Sword, Magic and Academic Society
Vol. 1 - Ch. 231 - Area 81 (2)

"Aren't you being a little too harsh on the kid, Red Demon?"

The words sounded sharp, but there was no accusation in Ignis's eyes.

It seemed like he was genuinely curious why Dio didn't step in when required?

"...He came here knowing the risks. We have no connection, but he still asked me to guide him. I am not free enough to hold him by his hand. And he has already given his words, he wouldn't complain even if he were to die."

Dio's voice was flat, emotionless.

At first, Deo had waved him off when Parry asked to be taught, finding it annoying, however he reluctantly caved in when both Satowa and Ignis urged him to.

«Come now, Red Demon. Why be so stiff? How someone teaches says a lot about who they are, and this is the best way to learn about you. Think of it as part of your evaluation, yeah?"

«Regardless of how you handle it, I was planning to add today's wages as a bonus anyway... What do you say?»

Faced with their persistence, Dio had grudgingly accepted, under one condition that he just mentioned.

And yet, so far, he had taken no action that could be accounted for teaching, except quietly gazing at Parry as he fought monsters. Now, when he was just one verge of dying, he didn't do as much twitch, and this ultimately had Ignist intervene in the situation. 

Ignis narrowed his eyes at Dio’s response for a brief moment—then suddenly broke into a broad grin, throwing an arm around his neck.

"Isn't it part of the job to help the eager young ones grow? C'mon, I don’t know a damn thing about spears, so give the kid something."

With his thick arm locked around Dio’s neck, it felt like being caught in a judo hold—his head was forced down against his will.

Ugh... Can't move...

Perhaps it was the disparity in their strength, or the techniques, but Dio was completely pinned under Ignis's gestures. He tried to shook him off, but to no avail.

Of course, he wouldn't go as far to stab the spear on Ignis's foot.

"Haa... you're annoying, you know? ...You should have realised it as well. This isn't at all about the spears. The kid’s too rigid—his mind, his movements. To put it bluntly, he’s got no talent."

Dio heartlessly made his remark, without any attempt to ease the revelation. Parry's expression turned blue as if something blunt had struck his head. 

After being touted as a one-of-a-kind genius since his childhood by his surroundings, it was apparent he would be shaken.

Dio's words stabbed him like a needle. It wasn't due to the cold remark, but that he himself had felt he was making no significant improvement lately. 

While his classmates soared ahead, their skills sharpening at an alarming rate, the doubt sprouted in his mind; could it be... he is lacking in martial talent? 

Dio's words were like a last hammer on nail while finding himself cornered. 

"You think so? Hmm... Hey, Ren! What do you make of Parry? You think he’s got no talent?"

Allen, who had been completely absorbed in swinging his pickaxe, paused when Ignis called out to him.

Parry shot him a glare, sharp and piercing. But deep in his eyes latched a fear at the possible answer.

"Parry-kun huh... well, to be blunt, he indeed doesn't seem to have a knack for it."

Allen gave it some thought before answering in an even, measured tone. Parry's expression twisted.

"But—"

Allen closed his eyes for a moment, as if recalling something from long ago, then slowly opened his mouth to speak.

"But he does have one, one that isn't apparent, and is definitely superseding *everyone I know.* I believe the door to his slumbering talent would surely awaken once he found out why he picked the spear. I bet he can reach a height that even Dio can't if he can achieve that."

Allen remarked, and returned to his mining operation.

"Pfft…! Hahaha!! So, you heard him, Red Demon. It appears Parry's got more talent than you!"

Ignis slapped Dio’s shoulder, clearly enjoying himself.

*Sigh.* Dio remained quiet for a moment, glancing in Allen's direction as he absorbed in his mining, and released a sigh before turning to Parry.

"……If you had observed the situation more calmly, you would’ve noticed that Steinfrosh had the distinct coloration of a rare subspecies. And tell me—who in their right mind goes all out with a reckless thrust against an unknown monster right from the start? And your third mistake was not noticing Steinfosh had hardened its head with mana, then not only you let astonishment take over you, you also made yourself a sitting target by not moving away. That kind of carelessness is how morons die."

Parry, caught off guard by Dio’s unexpectedly measured tone, hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Y-Yeah… that certainly was a fatal situation."

"If you had watched its eye movements carefully, you would have realized its real goal was to drag you into the lake. And in your panic, you even made a suicidal move—raising your spear to strike while your leg was still trapped. You have a death wish or something?"

As Parry recounted the situation, he pressed on his lips into a tight line, shaking his head.

"Then when it turned into a tug-of-war, you would've never lost with your strength expansion by Body Strengthening magic. But, your biggest error wasn't this—"

"Why didn't you seek for support when our eyes intersect? Did you think I would be coming to save you, that it's natural for me to protect you? You had a choice to either save your life, or stick to your nauseating pride, and you chose later. You had only one life—just one—and you treated it like it was disposable. That, I cannot forgive."

Dio didn't criticize him on his skills, but was questioning his resolve, his mind.

