Re:Zero - Reincarnated on a Co-op Route

¡A/N: Here the author, thank you very much for the support to all; it makes me still want to continue with this work. I am currently planning to write all the arcs.

I also plan to make an arc 2.5 that starts after finishing arc 2 and ends at the beginning of arc 3.

By the way, the new episode of season 3 came out today. I'll be watching it after I post this. Thank you all so much for your support! 

---

"Ugh... What time is it... did I fall asleep in the middle of class?" muttered Kaoru as he slowly lifted his head from the desk, still half asleep. The dawn light filtered through the curtains of his room, illuminating the pile of scrolls, books, and notebooks scattered on the wooden table. The remnants of his late-night study session lay there, silent witnesses to his exhaustion.

Kaoru rubbed his eyelids and yawned deeply as he tried to shake off the sleep. Then, with a slow movement, he stretched lazily, letting his tense muscles relax. Finally, he turned his eyes to the desk to assess what he had done the night before.

"Let's see... I seem to have gotten stuck in the middle of a calligraphy exercise. I didn't make much progress, considering I only finished one page," he said with a sigh. He looked at the sheet he had left half-finished, the strokes of his brush clumsy and messy, a reflection of his fatigue.

As he thought, he brought a hand to his throat and rubbed it gently. There was a slight discomfort in the area that he could not ignore. "I guess the pain is from falling asleep at the desk? There's no point in asking Rem about it. She'd probably think I was paranoid."

With a sigh, he rose from his chair and sat down on the edge of his bed. Next to him was his notebook, that mysterious object that had been both an ally and a constant source of unanswered questions. He picked it up and looked at its black cover with crystal blue patterns that seemed to glow slightly in the light. There was a small indentation in the center of the cover, as if it had been designed to hold something, perhaps a gem or special object.

---

Kaoru ran his fingers over the surface of the notebook with a mixture of fascination and frustration. How is this notebook unaffected by time?, he thought. It was a detail that had puzzled him ever since he realized that the notes he made on each loop remained intact, regardless of restarts. It was an invaluable resource, especially since it allowed him to remember things that would otherwise have been lost.

"It's funny... It also seems endless when I flip through the pages," he muttered to himself as he began to turn the pages. At first glance, the notebook seemed to have a limited number of pages, just like any other. But when he tried to count the available pages, there were always more. He never ran out of space to write, and that puzzled him even more.

"It doesn't feel affected by moisture, friction, or any other condition that should damage it. It's like it's made of something other than paper and leather." He turned the notebook over in his hands, inspecting it closely. If I'm feeling presumptuous, I could say that this hole in the middle is for embedding something, perhaps a gem... but I have no idea what it would be for.

Kaoru frowned as he tried to remember the moment he received it. "For some reason, I have the feeling that the notebook didn't look like this when old Raigor gave it to me in the capital. It's too conspicuous. Of course I wouldn't have missed something like that."

But the more he tried to remember, the more confused his thoughts became. His memories of the first day in the capital of Lugunica, when he was transported to this world, were fragmented and fuzzy. There were details that just didn't fit, as if they had been deliberately altered or erased.

"This doesn't make sense... I need to get back to the capital when I finish my business here," he muttered, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to clear his mind.

----

Kaoru opened the notebook, determined to try something. If it really had special properties, he might be able to discover some hidden function. He thought about looking up information on the "Flow Method," a technique he had heard of but didn't fully understand. When he opened a random page, he was stunned. In front of him was an entire section on the Flow Method, with detailed analysis, theories, hypotheses, training methods, and combat applications.

"What the hell... How could this be here?" he muttered, turning the pages quickly. Some parts were clearly written by him, but others were not. The notes were more advanced than he remembered and contained details he simply could not have known.

"Raigor barely told me about the Flow Method... I couldn't have written all that." Confusion washed over him, but also a growing fascination. Is it possible that this notebook records things automatically? Or maybe... someone else wrote it down before it got into my hands?

He decided to try something else. He closed his eyes and thought of a index, a structured list of everything he had discovered so far. When he opened the notebook again, a page unfolded by itself, showing a perfectly organized index. There were all his discoveries: world lore, terminologies, magic, loop theories, and more.

[Some pages are incomplete, and others are missing a lot of content.]

