Thud!
The scarecrows standing in the training ground were all split in half and fell to the ground.
“Phew.”
Did I miss any?
It felt right, but I scanned my surroundings just in case.
Not a single scarecrow was left uncut.
It had been about two years since I started learning Fleet.
Finally, I’d reached a level where I could say I was proficient.
Clap, Clap.
Lowell, who had been teaching me during these two years, applauded as he watched.
“Your Fleet is perfect now.”
“Finally.”
It wasn’t just Fleet.
I’d also become proficient in the other fundamentals.
Well, after two years of nonstop training, if I hadn’t improved, I might as well give up.
“You’ve grown taller as well.”
“Well, I’ve been eating a lot.”
At sixteen, I thought I was fairly sturdy. But with good food and Aura training, it felt like my previously stunted growth had taken off.
Now, I was nearly eye level with Lowell, who used to be a head taller than me.
“I need to attend to the schedule now, so why don’t you spend the remaining time sparring before heading back?”
“With whom? Darren? Kaiden?”
“Darren seems to be free at the moment.”
“Ah, I see.”
The only people in this estate capable of sparring with me were Darren or Kaiden.
Lowell wasn’t on the same level, and the head of security, who oversaw the estate’s guards, was always busy.
“Where is he?”
“I called him over here, so he should be—ah, there he is.”
Following Lowell’s gaze, I turned to see Darren approaching from the garden.
“Hey, mutt.”
When I first met Darren and Kaiden, Aria Boyd’s escort knights, we didn’t exactly get along.
But now, after training and sparring together, we’d grown relatively close.
“I told you to stop calling me that, or you’ll regret it.”
“Oh, really? Try me.”
Since Aura users prioritize mental games, sparring with another Aura user is essential.
It was important to maintain a good rapport.
“Let’s see what you’ve got, pup.”
I motioned with my hand for Darren to step forward.
“This little punk…”
When we first met, Darren was a young escort knight in his late twenties. Now, he was in his early thirties.
Swish—
His skills had improved considerably.
Even now, look at that—Darren disappeared from sight in an instant.
‘Track.’
Activating Track, the world seemed to slow down, and I saw Darren charging at me.
Boom!
I quickly used Fleet, shielding my arm with Guard, and blocked Darren’s swinging wooden sword.
“Is it okay for a knight to ambush someone?”
“That’s rich, coming from you.”
After a few times of me attacking the moment our sparring began, Darren started doing the same.
“And now you’re using three techniques at once?”
“That’s just the basics.”
An Aura user’s mastery level is determined by how many foundational techniques they can use simultaneously.
One technique: Beginner.
Two techniques: Intermediate.
Three techniques: Advanced.
All four techniques: Mastered.
Both Darren and Kaiden were advanced-level Aura users.
And just recently, I’d reached the advanced level as well.
“…You reached advanced level in just two years?”
“Well, I pick things up quickly.”
Anyway.
“You sure you have time to talk?”
Since I’d taken the blow, it was my turn.
I extended my hand toward Darren’s abdomen.
‘Rush.’
“Urgh!”
Then.
Ppaang-!
A shockwave burst from my hand, sending Darren flying.
Taking advantage of the distance I’d created, I picked up a wooden sword from the ground and charged at him.
“Ugh…”
In the short moment, Darren had used Guard and was now charging at me again.
Clang!
Our wooden swords collided.
Darren’s swordsmanship was that of the Boyd family—a technique that was almost like an illusion, meant to disorient the opponent.
…Learning here, I realized something.
The Boyd family’s techniques have a bit of a sly edge to them.
Like Fleet, which leaves afterimages to confuse the enemy, or Rush, which imbues thrown weapons with explosive force.
It’s a bit underhanded for nobility, but considering the family’s role in guarding the border, it makes sense.
Honor doesn’t matter when the enemy is at the gates. Efficiency is everything.
Anyway.
Thanks to Lowell, I’d learned the Boyd family’s techniques and found them quite useful.
Swish, Swish, Swish!
Since we both used illusionary swordsmanship, our swords often grazed rather than clashed, leaving small marks on each other as they passed.
