TN: Changed the chapter title to make more sense.
The next day, I set out on a hike. It felt like it had been quite a while, even though I had only rested for a few days.
When Sowol, who had climbed the mountain with me without getting out of breath as usual, finished her basic training, I picked up my sword. Seeing me do this, Sowol tilted her head curiously.
“Why are you using a sword today?”
Her question seemed reasonable, given I usually only used a stick when teaching Sowol.
I wiped away my usual smile and pointed the sword at Sowol.
“Today is a skills test day.”
“What? So suddenly?”
“Tests are usually done with basic skills. Let’s see how familiar you’ve become with the first form of the Moonlight Sword.”
The first form of the Moonlight Sword. The Moonlight School.
She should be familiar with it by now, as it’s been quite some time since I passed it on to her.
After hearing my instructions, Sowol took a deep breath and slowly grasped her wooden sword.
“Haaa…!”
As Sowol exhaled softly, a powerful energy emanated around her body.
It’s amazing that this is the aura of a girl who has been learning the sword for less than a year.
If she continues to grow like this, Sowol will soon be able to master the entire Moonlight Sword technique.
[Job Quest – Sage]
[Raise two disciples to a certain level or above.] (0 / 2)
The number remained unchanged.
Even in the game, changing that number took quite a lot of effort.
So I’ll just keep going.
“Here I come! You should be careful!”
Oh my. As if I need to be careful.
No matter how great Sowol’s talent is, she can’t even scratch me with her current skill level.
Still, it’s touching and admirable to see her thinking of her master like this.
“Hyaah!!”
Sowol, full of fighting spirit, rushes towards me.
The light of the sword energy gathering at the tip of her sword starts to intensify.
Leading that light, Sowol’s eyes flash as she swings her sword quickly in front of me.
At the same time, an intense light spreads out with the sword energy within it.
The Moonlight technique has been activated.
“Hup!!”
After neutralizing her sword with the same technique, I looked at Sowol, who slowly withdrew her sword as the light subsided.
I thought she had used her full power, but did she control her strength to some extent?
Sowol seemed to have quite a bit of energy left.
“How was it?”
The only answer I could give to her expectant gaze was to nod.
This level is enough to say she has made the Moonlight technique her own.
“Well done.”
“Wow! Praise sticker!”
“As if I’d give you one.”
“Aw.”
How precious do you think praise stickers are?
“What’s the criteria for giving out praise stickers?”
“My mood.”
Praise should come from the heart, after all.
I patted the sulky Sowol’s head and then gripped my sword.
“Alright. Now, I’ll teach you the second form.”
“Huh? Aren’t we not supposed to learn the second form until we finish drinking the Moon Red Liquid?”
“Just watch and learn for now. We’ll start proper training after you finish drinking the Moon Red Liquid. You drank it, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then here we go.”
I stepped back and gripped the sword with both hands. And then.
“Hup!!”
With a low shout, I swung the sword quickly.
If you just look at it, it might seem like a simple vertical slash, but,
-Kwaaang!!
The crescent-shaped sword energy shot from the sword instantly cut through several large trees.
This sword technique, which has no preparatory stance and is quick to activate, is the second form of the Moonlight Sword – the Moonlight Flash.
“…Isn’t this just ordinary sword energy projection?”
“It’s hard to call it ordinary. The power is stronger than regular sword energy projection while using less mana. Despite that, it’s quick to activate, making it good for surprise attacks.”
I lightly waved the sword, and the crescent-shaped sword energy flew out, slicing the sky.
Not stopping there, I continued to swing the sword.
Each time, the crescent-shaped sword energy flew out, and the surrounding forest began to be gradually destroyed.
“When you master it, you can do it like this.”
“…That’s amazing.”
Sowol exclaimed as she looked around at the completely cut down surrounding forest.
Hmph. How about that?
Your master’s skill.
Receiving that gaze full of admiration, I returned the sword to its scabbard.
“I’ll teach you how to guide the mana for the Moonlight Flash. Um… First…”
I held Sowol’s arm and guided her mana.
Just like when learning the Moonlight technique, she stumbled a bit at first, but Sowol quickly began to accept the mana flow of the Moonlight Flash.
As expected, it’s easy because of her good talent.
Compared to the game, where characters without talent often fail to understand properly even after dozens of lessons when teaching the Moonlight Sword, Sowol’s talent is truly remarkable.
“Hmm.. Is it like this?”
After tilting her head a few times, Sowol swung her wooden sword. At the same time, a crescent-shaped sword energy formed in the air. However, instead of spreading out like the Moonlight Flash I used, it just dissipated in place.
“It’s difficult.”
