Changed Status

The Imperial carriage departed, leaving only four people in the Bernatore residence.

With the need for formality gone, Flare let out a satisfied laugh, patting her stomach, forgetting Scarl was even there.

“I ate way too much for the first time in a while…”

Sophia, appalled by her friend’s slovenly behavior and slumped posture, glanced at Scarl and chided her.

“Flare. You. You. Aren’t you going to gain weight if you eat that much?”

Only then, following Sophia’s cue, did Flare become aware of Scarl and subtly straightened her posture.

Scarl, glancing at their clumsy banter, chuckled inwardly and continued reading his newspaper.

“What? Would that ever happen to me? Right, Luna?”

Luna was out of it.

She was diligently memorizing what he mainly ate and what foods he showed curiosity in, so she could only blankly answer her sister’s question.

“Huh? Uh, uh.”

She was pondering what dishes she could make, recalling which of the foods Scarl had eaten suited her taste as well.

As the clock on the wall struck exactly 2 o’clock, Scarl abruptly stood up.

“Lunchtime is over, so let’s begin the private tutoring.”

At those words, Sophia made an X with her hands and pouted.

“Neeh? Already, Brother?! Can’t we rest a bit today!”

“It’s the first day. You can’t slack off from the start, Sophia.”

Sophia cursed herself for eating too much lunch.

According to Flare, her brother’s tutoring was completely Spartan.

She thought she might end up throwing up in front of her brother if she wasn’t careful.

I have to digest as much as possible.

“Th, then! You two go first! There are two of you in the swordsmanship department, so!”

But as the saying goes, staying still is half the battle.

“It’s alright. You seem the most enthusiastic, judging by your words.”

“Aaaah! Flare said Brother’s lessons are scary!”

Scary? All for whose sake…

Glancing at Flare, she avoided eye contact, pretending not to know anything.

At that sight, a faint vein popped out on Scarl’s forehead.

Sophia and Flare wanted a proper lesson from the start.

Scarl lowered his voice, clapped his hands, and drew the attention of the three.

“From now on, call me Professor. Sophia. Let’s head to the indoor training ground first. Even mages need to train their bodies.”

Now, you’ve been bored sitting and studying magic, right? It’s fun exercise time.

The atmosphere instantly sank with my changed demeanor.

“Let’s go, Sophia.”

Standing in front of Sophia and looking down, her Adam’s apple bobbed nervously.

Seizing Sophia’s wrist, who wouldn’t get up.

“Hieeek?! G, gently! It hurts.”

I looked at Flare and Luna at Sophia’s exclamation, but the two were discussing their worries about the upcoming lesson rather than the fact that I was holding Sophia’s wrist.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

Bernatore residence, indoor training ground.

I brought Sophia here with great fanfare, but I couldn’t figure out where to start.

“Brother. What are you going to do?”

“I’m thinking.”

Practicing swordsmanship is a waste of time.

A mage like Sophia standing on the front lines in a battle against demons is as good as a death sentence…

If she runs away, is it running?

“Run. 50 laps.”

“Yes. That’s about… Guehk?! What did you say?!”

“50 laps.”

Wouldn’t that be about 1km?

Perfect for a light warm-up after a meal.

“Don’t worry. I’ll run with you.”

“O, okay. Then, well.”

Ignoring Sophia’s grumbling, I loosened my ankles and wrists, preparing to run.

“Are you going to run like that? It’ll be cumbersome.”

Sophia, who was wearing a thin school uniform in the still-warm weather, suddenly took off her top.

Scarl belatedly averted his gaze at the sudden action.

“It’s okay. I’m wearing clothes to exercise in underneath.”

Crop… No. This is the kind of world it is. Right.

A sports crop top made of the same material as sports bras used by track and field athletes.

The hook of her skirt came undone, revealing tight-fitting shorts.

“But it’s cool indoors, and there’s no sun, so I won’t get tanned. And there’s no one to see…”

Sophia, with a hair tie in her mouth, tied her hair back and grinned.

“How do I look?”

“What are you talking about.”

“You know~”

She approached with skin like a pure white dumpling.

Her skin, even smoother up close, had no blemishes, and her milky skin tone was a deep peach color.

I couldn’t believe this was the same Sophia who had been so scared when we were alone in the secret separate palace not long ago. She was exuding sexiness and approaching me seductively.

What happened?

Mature, perhaps?

Sophia’s actions weren’t unfamiliar, but her composure was.

“Let’s run.”

“Fine, I understand.”

