Re:Zero: No Job, No Magic, Just a Stupid Romance System

On the second day, Paul's anger had subsided. After last night's earnest teachings to the two children and some "rest and recuperation" over the past two days, he was full of energy. Just after breakfast, he took the two to the courtyard and gestured to them to get ready.

When the three stood in a triangle confrontation in the courtyard, he put on a serious, adult-like look and said to the two:

"You've played enough these past two days. It's time to get your swordsmanship back on track! So I will personally supervise the extra training today—especially you, Allen. How can a teacher and a student fight together? Have you even taught Rudy swordsmanship properly these days?"

Rudy looked at Paul's posture and subconsciously pinched the hilt of the sword in his hand. He really hadn't learned much swordsmanship since Allen came, but that was clearly because Paul had been obsessed with sparring with Allen, greatly shortening Rudy's class time.

But this wasn't the time to say such things. If the swordsmanship class, which had finally been reduced by an hour, went back to the way it was before just because he contradicted Paul, it would be too much of a loss.

Allen looked at Paul's serious face and couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth.

"I've only been here for a week, and I've spent most of that fencing with you. What can I possibly teach Rudy?"

Still, he answered respectfully:

"Reporting to Master, although I haven't been here long, I think Rudy may have talent for the North God Style."

"Opening the magic armor is, of course, the North God Style," he thought.

Paul's face immediately fell, revealing a disdainful look. He had previously taught Rudy both the Sword God Style and the Water God Style because—

"North God Style? That kind of thing can only be called fighting with a sword, not swordsmanship at all."

Paul, who had a deep understanding of the North God Style, looked down on it. Thanks to the second generation of the North God Style opening a dojo in the Wanglong Empire, the Qiba School had become the most popular style on the Central Continent—perhaps a bit too unserious in Paul's eyes.

(Although Paul himself was never exactly a serious person.)

Allen coughed lightly and remained respectful.

"Then today, I'll have to trouble you to help us sort out the sword techniques of the Sword God and Water God Styles."

Seeing this, Paul nodded in satisfaction, shouted, "Let's start!", and excitedly drew his sword, pointing it at Allen's forehead.

"Then it's your turn to attack this time!"

There was a silence all around.

A gust of wind blew, and some fallen leaves drifted decadently onto Rudy's face. Standing aside like an outsider, Rudy looked at the tense atmosphere between the two and showed a dumbfounded expression.

"Then... I'll leave?"

Allen calmly looked at the tip of the wooden sword in front of him. Under Paul's surprised gaze, he stretched out two fingers, pinched the blade, and gently moved it away.

"Master, I think the summary after combat is even more important. Maybe we could begin with today's reflections. Honestly, I have a lot of questions I'd like to ask you."

Paul blinked. He suddenly realized that Allen seemed to have deep knowledge of the Water God Style. It sounded like he was asking for advice on the Sword God Style, which he clearly wasn't as skilled in.

"That's fine, but let me be clear—I'm a 'feeler.' I might not be good at explaining these things in theory."

"That's still better than me figuring it out alone."

So the three of them brought small stools and formed a circle. The rural wind gently blew around them, warm and pleasant—just like the smiling face of Zenith watching from the second-floor window, resting her chin in her hand.

Allen looked at Paul, who had his arms crossed and a frown on his face, and became a little serious.

His current Sword God Style was still at the intermediate level. As someone who had read novels, he knew he shouldn't remain stuck here. But the descriptions of sword training in books were too abstract. If it hadn't been for the Water God Style—which he had systematically trained in since childhood—he might have never reached the advanced stage based on vague book descriptions alone.

Thinking of this, he turned to Rudy and said:

"I don't know if Master has thoroughly analyzed the three sword styles for you before. I'm more proficient in the Water God and North God Styles, so I'll explain those in more detail first."

Rudy blinked.

"Actually, I already know."

Allen smiled nonchalantly and asked:

"Then what do you think is the core of the Water God Style?"

Rudy scratched his face.

"Defense?"

Allen shook his head.

"That's a form of expression. The essence of the Water God Style is perception."

Paul raised his eyebrows.

"This kid is interesting."

But Rudy looked confused.

"Perception?"

"Yes, perception."

Allen inhaled deeply. His breathing gradually calmed, and his mind became as still as water on a windless day.

Through his five senses, he felt everything: the swaying of leaves, the smell of the earth, the smile at Paul's lips, Rudy's raised brow, and the motion of his own hair as it fluttered in the wind—all vividly clear.

He opened his eyes, looked at Rudy, raised his hand and held two fingers in front of him, and spoke:

"Perceive all information in your surroundings: the direction of the wind, the source of sound, air vibrations, shapes of nearby objects... and if you go even deeper, you can sense killing intent, and the flow of magic power."

Just as he said this, a leaf gently floated between Allen's two fingers. His fingers trembled slightly—

—and the sentence finished:

"Then, based on all that information, make the most appropriate response, find the opponent's weakness, and land a fatal counterattack."

Under Rudy's surprised gaze and Paul's admiring one, the leaf split in two between Allen's fingers, drifting down from both sides of his hand.

The movement was so fluid that Rudy thought the leaf had flown into Allen's fingers of its own accord, seeking its end.

He broke free from his amazement and realized something odd in Allen's words. He asked:

"I can understand the earlier part—staying calm, analyzing opponent data quickly, choosing the best counterattack. I get that. And by killing intent you mean murderous aura, right? But… what about sensing magic power? Can non-magicians really do that?"

Allen smiled.

"Yes."

Rudy widened his eyes and looked at Allen, who shyly retracted his fingers and touched the tip of his nose.

"But… I can't do it normally. Not yet."

Rudy's face fell.

"Then aren't you just lying to me?"

"He's not lying."

Rudy turned in surprise. Paul had interrupted, and now looked at Allen with a serious expression.

"If a Water God-style swordsman is strong enough, it's rumored they can do that. But to be honest… I've never seen it."

Rudy frowned.

"Then it's just a rumor, isn't it? That kind of thing can't really—"

"I saw it with my own eyes."

Both Rudy and Paul turned to Allen at the same time. But Allen didn't look back. He merely glanced downward at the sword at his waist, paused slightly, and said softly:

"The Water God of Asura Capital. The leader of the General Dojo. Her Majesty the Water God—Leda Lia. She can do it. Perfectly."