Blinding sunlight poured down from the distant sky onto the earth. Even insects chose to take a midday nap to escape the sweltering heat.

  Yet in the courtyard ahead, two figures stood in silent confrontation, motionless as the scorching sun beat down on them.

  The entire courtyard was so quiet that even the sound of breathing seemed to vanish.

  At that moment, a small bird flew onto the treetop in the courtyard. Unaware of the unusual atmosphere, it opened its beak and sang as usual.

  "Chirp~!"

  Boom——!!!

  The bird’s song served as a signal.

  In an instant, thunder seemed to erupt out of nowhere in the courtyard. Two loud crashes rang out simultaneously, and two bolts of lightning collided head-on.

  Flutter, flutter!

  The bird on the treetop was startled and fled in panic.

  Behind it, in the courtyard, the rumble of thunder continued to echo......

  After some time.

  "That’s enough!"

  Rezelian, who had been watching the duel, called a halt.

  As he spoke, the two clashing "thunders" separated at the same time, revealing their figures.

  One was a young man around twenty years old, and the other was a girl only about twelve.

  The young man slowly lowered his wooden sword and stuck it into the ground.

  "Hulim, you’re amazing...... If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, big brother wouldn’t believe you’re only twelve!"

  Crack!

  The wooden sword stuck in the ground finally reached the end of its lifespan, shattering into pieces. On closer inspection, many of the shards were already charred black.

  "Brother Sieg is pretty strong too."

  Like Sieg, Hulim stuck her wooden sword into the ground.

  Crack!

  Soon after, this sword suffered the same fate as the other.

  "Haha, little sister, you’re really bad at comforting people! I’m already twenty! If others found out I was outmatched by my twelve-year-old sister, big brother would lose all face!"

  "......But Brother Sieg really is strong."

  "Alright, alright! Stop arguing, you two! Your father declares—you’re both strong! I’m the weakest, okay?"

  Rezelian stepped forward and said.

  "Haha, Dad, you’re so funny~! I lost to you before, remember?"

  "You rascal—are you really trying to outdo your old man!"

  "No, no, not at all~!"

  "Hmph, I hope not! But...... seriously——"

  Rezelian looked at Hulim.

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  "Hulim, how did you master all of Hayelar Swordsmanship in just one year?"

  "......"

  Hulim wanted to say she hadn’t actually mastered all of it—after all, two forms were still missing......

  But she hesitated whether to tell her father the truth about their ancestor, or about the Rank S swordsmanship.

  The Hayelar family had been this way for three hundred years. If they suddenly learned that their ancestor was not as recorded in the books, but an even more powerful existence—what would happen?

  Perhaps they would be overjoyed and even prouder. But then what?

  Their ancestor had long been gone, as Irus had told her. A Rank S powerhouse who no longer existed was meaningless. Moreover, if the news spread, it might attract the attention of those with ulterior motives. Even if there were no actual relics left, the mere possibility would drive some Rank A powerhouses to investigate.

  Furthermore, the swordsmanship was still just a guess. No one knew for sure if it existed in the Hekadiza Mountains. If it wasn’t there, telling her father would only give him unnecessary hope and disappointment.

  "I should go confirm it first......"

  "What? Confirm what, Hulim?"

  "Nothing."

  Hulim shook her head, then added:

  "Father, I was able to learn the Fifth Form in a year because I often practiced in the dungeon. The opponents there were just right, and I mastered it without realizing it."

  Hulim wasn’t lying here. Most of the monsters in Yukou Dungeon acted alone, and their strength was generally not weak—especially in the deepest levels.

  Using them to practice swordsmanship provided just the right amount of pressure. Additionally, these agile monsters had perfect compatibility with "Thunder"!

  As a result, she had mastered the form in less than a year.

  "A dungeon...... I see. With enough pressure, it’s not impossible...... Still, it’s amazing."

  "After all, you’re only twelve! In our family’s history, there have been those who mastered the swordsmanship before adulthood, but you’re the first at twelve!"

  "Well...... I guess I just got lucky."

  "L-Lucky......"

  Rezelian’s heart was quite complicated. Could this really be achieved by luck...... He had once thought Armen was the most talented in the family’s history, but now Hulim was even more extraordinary! And Sieg too—though not as gifted as Armen and Hulim, his talent was still remarkable!

  He had always thought he was quite talented himself, mastering all the family’s swordsmanship in his early thirties. But compared to these three children, he paled in comparison!

  What on earth was going on?

  Why had so many geniuses suddenly appeared in the Hayelar family’s current generation?! Did I accidentally do something good to earn the Six Gods’ favor, so they blessed the Hayelar family? Or was it Lilia who did something......

  "Sieg, Hulim—are you still practicing swordsmanship? Mom made pies! Would you like to try some? They’re Bobom Pies!"

  Lilia’s voice drifted into the courtyard.

  "Bobom Pies? I want some! I’ll be right there, Mother!"

  Hulim immediately ran toward the house.

  "Sieg, are you coming?"

  "Yes, Mother."

  Sieg also smiled and walked toward the house.

  "......"

  Watching the two figures—one tall, one small—Rezelian suddenly smiled and shook his head.

  "Who cares! They’re my son and daughter, after all. The more talented they are, the more it reflects well on me~!"

  Then he followed them into the house.

  "Lilia, is there a piece for me~?"

  "Yes, come in quickly!"

  "Alright, coming right up!"

  ......

  It was late July, New Divine Calendar 789.

  Manacos students had begun their two-month school vacation. Taking advantage of the break, Hulim returned to Mente Town.

  Incidentally, to save time, she had flown most of the way. Now a Rank B mage, she could maintain regular flight for a long time. As a result, the journey that would normally take more than half a month was shortened to just a few days, leaving her with plenty of vacation time.

  By a lake deep in the Mine Forest.

  Hulim lay quietly on a rock by the lake, staring blankly at the sky.

  "It’s been two years......"

  The forest was peaceful, with no wind. The lake surface was calm, like a mirror without a single ripple.

  "......I wonder how Semiris is doing."

  "Tiramsuin...... is it fun there? She didn’t seem to have any friends—does she get bored......"

  Naturally, no one in the forest answered her questions.

  "......Why are the Heavenly Realm and the Mortal Realm separated? Semiris said that a long, long time ago, there was no distinction between them in Himril. To guide the world onto the right path, the gods left the Mortal Realm and built Tiramsuin......"

  "......"

  "What is the ‘right path’......"

  Still, no one could answer her.

  Over the past year, Hulim had learned many things, and her experience and insights had grown greatly. But she still couldn’t understand what Semiris had said back then.

  Aren’t gods supposed to protect people? Why did leaving count as the right choice?

  Perhaps only the gods could answer this question. Or maybe one day, when she stood at a different height and understood the world more deeply, she would find the answer......

  "The time I agreed with Fran is almost here......"

  "I should go back."

  Hulim climbed up from the rock, took one last look at the lake, and turned to leave.

  Just a quick self-promotion: My Patreon has been updated to Chapter 200! For readers who enjoy advance chapters, feel free to check it out. Thank you!!