Chapter 10
Ray closed the book with a sigh after exchanging questions and answers.
Luna waited patiently for Ray’s lesson to resume.
Although Luna’s demeanor seemed obedient at first glance, Ray couldn’t help but click his tongue when he noticed the relaxed atmosphere still lingering around her.
‘Two years should be enough to strip me of everything I know.’
In just one day, they had progressed as much as others might in several months—effortlessly gliding through material like water.
Even calculating conservatively, Ray estimated that it would take no more than two years before all of his academic knowledge was completely exhausted.
While it was true that Ray possessed only the level of knowledge expected from an undergraduate student… this pace was undeniably abnormal.
He had read stories in books about someone mastering six languages at the age of seven, teaching number theory at twelve, or solving world-renowned problems at seventeen—but facing such unattainable genius up close felt entirely different.
‘Now I understand how Jimy must have felt.’
If anything, Jimy’s situation must have been even more severe.
Ray scratched his chin.
Though it might take two years to deplete all his knowledge, within the next few months, Luna would undoubtedly discern the limits of what Ray could teach.
Already, numerous times, Ray found himself at a loss mid-lesson, stumped by Luna’s innate talent for numbers.
‘Think positively,’ Ray told himself.
He decided to consider these two years as a buffer period during which he could bring in a mage or someone skilled in another field to assess whether Luna had talents elsewhere.
As Ray prepared to reopen the book, Karen, who had been hanging behind him, suddenly bit his ear.
“Ow! That hurts!”
“Why do you only care about Luna?”
“What? I can’t hear you.”
“Why do you only pay attention to Luna?”
Karen, perched on Ray’s shoulder, pounded it with her head, clearly upset.
“You’ve been giving her special lessons every day lately!”
“I offered you the chance to join too.”
“It’s moving too fast for me!”
“That’s exactly what I think.”
Karen’s complaint resonated deeply with Ray. Who was the monster capable of memorizing the formula for the area of a triangle in the morning and proving that the definite integral of a reciprocal function equals a logarithmic function by evening?
The very Luna sitting right before him.
Recently, Ray had become so confused about where they’d left off the previous day that he often spent long periods flipping through his notes.
Karen, too, had worked hard, memorizing multiplication tables up to 19×19 in an attempt to keep up with Luna, but her opponent was simply too formidable.
“Karen, there’s a saying.”
“Hmm?”
“A flying mage surpasses even the fastest knight.”
Karen tilted her head momentarily before realizing the meaning behind the proverb and burst out in protest.
“Ray, that’s unfair!”
“Tsk, show some respect for your teacher.”
“Ray is stupid! Ray is dumb! Ray is a poop dog!”
“If you keep this up, you’ll get penalized.”
“Ray is mean!”
Despite her protests, Karen bit Ray’s ear again before storming out of the classroom.
Ray warned her retreating ponytail.
“Don’t pretend to be upset. I’m not falling for it this time.”
Over the past few years, every time Karen acted out, Ray had chased after her to calm her down. Lately, however, she had started feigning offense for trivial reasons, merely to lure Ray into finding her.
Realizing that he was being gaslighted by a nine-year-old, Ray shook his head and drew the line.
“I already told you. Don’t hide under the covers waiting for me this time.”
Aware that her plan had been exposed, Karen glared at Ray with her lips pursed.
Regardless, Ray resumed the lesson.
As Karen alternated between glaring at Luna and Ray, tears welled up in her eyes, and she ran out of the classroom.
Listening to her fading footsteps, Ray sighed.
‘This time, she’s genuinely upset.’
Let’s see. Next time, I should ask Matthew to give her a horse ride.
They could ride to the center of the Baron’s Territory and visit the restaurant that serves Karen’s favorite meat dishes.
By the time they returned to the orphanage after eating, she’d likely have cooled down.
Lost in thought while reciting mathematical theories, Ray slapped his cheek.
Engaging in theoretical discussions without preparation with someone like Luna—a prodigy—was bound to make one look foolish.
Focus, focus.
While Ray concentrated, pressing his brow, Luna watched him calmly as always.
*
Cheeks puffed up as much as possible, Karen approached Johanna and Delun, who were on the playground.
The two were engaged in a somewhat deep discussion about how to rotate their bodies four times or more in the air.
“Your arms need to be tucked in to speed up the rotation.”
“The legs should extend at the last moment.”
“But you’re both already doing that.”
“True. Let’s drink more milk to build strength then!”
Interrupting their chatter, Karen voiced her grievances.
“Ray has changed. Lately, he’s always sticking with Luna. He says he likes people who work hard, but really, he prefers smart people. Ray is a liar.”
