The Calm Berserker

Chapter 07 Teacher

The following day the old man wakes Layon up and screams at him.

"Hey, Kid wake up!! how long are you going to sleep do you think you can become strong with that attitude?"

Layon quickly opens his eyes and look at his surrounding with confusion, and when he saw the old man staring at him he finally remembers the event yesterday, he quickly sits up and bows his head to the old man.

"M-master s-sorry I woke up late"

"What do you mean master? don't call me that I'm not your master I'm your teacher!"

Layon looks at the old man with confusion and asks.

 "Uhm. s-sir isn't that the same thing?"

"What do you mean the same thing, of course, they are not the same my obligation to you is just to teach you some basic things so I'm just your teacher, you can't call me master because you're not my disciple you're just my student and also I'm not planning to give you all my knowledge and experience, therefore, I'm not you're master, do you understand?!"

Layon still have a glimpse of confusion on his face but he just nodded because he doesn't want the old man to get mad at him when the old man saw Layon's reaction and nod at him, he changes the topic and tosses a book to Layon's and said.

"Here read this first and talk to me if you don't understand something or you're finished reading it"

Layon catches the book with his both hand and when he heard what the old man says he looked at him with difficulty.

"U-Uhm... t-teacher"

"what?"

"This is embarrassing but I-I don't know how to read"

 The old man is so shocked that he raised his voice that he is speechless, and while the old man is shocked Layon speaks again with a sad tone and explains what is the cause why he doesn't know how to read.

"S-sorry sir because I was from a small village, and that small village is poor and because of that you need to work hard daily if you want to have something to eat, therefore a lot of adults who were born and raised there don't know how to read and even though some of them know how to read they don't have time to teach the children, that's why I don't know how to read"

The old man takes a deep breath and sigh.

'sigh this poor kid doesn't deserve this kind of life well I better teach him well then'

"Did the villager sold you to the man whos trying to catch you?"

Layon looks at the old man with surprise on his face.

"How did you know that can you read my mind? wow!"

"What nonsense are you talking about you stupid kid anyone who can think can predict your situation by hearing your story, give me that book we need to start with the basic sigh I'm starting to regret my decision about teaching you just my luck"

Layon give the book back to the old man and said.

"Don't worry teacher I'm going to work hard so I can learn how to read faster, but teacher how is reading related to becoming strong?"

"Stupid kid do you think being strong only means having a strong physical body? kid, I'm going to tell you something really important right now so you need to listen to me carefully and remember every single word I'm going to say, knowledge is power, in fact, it is the most powerful weapon in the world"

"But Teacher I don't understand how can you beat someone with knowledge isn't it better if you have a powerful body?"

'This kid really has the blood of that hateful clan the way of his thinking is very similar to them sigh... I better teach him now so he will not have the same fate as that clan'

"Hey, stupid kid stop spouting nonsense and just listen! the way of your thinking is so barbaric and simple this is why knowledge is important,  it's not about how can you beat someone with knowledge, it's about thinking a way to defeat someone with knowledge, yes having a powerful body is a good thing you can beat a lot of people and a lot of them will be intimidated by you but what will happen there's a time that you face an enemy with even more powerful body than you what would you do? answer me" 

"Uhm... I will escape first then fight when I've become stronger"

"That's a good answer you're finally thinking, see knowledge, because you know that he is stronger than you that's why you choose to escape but do you think you will choose the same decision if you don't know if your enemy is stronger than you? answer"

" I-I don't know"

"Yes you don't know because you lack the knowledge, and now look what happen to your powerful body it became useless with the face of much more power but with knowledge, you can think of a way to win so it will never become useless, do you understand now?"

"Yes!! teacher I understand now I didn't know that knowledge is so powerful"

When the old man heard Layon answers he'll s smile and become proud of himself.

"Good but don't think knowledge is just that you can do a lot more with knowledge but let's talk about it another time first you need to learn the basics"

"Yes!! Teacher"

Layon answer with enthusiasm and the excitement on his face is very noticeable, and the old man becomes satisfied.

'I see this kid is not really that bad' 

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After a week of teaching the basics, Layon's finally able to read and write but he still dissatisfied because he still has some difficulty when it comes to difficult words, and the old man always telling him that children who are much younger than him can master it by just a few days that's why he is feeling down dissatisfied, but the truth is the old man is very shocked to what's happening in past few days.

'This kid is a genius how can he learn all of that within a week normal children need 20 days to learn all of it but him, looks like I found an unpolished gem haha'

but in the whole week of teaching the old man notices something wrong with Layon he just suddenly stops listening and stares blankly in the air so the old man finally asks him why he is always lost in thoughts.

"Hey! kid why are you always deep in thought? do you think my lesson is boring!! "

"Ahh!! n-no teacher is not like that I'm just really worried about my friends can I see them just once just to make sure they are ok?"

The old man stares at Layon and think.

'Looks like this kid is a worrywart should I help him? Fine!! I'm gonna help him so he can focus on my teaching' 

"Ok kid I'm going to do this but just this once, and you need to stay here I don't have enough  aura for both of us  if something happen I can't protect"

"B-but!"

"Kid! do you not Trust your teacher?"

Layon stares at the old man with reluctant but after a while, he finally gives in

"Ok teacher be safe"

Suddenly the old man disappears in front of Layon.

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After a few days, Layon has become increasingly impatient.

'Why Teacher is still not here did something bad happens to him?' 

While Layon is walking back and forth there suddenly a strong gust of wind the old man finally returned Layon notice the old man he run at him with a bright smile and ask immediately.

"Teacher you finally back I thought Something bad happens to you?

"Stupid kid, you're speaking nonsense again do you think I'm a weakling and can't take care of myself?"

"No!! You're the strongest person I know"

"Stop your flattery don't worry about your friends they are safe some Familia help them so just worry about how to become strong so you can meet them again in the future"

"Really! thank you, teacher!"

"Stop fooling around and study!"

"Yes!! teacher"

The old man sits on his stone bed and takes out a book, he stares at his student who is diligently studying with a proud smile and tosses him the book that he gives Layon in the past but takes it back because Layon can't read when Layon saw the book he catches it after that he read the title of the book.

"Book of Knowledge Part 1 teacher what is the book all about?"

"It's about the common sense of the world, read it so you can learn the world around you"

"But teacher there are still some words I didn't learn yet"

"It's fine you can just study them after you're done reading, ask me anything if you have any question after I walk up I need to rest"

The old man finally lays down on his stone bed rest, Layon looks at the book with reluctance but after a while, he finally opens it and reads the content.