Chapter 188: A Holy Sword?
As the saying goes, strike a snake at seven inches, teach students according to their aptitude, and target their weaknesses.
If directed at any other strong individual, such a threat would be utterly useless.
But when applied to Cid, it hit just the right spot.
After all, his usual act of playing an inconspicuous extra was precisely to conceal his identity and quietly enjoy his so-called Eminence in Shadow role.
If exposed, it would be worse than killing him.
The facts proved him right.
The moment he uttered those words, Cid's body froze completely, as if petrified.
"Heh heh, is this the villain, the destined antagonist of my life?"
Though his tone sounded indifferent, one could tell just by looking that Cid was drenched in cold sweat.
At this point, he could probably even be threatened into stripping and running laps outside.
But doing so would be pointless—to some extent, Cid had pretty thick skin.
From that day on, however, Cid became thoroughly obedient, playing the role of a well-behaved student extra, following his every word.
At least on the surface.
In private, he'd often mutter things like, "Enduring humiliation under the enemy's surveillance is just another part of the experience…"
And so on.
The thoughts of a chuunibyou were always incomprehensible.
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, three years had passed.
During these three years, Mahiro had been diligently committed to his teaching career. By day, he teased—no, trained—well, anyway, he imparted knowledge, skills, and guidance to Claire.
By night, he returned to the inn to teach combat techniques to Alpha and Yukime.
Progress on both fronts could be described as astonishingly rapid.
Yukime had now developed up to a terrifying seven tails. According to her, each additional tail doubled the amount of magical power within her, so even before reaching nine tails, she had already attained a fearsome level.
Not to mention she had also received injections of the Enhancement Drug.
Her overall strength was now fully on par with Alpha's.
As for Alpha, she had now surpassed her original self from the start of the main story, reaching even greater heights.
Their mastery of combat techniques was equally terrifying—like sponges, they continuously squeezed every bit of knowledge from him, almost to the point of draining him dry.
It was truly fearsome.
In contrast, Claire's progress was less remarkable.
Perhaps because of what happened during the first lesson, in every subsequent class, Claire would proactively attack him.
At first, it might have been out of shame and anger, seeking revenge, but over time, it seemed to take on a different flavor—as if she was venting her frustrations on him.
He recalled that in the original story, Claire greatly enjoyed tormenting her younger brother Cid, being a terrifying sadistic brocon.
But now…
Whether she was still a brocon or not, he couldn't say, but that sadistic tendency seemed to have shifted onto him.
Because of this, while Claire's magical power hadn't increased much, her control over magic and refinement of sword skills had reached the peak of what she was capable of.
Well, due to species and various other limitations, she had hit an insurmountable bottleneck.
As for the development of the Shadow Garden, it could be considered quite rapid.
Alpha was like someone who picks up stray cats, periodically bringing back Demon Possessors. It could be said that at least four of the Seven Shadows were picked up by Alpha.
Of course, Mahiro was no exception in this regard. Occasionally, on a whim, he would ambush the cult's prisoner transports and rescue one or two adorable little kittens.
For instance, the Sixth Seat, Zeta.
Her real name was Lilim, from the Golden Leopard tribe—the most prestigious clan among the beastkin—and she was even the chieftain's daughter, making her something of a young lady of noble standing.
However, she suddenly manifested symptoms of Demon Possession and was unfortunately discovered by a passing cult priest, bringing calamity upon herself.
Her parents, younger brother, and even their entire tribe who betrayed them were all killed, leaving no survivors.
As the one who represented the entire Golden Leopard tribe, Lilim was captured by the cult during her escape. She was forced to watch her younger brother be killed before being thrown onto a prisoner transport cart headed to a nearby cult research facility.
It was at this moment that she happened to be encountered by Mahiro, who was out for a "stroll," and he saved her.
Incidentally, he also cured her Demon Possession symptoms.
Well, after so many experiments, Mahiro had finally found a relatively gentle method: first inject the Enhancement Drug, then slowly infuse magic power to raise the threshold gradually.
This way, it not only caused no pain but also enhanced one's strength.
"Young lady, all the guests for the farewell party have arrived."
"Yes, I know. I'll be there shortly."
With the sound of the door closing, Claire slowly opened her eyes, gazing at her reflection in the mirror.
Three years of time had smoothed out the unruly edges she once had, making her more refined.
That youthful immaturity had also faded, and she had grown into a graceful young woman.
Today was her fifteenth birthday, and it was also the day she would depart for the royal capital's Midgar Academy for Dark Knights.
Because her family had a hopeless younger brother and she was the promising new star of the Kagenou Baronetcy, her parents decided to host a grand farewell party to celebrate.
For this occasion, she wore an evening gown she wouldn't normally put on, paired with white silk gloves and a more mature style of makeup.
However, all of these were trivial matters to her.
The most important thing was...
...she could finally escape that devilish instructor.
Claire murmured softly, watching as her reflection in the mirror slowly curved into a smile—a smile that symbolized her escape from the past and the arrival of freedom.
But her hands subtly tightened their grip on her skirt.
For some reason, she felt a slight discomfort in her heart.
"That devilish instructor..."
