couldn't have learned them completely on your own."
"Ah, these? I did learn the mana cultivation method and the footwork from my master."
"Master?"
"Yes. I can't give you the details."
It wasn't that I feared information leaking if I told Isis. I simply couldn't go around talking about it without my master's permission. Seeing my impenetrable attitude, Isis nodded in understanding.
"I see. Then it can't be helped. Let's end the spar here. I have a rough idea now."
"Alright. So are we done for today?"
"Yes. But... do you have time on the weekend? I'd like to train together then as well."
Isis glanced sideways as she made the suggestion. The shy look in her eyes and the nervous tension in her voice made it feel less like training and more like she was asking me on a date.
"On the weekend too? Isn't twice a week enough?"
"Not at all. There's the frontline dispatch in a month, remember? We need to work hard if we want good results. I've already cleared my schedule, so don't worry."
"Really? Aren't you going a bit overboard?"
As student council president, adjusting her schedule would have required weeks of preparation in advance. The fact that she'd go that far just for her mentee was surprising. I shuddered to think what she'd do if she'd been paired with some lazy slob with zero motivation.
My doubts must have shown on my face, because Isis panicked and pressed,
"T-this much is basic! So... can you?"
"Well, if it's Sunday, I can make it."
"Really? Perfect! Then we'll meet again this Sunday. Understood?"
"Yes. Let's do that."
And so, for the next month, I was stuck meeting Isis once a week without fail. Honestly, it wasn't a bad deal at all.
Let's just think of it as dating.