Parry clearly felt that much, seemingly opening his mouth to say something, but ultimately bite on his words. His hands curled into fist, as he swallowed his words.

He might have wanted to argue, but after a near brush with death, and having his life saved by Ignist, anything he said now would ring hollow.

Dio saw the way Parry’s fists trembled, and he understood exactly what was going through the boy’s mind.

"Your only fuel to press forward is 'I will put my life on line,' and this is your problem. Your heart is too fixated on this aspect that it's also hampering your instinct, your movements. It is never about a spear. The 'staking my life' isn't something you can decide on whims. It means to throw forge yourself within the fire of hell, and even going against the world—"

Coming here, Dio swallowed the rest of his words, and shook his head.

"...Anyway, age has nothing to do with it. One who has it, has it from birth. ...It’s not something you can learn just because someone tells you to. However you must learn about your heart, or else you will die before you reach your goal. ...Well, not that it's any concern of mine."

"Hehe, see you could have just be honest all the while. You really are no less of a handy person, you know? Hey, Allen, thanks for the follow up!"

Ignis watched with grin as he watched Dio giving the guidance and casually threw those words my way. But I had no reason to be thanked.

"I wasn't ad-libing. I simply told you what I really think because you asked. But, why picked me?"

I asked, casting a sideways glare at Satowa. 

It was just a vague feeling initially, but I was sure now Ignis knew who I am during out greeting. I didn't believe he'd threw a question to Explorer Ren who have zero connection with  Parry-kun. 

I know he's someone who know the definition of distinction, so I don't particularly care, but it's definitely a problem if anyone just picked about me. 

"Haha, don't sweat over it. I heard about you from Meria-san. Pfft! I have never seen someone giving her as much headache as she is making you out to. You're like a alien to her with nothing but chaos inside head."

Goodness, now I am alien? What rudeness.

I just want to do waht I find fun, and live a unfettered life. Why is such a simple, straightforward hard to understand?  But, from Ignis-san's words, it appeared he met with Marquis quite often. That's something, as expected of illustrious A-rank. 

"Of course, it's because I trust in your appraisal, Ren-kun. And I certainly am intrigued with that. So, you really do believe on what you said?"

Satowa smiled as he spoke, and I scratched my head.

Honestly, I just said it because Parry-kun reminded me of my previous-self from Earth. We, of course, differ in personality, and he had more talent than I could ever have in physical challenge and intellectually.

And yet, blessed by talent he was, even I found myelf his hard work excessive. It's this desperate side that I felt like I was watching at my old self. He’s losing sight of why he’s working so hard.

His effort, his vexation—it’s become an end in itself. He’s stuck in a cycle of suffering, forgetting the sight of his original goal. 

Back when he first picked up a spear, I bet he loved it.

Just holding one probably made his heart race with excitement. Training must have been pure fun.

If he could just remember that feeling—remember why he picked up a spear in the first place—then all that effort would yield completely different results. I know that better than anyone.

This simple-minded idiot just have to cast away any of secondary thought, and focus only on his spear. I believe no one would be master than him. Honestly, just the thought of it brought shiver to me.

Well, considering his personality, I believe he would never have Dio’s smooth fluent, and phantasmal spearwork, no matter how much he trains.

Of course, there's never just one pathway to reach the answer in any field. 

"…You look like you're enjoying yourself."

Ignis’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He was looking at me curiously.

Apparently, I’d been smiling without realizing it.

"I was just wondering… if Parry-kun’s talent fully blooms, what kind of title would suit him? How about… ‘Drill Parry’?"

I blurted it out without thinking, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed.

"Drill…? I don’t know, but that sounds—no, it definitely sounds lame. What did you even imagine to come up with that?"

M-meaning?

There was no deeper meaning behind it whatsoever. It's just Parry-kun's face reminded me of drill when I look at him. 

"Uh, well… A drill can refer to repetitive training meant to refine a specific skill. It also means a tool that pierces through tough materials. And since Parry-kun is stubborn and single-minded, I figured he’d tackle any obstacle head-on and break through it."

I really should’ve just kept my mouth shut. But for some reason, I went ahead and tacked on that ridiculous explanation.

Ignis raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That’s actually not bad."

"Hey, Parry-kun! Ren has come up with a nickname for you—«Drill Parry»!"

Then, in the most serious tone possible, he called out to Parry whose expression visibly scowled as he glared at me.

 "Are you mocking me?"

…Yeah, can’t really blame him for that reaction.

"What he’s saying is—someday, your 'iron will' is gonna be strong enough to 'pierce mountains.' That’s the meaning behind it."

Excuse me?! Since when did my silly wordplay turn into some mountain-drilling warriors?!

We don’t even have tunnel-boring machines in this world!

Sure enough, Parry-kun let out a long, exasperated sigh before turning on his heel with a muttered, "Ridiculous."

Watching him walk away, Ignis grinned mischievously.

"Oh yeah~, he’s definitely loving it. Bet he’s crying tears of joy right now."

…There’s no way he’s happy about this. And no way it’s bad enough to make him cry.