"Shut up. I'm not as resigned as you are."
"I'm not resigned either, you know..."
As I rowed the boat, I looked at Instructor Catolea."You're worried that Iris might hate you, Instructor? Despite saying you didn't care what Platanus and Saffron thought of you?"
"Leave it alone. I liked you and Iris, you know."
"Really..."
"I've graduated many students over the years, and I shouldn't be favoring any particular student. But Iris is the same gender as me, and she also uses a saintly sword of the divine sword, right? So, I felt a sort of... what's it called..."
"Sympathy?"
"Yeah, that. Like sympathy. I felt like she had things in common with me."
I decided not to mention that Iris had outgrown her in both height and figure. I really don't want to be killed.
"So I wanted to act like a senior in life to her. But I'm no good at it. I'm just thirty, like going through being a fifteen-year-old brat twice. I'm still green."
I was somewhat surprised to hear Instructor Catolea's real age, but I decided not to dwell on it.
Users of saintly swords of the divine sword apparently have extended lifespans and maintain their prime for a long time.
"Instructor, you worry too much. There's no way Iris would hate you."
"Huh?"
"Don't you remember? When Platanus disrespected you, Iris was the first to get angry and attack. That's because she respects you as her instructor."
"Ah..."
"She was angry because someone she respected was being insulted."
"Right."
"Be confident, Instructor. Almost all the graduates from the officer's school respect you. Of course, that includes me, Iris, and even that jerk Heath. Don't forget about the people who tried to save you when you were about to be executed."
"Really now... You really... You've always..."
As usual, Instructor Catolea, who cries easily, began to tear up, and I looked away.
But in reality, she is incredible.
She came to the royal capital with the missing Blazing Sword.
She took back the Frost Sword and Thunder Sword that were used in the rebellion.
And her two students became their owners.
Unintentionally, she also taught a man who would own the Long-Distance Sword, who in turn hired an assassin skilled with the Vacuum Sword."And then there's me, who found the hero, another one of her students."
"The people who have received her guidance, somehow, end up forming the core group in the hero's party to defeat the demon king."
"But not me."
"Instructor Catolea is really like a protagonist, going everywhere."
"Lord Crow~"
As I was lost in thought, I heard Platanus calling from a distance.
Probably, he had spotted the boat Catolea and I were in while surveying the lake.
"Hey, Platanus. Good work~"
As I responded, I looked towards the source of the voice and was speechless.
Platanus, rowing a boat towards us, was completely naked.
The fully nude Platanus approached our boat, stood up gracefully, and bowed elegantly.
It was that kind of bow where one hand is placed on the chest and the other behind the back.
"Lord Crow and Instructor Catolea together, I see. Good timing. I am nearly done surveying the lake."
"Why are you naked, Platanus..."
"I was measuring the depth of the lake through diving. It's shallower than I expected, around sixteen meters deep. The lake is about five kilometers east to west, and eight kilometers north to south, rich in aquatic life. The waters are teeming with fish. A splendid lake indeed."
Platanus, with his back turned to me, his bare buttocks on full display, surveyed the lake.
"I wonder if this lake was once connected to the sea. Or maybe fish and shellfish were swept up into the sky by a typhoon and fell into this lake, proliferating... Regardless, it's too precious to dry up. I understand why the local fishermen are opposed to the reclamation."
Platanus continued reporting on the lake's survey results in the nude, while Catolea, completely speechless, was frozen in shock.
Even Holly, who had been floating on the lake's surface, covered her mouth in astonishment.
But Holly, you're almost always naked anyway.
But what a finely chiseled body Platanus had.
I thought he was just tall and slim, but his entire body was sculpted with well-defined muscles.
Honestly, he looked like a statue of a male god.
Seeing Catolea's stunned reaction, Platanus seemed to realize something."No, you're realizing it too late. Put on some clothes already."
"I apologize for this oversight. My hair is disheveled..."
"No, not that! Put on your clothes!"
Catolea, with her face red, interjected sharply.
"However... I should let my body dry a bit more, or my clothes will get wet."
"Want me to dry you off with fire?"
"Ha ha, please spare me from being roasted."
I watched Platanus and was certain about one thing.
Genius and foolishness are really two sides of the same coin.
I decided never to blindly follow what Platanus says.
I glanced briefly at the spear-shaped Divine Saintly Sword, the Senri Sword.
"By the way, Platanus, how did you come to possess this Senri Sword?"
I remembered that Saffron's Vacuum Sword had been in the possesshion of the assassination guild.
"Oh, it was a spear carried by an assassin who tried to kill me. I never dreamed it was a Divine Saintly Sword, so I didn't recognize it at the time."
"You were attacked by a Divine Sword wielder?"
"No, the assassin seemed to consider it merely a sturdy spear. It was odd – a spear with a metallic handle as well as a tip. It's a bit short, but considering its weight, it's not practical to have a metallic handle for a spear."
As he spoke, Platanus gestured, and the Senri Sword, placed on the boat, moved remotely through expanshion.
"The moment I touched it, it glowed green, so I knew it was a Divine Saintly Sword. And by manipulating it remotely through willpower, I could compensate for its weight."
Platanus swung the Senri Sword around using both hands, making it spin multiple times.
"Since then, it's been a daily trial and error. It didn't seem like a very practical ability at first, but it's all about how you use it."
He is incredible.
As impressive as Instructor Catolea, an extraordinary person.
Before he possessed the Saintly Sword, he was attacked by someone who had one and managed to seize it.
Such a cool guy.
Well, everyone in my circle is pretty cool, I guess.I'm the only uncool one.
After getting out of the lake, we decided to eat dumplings at a nearby tea house, as suggested by Instructor Catolea.
Sitting on a long bench outside the shop, the three of us munched on skewered dumplings.
"By the way, Platanus, since you're also a Divine Saintly Sword user, why don't you get a tailcoat like ours?"
"No, thank you. I wouldn't want to wander around in such attire."
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying our outfits are uncool?"
"Not at all. It's just personally, I find it a bit much for men. I've always felt awkward seeing Prince Heath in his golden tailcoat."
"You're saying our outfits are embarrassing? These are special, you know? The shirts and coats are made of special fabric that can even deflect blades and arrows."
"Is that so? I had no idea."
"They're custom-made, and we don't have many. Plus, you can choose your favorite color."
"I find the idea of wearing the same design in a different color... embarrassing..."
"What are you talking about? It's a good opportunity to get a nice outfit for free. By the way, since Crow can use Pegasus Sword, he's sort of like a Divine Saintly Sword user too. Why don't you order one?"
Suddenly dragged into the conversation, I replied while eating my dumpling.
"Uh, no thanks. Such outfits suit tall guys like Heath and Platanus, but not me..."
But Platanus seemed more enthusiastic about the idea.
"Lord Crow, let's order together. How about green for me and black for you?"
"No way! I absolutely don't want a black coat!"
While I do own a lot of black casual clothes, wearing a black coat is a different story.
A black coat is a costume reserved only for the super strong and attractive. It's an outfit only for chosen ones.