Bab 19: Chapter 19: Stone: Let Me Be Your Mentor
The angel bathed in holy light slowly disappeared behind Alex, and only then did the old bishop and Stone breathe a sigh of relief.
As devout believers of the temple, they naturally understood the exalted status an angel held within the temple.
Although the angel might not have been as powerful as Stone, her mere presence was enough to exert pressure on everyone.
Moreover, even though this grand knight appeared rough and straightforward, he was also a devout believer. Even if he could fight, would he dare to?
Of course not.
At the same time, their perception of Alex changed considerably.
"Holy Spirit Protection…"
The old bishop clasped his hands tightly, staring intently at Alex. He had guessed that this young man had a significant background, but he didn't expect him to possess the Holy Spirit Protection!
"This kid has some skills."
Stone, too, crossed his arms, looking at Alex with a satisfied expression and nodding. It was rare for someone to get the better of him.
Although it seemed like Alex had used a trick, this wasn't a duel or a tournament where fairness mattered.
In real battlefield combat, fairness was irrelevant, so Stone was not displeased by Alex's counterattack; he found this young man quite interesting instead.
"Huff…"
As Alex sheathed his sword, sweat covered his forehead. The last counterattack was a stroke of luck. If he hadn't managed to unleash the Holy Storm at that moment, he wouldn't have been able to force Stone back.
However, the biggest takeaway from this battle was that Alex realized the vast gap between himself and the top-tier fighters of the main world.
He had initially thought that with his A-level proficiency in Royal Cross Swordsmanship, he could at least hold his own.
But he was wrong—he was in grave danger from the start. If Stone had been familiar with his swordsmanship, Alex wouldn't have stood a chance.
Stone had only conceded because his weapon was destroyed; otherwise, who knew how the fight would have ended?
Indeed, the gap was still too wide.
Shaking his head to dispel his lingering frustration, Alex looked at Stone and asked.
"Sir Stone, did I pass the assessment?"
"Hahaha, of course, you passed."
Stone laughed heartily at Alex's question, showing no signs of the frustration of defeat.
"You've passed the assessment. It's been a long time since I've met someone as interesting as you. By the way, what's your name?"
"My name is Alex."
Hearing Alex's response, Stone chuckled. Then he thought for a moment and looked at Alex again.
"Well, Alex, how about I be your mentor?"
"...Mentor?"
Alex was visibly surprised by this unexpected invitation, while Stone nodded seriously.
"Yes. To be honest, from our battle, I noticed that while you have some combat experience, your basics are not solid. And although the swordsmanship you've mastered is powerful, you can't use it flexibly. It's a waste of such pure holy power if it's not used well. What do you think? I think it's a good offer. I'm not like those old fossils who will nag you with rules every day. Just follow me and learn to fight. How about it? Simple, right?"
Impressive.
Alex's eyes lit up at Stone's words. He knew his own limitations.
He had learned some combat skills, but they were mainly for self-defense, not meaningful in real battles.
After coming to this world, Alex was practically thrown into battle, learning on the fly.
He had read many fantasy novels where skilled combatants could judge each other's strength with a single clash. But experiencing it firsthand was different.
In this continent, a mentor was akin to a master. Having a mentor was a great honor.
So, should he accept this offer? The answer was obvious.
"I am honored to be under your tutelage, Sir Stone."
Receiving guidance from a powerful knight in this world was a golden opportunity for Alex.
"Huh?"
Hearing Alex's response, Stone widened his eyes, showing a hint of displeasure, and Alex quickly corrected himself.
"...Mentor."
"Good, hahaha, not bad, not bad. I finally have a student. Let's see what Vala has to say now!"
Stone laughed triumphantly. The old bishop beside him rolled his eyes, wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent, casting a sympathetic glance at Alex.
'...Wait, why is he looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong?'
While Alex was puzzled by the old bishop's gaze, Stone was already striding toward the door.
"Alright, kid! Remember to get ready. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to give you special training!"
"Special training?"
Alex was puzzled by Stone's sudden declaration, completely caught off guard.
"That's right. Get ready and brace yourself; you're in for a tough time!"
"I understand."
Frankly, it was surprising to undergo special training right after joining the temple.
However, Alex was accustomed to the swift and decisive actions in the military back in his world, so he quickly agreed despite his initial surprise.
Seeing Alex's response, Stone simply waved at him and then turned to leave.
The old bishop's expression shifted several times before he sighed and quickly followed Stone.
"Stone! Stone!"
"Hm? What is it, old man?"
Hearing the bishop's call, Stone turned to face him.
"Are you really going to take that young man?"
"Of course. Didn't I say so? Since he's my student now, he has to follow me. Besides, you saw him, right? He's not one of those pampered noble brats. His swordsmanship is quite good—I'd say he's at the level of an intermediate knight. He just lacks combat experience. With proper training from me, he'll definitely get better."
"But even so..."
The old bishop clearly disagreed with Stone's impulsive decision.
"Are you really planning to do this? You know that young man showed the Holy Spirit Protection…"
"That's exactly why I need to train him, old man."
Stone's usual playful smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
"Luckily, it was just the two of us in the training ground. But imagine if the heretics found out we had a novice knight with Holy Spirit Protection. What do you think they would do?"
"This…"
The old bishop's face changed at Stone's words.
"Don't forget the disaster during the Dark Moon of Corruption. The Holy Spirit Knights were almost wiped out. We lost that entire order. Even though many of those chaotic cultists died afterward, the blow to our church was almost fatal."
"..."
This time, the old man didn't respond immediately. He was silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh.
"Of course, I haven't forgotten… It was a terrible time…"
"That's why it's rare to see Holy Spirit Knights now. Their legacy has almost disappeared…"
Stone paused for a moment.
"I think he might be able to reclaim the Holy Spirit's legacy."
"After all you've said, do you think I'd agree to him becoming your student?"
The old bishop raised his eyebrows, glaring at Stone, who merely shrugged.
"Sure, I admit my methods can be a bit rough, but you can't deny they're effective, right? He's still too weak. If he can't even protect himself, how can he grow?"
The old bishop hesitated for a moment before sighing deeply.
"Alright… I agree. I won't report this to the Central Bishop Council for now, and I'll ensure only the two of us know. Is that enough?"
"Thank you, old man."
Stone's smile returned.
"Trust me, this is the right decision."
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