“What’s going on?”

Dietrich, who jumped out of the office window, immediately ran to the training ground.

What caught his eye were Vivian and Ludovica, exchanging glances as if they didn’t understand each other.

He wasn’t sure exactly what had happened while talking to Nils, but just looking at their expressions, he could roughly guess the situation.

‘It seems Lady Vivian doesn’t suit Ludovica’s lessons.’

Confirming Vivian was safe, Dietrich let out a small laugh.

It was amusing to see them just as he had expected.

In fact, Dietrich had anticipated things would turn out this way from the moment Vivian asked Ludovica to teach her how to fight demons.

Because his sister was an unapproachable genius.

If Dietrich taught one thing, she would understand a hundred, but Ludovica would understand a hundred without being taught anything.

The difference may seem slight, but it had a huge impact.

That’s why he had to pour in countless efforts in the past.

To not fall behind his genius sister.

He read and memorized the family’s hereditary textbooks countless times and gained hundreds of real combat experiences.

However, Ludovica didn’t properly know about these efforts.

She had no way of knowing about training methods suitable for ordinary people.

It was fair to say that things turning out this way was only natural.

Dietrich leisurely approached the two and spoke.

“Lady Vivian, isn’t Ludovica’s lesson a bit difficult to understand?”

Startled by his comment hitting the mark, Vivian looked at him in surprise.

“Huh, how did you know?”

Dietrich smiled slightly.

“How about changing teachers? If you want, I can teach you.”

“What? Don’t interfere.”

Seeing her elder brother naturally trying to steal Vivian away, Ludovica bristled and became wary.

She tucked Vivian’s hair behind her ear.

“You’ll refuse, right, Vivi?”

Though in the form of a question, it was in fact no different from pressure.

Contrary to Ludovica’s expectation that she would immediately refuse, Vivian hesitated for a moment.

Usually, she would have flatly rejected Dietrich’s ridiculous proposals, but today she seemed strangely tempted.

And Dietrich didn’t miss that hesitation.

‘At this rate, she’ll come over soon.’

With a confident attitude, he put his arm around his sister’s shoulder.

“Ludovica, what do you think is the method to catch demons? Explain it step by step.”

Ludovica opened her mouth and at the same time, as if it was cumbersome, she brushed off Dietrich’s arm on her shoulder.

“First, dodge the attack. Second, attack the vital point. End.”

It wasn’t wrong, but if skills could improve with just this much explanation, there would be no need for a teacher.

“This is why you’re not a good teacher.”

“What else is there besides that?”

Ludovica frowned as if she genuinely didn’t understand her elder brother’s words.

Dietrich easily ignored his sister’s disgruntled expression and proposed to Vivian again.

“Lady Vivian, I can at least explain more in detail than this. I’ll ask again. How about changing teachers?”

“No, Vivi.”

Ludovica stopped Vivian in a tone as if scolding a puppy.

Caught between the siblings, Vivian smiled as if troubled.

‘What should I do, really.’

To be honest, Dietrich wasn’t very trustworthy either.

‘He’s probably someone who lives off his own self-importance, so he’ll just show off and then end it…’

However, what could be said for certain was that it seemed there would be no progress even if she learned from Ludovica for days or weeks.

‘No, it might be much better to learn from Dietrich after all.’

She felt sorry for Ludovica, but it couldn’t be helped. She needed to get used to fighting demons quickly.

Having finally made up her mind, Vivian closed her eyes tightly and said.

“Sorry, Ruby. I think I should learn from Dietrich after all.”

Then exclamations and sighs were heard simultaneously.

“You’ve thought well, Lady Vivian.”

Dietrich sent a victorious smile towards his sister and led Vivian to the center of the training ground.

Watching their backs, Ludovica irritably kicked the corpse of the demon lying on the training ground floor.

To conclude, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that deciding to learn from Dietrich was a very good decision.

Dietrich was a good teacher who could think from the student’s level.

Unlike Ruby who showed a few demonstrations and then immediately told me to fight the demon, he first chose a suitable weapon for me.

