episode_0078

Something didn’t seem to sit well with Master, but the days of training continued with Victor and Rachel joining in.

Victor, being able to learn from my Master, Duke Raymond Astraia, the Empire’s top swordsman, cheered at the fact and immediately accepted the offer on the spot, while Rachel declined.

Training alongside Claire and Helena, she suddenly excused herself due to feeling sorry for only focusing on herself.

Master proposed attaching family sorcerers to us so we could attend classes, persuading that it was time to enhance our individual skills, which we eventually accepted.

“Oh no! Can’t you go a bit easier on me? I feel like I’m going to die like this!!”

“It’s normal to learn through getting hit at your age. Why are you making such a fuss when you’ll be perfectly fine after a good night’s sleep? Face it properly.”

Not a day went by without hearing Victor’s screams, but since he didn’t sustain major injuries, it should be fine.

I deliberately turned away from Victor and continued with physical training slowly.

“I’m sorry, Victor. If we return to the academy, I’ll do better, I promise.”

Despite Victor’s clumsiness, he managed to handle Aura, meeting at least the minimum standards, but Master seemed somewhat dissatisfied, hinting at it while teaching.

Previously passionate about training, after taking my advice at Ardente Academy, he diligently followed a personalized routine every day, continuing individual training consistently since arriving at Duke Astraia’s estate, which must have played a significant role.

Given Master’s discernment, it’s unlikely he missed such details.

While Victor already displayed stability in offense and defense using sword and shield, going through Master’s regimen enhanced his Aura-based physical reinforcement, reducing the required time significantly, showing gradual improvement.

Although he faced difficulties in external manifestation compared to internal Aura utilization, his faint success in enveloping the sword and shield indicated ongoing efforts ahead.

There seemed a high probability that Master would suggest Victor entering as a family knight, recognizing his diligence, passion, and decent social skills.

What still puzzled me was why Victor, who seemed quite capable from the start, received a sword and shield for training while I hadn’t received even a single blade yet.

“Why insist on using a half-broken sword that’s almost falling apart?”

Deciding to focus on my growth by choosing unavoidable paths at Sungyong, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed not receiving even a single sword, despite the sacrifices made during the break.

Unofficially, though Master treated me as a disciple, not giving me a single sword was disheartening.

As for Rachel, upon my request to Master, she trained separately wearing a heavy iron-made weight harness all over her body.

Expecting a delay in readiness, I was surprised to see knights training with such constraints, promptly retrieving them from the warehouse.

“That thing alone must have cost a fortune.”

It wasn’t just a simple iron weight but more of a magical device incorporating Madogineering, allowing adjustable weight functions, which amazed me.

Later, I learned that in his youth, Master used it to conduct the kind of training Rachel was undergoing.

And the master, as soon as I brought up that topic, not only instructed me to use Rachel’s but also my share for future training…

Weight is set incredibly heavy even though my strength stat is considerable right now.

I was instructed to wear this magic tool at all times except during meals, showers, and sleep.

Originally, the master wanted me to wear it even while eating or sleeping, but stopped out of fear of damaging the bed or utensils.

‘I should be grateful for this consideration…’

For reference, Rachel was allowed to use it only during training hours.

She wanted to proceed just like me by wearing the magic tool continuously, but due to the master’s vehement opposition, her plans were thwarted.

“I can’t bear to see our cute daughter struggling before dirt gets in my eyes!!!”

Rachel threw sand as if she intended to put dirt in the master’s eyes, causing a commotion, but unlike the many times she had been lenient before, this time it ended with Rachel’s defeat.

After training, I made sure to return it directly to the master, even securing a promise to prevent Rachel from receiving the magic tool I used.

Anyway, Rachel actively recognized and utilized her innate ability ‘Iron Blood,’ focusing on external manifestation rather than using Aura for physical enhancement.

It may take some time for her to use the Aura Blade, but succeeding in sharpening Aura on a blade is commendable, making her growth rate faster than any Rachel I’ve known.

When Victor and I were absent at Rachel’s request, it seemed like she was receiving swordsmanship transmitted to the Astraea Duke.

As her swordsmanship gradually resembled the master’s, becoming sharper and more challenging for opponents, I couldn’t help but notice as I trained with Rachel every day and faced the master in swordplay.

From my current perspective, as the main character of the next scenario is likely to be Rachel, her growth is a source of great joy for me.

The master, who had been facing both Victor and Rachel simultaneously, finally sheathed his sword when Victor collapsed from exhaustion.

“Let’s end today’s training here for both of you. It will be tough, but take a moment to catch your breath and finish stretching properly before your body stiffens.”

Afterward, he approached me, still wearing the magic tool, who was continuing strength training.

“You can’t endure this and resort to shortcuts. I clearly told you to train using pure strength only.”

‘Even though I thought the master would notice, isn’t this a bit too much?’

Who makes someone do strength training with double the weight…

Despite the master instructing me to continue strength training at the same level as before, apart from wearing the magic tool, I couldn’t withstand the overwhelming weight without using physical enhancement.

Since my injuries had healed, I also practiced using Aura for physical enhancement little by little; otherwise, I might have collapsed under the weight and needed the master’s help, unsure of how things would turn out later.

“I’m sorry.”

I apologized to the master, but honestly, I can’t guarantee that I won’t sneakily endure the remaining training using Aura or Aura.

‘It has to be significantly heavy.’

Knowing my situation, the master didn’t reprimand me further and instead spoke up.

“Even when you feel you can’t bear it anymore, endure until the end and restrain yourself as much as possible. True exercise begins when your body starts shaking from exhaustion.”

“I will keep that in mind. I’ll try to endure as much as possible as long as I have the strength.”

Grabbing my Babel with one hand, my master, who had just helped me down, grasped my shoulder and spoke.

“During the recent training session, you utilized magic for physical enhancement. Could you demonstrate it once more?”

Though puzzled by my master’s request, feeling fully recovered, I activated the physical enhancement effortlessly.

‘You must have seen me use it several times during training after I got better.’

Observing me closely, my master touched various parts of my body, as if trying to confirm something.

“It seems you operated intentionally in this manner?”

“Pardon? I’m not quite sure what you mean, Master.”

Was there something different about my physical enhancement?

“You didn’t perform it willingly. Don’t misunderstand. Your talent is exceptionally remarkable. Honestly, throughout my life, I’ve encountered numerous talents, but none like yours. However, at times, you exhibit a rigid flow. Especially when using magic for physical enhancement.”

“Are you referring to physical enhancement?”

Until now, I hadn’t noticed anything peculiar while using it.

‘But since my master mentioned it, I should investigate.’

As I deactivated and reactivated the physical enhancement, focusing on my body’s interior, it didn’t take long before I realized the meaning behind my master’s comment about the rigid flow.

‘The distribution and flow of magic are exactly the same.’

While previously struggling with observing the changing nature of magic flow when using both Aura and magic simultaneously, after casting physical enhancement several times, I could pinpoint that the flow was completely fixed, identical each time.

For a person, gradual changes are normal, but consistently showing the same flow occasionally led to being labeled as rigid.

‘If the flow remains fixed momentarily, by memorizing just this…!’

Perhaps, even at my current level, there was a possibility of reaching the realm my master deemed unattainable, albeit clumsily.