864 A “Difficult” Mission
Although the mathematical knowledge that Hathaway was learning was already sophisticated enough for children of her age, it was not really tricky for either Douglas or Fernando. So, Hathaway turned the pages and pointed at the questions on it with her narrow finger without saying a word, waiting for the standard, simple answers. She was not disappointed once.
Sharp, her knight teacher who was enjoying the roasted fish with honey and the hard liquor, was gradually attracted by the situation on this side. He forgot to chat with Old Green anymore. Frowning, he observed Douglas and Fernando carefully.
Perhaps because of her excitement, Hathaway’s face was redder than before. After a long time, she finally closed her books and said in a low voice, “Thank you.”
Fernando was about to mock her when Sharp suddenly put down his glass and stood up from the high chair. He chuckled. “Old Green, I did not know that your guest was not only a philosopher but also a mathematician. I think he is even more knowledgeable than the court teachers…”
His words were directed at Old Green, but his blue eyes were focused on Douglas and Fernando.
Old Green picked up Sharp’s glass and washed it in the sink while he mumbled, “What’s wrong with that? Most guys who are good at mathematics are philosophers to some extent.”
“Yes. Mathematics is the ultimate representation of philosophy.” Douglas agreed with Old Green.
Fernando, on the other hand, sniffed and turned his head, showing that he was unwilling to talk to the barbarian.
Sharp chuckled. Instead of staring at Douglas and Fernando, he strolled to Hathaway and watched her eat the roasted fish, which was getting cold. “Hathaway, how does the roast fish taste?”
“Not bad.” Hathaway was taciturn even though he was her knight teacher.
“We need to leave after you taste it. You have to have dinner at home. I cannot let them know that I allow you to eat random food,” Sharp said with a smile.
Hathaway took off the handkerchief on the left side of her knight suit and wiped her lips gently. Then, she nodded her head. “Alright.”
“Hold your sword well and never drop it easily, but remember not to let it affect you. The life of a knight lies in their creed, their spirit, and their will, not in their sword.” Sharp finally taught Hathaway something about what happened earlier.
Holding the enormous sword that was even taller than herself, Hathaway frowned, as if she still did not agree with the theory. However, instead of arguing, she simply followed Sharp out of the hotel thoughtfully.
The moment she got out of the door, she suddenly turned around. Her face was still expressionless, but her silver eyes seemed gentler than before. Then, she nodded at Douglas and Fernando, as if she was thanking them for their mathematical guidance again.
After they were far away, Fernando said, “Silver pupils and cold eyes. She must be a descendant of the Hoffenberg family, isn’t she? What’s her relationship with the Sword of Truth?”
He looked at Old Green, waiting for his answer.
The Sword of Truth was the title for Williamson Hoffenberg, who was a legend even more powerful than “Heart of Time” Kritonia, and a knight who rose against the tyranny of the Magic Empire earliest with the Saint Truth. Therefore, the God of Truth had blessed him with a legendary longsword that matched his blood power. It was known as the “Sword of Truth”.
“You don’t need to know,” Old Green replied without raising his eyes.
Fernando sniffed. “It’s very easy to investigate. Not everybody thinks that it is a secret like you do.”
Old Green turned a deaf ear to his mockery and focused on wiping the glass.
…
The next morning, Fernando knocked on Douglas’ door. He had new ideas about a certain magic problem after he woke up and came to talk with Douglas in excitement.
“I admit that there were some minor mistakes in my opinion yesterday…” The moment the door was opened, Fernando said sincerely, but he saw somebody else other than Douglas in the room. “Deputy, why are you here?”
Seated in the chair before the desk was Deputy President League, who had been pissed off by him and stormed off a few days ago!
“Am I not allowed to be here?” League touched his hawk nose and asked gloomily.
Fernando chuckled. He was about to mock League’s thick face when Douglas said, “League is here to give me a mission.”
“A mission? What mission requires a ninth-circle archmage? Study Allyn?” Fernando looked serious.
Douglas said peacefully, “I’m asked to become Hathaway’s mathematics teacher in private and measure her magic gifts. If possible, I will direct her to embark on the path of magic.”
“Is her place high in the Hoffenberg family?” Fernando knew the Union’s strategy to attract nobles.
“Her father was Ludwig, the youngest and most loved child of the Sword of Truth, as well as the knight who was likely to become the second legend of the Hoffenberg family. It’s a pity that he died by accident in a certain relic. So, the Sword of Truth has shifted his love to Ludwig’s only daughter, Hathaway. He loves her so much that he doesn’t care that she lacks knight talents at all.” League introduced the situation roughly. After all, Fernando was involved in the “lesson” yesterday too.
