Chapter 147: Early Education (2)

Strike while the iron is hot.

Having decided on brainwashing—no, Louis’s early education plan for Kendrick—he immediately set about implementing it.

It’s said that ruler, teacher, and parents should be treated equally.

There was a saying that one should view the grace of their king, mentor, and parents as equal. But Louis saw things differently.

From now on, there will only be unity between dragon master and disciple! I’ll make him believe anything I say, even if it sounds as absurd as turning beans into soybean paste with my words alone!

Louis aimed to instill in Kendrick’s very DNA the maxim that the benevolence of dragons, mentors, and parents was as vast as the sky itself.

“Lia, I’m here.”

“Ah, you’ve come?”

Louis arrived at Lia’s house early in the morning. He looked around the quiet interior before asking:

“The children?”

“Nia is sleeping, and Rick should be in the backyard with Aaron.”

“The backyard? What are they doing there?”

“Rick has become quite interested in training Aaron in swordsmanship lately.”

“Oh-ho? Is that so?” A glint of intrigue flashed in Louis’s eyes.

He turned to Liah. “What do you think about it?”

“What do you mean?”

“If Kendrick were to learn swordsmanship, would you allow it? Despite the dangers involved?”

Liah smiled warmly at his question. “I don’t mind. Whether it’s swordsmanship, academics, or something else entirely… I’m content as long as our children can live freely and pursue what they truly desire.”

Her words resonated with genuine sincerity.

Louis patted her on the shoulder.

“You’d be a great mother. No… I think you already are one.”

Lia’s smile widened at his compliment.

“Well then, shall we head to the backyard?” Louis suggested before turning in that direction.

Soon enough…

“Ahh!” They spotted Aaron drenched in sweat from intense training while Kendrick sat nearby watching him with wide-eyed fascination.

Hwoosh… hwoosh…

Taking advantage of Aaron’s focus on swordsmanship practice, Louis stealthily approached Kendrick. As he drew closer, Louis couldn’t help but glance briefly at Aaron out of the corner of his eye.

Let me see… He’s tier four.

Aaron had recently reached the upper echelons of Tier Four.

Given the right opportunities, this individual could easily ascend to tier 3. Having previously served as a bodyguard suggested that his skills weren’t just talk. His abilities were somewhat wasted on hunting in such remote terrain.

His attribute is Earth.

It had been quite some time since Louis encountered another earth attribute user. Memories of the giant dwarf briefly flashed through his mind. However, pushing aside past recollections, Louis stood beside Kendrick.

The child recognized him, flinched momentarily before bowing respectfully. “H-hello, sir. T-thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome,” Louis replied with a casual wave of his hand.

Kendrick subtly observed Louis’ demeanor and took a slight step back, sensing the situation.

Despite hearing from his parents that Louis was their teacher, Kendrick still found him unfamiliar. He couldn’t help but contrast this with Tania’s constant clinginess; Louis seemed like a completely different person.

Louis scrutinized Kendrick’s side profile intently.

This little brat sure is shy.

Recalling Sword Saint’s character in the original story, Louis nodded as if coming to an understanding.

Sword Saint certainly had a reserved and somewhat gloomy demeanor in the source material.

Perhaps due to his goal of seeking revenge, Sword Saint could be described as a bit of a dark horse. He wasn’t one to easily warm up to others or open his heart. If anything, he only occasionally let down his guard around his closest companions.

I should probably try to be friends with him first.

After all, Louis would need to bond with Kendrick before he could start teaching or brainwashing him. Surprisingly, winning over a child wasn’t difficult at all.

All I have to do is give him what he likes, Louis thought as he gently patted Kendrick on the head.

“Rick.”

“Yes…?” Kendrick replied, startled by the sudden touch.

Louis smiled warmly and asked, “Do you think Dad’s cool?”

“Oh… yeah!”

At this age, fathers held immense influence over their children. As the village’s most skilled swordsman, Aaron was someone Kendrick took great pride in.

Seeing Kendrick’s response, Louis narrowed his eyes slyly and continued.

“Want to give it a try?”

“…What?”

“That.” Louis pointed with his chin toward the front of the room.

There stood Aaron, practicing diligently in a trance-like state.

Kendrick mumbled as he grasped what Louis was suggesting:

“My dad said I’m too young for that…”

“That’s just your father’s opinion.”

“…”

“So? Are you going to do it?”

Kendrick continued to hesitate. His father had told him he wasn’t ready yet but promised to teach him when he got older. Meanwhile, this unfamiliar teacher was tempting him now. Kendrick struggled between obeying his father and longing to wield the sword like him right away.

Louis cautiously threw out a bait:

“Don’t if you don’t want to. I’m offering to tell you, yet you’re saying no?”

”…?!”

Kendrick’s pupils twitched slightly at Louis’s playful words.

Noticing this, Louis drove home his point: “It can’t be helped. You’ll either learn it later… or maybe never.”

Having spent years dealing with twins, Louis had honed his skills in handling children to near-master level. How could young Kendrick possibly escape his demonic grasp?

In the end, Kendrick couldn’t resist taking the bait.

“I-I will!” he exclaimed.

The corners of Louis’s mouth curved upwards at Kendrick’s bold response.

Shunk.

The sword descended vertically from above.

It was a simple motion, but after thousands of repetitions, it became a realm of pain.

