Author’s corner: HELLO HELLO! An interesting teacher and an anxious Yuu?

ANYWAY, sorry for the delay. The chapter should be up yesterday, but I ended up getting stuck at a friends house, so I didn’t have time to write it, however here it is, so rejoice!

Have a good read!

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The little Halfling opened up the way so that Yuu and I could come in. I sent Yuu ahead and followed her right behind as I could somehow notice a certain aura enveloping her teacher. Feeling somewhat annoyed, the Halfling followed us inside with a clear scowl in his face.

It was a fairly small house, with a simple fire-place and chairs on which to sit down. Yuu immediately went to the corner of the sofa, on what I guessed was her usual spot. The Halfling skipped cheerfully to sit beside her, but discretely sticking my feet out, he tripped on it and fell face first on the ground.

“Strange, sensei seems to always trip when I come…” Yuu said as I sat down besides her.

“…Maybe he has a bad sense of balance?” I said discretely while giving a mental thumbs-up to Hanbei. Somehow I had the feeling that she was also protecting Yuu when they came here previously.

Yuu tilted her head confused, but seemed to be satisfied, as she nodded in satisfaction. After getting up, the Halfling stared at me angrily, because with the two of us, he didn’t have a place to sit on the bench. Grumbling discretely to himself, he went to the table and took a chair so that he could sit near us.

After somehow climbing the chair that seemed a bit too tall to him, he turned back to us and put on a charming smile. And by turning to us, I mean that he turned to Yuu, just to let this clear.

“So, dear Yuu. What brings you here today?”

“Sensei.” Yuu nodded slightly, her tone sounding strangely formal. “I came here to tell you that I shall soon leave for a long trip together with Shishou and Hanbei, so I wanted to come here and warn you of this.”

“Ahh… You and little Hanbei?” He said with a surprised tone before nodding heavily. “I see, I see… Such sad news.” He said with a slightly sad look.

“Okay.” Yuu said with a nod before bowing. “Then, I’ll be taking my leave.”

Both, the Halfling and I became shocked once she spoke those words and raised herself from the bench. I saw as he blinked in shock a couple of times before scrambling up to his feet and running up to Yuu, where he grabbed her hand and dragged her back to the bench with a worried expression.

Meanwhile I kept staring at the kitsune with a surprised face. From the time I spent with her, she never really was this brusque as how she had been just now. While looking at her, I couldn’t help but notice that her ears were slightly tilted, as if she was worried.

Still, she followed the magician back to the bench.

“N-No need to be in such a hurry, right?” He said in a hurried tone while looking around. “Huuh… Oh! Stay for a cup of tea, at least! What do you say?”

He didn’t even wait for an answer from Yuu before darting away to what seemed like a small kitchen. I turned to Yuu with a curious glance for some time, but she replied with a simple awkward smile.

I didn’t get the chance to ask about it, because the sorcerer quickly returned while carrying a tea-pot and two tea-cups.

I squinted my eyes at the scene. I couldn’t help but feel that the guy was doing that as a blatant try to annoy me. Sighing discretely, I saw as the guy quickly snapped his fingers, making a water ball appear above the teapot before a vortex sucked it up to inside the pot. He took out the tea leaves from his pocket and dropped them on the teapot before summoning some flames to heat the water up.

I blinked surprised at how casual he looked while using all that magic, as even Yuu had to somewhat focus before doing something like that. Slightly adjusting the way I saw the kid-looking sorcerer, I saw as he eyed me with a fake apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry, but I only had two tea-cups…” He said with a smile that made me want to smack him in the head. But I replied in kind.

“No need. I know this happens some times.” I told him with the same smile.

I could almost see as the sparks flew between our eyes, both of us giving our death-stares to each other while hiding it behind a fake smile.

“So, I don’t think we’ve met yet? My name is Orrin Bluehands, Level seventy two sorcerer.” He said while extending his hand towards me.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. As I said before, I’m Gondorrer Gravelheart. Level twenty-nine Skirmisher. Yuu likes to call me Shishou. Something akin to sensei, but with more respect.” I said with a smile while making sure he understood where he stood.

He flinched slightly when I told him about the Shishou part and gave me a clear stare for a moment before returning his smile.

“Oh? I thought you were called Gondorrer Halflingbane?” He said with a smile.

“You must be mistaken. I don’t remember saying that?” I faked my innocence while tilting my head. “But I’m also known by other names, such as Pervertsbane, Midgetsbane, sorcerersbane… I might have said one of those.”

“Might have been that.” He nodded slightly. “But you know, it has been some time since I last saw a golem. Was it back when I killed the one who tried to assault me?”

“Wow. Such a unlucky fellow.” I said in a fake surprised tone. “It’s a shame that he did that…” Failing the job, I mean.

