Chapter 19: Grandfather's Approval (Patreon)

Eris's home... It was located in the city of Roa, within the Fittoa region. Not exactly close to the village where Rudy's family lived. But definitely not far, either. By carriage, it was roughly half a day's journey. But if he pushed himself and moved quickly... Rudy had actually tested it once. About an hour. That was how long it took him to get from one place to the other.

After all... A carriage had to wind around the terrain in all sorts of detours. But Rudy, being a mage, could simply fly straight there.

So... Basically, every few days, Rudy would make a trip home. Without him quite realizing it. A full year had already passed since he'd become her tutor.

Over the course of that year. Eris had completely shaken off her old habit of flying into violent rages. Sylphiette had made real progress with her magic as well. Ghislaine, meanwhile, was still all muscle and no patience — her path toward learning magic remained a rocky one. Hilda, Eris's beautiful mother, kept finding excuses to have heart-to-hearts with him.

It was obvious... After witnessing the sheer scale of the power he possessed, she'd already made up her mind to groom him as a son-in-law for the family. She was constantly manufacturing opportunities, big or small, to throw him and Eris together.

As for that... Rudy simply enjoyed, in quiet contentment, the particular warmth only a beautiful mother-in-law figure could offer.

As the sun climbed higher... Light spilled once more across the whole world.

On this new day... Just as Rudy finished his meal and was getting ready to head to class. Word arrived that the lord of the manor had come to visit.

Led by Eris's father, Philip. Rudy found himself, for the second time, face to face with a man of towering, imposing build. Eris's grandfather — Saulos Boreas Greyrat.

After offering a properly polite noble's greeting. He heard Saulos boom out in his loud voice, "Well? Well?? How have you been settling in here this past year?? I've noticed Eris listens to you more and more these days... Your skill as a teacher is really quite impressive, if you ask me!!"

Rudy smiled and said, "It's mainly that Eris herself has excellent natural talent."

Saulos nodded and laughed. "Such a polite child, this one."

Rudy smiled. "You flatter me. Eris truly is exceptional. After all her hard work these past days, she's mastered the basics of elemental magic usage. And more than that, she can now weave it into her swordplay while attacking. She was already nearly at Advanced swordsman level before... But now that she's combined it with elemental magic, she's fully reached Advanced swordsman standard."

Saulos nodded, laughed with clear satisfaction. Then he raised a hand and beckoned. A moment later, a lovely beast-eared maid appeared. She led Eris, already dressed and ready, into the room.

Looking at the well-behaved Eris in front of him... Saulos laughed. "You just heard what Rudy said about you. Very impressive, Eris. You've made real progress this past year."

"Of course I have! I'm quite excellent, after all!!!"

Eris tilted her head up, proud as could be. Truth be told... After a year of close contact, she'd long since come to acknowledge Rudy's strength. After all, Rudy was more than capable of stringing her up and beating her. And Eris, who had always admired and looked up to the strong, was exactly that kind of person at heart.

As time passed... Her original resentment had, without her quite noticing, softened into a quiet sort of admiration. And right now, at this very moment. Receiving praise from both her grandfather and Rudy at once. Eris's heart was truly overflowing with happiness.

Saulos nodded and laughed. "Still, all this studying — you ought to take a break now and then. This whole year, Eris has been working hard without much rest at all. Why not take today off? A little rest alongside the hard work makes for better progress."

Hearing this, Eris immediately asked, thrilled beyond words, "Really!!??"

Rudy, too, smiled and said, "That sounds good, my lord... Actually, now that I think of it, I haven't really gone out and explored much since I arrived here a year ago. So today, since it's a holiday... Why don't I ask Sister Eris to show me around the liveliest town in the territory?"

Eris, who'd clearly been dying to get out for ages, nodded vigorously. She answered, bursting with excitement, "Sure, leave it to me!"

Rudy nodded and smiled. "Then I'm truly grateful to you, Sister Eris."

Eris tilted her chin up smugly and laughed. "Ha, no need to thank me — it's been ages since I got to go out myself. I can hardly wait."

Watching this scene unfold... Saulos laughed. "Well, I was really just here to check in on how Eris is doing. So this old man won't intrude on your lovely holiday any further."

"All right, then we're off to have some fun..."

After saying a word to Saulos. Rudy took hold of Eris's hand. And the two of them dashed off toward the door.

But right at the doorway... The butler stopped them. He pressed ten gold coins into Eris's hand.

"Can't go out shopping without money. This is by the lord's own order — please take it, my lady."

"Right, thank Grandfather for me."

Eris kicked the ten gold coins into her pocket. Then, with a wave of her hand, she pulled Rudy along and dashed outside.

Watching the two figures gradually vanish from view. Saulos turned to Philip beside him and said, "He's a truly outstanding child."

Philip nodded and smiled. "He is. And he's very measured about most things, too. When he first arrived at our home, he was a bit harsh with Eris, admittedly. But given how fiery Eris's temper was, some extreme measures were probably unavoidable. After that first time, once he'd firmly established just how strong he was in Eris's mind... For the whole year since, Rudy has treated Eris quite well. Most of their sparring matches, he holds back at just the right moment. Sometimes he'll even deliberately let Eris win a round or two. It draws out both the joy in her heart and that stubborn streak of hers that refuses to lose. Honestly, if I didn't know for a fact that he's only six or seven years old... I'd almost mistake him for some long-lived race that wandered in from who knows where."

Saulos nodded and laughed. "Excellent. I'm truly satisfied with this child. So — when can I hold my great-grandson, hm??"

"Ah!!??"

Philip startled, letting out an awkward laugh. "That's still going to take a bit of time, I'm afraid. But as you've seen, the two of them already have quite a good foundation of feelings between them."

"Mm. Philip, if it comes down to it, just have Hilda lend a hand..."

"Yes, Father."