Teachers

After exchanging a few words, Griselda decided that she'll be training Valerie and Asia.

The Holy Maiden was in joy while Valerie had that blank look at her face. Xenovia who heard this threw a pitying look at the two blondes, they don't know what's coming for them.

On the other hand, Cao Cao will receive training from someone else which surprised the hero descendant.

He thought that it'll be Vasco who'll train him, not someone else.

After the whole discussion, the three of them went to their room. At first, Griselda wanted to separate them as it's improper for a boy to live with two girls alone but after seeing the insistence of the blonde duo, she complied.

Asia doesn't want to separate from the two of them while Valerie doesn't trust anyone here other than him.

After going to their room, they started unpacking their things. The room itself wasn't too big or small, it was enormous for the three of them.

"Brother Cao Cao, I'll become an Exorcist." Asia beamed. 

Cao Cao chuckled at her while Valerie was just looking at the window.

The hero descendant saw this and asked while unpacking his things.

"Is there a problem?" 

"Nothing much." Valerie answered without looking back.

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes but soon continued on with what he's doing. They will need to talk about some things.

Oblivious about the atmosphere, Asia continues unpacking her things. 

Valerie, noticing that he didn't ask further questions, sighed. 

Looking at the moon outside, the Dhampir closed her eyes and enjoyed the chilly night.

After unpacking their things, the three of them went to rest. Traveling from Italy to Vatican made the two exhausted while Cao Cao just went to sleep out of discipline.

They have a long day tomorrow. 

—

"Ugh…" Waking up, Cao Cao yawned and stretched his body.

Looking at the two blondes who are still asleep in their respective beds, he immediately got out of the bed and went to the bathroom to wash himself.

First come first serve.

After he's done, he left a letter and went outside. He won't be waking up the two since this is their first time training. Unlike him who's used to such torment, it's better for them to enjoy their sleep.

After going outside, he walked through the halls of the Church. The Vatican has a lot of structures with their main church being at the center where the Pope and higher ups resides. As a trainee Exorcist, he's just located on the branch in the city.

"Young Cao Cao, you're awake." Turning around, he saw the Apex of Humanity himself carrying a plate on what it looks to be… buns?

"Hello, your Eminence." Cao Cao gave a salute.

Vasco laughed, "What's with the formal address?" He asked as he extended the plate, "Try some, training with an empty stomach is not the way." 

Grabbing a bun, Cao Cao replied, "What should I call you then, your Eminence? Old man?" 

Grabbing a bun and taking a bite, Cao Cao nodded as he tasted the food. It wasn't too sweet nor too salty, it just fit right. It's probably because of the Church's strict diet.

"This old man doesn't mind what you call him, I've been known by various names throughout my life." Vasco smiled as he saw him chewing the bread.

Cao Cao nodded as they continued walking through the hallway.

"By the way, who will be training me?" The hero descendant took another one and asked.

Vasco didn't mind this action, "Indeed, while I'll be training you about your physical body. In terms of combat, I won't be your teacher." 

Cao Cao blinked in surprise. The bun in his mouth made it funny.

Seeing his surprised look, the Alex of Humanity chuckled and continued his explanation,

"While I saw your mastery of Touki, I also noticed that your fighting style does not depend on brute force but technique. If it was only one weapon then I can be your teacher, but seeing how you wield your spear, I assume that it's not the case." 

Cao Cao nodded. He was right, he'll not be focusing himself on just a single ability. He wants to train on how to handle using multiple abilities at the same time simultaneously. 

More specifically, for his Balance Break.

Years have passed and he still hasn't unlocked his Balance Break or rather, he doesn't want to awaken it.

There's still something missing.

Just like in the original novel, he also wants to create a subspecies Balance Break that revolves around multiple abilities and therefore was trying to train on how.

However, because the Balance Break hasn't been unlocked yet, he's having a hard time on how to develop.

Nezha tried training him in this area as he uses multiple Divine Weapons but Cao Cao's problem doesn't rely on multiple weapons but abilities instead.

The Hero of Battles was helpless as he doesn't know how to teach him in that area, he's a fighter rather than a teacher after all. That's Sun Wukong's specialty.