-Flow Method

-Ice magic (Spiritual arts of Emilia)

-Northem Locations -Incomplete

-Divine Protections -Incomplete

-Miasma 

-Elemental Magic -Incomplete

-Curses -Incomplete

-Mana Control Basics

-RBD -Incomplete

-Od Laguna

-Contracts

-Spirits

-Great Spirits

-Shamak 

-Healing Magic 

-Witches -Massively incomplete

-Warlocks 

-Broken Mirror

-Witch followers -Massively incomplete

-Magic Statements 

-Od

-S҈҇̉̀̅̅̐͗̌̅h̸͑̌́̑̔̊̃͂͝a̸̐̍̃̋̿̒͌͒̕̚d̶̆̀́͂̇̐͐͐̈͒͡ô̸͗́̂̈́̽̑̚͡ẘ̶̛͋̍̋̀̀͛̍̇̽̃̿̎̀́ G̵̔̍́͛̈́̊̇̊̀̀̉̿̓͐̿͞a̷͊͊̌̓́̿̓̽̌̾̆̍͠r̵͒̄̆̆̽̀̿͐̎͗̀͠d̸҇̉̉̉͑̓͛̊͗̅̿e̵̅̈͂́̿̓̀̾̂̂̒̽͊̒͞n̶͋̍̌͆̒̿̂́́̊̓̀̃͂͝ -E̵̛͢R̵̢҇R҉̢͡O̷̡͝R̷̢͞

-Vita -Incomplete

-Lugunica Lore -Massively incomplete

-The Great Dragon -Massively incomplete

-Royal Selection -Massively incomplete

-The five candidates -Massively incomplete

-Raigor ...

-Mabeasts -Massively incomplete

-Various Locations -Massively imcomplete

-Roswaal Manor ...

---

Author's Note: If you didn't notice any of these topics so far, please re-read the story from the beginning.

P.S: Hidden Message at the top of the Index :D

---

"This is amazing... but also terrifying"

He said quietly. The notebook seemed to be designed to help him, but he couldn't help but feel uneasy about its abilities. It was as if the notebook had a mind of its own, as if it was meant to guide him... or perhaps manipulate him.

Kaoru closed the notebook carefully, his mind full of questions. *What is this notebook really? Why doesn't it seem to be bound by the normal rules of this world? And why do I feel like it's connected to me somehow?

He looked out the window and watched as the sun began to fill the sky. *I need answers. But for now, I need to focus on surviving here and finding out what's going on in this mansion.

With a sigh, he put the notebook into his bag and got out of bed, ready to face the day.

Kaoru looked at the black notebook with crystal blue patterns that lay open on his desk. The light of dawn streamed in through the window, illuminating the cover as if to emphasize its mysterious significance. After a moment of thought, he let out a small smile.

"I'll stop asking about you for now, but I think it's time to baptize you. From now on, you will be called Moonlight Grimoire1," he said aloud, hoping the name would echo in the silence of the room.

Kaoru tilted his head and looked at the notebook as if waiting for an answer.

"Mmm... Yes, Moonlight Grimoire sounds good."

As he carefully closed the notebook, he noticed again how the notes he had written earlier now looked as if they had been printed in perfect black ink. The awkward strokes of his handwriting were gone, replaced by flawless text.

"It's like someone used a typewriter... Something this world clearly doesn't have... at least that I know of."

His eyes fell on the gap in the cover, a space that seemed designed to embed something, possibly a gem. "And then there's this hole... All the more reason to go to the capital. Maybe I can find some answers there."

Sighing, Kaoru stowed the grimoire away in his desk drawer. Despite his curiosity, he knew he had more pressing matters to attend to. He stretched, feeling his tense muscles protest after a night of studying.

He quickly changed into his servant's outfit. Then he took the magic weights he used for training and carefully placed them on each of his limbs. He adjusted the clasps and set the total weight to 40 kilograms between the four weights. Although he was used to it by now, he couldn't help but feel the extra pressure on his arms and legs.

"All right... Here we go again," he muttered to himself as he looked into the mirror. His reflection showed a determined young man, ready to face whatever the day had in store for him.

Kaoru left his room and walked through the quiet corridors of the mansion. It was just dawn, and the dim light filled the place with a tranquil atmosphere. His destination was the huge foyer, from where he made his way to the front garden of the mansion.

---

Arriving in the garden, Kaoru took out his phone to check the time. 5:00 a.m. The cool morning air enveloped him, and the landscape of the Roswaal mansion, with its perfectly manicured lawn and flowers, looked even more beautiful in the golden light of dawn. Subaru should be here in 30 minutes for training, he thought.

Instead of waiting around, he decided to make the most of the time. He looked out into the forest surrounding the mansion and became curious.

"I could take a walk... Maybe I'll find something interesting."

The forest had a magical and mysterious air. The sun's rays filtered through the tall trees, creating patterns of light and shadow on the leaf-covered ground. As Kaoru walked deeper, birdsong and the crunching of branches beneath his feet were the only sounds that accompanied him.

The walk helped clear his mind. The tranquility of the forest contrasted with the tension he often felt in the mansion. It was as if the place invited him to reflect, to put aside his worries, if only for a moment.

As he walked, something caught his attention. A group of small trees bore dark purple fruits. They were round, slightly shiny, and seemed to be lying on the ground around the trees. Intrigued, Kaoru bent down to pick one up. He examined it carefully, twirling it between his fingers.

