Responsibility (1)
I had expected.
“Look, Irvine.”
Rise’s talent was so outstanding that anyone who handles a sword could take notice of it, and Douglas was no exception.
“Your daughter, don’t you need a teacher?!”
I never imagined that I would get such a strong reaction.
That Douglas.
A few days after returning to Findel from Rogarden, Douglas visited as promised, saw Rize practicing, and immediately grabbed my arm.
I also had to give strength to my arms as I grabbed them as if they were about to tear them apart.
“Originally, the younger you are, the more you need a great teacher like me to guide you. I must make Rize the best in the world… … No, I will raise her next to my daughter. If you already have a teacher, would you like a second teacher? How is it?”
But what can I say?
Seeing him so earnestly wanting him that he almost begged for it, the memory of me kneeling down on Douglas and asking him to accept me as a disciple came to mind, and I became depressed.
No, while acknowledging the difference in talent between me and Rize.
“Lizee, what do you think of Uncle Douglas saying he wants to teach Lize a sword?”
“Then can you become stronger?”
Just in case, I asked Rize, and a more serious question came back than I thought. Did something happen that I don’t know about?
I thought for a bit and finally nodded.
“Then of course. Because when it comes to swords, he’s more amazing than Dad.”
“Then, I will learn the sword from Uncle Douglas.”
In the end, Douglas, who became Rize’s teacher, devoted himself to Rize’s education from that day on, and thanks to that, I was able to do the things I needed to do more comfortably.
* * *
two months after that.
I could have returned to my mercenary job immediately after completing all the preparation courses I could, but my first choice was… … It was the upbringing of children.
Tadak!
The clashing wooden swords made a rough sound, and I smiled involuntarily at the shock transmitted through my wrists.
Just swinging a sword doesn’t give you this kind of power.
It was proof that he had a solid understanding of the sword.
In particular, when they actually meet swords, they feel completely different from what they were training, so most of them are embarrassed.
So, in the case of the first sparring, most of them lost their hands without even hitting the sword a few times.
But should I say it anyway?
Rize was different.
Today was their first sparring, but the only thing that surprised them was when the swords collided for the first time.
The mind to lighten up disappeared at some point.
Every time I share a sword, I can see it growing rapidly, so how can I do it roughly?
Of course, it wasn’t without flaws. However, I felt the desire to actually unfold everything I had accumulated through training from the sword.
At the same time, I didn’t feel impatient and raised the level little by little, and as I adjusted to it, I felt as if we were growing together.
I really had no idea how far I would grow.
“Until there.”
At those words that came from beside me, Rize and I clashed our swords one last time, lowered them, and ended by lightly bowing our heads toward each other.
Rize, who raised her head, erased all the seriousness from beginning to end and let out an excited voice.
“dad! Have I become stronger?”
“Yes, how can our Rize be so good? She is also my daughter.”
“Hi-Hi.”
At the sincere compliment, Rize briefly burst out laughing as if she was happy, and on the contrary, a disgruntled voice flowed from the side.
“Heh, it’s all because I taught you well.”
“That’s right, Master.”
“Chemm.”
Two months later, Rize’s sword skills, with wings called Douglas, literally flew in the sky.
No matter how confident I am about education, I can’t follow Douglas when it comes to a single ‘sword’.
That’s why Master was able to train me, who was Dunjae, to the point where I could surpass even an S-class mercenary.
Douglas, who was making an embarrassing expression, corrected his expression and let out a stern voice.
“Then take a short rest and get into a riding position.”
“Aren’t you going to do more sword practice today?”
“I did the basics in the morning, and I did sparring, so I won’t do the sword anymore today. For a while, focus more on physical training.”
“Ugh, yes… … .”
Rize immediately showed a sullen expression, but still, without expressing dissatisfaction with Douglas’ words, she ran to Irina and calmly accepted the gesture of wiping away her sweat.
Douglas, who was watching the scene, spoke to me in a small voice without loosening his hardened expression.
“In my heart, I also want to teach only swords, but… … .”
“At that age, building a body is a priority. I understand.”
“Kuhhmm.”
