[90] Training

"However, if you can discern Bell's limits, can you discern mine? If not, don't blame me for breaking the whetstone in the end."

Recalling the original story where Freya constantly orchestrated situations to push Bell to his limits, Aiden's lips curved into a confident smile. The more challenges, the better.

When he arrived home and entered the living room, he saw Bell sitting alone on the couch, still in his novice adventurer gear. Bell's face was slightly flushed, and his expression seemed to be suppressing some emotion.

"Bell, what are you doing here all by yourself?" Aiden glanced around and noticed that Hestia was no longer on the first floor, then asked.

"Hestia-sama told me that you'd go to the training room to work out when you came back tonight and that I should go with you." Bell couldn't contain his excitement and spoke eagerly.

"So that's why you're still in your gear." Aiden replied with a calm smile.

"Do you need to rest first, senpai?" Bell was not in a hurry to have Aiden teach him combat, but was concerned about whether Aiden needed a break.

Hearing this, Aiden smiled, about to say something, when Hestia's voice echoed from the staircase.

Hestia's door had been left ajar, and upon hearing Aiden's return, she came out immediately.

"Aiden-kun, you're back. Why so early? Didn't you want to spend more time with Eina-chan?" Hestia stood at the staircase, teasingly.

"I just escorted her home. Why would I need to spend more time with her?" Understanding Hestia's insinuation, Aiden chose to play dumb. What a joke, he was about to leave anyway; why would he try to court Eina? Escorting her was simply to protect her, nothing more.

"You..." Hestia was momentarily speechless.

"Alright, fine. Since that's how you feel, we'll leave it at that. Make sure to train Bell-kun properly later. You need to fulfill your duties as the captain, after all." Hestia crossed her arms and adopted a mock authoritative tone.

"I told you not to call me captain." Aiden was still wary of the unlucky connotations associated with the title.

"Alright, Captain Aiden." Hestia lowered her voice, even bowing theatrically.

"I'll get angry if you keep this up." 

"Hehe~" Hestia giggled, deciding not to push further, and retreated to her room, throwing in a playful gesture before leaving.

"No, I don't need to rest. Let's go, Bell. Let me properly teach you how to fight." Aiden shook his head with a helpless smile.

Fortunately, having trained with Takemikazuchi for an afternoon was about to pay off. Aiden thought to himself how lucky he was to have learned from Takemikazuchi yesterday; otherwise, how could he maintain his image as a senpai?

"Yes, please guide me, senpai!" Bell stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Now, attack me with all your might!" Aiden said as he led Bell into the training room, picking up a wooden sword and turning to face Bell.

Aiden decided to directly apply the techniques Takemikazuchi had taught him.

"Senpai, you're using a wooden sword, but I have a real dagger. Isn't that unfair?" Bell looked down at the guild-issued dagger in his hand, feeling troubled.

"Hahaha…" Aiden began to laugh softly at Bell's words.

"Senpai, what's so funny?" Bell was bewildered, not understanding why Aiden was laughing.

"Ah, sorry. Bell, you're adorably naive right now." Aiden said, his smile undiminished.

"…"

Bell remained confused.

"Alright, Bell, do you think you're stronger than that cat people who ambushed me tonight?" Aiden asked, seeing Bell's puzzled expression.

"Of course not." Bell answered honestly.

"Then think about it. Tonight, I dealt with someone stronger than you with my bare hands. Now I have a wooden sword." 

Hearing Aiden's explanation and realizing his own earlier foolishness, Bell blushed with embarrassment.

"Alright, alright, I won't laugh anymore. Let's begin." Seeing Bell's reaction, which reminded him of Kirito with a hint of cross-dressing potential, Aiden quickly shifted the topic to stop his mischievous thoughts.

"Don't worry, just attack me. If you can touch my coat tonight, you'll pass." Aiden stylishly flicked his coat.

"Here I come, senpai." Bell, now calm, gripped his dagger tightly and spoke earnestly.

"Come on!" Aiden pointed the wooden sword at Bell with his right hand and beckoned him with a smile.

An inch longer is an inch stronger; an inch shorter is an inch riskier.

Facing the sword tip pointed at him, Bell tightly gripped his dagger, but he was momentarily at a loss on how to proceed. Even though he was destined to be the main character of this world, for now, he was just an inexperienced farm boy.

Unable to endure the standoff any longer, Bell initiated the attack.

"Please guide me, senpai!" Bell shouted to bolster his courage. He then mimicked the cat people ambusher from earlier, lowering his body before propelling himself forward with a strong push from his right leg.

Seeing Bell make the same mistake he had, Aiden couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

Facing the fierce Bell, Aiden, unlike the original story's Ais who nonchalantly sent Bell flying with a spin kick, gracefully sidestepped his charge.

"Bell, let me give you a hand." As they were about to pass each other, Aiden mischievously turned and pushed Bell from behind.

With Aiden's assistance. Bell lost control and fell to the ground, sweeping the floor with his body in the process.

Fortunately, Bell was wearing armor, so despite looking dusty and disheveled, he wasn't hurt.

"How are you? Are you alright?" Aiden turned and extended his right hand to Bell.

"I'm fine. That was impressive, as expected of you, senpai." Bell stood up with Aiden's help, expressing his admiration.

"It's good that you're not hurt." Aiden nodded.

"Senpai, was my performance just now really that bad?" Bell scratched his head, feeling embarrassed.

"Bad? It was so-so." Aiden diplomatically expressed his opinion, not wanting to crush Bell's confidence.

However, he struggled to suppress his urge to spout the condescending lines, "Your backhand is weak, your forehand lacks precision, your footwork is sloppy, and your reactions are slow; not a single move was executed properly." Instead, he quickly changed the topic.

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