Blessed to be the Villain-Chapter 44: Start of the training 1

As Ethan and Arthur stood outside the city gates, Ethan glanced at Arthur before asking, "So, where do we go now?"

Arthur simply started walking forward and said, "Follow me."

Ethan blinked. "That's it?" he muttered, flabbergasted. The situation felt eerily strange. He was essentially following a stranger to an unknown location. If anyone thought about it, this was exactly the kind of scenario parents warned their kids about—don't follow a stranger just because they promised something interesting.

A ridiculous thought struck him. What if Arthur wasn't the good guy he seemed to be? What if he was some evil scheming bastard trying to take advantage of me? His imagination spiraled out of control. Isn't this the classic case of someone luring a kid with candy? Wait... but I'm not a kid. Does that mean he likes big boys?!

A sudden voice yanked him out of his chaotic thoughts.

"Aren't you coming?" Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow.

Before Ethan could stop himself, his mouth moved faster than his brain, and he blurted out, "I won't follow you, you pedo!"

Arthur halted mid-step, blinking rapidly. A perplexed look crossed his face as he tried to process what he had just heard. "What?"

Ethan immediately clamped a hand over his mouth, his eyes widening in horror. What the hell did I just say?!

Arthur's expression turned even more complicated. "What did you just call me?"

"Uhh... nothing!" Ethan stammered. "I was just... um..." His mind scrambled for an excuse. "I had a bad dream!"

Arthur gave him an odd look. "A bad dream? It's daytime, and you weren't even sleeping. How could you have a bad dream?"

Ethan wanted to facepalm. That was the dumbest excuse ever. He sighed, deciding to just roll with it. "I'm a daydreamer, I guess."

Arthur stared at him for a moment before sighing. "Whatever," he muttered. "Just follow me."

This time, Ethan shut his mouth and obediently walked behind him.

---

As they traveled, they saw carts pulled by donkeys occasionally passing by. Horses were too expensive for ordinary folks, and their maintenance was even more costly. Donkeys, on the other hand, were much more practical.

Ethan noted how wide the road was, allowing two carriages to pass side by side comfortably. Towering trees lined both sides, their branches stretching towards the middle of the road, providing natural shade. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, adding a soothing rhythm to their walk.

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His gaze shifted to the road itself, and he furrowed his brows. Something felt off.

"Hey, Arthur," he called out.

"Yeah?" Arthur responded without looking back.

"Why is the road so... good?"

Arthur finally glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

Ethan gestured at the ground. "I mean, it's a dirt road, right? But it's in perfect condition. No potholes, no dips, nothing. How is that possible?"

Arthur nodded in understanding. "Oh, that. You probably haven't noticed, but this isn't natural. Two years ago, a genius alchemist in the capital created a tool that automatically maintains the kingdom's dirt roads."

Ethan's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yeah," Arthur confirmed. "It's called 'Idrmt' or something like that. You place one every two kilometers, and it keeps the road in shape. You just have to replace the earth mana crystal every four months. The crown made it mandatory for all territories because it drastically improved trade."

Ethan was amazed. So this world really is different. Problems that would take years to solve with manpower are just fixed with magic.

---

As they continued walking, a small path appeared beside the road. Arthur wordlessly stepped onto it.

Ethan followed, eyeing the footpath with curiosity. "And where's this one leading us?"

"It's a special area I found. It has a lot of mana, which makes it great for training," Arthur explained as he moved forward.

"Is that where you train?" Ethan asked.

Arthur nodded.

The footpath wasn't long. Soon, they emerged into a massive clearing surrounded by thick forest.

"Ohhh," Ethan couldn't help but exclaim, taking in the vast space. The air here felt... different. He took a deep breath, feeling an unexpected surge of energy through his body.

Arthur smirked. "Isn't it great?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah, it is."

Arthur stepped further into the clearing and turned to face him. "This is where I train, and this is also where we'll see if you can learn my swordsmanship."

Ethan's heartbeat quickened. His crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation. It's finally time. He clenched his fists, feeling excitement bubbling within him. "Okay, I'm ready. Teach me."

Arthur's smirk widened. "Mmm, I'll do you one better—I'll show you."

Before Ethan could react, Arthur suddenly vanished.

Ethan's breath hitched. What?!

A split second later, Arthur reappeared ten steps ahead. His movements were so fast it was as if he had teleported.

Ethan's mind immediately flashed back to the first time he had seen Arthur fight. It's the same as back then.

Arthur disappeared again—only to reappear to his right.

Ethan whipped his head around, his crimson eyes frantically searching for any trace of movement. But Arthur was too fast. His figure flickered in and out of existence like a ghost.

"How... how are you doing this?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with awe.

Arthur's voice echoed from different directions as he continued vanishing and reappearing. "This is the first step in learning our swordsmanship. It's also the core of it—the most difficult part to master."

Suddenly, he appeared right behind Ethan, his voice barely a whisper. "I call this Flash Steps."