Boss?"
"Gull Farion."
Nina hesitated at those words. There were many who sought out the Sword God, Gull Farion. However, the majority of them were a conceited lot who didn't know their places and sought to take the Sword God title themselves. Nina and the other disciples had the duty of turning them away.
"It may be impolite, but may I ask for your name?"
"It's Reyda. Reyda Liia. You understand just which Reyda Liia I am, right?"
"-! I understand. Please come this way."
However, the moment Nina heard her name; she bowed once to her and brought her inside.
In this world, there was only one who could boldly declare themselves as Reyda Liia. They were the top of the Water God Style; only the Water God called herself Reyda Liia.
Though Nina had considered for a moment the possibility that it was someone lying about their name, she could sense something bottomless from this old woman and extinguished that thought. Even if this woman was an imposter, she was someone of great skill.
They were guided by Nina and entered the place of the Sword God Style. Typical of snowy countries, the genkan there had a height difference. There, they shook off the snow, and then continued walking. The floor was wooden and squeaky. Reyda walked ahead whilst looking at Nina, and suddenly commented,
"Though you're young, you're quite obedient and keen, aren't you? Have you become a Sword King yet?"
"No, I'm still not there yet."
"I see. You're being humble despite probably being the strongest amongst the youngsters here, right?"
"Though I might be the fastest, I'm not the strongest."
"Ohhh? That's a good attitude. Good enough that I wouldn't think you were a youngster of the Sword God Style."
While making such conversation, the three of them arrived at the 『Space of the Present』.[1] There sat a single man. As though meditating, his eyes were shut.
Reyda felt like a sword had been thrust at her throat. As one of the heads of the Three Great Sword Styles, the 『Water God』, even in her old age she boasted the same strength that she did in her prime. However, only this man's sword was unblockable for her.
For this man was the Sword God, Gull Farion.
"I've brought Reyda Liia-sama."
"You've come."
Gull Farion opened his eyes a little and looked at Reyda. Though he glanced at the girl next to her, he immediately lost interest and looked away.
"You've travelled a very long way to come here. Such a long journey must have been tough on your old bones."
"It really was. But you bowed your head to me, so I came out of curiosity. Down we go..."
Reyda walked over to the Sword God and sat in front of him. Though she had said 'down we go', her movements were smooth like flowing water. A little distance behind her sat Nina, who seemed to be waiting, and the woman Reyda had brought along.
"So, who and what did you want me to teach? Is it fine if I teach this girl?"
Reyda gestured to Nina with her chin and asked the Sword God.
"Well, she seems like a docile girl. Though she might be suited for the Sword God Style, it's not as if she wouldn't be able to use the Water God techniques."
She had read the letter from the Sword God and came to this land.
『I want you to teach one of my disciples』 Normally Reyda would've torn up and thrown away such a letter. However, because the letter was from Sword God Gull Farion who hated relying on others, her interest was perked. However, were it only for such a reason, she wouldn't have come all the way from the Asuran capital.
"However, I have a condition."
"What?"
"Just as you wish for your own disciples to grow, I wish for you to show my disciple the Sword God Style. There's no need to teach her, so just that much is fine."
Reyda was sad over the fact that her disciple had grown arrogant. Amongst those learning swordsmanship in the Kingdom of Asura, there were many who were learning the Water God Style, however, few developed any ability. The girl Reyda had brought with her today was one of those few, and because there was no one equal to her amongst her fellow disciples, she had gotten a little carried away. Though she took her training seriously, because she had neither goal nor rival, Reyda had sensed that in this past year her disciple hadn't grown at all.
Reyda had brought her disciple here so that she would be brought down a notch, and because of that, begin to make great growth again. Even if the youngsters of the Sword God Style weren't strong enough to humble her disciple, just battling the Sword God Gull Farion would be cause for great gains in EXP. After all, for those of the Water God Style, the stronger the training partner was, the larger the results of their training.
Moreover, Reyda thought that Gull Farion was thinking the same thing when he called her here. His disciple would cross swords with the Water God Style, and tasting the Water God counters with their own body, they'd be able to grow, she thought.
"That's fine. It's a cheap price to pay."
"Huhun.[2] In that case, shall we have our disciples fight a bout?"
Reyda took the initiative and spoke those words. The aim behind those words was to have Nina take her disciple down a notch. Though it would also be fine to have the Sword God fight her, Reyda thought that being humbled by someone of the same generation would be more frustrating.
"That's fine. Nina, call Eris here."
"...Understood."
Seeing that exchange, Reyda went [Oh?] and tilted her head. Since meeting her at the entrance earlier, Reyda had thought that Nina would be the one she'd be training.
"Um, Shisho."