Chapter 45 How can a rock be sharp?... Cast a Heal

Paul looked at Allen in bewilderment for a long time, finally understanding what kind of epiphany he was aiming for.

"This original secret technique of yours requires you to continuously maintain the Flow Style to deflect my attacks. But constrained by the fact that the Flow Style is inherently just a technique to parry and divert an opponent's momentum, you fundamentally cannot execute a counterattack while simultaneously deflecting the strike."

"And if you try to counterattack with other swordsmanship techniques midway, you have to stop the Flow Style. But if you do that, you might fail to properly guard against my follow-up move, leading to a mutual defeat even if you manage to complete the counterattack, right?"

Allen rubbed his brow helplessly.

"Right... You hit the nail on the head. That's also the reason why I didn't use this secret technique when sparring with you before. Just taking beatings without counterattacking is completely meaningless..."

Paul was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter.

"Then you truly are a born bodyguard! Those nobles in the Asura royal capital have seriously missed out on a talent!"

Allen rubbed his face in frustration.

"That's why I want my uncle to give me some inspiration to improve this secret technique, so that it can maintain the Flow Style while also effectively counterattacking the opponent."

Hearing this, Paul also found himself in a difficult spot. He turned around, walked over to a tree, pulled out his sword, and rubbed his chin while muttering.

"If you keep maintaining the Flow Style, you can't use other techniques to counterattack... If you use other techniques to counterattack, the Flow Style technique stops... Hiss... What should we do..."

After pondering for a moment, Paul said with a furrowed brow.

"What if we use the Flow Style to completely bounce the opponent's momentum right back at them? No, that won't work either. The essence of the Flow Style is simply to divert the direction of the applied force like flowing water; it's impossible to reflect the opponent's attack back exactly as it was... Then what if you maintain the Flow Style technique and only use physical strength to strike back? Would it be feasible not to employ other schools of swordsmanship techniques?"

Allen shook his head.

"I've thought of that too, but without swordsmanship techniques, the counterattack isn't fast enough. The moment you encounter an opponent of the same level or higher, they'll easily dodge the attack. And if it's an opponent of a lower level, there's no need to use this secret technique at all—you could just swing your blade and cut them down directly. Why bother using Flow Style defense?"

Paul scratched his head, wearing a dumbfounded expression.

"No wonder you were always deep in thought when practicing the Sword God Style. You Water God Style practitioners have way too many things to consider... It's making my head spin..."

Hearing this, Allen could only feel a helpless resignation.

At that moment, he felt a slight tickle on the side of his face. He turned his head and saw that Roxy was already right beside him, the single strand of hair atop her head poking directly against his cheek.

Allen blinked at her, just about to say something, but Roxy spoke first.

"That move you used when we first met—would that work? I remember you saying it puts a huge burden on the body. Does that mean that high-speed slash relies primarily on physical capability rather than swordsmanship technique?"

Allen smiled and spoke instinctively.

"The Twenty-Slash... I've considered that too. Although it is indeed a quick-draw slash that relies on physical fitness built up over years of daily practice into a few fixed swinging trajectories—making it closer to a bodily conditioned reflex than a swordsmanship technique—the problem is that my physical fitness can only support a few strikes. If I encounter a strong enemy and get dragged into an intense battle of attrition, constantly using the Twenty-Slash means I'd likely be the first one to collapse. In that case, it would be better to..."

Allen's voice grew softer and softer until it faded away completely. He stared wide-eyed at Roxy, lost in a daze for a long time, before an expression of sudden realization dawned on him.

Then, with an excited look, he slid his hands around Roxy's waist and ribs, lifting her up like a child and spinning her around twice on the spot.

"I've got it! Thank you! Goddess! You've been a huge help on every possible level!!"

Right after, amidst the stunned gazes of everyone present, the scumbag Allen casually dropped the wide-eyed, flustered, and struggling Roxy straight onto the ground, spun around, grabbed his blade, and immediately began practicing the Twenty-Slash starting from various postures.

Utterly focused.

Roxy sat flat on her bottom on the ground, watching the scumbag swing his sword. Her face was flushed with shame and bewilderment, and she was speechless for a long time.

Her entire existence felt ruined.

---

On the hillside, beneath the large tree.

"So you're saying Sylphie's overall magic level is currently only at the Intermediate stage?"

"Yes. To be precise, her overall level is somewhere between Beginner and Intermediate right now," Roxy said, wiping non-existent sweat from her forehead with lingering apprehension.

"Her magic control, magic power pool, and fluency in chantless casting all still need improvement."

*If another genius shows up, I really won't be able to stay in this village for even another second...*

Rudy propped his chin in his hand, watching Roxy scratch her cheek with a vague, flustered expression, and couldn't help finding it amusing.

*Roxy is still the same as ever... scatterbrained and lacking in self-confidence... yet she only makes people feel fond of her. As expected...*

*This is a Goddess!*

Aloud, he said.

"Well, Sylphie has only been studying magic for two months after all. She still has a long way to go compared to you, Teacher. That's probably why Allen wanted her to study magic under you."

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

Allen flashed over, blood spurting from his nose, panting heavily with a pale face as he spoke to Rudy, looking thoroughly miserable.

"Interrupting for a second... Give... give me a Heal..."

Rudy gave him a disdainful side-eye.

"I'm telling you, Allen, you're the one who invited the guest, and now you're the one leaving the guest hanging. What on earth are you thinking..."

Before he could finish complaining, the neglected guest had already taken action.

"O Goddess of motherly benevolence, please heal this person's wounds and restore his healthy body—Heal!"

Allen jolted as a wave of comfort washed over him. He gave Roxy a thumbs-up, then turned right back around to swing his sword nearby.

Sylphie anxiously trotted along behind him, speaking in a timid voice.

"Al... Allen... I know Heal too..."

"Your magic power is limited... and you've been studying offensive magic lately, so your chanting isn't very fluent yet, right? Uh... I don't mean to look down on you, it's just more efficient this way. Once you learn chantless Heal later, I'll ask you for help, okay?"

"T T... Okay."

Sylphie made a mournful face as she glanced at Roxy, then listened to the count of Allen's swings coming from various angles. Although his movements were slow, they still generated gusts of wind that blew Sylphie's hair up and down.

"121... 122... 123..."

Rudy sighed and turned to look at Roxy. The latter was watching Allen's shadow swings with a curious expression; given her personality, her anger had naturally dissipated not long ago, largely because Allen's utter absorption in sword practice without paying attention to anyone else felt so completely impartial.

Rudy shifted his gaze from Roxy to Allen, and then back to Roxy.

*Allen this guy has no manners, he didn't even say thank you... Besides, I can't even use chantless Heal, so how could Sylphie? Wait... this might actually be a good thing! If Roxy is only staying for a few days, and Allen is always obsessed with swordsmanship, doesn't that mean the rest of Roxy's time belongs entirely to me?! Haha, Allen, oh Allen, Roxy is bound to be mine. This time I absolutely won't give you any chances...*

Rudy couldn't help grinning into his signature wretched smile, right before Roxy's hesitant voice rang out.

"...Rudy, Sylphie, is the condition for entry into Allen's territory... to kowtow three times to Sylphie? Rudy... should I be kowtowing to Sylphie right now..."

Rudy's expression froze. He turned his head in shock and saw Roxy staring at the handwriting carved into the nearby tree, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly.

"Allen carved that! Go take it up with him! It has nothing to do with me!"