“Your swordsmanship is pretty good.”
“I’ve trained a lot.”
From Lowell, I received instruction not only on the Boyd family techniques, but also on existing techniques.
‘…Where did you learn this swordsmanship?’
‘From the former champion as well.’
‘…I see. It’s an excellent technique.’
Having learned a variety of techniques and used them extensively in real battles, they’d become second nature to me.
Lowell, instead of strictly adjusting me to fit the Boyd family’s style, opted to teach me a wide range of methods, increasing the number of options at my disposal.
That approach suited me perfectly.
In real combat, there are too many variables.
Having a Plan B and C, and techniques ready is always a good idea.
Anyway.
I needed to focus back on the sparring.
Darren was swinging his sword at me with sharp precision.
Whoosh—
His sword sliced right through my body.
“Hmm!”
Or rather, through the illusion created by Fleet.
Though still rough, I could now create faint illusions like this.
In the midst of an intense duel, they were surprisingly effective.
While Darren hesitated for a moment, I moved behind him and swung my sword.
Thunk—
It stopped against an odd barrier.
And immediately—
Recognizing the familiar sensation, I activated Guard.
Boom!
An explosion erupted from Darren’s back, sending me flying.
Tumble—thud.
I rolled a few times before landing gracefully and regaining my stance.
“…Your reactions are sharp.”
“I’ve trained ten years longer than you.”
What Darren had just used was the Boyd family’s Guard.
This technique triggers a Rush explosion in the direction of an incoming attack as soon as Guard detects it.
It’s practically an automatic counterattack.
For the record, I’m not very good at it.
Guard and Rush don’t suit my style.
I’m more of a speed and acceleration guy.
Considering that Darren specializes in Guard while Kaiden excels in Rush, it’s clear that the young Aura users in this estate are perfectly balanced.
Did Lowell plan this?
Knowing that crafty old man, I wouldn’t put it past him.
I sheathed my wooden sword as though it had an actual scabbard and got into position.
Since Darren had shown off his technique, it was my turn.
“Hey, don’t use that move!”
“Here I come.”
“I said don’t—”
I briefly closed my eyes and reopened them.
The world slowed.
In this slowed world, a red afterimage stretched like a line toward Darren.
Seeing the line, I immediately activated Fleet and traced the red path with my sword.
Crash!
I collided directly with the estate’s wall.
“Ow… Why’d you dodge?”
“You announced it! What do you expect me to do, just stand there?”
“Ugh.”
What I’d just used was the Boyd family’s Track.
This technique reveals the most efficient and powerful path to strike the target. It’s usually used in conjunction with Fleet.
According to Darren and Kaiden, who’ve experienced it firsthand, this technique is nearly impossible to block or deflect.
The only way to avoid it is to dodge before the attack is fully executed.
“Too bad I can’t use it without preparing the stance.”
“Wishful thinking, brat.”
Darren shot me a look of disbelief.
“No one’s ever mastered a Boyd Technique in just two years.”
“Well, I’ve mastered the basics, so I can at least use it crudely.”
Though admittedly, my use of it was still clumsy and required preparation.
“Next time, let’s spar without Aura.”
“Bare-knuckle brawl?”
“…No biting.”
Anyway.
I spent the rest of the training session sparring with Darren.
Afterward, I returned to my doghouse.
Over the past two years, even this place had changed significantly.
Thanks to the young lady constantly adding things, the once-spacious room was now cluttered with so much stuff that I barely had space to lie down.
I’d need to ask for an extension soon.
At this rate, there wouldn’t even be room to sleep.
Oh, and one more thing had changed recently.
It wasn’t the room, but—
“Are you in there, Puppy? Come out.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“…Never mind, go back in.”
“Pardon?”
The young lady had become more prickly.
With her golden hair tied into twin tails, she now spoke more brusquely than before.
It seemed like an early case of adolescence.
“Then I’ll head back in?”
“No, follow me.”
It’s impossible to predict the mood of a girl going through puberty.
Dealing with her these days has been a real challenge.
Even Lowell, who usually excels at handling her, struggles now.
That says everything.
