Chapter 14: Edith’s Chosen Path

It may be a little late to say this now, but in our household — the Greyrat family — and among the people gathered around us, everyone without exception is incredibly talented.

First, there is Father — Rudeus.

He stands even above Mother, despite all her training, as the strongest in the Greyrat family: a master of chantless magic. Despite bearing the critical handicap of being physically incapable of cloaking himself in battle aura, he’s attained the skill of an upper-tier swordsman through relentless effort that far exceeds mere talent.

And even that flaw has been overcome. By collaborating with his friends and Mother Roxy, he developed a massive suit of magical armor powered by his mana — capable of exerting strength only a few steps below that of a King-tier swordsman.

Then, there’s Mother Eris — the one who gave birth to me.

Bearer of the title “Mad Sword King,” officially recognized as a North Saint, and even beginning to reach toward the rank of Sword Emperor, she is the only one in the Greyrat family besides Father who has earned the right to fight and die at his side.

She’s also an experienced adventurer, well-versed in travel and camping, and her strength allows her to stand beside Father and protect him — something the other mothers admire deeply.

…That said, when it comes to things she can’t do, she can be very unfortunate. She’s still struggling with housework and other domestic skills, but she faces these challenges with patience and persistence, striving to be a proper mother. Deep down, she’s an incredibly strong person.

Next is Mother Sylphy, the first to marry Father and the one who bore Lady Lucy.

She was Father’s very first disciple, the first to learn his chantless magic. She has mastered nearly all magic up to the Saint-tier, and uniquely, she can even perform chantless healing magic — something even Father cannot.

Her physical conditioning isn’t on Father’s level, but combined with her ability to heal without chants, her value in group battles might surpass even that of a King-tier swordsman. Among the mothers, she’s something of a representative figure, and when it comes to housework, she even surpasses Aisha when you factor in physical labor. Within the household, she probably holds the most influential voice.

And then, there’s Mother Roxy, currently pregnant with her third child.

Unlike Father’s generation of chantless magicians, she’s a traditional mage, relying on incantations. In terms of pure destructive power, she falls short compared to the other three, but she carries the refined mastery of a seasoned veteran, much like Lord Water God himself.

She’s also a top-class scholar and researcher, having helped design Father’s magical armor, but more importantly, she’s the one who first taught Father magic and guided him into the wider world — an extraordinary teacher worthy of deep respect.

She can be a little absent-minded and sloppy at times, but she’s the calmest and most intellectual person in our home. There isn’t a single soul here, myself included, who doesn’t look up to her.

Despite her small frame and being heavy with child, she’s sending Father off to war with unwavering words of encouragement — truly, an admirable person.

There are also Lilia-san, my elder sisters, Father’s friends, and more than ten other people connected to our household. Not one of them wastes time idly. Each walks their own path, continuously striving to hone themselves.

And yet, in the midst of such exceptional people, I… I have neither a role only I can fulfill nor the strength to be entrusted with one.

But I will not use my youth as an excuse.

I will not repeat the mistake of saying “someday, someday,” only to lose everything when the time comes.

I will find my own path, the path that only I can walk, and I will forge it into strength — strength to protect my family, as quickly as I possibly can.

"Edith! It’s almost time for training— …wait, what are you making?"

"Yes, Mother Eris! I’m making a shield for myself. When I finish it, please let me use it during training!"

"A shield? But carrying something like that will only make your sword slower!"

"That’s fine. Even if I’m slower, it means I can protect more."

"……? I don’t really get it!"

Yes — a shield.

I was taking unused scraps of wood, fitting them together, and shaping them into a simple hand-held shield. Naturally, Mother Eris frowned upon the idea. After all, she teaches the Sword God Style, which values speed and one-hit-kills above all else. But, of course, I had my reasons.

"Mother Eris, just as Lord Sword God himself said… I can’t master the Sword God Style."

"……! That’s…! But still, you…"

Mother Eris tried to deny it on instinct, but the words never came.

She knew it too. The Sword God is a perfect embodiment of swordsmanship itself — a flawless martial god. If someone like him says I lack the aptitude, then no matter how hard I try, I’ll never master the Sword God Style.

Mother Eris is already a Sword King and may one day become even stronger, perhaps even surpassing the Sword God himself. When that time comes, I can’t afford to drag her down by clinging to a style I have no talent for.

"Of course, I’ll continue practicing the Sword God Style, but… if I’m to truly master a style, I think it should be the Water God Style. If I want to protect my family, it suits me better. And if I can wield a shield as well, I can ward off even more dangers."

"…This is the answer I’ve reached, Mother Eris — an answer born from your teachings, from my desire to protect our family. I’m sorry I can’t carry on the Sword God Style, but… this is one thing I cannot compromise on."

"……I see. Very well! If you’re going to do it, then do it properly!"

The Water God Style is known for its defensive focus, luring enemies in and striking back only when the moment is right. But that same nature makes it risky — prolonged stalemates, or even situations where everyone except the practitioner is wiped out, aren’t uncommon.

That’s why I’ve chosen my own path: I’ll combine sword and shield, not just to win, but to protect.

Unlike the warriors of the mainland, who don’t favor shields because of their heavy armor and reliance on mounted archery, the swordsmen of this land fight differently. Here, horses aren’t needed in battle — swordsmen are faster than horses themselves.

Swords deliver overwhelming power. Magic, with its versatility and wide destructive range, pierces through armor with ease. But that also means shields reinforced with battle aura are highly effective.

Even though Father and the others taught me, I never managed to learn magic properly. But that doesn’t mean I need to limit myself to the sword alone.

That changed when I tried using Zariff’s gauntlet, a magical tool Father lent me.

Through it, I finally understood what it means to control magical power. While I still can’t cast spells, I learned how to sense and channel mana within myself, adjusting my strength through it. That gauntlet was amazing — it even functioned as a prosthetic hand and could boost power depending on the mana I poured into it.

I probably won’t be able to use it in my daily training, but it gave me something invaluable:

The realization that there are weapons beyond the sword… and, more importantly, the first signs of battle aura awakening within me.

──── Yes. By learning to channel mana and control my strength, I’ve finally begun to cloak myself in aura, however faintly.

My shield training is progressing well too, and after only a few days, I was granted official recognition from Mother Eris as an Intermediate Sword God Style practitioner.