“Well, it’s not one of the three great sword techniques for nothing. Still, the fact that you created sword energy on your first attempt is praiseworthy.”
“Then maybe… a praise sticker?!”
“As if I’d give you one.”
I can’t let my guard down.
Ten days have passed since we started training Moonlight Flash.
By the time Sowol, who had become completely familiar with the Moonlight Flash, finished drinking all of the Moon Red Liquid, I could see the trading company becoming busy.
“Is something happening?”
“Huh? Ah. Yes. There’s a harvest festival being held in the Levent territory. Our trading company is also participating in the harvest festival…”
Ah. Is it already time for the harvest festival?
The Levent territory’s harvest festival lasts for two days.
The harvest has been good this year, so the festival scale is large, so there should be a lot to enjoy.
“Master Lee!”
Behind the maid who answered me, I saw a smiling black-haired beauty with short hair approaching.
It’s Laila.
She seems to have come as promised to be my patrol partner for this harvest festival.
“The patrol team is about to move now. We need to patrol both today and tomorrow, so…”
“Isn’t it a harvest festival? Shouldn’t you enjoy it too?”
“Haha. I’m fine!”
She’s so bright.
Laila, who usually has a smiling face, looked even brighter today.
As I leisurely turned around and followed her as she walked ahead, I saw the warriors who were supposed to join today’s patrol.
“As you all know, the harvest festival in the Levent territory starts today and continues until tomorrow. Our Eastern Trading Company has decided to participate in the harvest festival. At the lord’s request, we’ve agreed to participate in patrolling the festival.”
“Will we get to rest a bit when it’s over?”
“When the harvest festival ends, there will be a banquet for the patrol team at the Toren tavern, so participate then.”
The warriors cheered at the serious words of White Warrior. They seem to be looking forward to eating and drinking at the banquet.
As the murmuring crowd quieted, he cleared his throat softly and looked my way. Does he have something to say?
“It’s unlikely, but if something unmanageable happens during the harvest festival…”
“Ah. Then contact me immediately.”
“Thank you, Master Lee.”
White Warrior seemed a bit tense, probably due to the recent incident, even though it didn’t seem likely that anything would happen at this small territory’s neighborhood festival.
When I gave permission, he finally seemed to relax a bit, sighing before distributing the patrol areas to us. The area I was assigned…
“The market area. That’s where the festival is taking place.”
That’s good. I’ll buy some food to eat while going around.
There was no need to wait, so we moved to our respective patrol areas.
When we arrived at the market area, which was assigned to Laila and me, the people preparing for the festival smiled brightly when they saw us.
“Oh my! Isn’t it Master Lee! And Laila is here too!?”
“Hahaha. Have you been well?”
“Oh, I’ve been fine. You don’t know how much our kids have missed Laila.”
“You mean Louis and Roland? Hehe. Please tell them I missed them too.”
“Sure. Master Lee, please come to our shop when the festival starts. We’ll give you lots of service!”
“Alright. Keep up the good work.”
People greeted us from the first shop we met as we went around the market.
Unlike me, who just casually returned their greetings, Laila’s conversations with them became lengthy, probably due to her characteristically cheerful personality.
“Did you wait long?”
“No, no. By the way, you seem to get along well with the villagers?”
Especially with people who have children.
Earlier, a mischievous boy and an energetic-looking girl ran up to Laila, challenging her to a sword fight later.
I thought she wouldn’t go to the village often because of her work at the Eastern Trading Company, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“Ahaha… Well, I look like this and am kind of boyish, so everyone finds it easy to get close to me.”
Laila scratched the back of her head, grinning.
At her words, I stared at Laila.
Short haircut like a boy.
Always smiling face. Wearing shorts that stop above the knee and the Eastern Trading Company’s jacket-like clothing on top.
While you could say she exudes an androgynous charm, it’s not that she looks like a boy.
“I’m not pretty like the young lady.”
“You’re pretty too.”
“…What?”
“I said you’re pretty too.”
“Ahaha… You’re, you’re joking.”
“I’m not joking. People have their own charms. Your charm is beautiful enough. In my eyes, you’re just as charming a girl as Sowol.”
“…Is that so? Eheheheh…”
Scratching the back of her head and blushing, Laila gently lowered her head.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard something like that…”
“Really? Then, if you want to hear such things occasionally, come and find me. I’ll tell you as much as you want.”
It’s not like it costs money to say it, you know.
I smiled once at her as she stared at me blankly, then turned around. And then.
“Huff! Huff! Huff! Oh my!! What a coincidence!!”
Sowol, who doesn’t even get out of breath when climbing mountains, wiped her sweat while panting, smiled brightly, and said.
When did she get here?