Their training was always this intense, designed to mimic real battle conditions. The old man stepped back, sheathed his sword, and leaned it against a tree. Then, he relaxed his entire body, assuming a natural stance.

  "Come at me barehanded! I'll show you how little your brute strength matters!"

  "Fine! I'll take you on! But do you really think you can beat me in hand to hand combat when you couldn't with a sword?" A sneer spread across the young man's face. The old man remained silent, signaling with a nod for the young man to put away his sword.

  Following the elder's orders, the young man sheathed his weapon, leaned it against a tree, and faced the old man again. He positioned his left fist near his chin, dropped his right hand to cover his center, and shifted his weight onto his left foot, turning his right foot inward. It was a versatile stance, ready for both punches and kicks while protecting his vital areas.

  Grrrr...

  Suddenly, the young man's stomach let out a loud growl. Having been up since 5 AM and an hour into their training, it was no wonder he was hungry. But his grandfather wasn't the type to stop just because of a little hunger.

  (Damn! I'm starving... Will this old man ever call it quits?)

  But the young man's silent wish was futile. The old man showed no signs of letting his guard down. If the young man relaxed even for a moment, the old man would surely strike.

  "Enough already! The breakfast I worked hard to prepare is getting cold!"

  A voice broke the tension, offering a reprieve to the beleaguered young man.

  "Honestly, what are you two doing, going at each other so early?"

  Turning, the young man saw a girl with black hair tied back in a ponytail. She stood just shy of 175 cm. Her black eyes, brimming with determination, were captivating.

  Her name was Elena.

  "Going at it? With this old man? Don't be absurd..."

  "Then what exactly were you doing?"

  "Trying to kill each other?"

  Thud!

  "Ow..."

  Whack!

  "What nonsense are you spouting?"

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  With a ladle that seemed to appear out of nowhere, the girl raised it and whacked the young man on the head.

  The blow came in like a flash of lightning. Even though the young man's reflexes were remarkable, the strike to his head was unavoidable. As proof of his strength, just as he was about to crumple after being hit with a ladle, he intercepted the old man's punch with his open palm.

  (This old fox... Even after that, he's still waiting for an opportunity to strike me again.)

  Despite his agility, the young man couldn't evade the girl's sudden attack. However, it was a lesser evil than being clobbered by the old man again.

  "Hohoho. Elena, are you enjoying this comedy act of being a good wife?"

  The cunning old man who succeed in that sneak attack was very pleased with himself. Gone was the stern aura of a tough mentor he carried during their training sessions. In this moment, he seemed like nothing more than a jolly old man.

  (That's exactly why I can't stand him...)

  Honestly, the young man, even though this was his grandfather, struggled to keep up with his unpredictable behavior.

  "Grandpa! What are you even talking about? I've already got a boyfriend, remember? And isn't it Silva you're always pairing me up with?"

  Elena shot a pointed look in his direction. He sighed heavily, muttering internally.

  (Please, give me a break. I'm not interested in her, either.)

  He definitely didn't have the guts to say that aloud. He knew his cousin's fiery temperament far too well.

  "But Silva, doesn't Elena make you breakfast every morning? A girl wouldn't do that for just a childhood friend, would she?"

  The old man's teasing was relentless.

  "It's not like she does it for free! To be exact, it's for a 200$ boost to her allowance!"

  Knowing Elena, it was no shocker. He doubted she'd cook breakfast every morning purely out of kindness. It was clear she had made a deal with her aunt.

  (Typical Elena... She's always been business minded, even though we're related.)

  "Indeed, this family is full of wheeler dealers..."

  Hearing his grandfather's resigned muttering, a thought crossed the young man's mind.

  (Now that I think about it, my aunt also made a fortune in stocks...)

  It all seemed to add up.

  Elena was smart and stunning. She was approachable, without the arrogance often found in attractive girls. She could cook well, and when it came to chores like cleaning, doing laundry, and mending clothes, she was excellent. She was strict with money, but if you looked at it as being savvy, it wasn't a bad trait.

  Many might see her as the ideal woman, but to the young man, the idea was laughable. Even if they weren't related by blood, it was just not possible. Knowing someone too well since childhood makes it hard to see them as a romantic interest.

  "Ahhhhh!"

  Suddenly, Elena glanced at her wristwatch and let out a shriek.

  "I have fencing practice this morning! Silva, don't forget to wash the dishes!"

  She swiftly removed her apron and dashed toward the main house.

  "Hohoho... Always in such a rush," the old man chuckled, clearly amused.

  "If you hadn't distracted her, she wouldn't be in such a hurry."

  "You youngsters just don't understand respect for your elders."

  The word "reflect" didn't seem to exist in the old man's vocabulary. He remained unfazed by the young man's entirely reasonable criticism.

  "Seriously! Sometimes I just want to throttle him..."

  What a nuisance.

  Sigh…

  The young man let out a long sigh.

  "What's with the sighing?"

  Ignoring the question, he began walking toward the main house. If he stayed here dealing with the old man for too long, he'd end up late just like Elena. He also had to prepare to leave for high school. Because of these chaotic morning routines, his breakfast was always cold by the time he got to eat it.