章 12: The One with The Kidnapping
Upon arriving, Rudy introduced himself to Ghislaine, who had come to meet him. Ghislaine, wearing a revealing outfit and an eye patch, had a rugged appearance with scars and tan skin.
"Oh, Paul mentioned I should give you this letter," Ghislaine said. "I was supposed to leave the village before handing it over."
"Thank you. Did Paul not give you anything else?" Rudy asked.
Ghislaine's face changed slightly, but he managed a grin. "You're quite polite for Paul's son."
"I am Ghislaine. I look forward to working with you starting tomorrow."
Rudy glanced at the letter and read it aloud. It started with a humorous note from Paul: "To my dear son Rudius, if you're reading this letter, it means I've probably passed away in shame."
"WHAT?!" Ghislaine's reaction was intense, nearly causing the carriage to shake.
"Calm down, it's just a joke," Rudy reassured him. The strength radiating from Ghislaine was palpable.
The letter continued: "Haha, just kidding. You're my son, and even if I lose to you, I'm proud. If you have any questions, you can ask the muscular swordsman in front of you."
Ghislaine looked at Rudy with a new level of respect, having heard that Rudy was someone Paul had spoken highly of.
The letter also included details about Rudy's new job: teaching a young lady in Roa. Paul had warned that the young lady was quite rough and that many tutors had been driven away before. Ghislaine, the bodyguard and sword master, was hired by the young lady's family and would serve as a guide for sword skills.
Paul added, "The pay is one Asura gold coin per month, which is a normal market rate. You'll be teaching the young lady at her home for the next five years. I know you're at least a high-level swordsman and a water saint-level magician, possibly more. Please avoid taking unnecessary risks, and I'll visit Roa when the time is right."
Finally, the letter concluded with a note of pride: "I'm sure you'll surpass me easily. Your helpless and proud father, Paul."
Rudy folded the letter and breathed a sigh of relief. He was one step closer to his goal.
"What's the matter?" Ghislaine asked, noticing Rudy's sigh.
"I'm just looking forward to the new world," Rudy replied, leaning against the window. Outside, the endless grasslands stretched before him.
He had spent sixteen years becoming a Six Paths practitioner last time. Despite missing some prerequisites, the chakra origins of the heretic golem and nine-tailed beasts remained. Rudy saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to advance further.
[One step at a time. Even if I regain the power of the Six Paths, I'm unsure how to break through the world's barrier. Perhaps I need something like a meteorite to accomplish that.]
As Rudy pondered, the carriage reached Roa. The city was surrounded by a high wall, and as they entered the main street, vendors and the city's bustling life became evident. Roa, a city with a rich history and growing wealth, was a stark contrast to the village Rudy left behind.
Ghislaine guided Rudy into the castle, where the butler awaited to escort him to the living room.
Two rows of side-by-side sofas were placed in the center of the living room.
"Please sit here. The young lady will be back soon. Please wait a moment."
After the butler poured a cup of black tea, he waited quietly by the door.
Suddenly, a roar echoed from outside.
"Where is the person!"
The hulking man burst into the room, stepping heavily on the floor.
Rudy put down his cup, bent slightly, and introduced himself with aristocratic manners. "Nice to meet you. I'm Rudius Greyrat."
"Hmph, still polite. That guy Paul must have taught you well," the man said, expressing his satisfaction before leaving abruptly.
Rudy, curious, asked, "Who was that just now?"
"That was Lord Sauros Boreas Greyrat, the lord of Fitoa and Lord Paul's uncle," the butler explained.
Rudy nodded. Before he could sit down, another person entered the room.
"What's going on, Thomas? Why is the door open? Father must be in a good mood. What happened?"
"Young master, I apologize. The master met Master Rudeus earlier and seemed very satisfied with him."
"Oh, so father likes him... I hope I didn't choose wrong."
The man sat in front of Rudy and introduced himself. "Nice to meet you. I'm Philip Boreas Greyrat."
Philip's eyelids twitched when he saw Rudy's aristocratic etiquette.
"Well, I'm Philip. No wonder my father is pleased. Please, sit down."
Philip picked up his cup of tea and asked, "How much do you know?"
"I'm here to teach the young lady for five years. I understand her temper can be challenging," Rudy replied.
