Leaving

{Part 1}

The three men of the Greyrat Family are doing their practice swings as usual.

Paul is teaching both his boys as always. Though he's really not that good of a teacher.

Reinhard could just copy how Paul is doing it using his perception to see things in slow motion.

After the usual practice routine...

Rudeus without any talent or his eyes are struggling. He complained to Reinhard "Hey Rein, how are you so good at this? I don't get what Father is telling me."

"Hmph. A swordsman who doesn't even see himself, simply doesn't have what it takes to be one." Reinhard replied annoyed by his disturbance. "You're just utterly talentless. Use your brain for once, peasant trash."

Rudeus still doesn't know what he meant by 'see himself' so he asked again not bothered to any vulgar words he's saying. "Heey come on. What do you mean by see yourself!?"

"Hey, who the fuck do you think you're talking to?"

"Don't be so stingy Rein." Rudeus said as he was getting desperate. Then he kneeled dramatically at him. "Your Majesty a humble peasant would be glad to be graced with your wisdom in swordsmanship."

At this rate he won't improve at swordsmanship and get stuck in Elementary rank forever.

Reinhard didn't expect that he will kneel in all fours just to get taught. He could see that this guy got no pride at all.

Still he was pleased by the way he addressed him in 'Your Majesty' so he decided to teach him a thing or two.

"You're careless and full of openings. Your reaction time is slow as well. You don't have enough resolve nor enough vigilance. Your legs slows down when you get attacked. Your basics are the worst and coordination is all over the place. You swing like an old grandma, you're even worse than Sylphy." He said it in one breath.

Each sentence stabbed straight through Rudeus' heart. He was just to cruel and harsh on his criticisms.

"Then, how do I get better?" Rudeus asked with a weak voice.

"Do I even have to tell you that brainless hick?"

"Ah, yes... I apologise I'm an idiot."

Seeing Rudeus' predicament, Reinhard give a big sigh. This guy is just too hopeless... Well no matter...

"I'm just going to teach you this one time. Your on your own after this, don't bother me again."

"Yes..."

Rudeus opened his eyes wide to made sure he wouldn't miss anything. Paul is a very bad teacher, but there might be some insights Reinhard could give him.

"For example to get better at your swings... First you must slowly wield you sword, to stretch your muscles and to not get hurt later."

"Eh? Okay..."

The most basic yes...

"Then you must hold it like so and focus on your sword... And focus on it as you swing it down slowly." Reinhard swings the sword down slowly.

Even Rudeus could tell that swing is a perfect 10/10 on how polished it was. The pathway the sword had taken is a perfect line without any curves. He must have practiced a lot to get that perfectly.

"After that, you should try to swing down as fast as you can along the same trajectory at least twice." Reinhard kept swing down the sword in a straight line, not missing a single millimeter.

He's just like a machine doing it so accurately and precisely at a very fast speed multiple times. His muscle memory is like a computer. "If you think that the trajectory was a little off from what you initially saw, swing it slowly again and repeat the process. Now that's all I can say."

"Thank you very much!" Rudeus gave a 90° angle bow.

"Get lost, I don't want to see your face asking for lessons again. You're wasting my time."

Reinhard didn't spare him another glance and go on his way to do more practice. He could have already got at least 500 swings or more in that short seconds of giving lessons.

A sword was ultimately a tool for murder. One that was trained casually would not be able to display its effectiveness in a real fight. It would not be able to protect those who had to be protected.

It would not be able to save those who had to be saved...

-*-*-*-

{Part 2}

A Month Later.

Tonight the Greyrat Family is having a little bit of a celebration.

During the preparation process, everyone except Paul helped with cooking.

Paul had to take care of the crying Norn and Aisha the entire time.

Rudeus handled the Fire using Magic. Reinhard helped chopping the ingredients. Zenith and Lilia does the main work.

The family is on a festive mood. It was a farewell party for both the young masters of the house to go out in the world.

"The Adventurer's Guild had changed it's rules. Its bad, that you can't get it. But I got you a different job." Paul says.

"10 years old was it? There's no rule like that years ago right, Darling?" Zenith asks him.

"Yeah, 7 years ago there's no rules about this."

