Is He Just A Kid?

"Hmm?... Strange"

I felt the presence of someone popping out of nowhere. I opened my eyes and looked in the distance where the presence was located. Is it that clearing? Suspicious.

"Why and how did he get here? Should I pick him up?"

I don't know how to handle a kid. No, I was not fond of kids. Well, I wasn't that fond of people in general. That is one of the reasons I prefer the path of solitude.

"But, there are lots of dangerous magical beasts in this forest. If I ignored that brat, He might be eaten whole alive."

With a heavy heart, I stood up and went to meet that kid.

---

"Hey kid, What are you doing alone in this place? Where are your guardians?" I asked the kid, using the local language. "Why are you looking at me like this?"

Why isn't this kid responding? Maybe he is deaf?

"What are you doing alone in this place? Where is your guardian?" I repeated myself in a different language. Just where did this kid come from?

The kid seemed to be gesturing to me. It doesn't seem like he is deaf though since he keeps reacting to sounds. I kept trying different languages. I knew quite a few of them, however, the kid still didn't seem to understand me. It was no use. Did this kid hit his head? Or his parents didn't teach him?

"How about this? Do you understand me now?" Against my better judgment, I spoke in a dialect from that place.

"Ohh! I finally understand you old man" Surprising me, the kid actually understood me and answered back.

"What? Do you understand me now? Forget it. Who are you?"

Why can this kid speak it? I feel some weird magic around. Who is he? Did someone send him here? Why is he here alone then?

"Forget it then, Who are you?"

The kid fell into deep thought. After a few moments he finally said:

"I can't remember."

Convenient case of lost memories? I squinted my eyes, seizing the kid up wanting to scare him a little. Looks like he is adamant about not telling me anything. That or he really doesn't remember. Well, it's not like he would be able to harm me. I just shrugged it off.

"Well, let it be your secret then."

---

I was now taking care of an annoying kid.

'Sigh, why did I even pick this kid up? What a bother'

This kid kept pestering me so that I would teach him about magic. I tried to ignore him but it was still no use. He has only one attribute, why can't he just give up?

I sighed and opened my eyes, stopping my meditation. This damned brat kept staring at me. Why is he so rude, when he is in someone else's house?

"Why are you still here, kid?"

"Old man, why won't you stop being so stubborn? Just teach me magic already! Besides, it's not like I have anywhere to go."

Hmm, it seems like this kid is truly alone. Why? How? Did something happen to his parents? Did they abandon him since he has only one attribute? I felt a little pity for this brat.

"No way, kid. But you can use that bed over there, I won't be using it anyway"

I stood up and went outside. Let's test this kid if he also has no aptitude towards Qi training. I picked my ax, coated it with a little bit of Qi, and started chopping firewood. I also showed him a basic sword stance and a few simple swings filled with light sword intent.

I noticed the kid's sudden change in his expression when I put a sword intent.

"Huh? Did you feel it?" I opened my eyes wide

"What do you mean?" He looked confused

'Seems like he doesn't have an aptitude for Qi as well. Tough luck.'

Time passed by, I ended up doing it till afternoon. I also kind of enjoyed showing this kid some basic swings. Is this the feeling of teaching someone?

The next morning, I was meditating outside the house as usual. The kid opened the door and seems to be looking at me

"Didn't you sleep, old man?"

"I don't need to."

"Teach me magic then. Not like you have anything better to do anyway"

"Quit it, kid. I won't teach you magic, even if you begged me on your knees"

I flat-out rejected him.

"But why?"

'Haa, here it comes, the reason why I don't like kids.' What came next was a surprise. I expected the kid to whine and complain. Maybe even throw a tantrum. Instead, he looked at me with a fierce expression, that no kid should be able to pull, and yelled at me

"Fine then, I will do it on my own!"

I was shocked, however, I didn't show it outside my face and only looked at him 'What was that just now? What a weird kid' I shrugged it off and resumed my meditation.

