I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Elodie did not answer Qingden's question immediately.

Instead, he first gave Qingdeng a sly smile, and then with a "click," slowly opened the wooden box.

Inside the wooden box was a finely crafted wooden Western-style rapier.

Qing Deng's pupils contracted slightly: "A rapier...?"

“This is my beloved sword.” A childlike smile appeared in Elodie’s eyes. “I accidentally broke the tip of the sword while practicing the other day, and my grandfather asked one of his friends who is a carpenter to help me repair it.”

"It's finally repaired and returned."

Sword practice… Qing Deng keenly caught a word in Elodie’s words that he couldn’t ignore: “Miss Angoulême, do you know rapier?”

"Yes, I've been practicing rapier techniques since I was a child."

Elodie raised her hand and gently stroked the rapier inside the box, a hint of nostalgia and reminiscence in her eyes.

“I’ve loved Robin Hood since I was a child… Ah, Mr. Tachibana, you probably don’t know who Robin Hood is.”

"Robin Hood was a famous chivalrous thief in many European countries who liked to rob the rich to help the poor and to do good deeds."

"I really like this legendary chivalrous thief."

"Mr. Orange, don't laugh when I tell you this."

Elodie smiled awkwardly, her face turning bright red. She pulled her right hand to her chest and raised her index finger to twirl and play with the three braids hanging down her chest.

"I have always dreamed of becoming a chivalrous thief like Robin Hood, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and happy to help the weak."

"So when I was old enough to learn rapier, I pestered my family to find me a swordsmanship teacher."

"Even though I've moved to Japan with my grandfather, I've never slacked off in practicing rapier."

“At first, in addition to swordsmanship, I also wanted to learn archery, because Robin Hood was a master archer who could ‘shoot another arrow that had already hit the bullseye and split it in two.’”

"But my family strongly opposed my learning archery. They felt that archery was useless in this era except for hunting and having fun. At least learning rapier could be used for self-defense, so I had no choice but to settle for second best and focus on learning rapier."

Having said that, Elodie reached out and picked up the rapier from the box.

Elodie's beloved sword was made entirely of wood, making it very light. Even a little girl like her, whose body had not yet fully developed, could easily lift and wield it.

"The person who repaired my sword is really amazing." Elodie carefully examined the rapier in her hand for a few moments, then forcefully thrust it into the air a few times. "It's as good as new."

At this moment, Elodie did not notice that Qingdeng, who was standing next to her, was wearing an expression that was not being suppressed with a smile.

Dreaming of becoming a chivalrous thief... Qing Deng finally understood why Kinoshita Mai and Elodie were such good friends.

Although their outward personalities seem completely different—one introverted and shy, the other lively and outgoing—their inner thoughts and ideas are quite similar.

Qingdeng glanced at Elodie's sword-wielding movements, and his eyebrows immediately rose sharply in surprise: "Miss Angoulême, your movements are quite impressive."

Qing Deng's statement was not meant to flatter Elodie.

Elodie's sword-wielding movements were indeed quite impressive, with a very steady swordsmanship. For a girl who is only 12 years old this year, this is already considered to be a particularly sharp skill.

Hearing Qingdeng's praise... Elodie did not show any joy.

Instead, he looked dejected.

"Mr. Ju, you flatter me."

"I still have a long way to go."

"Whether it's skill or temperament... I'm far behind."

At this point, Elodie seemed to recall some unpleasant memories. She stared intently at the rapier in her hand, her face darkening.

"If you don't have the courage to stand up to others... then no matter how well you hone your skills, it's useless."

"I'm really lacking that kind of courage right now."

Elodie looked up at Qingdeng, a dry laugh with a hint of self-deprecation on her face.

"Although I keep saying I dream of becoming a Robin Hood-like outlaw, I don't even have the courage that an ordinary person should have..."

"I'm too timid."

"Let alone seeing someone charging at me with a gleaming weapon... just hearing someone yell at me often makes me cower in fear, too scared to move..."

Having said that, Elodie, as if trying to dispel her distress, pursed her lips and casually swung her rapier in a gesture as if swatting away flies, stirring up the surrounding air.

Suddenly, without any warning—Elodie's body froze, and then her eyes lit up.

"Oh right, how could I forget..." After muttering in a voice so soft that even she couldn't hear herself, Elodie excitedly turned her gaze back to Qingdeng.

"Mr. Ju, would you like to practice swordsmanship with me for a while?"

"Hmm?" Qing Deng was taken aback, then he looked at Elodie with a questioning gaze: Miss Angoulême, why did you suddenly ask me to practice swordsmanship with you now?

Having understood the meaning behind Qing Deng's gaze, Elodie's lips curled into a slight smile.

There's no particularly special reason.

"It was just... a sudden whim."

"If Mr. Tachibana is unwilling, then forget it..."

