Volume 2 - CH 6.2

“But…!”

“I’m fine. I’m a little disappointed, it’s true, but it’s not the only swordsmanship.”

There are other schools, for that matter.

It could also be taken as a trivial issue, since, let’s say, there are my magic swords.

(Well, I don’t think I’ve fought any monsters lately.)

I’m being taken care of by the Clausel family, so I don’t have any opportunity to fight them.

I hope to get that opportunity again in the near future, but I also can’t give up the imperial swordsmanship that Weiss is planning to teach me.

“—-So, Licia-sama.”

Ren corrected his appearance and looked at Licia.

As he looked her straight in the eye, she says shyly.

“What’s with the serious look all of a sudden?”

“Don’t worry about me and concentrate more next time. Otherwise, it won’t be good for you.”

“…. muu.”

(She looks dissatisfied.)

So outrageous.

But there is no doubt that Licia is grateful for today’s instruction.

She was surprised as soon as she was told that the holy sword technique was not suitable for Ren, but after that, I think she took the instruction seriously and listened to it willingly.

The fact that she took the instruction to the end without losing her courtesy to the Order-sol is proof of this.

It’s just that she couldn’t get the words that he was told out of her head.

And although slightly, it was only an unconscious lack of concentration.

“……Of course, I did have a few thoughts when the man who saved my life was told he wasn’t talented.”

“No, Licia-sama.”

“I know. It can’t be helped just as you said.”

Licia prefaced her statement with the words, “But you know what?”

“……After the instruction was over, I was given some pointers.”

“You mean without me being there?”

“From that commander’s point of view, there are some things that bother him about me too, though not as much as Ren.”

Ren tilted his head slightly.

Licia must have the talent to become a sword saint by learning the holy sword technique.

In all likelihood, Licia should have nothing to be concerned about, but then Licia said something that surprised Ren.

“My sword technique has a habit similar to yours.”

“A habit?”

“Yeah, I’ve been studying your sword technique a lot in order to beat you. I was thinking back to your movements, the way you swing your sword, how you look.”

“Umm…  that means.”

Licia nodded with a wry smile.

“It means I’ve been thinking and training to beat you. That’s why my sword seems to be littered with your quirks.”

However, she said that her habits are within the range of correctable.

But she still had her own thoughts.

“I don’t like the idea of having to fix those habits. It’s as if I’m being told that my goals are wrong, and I don’t want to accept that.”

“If you’re learning the holy Sword technique, then the mistake will be corrected.”

“I don’t want to accept it. I’m not sure if I should learn the holy sword technique or not.”

“Don’t worry about me —-!”

“No, it’s okay. As you said, there are other sword techniques as well, so there’s no need to stick to only the holy sword technique, right? There may be other styles that are better suited for me.”

That’s true, and it does not mean that only the holy sword technique is strong.

But Ren knew that Licia has the talent to master the holy sword technique and even become a sword saint.

That’s why he wanted her to learn the holy sword technique.

But Licia’s will was firm.

“What about you? If I told you to forget about the sword techniques that your father taught you because you don’t need it, would you nod your head in agreement?”

“That’s….”

Surely, this idea is immature.

I know what it means to grow up, but it was difficult to say whether I could comply with it honestly.

The reason is that I feel like I’m being told that my past efforts are futile, when in essence they are not.

As Ren pondered this, Licia smiled and nodded.

She knew what Ren was thinking without having to ask.

“I agree with you,” 

“Not exactly the same. It means a different thing to me than it does to you.”

“Oh, why?”

“I’m the son of a country knight and Licia-sama is a saint. It’s not like I’m free to learn to use a sword.”

“I’m not obliged to do anything. My father told me to learn as I please and find my ideal path. I want my late mother to see me beyond that.”

Unfortunately, Ren couldn’t think of enough words to override her intentions.

In fact, Licia’s words make sense.

If the policies of the Clausel family weren’t also problematic, it would not be something that Ren, who was only the son of a knight, would have had any say in the first place.

Besides, Ren weighed himself down, feeling that he had said that the legend of the Seven Heroes was correct.

“And you’re not the only reason I’m not sure if I want to learn the holy sword technique. I myself would have a hard time learning and wasting my time trying to correct my ingrained habits, don’t you think?”

“I’m certain that’s true, but…”

“Then it would be better to learn another sword from the beginning, so that you can grow.”

The words were also reasonable and I don’t think they were wrong.

If this happens, it would be a shorter path to growth to seek out a path other than the holy sword technique from the beginning.

…… Still, Ren tried to push for the holy sword technique.　

Naturally, he was well aware of her strength with the holy sword technique, but he suddenly had a hunch.

He thought himself foolish and realized his terrible mistake.

(…… Licia-sama is Licia-sama. She’s not a character in a game.)

He apologized in his mind for thinking that he had ignored Licia’s personality.

She smiled at him, and he apologized to her for having acquired unnecessary habits.

“I’ll try to find the right style for you, Licia-sama.”

When I said that, she smiled, saying, “If you’re going to say that, it’s ours.”