—

The next day, I saw the kid running and doing some funny movements. 'That's what a normal kid should be doing, playing. He also seems to be enjoying himself.' Was playing alone that enjoyable? This kid was getting weirder and weirder. Whatever he went through might be the reason he was acting more mature than the norm. Now, look at that face playing happily.

But he still keeps pestering me to teach him magic. 'How could I train you how to use fire magic, if I can only do simple water magic myself?' Once, he said something that seriously got on my nerves, and I threw him in the lake. This should teach this cheeky brat a lesson.

Still, he grew on me somewhat, like a mold, so I went back for him after an hour or so.

---

Months passed by and I noticed, The kid's body started to change and I even felt a strand of a Qi lurking in it. Did this kid achieve it on his own? Does playing around make you stronger?

I recalled what the kid was doing these past months, all these awkward moves and poses. Deciding that giving it a try won't hurt me, I tried to mimic his usual routine. 'There is a weak effect even at my level? How curious'. Seems like this kid was doing something more than just playing around.

"I wonder what will that kid show me this time around"

I saw the little brat take some sort of stance. Then he did a few slow punches. Is that all? How disappointing. Still, I decided to keep watching. Slowly he started increasing his pace, using complicated footwork and moving his head from possible counters. Interesting

'A kicks now? Have I ever seen a kick like that? Why does he seem so frustrated? Strange kid.'

Something kept changing in brat's aura. Oh, a new set of movements added in. Fingers and palms. Hard to pull properly, but absolutely nasty stuff if done by a master.

Another new stance? His movements started to feel sharper. Deadlier. Wait, is that a smile on his face? It even sent shivers down my spine. Whoever he is, this kid is a little monster.

I was lost in my thoughts when I heard someone collapsing. Of course, it was this damned brat, who was now lying on the ground. I shook my head and picked him up.

'What a tenacious brat. His will is not normal, neither is his training method. And that aura he exuded… Is he really just a kid?"

---

It has been a year since that cheeky brat appeared. I've been observing his training ever since that shadow fight. This kid has lots of potentials, just not in magic though. Why is he so fixated on magic? I can't understand.

He seemed to be training again. Within this year I found that, other than him being incredibly annoying, he is a good seed. He has the will, determination, and resolution to not give up no matter what. And they all are truly at a remarkable level. I was thinking about starting to train him seriously myself. Not in magic though.

As I was deep in my thoughts, I sensed the kid was walking towards the forest.

"What is he up to now?"

I looked at the distance where the kid was standing in front of the magical beast. Is he intending to fight it?

"It's still way too soon for you kid"

I was curious how this brat plans to fight this magical beast. As expected it was completely one-sided, but I decided not to intervene and kept watching how the kid kept trying different kinds of techniques

"Oh, He managed to land a clear hit. Very good, very good indeed"

Though in the next moment, the beast used its magic power to increase speed and landed a hit.

"Damn it. Brat doesn't know how to use protective Qi yet."

The fight continued, the kid was holding himself, barely dodging the magical beast. I was almost able to let my breath out and relax, but, in the next moment, the creature caught him, And it didn't seem like the brat had an out this time either.

Still, the kid managed to surprise me again. With a surge of power, he freed his arm and jammed his finger into the beast's eye. How did he do it? Did he use his Qi subconsciously?

"Well. To whoever cares. I'm sorry, but it seems that I'm dead".

"No!"

I cursed high heavens as my body moved fast enough to shatter the very space around me. The magical beast growled at me, but my glare made it whimper instead. I shooed it away and it ran away without looking back with a tail tucked between its legs. 'This fleabag is lucky that this kid is still alive or I would exterminate them all. Huh? When did I start to care so much about this boy?'

"You scared me there, brat," I muttered and picked up the unconscious boy.

I quickly searched my storage ring for a potion that is strong enough to heal him fast and mild enough, so he wouldn't just explode outright. Luckily, I found something that was just right.

"You truly have tough luck, kid."