Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

The size of the Miles estate was truly beyond imagination.

Even though it was slightly off the outskirts of the capital, it was critically large to the extent that one wondered if it could even be this big.

In reality, they had somewhat expected it, and those thoughts had continued even when they stood directly in front of the main gate…

“Now, this is the fourth riding ground where your mother used to enjoy equestrian activities.”

“There are three more ahead?”

“There are two more behind as well.”

“……”

Even Aira couldn’t help but be quite bewildered.

There was a riding area at her home as well, but the scale here was several times larger than that of the Worden County. Moreover, they were told there were even more—not just one or two, but a total of five.

“I think I’d better stay on Aunt’s good side.”

“……”

Aira couldn’t bring herself to tell Christian, “Don’t do that, it’s embarrassing.!”

She found herself thinking it might be wise to get along well with her mother from now on as well.

In addition to such a remarkable riding area, there were exhibition halls displaying art pieces, outdoor gardens and lakes for parties, external villas for important guests, and horse training grounds. Each facility was of a grand scale.

“And this is a place that our family prides itself on.”

“This place…?”

Initially thinking it might be a mound of gold, Christian’s curiosity had his eyes sparkling when he heard it was a place the Miles estate boasted about.

But soon, he couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

The place Evan led them to was a location well-known to Christian, housing familiar facilities and people.

“A training ground?”

It was an outdoor training ground. A training ground was not inherently strange, but it was indeed quite distant from what one would expect of the trading family, the Miles estate.

The only noticeable features were its slightly larger size and the expensive-looking materials paved on the ground. Compared to the rest of the family’s possessions, it was rather modest.

The training ground was truly just a training ground. As Christian observed the individuals utilizing it, he couldn’t help but be slightly surprised.

‘They’re quite skilled, aren’t they?’

There weren’t many users, but all of them were individuals already handling mana. In other words, they were knights.

‘Come to think of it, Sir Garcia was also a knight from this family.’

Currently serving as Liana Worden’s closest aide in the Worden County, Garcia Felton was originally a knight belonging to the Miles Viscounty, having accompanied Liana Worden upon her marriage.

Considering his skills, Christian thought that Garcia would belong to a respectable rank within the Miles Viscounty.

Judging by the level of the other knights here, he couldn’t help but think that the standard of the Miles Viscounty’s knight prowess was inherently high.

Moreover, it seemed somewhat intentional, as if they were trying to showcase something to them.

Stealing a glance at Aira, she seemed equally astonished.

Looking again, Riley still had a furrowed brow while Evan was casting a sidelong look at Christian, smiling brightly.

“The knights seem incredibly skilled. The Miles Viscounty genuinely looks like a knightly family rather than a merchant family.”

“Haha, indeed. While earning money is important, so is protecting it. What use is having a lot of money if there’s no strength to defend it when needed?”

“Yes, that’s certainly true.”

Christian nodded slightly in agreement, for indeed, without the military might to protect it, wealth would simply become the best prey for thieves.

Evan, finding Christian’s response to his liking, smiled as he spoke, “Even so, compared to a real knight family, we’re still quite lacking. Don’t you agree?”

“Not necessarily…”

Christian averted his gaze slightly as it was obvious where the true knight family lay.

“I heard you both have learned swordplay, and I hear Aira has even learned ‘Wave’?”

Where he had heard of it, Christian wasn’t sure, as they’d shared nothing personal since arriving. Still, it was a bit surprising that he knew Aira had mastered ‘Wave’.

‘Did Sir Garcia let it slip?’

While learning swordplay was natural, he thought it might take time for rumors concerning ‘Wave’ to circulate as far as here.

“Wait, ‘Wave’? Father, what do you mean by that…?”

It seemed Riley hadn’t heard of this before, as he raised his voice in surprise at the mention of ‘Wave’, looking towards Aira.

“Do you mean Aira has mastered ‘Wave’?”

“Yes. Isn’t it remarkable?”

“Unbelievable…”

Watching Riley’s incredulous look directed at her, the ill-content Aira returned his gaze, equally unyielding.

But no matter her father’s words, Riley found it hard to believe.

Aira did indeed carry the remaining traces of mana, expected at a level where she could feel mana, perhaps even advance to body activation.

Considering the famous sword-wielding Worden County and knowing Aunt Liana Worden invested heavily, that much was plausible.

But ‘Wave’ wasn’t just plausible.

“Isn’t she fifteen?”

“What are you talking about? I am fifteen!”

“At fifteen, you’ve mastered ‘Wave’?”

