I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

The First Principle in Dealing with Gray Chasefield:
Never, ever let her look down on you.
The way this person perceives the world is, from the outset, that everyone except herself is beneath her feet.

Among those people, unless something stands out to her in some remarkable way, she just forgets about them—her brain is structured in a way that's honestly jaw-dropping.
‘…Wait, come to think of it.’
By that standard, wasn't Vespa—who rose to the rank of Archmage—not someone who should’ve been ignored?

She was someone who could, with some effort, erase a mountain with a single spell.
[…That was because I had gotten stronger by then too.]
‘…’

[Even if she was an Archmage, she could barely last ten seconds against me. There was no particular reason for me to care.]
‘Ah, I see.’
That doesn’t make it right—but Carlyle couldn’t deny it was simply the truth.

But seen another way…
One could call this a perfect opportunity. Gray still hasn’t fully matured at this point.
That makes it the ideal time to put Carlyle’s “method” into practice.

“Um, so, Carlyle… sir…”
Vespa began to speak in a stammer.
Though Carlyle had explained everything in detail, it was clear from her expression that she wasn’t entirely confident she understood.

“You mean… I have to prove to the young lady… that I’m… that I’m capable?”
“Yes.”
“And… the best way to do that… is to fight her?”
“Yes.”

“…”
…To be honest, it would be weirder if she understood this immediately upon hearing it.
Vespa blinked vacantly, watching his expression.

She seemed to be trying to figure out what kind of joke this man was making.
But Carlyle’s ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) eyes were dead serious. More than serious—they were clear. And he was smiling at her with those clear eyes.
‘…Is he insane?’

Even Vespa, who normally never cursed, found herself thinking that. That’s how brimming with confidence those eyes were.
And he wasn’t joking.
How was a lifelong maid, who had only ever done housework, supposed to go toe-to-toe with the Hero?

“I understand it sounds insane. Honestly, it’s a ridiculous idea. Ms. Vespa, you’re completely unversed in combat.”
Ah, thank goodness. He still has some sense left.
“But even so, I believe you could survive a duel against the young lady.”

…Maybe not?
“W-What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that?!”
“Well, shall we go find out?”

This person—she doesn’t yet realize her own potential.
***
“—Magic class? With her?”

Elena, who was leading the group, looked back at Carlyle and Vespa as she asked the question.
This wasn’t on the schedule at all. Her reaction made it clear she was surprised Carlyle had suddenly brought someone along.
“Even non-students are allowed to observe, aren’t they?”

“...Uh, well, but the professor might not like it…”
“Please, Senior Elena. If it’s not you, there’s no one else I can turn to about this. Isn’t there any way?”
“Hmm… well, okay?”

Elena’s lips twitched upward.
“Well then, I guess it can’t be helped—! I’ll go convince the professor!”
“…”

Carlyle nodded.
‘…That was easy.’
[…Disgustingly easy.]

It felt like this woman constantly had an unfulfilled need for recognition, so he’d just tried scratching that itch. But he hadn’t expected things to go this smoothly.
And on top of that, she was good at what she did.

From experience, when he had to ask her to run errands or help out here and there, she never failed—despite her initial hesitation or awkwardness.

Most of the time, he’d relied on her to help deal with Gray’s difficult personality.
Fetching items, finding people, gathering information…
As long as it didn’t involve physical exertion, she was incredibly competent when it came to social and logistical work.

To a level that made him wonder.
‘Is her reputation as a respected senior really just because she’s useful to others?’
[…I wouldn’t say that’s an unlikely possibility.]

Someone this willing to go along with things just because you flatter them a little—it’d be harder not to be popular.
…And since she seemed perfectly content with that, Carlyle had no reason to object.
Besides, he was the one benefiting from that kind of personality right now.

The moment Elena returned, she dropped a large glass orb into Vespa’s arms.
“Here, use this!”
Vespa tilted her head.

“What is… this?”
“It’s a beginner’s tool. It helps measure your capacity. Just put your hand on top and concentrate!”
Ah, this thing.

The type of orb that notoriously explodes the moment a top-tier freshman touches it, unable to contain their overwhelming mana.
And everyone around reacts with a line like, ‘Is it broken…?’ because they can’t believe what they’re seeing.
‘…I wonder if Vespa will have a moment like that too.’

[Seems likely. Even if this is far in the past, she’s Archmage material. You can’t say she lacks talent.]
‘Then maybe I should help a little.’
With that thought, Carlyle quietly moved behind Vespa, who was still eyeing the orb curiously.

