Chapter 78: The Last Lesson from Old Sulyvhan

"That’s so frustrating," Adriana grumbled, pouting.

Kaiser turned for a moment, contemplating her face, especially her lips. She might be annoying, always wanting to challenge him at every opportunity, but she was still cute.

’...plump lips, nicely rounded breasts, perky little ass... I hadn’t paid attention, but she’s actually pretty good... I’d say a solid 7 out of 10...’

While Kaiser was lost in a thorough analysis of Adriana’s potential, she noticed his insistent stare.

"...You can’t help staring at people?" she finally added, close to being angry.

"...Not when they’re cute," Kaiser replied, shrugging since she had noticed.

Adriana turned completely red, but before she could speak, Kaiser continued, a way to stop her little outburst.

"You were saying... what’s frustrating?"

She looked at him for a moment, understanding the move, before smiling. "...You think you can change the subject that easily?"

"Who said I wanted to change the subject," Kaiser said with a smirk. "I just wanted to be polite and possibly help you solve whatever’s making you rage..."

A silence followed his words. Adriana looked at the young man, trying despite herself to suppress the silly smile painting her face. She wanted to speak but couldn’t find the exact words to counter him.

"You’re something else," she finally sighed.

Kaiser just laughed a little, watching her try to calm down.

"I... I meant it’s frustrating. I’ve never really won a fight against you," she added, looking up at the sky, letting the wind lift her hair slightly. "After you left, I trained relentlessly, hoping to catch up... but it looks like my hopes were in vain."

"What are you talking about," Kaiser replied in a serious tone after listening to her. "You’ve definitely improved since the last time we met. I think if you keep going like this, few mages will be able to stand against you... stop underestimating yourself a bit."

How could she have caught up to Kaiser, damn it? Sometimes it’s the people we compare ourselves to that end up destroying our will.

In any case, Kaiser’s words seemed to hit the mark, because she looked up, her face grateful as she fixed her gaze on her benefactor.

"...You’re probably right. I sometimes forget you’re a warrior..." she replied, saying the last part quietly, probably realizing the foolishness she had uttered. "...Still, how did you get even stronger than last time?"

She was genuinely curious. What separated her from Kaiser wasn’t just a step but a chasm. That was what gave her the terrible impression she had done nothing all this time.

Kaiser took a deep breath, as if preparing to reveal a great secret, and also looked up at the sky.

"Actually, I was lucky enough to stumble upon a certain chained old man," he said, pausing. "...He was betrayed by his friends, but he still accepted to train me... I have to say I’m really blessed by the heavens."

"An old man, huh..." Adriana murmured, raising her eyebrows while thinking about what Kaiser was explaining. "...Wasn’t it a woman instead, the type you like?"

"...You mean the type like you," Kaiser said, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "...That would have been nice, but it was just an old man..." he sighed.

"...Yeah, yeah, sure..." Adriana giggled. "I bet there was still a woman in the story!"

Hearing the girl’s words, Kaiser couldn’t help but laugh.

"You got me, that’s exactly it," he added, his mind drifting into memories of the last discussion he had with old Sulyvhan in that damp cave.

During his stay with the master, the latter had suddenly engaged him in a deep conversation about love.

Kaiser could still hear his voice giving warnings. It was as if he was reliving the scene.

...

"...Kid, I was one of the strongest in my era, but my friends and generals betrayed me. But you know, what broke me the most was the betrayal of the woman I loved, the very one who handed me over..."

Sitting cross-legged in the cave, Kaiser listened attentively. After all, the old man’s teachings had proven terribly effective, and if he had chosen to share his experiences, the best thing to do was obviously to welcome them.

"...I feel my aura growing weaker and weaker. Alas, this may be my last lesson to you as a master," Sulyvhan continued, his tone filled with some regret. "...Never trust a woman, kid, never!" he said, fixing his eyes directly on Kaiser’s.

"...It’s not because they’re all bad. On the contrary, my beloved was the most beautiful thing I’d ever experienced back then. She was the one who lit my path and kept me from falling."

Hearing what the old man said, Kaiser couldn’t help thinking there was something fishy anyway; it was obvious.

’Even though she betrayed him, this old fool still loves her,’ he thought, staring at his master. ’...Unfortunately, there’s no age limit for being a simp... who would have thought, the great Sulyvhan...’

Alexander Sulyvhan continued his speech.

"...A woman is a double-edged weapon, kid. She has the ability to make you the happiest man in this universe but can also cause your downfall, a downfall that would even impress the devil."

"Old Sulyvhan," Kaiser interrupted. "You still seem in love?"

The chained old man looked at him for a moment, as if gazing at a child’s innocence in this cruel world.

"Well... How could I hate her?" he finally let out before laughing. "She was as beautiful as the swords she had forged."

Kaiser raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"Well..." the old man cleared his throat and resumed.

"The comparison is a bit weird, but you should know how dark elves are."

’All this because of a fling...’ Kaiser sighed inwardly. Since the old man suddenly started talking about weapon-forging ability, Kaiser instinctively thought of the elves from the Tower of Fire.

But the old man’s next words refuted his theory.

"...She wasn’t a dark elf, kid. Her name was Loriel..."

"Hmm... Lori...el?" Kaiser repeated. "Old Sulyvhan, did you take a blow to the head, or were you crazy enough to fall in love with an enemy? You’ve been cursing angels for over a year, yet..."

"Shut up," Sulyvhan cut him off sharply. "Kid, that’s my private life, okay? And you should focus on the meaning of my advice..."

"...Yeah, yeah, a woman can make you the happiest man or the most miserable on earth..." Kaiser repeated, showing he was paying attention.

"Exactly!" Sulyvhan nodded with a serious expression. He was so convinced he made it his final lesson for his disciple. The old man was broken...