Chapter 115
“Could it be… that the self-proclaimed Guardians of the World disguised themselves as Grandma?”
I instinctively swallowed hard, flinching.
But if that were the case, Per wouldn’t just be standing still like this.
No, I can’t rule it out.
If there’s someone skilled enough to fool even Per…!
“Hm?”
Just then, the person—whether it was Grandma Mago or someone else—tilted her head and scrutinized me.
“You’re tense. Let’s see… oh my.”
She followed with a crooked smile, her eyes narrowing mischievously.
“Fear?”
“Waaah!”
The moment she said that, I screamed and wriggled violently out of her grasp.
What is this animalistic intuition!?
“Ahahaha!”
She laughed heartily, and the sound echoed throughout the garden.
Seeing her laugh like that… she does seem like Grandma Mago.
“No, I shouldn’t let my guard down.”
The person who pretended to be my mother last time could have fooled me if I wasn’t careful.
“Has it really been so long that you’ve already forgotten this old lady? That’s a bit disappointing.”
The person, presumed to be Grandma Mago, spoke again.
“Or… ah. Perhaps I returned too quickly, and you’re wary that I might be someone else disguised as me to welcome you.”
“Gasp.”
“Come to think of it, you said someone disguised themselves as your mother to plot something. It’s understandable that you’re on guard.”
That’s actually a very good attitude.
Then she smiled broadly, as if she were immensely proud of me, and added:
Judging by the way she speaks, it really seems like Grandma Mago…?
But what if she’s not?
“Help me, Per!”
In moments like this, Per is the only one I can trust!
I quietly turned my head and glanced at Per.
He shrugged his shoulders and gave a playful smile.
That reaction, that smile…
Maybe she really is…
“Grandma Mago?”
“Yes.”
At my words, Grandma Mago extended her arms toward me and smiled heartily.
“So, you’re not a puppy after all, but a little kitten.”
“Are you really Grandma Mago?”
“Of course. Who in this empire would dare impersonate me?”
Her violet eyes shone coldly.
“Anyone who gets caught will be sent straight to their death.”
Gasp.
By “death,” she must mean going to the afterlife, right?
She’s truly terrifying… and cool.
It really is Grandma Mago…
“G-Grandma.”
Having made my decision, I timidly walked back into her arms.
Grandma Mago dramatically scooped me up.
“Oh my, finally caught you! Now I’ll eat you up!”
“Kyaah! Hehe!”
Yes! I love this!
She really is Grandma Mago!
“Seeing such a little one so cautious makes my heart ache.”
While stroking my hair gently, she continued:
“And wanting to become stronger as well.”
“Hehe.”
So she heard everything.
I sheepishly smiled, rolling my eyes.
Not only am I so wary of people, but I also said I wanted to become strong so I wouldn’t be a burden…
No wonder it hurts her heart.
“And knowing Grandma’s personality…”
She might scold my dad, or my grandfather, for letting me become like this, right?
I’m betting she’ll scold Grandpa.
If Dad Shion comes back, she’d probably scold him too…
“Hmm.”
Just then, Grandma Mago patted my head again and spoke:
“I want to praise your desire to become stronger.”
“R-Really?”
I thought she’d tell me to just stay obedient and let her protect me since I’m a child!
“Of course.”
But contrary to my expectations, she still set me down with a cheerful smile.
“The Owen family values martial arts and physical training. For children this age in the Grand Duchy, learning martial arts is not unusual.”
“Wow.”
Hearing that, I let out a small gasp.
So that’s why Dad was so strong.
Come to think of it, in the main story, Dad had said something similar: that people in the Grand Duchy are required to learn swordsmanship from a young age.
So it’s not surprising that he’s this strong.
“Of course, Dad was exceptionally strong even among them.”
Thinking of a Sword Master somewhere, I swallowed hard.
“S-So when you said you’d help me, Grandma…”
“Yes.”
Grandma Mago nodded once and smiled warmly.
“I will teach you swordsmanship.”
“Wah!”
I’d thought about wanting to become stronger, but never imagined learning swordsmanship!
Does that mean I’ll be able to swing a sword and cut mountains like Dad Shion?
“No, no.”
That’s only possible for a Sword Master who appears once in a millennium.
I just need to be able to protect myself!
“It’s fortunate that this also relates to the birthday gift I have for you.”
While I was deep in thought, Grandma Mago started rummaging through her robes.
“I hurried all this way just to give this to you.”
“Gasp, did you really run here too, Grandma?”
So that’s why she came so quickly…?
Is this what they mean by like mother, like daughter?
“What? Who’d be crazy enough to run such a distance?”
Grandma Mago clicked her tongue in mock dismay at my words.
“Of course, I bribed a wizard to teleport me halfway. Those incompetent fools required me to swap people a few times.”
T-That much trouble…?
“Here, take a look.”
She then took something from her robes and handed it to me.
In her hand was none other than an old wooden sword.
A sturdy wooden sword, showing the marks of age but no sign of breakage.
“This is a family heirloom.”
I stared at it silently as Grandma Mago began explaining slowly.
“It was made by the first emperor using a branch from the Sacred Tree.”
“Wow…”
Even here, the story of the first emperor comes up.
Could the Sacred Tree be…
‘The tree in Pardes?’
Maybe I had visited an even more incredible place than I thought…?
“It’s sharper than a real sword and harder than any metal.”
“Whoa…!”
I gazed at the wooden sword in her hands, eyes sparkling.
She’s giving something so precious as a birthday gift?
“But until the sword’s owner is ready, it cannot cut anything.”
Grandma Mago continued, still staring at the sword.
“So for those unworthy, this sacred sword is just a toy.”
“Ah, I see.”
In other words, to me right now, this sword is no different from a toy.
That makes sense.
What if she gave me a real sword and I got hurt?
“You’re giving me such a precious sword?”
I looked at the wooden sword and then raised my gaze to ask Grandma Mago.
She nodded, smiling with the corners of her eyes turned up.
“Yes, this is both a gift and a test for you.”
“A test…?”
“If you truly want to become stronger, try cutting straw with this sword.”
Her violet eyes glimmered with determination.
“Then I will teach you.”