Something that couldn’t be easily endured by most people.

Shunk.

After completing his three thousandth vertical slash, Aaron wiped away the copious sweat covering him.

“Phew…” he exhaled heavily.

The training session that had started early in the morning finally ended at noon.

Although it seemed quite intense for a morning workout, over the past few years, Aaron hadn’t missed a single day of this regimen.

All of it was an desperate attempt to break through a barrier.

Despite all his efforts, however, there were no signs whatsoever that the wall would crumble.

I still have a long way to go, he thought bitterly as he sheathed his sword with a wry smile.

As he turned to leave, something caught his eye, causing him to halt abruptly.

“Huh?”

What stopped him in his tracks was an unfamiliar sight:

In one corner of the backyard where he usually practiced, two figures stood out of place.

There stood Louis, his young son’s teacher. Kendrick was sitting cross-legged on the ground with his eyes closed while Louis observed him arms crossed.

Aaron approached Louis cautiously.

“Um…?”

“Oh, you’re here?”

“What exactly are you doing right now?”

“Well, I’m teaching your son how to be a proper mage.”

“Pardon?”

“I suppose it would be more accurate to say that I’m helping him awaken his elemental powers.”

“…?!” Aaron’s eyes widened in shock at Louis’s words before he scowled and shouted angrily, “What do you think you’re doing?!”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s too young to handle elemental powers!”

Normally, children were introduced to their elemental abilities around age ten. By then, their bodies had developed enough for them to safely cultivate these powers without any adverse effects.

That’s why Aaron had been postponing his son’s introduction to elemental powers, but Louis had gone ahead without regard for his wishes.

Aaron’s face darkened dangerously. “I’m currently focused on building a solid theoretical foundation and enhancing his understanding of elemental powers!”

“Relax, will you?”

“Do I look relaxed right now? I’m telling you not to fill Rick with false hope! What if he discovers he lacks magical aptitude and becomes disappointed…”

“False hope…” Louis scoffed. “Are you suggesting Kendrick can’t perceive elemental powers?” He glanced at the young Sword Saint still maintaining his meditation posture. “You’re seriously underestimating your own flesh and blood.”

“What do you mean…?”

“How is it that I know more about him than you, his father?”

”…?”

“How long has he been in this state now?”

“Huh?”

“It’s been six hours.”

”…?!”

“Despite our conversation right now, his concentration hasn’t wavered even for a moment.”

Finally sensing something odd, Aaron turned his gaze toward his son.

The boy sat with an unusually serene expression on his face.

Now that I think about it…

A question formed in Aaron’s mind.

For a child struggling with focus, sitting still without doing anything should have been difficult. Yet Kendrick looked incredibly relaxed. It seemed like they had just started not long ago…

Has he really been at this for six hours already?!

A mere six-year-old? Even adults would find such discipline challenging.

As Aaron grappled with these thoughts, Louis spoke up again.

“Shall we make a bet?”

“A bet… you say?”

“Yes, a wager. I’ll put one gold on whether Kendrick discovers his elemental power today or not.”

“What’s he talking about?!” Aaron exclaimed with a look of disbelief on his face.

The first step in developing elemental powers was sensing mana and recognizing one’s affinity within it. This initial stage was by far the most challenging because ordinary people couldn’t even perceive mana at all.

Even if someone could sense mana, finding their compatible element and awakening their power typically took years.

It wasn’t uncommon for those considered gifted to spend over a year just trying to grasp both concepts. Louis had heard tales of renowned prodigies who managed this feat in mere months, but accomplishing it in a single day seemed utterly impossible—no matter how much faith a father held in his child.

Louis merely smiled at Aaron’s reaction as though amused by his skepticism.

As Kendrick took his seat for the first time, he recalled Louis’s words:

With these words in mind, Kendrick continued to wish fervently inside him.

Will you be my friend?

Aren’t you bored out here?

Let’s play together!

Befriend me, please!

Kendrick was so absorbed in trying various methods to attract mana that he lost track of time.

In response to his fervent wish, mana began to gather around him. Kendrick was delighted by this unfamiliar yet refreshing sensation. However, as thirteen distinct elemental powers circled hesitantly near him, his desire intensified even more.

Please be my friend!

And finally, did he succeed in conveying his wish? One among the thirteen swirling elemental powers suddenly moved towards Kendrick.

Come here quickly!

Kendrick gently embraced the approaching red energy with warmth and brightness emanating from it. As its heat spread throughout his body instantly, he broke into a radiant smile.

We’re friends now!

As if answering his words, the red aura within his vision surged dramatically.

Fwshhh…

In an instant, a red glow flickered around young Kendrick’s body as he sat cross-legged, emitting intense heat. This phenomenon occurred twelve hours into his meditation.

Aaron had been watching over his son without leaving for even a moment and couldn’t help but gasp at this sight.

“Huh!”

As someone who could manipulate elements himself, how could he not recognize what was happening to his child? It was unmistakably the awakening of elemental powers.

“Is that… truly happening?” Louis asked, noticing Aaron’s stunned expression.

“I told you, didn’t I? You know less about your own son than me,” Louis said with amusement in his voice, leaving Aaron speechless.

Meanwhile, Louis’s true thoughts upon witnessing Kendrick awaken his elemental powers were quite simple:

Hmm? So it actually works?