9 Birthday Party

For Rudeus, Roxy wasn't just a person who brought along the spell models for Advanced magic. She taught him magic theory, how magicians fought and their various tactics, even sharing more about the geography and ecology of other continents.

If it wasn't for her, Rudeus felt like he would still be a frog in a well, unaware of how big the world really was and only assuming the small piece of land he inhabited was the whole world.

Incidentally, his family also threw him a birthday party when he turned five. Apparently, the country he lived in did not have the custom of celebrating birthdays every year. People only celebrated birthdays three times in their lives: at 5, 10 and 15.

Once a person turned 15, they were legally considered an adult.

The party was a small but cosy affair. Zenith and Lilia had busied themselves the entire day to cook up a feast for the family. Roxy had also gone off somewhere to do something throughout the day. Only Paul was around to accompany him on his birthday, which suited him just fine since they spent the entire day sparring and working together to develop more Magic Sword techniques.

They gathered for the party at dinner time and the adults revealed the presents they had prepared for him.

Paul gave Rudeus a single iron short sword, since long swords would still be too big for him even after he turned 10.

"Rudeus, you are undoubtedly talented. This you have heard us say to you many times and I am sure you will hear it from many others as you grow up. This gift also carries with it my hope that you will not be blinded by their praise and become neither complacent nor arrogant. A man must always have a sword to protect the people important to him. That is the purpose of this sword. I actually prepared a second sword for you as well, and it is for the purpose of protecting yourself, even if you-"

"Too long. My turn!" Zenith cut him off even though he was clearly giving a passionate and emotional speech.

She pulled out a small brown leather jacket, meticulously tailored and lined with fur.

"This is something I made for you, because Rudy likes to run around outside even when its cold." Her speech was short and to the point, something Rudeus would have expected from his straightforward father rather than his mother.

The boy received it with both hands, running his fingers along the smooth leather surface of the jacket while tracing the fur that lined the collar. He could feel the love and thought Zenith put into every stitch of the jacket.

"Thank you mama, I will remember your warmth every time I put it on."

"Kyaa! Rudy even when he is being serious is just too cute!" Zenith cried out while stuff Rudeus' face between her mounds.

Next, Roxy revealed what she had been working on the entire day. It was another short sword, nearly identical to the one Paul had given Rudeus. It must have been what he was talking about before being interrupted by Zenith.

"Usually the magic teacher will craft a magic wand or staff for their pupil so that they can use Beginner magic. I forgot about it because Rudeus already knew how to use magic from the very beginning. I was going to make a normal wand for you, but since you liked to use magic with your swordsmanship, I worked with Paul to make this."

The short sword had a red crystal embedded in its hilt.

"Channelling your magic through the arcane focus, that is the magic stone in the sword, will make it much easier for you to use your Magic Sword techniques."

Rudeus' eyes brightened considerably after seeing his present from Roxy. Although he called his original sword style, Magic Sword style, this was the first magic sword he has actually held in his hands. Truly, Roxy is a great teacher.

"Thank you Instructor Roxy, I will take good care of it."

She didn't seem very happy about being called Instructor that night for some reason.

The last member of the family, Lilia, also had something prepared for Rudeus.

"Young master Rudeus, this is for you."

Lilia offered him a rustic looking ball that seemed to have been tightly woven out of dried vines.

Rudeus tilted his head at the present, not sure what to make of it.

"I coincidentally saw a doodle you drew of a stick figure kicking a ball, so I made this for you. My wish is for young master Rudeus to enjoy being a child more; playing with the ball more than training in magic and sword."

Rudeus held on to the vine ball, with his chest tightening and emotions dancing in his eyes. In his vision, an image of a black and white soccer ball appeared to have replaced the wooden vine ball.

Tears unknowingly fell from his large eyes, while the adults looked on in bewilderment.

A flustered Lilia approached with a napkin to wipe away his tears, "Was my present too lacking? I am truly sorry young master Rudeus."

Rudeus shook his head, "No Lilia, I love it. It's just, I don't know, everyone's love was just too overwhelming…"

All four adults felt as though an arrow made of cuteness was shot through their hearts. This attack was even more fatal than a strike from the Sword God.

Paul and Zenith immediately swarmed their child, squishing him between their bodies, "This child, really, mama and papa will never stop loving you so better get used to it!"

Lilia smiled faintly, watching with tender eyes while Roxy chuckled at the sight.

Dinner proceeded without further outbursts. Roxy and Rudeus' parents traded stories of when they were adventurers to entertain the family, under Rudeus' encouragement.

This was also when he found out his teacher wasn't Roxy the teenage witch. She was actually Roxy the middle-age witch.

Turns out, Roxy was belonged to a demon race called the Migurd whose members were typically short with small childish body and blue hair. More importantly, the Migurd also had a lifespan of around 200 years. Their bodies stopped maturing physically when they turned 14-15, before finally growing older after they reach 150 years old.

Roxy, who looked like she belonged in middle school, was actually several decades older than Rudeus!

Looks truly could be deceiving as Rudeus comprehended this newly found knowledge, and unbeknownst to him, the way he looked at Roxy also subtly changed.

Zenith only commented how envious she was of such a physique, though Paul tried to be charming by saying "I will still love you even when you get old and saggy"

What he thought was a romantic gesture instead left his shin in pain from where Zenith kicked him secretly under the dinner table.

But it was the adventurer stories the adults shared that had Rudeus' heart racing. Rescuing damsels in distress, fighting dangerous monsters and delving into dungeons to hunt for treasure. The adventurer lifestyle was truly a man's romance!

Zenith and Paul had laughed upon seeing Rudeus' star struck appearance, feeling their hearts lighten. Frankly, Rudeus has always been very mature for his age. And even that was an understatement. So on the few occasions that had Rudeus act his age, Paul and Zenith could feel like their son was still their precious baby who has yet to grow up before his time.

Unknowingly, those evenings where the Greyrats shared meals with Roxy slowly came to an end as they approached Rudeus' graduation.

According to Roxy's explanation, his graduation involved him casting a Saint ranked Water magic which would consequently earn him the title of a Water Saint-ranked magician.

Roxy had insisted that Rudy take time out of his Magic Swordsmanship training to finally learn Saint ranked magic and graduate.

It wasn't like Roxy did not enjoy her stay at the Greyrats household. But it was that she no longer had anything to teach Rudeus. It was already a few months since Rudeus learned all the Advanced and below grade magic she could teach. Since then, all she has been working on with Rudeus was magic theory, magic battle tactics and helping the child with developing his magic swordsman style.

While Paul helped with the physical side, Roxy often contributed her insights on matters like synergistic effects between different elements or acting as a safety officer when Rudeus experimented with particularly dangerous Magic Swordsmanship.

Other than that, Roxy was no longer even teaching magic per se. Seeing how she wasn't fulfilling the role of a teacher any more, she decided to firmly assert her authority to force Rudeus to graduate so that she could move on without any lingering regrets.

On the day of Rudeus' graduation, he was brought out of the village by Roxy to somewhere remote and far from the village. Apparently, the Saint-ranked magic he was going to learn was particularly destructive and could damage crops or even the villagers if they weren't careful.