Chapter 91. <37. You're the best, Master Rumian!>
What Rumian said to Tania could be considered quite rude.
It wasn't simply advice but a remark that crossed the line.
If someone told a person who had trained with the spear their entire life to take up the sword instead, or recommended the spear to someone who had only ever wielded a sword—how many people would accept those words as being for their own sake?
Probably no one.
And what Rumian said was just as radical as those examples.
'Telling me to completely change my style itself!'
That was why Tania couldn't help but harden her expression.
If it weren't for Rumian, she might have said something harsh. No, even coming from Rumian, it was extremely unpleasant.
She spoke.
"Did I hear that correctly?"
"Yes."
"You're telling me to change my swordsmanship style?"
"Yes. In my opinion, that seems best."
"Haah……"
Tania sighed while holding her head.
Rumian made an apologetic expression.
It was an expected reaction. Since he was essentially denying everything she had worked for, of course she would feel upset.
He continued with a cautious expression.
"I'm sorry for saying this. But I think it would be even ruder if I wasn't honest with you."
"......."
"Also, in case you misunderstand, I'm absolutely not looking down on you, senior. Rather, I was quite surprised. I think you have far greater potential than I thought."
"That potential... can only be realized if I change my swordsmanship style?"
"……Yes. That's why I brought it up even knowing it would be rude."
Tania looked at Rumian's eyes.
Rumian didn't avoid her gaze. He thought that if he looked away here, he wouldn't be able to give her trust.
Perhaps that thought was correct.
Tania, who had been looking at Rumian as if glaring at him, exhaled with a "whew" and placed her sword on the weapon rack. Then she gestured toward the outside of the training ground.
"Seems like this will be a long conversation. Shall we go outside and talk?"
"Thank you. For listening seriously."
Rumian slightly bowed his head. It was fortunate. At least she was willing to have the conversation.
Tania chuckled wryly and responded.
"No. I'm sorry. I overreacted. You're not trying to give me a hard time, and you must have a reason for saying such things. Let's meet at the plaza a little later. I sweated a lot so I need to wash up."
"Yes, alright."
A short while later.
The two met at the plaza and moved to a suitable teahouse.
After quickly placing their order, Tania got straight to the point.
Her expression still wasn't bright.
"Before hearing your story, let me speak first."
"Go ahead."
"I'll admit that my swordsmanship might look very lacking to you. Actually, I'm somewhat confident in my Aura cultivation training, but swordsmanship... I think I still have a long way to go."
Perhaps because she was agitated, Tania's words gradually became faster.
She continued with her story.
"But even so, I don't think it's at a level so pathetic that I need to change my style. I've trained fiercely in my own way, and achieved results in my own way. I may be weaker than you, but I haven't lost the top spot once throughout the entire first semester."
"......."
"Besides, my current style isn't something I created on my own. It was made based on the advice of the professor in charge of the third-years."
"The third-year professor? By any chance, Professor Ben Barrett?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Tania asked with a puzzled face.
Because Rumian's expression wasn't good.
"No, well... What kind of advice did that professor give you?"
"Advice? Well..."
"Ah, wait a moment. Let me guess."
Rumian raised his hand to stop Tania's words.
After lowering his gaze and thinking for a moment, he spoke carefully.
"By any chance, did he say that since Senior Tania's aura has water-like characteristics, you should pursue a flowing, soft swordsmanship style?"
"Oh!"
Tania made a surprised expression.
She even shifted in her seat as if she might stand up.
Rumian continued speaking.
"That since women lack physical power compared to men, you should focus on polishing speed rather than strength, and technique rather than direct attacks, and instead of lowering your center of gravity, you should pressure opponents with light movements..."
"Oh, oh! How did you know?"
Springing up.
Tania completely rose from her seat.
Startled by her forcefulness, an employee spilled the tea. The employee bowed apologetically and went back to get more tea.
Even then, Tania couldn't calm her excitement.
Watching this, Rumian clicked his tongue internally.
'As expected. That guy, he looked stubborn and full of prejudice...'
Ben Barrett.
He was someone Rumian, as a second-year, didn't have much occasion to interact with, but Rumian knew him.
Because he remembered words he had heard in his first year, before he came into this body.
'Pathetic. Not from a knight family, and seems to have neither persistence nor enthusiasm, so he's done for growth.'
It wasn't wrong. The Rumian of that time indeed had neither motivation nor confidence.
However, no matter how true that was, his attitude of pouring out abuse rather than encouragement to a first-year who had just reached the starting line was extremely unpleasant.
Of course, his actual skill wasn't bad. Sword Expert at the initial level was enough to be treated as a strong expert in a small country like Tarajan.
'But he has no eye for people. He teaches students relying only on rigid stereotypes.'
Previously he had been somewhat doubtful, but hearing the advice he gave Tania made it certain.
He was right.
Rumian decided to push forward with his thoughts even more strongly.
"Senior. First, calm down."
"Ah, sorry. I was too surprised..."
Tania made an awkward expression and sat down.
But her face was still flushed.
She urged Rumian.
"Quickly, quickly. How did you know?"
"Well, that's because I was thinking about similar aspects to what that professor felt."
"What aspects?"
"That Senior's aura quality is similar to water. That women lack muscle strength compared to men."
"What, then Professor Barrett's words weren't wrong?"
"No. He was completely wrong. It's correct in general cases, but not for Senior Tania."
"……I'm, different? How do you know that?"
"I watched, so I know."
"W-what?"
Tania said in a flustered voice.
Of course she understood. He was saying he had watched her training with the sword, handling aura.
But regardless of that, her heart was pounding.
While she was worrying about how to respond, the tea came out again.