The other Buddha's have no idea what to do about it as well and he couldn't blame them. This is his Balance Break after all. If he can't even use it yet then how is he supposed to train?

After leaving the mountain, Cao Cao tried many ways on how to handle his future Balance Break but it has little progress so far.

It's hard to train without the material itself.

He wasn't that surprised that Vasco noticed his flaw but how there's someone who can help him with his training.

Who is it? For him, although strengthening the body is important, mastering your ability weighs more.

And that's exactly what he needs right now.

As they were walking, Vasco only gave a mysterious smile, "You'll find out later Young Cao Cao. For now, I'll be your teacher." 

Hearing that, the hero descendant shuddered. He'll be in a world of pain.

—

"This is neat." Looking at the clear field in front of him, Cao Cao couldn't help but admire.

After eating breakfast, Vasco called him outside for training.

This is where they'll train his hand-to-hand combat skills and physical body.

He may be good at using his spear but in terms of hand-to-hand? He's decent at most. He didn't really bother training in that area as his True Longinus is always by his side, he's not a brawler like Issei and Sairaorg.

He still has some self knowledge, who knows? Maybe it'll be useful in the future.

As for his physical body, he believes that it's durable and strong enough, with his Touki, it'll be more resilient.

This training is not the one that surprised him however, but the fact that they'll be training magic.

He knows Taoist and some Hindu magic from his teachers, but what surprised him is that Vasco, of all people, knows magic.

He's not calling him dumb or anything, but the church in general doesn't really like magic due to it originating from Devil Faction. They classified people who use it as heretics.

It's stupid, that's why he's surprised that Vasco actually knows it despite the rule of the Vatican.

Then again, if he remembers correctly, Xenovia uses storage magic in canon. They can't really deny the usefulness of it.

He didn't learn magic that magicians use as his teachers aren't familiar with the system.

The best teacher for him is a human as well, or in this case, Mephistopheles as he's the leader of one of the famous magic organizations Granzabaurer.

"Magic huh..?" He muttered.

"Indeed young warrior. Vasco nodded, "I saw your skill with the spear and I can only say that your skill is adequate, it makes me wonder who taught you how to use that weapon."

"I also saw your Senjutsu and Touki. When combined with your martial arts, you are indeed a formidable opponent for many but there's no harm in adding tools in your toolbox eh?" 

The hero descendant nodded.

"I'm curious, but what about the light affinity? Isn't that required to be an Exorcist?" He's puzzled. Cao Cao isn't really aware if you need to be a holy sword wielder to be an Exorcist or just have light affinity in general.

"That's not really the case young Cao Cao. While having light inside your body is indeed important and can help you on exorcism, we are aware that not anyone has it. Some of our fellow Exorcists rely on other things, whether it's Sacred Gear or…. Demonic Swords." Vasco said that last one with some hesitance, "We also have a way to enhance someone's affinity for light." 

'So that's the case.' Cao Cao thought in realization. 

Siegfried in canon wasn't a holy sword wielder but instead, a demonic sword user. This did not stop him from becoming an Exorcist though.

The blood of Sigurd and his Sacred Gear is enough to gain the attention of the supernatural world, add that with his demonic swords then no wonder he became a top Exorcist before defecting from the church.

But still, what about them?

"And us?" Although Cao Cao was talking about him. In truth, he was implying Valerie.

"Hahahaha, as a believer. I know light when I feel one, not just her but you as well young Cao Cao." Vasco laughed light-heartedly at his question.

He didn't know if they were aware of their light. He can see the young man in front of him being oblivious, he already has his talent with the spear and Senjutsu but that's not the case with the young girl Valerie.

It doesn't matter. For him, being able to train talents that can surpass him is fulfilling enough. It just means that the Vatican will be safer in the future.

"Let's stop this trivial matter young Cao Cao. Come, some things are better expressed in battle." 

Gesturing with his hand, Vasco called out the hero descendant.

Not bringing out his spear, Cao Cao charged at the Apex of Humanity.

This is gonna be a long day.