Soon, the farewell party began.
Local gentry and lords from nearby territories were all invited. Everyone gathered, toasting and chatting merrily.
Claire's parents were among them, proudly boasting about their daughter's exceptional sword skills.
"What a boring party."
Claire genuinely felt this way.
Although others might see her as the center of attention, unfortunately, she didn't enjoy it.
The people around her were like annoying flies, buzzing incessantly in her ears.
She couldn't drive them away and could only remain in place, continuing these boring conversations with these flies.
Utterly tedious.
Just then, she suddenly spotted Mahiro's figure.
Dressed in a black formal suit, sitting unnoticed in a corner of the banquet, drinking alone.
Though solitary, not a trace of loneliness could be detected from him.
There was an inexplicable transcendental quality about him, as if he were observing all living beings from a god's perspective.
"Excuse me, please make way."
As if guided by some supernatural force, Claire pushed through the crowd surrounding her. Under their astonished gazes, she walked step by step toward Mahiro.
"Teacher Mahiro."
"Oh? How rare for you to properly call me by name. This should be the first time, right? No, wait—the second time. I remember last time..."
"Teacher Mahiro, don't you have something to say?"
Claire directly interrupted his reminiscing and teasing, her eyes fixed seriously on him as if waiting for something.
"Alright, since it's your special day today, I won't tease you."
Mahiro set down the wine glass in his hand, looking at the graceful young woman standing before him. The mockery in his smile gradually softened into warmth.
"Claire, congratulations on completing your studies and graduating perfectly."
"No, all of this is thanks to your excellent teaching."
"Well, that's certainly part of it, but more credit goes to your own hard work. So as your teacher, I plan to give you a graduation gift tomorrow."
She had only been paying lip service, never expecting this wretched teacher would actually boast about himself. She initially wanted to shoot him a contemptuous look, but upon hearing about a graduation gift, she immediately changed her mind.
"A graduation gift? What could you possibly give? It's not something strange, is it?"
Remembering how Mahiro had always tormented and teased her in the past, Claire couldn't help but flash him a disdainful glance.
"What are you thinking? It's a proper and ordinary gift."
Naturally aware of her thoughts, Mahiro smiled slightly. "All those things I did before were mainly to ignite your fighting spirit. Nothing makes people improve faster than emotional influence."
"For instance, feelings like hatred and anger can be the driving force behind progress."
"After all, having a goal makes it easier to chase after something. Without a goal, you'd just be flailing around like a headless fly."
"Claire, your talent isn't bad. You just never had a proper goal, which is why your progress has been so slow."
Having a cheat-like younger brother was enough proof that the Kagenou family's bloodline, especially in this generation, was actually quite remarkable.
Not to mention Claire originally being a Demon Possessor, meaning she carries the blood of Freya, one of the legendary three heroes among humans...
As for Claire, she only nodded with partial understanding.
After all, she was just a fifteen-year-old girl—how could she understand all these intricacies? Besides, he was just casually spinning tales.
"Then I'll look forward to your gift, Teacher Mahiro."
The corners of her lips curved into a faint smile.
This was the first time she had ever smiled at Mahiro. Unexpectedly, it looked quite lovely.
Far better than her usual expression of bitter resentment or her proud, icy demeanor.
"But where are you going next?" Claire suddenly asked again.
Since Mahiro's three-year contract had ended, if it wasn't renewed, he would have to leave the Kagenou household.
"If possible, I'd like to ask you to renew for another two years and teach my younger brother Cid during that time. Although he hasn't made much progress these past few years, he's not foolish. Please."
So she's really a bro-con.
Claire, who's usually so proud and aloof, was actually willing to lower her head for her younger brother Cid.
"I think it's better to forget it."
"Why? If it's about the fee being too low, we can increase it."
"That's not the issue, and the price your family offered is already more than generous enough," Mahiro waved his hand.
Indeed, over these three years, he had profited quite a bit from the Kagenou family, having been hired at nearly five times the market rate.
The truth was, their money was well spent.
However...
"Leaving aside that I have things to do next, mainly I feel your brother doesn't need my teaching. Perhaps one day he'll give you a huge surprise."
"What do you mean?"
Claire looked at Mahiro, puzzled.
Just as she was about to ask more, Mahiro had already stood up to greet her approaching father.
"Mr. Mahiro, have you been waiting long?"
"Not at all. Shall we talk somewhere else?"
"Good, let's go to my study."
Baron Kagenou and Mahiro left the banquet early, leaving Claire alone staring at their retreating figures, her lips pressed tightly together.
However, after Mahiro followed him into the study, he saw Claire's father take a letter from a drawer and hand it to him.
It was sealed with the Kagenou family crest.
"Mr. Mahiro, this is the letter of recommendation you requested."
"Thank you very much."
As Mahiro reached to take it, he noticed the other man wasn't letting go. Instead, he tentatively asked:
"Mr. Mahiro, must you really go to the royal capital so soon?"
That's right, he planned to set off for the royal capital.
After all, he had done all he could in this land, and it was time to leave and go have some fun at that so-called Magic Swordsman Academy.
The purpose of this recommendation letter was to apply for a teaching position at the Magic Swordsman Academy.