“Fu fu fu…” He laughed cheerfully. “Anyway, my dear apprentice, what exactly will you be doing that you won’t come back so soon?” He asked while turning back to Yuu.

“I will follow Shishou on his way to Sandroze.” She said briefly. Orrin stood there for a few seconds, waiting for a better explanation, but when it didn’t, I couldn’t help but put up a triumphant smile.

“With… I see…” He said with his smile twitching slightly. “And when exactly are you coming back?”

“We do not know.” Yuu said with a shake of her head, and ended there.

Orrin’s smile twitched a couple of times as he calmed down, then a long sigh escaped his lips as he saw that Yuu wouldn’t say anymore. Turning his attention back to the teapot, he seemed satisfied with the heat of the water, because he took the teapot and poured it into the teacups.

Yuu took one of the tea-cups… And passed to me, before picking the other one before her sensei could even reach it.

The Halfling stared in shock for a moment as he tried to understand what had happened, but before he had any chance, Yuu and I were already enjoying the tea, which I must say was surprisingly good.

A vein popping in his forehead as he stared daggers at me, he quickly turned to Yuu, putting on back his smile.

“Say, little Yuu… Why don’t you stay here with me while your… Shishou goes around traveling. This way you can train a bit more.” He said gently. “Didn’t you say that you wanted to become strong? I could help you there…”

“I believe that real experience is better than training to promote growth, so following Shishou as he hunts will help me grow faster.” She said after putting down her cup of tea. “But I still feel thankful for your offer.”

“I… I see…”

Is it just me, or this room is ridiculously cold? I mean, is Yuu always this indifferent when she talks to other people? She did act this way back at the airport, but I thought that she was just in a bad mood.

Taking a peek at Crys, who was seated down on my shoulder, I noticed that she had a slightly worried face, while Aura simply napped while laying her head on my feet. For some reason, I couldn’t help but feel that she’s too calm at times like these.

Shaking my head I brought my focus back to the Halfling, who was still at shock, his face twisted into a frown as he scrambled through his mind in search for an idea.

“Then, I could take you around for a training voyage.” He said with a nod. “Having your teacher go around with you could prove to be extremely helpful…”

“But then I would end up being taken care by sensei.” Yuu interrupted him once again. “That way I would not experience true danger, but might end up copying Sensei’s style, which is not what I wish.”

“Is it just me, or does Yuu REALLY want to end the conversation fast?” I whispered to Crys.

“It’s like she’s acting out of character…” Crys nodded lightly as she watched the exchange between Yuu and Orrin. “If I had to say, I think she wants to leave soon.” She said with a slightly worried tone.

“But why would that be?”

“I… Don’t know… She does looks anxious though.” She said while looking at Yuu’s ears, that were flattened against her head.

I also caught glance of Yuu peeking at me with a worried expression. It was brief, because soon after Orrin opened his mouth and let out a sigh, making our attention go back to focusing on him.

“Then, I have no other choice than to follow you on your trave…”

“I have to deny your offer once again, sensei. As I said earlier, it would only work to hinder my growth.” Yuu interrupted him.

“Then… Then…” He stuttered while choosing his words. “AAARGH! I give up!” He said angrily while scratching his head. “I didn’t want to resort to this, but you leave me no choice! Yuu! If you dare take your cute face and good body away from Eldor, I shall disown you as my apprentice and never again teach you!” He said while standing on his chair and pointing at Yuu.

Man, you need to take care to not let your true desires escape like that. You pretty much said it out loud, you know?

“Then it’s a shame. It was nice knowing you, Sensei.” Yuu said while bowing. “With luck, I might find another one of your caliber on my travels.”

Okay, part of me really feel some pity for the frozen stiff Halfling. The other, and far bigger, part was holding itself so I wouldn’t start laughing at his face. After recovering from the tea that almost choked me, I turned to see the Halfling holding Yuu by the hands just as she reached the door.

“I was only joking! There’s no way I would actually mean that!” He said with a worried fake smile while trying to bring her back in.. “There’s no way I would want to lose an apprentice as talented as you!”

“But…” Yuu said feeling a bit insecure.

“Look, I was only joking, okay! All I want is to help you grow up!” He said while nodding. “Yes, Help you grow as a sorceress, Teach you new skill, see as you grow up, become a better person…”

“Take advantage of her innocence…” I coughed discreetly.

“Take advantage of your innocence, try and make a move on you later on…”

His words, suddenly cut off in the middle as he paled and started sweating buckets. He blinked a few times as he looked at Yuu, but let’s just say that absolute zero was a bit warmer than what she looked at that exact moment.

