[Check Out My P4treon For +50 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][patreon.com/roaverse]
===
"Spread the word beforehand?"
"Mm."
Allen again glanced at the murmuring scene inside the dojo. Sense Flow swept over it like water.
He instinctively wanted to listen to see what kind of hole this 'word' had blown out from.
Then he discovered.
This hole was toxic, damn it.
"Is this the chief disciple's ability?"
"Four people, all so beautiful. The chief disciple even likes long-eared folk..."
"Senior Sister Isolte is going to suffer..."
"Suffer? Look, she's smiling so happily; she's clearly enjoying it, isn't she?"
"True. No matter how you look at it, the chief disciple's stamina seems perfectly fine even with all of them..."
"Is this what a chief disciple is like...?"
"Ah, what a pity. Why doesn't the chief disciple like me...?"
Very quickly, Allen abruptly cut off Sense Flow with a smack, his smile growing stiffer.
Six.
He silently estimated the distance, confirming that this group of obnoxious people's whispers were still beyond Isolte's Sense Flow range before he finally relaxed.
And only now did the reality of returning to the royal capital truly settle in.
This was very Asura noble; he was indeed in the royal capital now.
The royal capital...
Asura...
Allen turned to look at Dantolis.
"Is today April 23rd?"
The latter nodded with a smile.
"Yes. Twenty-nine months, six hundred and twenty-five days, have passed since you left Asura." (Jobless Reincarnation's year is a little over 300 days; there are studies on tieba if you're interested in searching for them. So you can figure out how fast they mature and grow.)
Isolte suddenly chimed in.
"Correction, today is already six hundred and twenty-six days."
Dantolis nodded.
Allen's next sentence was already on his lips, but hearing their conversation, he fell silent for a moment, ultimately just giving Dantolis a silent hug.
The latter chuckled happily.
"What, been away too long that our chief disciple can't even remember what year or month it is?"
Allen stepped back, lowered his eyes, then shook his head.
"No, nothing. Just calculating the time... Is Master in the Direct Instruction Dojo?"
Dantolis pondered for a moment. "When I came this morning, Grandmother was already standing in the courtyard. We quickly greeted her, and she went to the Direct Instruction Dojo. But, I've been in the junior dojo for a long time, so I'm not sure if she's left."
Allen pointed his thumb towards the pavilion hidden in the shade of the trees beside them.
"Then I'll go see. Since I'm back, I definitely need to see Master first."
Amidst the collective nods of Daniels and Isolte, he turned to walk towards the pavilion, but glanced back at Rudy and Sylphy, who were about to follow him.
"You two wait here for me. I want to catch up with Master alone."
The two nodded.
"Understood." "Okay."
His footsteps faded.
Dantolis turned and roared at the junior dojo, silencing the clamor, then quietly watched Allen's retreating figure.
Allen's steps were swift; his figure quickly shrank in Dantolis's pupils.
Dantolis watched Allen until he reached the pavilion, then turned to look at Isolte, who was also watching Allen.
In his line of sight, his younger sister, who had grown up with him, had blossomed beautifully and was staring directly at Allen's back.
The look in her eyes was so easy to read.
Their peers in the dojo, Allen's and Isolte's, were all engaged or married by now.
The latter sensed her brother's gaze but didn't turn to look at him. She simply maintained her gaze on Allen, tilting her head and making a puzzled expression.
Dantolis subtly glanced at Sylphy, who looked just like Isolte, and then at the Princess, who vaguely gave off a similar feeling but wasn't as overtly expressive as the other two.
He shook his head.
"What's wrong, Big Brother?"
"Since Allen has gone to talk to Grandmother, there's no reason to leave guests waiting here. That would be against the hospitality of the Water God Style Main Dojo."
Isolte finally looked over, her brows slightly raised. "Then we'll welcome the guests into the junior dojo, and I'll make tea for them..."
She glanced at Ariel somewhat coldly.
"Make a pot of tea."
Dantolis turned back to face the 'small dojo.' After a moment of silence, he suddenly smiled and bowed to the people in front of him.
"Her Highness the Princess holds esteemed status, and the main dojo is too noisy and lacks proper etiquette. Furthermore, Allen's sister appears to be a very talented swordsman, so the main dojo naturally holds nothing of interest for her."
"Therefore, let's go to the junior dojo. It's less crowded there, and focuses primarily on exchanging insights, so it won't be noisy at all. And since all the apprentices there are advanced swordsmen, it can also..." He turned to Eris as he spoke.
Eris, feeling she was now the leader of the 'adventure party' after Allen left, frowned and crossed her arms, her brows highly raised, looking very much like a self-proclaimed big sister.
