Only I Am A Reader

"Did you check out?"

After Leo handled his belongings and transported most of it into the carriage parked in the inn's stable, he went down and paid the day's 'rent' before appearing in front of Rain with a bag on his back.

"Yes."

Since Rain told him to leave the inn, Leo had no plans of keeping his inn room any further. Whether Rain planned to guide him somewhere within the city or out of it, or even in the worst-case scenario where he went back on his words midway, Leo had little business left to do in Swordkeep after scoring this successful encounter.

'Plan B doesn't start here.'

"Then let us get going."

However, just as Rain was about to leave on foot, Leo tugged his sleeve as he pointed towards the inn's back with his face.

"Your… business must have been a successful one."

As he followed Leo to the stable, Rain's lips couldn't help but curve upward, putting his hand around his chin in contemplation.

Even for a simple horse carriage, no matter if it's rented or bought, the money needed for it wasn't something that a normal child's savings could afford. Rain initially thought that Leo had taken a public carriage to the city as most people did. After all, they were both affordable and readily available thanks to the city's popularity.

"Well, it was more of a one-time transaction. Thankfully, intellectual property is a very lucrative business."

'Intellectual property?'

Although the specific name seemed somewhat elusive to Rain, he could still guess its meaning, but he couldn't help but wonder what kind of 'intellectual property' that someone of Leo's age could come up with…

'He is really too much…'

In reality, Rain was more inclined towards Leo being some rich noble's son, but his movements and manners denied that completely. Despite being supposed to act as the mysterious mentor, Rain felt like their roles were reversed with Leo being a more mysterious student.

Despite feeling the urge to ask in order to satisfy his curiosity, Rain felt that he lost this right along with his condition of keeping his own identity hidden.

"Alright, I will show you the way."

Resigning himself to go along the path he decided, Rain defeatedly climbed into the carriage, waiting for Leo to drive it to their destination.

"Understood, Teacher."

Neighhh!

Not cutting any corners, Leo immediately got into his student role as soon as he got into the driver seat, directing the horse into the crowded street...

`~~~`~~~`~~~`

As Leo drove his carriage in accordance with Rain's directions, the tall compact buildings started to vanish while the crowds surrounding it thinned considerably as they advanced. In no time, they made their way into the smallest part of the city, the Private District.

Owing to the city's purpose of being intended more so for containing guests rather than maintaining a long livelihood, it was designed in a way where over 90% of the city was used for building inns, rentals, restaurants, and other similar facilities.

On the other hand, private properties were scarce within the city. However, that made it so it held an unimaginable value. In the City of Swordsmen, those who had a house in the Private District were treated like a noble regardless of their actual status.

"Stop here."

Following Rain's gesture, Leo stopped the carriage in front of the largest terrace house within the street.

"Teacher sure was sacrificing a lot to find a student…"

Although the terrace house lacked the warmth of the little crowded shack he used to live in, Leo didn't mind 'bearing' to live here. Just thinking about how Rain would quarterly spend a few days on the street rather than live in this house gave Leo a prime example of how ironic the cycle of needs was.

"Everything is done for a reason... Now, let us waste time no more, grab a sword."

Not sparing the time to do what people normally did when inviting new guests into their home, Rain didn't even bother entering the house's main body. After skillfully guiding the horse to the small parking spot by the house, he only waited till Leo grabbed a sword out of his carriage before he took him directly into the porch.

"Show me your confidence that got you all the way here. Show me your sword."

Standing in front of the lone deckchair within the porch, Rain sat down as he gazed intensely at Leo. Although he valued character the most, hence why he chose to impart his 'treasure' to Leo, he at least had to evaluate the technical skill of his choice.

"Mhm."

After a silent nod, Leo brandished his steel alloy sword. It wasn't like he expected to receive his target without any prelude. Instead, he was excited to show the skill born from the combination of his 'Reading' and the effort he spent over the last three months!

Not hesitating further, Leo demonstrated his 'Basic Swordsmanship'. Although it was just simple sword movements supplemented by nothing but simple stances, Leo had confidence in his performance.

While advanced techniques had powerful movement connections and corresponding footwork to support their use, all these techniques required a solid foundation to be built upon, and that was what Leo had!

'Even this?'

Watching Leo's clean movement with his thumb supporting his chin, Rain couldn't help but be surprised. Although most swordsmen built sufficient foundations due to the systematic training the Empire developed with his idea as the basis, it was hard to see it from someone this young unless he started training in his early childhood years.

"Leo… When did you start your sword training?"

"I was only able to get a proper book on swordsmanship recently, so I started sooner than half a year ago."

Not pausing his action as he treated his display as a chance to get his daily training, Leo answered as nonchalantly as possible.

Despite spending a mere 3 months, Leo vaguely doubled the period in a way that he wouldn't be lying. The ability of a 'genius' was okay, but if he were to be labeled as a 'monster', Rain would probably be curious enough to dig out his relations to Ray. In that case…

'The suspicion that I just cleared would cloud the sky…'

"Less than half a year?"

'A talent in both body and mind!'

Not wasting his time in thought anymore, Rain sprung up from his chair and grabbed a wooden stick from the ground…

"I have seen enough! Try to follow my moves!"

Under the excitement of his great find, Rain directly performed the content of his 'treasure' without restraint, looking forward to seeing how fast this mysterious student of his would grasp it...

'Let me see what you got!'

Before he knew it, Rain had already acknowledged Leo's student status in his heart!

However, to his disappointment, what he imagined… didn't come to be.

"Ahem… Would it be possible to receive written instructions instead?"