After handing me a light longsword that I could lift without activating my ability, he taught me how to hold the sword.

“Is, is this right?”

As I was clumsily following his posture, Dietrich approached with a sigh.

“Hold the sword a bit more forward.”

“Like, this?”

Though I tried hard to follow his guidance, my reflection in the nearby shiny wall would have looked ridiculous to anyone’s eyes.

‘This is mortifyingly embarrassing… How did I end up holding a sword that’s not even in my fate.’

I’ve already shown Ren all sorts of sights, so showing such an unsightly appearance wouldn’t be embarrassing, but Dietrich was different.

It took courage to show such a sight.

‘Come to think of it, what is Ren doing now?’

Suddenly reminded of him, I shook my head side to side in surprise.

That guy who’s been deceiving me all this time, why am I thinking of him at a time like this.

It was at that moment.

“Ouch!”

Perhaps caught thinking of something else, Dietrich lightly flicked my forehead right in the center.

“What an unfocused student. Thinking of other things during my lesson.”

“Ugh, that hurts.”

I frowned and covered my forehead with my hand.

He clearly only flicked it lightly, but perhaps because he’s naturally strong, my forehead stung.

“Oh dear. Does it hurt a lot? I tried to control my strength.”

Dietrich took my hand that was rubbing my forehead and lowered it, then examined my face this way and that.

“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like it will bruise.”

“How is that fortunate? It hurts like crazy.”

When I complained with a sulky expression, he broke into a broad smile, showing his teeth.

Eventually, he rubbed my forehead with his finger. The cold sensation seemed to make the pain subside.

“My hand is a healing hand, so it won’t hurt anymore, Lady Vivian.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry for flicking you. Everyone around me is as sturdy as Ludovica, so I didn’t know this would hurt.”

He kept caressing my forehead while apologizing.

It really is a healing hand. Seeing how the pain is subsiding like this.

“I’ve thought this for a while, but do you know that Dietrich has a surprisingly childish side?”

“Hm? Me?”

When we first met, not long after, you linked pinkies for a promise too.

“Yes, it’s quite unexpected, I’d say.”

“Is that so… I guess the habit of taking care of Ludovica when we were young still remains.”

Dietrich taking care of Ruby.

It’s natural since they’re family, but having only seen him teasing Ruby, it was hard to imagine.

“There’s quite an age gap between you two, right? How many years?”

“Not that much, exactly 4 years.”

Hmm, I see.

“Since Ruby and I are the same age, there must be a 4-year gap with me too.”

“Lady Vivian didn’t even know my age until now? I’ve known for a while. I’m a bit disappointed.”

No, how could I know if you didn’t tell me…

“Anyway, let’s end the chitchat here and resume the lesson. Take the posture I taught you earlier again.”

I held the sword again under Dietrich’s guidance.

This time I thought I had taken the proper posture, but unfortunately, it seemed to be my own delusion.

Judging by Dietrich’s subtle gaze.

“What? Isn’t this right?”

“It is correct, but… would it be alright if I adjust your posture directly?”

When I nodded in agreement, Dietrich, who was a few steps away, strode towards me.

He lightly placed his hands on my shoulders and waist and corrected my posture.

“Hmm, just a moment, Lady Vivian.”

As if that wasn’t enough, he suddenly stood behind me, embracing me with both arms, and then wrapped his hands around mine holding the sword.

“You need to grip it properly. You might drop the sword like this.”

Due to the close distance, his low voice was directly transmitted to my eardrum.

The voice was so loud in my ear that I reflexively turned my head to the side.

Dietrich’s profile was right in front of me. Surprised without realizing, I inhaled sharply.

Perhaps noticing my reaction, Dietrich, who had been looking only at the sword, also turned his head towards me.

At that moment, our eyes met with his eyes as deep and dark as the night sky.

“You should listen properly when the teacher is teaching you hands-on, Lady Vivian.”

“Ahaha…”

Feeling sheepish at somehow becoming a poorly behaved student again.

“Or is it that I’m too handsome for you to concentrate?”

A languid smile was on his face as he looked down at me.