Chapter 12

After that, I did a little training, then went to the bathhouse, rested at the inn, and when I woke up in the morning, I headed to the usual "gutter cleaning" site.

Today, it wasn't around Stella's house, but a bit further away, and the client was different.

While I was cleaning the gutters around Stella's house, someone who saw my work requested a job through the Adventurer Guild. Such people are gradually increasing, which is very grateful.

So, every day, I go around and clean different places.

It has become a daily routine.

Today, I brought the heavy black sword I received from Leen's father yesterday to the "gutter cleaning" job.

I used it to scrape off the stubborn dirt that was stuck at the bottom of the gutter, which was hard to remove. This black sword was surprisingly convenient.

Usually, I use wooden pieces from construction sites to scrape off the dirt, but I probably won't need to do that anymore. With this sword, the dirt comes off surprisingly clean.

However, if you get the angle or force wrong, you might end up scraping the stone gutters themselves, so you need to be careful. But this sword is as sturdy as Leen's father said.

No matter how much I use it, it doesn't show any signs of damage.

Well, maybe it's just that it was already in bad condition, so I don't notice... But anyway, it's a very good item.

Everything was going smoothly until then, but an incident occurred near the "earth moving" construction site, and many guards gathered to investigate.

It was impossible to continue the construction, so the "earth moving" job was canceled.

As a result, I had almost nothing to do for the whole day.

"Well... What should I do from here?"

I came to the forest on the outskirts and was thinking about what to do.

Just because my adventurer rank is "F" doesn't mean I can't go outside the city.

I just can't take on any quests.

This is the forest I've been using for training since I came to the capital.

It somehow feels like the air in the mountains where I lived, and it's just the right distance from the capital to be out of sight. It has open spaces that are convenient for moving around, and there are large trees where I can hang a wooden sword.

Most importantly, it's on a slightly steep cliff, so you can see the surroundings and the view is good.

That's why I like it and use it.

At first, I stayed here, but without a roof or walls, it was inconvenient, so now I stay at an inn on the edge of the capital. The room isn't very large, but they change the bed sheets while I'm out, and they do the laundry if I leave my clothes with them.

Most importantly, it's cheap.

I think the old man at the Adventurer Guild recommended a good inn.

"Since there are no quests to do, I might as well do a lot of my usual routine."

Thinking that, I was about to start swinging the heavy sword I received, but then I sensed something from the nearby bushes.

It might be an animal.

No, there are some birds and small animals here, but it's rare for an animal to make such a noise.

...From the footsteps, it's a person.

I wondered who it was and looked in the direction of the noise, and a familiar person appeared between the trees.

"Leen...? Why are you here?"

"Mr. Noll, good morning... I'm sorry for coming suddenly. I was told by the Guild Master that you would be here today... Did I cause any trouble?"

"No, it's not that I'm troubled, but how did you find me here...?"

This is on top of a steep cliff.

I, who grew up in the mountains, have no problem climbing, but it's not an easy place to get to.

I told the old man at the Guild about this place, but I didn't tell him the exact location...

By the way, she can find people's locations with a skill.

I don't think it's a good thing to follow people, even if you can use a skill...

"Why are you chasing me again? I thought we were done with everything yesterday."

"Yes, I am very grateful for yesterday. Today, I have a different request."

"Request?"

"It's about what Father talked about the other day... I want to make the same request."

"What is it?"

...What did we talk about yesterday...?

What was it?

"I want you to make me your 'attendant.'"

"...What do you mean by 'attendant'?"

I don't remember talking about that yesterday.

"An attendant is someone who takes care of your daily needs and asks for your teachings and knowledge.

In a way, it's like an 'assistant' in a magic research institution or an 'apprentice' in a craftsman's apprenticeship system.

It would be enough just to be by your side.

I will make sure not to be a bother, so please allow me to do so..."

With that, Leen put her hand on her chest and bowed her head quietly.

I've seen this gesture many times yesterday.

This must be the gesture people in this city use to convey something sincerely.

It's quite likable.

But...

"I refuse."

"Huh?"

She probably didn't expect me to refuse.

She looked at me with a worried expression.

...Why did she think I wouldn't refuse?

"Did something happen yesterday that you didn't like...? Or do you think someone as inexperienced as me is unreliable? I did show some embarrassing moments yesterday, but if you let me be by your side, I'm sure I can be of some use. I graduated from the capital's training school with the highest scores in all six systems..."

"No, it's not that."

It's not that I have a problem with her.