Apparently the Adventurer's Guild would not accept a kid below 10 years old to take jobs. In their time, they're postponed in promotion until they came off age. Well kids below 10 that is in the guild is rarely seen.

"So what's this new job?"

Paul ponders a little bit. "I dunno really. If you pass the test, you could be granted knighthood. If not, I'm sure you'll still get hired since you know math and reading. Your Chantless Healing Magic can get you a job anywhere you go."

Reinhard didn't really asked more as he was focused on his food. He's going to find out soon anyway.

"And you Rudy."

"Yes, father." Rudeus gulped in anticipation.

Finally after years of living as a bum, he could finally get his first job in both lifetimes.

"You're going to be a home tutor."

Rudeus was delighted. He got a similar job to his Goddess. He never knew that his student would've been troublesome.

"Ghislaine should be coming tomorrow." Zenith was full of nostalgia recalling her comrade in the days of her being an Adventurer.

"That woman huh, I wonder what's that musclehead doing right now." Unlike Zenith, Paul is being rude.

"Knowing her, she should be fine." Zenith is full of smiles.

"Heh, I heard from Phillip she was found in the streets sick after eating monster shit."

"Hey darling, mind your language!"

The dinner continues.

Lilia and Zenith trying to calm down the crying daughters. Paul boasting his Adventurer life in the past trying to act cool. It was a happy family.

Hopefully this peaceful days would last forever, everyone thought deep in their hearts.

After the festive dinner, the once beautifully decorated table were gone as the dishes were going to get washed by Lilia.

Reinhard decided to stay back and talk with Lilia.

"Why are you still not in your bed Young Master?"

"I have something important to talk with you about."

Lilia was curious. As she looked at him, she saw a piece of paper folded like a letter, just without the seal.

"This is?"

"It's for Sylphy. Tell her she's useless to me now." He said mercilessly without remorse.

"I'll leave her to you."

Lilia took the letter.

-*-*-*-

{Part 3}

There's a carriage drawn by horses going to the Greyrat house. It stopped just in front of the gates. In there a woman came out of it

The three Greyrat boys stopped their training and looked at the woman who came out. Wearing a super skimpy outfit that only covered her nipples, dark skin, cat ears and tail, an eyepatch, and built muscles that should not be possible for a woman to have.

Any expert could tell she's very strong by the Touki embracing her body.

"Hey. Long time no see Ghislaine." Paul greets the woman named Ghislaine.

"Yeah."

"Ghislaine!" Zenith came from the house and ran towards Ghislaine carrying Norn in her arms. "It's been ages! Have you been well?"

"Yeah." Ghislaine noticed Norn. "That your kid?"

"Yes, this is Norn."

Ghislaine gave Norn a headpat, "Good thing she doesn't take after Paul."

"Since you're here, that means everything is good to go?"

"Yeah."

"Take care of our Rudeus, and Reinhard."

"Sure."

Meanwhile Reinhard wanted to lash out to this woman. His mind is screaming things like, 'Get your filthy hands off her you stupid bitch! You're gonna infect her with your filthy bacteria!'. But he held himself back. After all this woman is a friend of his parents.

If his hands were not so sweaty and dirty from gardening, helping Zenith, he would liked to carry Norn himself. And this woman dared to touch his little sister without washing her hands? His Kingly self would have punished her if she wasn't a family friend.

"Young Masters." Lilia said to both of them, carrying Aisha in her arms. "We'll miss you."

"Take care. We'll be looking forward to your return." Zenith gave each of them a kiss in the forehead.

Ghislaine was looking at the Paul's brats expecting they would be haughty, just like their father in the past.

Just like from the letter, she could sense one of his son is a prodigy in the sword. She could feel the overbearing Battle Aura coming from one of them. One wrong move and she could be lying on the ground injured.

'Just what did you feed the kid, Paul?' She wanted to ask. She never seen a child hold that much Touki inside a small body.

Reinhard noticed Ghislaine's gaze. He glared back at her with a look, 'What the hell are you looking at?'

After that, Rudeus and Reinhard entered the carriage. It was time for them to get their jobs...

"Bye bye, Rudy! Rein!" Zenith teared up while seeing off both of them.

"Good luck both of you!" Paul just said good luck.

Lilia only bowed respectfully on their direction.

The two boys just waved their hands as they gave their farewells to the family.