Ares steps in head-on, swinging his wooden sword, and I observe his movements.
The sword techniques he performed, such as jodan, thrust, and horizontal slashing, were so fast and sharp that it was hard to believe that they were those of an amateur who had first held a sword three months earlier.
However, his movements are linear and his blows are light. Both the movement and the lightness of the blow can be attributed to a lack of experience.
The lightness of the blow is probably due to a sense of avoidance against hurting the opponent⊠I feel sorry for Ares, but he has no choice but to get used to it.
For a while, I donât attack, but continue to parry Aresâ wooden sword, and when the time is right, I flick it away.
Ares slumps on the spot, breathing on his shoulders, without going for his wooden sword.
âThatâs it. Tomorrow morning, you will go to the Adventurersâ Guild, register as an adventurer, and then accept appropriate requests. For now, have dinner and get some rest.â
After catching his breath, Ares replied, âYes!â
âUm⊠may I have a moment?â
âHuh? Whatâs wrong?â
As the two of us tidy up the yard before entering the house, Ares speaks to me in a reserved manner.
âGray-sanâs adventurer rank is B⊠isnât it?â
âOhâ
Well, officially, itâs a B+.
âUmâŠAre all the B-ranked people as strong as Gray-san?â
âNo. Itâs mixed.â
I answer while imagining the faces of some B-rank adventurers like me. Finally, remembering the hot-tempered Ganzas, I sighed a little. That guy is going to get involved tomorrowâŠI can only imagine how much trouble heâs going to be in.
âThe Holy Knight Rondi, whom Gray-san defeated, used to show up at the training center to have mock battles to test my strength. However, I was beaten so he laughed at me, hit me many times, stepped on me, and spat on me.â
âŠI knew it was the right decision to castrate and then kill that sex offender. It was Harsalia who castrated him.
âEvery time I lost, I was told that it was all because I was weak. I was forcibly separated from the people I cared about, and I always wondered why I had to go through all this.â
Ares, who was looking down while talking, raised his face and stared straight at me.
âWill I become stronger if I become an adventurer? âŠWill I be able to be with Mia and the others again?â
Mia is probably the fellow at the orphanage that Ares was talking about. But⊠thatâs a hard question to answer, Ares will definitely get stronger. This quiet and slightly shy young man is a rough diamond stone, as expected from a hero.
In the old days⊠Well, if me in my second year as an adventurer were to fight against the current Ares, Iâm sure Ares would win. If he continues to grow like this, in the not too distant future he might even surpass me.
But whether Ares can stay with Mia and his other friendsâŠ
If the orphanage in Kodar is still there, thatâs fine, but even if the orphanage is gone, as long as they are not killed to silence themâŠfor example, if they are alive and being illegally enslaved, then we can just kill the slave trader.
Essentially, enslaving people without a formal reason is prohibited even in countries where the institution of slavery is recognized. This also applies to elves, dwarves, and beastmen.
Other countries, such as Storia, have banned slavery itself.
In other words, those who enslave orphanage children are equally criminals, and I will provide a fitting end for those who prey on the lives of others.
But that depends on the report from the informant. At the moment, anything I say can only be words of comfort.
Nevertheless
âYeah. So for now focus on getting stronger.â
I said soothingly.
Not for the title of hero, but for you, Ares.
Ares nods greatly at my words. After cleaning up, Ares went into the house first to wash his face and hands to remove the dirt before dinner. I entered the house a little later and found Iska standing in the doorway, facing the back of the house.
âWhat are you doing here?â
â⊠Eh⊠Ah⊠Gray-san, what about me and Fioâs training tomorrowâŠâ
AhâŠ.
âIâm going to work on the Adventurersâ Guild request with Ares until dusk. Â When I come back, Iâll train him until dinner.â
âIâŠseeâŠâ
When I say this, Iskaâs expression clouds over.
âŠEven though I knew this, it is still painful to see my sonâs face like this.
âSo, after eating dinner and resting for a bit, I will train you and Fio. So tomorrow before you go to bed, take a bath, because it will be hard to sleep when you are covered in sweat.â
Just because I have to train Ares, who doesnât have much time right now, doesnât mean I can ignore the other children.
ââŠ! Yes!â
Iska suddenly raised his face. His facial expression changes to a happy one.
âCome on, letâs have dinner.â
âOh, I helped cook today too.â
Hmm, what aâŠIskaâs first dish.
âOh, is that so. Thatâs fun.â
I said so while stroking Iskaâs head.
ââŠhehehe. Oh, by the way, Gray-san.â
âWhatâs up?â
âHave you washed your hands?â
âOh, sorryâŠâ
Afterwards, Ariamel got angry about the fact that a bit of sand was on Iskaâs head before dinnerâŠ.