Douglas cleared his throat shyly when I interrupted him, perhaps because he wanted to rant.
No matter how talented she was, Lise was still 10 years old.
Since the body has not yet developed properly, overtraining could cause side effects.
Douglas was already experienced in that regard, so if you trust him and leave it to him, you won’t have to worry.
Rize took a moment to catch her breath and moved to her seat as Douglas instructed.
Although he must have moved violently, there was no sway in his posture.
“… … dad?”
Suddenly, I sat next to him and leaned down to take a horseback stance like Rize. Rize also had something that stimulated others.
“Can Daddy do it too?”
“huh! You can do it together, hee hee.”
I could easily endure this for a few hours if I put my mind to it, but just being with Rize made me feel like I could endure it for a while longer.
After all, there was something special about doing something with my daughter.
It was because he was watching Douglas from the other side right away, unable to hide his envy.
“Shall I too?”
“Wouldn’t it look a bit strange if I did you as well?”
“Come on, sister! Come here, come here!”
With Rize’s active approval, Irina took a horseback stance as a three side by side. Although the scene from the side was a bit strange, it was much more enjoyable than I thought.
After Douglas’s class, it was another teacher’s time.
“Hello, Uncle Irvin.”
“OK.”
Martin, who had been pretending to be close since the trip to Raw Garden, came to say hello, and went inside together to talk about Rize.
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“Currently, Rize is able to handle the 9th tier magic, which is called basic magic, proficiently. Even if all attributes have aptitude, it is fast. Besides, you’re not just learning magic.”
Learned all of the 9th tier basic magic in two months.
It was also evident that this was an unusual speed.
Martin could have been faster, but he’s saying that because he’s never seen anything like it in his peers.
“I looked at it during education, and among magic, student Lize handled body strengthening magic well. Since I move my body a lot, I should say that the compatibility is good. Oh, that doesn’t mean that other magics are inferior.”
Body strengthening magic was so-called non-mainstream magic that wizards did not handle well for various reasons.
But when combined with a well-trained body… … I was already looking forward to what kind of results it would produce.
to the extent of being appalling.
“hello teacher!”
And Rize, who finished her preparations, came out and said hello.
Martin’s mouth widened at the sight of Rize wearing the stylish new clothes he bought in the island.
It was embarrassing, but since I didn’t go any further than this and kept the line as a tutor, I decided to be lenient.
Unlike swords, there was nothing I could know about magic just by watching them teach, so I went into the room and took out the notebook I had hidden in the back of the drawer and opened it.
What was written there was a record of Rize’s growth.
Whenever he had a chance, he would organize Rize’s current situation, height, weight, body measurements, swordsmanship and magic proficiency, etc.
While writing today’s letter, I wrote ‘compatibility with body strengthening magic’ on the special note, and then tapped the pen for a while and thought.
I raised the priority of the artifacts that were not considered very important and wrote down the names and locations under them.
Then I went back to the first chapter and quickly skimmed through the contents.
“Oh, that’s great.”
Rize’s growth was dazzling to the extent that such words came out unintentionally.
It was just a series of surprises because I was learning at a speed that I couldn’t even imagine as an ordinary me.
As it is, I have a desire to teach weapons such as spears and bows, as well as martial arts, horsemanship, and camping skills.
… … No, that was too much.
I immediately shook my head and shook my useless thoughts away.
There is still plenty of time left, so don’t be in a hurry. The most important thing was Rise’s happiness, so it was absolutely unacceptable to damage her health by overdoing it.
“No, wait, um.”
Along with that thought, something came to my mind, so I rummaged through the drawer and pulled out a slightly larger piece of paper.
There was a calendar showing the month and the details of the lessons Rize received each day.
It was for Irina to write down a month’s schedule for when I was away, and I checked it once and approved it.
If there are any changes, come back and check.
But now that I’ve come, the class schedule is very tight.
Including swordsmanship and magic, the studies and etiquette that Irina taught me, as well as the language and characters that I teach from time to time.
… … It was also a difficult schedule for a 10-year-old to do.
Irina made it with Rize in mind, but I was worried that there would be no time to play.