“Why not? Is it impossible?”

“……”

Watching Aira’s smug demeanor, Riley clenched his fists.

“Her talent is incredible, isn’t it? It’s astounding that Aira has already mastered the ‘Wave’ you accomplished last year. Haha, indeed, Liana married well.”

Initially, Evan hadn’t welcomed the entanglement with the Worden County very much.

It was a marriage bound by mutual interest, and he couldn’t quite comprehend why their father had sent his sister to marry off in such a dangerous, rural hinterland.

However, now he fully understood his father’s decision.

If a granddaughter with such tremendous talent was confirmed as the Wardon Count family’s heir and became the lord of the Rangar region, there couldn’t be a greater boon for the Miles Viscounty.

As long as Liana remained influential, Evan was confident that the Miles Viscounty could extend their influence sufficiently into the Worden County’s affairs.

“How absurd. Father, do you truly believe that? There’s some mistake here…”

“Sir Garcia personally informed us. Whether you choose to believe it or not, it’s something your grandfather has already accepted.”

“Ugh…”

While Garcia’s words could be taken with a grain of salt, if grandfather had accepted it, it meant it was true.

For Riley, his grandfather’s words were absolute, and he was the kind of person who could turn false into truth.

“Do you doubt it?”

“… I don’t know.”

“So you do doubt, hmm. Then what shall we do…?”

Evan contemplated for a moment. Then, as if something came to mind, he looked at Aira and Riley.

“Then how about having both of you spar?”

“Huh? A spar?”

With a startle evident in her widened eyes, Aira responded confusedly to the unexpected suggestion.

Evan maintained his people-friendly smile as he continued, “Truthfully, I’m also a little curious. I’ve heard about you from your mother and Sir Garcia, but seeing it in person is different, isn’t it?”

“That’s true…”

It wasn’t incomprehensible that he was curious.

Yet, this abrupt suggestion of a sparring match left Aira slightly at a loss.

Glaring at her with a stubborn look was Riley, who seemed likely to cause a commotion.

‘Ah, can that person handle it?’

Christian had warned her, “If you go all out, most people will get seriously hurt, so be careful!”

If carried away by the moment’s excitement, a serious accident might occur.

Simultaneously, Aira herself had begun to realize as much. Since body activation, her mana had qualitatively changed, and after awakening ‘Wave’, her growth rate had been explosively rapid—even beyond self-comprehension.

Christian, of course, had bragged that it was due to having excellent mana reservoirs, and she couldn’t help but think that perhaps he was right.

‘What should I do…?’

On one hand, she also harbored the desire to participate. That childlike urge to discipline Riley for his annoying behavior and degrading remarks towards her family.

She wanted to show her mother’s family that their investment in her mother’s decision wasn’t misplaced.

Aira pondered over these varied motivations but soon turned to glance at the comforting hand on her back, seeing Christian sporting a smirk that made her want to land a punch.

“What?”

“They seem eager, so go ahead.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You seem like you want to do it, too.”

“That’s true, but…”

With Christian allowing so easily, she felt a bit suspicious. Nevertheless, dismissing it, Evan clapped his hands as he orchestrated the ensuing exchange.

“Well then, shall we proceed as such? Oh, Aira won’t be the only one; Christian, why don’t you join in as well?”

“Pardon? Me too?”

“It’s not often one gets to observe, let alone experience, the swordsmanship of the Worden County. If you’re alright with it, I’d like you to participate, too.”

“Hmm…”

Blatant as Evan’s suggestion was, Christian wasn’t particularly bothered by the implication.

“Sure, well. Considering I’ve experienced Miles Viscounty’s swordplay through Sir Garcia, I indeed find the idea intriguing.”

“Both sides will likely find it a valuable learning experience. By the way, I’ve heard that you, Christian, have also awakened ‘Wave’. Is that right?”

“I’m just an amateur. I’ve only just taken my first steps.”

Christian shrugged innocuously, smiling broadly. Aira, observing, couldn’t mask her surprise at his demeanor.

Yet underlying was concern, prompting her to whisper hurriedly to Christian.

“Are you seriously going to do it too?”

“Why not? It sounds fun.”

“Fun…”

Noticing Christian’s relaxed demeanor, Aira pouted slightly. Yet Christian remained serene, asserting plainly.

“Even if we resist, they’ll create a pretext to make us, so we might as well accept graciously.”

“Pretext? What do you mean?”

“Just that they would.”

Aira tilted her head inquisitively, but Christian provided no more clarity. He only looked quietly at Evan, bustling about orchestrating their activities.