Chapter 320: Moonlight (4)  

TL/Editor: raei

Schedule: 5/Week Mon-Fri

Illustrations: In discord.

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Ao looked up at Isabella and answered without hesitation.

"Two elf sisters. One with long purple hair. Another with short red hair."

Isabella immediately realized those four were Siena, Fyat, Irene, and Piel.

Isabella looked at Ao and asked again.

"So, those four?"

"Yes."

Isabella was dumbfounded by her firm answer.

'I'm only fifth...?'

No, she was infuriated.

Forgetting she had to leave, Isabella spoke to Ao.

"Really now? Interesting. Kid, on what basis did you decide these rankings?"

"Just like I said. You're fifth because you don't use a sword."

Ao, having said that, looked at Theo.

"Brother. She can't even remember what she just heard. A bit slow, isn't she?"

"What...!"

Isabella was shocked. In her 17 years, she'd never been called 'slow'.

Even before becoming the esteemed First Saintess, she was always praised for her intelligence, never once called dumb.

'That disrespectful brat...!'

Isabella clenched her fists, trembling with rage.

Theo, unbothered, told Ao.

"It's not good to say such things openly in front of the person concerned."

"Oh, I remember. Aisha said to keep negative comments to oneself."

"You've been taught well. Did she tell you why?"

"She didn't say why. Just told me to do so."

"Then let me tell you. Speaking ill of someone in their presence is to protect your own body. Those who harbor resentment can be dangerous."

Ao tilted her head in confusion.

"Protect? Ao doesn't need that. Ao is super strong. I even tied with the long purple-haired sister before coming here. She has been holding a sword for over 10 years."

"Irene is strong, but she's still just a first-year student. The world is vast, and there are many strong people out there, Ao. No matter how exceptional your learning ability is, you're still just a frog in a well."

"What's a frog in a well?"

"A frog living in a well doesn't know the vastness of the sea. It's an old saying from the Eastern Empire."

"Then Ao wants to be a super strong frog. Aisha and the others here said Ao is really strong."

Theo, without replying, just stared at Ao. Ao's gaze was steady, showing no embarrassment for her statements.

'Hmm, Aisha might have spoiled her too much. It's time for a little reality check.'

Silently, Theo opened his [Subspace Bag], took out two practice longswords, and handed one to Ao.

"There's a saying that seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times. Grab the sword, Ao."

"Okay, got it, brother."

Ao obediently grabbed the sword and swung it from side to side with ease, looking much more comfortable than before.

Theo gestured to Ao. "I'll let you attack first. Come at me."

"Got it, you'll regret... Argh."

Instead of charging at Theo, Ao ended up sitting down hard on the ground.

Theo asked,

"What's wrong, Ao?"

"I'm so hungry I can't muster any strength. Must have used it all up."

"Can't help that. Wait a moment."

Theo took out a large mana stone from his [Subspace Bag] and handed it to Ao.

Ao grabbed the mana stone with both hands and started crunching on it.

Isabella watched this bizarre scene unfold.

'I'm dizzy. Both Theo and that brat Ao seem out of their minds.'

Isabella wondered if this was the first time her mind was clouded with this kind of rage.

Theo, noticing Isabella's puzzled look, said,

"Ah, Ao's main diet currently consists of mana stones. It's the fastest way to recharge energy. You must be seeing this for the first time."

"It's not because of that."

Then, Ao stood up.

"I'm done, brother. Can I come now?"

"That was quick. Yes, come at me."

As soon as Theo finished his sentence.

Ao, sword in hand, charged at Theo with a speed incomparable to what had been seen before, making Theo's lip curl into a smile.

'Impressive!'

Ao's charge was straightforward and focused solely on closing the distance quickly, without any unnecessary movements.

It was a skill comparable to Theo's, who had been trained by his excellent mentor Nay.

'But it's too honest. It's obvious where she's aiming. Ao is targeting my left thigh.'

As Theo thought, Ao aimed for his left thigh.

Clang─!

Theo easily lifted his sword to block Ao's strike, feeling a tingling sensation through the grip.

'The strength has also improved significantly. She really has improved.'

Theo didn't counterattack. Instead, he created distance and gestured with his hand.

"For someone who claims to be super strong, Ao, this is quite underwhelming. I'd be disappointed if this is all you've got. It was so obvious where you were aiming, I thought it was a feint."

The provocation worked wonders!

For the first time since her birth, Ao felt intense anger.

"Y-you...!"

Blinded by rage, Ao charged at Theo.

Ao's speed was much faster than before.

It was so fast that the average student from the hero department would struggle to follow with their eyes.

However, Theo, holding his sword loosely, simply watched Ao.

'Hmm, aiming for the collarbone this time.'

Thanks to the trait [Observer's Eye], Theo's vision had always been sharp, but after training his qi, it had developed so rapidly that calling him superhuman wouldn't be an exaggeration.

'My vision has improved a lot.'

Unbeknownst to Theo himself, a faint blue light shimmered around his eyes.

Clang!

Theo deflected Ao's sword, which was aimed at his collarbone.

"Yeaaah─!"

With a fierce shout, Ao swung her sword repeatedly.

The targets were the neck, collarbone, stomach, groin, and both ankles in turn.

But Ao's strikes were too easily blocked.

Clang, clang, clang!

Theo blocked each of Ao's attacks as if he had seen the future. Ao, still not fully matured, quickly realized the world she had seen was nothing but a well.

Feelings of helplessness and despair overwhelmed her.

"Uh, ugh!"

Without realizing it, Ao retreated from Theo.

"..."

However, Theo did not pursue.

Just like before, he looked clean and unbothered, not even holding his sword but keeping it sheathed at his waist.

This was enough to break Ao's spirit.

Thud.

The practice longsword Ao was holding fell to the ground.

'I am... just a frog in a well... a very weak frog at that.'

It was a moment of intense shame.

As that thought struck her, a sorrowful voice escaped Ao's lips.

"Ah, ahhhh... huhuhuk..."

Ao was a product of over-technology, born from the fingertips of Sonya, the mythical transcendental S EX-grade genius inventor.

Naturally, she was designed to be capable of crying.

Ao wiped away her tear-like droplets with the back of her white hand, sobbing uncontrollably.

She looked no different from any human girl.

Even Isabella, who was usually emotionally detached, was moved to comfort her.

Of course, Theo offered no such comfort.

He simply stood at the same spot as before, silently watching Ao.

'Anyone who doesn't know Ao is a robot would be completely fooled. To think she can feel such advanced emotions and even cry.'

Theo's gaze was like that of a scholar exploring mysteries.

Isabella, taken aback by Theo's behavior, raised her voice.

"Theo, you went too far this time. Even if it was for educational purposes, there was no need to push her that hard. She's still just a kid."

Humans are animals dominated by sight.

Isabella, aware that Ao was an artificially created robot, found herself treating Ao as a human before she knew it.

Theo agreed with Isabella's words.

"I see. I wasn't aware that Ao could feel such deep emotions. It seems we need to be more careful in our future lessons."

"Yes, that sounds like a good idea."

Isabella nodded at Theo, then began to comfort Ao again by stroking her head.

"Hey, don't cry. Stop! Girls should only cry at crucial moments. Crying all the time diminishes your worth."

It was an unusual form of comfort for a young girl, but Ao was not an ordinary young girl.

Wiping under her eyes, Ao asked, "Then when should I cry?"

"Hmm..."

Isabella fell into thought.

'A child is like a blank canvas. I shouldn't give a half-hearted answer.'

After glancing at Theo, Isabella answered,

"When you want to show a man your true feelings. Only cry at that exact moment."

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