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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Before starting the training session, Minerva’s problem appeared before me.
Should I train Luna or Hare?
Minerva was telling me to focus on one person instead of training both of them simultaneously.
I would know the reason by looking at the answer sheet.
I immediately checked the answer for “1. Train Luna.”
…
Luna was happy that her skills had improved through the training.
She swung her wooden sword in her room, her passion for training burning brightly.
However…
Perhaps because she didn’t receive any training…
Hare sat alone on her bed, fiddling with her wooden dagger.
Her expression was gloomy, filled with dejection.
“I want to get stronger and be helpful to Mister too… I-I want to train… but I don’t know anything…”
Drip, drip-
Hare shed tears alone in her room, looking up at the moon.
She tried to get up and practice on her own, but…
“…I-It’s no use. I-I can’t do it alone… Sob…”
Hare couldn’t do anything by herself.
She reluctantly placed the wooden dagger on her desk.
…
Hmm.
It was true that I hadn’t taught Hare anything.
I briefly showed her how to hold a dagger last time, but that was it.
I had never properly trained her.
‘Hare’s talent lies in learning and memorization. Not in creativity.’
When I taught her the alphabet, I realized that Hare was like a sponge, absorbing information.
She acquired information, memorized it, and used it.
Since her talent was geared towards absorption…
Self-study wouldn’t be helpful for her.
‘Then the answer is automatically number 2.’
But before that…
It would be better to check the answer for number 2 as well.
The more thorough I was, the less room there would be for mistakes.
With those thoughts in mind, I checked the answer for “2. Train Hare.”
…
“Haaap! Ha!”
Hare was training in her room, shouting with each move.
The movements seemed unfamiliar, as if she had just learned them today, but they were becoming more refined with each repetition.
“This is for you, Mister…! Die, monster…! Hehe! I’ll protect you, Mister…!”
Swish- Swish-
Hare was taking revenge on the imaginary Demon Lord.
It seemed Future Hare didn’t expect me to hear her strange battle cries.
But why was she using such strange cries?
I was a bit curious, but…
Well, she was still young, so it was understandable.
‘Next is Luna.’
I passed Hare’s room and headed towards Luna’s.
In the previous answer, the child who didn’t receive training was dejected.
So I naturally assumed Luna would be doing nothing.
But whether she received training or not, Luna remained the same.
“Ugh! It’s so unfair! That you’re not training me! It’s so mean! So mean!”
Aaaargh-!!
Luna was training, screaming at the top of her lungs, even though it was still early evening.
…I was supposed to be sleeping in the next room.
But maybe it didn’t matter since I would be passed out from drinking.
Luna shouted even louder, as if to make sure I could hear her, and swung her sword.
“You said it’s been a while! Since we last trained! But you’re just standing there! It’s so mean! Really mean! Ugh…”
Luna yelled, her voice filled with dejection.
Her eyes were welling up with tears.
It seemed she was genuinely hurt and upset.
But she didn’t stop her sword training. In fact, it seemed like she was even more motivated, her growth accelerating.
As Luna swung her sword, tears streaming down her face…
The answer sheet closed.
And I had made my decision.
Back in reality, after checking both answers…
Blue eyes and red eyes stared at me expectantly.
“Training! What kind of training are we doing today, Mister!?”
“I-I’ll do my best! I’ll work hard!”
“…”
Luna and Hare were full of anticipation.
No matter who I chose, one of them would be hurt.
But from a future perspective…
That is, from the Hero’s party’s perspective… the answer was clear.
“Luna.”
“Yes, Mister!”
Clench-!
Luna clenched her fist, her eyes filled with determination.
I announced my decision.
“Practice on your own today. Hare’s dagger training is lagging behind.”
“…Huh?”
Luna was stunned, as if struck by an arrow.
She looked completely caught off guard.
“Self-study today, Luna. Reflect on your swordsmanship.”
“B-But Mister! It’s been so long since we last trained!? We haven’t trained for a week! And you’re telling me to do self-study?!”
This is unfair!
Luna protested, saying it was a breach of contract.
But I knew this would be beneficial to Luna in the long run, based on the future I saw.
So I wasn’t going to change my mind.
“No. Go back. Today’s training is for Hare only.”
“W-Why?! We can train together!!”
“You’re learning swordsmanship, Hare is learning dagger combat. The curriculum is different.”
“Aaargh!! Then I want to learn dagger combat too!!”
“I’ll teach you when you’ve mastered swordsmanship.”
Not today.
Today was a day to focus on one person.
I ignored Luna’s protests and approached Hare.
“Hare, get ready. I’m going to teach you about daggers.”
“Y-Yes! I-I’m ready…! P-Please start…!!”
