It started right after they met for the first time.

‘Are you the Hero of Courage?’

Blade who saw Kagura was standing under the waterfall for mental training called for her without care. Kagura was acting as if unbothered by him and tried to concentrate on her training.

‘No answer huh? With that crooked blunt blade of yours, you won’t reach your objective no matter how long you trained.’

Blade taunted her. As there was no reaction from Kagura, Blade sighed and pulled out the greatsword on his back. Hearing the sound of the blade she opened her eyes. Kagura then saw the black furred beastkin before her.

‘Who?’

She asked.

‘Someone tasked to guide certain lost hero, that is what I want to call myself but unfortunately I’m just a passing by sword master.’

He said.

‘Sword Master’

She muttered his occupation. She got off from the waterfall.

‘Why are you calling for me?’

She asked.

‘Heh, I was asked by someone to babysit you. I heard your sword was crooked but to think it’s this bad is quite surprising.’

He said. Kagura frowned from his remark.

‘Then, what are you going to do about it? This is the path I had chosen.’

She insisted. Blade sighed. He took a wrapping in his back and opened it in front of Kagura. Under the tattered cloth, an uchigatana with glossy black sheath was visible. The hilt was also looked tough and glossy and it had a majestic aura around it.

‘T-Th-That ka-katana-‘

Kagura was surprised when she saw such amazing katana before her eyes. Blade smirked. He unhesitant unsheathed the katana. Beautiful black steel with golden engraving came to view.  Any sword master would stand still in awe upon seeing its blade’s beauty. Any blacksmith would understand that this katana was a superior weapon which had the high level sharpness which could halve a hair vertically and the hardness of 10 times of Adamantium.

‘You should have known this thing better than anyone, Hero.’

Blade said.

‘Originally My Lord asked me to send this blade to you but with your half-assed strength, this blade will gain nothing but rust or got stolen in no time.’

Blade mocked. Kagura glared at him. Blade wrapped the katana with the cloth again and threw it into his magic bag. He then pulled out his large sword and stabbed it to the ground.

‘Do you want that katana? If you can deal any damage on me, the katana is yours.’

Blade said. He just stood still and showed many openings on purpose. Kagura readied her stance. She rushed forward and attempted to give a palm strike on Blade’s exposed abdomen.

‘Too naïve’

Blade said. He caught the wrist of the incoming palm strike and redirected the attack, making it missed its target. With a fluent move, he released the wrist and used the same hand he used for catching her wrist for sending a light push on her other shoulder. Kagura lost her balance from the force and her speed and made a splendid sliding move using her back.

Kagura brushed the dirt on her clothes and walked toward her luggage which was being hung on nearby tree. She took her sword which was already chipped here and there from the battles. The tip was also already lost so it couldn’t be said a proper sword.

‘Your image as a swordsman has fallen yet again, Hero.’

Blade said.

‘You said that you’re worthy of that katana yet you don’t even take care of your sword properly till it became that piece of junk. Not just that, you’re also not worthy of being called a swordsman or warrior. Your title as a hero is also just a mere decoration.’

Blade provoked.

'Shut up, you furball!!'

Kagura was pissed off by his mockery and rushed forward. Blade sighed and stood calmly. He was looking at her with pitying gaze. Her attacks were monotonous and easy to predict. Blade just yawned and parried her sword leisurely by brushing aside the hand holding the remnant of the sword with his palm. At any angle, the scene was definitely like an adult bullying a child. After 10 minutes doing nothing but meaningless thing, Blade ended Kagura’s attacks by sending her flying using a forehead flick.

‘Kuh!!’

Kagura staggered. She used her sword for supporting her body.

‘Yes, that’s enough.’

A little girl’s voice came from a tree. Kagura looked up on the tree trunk where the voice came from and saw a little girl with white wings was watching the scene with a bag of cookies in her hands.

‘Ah, you’re here huh, Mana?’

Blade greeted the girl. Mana stood up and patted her skirt to brush off the cookies crumbs on them. She jumped down and landed beside Blade.

‘Blade is big bully there. The onee-san is almost crying you know.’

Mana said.

‘We-Well, I can’t help it. She’s just too pathetic to watch and also stubborn as well. Persuasion won’t work until we crush her will completely this way.’

Blade said.

‘But, you’re overdoing it. The onee-san is on verge of crying you know. Also, hitting a girl’s face is a big no - no. Understand?’

Mana lectured him. Kagura fell on her butt. She already lost her will to fight against Blade after seeing his exchange with Mana. He was looked like a mischievous big brother who was being lectured by a mature little sister.

Mana walked toward Kagura.

‘Onee-san, are you alright?’

She asked.

‘Ahaha, I guess I got bit too tired here. Ah, these wounds are just scratches so it’s alright.’

Kagura said. Mana looked at the light scratches on Kagura’s skin.

‘That’s still looked painful. Mana will share Mana’s treat, so don’t be sad alright? Blade-onii-chan is bit too mean back there.’

Mana said while offering a bag of cookie. Her eyes looked every innocent and gave a feeling of kindness which was enhancing her cuteness by many times. At the same time she said that, an imaginary arrow just pierced Kagura’s heart. Her body trembled all over.

'C-'

A small voice leaked out from her lips.

‘What’s wrong one-chan? Is somewhere hurt?’

Mana asked. But as soon as she leaned forward to see Kagura’s face, she was hugged tight.

‘SO CUUUUUUUUUUUUTEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’

Kagura screamed. Mana was unable to dodge or respond to that move of Kagura. As if it was natural, Kagura was putting Mana on her lap and hugged her from behind.

‘Blade-san, what is this child? Isn’t she just too cute?!!’

Kagura asked Blade. Mana was trying to free herself but couldn’t. The difference of their level and the difference of parameter between a bard and a hero made her couldn’t push back the arms hugging her.

‘Aaah!!! I want to have a little sister like her. Oh no, I want to bring her home!!!’

Kagura’s remark was like someone who was about to commit a certain crime. Blade sighed as he saw the scene.

‘That would be troubling, Hero. Despite looking like that, she’s my partner in this mission. I can’t let you have her. Ah, also, if you still want that katana, I’ll train you till you’re worthy of it and give it to you.’

Blade said. Kagura’s expression changed. She looked bit anxious about something.

‘During that time, Mana would be in charge of healing and helping with the daily necessity. So, you don’t need to-‘

‘I’m in!! Let me become your disciple, Shisshou!!’

Before Blade could finish his explanation, Kagura was already replying with lightning speed. She was also already in dogeza form in a blink of eye. Mana who was suddenly got freed was also surprised by her speed.

‘I see… I understand your resolution. Until you’re worthy to wield that katana, I shall be your teacher!!’

Blade said proudly.

‘Ah, no. I don’t really care about that katana anymore.’

Kagura casually said. Both Mana and Blade were surprised by that.

‘As long as I can be with Mana-chan, I don’t mind becoming your disciple or even a personal servant!! Or by any means please let me have her already, Onii-san!!’

Kagura declared. Blade was unable to respond to that declaration. Mana’s body shivered and she ran as fast as she could and hid behind Blade from the Hero who was looking at her while having a rough breathing.

'Milord, is this a good choice to teach this hero?'

Blade sighed in defeat as he looked into the distance.