Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

“Ugh, it’s cramped! So small!”

As soon as Aira lay down on the small cot in the tent, she voiced her complaint.

However, to Christian, who was about to lie on a mere blanket spread on the bare ground, it seemed like quite the luxurious sight.

In response to Aira’s complaints, Christian muttered softly, almost incredulously.

“We used to sleep just fine with just a layer of fallen leaves…”

“What are you talking about? This is my first time camping.”

“Right, it is. Well…”

Indeed, it was her first time. The master, who used to run around in a sleeveless top even in the middle of winter declaring it warm, was no longer around.

Yet, seeing Aira express discomfort about the luxury of a cot with a blanket wrapped around it was a curious sight.

“But why do you only have a blanket? What about a cot?”

“How could a cot fit in a backpack?”

“Huh? It doesn’t fit? Why?”

Unlike Aira’s absurdly expensive backpack, Christian’s was a small pocket type focused on a single function.

The size of the subspace was tailored for its intended use, making it impossible to carry items that exceeded a certain volume.

Moreover, there was no luxurious item like a cot among the items Neria had painstakingly prepared.

The same went for the tent.

“Isn’t this more like military gear than travel equipment? How did Aunt manage to get this? And giving it to you of all people, that’s even more impressive.”

Christian realized anew just how generous Liana’s spirit was.

“Ahem, you should be thankful. At least you can avoid the morning dew thanks to me.”

“Yeah, truly. But couldn’t you bring an extra cot next time?”

The tent was quite spacious, easily accommodating two or three people.

“Ask the Second Madam for that. Besides, that side seems to have its own little problem.”

“Hmm…”

Not too far away, there was another tent, albeit less lavish. Two blankets were laid near a campfire beside this tent.

Sonya, perhaps already asleep, had the tent thoroughly closed, and the fire was out.

Meanwhile, it seemed Lirael and Caedwin were wrapping themselves in blankets, prepared to sleep on the ground.

Christian watched with some pity and muttered softly.

“… I hate being poor.”

Even though he was a noble now, he couldn’t understand why he still slept on the ground as he did in the past.

It was lucky that Aira provided a shelter from the rainstorm where he could sneak in and sleep.

“May my poor brother always be grateful to this elder sister.”

“Yes. I will rely on you in the future too.”

Aira’s gesture of playfully ruffling Christian’s hair left him feeling a complex mix of emotions. Sometimes, Aira resembled the master from Christian’s memory.

“Let’s get some sleep too. We have to wake up early and run around again tomorrow.”

“Ha, even outside, we have to run around all day?”

As Christian wrapped himself in the blanket and lay on the ground, Aira let out a soft sigh as she lay on the cot.

It was still cramped and uncomfortable, but knowing that others lay on the cold ground, she refrained from further complaints.

At least, they didn’t need to worry about keeping watch in turns, thanks to a mana tool set to alert them if any living creatures approached within a 20-meter radius.

Moreover, Christian’s keen senses allowed him to detect any abnormalities even in his sleep, effectively standing watch alongside the mana tool.

“But Christian.”

“Yeah?”

Aira, who seemed about to fall asleep instantly, quietly asked Christian.

“Are you really thinking of teaching those two like you taught me?”

“Isn’t that what you wanted? Why, does it bother you that it could happen?”

“Funny. I’m not interested in your concern.”

Unlike Sonya’s tent, where the entrance was fully closed, the light from the campfire a little distance away still lit inside Christian and Aira’s tent.

Christian smiled slightly, watching Aira sticking her head out, her red eyes shining like jewels, reminiscent of the master in his memories.

However, the expression was different, making him smile without knowing why. Aira seemed displeased with Christian’s smile.

“Don’t laugh. Why do you always laugh when you look at me?”

“Because it’s funny.”

“…”

And because he would see an unfamiliar side of his master.

Hiding his unspoken thoughts, Christian answered Aira’s question.

“I don’t plan to go that far. There’s no reason, and no need.”

“Then why are you giving them mana tools to build physical strength? Wasn’t that one of your secret techniques?”

“This doesn’t even count as a secret. The true secrets are things only I can do, like my mana reservoir.”

“Hmph. I did it all.”

“Yes, yes. You’re right, miss Aira did everything.”