Scarl drove Sophia hard to prevent himself from having foolish thoughts.

Sophia, who had been so relaxed, gradually began to change color and became a mess. Later, Flare and Luna had similar experiences.

I need to change the teaching method. It would be dangerous to be alone with anyone.

Now that the physical training was over, the last part was sparring.

I faced the three of them in turn, but Sophia, Flare, and Luna were sprawled on the floor of the indoor training ground, drenched in sweat, in contrast to my refreshed appearance.

“Hwaaaah. I’m going to die, Brother.”

“I’m tired… Sister, waaaater…”

“Give them water, Luna.”

Luna, who was standing next to them, covered her mouth and laughed at the two’s exhausted appearance.

“Here.”

“Hoo- hoo- Are you okay, Sister?”

“Yeah. It’s manageable.”

Unlike her words, Luna’s face and body were covered in sweat.

But she was ready to follow anything Scarl said, so she acted like it was nothing.

However, one question arose.

His skills were filled with even stranger aspects than Flare and Luna’s.

Was he always this strong…?

In Luna’s memory, Scarl, who was dodging daggers or holding out against her five and a half years ago, and the current Scarl were completely different people. He was the same person she knew, but his skills had improved dramatically since that day, becoming like a mountain.

When did he become like this?

Would it be possible if we brought the Witch Queen in her prime?

No. I can never beat him.

As Flare said, whether it was stamina or swordsmanship, I didn’t think Scarl could ever lose to me.

“M, monster Brother… Mumble. Mumble.”

Sophia fell into a deep sleep, ending with incoherent words.

Unlike the exhausted Sophia, Scarl didn’t sweat a single drop.

“I’ll reduce the intensity a bit tomorrow.”

Scarl thought he had overdone it because he was too excited about the party in the game.

The next day.

Today, I’m only sending Luna to the academy, and I’m heading to Aiden’s guild building in another carriage.

Busy. Everyone is busy.

Kasha was also busy, so she sent someone else instead.

Luna expressed her disappointment that she couldn’t go with me, but students have to go to school.

“Scarl. Marquis Haimon came directly this morning.”

Yes. The reason I came in person is because a big shot came in person.

A truly high-ranking aristocrat in this country who is burdensome even for Aiden’s vice guild master.

“Yes. I heard. Where is he?”

“He’s in guest room A.”

“Let’s go there.”

Marquis Roberto Haimon.

He is currently in the process of passing on the headship to his eldest son and rarely engages in external activities. He is the rising star of the Haimon family, and the former Minister of Military Affairs himself came to visit.

In Korean terms, it’s like the former Minister of National Defense. A 4-star general came in person.

The man I met in the guest room was like a huge human lion, like the beast in Beauty and the Beast.

The teacup he was holding was hanging on his pinky finger and looked as small as a child’s toy cup.

He also stood up when he saw me, and his aura was extraordinary.

Far exceeding the average male height, he was two heads taller, and even one head taller than Scarl, who was tall.

He was now pot-bellied, but his past as the one in charge of national defense was still evident. Unlike his smooth face, his rough hands and thick fingers, and the crushed ears visible between his short white hair, exuded the aura of a hero, showing that he had lived fiercely in his youth and worked hard to ensure the stability of the empire by standing at the forefront of the battlefield.

He claims to be an old man in the back room now, though.

A big shot who is famous in the empire came to visit, so it would be impolite if the guild master didn’t show up.

He’s been bothering Kasha since this morning.

“Nice to meet you, Baron Bernatore.”

Unlike my inner complaints, I politely saluted him as he sat.

“How have you been, Minister of Military Affairs Roberto Haimon.”

At that sight, Roberto curled up the corners of his mouth and showed the muscles in his arm while clenching his fist instead of speaking.

“I was surprised that the popular guild these days was owned by you. Bernatore.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Is it about business right away? Sit down first.”

He’s acting like it’s his own house.

Knowing it was a subtle power struggle, I naturally sat in the seat of honor.

Perhaps knowing that I didn’t care about him, Roberto laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! I’m envious, envious! A talented person has come out of Bernatore!”

As Roberto’s aura expanded and tried to fill the room, Scarl, who gently let go of the things that were going to Kasha, quickly tried to send her out.

“Kasha. Bring some tea. What would you like to drink?”

Roberto grinned at the sight and reduced his aura.

“The same as what I was drinking earlier. Miss.”

“Bring me the same thing too.”

“Understood.”

As soon as Kasha left, Roberto put on a serious expression.

“Good. Now that the onlookers are gone…”