Given the Kagenou family's status, enrolling as a student would be impossible, but using it as a stepping stone for a job application was quite easy.
But then, Baron Kagenou spoke again:
"Mr. Mahiro, although this is a selfish request, if possible, could you delay your departure for two years? Please continue working for our family and teach my good-for-nothing son. No matter the cost, I'm willing to pay!"
After all, Claire's example was right there—even his wife, who was stronger than him, now couldn't match Claire in swordsmanship.
This level of teaching was probably unmatched anywhere else.
So no matter what, he wanted Mahiro to stay. What if he could nurture another rising star for the Kagenou family?
But Mahiro just smiled faintly and said:
"Baron, your words are exactly the same as your daughter's. But I'm sorry, I must decline. No matter what, I need to go to the capital."
As if he'd stay here to play chuunibyou games with Shadow? Was he so idle with nothing better to do?
In the end, Baron Kagenou could only watch him leave with regret.
However, on the very next day after he obtained the letter of recommendation, a major incident occurred in the Kagenou household—
Claire had disappeared.
Vanished from her room overnight, without a trace.
"There are no signs of struggle! She must have been taken by surprise while sleeping! But to be able to take Claire away, the kidnapper must be an incredibly skilled expert!!"
Baron Kagenou shouted excitedly. If possible, he looked like he wanted to tear his hair out to vent his frustration.
But unfortunately, there wasn't a single strand on his head to grab.
"So?"
A cold voice drifted over softly.
There stood Lady Kagenou, elegantly entering the chaotic room, smiling at her husband.
"So you mean to say the perpetrator's methods were too sophisticated, so there's nothing we can do, is that it?"
"N-no... that's not what I meant... I-I was just stating a fact..."
"Fact my foot! You bald bastard!"
To be fair, this was the first time Mahiro had witnessed a real-life Fuhu Bawang Quan, and at such close range too.
Lady Kagenou grabbed Baron Kagenou by the collar and slammed him into the ground.
Then she mounted him, throwing punches fiercely at that annoyingly long face.
"Ora ora ora ora ora! Go find her right now, you bastard!!"
Mahiro let out a soft sigh.
Now he knew where Claire's violent tendencies and sadistic personality came from—he'd found the source.
Then, he watched as Cid indifferently left through the doorway and returned to his room.
His face showed no emotion—no sorrow, no anger, no guilt whatsoever.
He walked away as if completely unrelated, completely unbothered.
"What an incomprehensible guy..."
Mahiro couldn't help but sigh, then softly called:
"Beta."
"Yes, Mahiro-sama."
From behind him, one of the Kagenou family servants suddenly transformed into a silver-haired girl.
The Second Seat of Shadow Garden, she was an elf girl like Alpha.
But unlike Alpha, she had shoulder-length bobbed hair with a small braid hanging from one side down to her shoulder.
The beauty mark near her eye added a subtle charm to her pure and noble demeanor.
"Did you find it?"
"Yes, we've found it."
Beta nodded, following him to a hidden corner at the end of the corridor.
"As expected of Mahiro-sama. Following the mine intelligence you provided, we indeed found traces of the Cult in an abandoned mine, and confirmed that Lady Claire has been taken there."
"Well done."
"Thank you for your praise, Mahiro-sama."
He gently stroked Beta's silver hair as if petting a cat, while Beta wore an expression of pure enjoyment.
"By the way, Lord Mahiro, should we notify that impostor?"
The impostor Beta referred to was naturally Cid.
This was unavoidable—though somewhat shameless, Mahiro himself admitted it, but there was no helping it. It was like patent squatting—whoever registered first would claim ownership.
Moreover, this guy had provoked him first. If Cid hadn't stormed in without explanation that day, he wouldn't have been so angry as to seize his patent.
Otherwise, he might have continued using the name Arcadia.
So he shook his head and said:
"No, there's no need."
"Eh? But... isn't Miss Claire his sister? Wouldn't he be worried?"
"Perhaps he is, but who knows what he's thinking. Besides, my disciple should naturally be rescued by me."
Mahiro declared resolutely.
To be honest, though, he secretly felt relieved.
Fortunately he remembered the plot here, and thanks to these girls' strong initiative.
Although he knew that with Cid's level of luck, he would surely deduce Claire's imprisonment location, now that Shadow Garden was in his hands, it was unclear whether this guy would still take action...
Rather than gambling on that unpredictable guy's movements and thoughts, it was better to take action first.
As for rescuing her ahead of time?
It wasn't a bad idea, and he had considered it, but the problem was this was a perfect opportunity to raise Claire's affection—how could he let it slip away?
However, aside from this, Beta had provided some unexpected information.
"Lord Mahiro, besides traces of Lady Claire, we've discovered another piece of intelligence—there seems to be a Sacred Relic hidden in that abandoned mine."
"What kind of Sacred Relic?"
Hearing this, he immediately became alert.
The Sacred Relics in this world were different from those in the magic inferior world, yet somewhat similar—ultimately they were miracles that couldn't be reproduced with current era technology.
But Beta said with slight gravity:
"It's... a Holy Sword."