Volume 6 Chapter 20-2 Unexpected Connections
"What did I say... Madame Va──"
In front of Randy, who was deep in thought, Keith stood frozen with an unusually surprised expression.
Yet, unaware of this, Randy tilted his head so much it seemed ready to break as he said, "Va... Vaah?"
"Val... no good. I can't remember. It was about 20 years ago──what's wrong?"
Finally noticing Keith's expression, Randy leaned closer and said, "You look like an old man."
"Um, umm──I'm originally an old man, you know."
With a cough, Keith was met with Randy's frown as he said, "You're lying. You're a yokai."
Although he was said to be nearing 60, with a straight posture and a sharp, dignified face despite some wrinkles, he exuded the aura of an overwhelming master.
No matter how one looked at it, he was still a terrifying man in his prime.
In modern Japan, even with advanced medical technology, there was no one like Keith──a true rarity.
Thus, in Randy's mind, Keith had come to resemble a yokai.
"What's a *yokai*...?"
However, there were no yokai in this world.
Chuckling, Randy explained to the still puzzled Keith, "It's like a monster."
"How rude. I am distinctly human."
"You'd be more persuasive if you were called an elf, you know."
With a sigh, Randy leaned back into his chair, saying, "Though your ears are short."
"So? What's wrong? What were you so surprised about?"
Remembering, Randy reached for the coffee cup on the table...
"That designer we were talking about, could it be Madame Valmoir?"
Randy's hand stopped just before grabbing the cup, and he inadvertently pointed at Keith, saying, "Yes. That."
"Yes, yes. That name. Madame Valmoir. Like a movie actress──what's wrong?"
In front of Keith, who was completely frozen, Randy raised an eyebrow and repeated, "You really look like an old man."
"I said, I am not an old man, but..."
Seeing Keith unusually flustered, Randy couldn't help but smile and set down the cup.
After all, he had known Keith since he was baby, but he had never seen him like this.
Always carefree and elusive, he never showed any emotions at any time.
Given this, Randy, who thought, "Is he perhaps a yokai?", found Keith's current human-like response refreshing.
"Madame Valmoir──"
"Hold on. Wait... I'm going to *guess*."
Like a detective from a famous drama, Randy placed a finger on his temple and interrupted Keith's statement with, "Wait a minute."
Keith shared a painful past where he had been thoroughly pushed around in their mentor-student relationship.
Of course, there were no grudges, only gratitude, but if there was a chance to strike back now, he wouldn't pass it up.
"That's it. That old woman must be someone to you."
At Randy's sly grin, Keith involuntarily gasped.
"Huh? Seriously? I was just saying that randomly."
Randy was surprisingly taken aback.
The jab he intended to tease with had unexpectedly landed as a clean hit.
"Well, not just any woman..."
"You're not saying it's an ex-wife, right?"
Despite saying it, Randy waved his hands dismissively while insisting, "No way, no way..."
"Hey hey hey, seriously?"
In front of the strained smile of Randy, there was the rare sight of Keith silently averting his gaze.
Faced with such a Keith, Randy couldn't help but... "Click"... took a shot with the camera he had hidden in the magic bag.
"Oh man. This came out great. A rare picture!"
Suppressing his rising laughter, Randy thought, "I should show this to Abel and the others later," shaking with satisfaction in front of him... while Keith regained his usual smile and spoke to Randy.
"Young master. It's time to show you my training."
"......No, I'm good."
"Don't hold back."
"No, it's fine. That face of yours is just like when you're really angry."
Frowning and hugging a sofa cushion, Randy watched as Keith stood up with a smile.
Moving the coffee table gently aside, Keith pulled on his gloves tightly.
"I've been a bit out of shape lately."
"It's okay. You're perfect for this, old man."
"No, no. I'm quite the *yokai*."
"You're really holding onto this."
Without thinking, Randy let out a yelp as Keith grabbed his hand with a smile.
"I must show my gratitude to everyone through actions."
Despite Keith pulling hard, Randy tried to resist, but he couldn't budge an inch.
The determination in Keith's aura was evident.
"Oh dear. Is this the extent of your prized strength?"
"You old geezer..."
Randy instinctively tried to stand up... but in that moment, he found himself kneeling on the floor for some reason.
"Hmm. It seems your legs are weakening. Perhaps the young master is more of a grandfather than you."
Keith laughed defiantly, but as Randy stood up, he executed a technique.
He pulled Randy's arm to disrupt his balance and then poked behind his knee to topple him.
In this fleeting moment, the technique afflicting Randy made him look up at Keith with a wry smile, saying, "You bastard..."
He had let his guard down.
Still, even if he was caught off guard, it was rare for anyone in this world to so easily afflict a technique on Randy.
"I have told you repeatedly. Strength alone won't cut it."
Keith's gaze had completely shifted from guardian to mentor.
"The mere fact you let me grab your arm so easily shows you're unprepared. This will require retraining from scratch."
"I don't want to!"
The burly man, throwing a tantrum, was being dragged by a frail old man.
This bizarre scene witnessed that day spread rapidly through the town as gossip, but that's another story.
"Why do I have to join in?"
"Abel, stop looking away. You'll die!"
And it's another story that Abel was also dragged into the training.
<hr/>
If they were to go all out, Randy was already stronger than Keith.
But even though he was caught off guard, the fact that he was afflicted by a technique remained true.
Thus Randy quietly accepted his training.
Moreover, while he claimed he could win if serious, in terms of technique, Keith was far superior to Randy.
So, there was still much for him to learn.
Good luck, Randy.
And to the involved Abel as well.
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