“When…” Yuu started, her tone cold as the words dripped out from her mouth. “When I sought for a magic teacher… I did hear that sensei was a womanizer, and even though I know I’m a bit unknowledgeable about such things, I somehow knew that Han-chan and Shishou would help me.”

I felt a shiver run up my stony skin, as the air became colder, not in the metaphorical sense, but in the literal way. Heck, there was even some ice crystals forming around Yuu’s feet!

“And, to tell the truth… I was even starting to think that the rumors about Sensei were all but a bunch of harmless rumors, and I really thought that you were helping me of good intents…” Yuu looked really scary right now.

“Err… Yuu?” Orrin said with a worried tone as he took a step back. You know? I have the feeling that he might get killed if this goes on.

“But… To think that you had second intentions all this time… I really might have misjudged you-nyaah!” She suddenly trailed off as I suddenly put my hand on her head and started petting her.

“Geez, calm down, will you?” I told the kitsune as she squirmed slightly under my petting. “You can’t really blame him for wanting to make a move on a cute girl, right?”

“Eeh… Cute?” She said surprised, and it took me a moment to notice the wording that I used.

“A-Anyway…” I stuttered slightly from embarrassment. “It’s true that he might have second intentions, but he did teach you earnestly, right?” I asked her, and she hesitated for a moment before nodding meekly. “And you, if you promise to…” I turned to Orrin, but when my eyes landed on him I saw something slightly disturbing.

He stared at Yuu with a shocked expression as various expressions crossed through his face. We felt slightly creeped up by his appearance, and even took a step back hesitatingly.

“What is this…” He said with bloodshot eyes as he looked at the kitsune. “The cold and serious Yuki that I know… Suddenly acting all meek and shy…” He said slowly, his words dripping with a disgusting aura. “WHAT KIND OF ADORABLENESS IS THIS?” He shouted before leaping towards Yuu. “I WANT THIS YUKI FOR MYSELF!”

“KYAH!” Yuu shouted surprised as the Halfling’s eyes filled lust.

However, she didn’t only shout in surprise. She also raised her leg up high, hitting the Halfling mid-jump square in the jaw with a crunching sound. But the kick didn’t end there, as once it reached the peak, she brought it back down as an axe kick, landing it right on the guy’s stomach.

The perverted Halfling hit the floor with such strength that even the floor gave in, forming a small crater.

I was caught by surprise by the scene, and didn’t have the time to react to it, but by the end, Yuu had hid herself behind me while looking slightly scared. Blinking surprised, I stared at her then back at the mage.

For a moment I was worried that she might have killed the guy, but after seeing his hand twitching slightly I sighed in relief. Soon after, he raised his head from the ground as he got up.

“That… Hurts a lot more than I expected…” He said while getting up.

“Your eyes were strange, Orrin-san.” Yuu said from behind me.

Well, his eyes were pretty much the personification of lust when he jumped at her, so I can’t really blame her for that.

“You show me such adorable sight but then don’t want me to act true to my desires! Of course I would do something like that!” Well, if he is so energetic he should still be fine. “And you know what, I don’t care about it anymore! To hell with my good guy acting!” He said while standing up and dusting off his clothes. “Yeah, I was after your body for a long time. You are just too pretty and naïve to leave be! But that bastardly beast-girl kept getting in my way and kept taking you out from here before I could make my move!” he complained with a clear scowl in his face.

“So… The only reason you approached her was because she was pretty? What about her talents?” I asked while feeling my eyebrows twitch.

“Meh. Couldn’t care less about talent, as long as she was a good looking piece of meat.” He said with a humph.

I had to take a deep breath so that I wouldn’t end up jumping at his neck and dismembering him from limb to limb. Yuu and Crys even had shocked expressions while Aura clearly bared her teeth for all to see. After some time of calming myself down, I finally said.

“So, I take it you don’t want to be taught by him anymore?” I asked Yuu and she nodded weakly while still hiding behind me. Nodding, I turned back to Orrin and started to think for some time.

“Well, if I don’t have a chance with her, no need to teach her anymore.” Orrin said bluntly.

That made it for me. Taking a deep breath, I opened up my inventory and took a few things from in there. Mostly a piece of paper and some paint that I used to mark where to cut, then I leaned against a wall where I started writing something. After feeling satisfied with my words, I nodded satisfied and folded the paper up before sealing with some lines I used for sewing. I also tied a small extra something to the card, making a small bulge on the lines.

The others watched me in curiosity as I worked around with it, but after I was done, I took the sealed letter to put it in front of Orrin, waving it around as if I was baiting him.

“What’s… What’s that?” He asked me confused.

“In here, is a letter that might get you a night with an acquaintance of mine.” I said with a smile, and saw as his eyes widened in curiosity. “She’s a woman with a body so young and soft that you would swear she’s no older than a young girl, but at the same time she have all the experience that a mature woman might have.”

