Locus was not sure whether Genken was joking or being serious. After all, Genken still looked like he was half asleep.
"Why do you want to kill me?"
"First up, I never said that I'd want to kill you. But seeing how you dealt with that mission just now made me question the potential I had seen in you when we first met."
"What are you talking about? I completed the quest, didn't I?"
"It's not about the fact that you completed it. It's about how you completed it. Such imprudent and clumsy execution won't always work that well."
"What would you know about my execution? You just slept while I did a great job."
Genken rolled his eyes.
"Not only did you throw a valuable katana like a stick while having a knife right inside of your pocke, you also had to carry the boar around by yourself because of your poor planning."
"My poor planning? You're the one with the teleportation ability. How was I supposed to do it without your help?"
"But I did offer my help. Don't you remember me asking whether you need anything? Also, a good hunter would have set a trap and patiently waited."
"Set up a trap? I didn't know anything about where we are."
"A good hunter would have started by figuring that out. Did you realize that the first buildings of the city were just a few hundred meters away?"
Locus didn't know what to say. He didn't have any idea.
"So you want to kill me because I didn't execute the given task like a professional?"
"Again, I do not want to kill you. You're in training. Of course you can't perfectly execute all tasks. But if you don't have potential, then I can't train you. And as you so masterfully deducted, I revealed my very rare ability to you. I can't just let you live if you possess that kind of knowledge."
Locus suddenly remembered something.
"But yesterday, you said that you weren't a good fighter."
He drew his katana.
"So how are you planning on getting rid of me?"
Genken didn't look impressed at all.
"There you go with the poor planning. I think it's time to further elaborate on my ability.
As you probably know, abilities are conditions that were bestowed upon oneself.
Most people possess very specific abilities like 'I can control stones that weigh exactly one ounce as long as I play the violin on a full moon.' and therefore never discover them.
But a select few possess very useful abilities like myself.
I can teleport entities from one place to another, as long as I'm in contact with either the destination or the entity that is being transported while still having touched both of them at some point in time.
In the guild, I teleported the bag of gold coins out of my hand and, at the same time, the bag of copper coins into the hand.
That's the secret to being strong, which I know you want to be. I can see it in your eyes.
You have to include the ability in every trick, in every attack of yours. It's not just a weapon on its own. It can also enhance the weapons that you already use.
And to train said use of your ability, you have to complete that next quest of yours with your ability alone. Don't rely on anything else, except for a good plan in mind.
Just like that, attacking me now would be a very bad move. The moment I touch your katana, I can make it disappear, leaving you completely defenseless.
With this ability, I don't have to be a good fighter. I just have to touch you and make you fall from a cliff."
Locus began to shake. He didn't fully understand Genken's ability, but Locus knew that he had no chance against someone who could teleport.
"And if I manage to complete this quest with just my ability, you'll continue to be my teacher?"
Genken nodded.
"Alright."
Locus sheathed his katana.
"Then I guess I should tell you about my ability..."