Under her stunned gaze, almost everyone performed the Water Ball magic at once.
Roxy fell into silence, deep in thought.
She was hit.
She sighed, and the helplessness on her face turned into a wry smile. She couldn't imagine that all three people in this family were geniuses.
"Do you know intermediate magic?" Roxy asked.
This time, Roya didn't hide anything. He nodded and said, "The book only describes intermediate-level magic. There's no higher-level magic."
"Is that so?" Roxy breathed a sigh of relief. She secretly encouraged herself in her heart and said in a condescending tone, "Actually, it's not a big deal to cast intermediate magic at your age. Especially you, Roya—don't be too proud of it."
Then Roxy began to explain, step by step, the precautions and theory behind advanced magic. She had to be given credit—Roxy was a very good lecturer. Her words were always easy to understand.
The morning passed. Sylphy stayed at Paul's house for lunch, then went home, while Roya and Rudeus were asked by Paul to practice swordsmanship.
"A man must have a sword in his heart to protect the people who are important to him—" These were Paul's original words.
Because his speech was too long, Roya only remembered those two sentences.
Formal sword training began in the afternoon.
Basically, it focused on swinging the sword and practicing standard movements.
For example, using the wooden dummy set up in the yard as a target to confirm proper movements and attack range; or sparring with Paul to train footwork and center-of-gravity control—something like that.
In this world, swordsmanship was taken very seriously.
Starting from the basics was a really good approach.
The heroes in this world all used swords. Occasionally, some used axes or hammers, but they were a minority.
No one used spears, because the detestable superudia used a trident. So spears were seen as a demon's weapon—this was common sense here. There were even a few such demons in the books, usually playing the role of man-eating murderers who attacked everyone indiscriminately.
Perhaps because of this background, swordsmanship in this world was more refined than in the previous one.
If one became a master, they could cut rocks with a single swing, or unleash sword energy to strike opponents from a distance.
In fact, Paul could split a rock in half with a single strike.
Since Roya wanted to know the principle, he flattered Paul and praised him into demonstrating it several times. Paul must've been in a good mood, seeing his son—who could use advanced magic at such a young age—happily clapping and cheering.
However, no matter how many times Roya watched, he still couldn't understand the trick.
He asked Paul to explain it, and Paul said, "It's the feeling of 'step forward, then slash down!'"
Paul was a terrible teacher. Even though he was amazing with a sword, he really wasn't suited for teaching.
But surprisingly, following his own training style, Roya began to develop some instincts.
Every time he swung the sword, there was this mysterious intuition telling him the most efficient way to swing, the most natural way to draw, and the safest way to sheathe it.
It was like dividing a line segment—Roya could instinctively point out the golden ratio.
Every swing landed precisely on a weak point. As he practiced, this intuition carved itself deeper and deeper into his body.
Roya was a bit confused. He asked Paul, "I don't know why, but there's this feeling—like something guiding me whenever I draw the sword."
That day, Paul stayed silent for a long time, tears welling in his eyes. Then he explained, "Your talent in swordsmanship is ridiculously high."
Fortunately, Rudeus was still here. He had talent too, but it wasn't monstrous like Roya's. That finally allowed Paul to breathe a sigh of relief.
If a son was too outstanding, it'd just make the father look bad.
In this world, there were three main swordsmanship styles. The first was the Sword God Style, which emphasized offense, preemptive strikes, and speed as a weapon. The core concept was: attack is the best defense. If one strike wasn't enough, hit-and-run tactics were used until the opponent fell. It resembled real-world Satsuma Shigen-ryu.
The second was the Water God Style, the opposite of the Sword God Style. It focused on defense, disarming, and countering. Since it emphasized defense, Water God Style users rarely initiated attacks. But an expert could counter anything—including magic and ranged attacks. This style was usually taught to court knights and noble guards.
The third was North God Style, which was more about strategy than form. There were no fixed techniques; instead, it focused on adapting to different situations. Paul described it as "improvisation," but in truth, practitioners used clever tricks and unconventional moves to win.
Once mastered, North God Style could produce miraculous victories. It was perfect for people who were injured or had physical limitations, since they could still fight with it. Because of that, it was popular among mercenaries and adventurers.
In short, each of the three sword styles had its own characteristics and strengths.
Paul's strength was undeniable. His talent was unquestionable. He was a top-level swordsman in all three styles—Sword God, Water God, and North God.
Don't think being a senior-level swordsman was weak. In fact, aside from the Sword Kings and the Sword Gods, senior swordsmen were already terrifyingly strong. Unlike magic, swordsmanship could only be improved through years of daily training.
Time passed quickly, and by the time the two finished sword practice, the sun had set, and night began to fall.
Today wasn't just the day Roxy arrived—it was also the day when the power of space and time reached its peak.
[Power of Space and Time 100/100]
[You can currently capture a one-star small world. Do you want to capture it?]
That night, Paul and Zenith prepared a sumptuous dinner.
The steaming roast chicken gleamed with a golden sheen under the oil lamp's light. There was soft, warm bread, hearty soup made from unknown vegetables, and a variety of side dishes on the table. The aroma and heat filled the whole hall.
"It smells amazing." Roxy stared longingly at the food in front of her. This was easily the best meal she'd had in over a year.
Everyone began to eat. Roya chewed the chicken gracefully. The tender, flavorful meat burst in his mouth, and each bite released a gush of rich oil.
Surprisingly good.
"It's just... there doesn't seem to be any extra rooms in our house," Paul said suddenly, as if remembering something.
It was true. Roya and Rudeus had always slept in separate rooms, and this house wasn't particularly large. The number of usable bedrooms was very limited.
Roya's eyes lit up when he heard this. He turned to Rudeus and winked silently.
Rudeus paused mid-bite, blinked, and gave Roya a meaningful look.
(End of this chapter)
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