Chapter 108
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: 25. Master's Grace. (3)
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- ...By any chance, is there a reason that's hard to talk about?
- Th-that...!
Aaah, Holy Spirit, pleeeease...
The Blind Saintess, who had been eavesdropping on the meeting room conversation with her ear pressed to the door, tensed up so much that she nearly wet herself a little.
...If it came out that she'd caved for 40 gold coins, she didn't even want to imagine the terrifying aftermath.
- She has feelings for Odd-Eye...
And then, her master's comment hit like a punch to the solar plexus.
Love...?
The word popped out—something she hadn't even dreamed of in the slightest—and the Pink Saintess froze, her breath catching in her throat.
Thank goodness her master had jumped to the wrong conclusion, she thought just then.
- Yes...!
Came the Mercenary Leader's firm reply.
The stunned Pink Saintess yanked herself away from the door, stood there blankly for a moment, then bolted back to her room like her tail was on fire.
Odd-Eye leaned against the closed door, panting for a bit.
- She has feelings for you.
- Yes.
It was a conversation shocking enough to make her heart drop. ...Even more than when she'd been offered those 40 gold coins...!
Love. She loves me..!
She really hadn't had a clue. Even though she'd never once thought herself oblivious... Her master had seen it right away, and yet she'd been the only one in the dark.
Am I really that clueless? How did I not know? I truly didn't. For real. ...The Leader, she...!
Up until now, the Blind Saintess had thought about it way too simplistically. She just needs me, so she's trying to hold on to me—that was it. ......Now it finally made a bit of sense why she'd offered such a huge sum as 40 gold coins to a total rookie fresh off her first expedition.
Love—.
Something warm stirred in her belly. Odd-Eye rubbed below her solar plexus with her palm, trying to calm the strange sensation coiling inside her.
......I am pretty enough, but still...!
There was the busty mage with her huge rack, and the swordswoman who was fun but flat as a board—why me, of all people? Odd-Eye honestly couldn't quite wrap her head around it.
But if her master said it with that much conviction, then there had to be something there for sure. ......Probably fallen for the holy image of the saintess she'd shown all this time.
......So that's why Master warned me to watch out for men...!
"Ah—."
What to do with this blasphemously alluring body that seduced men just by breathing!
As she sat there praising herself, someone suddenly flung the door open. Even braced against it, she was shoved forward by the sheer force—whoever it was, she could tell without looking.
Having finished their talk, the master strode into her disciple's room, plopped down on the edge of the bed, and puffed away on her cigarette. Her face was full of worry.
"......You heard everything, didn't you?"
"Wh-what are you talking about...?"
"Playing dumb, huh? Who do you think you're fooling?"
"Ah, well, just a teeeeny bit.... Hehe."
The Blind Saintess fidgeted in front of her master. With a long exhale of smoke, the master spoke.
"What does that fool see in you to act like that? Good grief."
"......But I am kinda pretty...."
Her master eyed her disciple steadily, and the Blind Saintess cut herself off mid-sentence, dropping her gaze.
After a long silence, puffing on her cigarette, the master finally spoke quietly.
"What do you want to do? ...You're all grown up now, so I'll respect your choice. You can come back with me, or stay here."
The Pink Saintess couldn't answer right away. Watching her hesitate, the master gave a wry smile.
"......Looks like you really like it here. You're not rushing to say you'll come with me."
Hearing that, Odd-Eye bit her lower lip. The master's past favors lingered in a corner of her heart, pricking at her conscience. ...Though the gold coins were shielding her for now.
Then, as if to ease her unworthy disciple's guilt a bit, the thoughtful master brought up the Leader.
"Allen the Leader... seems like a decent guy. From the rumors, his skills aren't bad either. Won't hold you back."
"......Yeah, he's a good person."
"Thick as thieves, huh."
"Ah, we're not like that yet...!"
"Yet? So you do have feelings?"
"...No! I'm a servant of the Holy Spirit...!"
"Pfft, Holy Spirit my ass."
"Eek, that's blasphemy...!"
"I'll beat you senseless."
The Blind Saintess let out an awkward hehe.
"......And I told you to watch out for men."
"Leader Allen isn't dangerous. Nothing like that happened at all. I've been super good. ...And I didn't feel anything like that...!"
"It's obvious. Good grief, you're so oblivious....... Perfect prey for any man. Total man-eater bait."
Odd-Eye felt a bit wronged, but it rang true, so she couldn't argue. They'd been rubbing shoulders as comrades for so long—how hadn't she noticed?! Even her master spotted it at a glance—!
...Thinking back, there'd been plenty of hints. Fool that she was, she'd brushed them off.
"It's not like that! I can take care of myself...! Get eaten by a man? Me? Never!"
"So......, you're staying, then?"
The Blind Saintess couldn't answer again. Her master snorted.
"Fine by me. Time I got some peace. No more cleaning up after you."
".........Sorry."
Her disciple really seemed to love this mercenary corps. Probably the Leader's influence.
......So her fate really had twisted...