Fernando sniffed. “Why didn’t you ask me to do that? I think I’ll be a great teacher.”
He was just saying it. He never really thought of teaching any student right now.
“You? Hehe,” League replied without a smile.
Douglas also shook his head faintly. He did not think that the impatient and mean Fernando could be a good teacher.
Fernando snorted. Dissatisfied with their attitudes, he said, “Sharp may be the gold knight. If he recognizes us, the whole Union may be destroyed. Also, the Sword of Truth is a devout believer. I doubt that he will support us even if Hathaway walks on the path of magic.”
“A devout believer is always contradictory to a qualified king. It appears to me that the Sword of Truth is more and more like the latter,” League said thoughtfully and walked out of the door.
After a brief stun, Fernando said after the guy left, “He’s not as stupid as I thought…”
…
The best breakfast of the “Roasted Fish Hotel” was a piece of white bread, a cluster of butter, and a roasted fish. Fernando complained that the menu never changed, but he still devoured the food in the meantime. He always had a great appetite.
After swallowing some of the food, Fernando finally had the energy to ask, “How do you plan to become Hathaway’s private mathematics teacher? Since she is so important, I don’t believe that Sharp, the ‘Blue Demon’, will allow her to spend time with a stranger and walk on the path of magic.”
He had already figured out Sharp’s identity. The man was “Blue Grace”, a level-nine gold knight and the deputy captain of the Sword of Truth’s Knights. However, he was known as “Blue Demon” among the sorcerers for killing too many of them.
“I need to meet Hathaway first.” Douglas smiled after he swallowed the food gracefully. “I don’t know the routine of Sharp and her yet, so I cannot make any plan.”
Fernando poured ale into his mouth. “You are not as reckless as I thought.”
At this moment, the half-closed hotel door was knocked on, and Hathaway, dressed like a little princess, walked in with a blue-covered book. Behind her, Sharp followed with a vague smile.
Hathaway ran to Douglas and Fernando’s “table” quickly.
“Same hand and foot…” Fernando was as mean as before.
Hathaway subconsciously slowed down. She reached them, put the book on the table, and turned to a page that she folded before.
She pointed at one of the questions and stared at Douglas and Fernando with her silver eyes, not saying a word.
“About this question…” Fernando opened his mouth first and exchanged a glance with Douglas. Look, you don’t need to figure out a way to meet Hathaway. She has brought herself to you!
Sharp asked for a glass of hard liquor from Old Green. Enjoying the drink, he watched the teaching and learning.
The whole morning, Douglas and Fernando answered Hathaway’s questions dutifully. She was no longer restrained by the book but dug much deeper. Of course, those questions were not enough to puzzle Douglas and Fernando.
When it was almost noon, Hathaway put back her book, paper, quill, and ink bottle. She thanked them courteously as if they were her real teachers.
“I’ll stay here for another month. Feel free to ask questions if you have any. I’ve rarely seen any child so passionate about mathematics.” When they bid each other farewell, Douglas said intentionally.
Hathaway nodded, indicating that she got it.
Sharp, on the other hand, laughed. “Why don’t you work as Hathaway’s home teacher? I think it will be better than any of your previous jobs.”
Instead of waiting for Douglas to answer, he turned around and left as if it were a joke.
After seeing them off, Fernando chuckled. “It’s easier than I think. She truly loves mathematics!”
Douglas looked at the corner where Sharp and Hathaway disappeared, deep in thought, not responding to Fernando’s comment.
Then, the two of them returned to Douglas’ room to continue their communication and learning. They never left the room again except for lunch and dinner.
Fernando did not say goodbye until it was late at night. Douglas finally rubbed his temples in exhaustion and looked at the starry sky out of the window. Even though he was already an archmage, the thinking and communication of such a high intensity were still too much for him.
Looking at the glittering stars in the night sky, Douglas said in a low voice, “It seems that tomorrow will be another sunny day…”
Suddenly, all the stars were covered in hazy blueness as if they were the reflections in an ocean. Then, the noise of a surging tide came from the sky. The ocean was poured over, and a flood descended from the sky!
Douglas reacted quickly enough. An enormous transparent palm suddenly appeared before him and blocked the tide. Then, rings of silver lightning rose from the surface of his body and rushed into the raging ocean.
In the meantime, Douglas had disappeared.
Suddenly, the blue ocean ebbed like an illusion, and Sharp’s chuckle came from all directions.
“You are indeed a sorcerer…”