Despite Karen’s unexpected complaints, Johanna offered warm reassurance.
“Ray wouldn’t lie to Karen. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
“I’ve been telling him I like him all the time. I really, really like Ray. But…”
“Yes, I really like Ray too!”
“?
Caught off guard by Johanna’s unexpected declaration, Karen looked up.
Johanna grinned innocently upon making eye contact.
“Ray really likes us too! So, Karen, you don’t need to worry.”
“Johanna? Last time, you told me you liked Delun!”
“Yes, I like Delun too. But I think I like Ray a little more!”
Delun, who had been listening beside them, nodded in agreement.
“I really like Aunt Johanna. But I think I like Brother Ray a little more because he’s strong and cool.”
“This is ridiculous! You’re both weird!”
“I’m sorry, Karen. If I did something wrong, I’ll apologize.”
No good.
We’re not on the same page here.
Karen’s “like” and Johanna and Delun’s “like” referred to entirely different things despite using the same word.
After muttering to herself for a while, Karen eventually gave up trying to explain and handed a wooden plank to Johanna.
“Here, catch this. This time, I’m going to succeed.”
“Are you sure?”
“I can do it.”
With a determined scowl, Karen pushed off the ground with all her might.
However, as proof that sheer determination isn’t enough for everything, Karen once again failed to land properly and stumbled badly.
“Ugh!”
Pushing herself too hard, Karen misstepped quite significantly.
In the midst of a crisis where she could easily break her knee or elbow, Karen panicked.
At that moment…
Whoosh!
A sudden gust of strong wind supported Karen’s lightweight body for a brief moment.
Seizing the opportunity, Johanna and Delun grabbed Karen’s arms just in time, sighing in relief.
“We’ve got you!”
“Thank goodness.”
“…?”
Perplexed by the power of the wind she had never experienced before, Karen glanced around and turned her gaze toward the orphanage building.
Luna, who had remained in the classroom, calmly observed Karen before lowering her head to continue writing.
After brushing off her pants and feeling relieved that her knees were unharmed, Karen stormed off toward her room, still sulking at the thought of Ray and Luna in the classroom.
*
It had been two days since Karen stopped talking to Ray.
Taking the opportunity, Ray dropped by Jimmy’s office to enjoy a cup of tea.
“Nice sword, Jimmy.”
Though Ray’s compliment seemed slightly out of context, Jimmy, flustered yet satisfied, placed the sword on his desk.
“Really? Even the future Sword Master thinks my sword is decent?”
Who is Jimmy? Once a renowned mercenary.
For mercenaries, weapons are akin to extra lives, hence most mercenaries are obsessed with acquiring good ones.
Jimmy was no exception. Though generally indifferent to luxury, when it came to weapons, he was different.
During his mercenary days, he went into debt to acquire a good sword, and that sword saved his life countless times.
Even after retirement, he cared for it like his own wife, ensuring it retained its lustrous sheen.
“So, Ray, let me tell you how I got this…”
Chuckling, Jimmy excitedly began recounting his unprompted past when he inadvertently glanced at Matthew and froze.
Matthew had been subtly hiding Jimmy’s beloved sword inside his coat.
Only then did Jimmy remember.
Back in the distant past, shortly after entering the mercenary business when he was still inexperienced and weak, senior mercenaries in the industry would use certain lines to swindle him.
Hey, Jimmy! That coat looks nice!
Hey, Jimmy! Those shoes you’re wearing today are pretty cool!
Hey, Jimmy! What’s this? You brought your shield today?
“Eek… Eek…”
Recalling those nightmares, Jimmy slammed his trembling fist onto the desk.
“No!! No way, buddy!! Not my sword!! This is my wife!!”
“But Jimmy, why are you so upset? When did I ever ask you to offer your sword?”
“Geez, didn’t I? Haha, I got carried away!”
“But Jimmy, don’t you hear it?”
“…? Hear what?”
“The sound of our territory shrinking.”
“Damn it!!”
Infuriated, Jimmy sprang from his seat and hurled his sword, still in its scabbard, at Ray.
“Get out!! Take it and leave, damn brat!!”
“Ah, it was a joke. Why are you so mad?”
Chuckling, Ray waved his hand and pointed to the inner drawer of the desk.
“Anyway, I’ll need to acquire a new knife. Since I don’t have any savings, could you lend me a bit?”
“Hmph, just take what you need. Swords will break often during training anyway.”
“Thanks. I won’t turn it down. By the way, how’s the information I asked for coming along?”
“You mean the stuff related to the Count’s family?”
Straightening his posture, Jimmy looked at Ray seriously.