Qing Deng frowned slightly and pondered for a moment.

He instinctively wanted to refuse Elodie's sudden and inexplicable request.

After all, he still had the task of "monitoring that pastry shop" and didn't have much time to play with Elodie here.

However... after seeing Elodie's current expression, the words of refusal that were already on Qingdeng's lips just wouldn't come out.

Despite forcing a smile that said "I don't care," Elodie's eyes still held a faint glimmer of hope and expectation as she looked at Qingdeng.

Mr. Orange, please practice your swordsmanship with me for a while—Elodie practically had this message written all over her face.

*******

*******

Today is the last day of the month. If you still have monthly tickets, please be sure to vote for this book! (Like a leopard crying.jpg)

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets!

Some parts of this book that you might think I'm padding the word count for actually contain a significant amount of important foreshadowing. For example, let me ask you a question: Does anyone remember Natsume Sohachiro, who appeared in a previous chapter or this chapter? I bet you've all overlooked him.

I suggest everyone read this chapter carefully and attentively. Those who are interested can find a notebook to jot down some of Elodie's slightly strange words and actions in this chapter, or simply bookmark this chapter so that you can come back and read it more often when you have free time. It will be useful.

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

It's the last day, so please be sure to vote for this book with your monthly pass!

Chapter 170 Copying Talent [Plump Breasts], *beep* Incompatible with host [7200]

"You want me to practice swordsmanship with you... what exactly do you want me to do?" Qing Deng asked in return.

“All you need to do is spar with me,” Elodie replied with a smile. “I haven’t sparred with anyone in a long time… I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to spar with someone or something that isn’t air.”

Elodie's current expression... reminded Qing Deng of the expression Kinoshita Mai had when she revealed the hidden identity of Nekozo to him and asked for his help in dealing with the group of slayers who used Eita as test subjects—it was the same expression that showed hope and expectation, along with a little bit of worry.

They were worried that Qing Deng would reject them.

Thoughts and a subtle, almost imperceptible confusion flickered in Qing Deng's eyes... These emotions together formed the feeling known as "hesitation."

Qingdeng has never been the indecisive type.

He didn't keep Elodie waiting too long—

"……I see."

Qingdeng raised his head, looked at the ceiling above him, and let out a long breath.

When he lowered his gaze back to an angle where he could look Elodie in the eye, a gentle smile tinged with a hint of helplessness appeared on his face.

"Then I'll practice swordsmanship with you for a while... but I can only stay with you for a short time."

—Consider it a thank you to this child for publicly defending me and Ms. Kinoshita earlier.

Elodie had just been in the study, arguing vehemently with Anthony and the others about the good qualities of Fox Monk and Cat Monk, and striving to protect their image... This made Qing Deng feel somewhat embarrassed, but also slightly moved.

This was the first time Qing Deng had ever heard someone praise his and Kinoshita Mai's current achievements and accomplishments so highly in person.

There's a feeling that... everything that Kinoshita Mai and I have done so far has been worthwhile.

Anyway, Miss Angoulême's request isn't too unreasonable or difficult to fulfill, so let's grant this request to our little fan who just helped me and Miss Kinoshita... If we practice swordsmanship with this child, we might be able to copy some useful talent from her—that's the thought that Qingdeng is holding right now.

Talent is something that transcends age and gender.

Who knows if this child has some hidden, useful talent?

Qingdeng felt that Elodie had quite good eloquence, so Qingdeng guessed that he might be able to copy the talent related to eloquence from her.

Perhaps because she didn't expect Qingdeng to agree so readily... Elodie now looked like she had "stopped thinking".

She stared blankly at Qingdeng.

Then... she didn't say anything.

He clenched his fists, then, while grinning foolishly, jumped up and down several times, his face slightly flushed with excitement.

She was so happy that she jumped up and down on the spot... Her actions spoke louder than a thousand words.

……

……

The place Elodie chose to practice swordsmanship with her was a spacious corridor adjacent to the restaurant.

According to Elodie, this is the widest hallway in their house.

This corridor is large enough for three burly adults to walk side by side... more than enough to serve as a place for sword practice.

“Miss Angoulême, is it alright if I just fight you?” Qing Deng softly repeated the request that Elodie had just made.

“Mmm!” Standing opposite Qingdeng, Elodie nodded vigorously as she bent down and took off her white velvet slippers, which were not convenient for running due to their high heels, revealing her fair and delicate feet, with ten toes as translucent as white lotus sprouts.

Qingdeng nodded, gesturing "I understand" to Elodie, then glanced at Elodie's robe: "Miss Angoulême, aren't you going to change your clothes?"

"Going back to change clothes is too much trouble."

When the word "changing clothes" was mentioned, a look of fear and annoyance appeared on Elodie's cheeks.

"Mr. Ju, you probably don't know... that women's clothing in our country is extremely complicated to wear."