"My name is Eris Boreas Greyrat! This is Sylphiette!"
"Are there many Advanced Water God Style swordsmen in the junior dojo?! Let's go now!"
Rudy: Hey, hey? Young Lady? What about me?
"Heh heh." Dantolis was about to speak, but then his gaze was suddenly drawn by Isolte's abrupt straightening of her body. He looked at his sister's puzzled expression and froze for a moment.
Then, as if realizing something, he quickly turned to look behind him.
In his line of sight.
Amidst the shade of the tree branches, on the pavilion steps.
Allen's back stood motionless halfway up the pavilion steps.
He no longer ascended.
It was as if he had been halted there, forbidden to enter.
Allen stopped and reached out to touch the handrail beside him, his fingertip rubbing it. This familiar handrail of the pavilion steps, its wooden grain so familiar yet so strange.
What stopped him was not a voice.
But heartbeats.
Two of them.
He smiled.
He tilted his head and looked at the door at the end of the stairs.
The next instant, with a creak, the door opened.
Two figures stepped out of the Direct Instruction Dojo.
One was dressed in refined noble attire, with short black hair and a beard, a smile on his face, his posture relaxed, even leisurely. His hand rested on the golden sword hilt at his waist, which was engraved with the Asura royal crest.
A defensive stance most suited to the Water God Style's 'Interception' technique.
The other wore a full set of silver-white knight's armor. His left hand held his helmet. His armor was as clean as a mirror, gleaming brightly in the morning light.
His figure was tall and straight, a knight's standard longsword at his waist. Black and white mixed hair was pulled back behind his head. He observed Allen with an impassive expression, deep nasolabial folds etched like sword marks around his lips, his demeanor solemn.
His right hand was not on his sword.
But it gripped a short sword, entirely golden, its hilt quite ornate and ancient in style.
Both glanced at Allen, neither showing any surprise.
Sense Flow, after all, could roughly discern a person's physical condition by the strength of their heartbeat. Clearly, from inside the door, they knew it wasn't Dantolis or Isolte outside.
As for other Water Kings, it was even less likely.
They were all standing by in 'Dawn.'
Neither of them greeted Allen; they simply calmly stepped down the stairs past Allen.
The three passed by each other.
Just as the two had walked a few steps down the stairs, their footsteps paused.
Thump.
They turned to look behind them.
In their line of sight, Allen smiled and tapped the wooden handrail of the stairs with his knuckles.
"Martial Uncle Lilfa, Martial Uncle Sinos, long time no see."
A fixed smile seemed plastered on his face. The King's Royal Guard, Water God Style Sword Emperor Lilfa, turned, his expression quite amiable.
"Long time no see. It's rare for you to greet us. Is there something you need? Allen Boreas Greyrat."
Allen looked down at them, his smile equally amiable.
"Leave the sword."
As his words fell.
Sinos, the captain of the Knights' Order, narrowed his eyes dangerously at Allen, but his gaze was very forthright.
Lilfa's smile remained unchanged. He looked at Allen with interest, his gaze mixed with a dense, tide-like killing intent, licking at Allen like a venomous snake.
"Allen, Her Majesty Reida always said your talent was exceptional, and it seems that's true. After only two years, your sword intent is even more refined. However, your posture is no less arrogant than before, but excessive sharpness is not good for the Water God Style." He spoke as if he hadn't heard Allen's words at all.
Allen, rubbing the handrail, chuckled. He ignored the colossal, unsettling killing intent, whose direction was impossible to pinpoint.
"A sword hidden in its sheath, constantly provoking killing intent, wearing down the opponent's will, altering their instinctive perception of the environment, luring the opponent to strike at the opening you've created, and achieving a perfect parry with the 'Interception Ougi.' The five greatest Ougi most characteristic of the Water God Style."
"But Martial Uncle, do you know why I never wanted to learn this Ougi, which focuses more on overwhelming with presence? Because I felt that a person who constantly suppresses their sword intent, constantly thinks of compromising, waiting for the opponent to attack, and then to 'reconcile,' has a problem."
Lilfa narrowed his eyes, finally ceasing to smile, but he didn't respond.
Allen, however, continued speaking to himself, "After 'reconciling' for too long, after the sword has been hidden in its sheath for too long, only the eyes remain threatening. You accuse me of being too sharp; I accuse you of being utterly spineless—"
"Allen!"
Suddenly, a commanding shout came from behind.
Allen turned to look at the door behind him.
A low voice continued to speak. "Take the sword and go. No need for so many words."
