Chapter 38
“Well then, let’s have another enjoyable training session today. Shall we start with the spear?”
“……”
Aira assumed her stance immediately, as if she had learned that responding wouldn’t change anything anyway.
“Yesterday, we lightly explored what a spear is as a weapon, so today we’ll proceed with the advanced course.”
Christian took a spear from the weapon rack. Unlike yesterday, its tip pointed to the ground, while its shaft slanted upward at an angle, almost as if it were poised to strike down diagonally.
‘Well, the only spear technique I know is the Maghram Spear Technique.’
It was the unique spear technique of the royal family, learned from Lakshmi von Maghram, the master of the Ether Weapon, “The Twelve Spear Knights of Maghram.”
Though a royal family’s technique, the Maghram Kingdom was located at the far eastern end of the continent, the opposite of the Rondel Kingdom. Therefore, there wouldn’t be many who recognized it even if used.
‘Though it’s different from general spear techniques, teaching Aira the versatile Maghram spear technique could be a great way to help her learn flexibility.’
At the moment, Aira was like a vigorous warhorse that charged straight at full speed, simply relying on her strength.
Such a lesson would provide the right opportunity for her to think about softness and adaptability rather than just being swayed by her own strength.
***
“Yawn.”
“Ugh.”
Christian stretched extensively as he exited the private training ground. Behind him followed Aira, who looked so battered that one might think she was in a half-zombie state.
“You didn’t do anything but take hits, so why are you so exhausted?”
“…… It’s weirder that your energy seems endless. Why are you the only one who’s perfectly fine?”
Even though she had been hit one-sidedly, Christian hadn’t taken things lightly.
If anything, using various mana patterns and waves, Christian expended more stamina and mana than Aira, not less.
Aira understood this, so Christian’s unscathed appearance remained a mystery to her.
“Your basic stamina and mine aren’t too far off, I bet. But don’t you think it differs depending on how we use it?”
“Are you saying I’m not distributing my stamina well?”
“Well, that’s not exactly what I meant. You recover as quickly as you expend energy, and since I laid a good foundation for your movements, there’s not much unnecessary waste.”
“But then, why…?”
Aira, in Christian’s view, was indeed quick to grasp things when taught even a little.
Yet, when considering her original capabilities, she was still an inexperienced kid, far from fully trained.
Even though Christian was teaching Aira using his past life’s memories and experiences, he couldn’t fill all her gaps in a short time. Breathing was one of those aspects.
“Breathing.”
“Breathing?”
Even after training concluded, Aira perked up her ears eagerly, as if to learn one more thing. Christian respected her passion for learning and offered a diligent explanation.
“Adjusting your breathing style reduces stamina consumption. Like how you can run more steadily if you breathe consistently during a run? Don’t overthink it.”
“Hmm, I understand in theory, but I still don’t quite get it when I have to move my body. Still, managing your breath while moving intensely is a bit challenging….”
“Even if it’s difficult, do it. Ah, yes. I’ll assign this as homework, so bring it back to me, done, by tomorrow.”
“Are you crazy?! How am I supposed to learn and apply that overnight?!”
“Should I help you?”
“Ugh!”
Christian smiled slyly, causing Aira to bristle, but she had to keep her mouth shut. Saying anything more here might have meant losing even the short break they had now.
“Well, I’ll give you some tips over dinner tonight, so you can perfect it after practice tomorrow afternoon. What do you think?”
“So kind of you.”
Despite pouting, Aira did not refuse, and Christian barely held back his laughter.
‘I should start preparing myself too.’
At the moment, he was dedicating all his time to polishing Aira’s basics, but soon her fundamental skills would be completed.
Once that happened, he would have the time and would need to develop his own training plan.
However, there was a problem that needed addressing first.
He had yet to fully digest the pure mana of the Ether Weapon he consumed to cure his mana transmutation.
‘Although the mana that felt heavy in my gut has somewhat stabilized, it still hasn’t been properly digested.’
Some of the essence of the mana had been used to expand his mana reservoir, but that was merely a crumb. The undigested mana essence still lingered in Christian’s chest.
A total of nine Ether Weapons had been condensed, each possessing such distinct personalities that even when bundled together, they didn’t mix, but instead remained apart, each acting independently.
‘It wasn’t like this before.’
He couldn’t afford to leisurely wait for them to naturally blend over time, which was quite frustrating.
‘Hoo, if only Uncle Rizel were here, he would have easily provided a solution.’
The wise Rizel Fenber.
Though it was unknown where he came from, it didn’t matter. Having met him while wandering with his master, his past was insignificant.
He was knowledgeable in many things and effectively resolved most mana-related issues.