I'm just busy with my daily work and trying to get stronger, and

I can't imagine taking on an apprentice.

"Basically, I don't have anything to teach you. Besides, I don't need you to be of any use. I can take care of myself."

I've been living alone for a long time, so I can do most things on my own.

I only ask the innkeeper to do the laundry.

I'm satisfied with that, and I don't need anything more.

"Then, I will offer a sufficient reward from my family in exchange for your guidance, so please..."

"I don't need it."

"Then, you can use me as you please. I can assist with the Adventurer Guild's quests and other tasks..."

"I don't need that either."

"Then...!"

"I don't need it."

"...!!"

Her face gradually turned red, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She probably didn't expect to be refused.

But I don't need anything I don't want, and I can't do anything I can't do.

"I will definitely be of some use...! Can you believe that I can be of some use? Then, I will be a little rude...!"

She teared up and held up a staff embedded with a blue-white gem in front of her face with both hands.

"Ice Block Dance"

The air around her instantly turned cold, and dozens of ice blocks appeared in the air.

Each one was about the size of a person, with sharp, pointed ends.

They looked like sharp blades.

And almost immediately after they appeared, they fell with incredible speed.

The target was...

The Leen standing directly below them.

"–Blazing Extinction Flash"

I thought it was dangerous, but when she raised her hand, a burst of flame shot out from her palm.

It quickly grew larger, and the dozens of ice blades falling toward Leen were instantly consumed and evaporated.

A huge, scorching flame was held above her, large enough to engulf a house.

The heat was intense, but when she lightly waved her hand, the flame disappeared as if nothing had happened.

"This is one of my highest-level magic skills, Blazing Extinction Flash. And–"

She skillfully attached the small staff to her belt and

drew a golden dagger from a black sheath at her waist, swinging it quietly.

"Phantom Blade"

A large tree behind her silently slid to the side and fell.

"This is an advanced skill from the Thief system, taught to me by the Hidden Saint instructor–and"

She quickly sheathed the dagger and drew a long sword from her back, holding it with both hands and swinging it horizontally.

"Saint Light Flash"

Her sword emitted a flash of light, slicing the fallen giant tree in half, and the cut was covered in a pale blue flame.

"That was the Saint-level skill Saint Light Flash from the Swordsman system. It's a special technique that is particularly effective against the undead, and–!"

"That's enough. I've seen enough."

I quietly shook my head and

stopped Leen, who was showing me one amazing skill after another.

After seeing all this, I understand enough.

She is very talented and very excellent.

I feel inferior to her.

In fact, with these skills, she could have easily defeated that cow, right?

For some reason, she was looking at me with an expectant expression.

"Then...! Will you allow me to become your apprentice...!?"

"No. Now, there's even less for me to teach you."

When I refused again, Leen looked shocked.

...Why.

After seeing all her amazing skills, there's even less for me to teach her.

"I...! Even though I have been recognized by the instructors of the Six Saints, I should be of some use if you let me be by your side...! I may still be far from your level, but please–!"

"I can see that you are excellent. But–"

For some reason, she seems to misunderstand that I am someone worth learning from.

What kind of misunderstanding led to this...?

I'm not good at explaining, but I want her to understand.

The best way is to show her and let her understand.

"You showed me some amazing skills just now–let me show you my skills."

I focused my mind on my fingertips and poured in power, and a fire appeared.

It's about the size of a fist.

–Puchi Fire.

When I first learned this skill, the flame that lit on my fingertips was as small as a candle.

But I thought that if I continued to train, I might be able to learn ordinary Mage-type skills, so I practiced Puchi Fire whenever I had free time.

I concentrated my mind on my fingertips and kept the flame going all the time except when I was sleeping.

The result is this.

The fire has indeed grown larger.

But the fire manipulation attack magic, Fire Bullet, that the instructor showed us during training was about ten times larger.

That was a low-level attack magic.

I am far from reaching that level.

Compared to the skills Leen just showed, this is almost nothing.

Of course, I can't even throw it like Fire Bullet.

No matter how hard I tried, the best I could do was a fist-sized flame on my fingertips.

This was my limit.

It took me about fifteen years to get this far.

...It's very convenient for cooking and I find it very useful.

"...This is my only Mage-type skill, Puchi Fire. The other six systems are similar. Do you understand what I mean?"

None of my skills can compare to the ones this girl–Leen–showed me just now.

The difference is so great that it's almost laughable.

But the skills she showed were all incredible.

To have this level at her age.

A talented person–no, a 'genius' must be someone like her.

There's nothing