“Hand.”
“Yes, here.”
“Head.”
“Here.”
Though her attitude had become sharper, her behavior hadn’t changed much.
Visibly, though, she had. Over the past two years, the young lady had grown significantly taller.
Of course, I’ve grown too, so there’s not much difference.
Pat, Pat.
Because of that, it’s now become second nature for me to kneel on one knee when she wants to pat my head.
“Classes have been tough lately.”
“They’re always tough, aren’t they?”
“I’m serious! Do you know how much homework that woman gives me?”
…Sometimes, I miss the pure, innocent young lady from two years ago.
The growth of a young girl happens so fast.
She used to be so cheerful, but now, thanks to her early adolescence, she’s become… this.
“How’s the progress in your lessons lately?”
“Not much different, but… Oh, do you want to see?”
“Sure, why not.”
And it’s not just her height that’s grown.
Her talents, particularly in magic, have soared over the past two years.
From what I’ve heard, rumors are spreading about a magic prodigy from the Boyd family.
Even her private tutor, who’s supposed to leave after the agreed term, keeps coming back to teach her.
“Bring the disc.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Another thing that hasn’t changed is that she still comes to see me nearly every day.
No matter how busy she is, she’ll stop by for a quick chat or to play around.
“Here it is.”
I handed her the training disc I kept in my quarters.
A special disc crafted in the magical workshop, made specifically for my training.
“Here we go!”
Of course, the disc doesn’t have any magical properties.
It’s just incredibly sturdy.
Which means…
Whoooosh—
Even when the young lady imbues it with magic and sends it flying, it doesn’t break.
Hmm, the fireball is much bigger than before.
At this rate, by the time she’s an adult, she might be throwing fireballs as big as the one that nearly burned down the estate two years ago.
Anyway, back to the matter at hand.
“Fetch!”
Her voice, tinged with excitement, accompanied the disc as it flew like a flaming comet.
Focusing Aura in my eyes, I watched its trajectory.
The young lady’s disc-throwing has surprisingly become a useful part of my training.
As her magic grows faster and more intense, keeping up with it forces me to adapt and push myself to the limit.
Not to mention, if I fail to catch it and the estate walls are damaged, I’m the one who gets scolded.
In the slowed-down world I entered, a faint red afterimage appeared.
At that instant, I launched myself forward.
Even though I was accelerating rapidly with Fleet, it didn’t feel fast.
It was more like the world slowed down, and I moved at a normal pace.
With my arm shielded by Guard, I snatched the flaming disc from the air.
The moment I pushed Track to its limits, it wore off.
Crash.
I tumbled to the ground but stood up smoothly, making it look intentional.
…Hopefully, that looked like a proper landing.
Though, considering I’d already rolled once earlier, my back was starting to ache.
“Kyaa! You did great!”
Well, seeing her this happy makes it worth it.
Moments like these remind me that she’s still that same cheerful young lady from before.
“Head!”
“Yes, my lady.”
I knelt again as she gleefully ruffled my hair.
Pat, Pat, Pat.
The maids in the estate work hard to style my hair these days.
Looks like I’ll be hearing from them again.
“Oh, right. We might have a guest soon.”
“A guest?”
While ruffling my hair, she casually dropped an unexpected piece of news.
…Guests at this estate?
That’s the first I’ve heard of it in the two years I’ve been here.
“Yes, one of my tutor’s other students might visit.”
“…When?”
“Maybe next week?”
Her magic tutor is someone even Lowell respects.
If such a person is teaching, it’s likely the other student is a noble as well.
And if they’re visiting the Boyd estate as a guest, they must hold a significant position.
I can already imagine the staff bustling about.
As for me, I’ll just stay hidden in my doghouse and avoid the whole ordeal.
“Huh, and I plan to show you off when they arrive.”
“Huh?”
…So much for staying out of sight.
The young lady just said something outrageous.
“Why me?”
“Huh? Where else would you find a puppy like this? Of course I have to show you off!”
The smile on her face as she said that…
She looked like a child brimming with excitement, eager to show off something truly special.
…It seems she’s serious about presenting me to the guest.