Lilfa didn't seem annoyed. He simply retracted his 'Interception Ougi,' looked quietly at Allen for a moment, then looked up at the sky.
"Let's go, Sinos. The King will worry if we're delayed too long."
He glanced at the door behind Allen, then turned and left.
This posture seemed designed to tell Allen—your words hold no weight for me; I disdain to listen.
If this were directed at someone who highly valued power, such an dismissive attitude would be more painful than a slap in the face.
But it had no effect on Allen. He couldn't be bothered with Lilfa and simply turned to look at Sinos.
The latter stared at Allen, and a faint smile suddenly appeared on his solemn face. He then gripped his golden sword and also left.
Allen quietly watched the two walk down the path, leaving the main dojo under the somewhat flustered greetings of Ariel, Derrick Redbat, Dantolis, and Isolte.
He turned, ascended the stairs, opened the slightly ajar door, and closed it behind him.
He walked directly to the familiar tea table, pulled out a zabuton cushion, and sat on the floor. He casually poured the leftover tea from the half-drunk teacups on the table into the washbasin. He skillfully inverted them onto the tea stand and took out two new teacups.
He picked up the teapot and began to pour tea.
Gurgle, gurgle.
Allen's hand was steady. The brownish-red tea flowed from the teapot's spout, forming an arch of water in the air.
"I'm back."
Allen poured one cup and pushed the tea towards the opposite side.
Under the control of the Flow Ougi, the water surface remained perfectly still.
"Yes, I'm back."
On the other side of the tea table, a small, wrinkled old woman with a small figure rested her chin in her hand, sitting cross-legged before the tea table with her eyes closed in meditation. Hearing the movement before her, Reida slightly opened her right eye, glanced at the teacup, then looked at Allen.
"I thought you no longer recognized this old woman as your master."
"Not possible."
"You've grown taller, your heartbeat is stronger, your hand is steadier, and your Flow Ougi has become even more refined."
"Two years. It should be so."
"So, you're itching for a fight right after returning?"
"Yes, I wanted to test the Sword Emperor's caliber. What a pity, he didn't make a move. Still the same as before, his mind completely preoccupied with his King's concerns."
Reida finally opened both her eyes and sat up, looking at Allen.
"They haven't changed, and neither have you. Still as sharp as ever. If someone unaware heard your words, they'd think you'd been training under Garl for twenty years. But now, you've clearly only spent two years under that Beastman princess Ghislaine. How is it that you think you're stronger than Lilfa?"
Hearing this, Allen chuckled inwardly, but it didn't show on his face.
"Ghislaine is not my master; you are. She taught me the Sword of Light at my uncle's request; I did not become her disciple. But you, every five years during the 'challenge period,' Lilfa comes to borrow the Golden Sword from you. He says it's to help Sinos, Martial Uncle, master the Deprivation Sword Realm faster. But in reality, it's at the King's behest, to weaken your strength, fearing you'll run off to the Sword Sanctuary."
"How long will this clumsy joke continue?"
Reida reached out and pressed down on the teapot in Allen's hand, moving it in front of herself.
"You're fanning the flames."
Allen, seeing his intention immediately exposed, chuckled.
Reida continued.
"My current level is what it is. The fact that I can't defeat that boy Garl is true. You also understand that Sinos, though he's the captain of 'Dawn,' is inwardly more inclined towards returning to the Sword Sanctuary. It's just that he's been like a brother to Lilfa since childhood, so he helps him instead of me. I'm not worried about the Golden Holy Sword being with him for a few days."
She tapped the teapot lid silently with her finger.
"The Sword of Light, have you mastered it?"
"Mm."
"Rank?"
Allen paused for an instant, then looked at Reida with a smile and replied.
"King-level."
The latter raised her mottled eyebrows, looking into Allen's eyes, but didn't question whether Allen was boasting. She just continued to ask.
Getting straight to the point.
"You've returned to kill Darius?"
Allen also looked directly into Reida's eyes.
"Not at all. That's not what I'm here for this time."
Reida quietly met Allen's gaze for a long moment.
She reached out and poured a cup of tea.
Slowly pushing it towards Allen.
"The Boreas family is clearly doing fine. I anticipated Isolte bringing you back, but never with that look in your eyes now."
"Tell me, what do you want?"
Allen took the tea and drank it in one gulp.
The teacup clinked onto the table, like a torrent striking stone.
Clack.
"To make a name."
===
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 360 on my patreon, go check it out
https://p4treon.com/roaverse
if you want more updates == supports with power stones
Every 20 Power Stones==Bonus Chapter