He would have wanted to come now, but usually Rize didn’t show any sign of hardship, so he didn’t think of it.
Shall we ask Irina indirectly?
“Is that much?”
“… … .”
I often forget, but Irina was from the Knights. Since I was young, I would have carried out a schedule that was more than this, and I would have lived a similar life after becoming a knight.
The aristocrats I’ve seen from the side must have been even more numb since they would have studied this much on a daily basis.
Irina sometimes shows a common sense and detached side like this, so it seemed that the answer was to ask herself in the end.
“Rize… … .”
I knew that class was over, so I came out to the living room and stopped walking while looking for Rize.
Rize, who was sitting close to the table, was concentrating with her book open. Hearing the muttering, he seemed to be reviewing what he had learned today.
I really don’t know why I’m working so hard.
Rize, who had been doing this for a long time, whether she knew my concern or not, noticed my existence only after she finished reviewing.
“Uh, Dad? When did you come?”
“You are working hard.”
“Yeah, it’s fun. hehehehe.”
Studying is fun… … I never thought I would have already realized what I realized when I was about 30 years old.
There is nothing more fun than learning something new.
But still, I was worried that it might be too much for a one-time life.
“Rize, how are the things you are learning these days?”
“Are you learning? Is it fun?”
“It’s because I’m worried because my dad seems to be learning a lot.”
“uh… … . Learn swords from Master, learn magic from Sensei, history, math, and culture from Irina unnie… … .”
The more the words continued, the more dizzying.
While learning so many things, I felt like I hadn’t managed to say anything until now. Some might say it’s unusually trembling, but what’s the point in worrying about my daughter?
After she finished speaking, Rize looked at me with lively sparkling eyes, and I, hesitantly, swallowed once and opened my mouth.
“I learn so much… … Is it difficult or not?”
“huh? Am I okay?”
Rize, who answered without a moment’s thought, tilted her head.
It was rather embarrassing for me to say it so sternly. Surely it’s not like I’m weird or anything like that?
I sat across from Rize and spoke in a slightly serious tone.
“Why does Rize want to learn so much? Any reason?”
What grandiose reasons could there be for wanting to learn? Still, he thought that if he knew the reason, he might be able to lighten Rize’s burden.
However, Rize gave me an answer that I hadn’t thought of at all.
“I want to be like my father.”
Rize, who answered without hesitation, looked at me with sparkling eyes and added words.
“Dad is super smart, super strong, super knowledgeable, super super cool, and super good at everything. That’s why I want to be like my dad, so I will learn anything.”
What will I look like in Rize’s eyes?
Am I really someone worthy of Rize’s respect and target?
I couldn’t speak for a moment as my throat was choked by the emotions welling up in my heart.
I was a very poor person. He wasn’t as great a person as Rize thought. It was just that he learned a lot of tricks because he had lived longer than others.
It was scary when Rize would find out about it.
If Rize is disappointed in me, what should I do then?
Numerous thoughts came to my mind and scattered repeatedly, and in the end I only put one word in my mouth.
“thank you.”
“huh? What are you thankful for?”
“Thank you for looking at my dad as cool as my dad looks at Rize. I will do my best to be a father my daughter can always be proud of.”
“Then I can’t… … .”
It was a long-awaited statement, but Rize responded in a sullen tone.
Wanting to say something, I opened my eyes wide and looked at him. Rize pouted and added a word.
“When Dad gets stronger… … It’s hard for me to follow… … .”
“… … .”
I thought that was the only thing I was worried about.
I had no choice but to press the corners of my mouth gently to stop the laughter from spilling out.
I was talking seriously, so I couldn’t laugh here.
And as a father, I have to say something.
“Rize will definitely become stronger than Dad.”
It was sincere.
There was no way Rize couldn’t do what I could do.
But what Rize could do, I couldn’t.
So I had to tell Rize everything I knew.
Because that would be the father’s responsibility for accepting her as a daughter despite knowing the numerous events that would happen in the future.
Also, he would have to be a proud father to Rize.
But still I… … I wasn’t sure how to take responsibility for the other children.
Needless to say, it was a story about five children.