"The day the Light Blade shines…"
"…will be the day your desire is ignited."
Eris stomped in place again after hearing that.
"I don't get it! But it sounds really awesome when Ghislaine says it!"
Ghislaine's expression stiffened slightly, and the tail behind her stood ramrod straight in the air.
She replied awkwardly.
"...Yeah, I thought it sounded awesome too the first time I heard it."
Eris blinked.
"Hah? That wasn't something you came up with?"
"…No. I heard it back when I returned to the Holy Land of Swords to study the Light Blade. A senior Sword Emperor said it to me. It made such an 'impression' that I've remembered it all these years."
Eris didn't seem convinced.
"That whole confusing desire stuff—you always say that, right?"
"…No."
"They say that kind of thing in the Holy Land too."
Ghislaine was very honest.
Eris clenched her teeth.
"Hah?? Then what about the part where you said, 'at your current stage, this is still far away from you, so just watch'? Even if I don't get it, it really felt like something amazing! You definitely said that yourself!"
Ghislaine's tail became even stiffer.
She was both nervous and a little embarrassed.
After all, as Eris's Sword God Style instructor, it was rather shameful to be caught reusing someone else's words by her own pupil. Even if the pupil had a muscle-brain, it still stung a little.
She cleared her throat lightly.
"That part was mine."
Eris huffed, raising her chin proudly.
"Then Ghislaine is awesome!"
"...I just changed the subject from someone else to Allen, so I guess it kind of counts as mine."
Eris crossed her arms with the same stubborn expression as always.
She had clearly stopped taking in any more of Ghislaine's explanation.
Very practiced.
A well-honed 'learning experience' of letting information flow in one ear and out the other. Years of beating up home tutors had refined this muscle-brain reflex to perfection. Even if the teacher was Ghislaine, it could be deployed at any time—it was ingrained in her bones.
But Ghislaine was very serious when it came to swordsmanship—especially things that concerned Eris's future. She glanced at her and continued explaining.
"Back then, it was because I received guidance and watched a senior Sword King slowly ignite his desire that I managed to take that final step forward."
"Now, that person is a Sword Emperor."
"But wasn't your master the Sword God himself?!"
"My master only said things like, 'Come at me! Beat me, and we'll kill each other! The winner becomes the new Sword God! You'll be rolling in cash, enough for a hundred lifetimes of luxury! From slaves to princesses, women will line up with their butts in the air begging for you to go in and out! Just say your name and people's knees will buckle! Crowds will part at your step!' — you know, stuff like that."
"Looking back now, I realize he was trying to ignite my desire too. But at the time, I didn't understand—just like you don't know where your desire lies now."
Ghislaine paused, hesitating for a moment. She swallowed the more specific details about the Sword Emperor's desire that she had witnessed back then.
Not exactly appropriate for Eris.
Because that Sword Emperor's desire had been:
"To make a princess stick her butt out and 'offer her neck' before the world!"
Downright lewd. Bad influence for kids.
As for how that desire got ignited—
Simple.
He really did get a ruined little kingdom's princess to stick her butt out in public.
Yup.
Ghislaine—
Was there.
Though, to be fair, her true moment of insight came from watching him fight his way to the royal palace. When he went through with the act, she waited respectfully outside.
Worth noting: after that, his Light Blade plateaued at the Sword Emperor level. He couldn't advance further.
The reason?
Also simple.
Something that still left an 'impression' on Ghislaine.
"Meh, I guess that's all it was. Oh, and Ghislaine—don't tell the Sword God, okay?"
So yes—the Sword God Style is… very special.
Everyone's desires are different.
At first, Eris had that same glazed-over look during the "money and women" talk, with her usual let-it-slide attitude.
But when Ghislaine said: "Just like you don't know where your desire lies now"—she finally nodded in satisfaction.
"That line was awesome!"
Ghislaine went quiet.
Seems stopping there had been the right move.
She glanced at Eris again and saw the girl's expression return to her usual proud noble stance, and she let out a quiet sigh of relief.
That little speech had indeed been meant to plant a seed in Eris's swordsmanship future.
But it had a personal layer, too.
Since Allen brought Sylphy and Rudy to the Boreas estate, she could clearly feel Eris was happier these past two days than she had been in years.
She didn't want that bright sincerity to be dimmed.
She didn't want Eris's budding admiration for her older brother Allen to be shattered.
If Eris and Allen could maintain a good relationship, it would be a great thing for the Boreas family.
With that thought, she looked toward Hilda in the distance.
"Let's go. We should join them."
"Okay!"
——
Allen quietly watched Hilda, the rabbit-eared girl, and Rudy as they fussed over Sylphy's new outfit, her face flushed red.
His expression was calm.
But his hand repeatedly rubbing the hilt of his sword betrayed that he wasn't quite as serene as he looked.
Footsteps approached.
He turned to see Ghislaine and Eris walking over, and spoke with an apologetic tone.
"Sorry. I was supposed to demonstrate the Silent Blade for Eris."
"It's fine!" Eris jumped in quickly, her voice full of energy.
Only… her gaze was a bit too intense, making Allen glance away awkwardly, only to find her still staring.
In his line of sight, those red eyes didn't blink once.
The little lion had already begun her "watching"!
Allen blinked, not sure what Eris was up to this time, and was about to ask—
But Ghislaine's voice drew his attention away.
"You alright, Allen?"
"…I'm fine."
"I'm sure you've already realized it, but still—do you know what's happening right now?"
"Yeah. I know what the issue is. Thanks for the reminder."
Ghislaine stared into Allen's face.
There was no sign of confusion or panic in his eyes.
She nodded and said no more.
The two fell silent.
And at some point, the voices of Hilda, Sylphy, and Rudy had stopped too.
Everyone turned to Allen.
The noise vanished.
Only the sound of the wind remained in the courtyard.
——
After dinner was supposed to be history class.
But since Rudy needed to study the material and prepare lesson plans himself, the class didn't happen.
Soon, it was bedtime.
As usual, the three of them exchanged "see you tomorrow" at the door.
The door opened—then closed again.
Allen leaned against the door in silence.
Then tilted his head.
He looked toward the desk by the window.
He stepped forward.
Opened a drawer.
And pulled out the paper he had written on the night before.
(End of Chapter)
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