“Young… And experienced?” He said while following the sealed letter in front of his eyes as a dog following a big piece of meat. “How… Much are we talking here?”

“Oh. I can attest to her looks and experience. She’s is very cute, and surely can make a few hearts flutter around happily.” I said with a wicked smile. “And she have enough experience to make any of your dirty desires come true, you know? You will probably feel unable to move, so good that she is.”

“Why…” He started asking, but I interrupted him by pulling the letter away.

“In exchange for this, you will recommend someone to teach Yuu whatever she might need to know about sorcerers.” I said while eyeing him tauntingly. He gulped loudly while starting to sweat.

“I…” His eyes drifted away for a moment before “I don’t think I know anyone that could help…” He said, I put on a sad expression while taking the card and lowering it.

“Oh, it’s a shame, you know?” I said with a sigh. “In here was even the permission to do anything one’s heart could desire…” I shook my head, but his eyes widened. “To think that you had no ide…”

“WAIT!” He said while taking my hand and raising it. “I… Huh… It’s not a person, but I know something that might help!” he said while nodding. I raised my eyebrow intrigued and looked at him. “There’s… A grimoire, that’s said to help one find his ideal spells. I have a lead of where it might be, and even thought about going there once, but never had the chance!”

“Oh?” I said intrigued and made a motion for him to go on.

“I heard… A ruin, near Ezoria.” He said while nodding. “It was to the northwest of the capital! Last time the grimoire was seen, it was on those ruins.”

“And how do I know that you aren’t lying?” I asked while waving the letter in front of his face. “I can tell you that all that I said about this letter is true, you know? I hate lying and never do it for personal gains. Unless it’s for a joke or a matter of survival.”

“Look, these are just rumors I heard, so I can’t attest to them.” He said worriedly. “For all I know it could be a fake, but checking it could lead to a clue, right? Besides, You chosen have nothing to lose!”

I stared at him for some time before sighing and nodding. I lowered the card and gave it to him, seeing as a dirty smile appeared in his face.

“Go there next night, as she may be busy today. The address is in the letter.” I said briefly before leaving. “Oh, and don’t think about opening the letter, or else it will lose its value, okay?” I said as a confirmation.

After that we left the house without bothering to pay him more attention. Once outside, a slightly awkward atmosphere fell amongst us, and for some minutes it stayed that way, until Crys finally made the question that was in her mind.

“You were surprisingly calm back there.”

“What do you mean?” I asked the floating maid, and she smiled awkwardly before saying.

“Well, I was kind of expecting you to hit him, or flash-bang him or something…”

“Oh, but I did do that!” I said with a cheerful smile, and saw as the two looked at me confused. “I tied a flashbang to the card and set it to explode after we left. If he is still staring at the card, we should hear his scream right about…”

“HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!” A familiar voice cried from a certain distance.

“Now.” I smiled proudly as Yuu and Crys looked at me awkwardly. “What, you really thought I would let someone go out free after talking bad about my Yuu?” I asked, and saw as the two blinked surprised for a moment, but right then, I reminded of something and turned to the kitsune. “By the way, Yuu. Why were you so hasty to get out back there?”

“Huh…? Me…? My Yuu…?” She looked strangely shy, but shook her head to calm down. A slight blush still spread on her cheeks though. “Well… I knew that Orrin-san was a womanizer, but… I have almost no experience with flirting, so I had no idea if what he was doing was… Anyway, I didn’t want Shishou to misunderstand our relationship.” She said while sneaking a peek at me.

I couldn’t help but smile gently as I petted her head slightly. Right now I find it almost impossible to see Yuu flirting, so there was no way I could have misunderstood their relation. Still, for her to be worried about that was extremely cute.

“Hmm… Shishou…” Yuu said shyly after some time. I stopped and looked at her curious. “That… Woman you spoke… Who is she?”

I blinked before smirking mischievously.

“Do you want to know the content of the letter?” I asked, but she simply looked confused. “It was something around these lines: Sol, this guy is a jerk, and I sent him to you so you can teach him a lesson. I did promise him a young looking experienced woman, so I needed to send him to you. Do whatever you want with him because he accepted so upon giving you this letter, be it guinea pig or partner. In exchange, I’ll bring something interesting from my travels.”

Yuu and Crys stared at me in shock for a moment before exchanging glances between themselves and started giggling. I, indeed, sent him to a young-looking experienced woman and I did say that the letter allowed one to do whatever’s one’s heart desired. I never said who it was nor whose heart it was talking about, so I only spoke the truth, right?

While thinking so and chuckling mischievously to myself. Me and the girls made our way back to the city. However, one thing sparked up in my mind before then.

Didn’t I say something really embarrassing to Yuu back there?