"Augh, that wretched bastard!"
Carson immediately sprinkled salt.
Despite being rich among the rich, he tried to haggle down to the silver. It was my first time dealing with such a miserly person in my merchant life.
"Alas, but I can't just cut him off."
Carson shook his head in disbelief and clicked his tongue. It wasn't simply because the man was wealthy. Carson trusted his own judgment.
The guy could become something big.
He had become quite the talk of the academy in just a few months since their first meeting. He might hit the jackpot later on. Even if not, he would become one of the reliable connections.
So, he couldn't cut him off.
"Darn it. That's that, and being unlucky is another matter."
Carson sprinkled more salt outside the door. .
***
Exactly one day had passed
I visited Godwin's house once again.
Thump thump!
I knocked on the door forcefully. This time, the door opened immediately.
Godwin looked at me, not spewing harsh words like yesterday.
"Come in."
I followed Godwin inside. The house was less messy than yesterday. It seemed he did some cleaning. I sat down.
"How is it? Was there any effect?"
"Yes."
Godwin readily admitted.
Join us at m-vle-mp,yr.
Perhaps the nightmares were less frequent than usual. So, the quality of his sleep must have improved to a tolerable extent. He looked better today, purely thanks to that.
"I apologize for my suspicions yesterday. But I was in a situation where I had no other choice."
"Ah, of course, I understand. I would have done the same. Don't worry about it."
I spoke as if it didn't bother me at all.
Godwin opened his mouth to speak, looking at me.
For me, who only had basic skills and no powerful ones, it was the perfect skill. There was some stamina consumption and delay, but it was a skill that would definitely come in handy. Especially against strong opponents.
"That's not a skill to teach or talk about. Propose another condition."
"Is that so? Then it can't be helped. We'll have to call it off."
I stood up without any regrets. If I had proposed this condition yesterday, he wouldn't have cared at all.
But he had tasted it for just one day. A taste so sweet and comforting, it was akin to the taste of forbidden fruit. It was an emotion not conquerable by human will. Knowing this, I was able to stand up without hesitation.
Just as my hand was about to touch the doorknob.
"Ugh, wait a moment."
Godwin called out to me with a voice filled with agony.
He appeared to be in serious conflict.
"Hm? What? If you call someone, you should speak to them."
"Damn it—"
"Damn it?"
"I've changed my mind."
"What have you decided?"
"I'll accept your condition. Damn it, I'll teach you."
Then I finally smiled.
"You've made a wise choice. It's better for both of us. A very good deal indeed."
Godwin stared at me for a long moment, his expression twisted in conflict, but the decision had already been made.
"Follow me."
He stood up and motioned for me to follow him deeper into the house. We walked past the living room, the modestly cleaned areas, until we arrived at a backdoor that led out to a small training ground. It was clearly worn, the dirt uneven and pockmarked from countless sessions of training or battles that had taken place here.
"Before we start, let me make something clear." Godwin turned to me, his voice cold. "This isn't some noble art. It's brutal, it's ugly, and it's nothing worth admiring. If you're expecting some sort of elegance or refinement, you're in the wrong place."
I shook my head.
"That's not what I want, Godwin. I want effectiveness, not elegance. I need to know how to end a fight quickly and without hesitation."
Godwin studied my face for a moment longer, perhaps searching for doubt or hesitation.
"Tsk!"
Clicking his Tung in annoyence, Godwin turned around and walked towards the storege room.
It's seems that my wish is going to come true now.