Tania took a sip to calm her trembling heart.
Then Rumian's explanation continued.
"It's true that Senior's quality is similar to water. It's also true that most such people pursue soft swordsmanship."
"Right."
"But there are types of water too. While some have aura like a river that flows softly and endlessly, others have aura that doesn't flow well and sits heavily. Like a reservoir or a lake."
"……What. Are you saying I'm the latter?"
"Correct. Ah, by the way, I absolutely don't mean the latter is bad."
When Tania showed signs of dissatisfaction again, Rumian waved his hands.
He wasn't talking about good or bad right now.
He was trying to say that even the same water could be utilized in completely different ways.
"Heavy sitting water boasts tremendous weight comparable to rocks or mountains. For someone like Senior Tania who is confident in her aura capacity, it's even better."
"......."
"Being a woman, or lacking strength compared to men, is not a problem at all. A greatsword suits Senior."
"You're telling me to use a greatsword?"
"Yes."
Rumian answered with unwavering eyes.
Eyes that showed a firm heart. Tania was flustered.
"No, wait, I'm so confused right now..."
"It's okay. You can do it. I'll explain again."
Rumian continued his explanation once more for Tania.
There was nothing particularly different in content. He just repeated what he said earlier a bit more slowly and in detail.
Tania gradually became absorbed in Rumian's words.
First, what he was saying wasn't nonsensical. It had enough persuasiveness for her to nod along.
Above all, the atmosphere she felt from Rumian right now shook her heart.
He pushed forward steadily like a mountain.
With an unwavering appearance, approaching her with sincere concern for her, he gave her no small amount of trust.
'Was there anyone who advised me this seriously for my sake?'
There wasn't.
Even Professor Ben Barrett, whom she had mentioned at first, didn't do this. Come to think of it, apart from the advice she heard in her first year, she didn't think she had ever heard anything particularly meaningful.
Just appropriate praise, appropriate encouragement. He only showed a level of interest anyone could show.
Thinking about that and seeing Rumian's appearance now, the difference in temperature was beyond words.
'Was there really a style that suits me better?'
She wavered. The thought that Rumian might really be right gradually bloomed in her heart.
But it wasn't enough to abandon her stubbornness yet.
Overturning her life, efforts, dreams, and various emotions packed into it with just words hurt her pride.
It was too much after all. She sighed softly and looked at Rumian.
And just as she was about to slowly open her mouth.
"Wait a moment, Senior."
"......."
Rumian's upper body suddenly came closer.
His face enlarged in a flash. Tania pulled her head back with her heart pounding wildly.
Belatedly coming to her senses, she snapped at him to hide her embarrassment.
"W-what!"
"I know you're worrying a lot. A junior telling you the professor's advice is wrong and to believe his words instead. Even I think it would seem strange. So..."
"……So?"
"To help you believe my words a bit more easily, there's something I want to show you."
After finishing his words, Rumian sat back in his chair.
Then he looked around.
It seemed he was checking whether anyone was paying attention to them.
A question mark rose in Tania's head.
What is it. What on earth is he trying to show her that he's acting like that?
While she was thinking that.
Whoosh!
As if a flame blooming, aura rose from one of Rumian's fingers.
Aura Sword!
That technique that only Experts could demonstrate.
Tania stood up from her seat with a shocked expression.
"What is this!"
Clatter!
Crash!
"Ah!"
Perhaps because she stood up too hastily.
The table shook and the teacup fell to the floor. People's attention focused on them.
Flustered, Tania looked toward Rumian, but the Aura Sword had already been withdrawn from his hand.
"Let's talk somewhere else for now. Ah, I'm sorry. I'll pay for the broken cup."
"Are you not hurt, customer?"
"I'm fine. Haha."
Rumian conversing with the employee who had approached.
Watching him, Tania's mind was incredibly complicated.
***
A short while later, the two left the teahouse and walked along a quiet walking path.
A bench suitable for sitting happened to be visible. The two sat there without a word.
Even after that, silence continued for quite a while, but eventually someone had to open their mouth.
"You showed me Aura Sword to... tell me to believe your words, right?"
"Well... yes."
Rumian kicked a pebble at his feet. The flying pebble hit a nearby tree.
"It may be a childish thought, but I thought if I showed you that my skills are at this level! it would add more credibility to my words..."
"Hahaha."
Tania laughed.
It certainly was a childish thought.
My skills aren't inferior to a professor's!
So believe my words!
To summarize, this was the feeling.
But it was sufficiently effective. Tania changed her thinking to follow Rumian's words.
'He tried to persuade me even while revealing his secret, so I can't help but believe him.'
Thinking about it, it was strange.
Even she, who was on edge about each of Rumian's actions, didn't know this fact.
It meant it wasn't a secret to be revealed to just anyone. Probably only Theo, Boomer, and Kal Krone would know, and everyone else would surely be unaware.
Yet he revealed that important thing to her.
Why on earth?
Tania decided to ask honestly.
"Why did you do that?"
"Hm?"
"It seems like a secret you were hiding tightly. What's the reason you tried to persuade me even while revealing it?"
"......."
At Tania's words, Rumian's face remained calm.
But his inner thoughts weren't. He was blaming himself for his own patheticness.
'It's not a big secret. I've even shown it at a tavern to pick up women before...'
He even showed his swordsmanship.
Thinking about that, revealing it to Tania was nothing.
But revealing this exactly as it was would be too embarrassing.
So Rumian decided to package his words to sound good.
He spoke with a serious expression.
"Well, it's because I trust you, Senior Tania."
"……Me, trust me?"
"Of course."
Rumian nodded and said.
Hearing this, Tania's eyes grew large.
Her face also became slightly flushed.