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Above all, the fact that Saffron initiated this idea is concerning."Which is why, aside from Holly, there's probably no one else suitable to be Shion's teacher.

"Actually, Holly, why don't you teach her both training and studies?"

"Why should I undertake the extremely difficult task of elevating such a fool to a level of normal human intelligence?"

"Wha...!"

I was taken aback by Holly's harsh words.

Sometimes I almost forget, but Holly really seems to dislike Shion, and for no significant reason.

"If this brat had an average human intelligence, there would be some point in teaching her. But elevating a fool to an average level is a fruitless waste of time. It's pointless. It's better to keep her as a fool; she'll just listen to whatever you say. She's incapable of thinking beyond simple, short-term considerations."

"…How can you say such things...!"

"It's pointless to invest time and effort in turning this fool into a slightly less foolish fool. The results won't justify the resources spent. As long as she's good at fighting, which she is exceptionally talented in, you can just raise her carelessly until the Demon Lord is defeated, then abandon her. After all, a fool as strong as her is dangerous when there's no Demon Lord to fight."

I was speechless at the sheer severity of Holly's insults.

Even if she can't distinguish between honesty and politeness, there's a limit to how harsh one should be.

"Well, even if her head is empty, she has an extraordinary talent for combat, so just raise her carelessly until the Demon Lord is defeated, then abandon her. After all, once the Demon Lord is gone, such a strong fool is nothing but a danger."

Holly's insults towards me when we first met were unbearable, but never this bad.

It seems Holly dislikes women and children more than I thought. Her previous comment about finding them nauseating wasn't just for show.

Then, I suddenly looked at Shion, who had been silent all this while.

I was worried she would be furious, or on the verge of tears, but...

"…Shion?"

"What is it, big brother?"

Shion seemed completely unfazed.

Not a trace of agitation was visible on her face.

What does this mean?"Hey, Shion... don't worry about what Holly just said, okay?"

"Eh? Did Holly say something?"

"What?"

"I'm too dumb to understand the words of a perpetually single, bitter old woman."

"What!? What did you just say?"

"Perpetually single, bitter old woman."

"How dare you, you brat!"

"Sorry, Holly. I'm too dumb to figure out how to help a hopeless woman like you. If I were a little smarter, maybe I could find a way to make a worthless, good-for-nothing woman like you happy. But with my limited intelligence, I can only think there's not even a one in a million chance for you. I'm really sorry, okay?"

"What kind of malicious apology is that…! You cheeky little girl!"

"I'm truly sad that even though I can save the world, I can't save even one bitter old woman. No matter how hopeless and desperate for male attention she may be, everyone deserves a bit of happiness. But when there's not even a sliver of redeeming quality, what can you do, right, big brother?"

"Stop acting all cute and innocent, you little wretch…! Show me a little of that adorable expresshion…!"

"Cute? Me? I'm nothing compared to Holly's youthful beauty. Holly is really pretty. Just in appearance."

"…"

This is bad.

Terribly bad.

Their relationship is deteriorating day by day.

And Shion, influenced by Holly's foul mouth, seems to be expanding her vocabulary of insults.

Such a tirade is unimaginable for a girl of only eleven.

Well, after nearly a year with Holly, this might be expected.

This is absolutely not okay.

This kind of life, where they only exchange insults without regard for the other as a person, must be changed.

Although their relationship seems irreparably damaged, Shion and Holly are the trump cards in defeating the Demon Lord, unique partners to each other.

Without their cooperation, there is no future for humanity.

But this situation is beyond what I can handle.

Iris and Instructor Cattleya, who can't see or hear Holly, might view the situation optimistically, but it's dangerous to leave the hero and the divine sword in such a frosty relationship."Alright!"

I made up my mind.

I'll ask the king to find a good tutor.

Through this educational curriculum, including the knowledge about defeating the Demon Lord that Holly has been providing, Shion's impresshion of Holly might change.

Just a little.

And she also needs to objectively understand the importance of her existence as a hero.

It's about awakening a sense of misshion.

Whether all my conclushions and subsequent actions are exactly what Saffron intended, I can't be sure.

At least, I found it hard to believe that Saffron, who complained about being bored to death every day, would genuinely be concerned about Shion's future and suggest education as a solution.

However, I strongly felt the need to provide Shion with ordinary education by ordinary humans, ignoring any future considerations.

Upon further reflection, Shion was a girl abandoned by her biological mother, shuffled between relatives, and eventually enslaved.

What such a girl needs most is affection from the people around her.

But the leading female figure in her life is Holly, and the leading male is me.

This is the worst.

With Holly, who despises women and children, and me, who embodies laziness, ignorance, and insensitivity, the influence on Shion can only be negative.

I must urgently arrange for her to receive education from an excellent tutor.

Reaching this conclushion, I passhionately spoke to King Darius about the necessity of educating the modern hero.

As someone who embodies laziness, I actively approached the king to plead my case.

I rambled on with complicated and confusing arguments, not even sure what I was saying.

As someone recognized for discovering the hero and recently resolving the incident of Iris's disappearance, my proposal was well-received by the king.

"Very well. Your point is valid."

He readily accepted.

"Then, my son Heath..."

"I'm afraid that's out of the question."

I instantly rejected the king's suggestion.

Refusing a proposal from a king to have his own son as the tutor is a reckless act, possibly life-threatening, but the suggestion truly was unacceptable."Prince Heath.

He's the son of King Darius, who's currently sitting on the throne in front of me, and a classmate of mine and Iris.

My impresshion of him in one word?

Foolish prince.

Having such a man educate Shion could never be beneficial.

I'd be a hundred times better as her teacher.

However, the king, either not hearing my disrespect or choosing to ignore it, said,

'No, no. Not Heath himself. I was thinking of the person who served as Heath's tutor.'

'You also understand that my son is not capable of teaching anything to the hero, right?'

I misunderstood.

He understood perfectly when I said that having Heath as a tutor was out of the question.

'I apologize for my impertinence…'

'Don't worry about it. It's understandable that you wouldn't hold any good feelings toward someone who once tried to execute you without just cause. I share in the blame for that incident.'

'…There's no need for such formalities.'

Truly, this king listens well to people.

Well, he does tend to believe sweet talkers too easily.

'Heath wasn't bad at the Officer Academy, but that was largely thanks to the efforts of his tutor.'

'Is that so? And who is this person who tutored His Highness?'

'Someone who graduated from the Royal Officer Academy before you. He finished with the highest marks in the school's history.'

'Such a capable person…'

'He must be around twenty-three years old, having graduated five years before you.'

'…'

Education by a top graduate of the Royal Officer Academy.

Perhaps Iris would have sufficed, but if the king is recommending him, he must be truly exceptional.

I decided to say,

'I'll get Shion's consent first.'

'Good.'

I deflected with those words.