"Teacher? Is Junior Brother Lancer... crazy?"
Cu Chulainn had gone from being startled by his teacher's 'appearing and disappearing' act to being basically used to it. So he wasn't surprised at all when the person appeared behind him out of nowhere. Instead, he asked about the 'serious matter' with a very grave expression.
On the other side, Lancer, who was lying on the ground, also hurried to get up.
In front of him was a tall woman, who was no different from his 'impression' of her. She had long purple hair, a purple dress, purple stockings, and a pitch-black area?
That's right, it was a pitch-black area. Although it wasn't intentional, he had indeed been lying in a very subtle position just now, but for some reason, all he could see was a pitch-black area, and nothing else.
But at this moment, he was not in the mood to think about 'why he couldn't see'. Instead, he had a dejected look on his face.
Just that 'spear dance' from before had allowed him to break through a temporary bottleneck. He could almost imagine how much he would improve if he trained with the other person. But now it seemed there was no chance. Even though Cu Chulainn had deliberately suppressed his strength, he still lost.
But it was at this moment —
"Do you remember the feeling of that last strike?"
"Yes."
The other person's voice sounded very strange to Lancer. It was very crisp, yet it was filled with an irresistible feeling, as if he was facing some very powerful being. He had felt a similar feeling once with the Emperor of the Empire, but this person in front of him was even more exaggerated. If that emperor only made him wary, then this person in front of him made him unable to even muster the will to resist.
So after the other person asked a question, he also answered the question very seriously, but his voice was a bit low.
"Clap~!"
But at this moment, a hand patted him on the back.
"What are you thinking? Are you saying that losing to me made you dejected?"
The burning sensation on his back was in stark contrast to how Lancer felt at the moment. He nodded disappointedly.
"Yeah, I didn't expect that I wouldn't even pass the initial test..."
"Initial test? What's that?"
"Wasn't the match with you my initial test?"
Not only was Cu Chulainn bewildered, but Lancer was also equally bewildered, and it seemed that neither of them understood what the other person meant.
"Test? What's that? If there has to be a test, you passed it when you arrived here. I was just itching for a fight. Besides, you have to show off a little in front of your 'Junior Brother', don't you?"
Seeing Cu Chulainn's matter-of-fact expression, Lancer felt a burst of ecstasy after his initial depression, and then looked at the purple-haired woman beside him with a face full of anticipation.
"That's right, the fact that you've arrived at my castle means you've passed the initial test. As for the lessons... we can start later. I remember living people need to eat. Wait until you've finished your meal."
"Let's go! I'll treat you to my grilled..."
For some reason, Cu Chulainn would call Lancer 'master' in an affectionate way, but when facing Scathach herself, he was much more 'serious'. But even so, his somewhat frivolous way of speaking still made Lancer a little unaccustomed. The only person he could truly call his 'teacher' so far was Kureo Mado. It was that person who led him onto the path of an investigator, and it was that person who taught him how to become a true investigator. So Lancer was very respectful when facing him. So he really didn't quite understand the way Cu Chulainn and Scathach interacted.
But Lancer confusion was his own, and Scathach didn't seem to have any intention of letting Cu Chulainn off the hook.
"You used your full strength on that last strike, didn't you?"
At this moment, Scathach's expression was as indifferent as ever, but Cu Chulainn's expression became extremely awkward in an instant when asked by the other person.
"Well... I accidentally..."
"It seems you were a little too excited and forgot what I taught you. Then it's a good time to give Lancer a 'demonstration fight' later."
As soon as Scathach finished speaking, the smile on Cu Chulainn's face immediately fell, but he didn't refuse, because he didn't have the right to refuse.
After speaking, the person nodded to Lancer and Cu Chulainn, then turned and left.
Lancer had been a little curious about what Cu Chulainn would treat him to before, but because Cu Chulainn's expression was a bit conflicted at the moment, he was too embarrassed to ask. Instead, after his initial depression, the other person quickly adjusted his mood. After all, he also understood his 'teacher'. In order to show off in front of Lancer, he was careless in the end. If it wasn't for his outburst, that move would have already hit him. This was the most intolerable problem for the 'strict' Scathach.
After all, the other person had reminded him more than once that besides being brave in battle, he also needed to use his mind more. But he had long been accustomed to a straightforward fighting style. It was not easy for him to change now. After all, the reason he was so brave was also because of his wholehearted dedication to 'battle'. So Scathach hoped that Cu Chulainn could find a 'balance point'.
But these were all 'minor matters'. Although Cu Chulainn's problems could serve as a warning, Lancer was more concerned about the thing the other person was holding in his hand at the moment — a beast's claw?
The earthy-yellow 'skin' was peeled off and thrown to the side, while Cu Chulainn himself was holding the 'ankle' with one hand, and summoning a ball of fire in the palm of his other hand, then he placed it over the fire to roast it.
Although Lancer didn't know how to cook (except for instant noodles and frozen food), he could see that Cu Chulainn's 'cooking method' was not simple. It was not easy to use the fire in his palm to roast the 'shin' of that unknown monster until it was cooked, not burnt, and not undercooked. This was even more so when he looked at his serious expression.
But even so, that rough cooking method still made one not know how to complain.
"What is this?"
"I'm not sure, it's a native monster of the Land of Shadows. Although it's hard to catch, it tastes really good."
Seeing Lancer bewildered expression, Cu Chulainn didn't mind at all. Instead, he waved his hand grandly, then sprinkled some special berry juice on the food. A few minutes later, with a 'done', he handed the 'shin' in his hand to Lancer with a face full of smiles.
"Don't worry, I've eaten this many times before, it tastes great~ Try my cooking~"
Although the other person had such a confident expression, Lancer still took it from his hand. He was a bit conflicted and didn't know how to start eating, but Cu Chulainn had an expectant expression. To be honest, it really made him not know how to refuse. In the end, he took a bite. It seemed... surprisingly good?