He closed his eyes and focused.
There was one thing Carlyle knew for sure.
The Hero’s innate talent wasn’t limited to just one field. The way she always bragged about being “a jack-of-all-trades” didn’t sound like a lie at all.

[Skill Info]
◆ Mana Sensitivity
◆ Mana Absorption
◆ Mana Compression
◆ Mana Transfer
All of them were mana-related skills—fundamental to the use of magic.

In order: sensing mana, absorbing it into the body, compressing it for efficient control…
And the last one was the key: Mana Transfer.
What Carlyle intended to do was simple—take the mana gathered using Gray’s skills, and inject it into Vespa’s body.

“…”
As he closed his eyes and concentrated, a strange sensation came over him—like he’d grown a new organ. He could suddenly feel the “flow of power” around him.
This was the first step of magic: mana sensitivity.

‘…Didn’t they say it takes years just to feel this?’
And yet here he was, copying four skills and sitting down to control them on the spot.
He’d heard Gray picked this up as a “hobby” after just a few months of casual study.

All the more shocking, now that he saw it firsthand.
‘Hero.’
[Hm?]

‘How could you have a gift like this and never once think of using it to help someone else?’
[…Stop digging. I know I was wrong.]
Well, regret’s a good start.

Carlyle smirked and infused Vespa’s body with mana.
He drew it in from the surroundings, compressed it, and pushed it into her.
Given her talent, even that should be enough to spark a reaction.

Right now, Vespa was unaware of her overflowing potential. She’d simply never had a chance to realize it.
From what he heard about her past before the regression, her introduction to magic had been a complete accident. Something like… walking past a group of mages and getting curious?
This time, Carlyle would be that accident.

‘Let’s see what happens…’
At the very least, he expected the orb to crack. Carlyle chuckled at the thought.
But what followed… was not something that stopped at just that.

“Huh?”

Along with that voice—
CRACK—

A fissure appeared in the orb Vespa was holding.
“Uh, C-Carlyle, this thing, it’s—”
And then—

BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!
A vortex erupted from the orb in Vespa’s hands.
As if a black hole had suddenly opened up in thin air.

“W-What the hell?!”
“Kyahhhhh!”
And then—

Chaos broke loose in every direction.
Orbs held by other students, into which they had been channeling their mana, were suddenly yanked from their hands and pulled toward Vespa’s orb as if magnetized.
The flying orbs zipped through the air and clung to the one Vespa held like swarming insects forming a hive.

“C-Carlyle?! What is this?! What’s happening?!”
“Wait, hold on, just calm down—”
But before he could finish his sentence—

A crashing sound came from somewhere in the building.
“—What’s going on?! Are we under attack?!”
“The storage room—it’s—!”

Multiple orbs from far off soared into the sky—
…and then clung to Vespa’s orb one by one.
“…”

What the hell is this?
[…Talent.]
‘…Excuse me?’

[That orb is a mana stone that reacts to the user's mana. It doesn’t have a will, but it likely becomes more “attuned” based on the user's capability.]
If the mana is unpleasant, it emits a static shock; if the user is gifted, it feels warm and alive.
Something like that.

So in this case—
All the surrounding mana stones reacted the moment they sensed Vespa’s unconscious release of mana.
Because her magical nature was, more than anything else… friendly.

[They say mana is the will of nature itself. In that sense…]
Gray paused, as if even she couldn’t believe what she was about to say.
[This isn’t mere genius level.]

It’s beloved by the world level.
In other words—
Someone who had just barely taken in mana, with no training, had only to release a little of it…

And every surrounding mana stone reacted as though they’d been reunited with a long-lost family member.
“C-Carlyle…”
Her voice barely audible from beneath the pile of fused orbs that now hid her completely, Vespa whimpered:

“D-Did I do something wrong…? Who do I need to apologize to—?”
“…”
Apologize to yourself.

You had this kind of talent, and you were working as a maid?
‘Hero.’
[Hm?]

‘Isn’t she even stronger than before the regression?’
The silence that rose from within the Holy Sword showed even Gray couldn’t deny it.
[She must’ve awakened her talent too late the first time. Now that her body’s younger, the efficiency is higher.]

One newly confirmed fact:
When it comes to new disciplines, the earlier you start, the better.
***

[System Message]
▶ The talent of “Vespa Luciana” has bloomed!
▶ “Vespa Luciana” has been added to the [Instructor] roster.
▶ Change the target’s future!
▶ Trait unlocked: “The Archmage’s First Love”!
▶ A related quest has been generated!
▶ Develop the trait to earn rewards!