“Stop with the unrelated chatter, why are you doing it then?”

“It’s nothing much. They’re just people thirsty for learning.”

“Thirsty for learning?”

“Yeah. Caedwin and Liber, both of them found what we were doing strange at first but still showed interest themselves and asked to be taught, didn’t they?”

Caedwin and Liber were the ones who reached out first. Even without Christian’s urging, they approached voluntarily.

“No one at home ever approached me first to ask to be taught, yet they were not only from another family with whom we had poor relations but still asked us. Isn’t it admirable?”

“Admirable?”

Aira muttered softly, as if disagreeing, but nodded as if she understood their intentions.

Aira, too, knew how the people at home still viewed the training sessions of Christian and Aira with skepticism.

Despite their surprising achievements, no one came forward to ask about their training methods or requested to learn.

Not even their father was different in this regard.

Although the Worden family was not particularly staunch or inflexible and was known for its freedom-loving nature, they were surprisingly conservative about training methods.

Despite having witnessed their growth closely, family members did not take the initiative to learn from them.

Still, Caedwin and Liber significantly older than them, approached with humility.

‘Well, there haven’t been many who welcomed our training method.’

When Christian trained under his master, the environment was no different. It was only after realizing that their massive mana reservoirs of pure size were useless against enemies that they would hastily change their training methods.

Thus, Christian couldn’t help but admire them.

“If they want to learn more, I can teach them a bit more. Not everything, like I did with you, though.”

“Am I supposed to be thankful for that?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

“…”

It felt as if Christian was showing consideration and care, but there was no joy in that?

After hearing the answers she wanted, Aira lay back on the cot. She quickly fell asleep, her breathing becoming steady.

Seeing Aira fall asleep so fast made Christian chuckle. But he also felt that it was just like his master.

‘Isn’t she adapting too quickly for her first night outdoors?’

Usually, when spending the first night camping, tossing and turning all night is common. Christian was no different.

No matter how comfortable and cozy their tents and cots were, the difference between home and the outdoors was undeniable.

‘As expected, master is truly incredible.’

He once again felt that this was someone who would survive anywhere.

‘I’ll have to settle this as soon as we reach the capital.’

Christian gently placed a hand over his chest.

He felt the heartbeat thudding along with the mana essence resting in his mana reservoir.

‘They are more vivid than before.’

The nine mana essences of the nine Ether Weapons.

The ether mana essences, which should have combined into one, were still maintaining independent mana as though with their own will.

One particularly remarkable mana essence stood out: the essence of the Wings of Zephrys.

‘Is it because it absorbed the Spirit Stone?’

The distinct presence of the mana essence wasn’t a good omen.

It suggested an increasing likelihood of the original materials manifesting, drawn by the essence, much like the harpy leaving its nest.

‘I need to settle or conceal this until I’ve gained enough power.’

There was a tower specialized in such concealment and disguise. The level of the Rangar branch wasn’t low, but it would be difficult to keep Christian’s secret. After all, he couldn’t deceive Roberto Worden, who essentially owned Rangar.

‘The same goes for the tower in the royal capital.’

Receiving help from a tower might yield a solution, but the problem with the tower in the capital had its issues.

Christian sighed softly.

‘A tower isn’t an option.’

The nine mana essences and the mana reservoir holding them were things that could pique the curiosity of mages, who might conduct experiments the moment they discovered them.

For mages, the desire for magic often outweighed worldly positions, allowing them to commit such unthinkable acts without reservation.

‘The only option left is the temple. If it’s the temple in the capital…’

The temple of Aries, the Goddess of love and beauty.

Its headquarters was located in Rondia.

Since the nature of mana and holy energy was similar, using it to as a disguise was often effective.

Moreover, the headquarters naturally attracted vast amounts of information. Sitting there, one could learn of events happening thousands of Miles away, thanks to stories shared by traveling merchants and residents.

Collecting information required considerable authority, but if his plans proceeded as intended, there would be no need to worry.

‘I need to hasten my steps tomorrow. Even though I’ve picked up some baggage along the way, if they don’t want to fall behind, they should keep up.’

If they didn’t speed up, he would make them.

At Christian’s resolve, Aira, Liber, Caedwin, and even Sonya shivered as if they were caught in nightmares.