‘Master of Ether, having mastered the magic of all five towers.’
If Christian was the master of Ether Weapons, which were said to turn mana into soul arms, Rizel Fenber was called the Master of Ether for mastering all magic.
Thus, the vast knowledge of Rizel Fenber, who was more familiar with mana phenomena than anyone else, was sorely missed…
‘But now, is he just an ordinary rookie?’
Much like Aira right now.
As Christian glanced to the side, he saw Aira pouting and grumbling.
“Haa…”
“Why are you sighing while looking at someone’s face!”
Bang! Crack!
“Well, Aira. No matter how angry you are, breaking things is… huh?”
“This time I didn’t break it! No, it wasn’t me, really!”
Christian alternated his gaze between the intact training hall and Aira’s indignant face.
Sensing something peculiar, Christian’s gaze shifted from the wall to the floor, and Aira, feeling guilty, cautiously checked beneath her feet.
But the floor was unblemished. Just when Aira, feeling wronged, was about to retort to Christian, the corridor suddenly filled with loud voices, naturally perking up the siblings’ ears.
***
“Get out there and obliterate them immediately!”
Bang!
When Garcia’s large and burly fist slammed down on the table, it left a deep impression in the shape of his fist.
With steam snorting from his nose and his face flushed, Garcia shouted as he glared at those gathered in the room.
“Sir Garcia, you’re getting overly excited. You must calm down.”
“Do you think I can calm down right now?! Sir Ketn, how can you remain so composed?!”
Despite facing the raging Garcia, who resembled an angry bear, the elderly knight, ketan Walbert, didn’t flinch. Instead, he leisurely stroked his white beard and replied.
As the eldest knight of the Worden family, ketan had stepped down from active service and was now fulfilling the duties of the butler, overseeing the manor.
“It’s not complacency; it’s prudence.”
“We can’t just stand by any longer! Do you understand the current situation of the territory?!”
With the family head absent, Garcia had been temporarily entrusted with maintaining the city’s security. The reason behind his apparent fury was the increased activity of monsters during his oversight as acting family head.
Monsters set up camp near the city walls, causing fatigue among the guards who continually served on duty.
Consequently, the residents of the territory began to feel increasingly anxious, and an oppressive atmosphere settled over the city.
Furthermore, even external merchants, who assumed safety near the north gate, faced the appearance of monsters, resulting in a continuous stream of complaints and demands for a solution.
Thus, Garcia wished to personally take action against those cursed monsters and resolve the situation. However, to achieve this, he required the aid of the old knight before him.
“Sir Garcia, you’re aware that we lack sufficient available forces right now. For now, all we can do is pray for the swift return of the expedition.”
It was not that the entire territory’s forces were depleted but rather that Flamme’s standing army had been reduced by half.
Two months ago, the lord had left to inspect and eliminate threats in the Rangar region. Sir Ketn’s assessment was that locking the gates and holding out would suffice until the lord’s return.
“That’s precisely why we should attack now! If you could spare a few of the deputies responsible for the manor’s security, we could eliminate them before they gather further strength!”
“Sir Garcia, do you truly think that makes sense? If we divert the security forces, including those protecting the ladies of the house, outward, how stressed do you think the remaining personnel will become? What if something happens to the manor, then what?”
“Ugh!”
Garcia himself was part of the manor’s security team.
While serving as acting guard chief in Flamme during the absence of Count Worden, his true role was the security chief for Countess Liana Worden.
He knew well the burden placed on the knights left behind, so he couldn’t protest against Ketn’s argument.
“Besides, haven’t we gone out several times already and achieved nothing? I believe we’ve sounded enough warnings.”
“True, but those creatures suffered no losses. If their numbers continue to grow, it will eventually become unmanageable with our current forces.”
“Despite that, there’s no need for us to initiate an offensive. We don’t know how many more monsters might gather, but our forces are limited, aren’t they?”
“Are you suggesting we leave this latent threat unchecked?!”
“It’s not neglect but understanding our situation and keeping watch for now. While unlikely, if our forces suffer any attrition, those creatures might launch an aggressive attack.”
Ketn stood, suggesting he had nothing further to add. Before leaving the room, he issued a stern warning to Garcia.
“I’ll be watching, so don’t do anything rash. Strengthen patrols and ensure the soldiers’ burdens are mitigated.”
“……”
Garcia purposefully avoided meeting Ketn’s sharp gaze. Annoyed by this, Sir Ketn clicked his tongue softly and swung the door open.
“What?!”
“Yikes?!”
The door opened wide, revealing a pair of siblings stumbling inside. As Christian and Aira awkwardly entered the room, ketan addressed them.
“Young master and Miss, this applies to you as well. Understood?”