Hare clenched her dagger, her eyes filled with determination.
“B-But I… I-I was… w-waiting… W-What is this…”
Luna’s disappointed voice could be heard from behind…
But I decided to focus on Hare’s training.
Luna couldn’t defeat the Demon Lords alone.
‘Let go of your hurt feelings and train, Luna.’
Unlike Hare, you have the talent to improve your swordsmanship on your own.
So self-study would be effective for you.
No matter how upset Luna was, the Hero’s party’s goal was only one:
‘To eliminate all the Demon Lords.’
And to achieve that, they had to focus on improving their skills…
While minimizing the impact on their mental health.
Growth didn’t come without pain.
And so, Luna…
“…Ugh, I hate you, Mister! Don’t talk to me!! You kidnapped us and now you’re not even training me! You broke your promise! I hate you!”
Hmph!
Started swinging her sword alone, her face full of resentment.
Whoosh- Whoosh-
Her swings were fueled by her emotions.
“I’m the one who works the hardest… but I’m always the one being discriminated against…”
Fueled by negative emotions…
Luna, the Hero, was feeling aggrieved.
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“Hare, have you memorized everything?”
“Yes…! I-I think I memorized everything…!”
Hare responded with a bright smile.
There was sweat on her cheeks, and her body was trembling slightly, but she seemed happy to have trained with me.
‘I hope she mastered it.’
Dagger combat.
If I had to teach someone swordsmanship and dagger combat, I would choose swordsmanship without hesitation.
The reason was simple.
You couldn’t survive, let alone use, dagger combat without physical talent.
‘An agile body and sharp senses.’
Those were the prerequisites for wielding a dagger.
In that sense, Hare was more than qualified.
‘…She stole my wallet without me noticing, and her performance during today’s training exceeded my expectations.’
She dodged my punches with incredible speed, even though I was holding back.
As if she was determined to avoid getting hit at all costs.
When I asked her why she was so desperate…
‘I-If I get hit by Mister’s fist… I-It hurts twice as much… both physically and emotionally…’
‘…’
She desperately dodged my punches, even though they wouldn’t hurt her if she got hit…
And said things that were hard to understand.
Moreover, she was so good at dodging that I couldn’t even say anything.
“I’ve taught you how to hold a dagger, how to move, and how to strike… so just refine it through practice…”
Next time, I should teach her how to erase her presence.
A rogue…
Silent movements were the foundation of assassination.
That skill would be very useful for the Hero’s party.
“By then, the other Hero’s party members should have grown as well.”
If Saten was a finished product that needed polishing…
Luna and Hare were still in development.
And Estia hadn’t even started…
“Thinking about Estia makes me feel hopeless.”
Sigh-
I let out a sigh and checked on Estia, to whom I had given the Bible.
She was lying on the ground, asleep, either tired from reading or having finished it.
The warm sunlight had lulled her to sleep.
I approached Estia, who was sleeping soundly, purring like a cat.
“…Estia.”
“U-Uh? Wh-Who is it?! D-Don’t come near me…!!”
“It’s me, Estia.”
“Oh, it’s just you, brother.”
Estia, who had momentarily jumped up in defense…
Lowered her guard after confirming it was me.
I picked up the Bible that was lying open on the ground and asked Estia,
“Estia, you finished reading the Bible, right?”
“Hmph, do you think I’m stupid? Of course I finished it!”
Estia replied confidently.
Her golden eyes, sparkling in the sunlight, asserted her claim.
Then I should test her.
I opened the Bible and asked,
“Page 12. What’s the name of the item the Saintess created to fight against the Demon Lords that threatened the world?”
“Brother, do you really think I’m stupid? That’s obviously…”
Holy water!
Holy water.
The name of the item used to fight against the Demon Lords was holy water.
Estia said it with absolute sincerity.
Even though the Bible said “Holy Sword.”
“Page 12. The Holy Sword that saves and liberates sinners. It was created to fight against the Demon Lords. That’s what the Bible says, right?”
“…!!”
Estia realized something was wrong.
Her drowsiness vanished as she shouted,
“Wait! I-I got confused…! D-Did I say holy water?! N-No, that’s wrong!! I-I meant Holy Sword! Really! I’m serious, brother!”
“…No holy water for you today.”
“B-Brother! I’m sorry! Please forgive me just this once! Please!!”
…This is heavy.
Estia clung to my leg, begging for forgiveness.
But wrong was wrong.
No matter how much Estia craved holy water, I wasn’t going to give it to her since she hadn’t focused during her lesson.
It was time for Saten’s lesson.
Dragging Estia’s weight on my leg, I headed towards Saten’s room.
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