The Gaun, Korō-ryū Dojo
“Good, good… Understood. Then, at the mansion.”
Gerard replied to Kelvin’s telepathic message and sat cross-legged on the dojo floor, taking a break.
“It’s finally here. Things have taken shape on this end too. I don’t think we’ll be lacking as a fighting force.”
“Haa, haa…! Wh-what are you talking about, Gerard-san…?”
“Don’t worry about it. Focus on recovering your stamina. How long do you plan to lie there?”
Behind Gerard, Touya lay spread out like a starfish, covered in sweat, exhausted, and barely able to breathe. Several days had passed since then, and even after Miyabi and Nana went for magic training, Touya had continued to receive sword instruction from Gerard and hone his skills. Perhaps due to the influence he received from Setsuna, Touya’s growth rate had been remarkable even from Gerard’s perspective, making it an enjoyable time in a different sense than playing with his grandchildren. It was perhaps the joy of nurturing successors that he had once felt in his previous life.
“Hmm, it’s a different feeling from Rion or Ryuka. After a long time, I’ve rediscovered the pure joy of training someone.”
“Does that mean I’m a disciple? Haha, I’ve got my fourth master now.”
“Don’t you have too many masters already?”
Cliff, Kelvin, Silvia, and Gerard – Touya’s masters were quite a varied bunch.
Then, just as Touya managed to get back on his feet, light and brisk footsteps approached the dojo. Of course, Gerard was the first to react.
“I’m home! I got permission from the Dragon King!”
“Whoa…! As expected of Rion!”
Touya’s new master lifted the returned Rion and began to spin her like a merry-go-round, just as Kelvin had done before. His excitement was completely different from his previous state.
“Uh, Gerard-san…?”
“Wait a moment. I’m in the middle of replenishing my grandchild quotient right now. I can’t live without it.”
“Hahaha, Grandpa Je-jel is getting too excited~”
By age, Touya should also be in the grandchild category, but according to Gerard, it was somehow different. The feelings of a grandfather are as hard to understand as a maiden in love.
“…Are you done?”
“Yes, I am satisfied.”
“Everyone was acting separately, after all. Shutra-chan and Older Sister Efil weren’t here either, so it can’t be helped.”
“How should I put this, you’re incredibly tolerant.”
“Yes, I have fallen completely.”
That happened a long time ago.
“Still, the place Rion-chan went to was Tenrai Pass, where the Thunder Dragon King resides, right? Did you settle things already?”
“Yes! I went prepared for a fight to show my strength, but we got along surprisingly quickly. In fact, by the end of that day, I had made my request and received the blessing. Then I stayed for a few days, and while we were playing—”
“—Staying overnight? Wait, Rion. Was the Thunder Dragon King male or female?”
“Huh? She was a girl?”
“Then that’s fine! You two will get along from now on!”
“Yes!”
“Hahaha…”
Whoever marries Rion will have a tough time, Touya thought with a wry smile. However, Rion herself, who appeared to be a normal person, had quite a few eccentricities regarding romantic feelings, so it was unlikely that his premonition would come true. Gerard had already acknowledged the person in question.
“Oh, everyone’s gathered. Did something happen?”
“Oh, Setsuna.”
Once one person starts gathering, do others tend to follow? Setsuna, who hadn’t shown herself for a while, appeared before Rion and the others in her Korō-ryū training uniform. And at this moment, Touya realized it. That Setsuna had become stronger than he had painstakingly achieved through his efforts.
“You can tell just by meeting, huh? I’ve fallen so far behind…”
Because they had been together since childhood, Touya could instinctively tell. The aura Setsuna exuded was completely different from before. To some viewers, she might look exactly the same. But in Touya’s eyes, her demeanor seemed refined and full of confidence. It was convincing enough to believe she had accomplished something.
“Yo, yo, your favorite grandpa is here too. But where are Miyabi-chan and Nana-chan? My eye candy?”
“Gahahaha, too bad! They’re training their magic, on a warrior’s training trip in the Grotto of the Divine Beast.”
Miyabi and Nana, accompanied by their partner Moon, were on an expedition to the most challenging dungeon nearby.
“Oh, the highest difficulty dungeon in Gaun? I used to frequent it a long time ago, brings back memories. But two people alone is a bit worrying. I must go to their aid!”
“Wait, wait. You don’t need to come with such selfish intentions. They’ve already experienced a battle in Traage’s ultimate challenge, the Dragon Sea Cave Mantle. They’ve grown even stronger since then, so there’s no need for a guardian.”
“Don’t stop me, Lord Gerard! This grandpa is purely and sincerely worried from the bottom of his heart! You understand, don’t you!?”
“No, I don’t understand, which is why I’m stopping you…”
Nito, grabbing Gerard’s training uniform, desperately tried to run outside. From his side, he received a very cold gaze from Setsuna, his successor candidate. However, as if he was used to it, the grandpa was now free.
“High school girl quotient. Hmph, this sweet phrase, Lord Gerard, you understand, right?”
“I don’t understand it at all, but somehow I’m convinced I should stop you.”
“Ah, I made a mistake! Does this person prefer even younger children!? But wait, if I think about it calmly, aren’t I the safer option!”
“Gerard-san, please hold him still for a moment. I’m going to slice him to pieces.”
“Understood, I understand.”
“…Um, you’re joking, right? Or rather, you should take grandpa’s previous remarks as dad jokes, so please understand—AAAAAA!”
“Whoa… Setsuna’s personality has become more extreme too…”
Changing the subject. The grandpa was, by the way, duly judged.
“—So, Kelvin-san contacted you saying the meeting with all the Dragon Kings is over?”
“Yes. Well, it wasn’t that grand a meeting.”
“Hehehe, I was just playing around. Alex even got tired and fell asleep in the shadows.”
Fell asleep from exhaustion. If taken literally, it would be cute, but it probably wasn’t meant literally. At least from Touya’s perspective, it was a part of training.
“So, we’re planning to gather at the mansion. I and Rion will be leaving Gaun.”
“Eh, really!?”
“Don’t be so reluctant. For sword instruction, Nito, who’s dead there, is quite capable. He’s Setsuna’s master, and at the same time, a seasoned warrior who can rival me. We won’t be lacking.”
“Then, that makes him my fifth master…!”
“Touya, what are you saying with your eyes sparkling like that… Well, maybe it’s a good opportunity for Nito-sensei to learn the word ‘male high school student’ in addition to ‘female high school student’?”
“Heh, heh heh… Grandpa, strangely, my heart doesn’t flutter at that…”
Grandpa has revived.
“Well, that’s how it is. Rion, I’m sorry you just got back, but let’s get ready to depart.”
“Eh, already? Grandpa Je-jel, don’t you need to say goodbye to Pritia-chan?”
“…Lady Gordiana, she’s training together with Serge and is very focused. It would be bad to disturb her. It would be counterproductive to greet her and unsettle her heart.”
Grandpa, desperately trying.
“Grandpa Je-jel~”
“Y-yes?”
“It’s adult love, isn’t it!”
“Y-yes…”
Gerard, who was engaged in some kind of sophisticated maneuvering, was misunderstood by Rion as adult love. Although he escaped the immediate crisis, he felt a slight anxiety about whether it would have repercussions later on.