Philip sighed. "So far, the only instructors she has liked are Edna, who teaches etiquette, and Ghislaine, who teaches swordsmanship. Over five tutors have been dismissed. While I have high hopes for you and Paul's letter praises you, there's..."
Before Philip could finish, Rudy noticed the butler seemed to be listening attentively.
Considering Philip's earlier comments, Rudy thought the idea of pretending to be kidnapped might work.
"I have a proposal," Rudy said, "How about a staged kidnapping? We could arrange for me to be 'kidnapped' by someone in the house. I'll then use my skills in reading, writing, arithmetic, and magic to 'escape' and return. If the young lady sees how I manage, she might be more inclined to learn."
Philip looked intrigued. "Let me think about it. If we continue talking here, it won't lead to much. Thomas, show Master Rudeus to my daughter's room."
Philip stood up, and Rudy followed behind him.
After passing through the corridors and several corners, they finally reached the red-haired and aggressive Eris.
"I'm meeting you for the first time. My name is Rudeus, the youngest water saint-level magician on the continent."
Philip's eyelids twitched. He recalled Paul's letter and Rudy's accomplishments. Despite the impressive credentials, Philip remained cautious.
"Hmph! This person looks younger than me, and you want him to be my teacher? What a joke!"
Eris glared angrily, ready to pounce.
Rudy smiled slightly, then began to condense a fireball in his hand. The fireball, constantly changing colors, split into three and then formed a blooming flower before vanishing.
Eris, mesmerized, was momentarily taken aback.
However, her contempt remained.
Rudy took a step back, avoiding Eris's slap.
"You can't hit me with that attack, but I can still teach you," Rudy said.
"Damn it! Do you know who you're talking to?!" Eris roared, her anger palpable as she lunged at him.
Rudy deftly evaded her, causing her to crash to the ground. The impact only intensified her frustration.
"Don't run if you can't catch me!" she shouted, her voice full of fury.
Rudy retreated further, moving outside to a deserted area.
The magic tricks might fool amateurs like the butler, but Ghislaine was a different story.
To help Eris realize the importance of learning, Rudy decided to continue their 'battle' outside.
Two hours passed in darkness.
Exhausted and bruised, Eris had realized that catching Rudy was impossible, but her stubbornness kept her going.
Images of a cornered dog flashed through Rudy's mind, making him think of Eris in a similar light.
"Give up," Rudy said, "If you're willing to learn, I can teach you. Magic like this is impossible to catch unless you're as strong as Ghislaine."
Eris, panting heavily, conceded, "Fine... I accept... you can be my tutor..."
Rudy approached, seemingly 'unprepared'. Eris thought she had a chance to catch him.
As she lunged, Rudy faded away.
"This is the charm of magic," Rudy explained,who appeared leaning against a pillar. "And I believe you have great potential. You'll learn quickly."
Eris, disheartened, gave up and walked away angrily.
Returning to the living room, Philip and the butler were still present.
"How do you feel? Still confident?" Philip asked, a wry smile on his face. "After seeing your performance, it would be a shame to give up now."
Rudy pretended to be tired, then said, "If Eris had persisted longer, I might have lost all my magic. Luckily, I set up magic beforehand. I still believe in the plan. If Eris understands the importance of learning, she'll come around."
Philip shrugged. "Then it's up to you. Thomas, go prepare."
When Rudy awoke, he found himself in a dirty warehouse, bound tightly with cloth strips stuffed in his mouth.
"What's going on?" Eris yelled, realizing something was wrong. "What is this? Do you know who I am? Let me go!"
Her shouts attracted the attention of real robbers.
A burly man pushed open the door, annoyed. "What's all this noise, you little brat!"
"What! That stinks! Don't come near me! Do you know who I am? Ghislaine will chop you into... mmm!"
Eris was beaten severely, her resistance seemingly futile. She was thrown against the walls repeatedly, her cries of pain echoing through the warehouse.
After a while, the man stopped, glaring at Rudy.
Rudy, seeing the robbers were genuine, didn't eavesdrop but approached Eris.
Despite being covered in blood and still defiant, Eris muttered threats like "I'll never forgive you" and "I'll tell my grandfather."
"Quiet. Let me heal your wounds," Rudy said, using healing magic to restore Eris's condition.
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