Chapter 60

After dinner, I immediately headed to the backyard with Angelica to begin her special training.

On a side note, this house is darker than your average night… The reason is obvious: I’ve planted “Binding Trees” around the perimeter. They are excellent for security, but they create a dense, slightly eerie atmosphere.

I stood right beside Angelica to give her instruction.

“Stop, stop! Your axis is wobbling. That’s why your body is floating.”

I stepped in and tapped her side with my wooden sword.

“See? Right here—you were wide open. If I had aimed for this spot, you would have taken significant damage.”

“But if I don’t put my weight into it, I can’t deal effective damage to the enemy…”

She had asked me to train her, but given our existing relationship, we didn’t quite fall into a formal master-disciple dynamic. She talked back to me normally. Still, speaking her doubts frankly wasn’t a bad thing.

“Sure, in a real fight, there are situations where you should fight like that. But having many openings as your default state is no good.”

My policy was to resolve Angelica’s doubts one by one.

“Also, don’t think about a sword for winning. What’s important is a sword for not losing. As long as you don’t make a fatal mistake, a path to victory will eventually reveal itself.”

Ooh, wasn’t that expression a bit cool? A sword for winning vs. a sword for not losing—alright, I’ll have to use that again somewhere.

“I feel like a sudden wave of idle thoughts just erupted from the Demon King…”

Angelica is sharp about those things.

“If you’re not convinced, shall we clash wooden swords? I’ll strike every opening you leave. Then you’ll realize, whether you like it or not, that your current way isn’t working.”

“Fine. Let’s do this.”

Exactly—I wanted her to come at me like that. I was getting fired up too.

Ah, I had been worrying about how to handle a stepchild who was a teenage girl, but I might have finally found the answer. She is an adventurer. Therefore, I should communicate with her through the lens of combat. If I can show her my strength in battle, respect will naturally follow.

“Alright, let’s go! I’m doing this!”

“Demon King… you’re weirdly fired up for someone giving a lesson… Don’t let it go to your head…”

It’s better than an unmotivated instructor being a total buzzkill. Yes, let’s stay positive.

The match between our wooden swords was decided instantly.

I landed a clean strike on Angelica’s opening. I say “strike,” but I was holding back considerably. If I injured her, the training couldn’t continue.

Whack! I landed a blow on her waist.

“There it is again. You’re wide open.”

“Ugh… It’s humiliating to be made to feel such a difference in skill… I’m supposed to be a Hero… A legitimate Hero…”

Angelica looked at me resentfully.

She was likely frustrated by her own inadequacy right now. Yes, I had a phase like that too. How nostalgic.

“You’ve probably been toyed with your enemies using that speed until now. After all, if you strike first and deal damage, you gain the advantage. Especially when you’re in an adventurer party, others provide support.”

Angelica’s fighting style was, naturally, predicated on party combat. Conversely, it seemed she had been glossing over her weaknesses because of it.

“In a fight against a top-level swordsman, that approach won’t work. In fact, you haven’t been able to land a single hit on me.”

“You’re right… I get it. I’ll get stronger!”

Good, she hasn’t rotted away and is still showing motivation.

“And then, someday, I’m going to beat the Demon King to a pulp!”

I don’t really appreciate a declaration that sounds like a vow of domestic violence…

“Then, let’s continue. I’ll say it again: you have too many openings. Return to a neutral position immediately after attacking. Or, move into a neutral position while attacking. A ratio of 3:7 for offense and defense is fine.”

“What? Isn’t that a bit extreme?”

“Because someone who is full of openings can be taken down by poking at them immediately. A swordsman who is purely focused on offense will lose easily to a truly strong swordsman. Alright, let’s keep going.”

“Ehh! Let’s do this!”

Angelica switched gears and showed her fighting instinct once more.

She certainly has plenty of motivation. That drive was likely the engine that allowed her to become a female Hero.

I faced off against Angelica again.

“Good! Come at me with everything you’ve got!”

“Here I come!”

At that moment, we heard the sound of the back door opening.

“You two~, the tea and sweets are ready~.”

Lateia, wearing an apron, called out to us.

“Yes, we’re coming right now!”

I turned my body toward Lateia.

“Got you!”

Angelica struck my arm with all her might.

“Ow!”

I reflexively slumped down on the spot. This girl… she hit me without holding back at all… Even for a Demon King, pain is pain!

“You… wasn’t that a bit cheap…?”

“Actually, Demon King, stop blatantly looking away the second Mama shows up. Besides, you were the one who told me to come at you with everything I’ve got.”

“It can’t be helped. I live my life to the fullest for Lateia’s sake, after all…”

“Are you messing with me?”

“I am not. I am being completely serious.”

With that, Angelica gave a smirk.

“Well, at the very least, I clearly realized that Mama is the Demon King’s weakness.”

Learning a weakness specific only to me won’t help you get stronger in a real fight, you know…? Doing that kind of “memorization game” will actually put you at a disadvantage in actual combat.

My arm hurt, but the tea break after working up a sweat was magnificent.

“Lateia, you really are wonderful at brewing tea.”

“The secret ingredient is love~. Just kidding.”

“I see~. That makes me happy~.”

“You two, stop flirting right after we finished training!”

My daughter filed a formal complaint.

Maybe next time, I should make it so that every time I win in a sparring match, I earn the right to flirt for five minutes.

Actually, that would probably result in the training itself being canceled…