’Outrageous! This is... Impossible!’
Adara’s eyes were wide like saucers as she saw the aftermath of the teacher and apprentice’s spar.
’They call this a spar!?’ She felt speechless at what had transpired before her eyes.
The shockwaves that spread throughout the surrounding area whenever Zen and Arthur exchanged moves were sothing truly out of this world.
’Arthur... It’s a given he’s amazing. To think that he had already reached Transcendent Proficiency with the Fire Weapon Art— sothing that only Brother Ignatius has done since the establishnt of the Temple...’
However, what really shocked Adara was Zen, ’But Deadman, that apprentice of his... he was able to keep up with Arthur! Of course, the Pope is holding back— I guess he’s using about 30-40% of his power.
But still... I rember him saying that it had not even been a year since the otherworlders descended on this world. I think it has been around a month?
And in that month, I can’t believe that Deadman was able to match the Pope’s power!
Then his stats should have already broken through 100 despite being level 1...!?’
Rembering her bet with Arthur of Zen being able to break through the Legend Realm in three months, she could not help but feel worried, ’It feels like I’ve lost already... but it’s unbelievable!’
As the Saintess of Fire, her position within the temple was close to Arthur’s.
And in the long life she had lived, she could not think of another person or creature possibly matching what Zen had done in the short ti he had in this world.
In Adara’s heart, shock was not the only thing she was feeling.
There was also relief, contentnt, and satisfaction, ’I’m glad... that he’s worthy— No, he’s more than worthy! Any temple that finds him would surely do its best to welco him into its ranks!
Just the fact that he chose us was already a blessing...
...but, I also feel that it’s a little unfair to him...’
Adara felt a little guilty in her heart as she looked at Zen, who was now sitting beside Arthur.
If she did not know any better, she would never have thought that the two had just undergone a deadly spar.
Still, the guilt in her heart turned into resolution, ’But letting him go isn’t a question. We’ll do our best to treat him kindly— Wait...’
At this mont, sothing seed to click in her mind as she gazed at Arthur.
’You couldn’t have possibly overlooked this...’
She said inwardly, as if she was asking him directly in her mind.
Arthur was one of the kindest and warm-hearted people she had known all her life.
Thus, it did not take long for Adara to guess what had happened.
’The reason why he was willing to give treasures, including that precious ring, to his apprentice despite it being a keepsake from Brother Ignatius...’
Adara felt a pang in her heart, ’It must not only be because you want to nurture him, nor was it only because of His words... You feel bad for him, too, right?’
Only now did she realize that Arthur must have also felt guilty about giving Zen the weight and pressure of being a mber of the Temple of Fire.
***
A few days later...
’He’s really... a monster.’
Arthur’s breathing was a little heavy as he looked at his apprentice, ’I don’t have anything to teach him now...’
Deep inside his heart, a myriad of emotions swirl.
After all, despite the limited ti they had been together, Zen had really grown on him despite his tendency to be weird.
"Haha..."
Hearing his teacher’s chuckle, Zen felt goosebumps as he looked at him, "Teacher, you’re not planning to torture again, right? Why are you laughing like a maniac?"
"Laughing like a maniac, huh?"
Arthur’s smile twitched as his fists clenched, "Do you want to spar for another round!?"
"N-No, I’m just joking, my benevolent and magnanimous teacher!"
Zen felt his heart drop, ’I really don’t want to spar again!’
In the past few days, all they did were discussions and spar.
And as ti passed, the discussions were getting shorter while the spars were getting longer.
Finally, yesterday and today, all they did was spar until the sun set.
"Hehe~"
At this mont, Adara’s giggle resounded in the training ground as she approached them with two cups of cold water in her hands, "Aren’t you two tired from sparring all day? Here, drink so water first."
"Thank you, Aunt Ada!" Zen almost teared up as her visage in his eyes seed to be similar to an angel.
’He’s too obvious...’
Both Arthur and Adara looked at Zen’s expressions, which looked like he had a subtitle for his thoughts, and could not help but laugh inwardly.
"Hey, Arthur."
Hearing her suddenly call out to him, he responded, "Hm?"
"You know, you, , and Deadman... I feel like it’s nice."
"What do you an?"
Adara continued while twirling a strand of her hair, "I don’t know, it’s like we’re a famil—"
Thud—!
"Ow! You flicked my forehead again!" The Saintess of Fire pouted with teary eyes.
Arthur harrumped, "You and your delusions..."
Beside them, Zen chuckled, ’They’re like a couple...’
He had seen this scene over and over again in the past few days and could not help but think that way.
After all, Arthur and Adara’s antics were really entertaining to watch.
’It’s like watching a RomCom with a unique couple dynamic...’
At this mont, Arthur’s words interrupted his thoughts, "Starting tomorrow, Adara will be the one to train you."
"Oh?" Zen was pleasantly surprised, ’Finally, no more torture!’
"Are you sure about that, Teacher?"
"Yes. I don’t have anything more to teach you. Your proficiency with the Cold Weapon Mastery, Adaptive Combat Technique, and Fire Weapon Art has increased trendously, especially in the past few days.
Besides that, even your Mana Assembly is already on par with mine when I was your age, aning that with your knowledge of magic and creativity, there shouldn’t be any situation you can’t get out of.
All you need to do is keep training in your free ti and killing monsters to gain more experience."
Hearing Arthur’s words, Zen nodded solemnly as he could not help but feel a slight pang in his heart, an emotion that he could not quite put a finger on.
However, his teacher’s next words caused that emotion to wither prematurely, "Our next spar would be the day you depart."
"Gulp." Zen almost choked on the cold water he was drinking.
Seeing the two’s interaction, Adara giggled, "Well, don’t worry too much. Your Aunt Ada will be taking care of you starting tomorrow!"
’I hope she doesn’t torture like that sadist of a teacher...’
Zen fervently prayed in his heart as he forced a smile, "I’ll be looking forward to it, Aunt Ada!"
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