A Story of a Noble Lady Who Was Ravaged by an Incurable Disease and Covered in Bandages All Over Her Broken Body; After Healing Her, She Turned Into a Stunning Beauty and Started Desperately Courting Me

Chapter 25: Going to Rufus with a Certain Request

“So, uh, how’s Alicia doing anyway? She feeling okay? Her body’s getting better, right?”

“Yeah. Alicia’s super energetic these days. And she’s busting her butt with rehab every single day, so her body’s improved a ton. I bet in like another month, she’ll be walking around freely no problem.”

“Oh, really? That’s awesome then. I’ve always wanted to go check on Alicia at the Elfemina house, y’know, but work’s been crazy busy every day, so I just haven’t been able to make it… So hearing about her from you, Setsuna, is a huge relief.”

When I told Rufus about Alicia’s current condition, he looked all relieved and chill.

And from that vibe, it was super clear Rufus really cares about Alicia a lot.

(Oh yeah, that’s right. Since I’m meeting Rufus and all…)

“Hey, yeah. By the way, Rufus, we’ve been talking lately about having a dinner after Alicia’s body gets better…”

“Oh, that thing? Yesterday Estelle told me about throwing a dinner to celebrate Alicia’s curse… I mean, her illness getting totally cured, and to thank you, Setsuna. And she said you wanted to invite me too. I wasn’t expecting an invite at all, so I was kinda shocked. You sure it’s really okay for me to join that dinner?”

“Yeah, totally. I mean, you’re like Alicia’s big sis figure, right? Alicia wanted you to celebrate her full recovery too, so that’s why I suggested inviting you. So, Rufus, you gonna join this dinner?”

“Yeah, of course. If it’s a dinner to celebrate Alicia’s illness being cured—she’s like a little sister to me—then I gotta be there. So I’ll make sure to take that day off work no matter what.”

“Haha, thanks! Alicia’s gonna be thrilled, I bet. So yeah, see you at the dinner then, please.”

“Yeah, you bet.”

So yeah, Rufus agreed to join the dinner Estelle’s hosting. Gotta tell Alicia that when I get back to the Elfemina house. She’s definitely gonna be stoked.

“Hehe, but man, Setsuna, the stuff I wanna thank you for just keeps piling up.”

“Huh? Stuff you wanna thank me for? Did I even do that much?”

“Yeah. Not only did you heal Alicia’s body, but you’re even helping with her rehab—can’t thank you enough for that. And now inviting me to this dinner too? I’m just overflowing with happy feelings. So this time, I wanna properly show you my thanks… Oh yeah. How about letting the Scarlet family give you a thank-you gift too?”

“A gift?”

“Yeah, a thank-you gift. I mean, the classic thank-you’s gotta be that, right? Stuff you want. If there’s anything you want, we’ll give you whatever. So, got anything you want?”

“Wha!? A-anything? B-but come on, that’s…”

“Hehe, no need to hold back or anything. You’re Alicia’s lifesaver, after all. So don’t be shy—just tell me whatever you want.”

Rufus said stuff like that. Basically, if I wanted anything, she’d give it to me.

Since Rufus is from a noble house, she’d probably give me whatever I asked for. But like, when she says stuff I want, I don’t really have much desire for things anyway…

“Uh… stuff I want, huh… Oh yeah. Alright then…”

“You find something you want?”

“Yeah. But uh, it’s not a request for Rufus of the Scarlet family—it’s for Guild Master Rufus… Mind hearing me out?”

“For me as guild master? Yeah, sure—if it’s something I can do, I’ll handle anything, so just say it.”

“Got it. So, I know it’s kinda rude asking this from you when you’re so swamped with work… But if it’s cool, could you train me once?”

“Train you? Hmm… You mean like, train me as an adventurer?”

“Yeah, that’s it. I’ve only been an adventurer for about a year now. So I’m still super clumsy with fighting skills and all that. I heard you’re amazing with the sword, Rufus, and I wanna keep pushing to get better as an adventurer, so I’d love if you trained me… What do you think? I get you’re busy, so if it’s too much, feel free to say no!”

I went ahead and asked Rufus that. And Rufus…

“Hehe, no worries at all. If you wanna grow as an adventurer, then as guild master, it’s my job to help out. So yeah, I’ll train you, Setsuna.”

“Really!? Thanks! Hearing that helps a ton!”

“Yeah. So, we’ve got like thirty minutes till my next work thing… Wanna just do the training here right now?”

“Huh? Right now? I’m totally down, but you sure, Rufus? It’s your break time and all…”

“Hehe, it’s fine. If it’s for you, Setsuna, I wanna lend a hand. So, how about it? Wanna start my training right now?”

“Y-yeah, please, if that’s cool!”

I said that while bowing my head to Rufus. Honestly, since she’s so busy, I figured she’d turn me down, but her agreeing to train me right now is way too generous!

“Got it. Alright, first I wanna see what you’ve got, Setsuna, so how about a quick mock battle here? This is the forest park, ground’s all soft grass, so even if you fall, there won’t be any injuries. Sounds good?”

“Yeah, got it! Let’s do the mock battle! Please, Rufus!”

“Yeah, you bet.”

And just like that, right after, I started a light mock battle with Rufus in the forest park.

—

Chapter 26.1: Hearing Rufus’s Old Stories

A little while after I asked Rufus to train me.

“Phew, alright, let’s call it a day on the mock battle here, yeah?”

“Hah… hah… Yeah. Thanks so much…”

—Thud!

I collapsed onto the ground, dripping with big beads of sweat.

I could tell she was holding back a ton since it was just a mock battle, but still—Rufus was insanely strong.

Not once did any of my attacks even come close to landing on her.

“Hah… hah… Sorry, Rufus… You took the time to train me, and yet I couldn’t do a single thing… That’s just pathetic, huh… hah… hah…”

“No, no, not at all. Actually, for someone who’s only been an adventurer for a year, moving like that is pretty impressive. You’ve gotta have had some really good teachers along the way, Setsuna.”

“Hah… hah… Huh? A bunch of teachers…? You can tell that just from this?”

“Yeah. After sparring a bit, you can kinda see it. I got this image in my head of all the people who’ve trained you over this past year, like they’re standing right behind you.”

“Hah… hah… Really… everyone’s faces…”

Hearing Rufus say that made me think back to all the senior adventurers who’ve helped me with training and practice—Douglas, Skuld, and so many others.

“Hah… hah… Yeah, you’re right. This whole year, tons of seniors taught me adventurer know-how and skills and stuff. But going up against you really drove home how much of a newbie I still am… hah… hah… By the way, Rufus, how old were you when you first started holding a sword?”

“I was basically before I even knew what was going on. The Scarlet family is a famous martial arts house, y’know. So I had a sword in my hand pretty much right after I was born, and once I was old enough to understand anything, my dad—who’s the knight captain—gave me strict sword training every single day.”

“Hah… hah… Whoa, got it… So you were training with a sword from when you were super little… hah… hah… No wonder someone like me can’t even touch you… hah… hah… I’m still just a weak little chick adventurer anyway…”

“…Hehe, okay, I see. Looks like you’re misunderstanding one thing, Setsuna.”

“Hah… hah… Huh? Misunderstanding…?”

“Yeah. You keep acting like you’re weak and beating yourself up about it, but that’s not true at all. You’re definitely not a weak person. Because you’ve got this ‘amazing weapon’ that nobody can beat.”