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Chapter 2.21
High Elf and Sword Princess
Translated by Mlzkzr
Edited by Mlzkzr
“Acer …… what am I supposed to do?”
On the afternoon of the day Cleias left for the Rhodoran Great Swordsmanship’s Dojo, Kaeha asked me while swinging her sword.
I’m standing next to her and swinging my sword in the same manner, but that question puts a smile on my face.
Right now, Kaeha is feeling very weak-hearted.
Because she met with Cleias, and without being able to do anything, without being able to even move herself, she surrendered.
It wasn’t about winning or losing, it wasn’t about the difference in ability, she hated herself for not trying to move.
Her pride in being a swordswoman and my mentor is now being crushed.
But that pride, while beaten down, was not shattered.
“What you’re supposed to do, you say…… I think you’ve already come to a conclusion. Master Kaeha, because you’re still swinging your sword like this even after all that happened. So the future should lie beyond.”
Yes, even right after all that happened, Kaeha is still swinging her sword.
She lost her father, her dojo was destroyed, her students left, her mother became physically ill, and yet she continued to wield her sword all by herself.
There is no reason why there will be no future ahead of her.
At least now, I am next to Kaeha.
She has been swinging the sword for less than a year, and she’s less than a swordsman, but even so, she is no longer alone.
She has moved forward compared to before.
And today, Kaeha knows what she lacks.
Then she herself should already know the way forward.
Of course, there will be many obstacles along the way.
But if that obstacle is out of Kaeha’s control, I will break it down for her.
If there is a burden she can’t carry, I’ll carry it for her instead.
Because the way of the sword for me overlaps with the way of Kaeha’s.
It’s called being in the same boat.
“All that’s left is for you to say what you want to say.”
Kaeha wouldn’t stop swinging her sword, so I kept swinging mine as well and said so.
If it’s up to me, the best move for Kaeha to do would be for her and her mother to move to Vistkort.
I still have my house in Vistkort, and the Great Pruha Forest Sea is close by, so it is easy for her to gain experience in actual battles against monsters there.
We didn’t get into trouble with Rhodoran Great Swordsmanship or the other schools, and there are many good-natured people, so Kaeha’s mother won’t be left alone in the house and feel lonely.
But perhaps Kaeha will not choose such a sweet and gentle path.
“I’ve been spoiled by you all this time, Acer. This sword, my mother’s illness, and about Cleias-dono. ……but, I’ll be brazen enough to ask you for one more favor.”
Kaeha’s sword is getting sharper with each swing.
Now, as she speaks like this, she trains and refines her mind.
“I will become an adventurer in order to experience actual combat. But I can’t leave my mother alone. My mother would tell me to not worry about her. However, my mother is my only blood relative and my emotional support. That’s why, Eisa, I want to ask you, my one and only disciple whom I can rely on more than anyone else, to take care of my mother.”
Saying this, Kaeha stopped her sword swinging with a snap.
Well, I see what she meant.
If that’s what she wants, that’s fine too.
…… Although I will feel a little lonely.
“If that is what master wants……. But I have two conditions. One is to have me make you armor before you start as an adventurer. The other is, you’ll use my house in Vistkort as your base of operations as an adventurer.”
I will never tell her to return safely.
Because if one works as an adventurer, it is never a surprise of what will happen in the future.
But that is why these two conditions are absolute.
Weapons are necessary, of course, but one can’t be an adventurer without armor either.
After all, Kaeha will not be a collector, but rather an adventurer who will be taking down enemies in order to gain actual combat experience.
Using all of my skills, I will forge a protective suit of armor that will not interfere with her swordsmanship but will protect her.
I will also let her use my house in Vistkort.
In other words, for her to use my connections in that town is just as necessary.
Because even though the dojo was destroyed and in ruins, Kaeha was basically a young lady.
Or you could say that she was a princess on the dojo grounds.
She wasn’t good at earning money, and she was also pretty good-natured.
If she became short on money or was followed by strange people, she will not be able to gain real-world experience.
Using my house would at least save her some money on lodging, and the presence of my acquaintances would also make it difficult for strange people to approach Kaeha.
Even if I can’t say that she’s free from any inconvenience, she should be able to avoid a situation where she would be overwhelmed in her daily life and lose her training.
It is up to Kaeha to decide on her own path, but I’d like to support her as much as possible.
Those were the conditions I put forth.
…… How should I say it, I suddenly remembered Airena, the one who took care of me when I just came out to the outside world.
I wonder if she felt the same way as I do now.
“Understood. From anything to everything…… No, my gratitude. Acer, I will definitely become a swordswoman worthy of being your master. …… Please wait just a little longer”
Saying that, she sheathed her sword, and when Kaeha turned around, there was no longer any hesitation or weakness in her eyes.