Chapter 18

"Is there any time to spare?"

"Well... I do have some time, but not much."

Suddenly, she declared that I should lend her my face.

It seems I have no right to refuse. This girl, though small, is remarkably arrogant and forceful. I wonder what kind of education her parents gave her.

"The head of the Mage Corps has personally requested you, you should be more grateful."

"Hehe, then let's just leave it at that."

Well, it's fine. I didn't have any specific plans to go out anyway.

Going sightseeing in the capital with Lucy isn't a bad idea. I don't know where she's taking me, but...

So, it ended up being a situation where a man in his forties and a girl around ten years old are wandering around the early morning capital.

Hmm, I accepted it on a whim, but from the outside, this must look quite suspicious. I'd rather avoid being approached by the military police or the guard.

"Also, stop treating me like a child. I'm probably older than you."

"Huh?"

You're joking again.

Lucy looks like a small girl no matter how you look at her.

Of course, her face is much more refined than that of a country girl, and I can tell that she will grow up to be a fine beauty.

She has excellent raw materials. Though she's a different type from Alyssia, I feel she won't have any trouble finding a husband in the future.

But you, older than me?

I'm forty-five this year.

"You don't believe me, do you? Well, if that's how you see it, then it's fine."

"No, no, it's impossible to believe."

The girl with her shimmering golden hair had an expression closer to a wry smile than dissatisfaction.

Indeed, if you look closely, her behavior and the aura she exudes don't seem like those of a young person.

But the impression of her appearance is so strong that it only becomes apparent when pointed out.

Considering the magic from earlier, I'll just assume she's not an ordinary girl. I don't want to cause unnecessary trouble, even if it's with a girl who hasn't even reached her teens.

"Anyway, let's drop that. As I said before, I heard about you from Fis."

"Is that Fissel?"

"Yes."

Kuruni and everyone else call Fissel 'Fis.'

I don't usually use nicknames, so it feels fresh.

Fissel is one of my important disciples, but as a teacher, I couldn't treat her differently. So everyone calls her by her name.

"Fis seemed very happy. Probably since meeting you."

"...Is that so? If that's the case, I'm glad too."

The side profile of Lucy, who murmured this, was not that of a girl at all.

Regardless of the truth, the idea that she's not as young as she looks is becoming more plausible.

"I hear you were Fis's teacher."

"Yeah, that's right. I'm no good at magic, though."

We continued our aimless conversation as the man and the girl walked on.

I never asked where we were going, but from the direction we were heading, it seemed like there was a clear destination.

"Is this place good enough?"

"...? Is there something around here?"

How long had we been walking?

We arrived at a place in the central district where buildings of modest height were scattered, and it was surprisingly quiet for the capital. A considerable amount of time had passed since the sun rose, but there was no sign of people in the vicinity.

Perhaps due to the time of day, this area was almost completely silent.

I didn't know the capital had such a place.

"...I love magic. I've always been devoted to its study and research."

"Well, I can understand that. I spend my days swinging a sword."

Stopping and turning to face me, Lucy's expression was indescribable.

It seemed like she was both happy and in agony. It was a bewitching expression that a person of her apparent age could never produce.

Swinging a sword doesn't lead to improvement just by doing it recklessly.

The same goes for magic. With the wisdom of predecessors, a vast amount of knowledge, and countless trials and errors, I'm sure she continues to grow.

"I guess it's in my nature. I want to feel my growth, to test the results of my research. I keep thinking about these things."

"Swordsmanship is the same. It's important to feel your improvement."

Pon.

A small flame lit up in Lucy's right hand, which she had lowered. It wasn't the intense flame she showed earlier, but a small flame, smaller than a fist.

"I want to test it. —Against a strong opponent."

The girl smiled, enveloped in a killing intent.

"!"

Whether it was my swordsman's intuition or human instinct, I jumped back immediately. The flame exploded at my feet.

"Hmm, a fine reaction. You live up to being Fis's teacher."

"...You're not joking...!"

As she said this, Lucy lowered her right hand again.

In the air, several flames were being created in response to her hand movements.

What should I do?

Should I draw my sword?

If I take her words at face value, I think the term "test of strength" is the closest.

I don't know what conversation she had with Fissel, but as the teacher of a sword magic user who excels in the Mage Corps, I must have piqued Lucy's interest.

However, what I have now is not a wooden sword but a real one that can cut.

Given the killing intent I felt, she didn't just playfully throw the flames.

But I couldn't gauge how serious she was.

"What's the matter? Feel free to come at me."

"I don't want to...!"

Her demeanor seemed to have snapped or reached a breaking point.

Though her tone was calm, her upturned mouth couldn't be fully controlled. The contrast between her entranced expression and her youthful appearance made her seem almost sensual.

Really, ever since I came to the capital of Baltrain, it's been one shock after another.

Alyssia, Srena, and now this Lucy. Why do I have to deal with such successful and powerful people?

"I'm not as strong as you think..."

"That's a strange thing to say."

After a brief hesitation, I chose to draw my sword.

I tried to convey that I'm not that strong, but it seems she's not listening. What's so strange about it? There's nothing strange about it.

"Shall we begin, then?"

"I don't want to begin!"

Oh well!

I vented all my complaints and kicked off the ground.

Monthly High Fantasy 6th place!

Thank you all very much. I appreciate your support.