Chapter 19

"Oil, you say?"

The next morning, I called out to Silfa, who had come to hang the sheets. I needed a large amount of oil, the raw material for the magic marrow fluid.

"Yeah, I want a water bottle full. I want to use it for a magic experiment..."

"That's fine, but... hmm, yes. There is a condition."

Silfa said this with a sly smile.

"If you can beat me in a mock sword fight, I'll give it to you."

I thought she would say something like that. Whenever I ask her for something, she usually dodges it this way. I usually back down, but this time I can't.

"Alright. Let's do it, Silfa."

When I nodded, Silfa's eyes widened in surprise.

"R-really? You didn't hear me wrong?"

"Yeah, I need it. So, I'll go prepare and head to the courtyard. Silfa, come quickly, okay?"

"Ha..."

I turned my back on the stunned Silfa and headed to the courtyard. After a while, Silfa appeared, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

"Ugh, sniff... I didn't think Lord Lloyd would be so enthusiastic... Ugh, ugh, Silfa is so happy...!"

For some reason, Silfa was moved to tears. Honestly, I don't know what to do with such a reaction.

"Listen, Silfa, I'm going to use magic, okay?"

"Yes, of course. Even Lord Lloyd would find it difficult to beat me with sword skills alone."

Well, I'm already using magic without her permission... It's just an excuse. If I combine attack magic with combat, I can justify winning against Silfa.

"Alright, whenever you're ready."

"---Yeah."

I held a wooden sword in one hand and created a 'Fireball' with the other. The restriction is only low-level magic, and the power is set to the minimum. This level should be natural for a child who likes magic. Of course, I have already copied Silfa's sword techniques.

"Here I go!"

I launched the 'Fireball' first, then ran right behind it. I made the speed as slow as possible. Even if I shot it quickly, she would dodge it, so it's better to use it as a shield.

"It's useless!"

When Silfa swung her wooden sword, the 'Fireball' was easily dispelled. Of course, this was expected. The 'Fireball' was just a distraction. I had already activated 'Earthball' while running. A wall of earth formed where the flame had been extinguished.

"Wh-what? E-earth...!?"

Silfa's wooden sword got stuck in the earth wall and couldn't be pulled out. While she was trying to force it out, I circled around behind her.

---Got it.

I ran with the wooden sword, intending to stop at her neck. But Silfa, who was supposed to be in front of me, had disappeared, leaving the wooden sword behind.

No way! I looked left and right, but there was no sign of Silfa. So, behind!?

I turned around, but she wasn't there. That means... above!

I immediately cast 'Fireball' and launched it upward.

"Sorry, it's below."

Hearing her voice from below, I looked down to see Silfa smiling right under me. Before I could react, she grabbed both my legs and knocked me over. She then straddled me and took the mount position. Looking up at Silfa's smiling face, I closed my eyes.

"---I lose."

"Yes, I win."

***

"Alright. Is this good, Lord Lloyd?"

Silfa placed the water bottle, filled with oil, in the corner of my room. The surface of the water rippled with a plop.

"Thank you. But is it okay? I didn't get a hit."

"For a moment, you were so serious. It's as if you got a hit. ...Still, I'm so happy to see how strong Lord Lloyd has become. Silfa is so pleased... sniff"

Silfa teared up again. Stop it, it's embarrassing.

She seems to be very happy that I fought seriously. It was a very limited serious fight... but since she's happy, I'll let it go.

"I thought you had lost your fighting spirit after the last lackluster performance... but it's a relief to see you back in form. Hehe."

Seeing Silfa's smile, my right hand trembled. Grimo seems to be really scared; he's been hiding all day. He must have been traumatized by the beating he took during the last mock sword fight.

"Hehe... I wasn't feeling well that day..."

"Yes, yes, it's called a slump. Everyone goes through it. The only way to get out of it is through training! In fact, Lord Lloyd's movements after the slump were truly remarkable. The fusion of magic and sword skills... this Silfa is extremely impressed."

Silfa said this and bowed respectfully.

"Both my sword skills and magic are still clumsy. But Lord Lloyd is still developing and improving at an incredible speed! ...! There are few swordsmen who can use magic, and your sword skills are impressive for a mere ten years old. Your understanding of magic is even respected by Lord Albert. Oh, how wonderful. The title of Knight Captain or Sword Saint might not be fitting for the grown-up Lord Lloyd... It's an honor for this Silfa to be your mentor."

...What is she mumbling about?

Her eyes have been kind of scary since just now.

I remember Silfa once told Charles that she highly evaluated my sword skills.

But this time, I just used magic, so the evaluation shouldn't have changed that much. I hope so. Yeah.