Though mocked as a fraud fortune-teller, Aloa was the continent's top prophet. Yupi had never seen her predictions miss once. ...Except this one—!
Since she was out and about, maybe pay a visit.
The master was dying to see how that smug face of Aloa's would change after her first failure. ......Honestly, it was a bit amusing. Thinking of snapping that arrogant nose.
"Get some rest. You just got back—relax. ...And special training starts tomorrow."
"Whaaat—?!"
The Blind Saintess jumped up in protest. She'd been all excited to play starting tomorrow.
"You little shit, planning to slack off? You're still full of holes!"
"But we just got back today...!"
"Huh? When did my disciple's mouth get so long? Huh?!"
Odd-Eye pouted her lower lip and shrank back.
"Anyway, that's that. ...Always watch out for men's dicks. Got it?!"
"Ow, it's not like that...!"
The master glanced up and down at her disciple, whose resistance was fading, then left the room.
Whew.
Standing in the hall, the master let out a short sigh, feeling a heavy weight in her chest pocket. ......It was the pouch of money Allen the Leader had slipped her as a token of sincerity.
Back in her room, counting it out: 100 gold coins. An oddly uplifting feeling.
- Who said sell your disciple? Just enjoy some disciple perks.
......As Aloa said, the master decided to occasionally enjoy her unworthy disciple perks.
Hey, after raising her this much, she deserved at least this much—!
Two days after returning to Vermandua, early morning.
The Flat-Chested Swordswoman finished her short meditation and stood from the dirt ground. It was the smelly backyard with an outhouse attached, but it was the only spot big enough to practice swordsmanship.
Natasha had gathered all her experiences and insights, carefully integrating them into her swordplay. Of course, she still felt awkward in spots, but she was definitely improving bit by bit.
After one round, catching her breath, she heard a cough.
Hm—?!
The Flat-Chested Swordswoman startled and sharply aimed her sword at the source. There stood the woman said to be the Blind Saintess's master. ......But astonishingly, Natasha hadn't sensed her presence at all until just now.
Master Yupi likewise spotted at a glance that this flat-chested beauty swordswoman's talent surpassed even her disciple's. ...And she looked barely into her early twenties.
......Where'd this gem come from?
It was too great a talent to call mere coincidence—top-tier even across the continent. ...Only then did the master grasp Allen the Leader's true caliber.
Choosing my disciple or this swordswoman wasn't chance. ...He has an eye for raw gems—that man does—.
Truth be told, Yupi had been a bit annoyed at Allen's request to take a quick look at a comrade's swordplay, but seeing her blew that away. At heart, she was a martial artist too.
"You're the Leader's..., guest, right?"
"Odd-Eye's master."
"What brings you here...?"
"Allen the Leader said there's a skilled swordswoman, so I came to check."
The Flat-Chested Swordswoman got it right away: the Leader asked her to take a look.
At the same time, they sized each other up.
"Want to spar a bit...?"
"...Sure."
Natasha's fighting spirit surged. Sparring with the strong—nothing better for growth. ......And she was curious just how strong the Blind Saintess's powerhouse master was.
True to form as Odd-Eye's bare-fisted master, she faced Natasha unarmed.
With a flick of Yupi's fingers, the Flat-Chested Swordswoman kicked off the ground and dashed forward almost simultaneously.
Hair-raising strikes that could turn a single mistake into a grievous wound whistled past. But no matter how hard Natasha tried, her blade only grazed her opponent by a hair. Meanwhile, Yupi dodged leisurely, occasionally tapping Natasha's body lightly with her fists—like signaling where an attack would land.
The not-so-short spar ended, and Natasha sheathed her sword with a polite bow. Her breathing was ragged, but her opponent looked as serene as if she'd just taken a stroll. ...That was their gap.
......This woman's a real monster.
The one called Odd-Eye's master was overwhelmingly skilled, enough to send chills down her spine. It made the Blind Saintess's strength suddenly click...
"Mind if I offer some advice?"
Yupi pulled a hand-rolled cigarette from her pocket, lit it with a flint striker, and took a drag.
"I'd welcome any guidance."
"Your basics are solid. That's good. ...But that's it. Fine against scrubs, but tough to beat equals. You need applied techniques now. Good basics mean you'll pick it up quick, though."
"......Sorry, but I don't know how to learn that."
The issue was Yupi only knew fisticuffs, not swordplay. She could roughly teach low-level stuff from observation, but this was a genius beyond amateur pointers. For that, you needed a true sword expert.
After a moment's thought, Yupi took a long drag, exhaled smoke, and said,
".........If you ever head to the capital,"
The pondering master made her decision. ...She couldn't let talent like this rot.
"Go see Magnus. He knows swords better than me."
Natasha froze for a second. ......Was this the Magnus she knew?
"Magnus..., you mean...?"
"Leader of the Magnus Mercenary Corps."
Ah.
"Tell him Yupi sent you—he'll get it."
Sword Emperor Magnus.
One of the Ten Strong Leaders, top of the continent's powerhouses.
......At that colossal name, Natasha's mind went blank for a moment.