"It doesn't look like any fruit in my world.... But it certainly looks appetizing," he muttered. He decided to cut one of the fruits with his dagger, and as he did so, a golden, honey-thick liquid began to pour out from within. The fragrance was sweet, almost intoxicating.

Kaoru frowned, debating whether to taste it or not. "I'd like to take a big bite... but I'd rather ask someone if it's edible than die stupidly from poisoning."

He stowed some of the fruit in a small bag he carried with him and continued his walk, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the forest.

---

After a while, Kaoru returned to the garden of the mansion. The sky was already clearer, and the fresh morning air made him feel refreshed. As he walked across the lawn, he saw Subaru coming out into the garden, with a sleepy but determined expression.

"Kaoru! I'm on time, huh? Ready to start training?" asked Subaru, raising a hand in greeting.

Kaoru smiled slightly, lifting the bag containing the fruits. "Ready as usual. But before we start, I found something interesting in the forest. Maybe you can help me with this."

Subaru approached, looking at the bag curiously. "What's that, some weird breakfast from Kaoru?"

"They're fruits I found. They don't look dangerous, but I don't plan to risk it without asking first. Maybe someone at the mansion knows something about them."

Subaru nodded, looking at one of the fruits with interest. "Hmmm, I think Rem or Ram might know. Though if you want my advice, don't eat them until you're sure. Unless you want Puck or Beatrice to have to save you."

Kaoru chuckled

---

Today, we could try to learn Shamak, even if it's at a rather mediocre level

He remembered how useful this spell had been in the past, even if he didn't want to relive certain memories related to its use.

"Subaru-kun, today we will learn how to use the Shamak spell," Kaoru said, turning to his partner.

"Since we share the same element, you know it was quite useful that time when there was no need to remember... for my mental health."

Subaru laughed with his usual nonchalance.

"Hahaha, I don't want to remember either, really. I guess it's a clean slate, right?"

"Halfway," Kaoru replied with a shrug. Then he added

"Anyway, I was also thinking that we could go shopping for clothes sometime, as soon as we get our paycheck. Either in Arlam Village or in the capital, if we ever go back there."

Subaru looked at him curiously and crossed his arms.

"Do you have any special outfit in mind, Kaoru?"

Kaoru shook his head. "Nothing yet. I guess we have time to think about it, although I wouldn't mind going around in servant's clothes or my school uniform."

Subaru laughed softly.

"I'm quite used to this uniform myself. Though it would be interesting to see us in something more.... fancy? Perhaps with capes like Roswaal's."

Kaoru smiled slightly, but his expression quickly changed. Something had been making him uncomfortable for a while now. "Changing the subject, I have something to ask you, Subaru."

Subaru raised an eyebrow. "Something serious? Well, shoot."

Subaru laughed quietly. "I'm quite used to this uniform myself. Though it would be interesting to see us in something a little more...fancy? Maybe with capes like Roswaal's."

Kaoru smiled slightly, but his expression changed quickly. Something had been bothering him for a while now. "Changing the subject, I need to ask you something, Subaru."

Subaru raised an eyebrow. "Something serious? Well, go ahead."

Kaoru took a breath; his gaze became distant. His memories of his first day in this world were full of gaps, and every time he tried to piece them together, something felt... wrong. Confused.

"I need you to tell me what it was like the first time we met in the capital. I have fuzzy memories about that time and a few other things... I don't know what was real and what wasn't anymore."

The question confused Subaru. He frowned and looked at him with real concern. "What, why are you asking me that? Don't you remember? "You were there, weren't you?"

Kaoru sighed and looked at Subaru. "Just say it and be done with it. It's possible that my memories have been altered. But for now, it's just a hypothesis."

Subaru finally nodded and scratched his head. "All right, all right. I'll tell you, even if it's not very exciting."

---

"When I blinked, I was instantly in this new world. In the capital of Lugunica, in the middle of the market district, surrounded by demi-humans going back and forth. I was quite confused. I decided to go into an alley to take a breather and think about what the hell was going on."

Subaru paused and pointed to Kaoru. "Then I saw you walking down the alley, just as confused as I was. It was there that we recognized each other, since we were high school classmates."

"We decided to team up and scout the area together. And, well, the thug thing happened, then we met Emilia, Puck, the Appa guy, and Felt... And, you know, dying at the hands of Elsa. Typical stuff, right?"

Kaoru listened quietly, but something didn't add up. Subaru continued.

"Then we found out that every time I die, I can return to a savepoint I don't control. I called it Return by Death. I can remember absolutely everything, but you, well... you have something similar. You can only remember the last few moments before you die. Which, frankly, sucks."

Subaru finished his story with a note of sarcasm, but Kaoru was too busy processing what he had just heard.

That's not what happened. That's not what happened at all, Kaoru thought as his heart began to beat faster.

"Subaru... Are you sure about this? Didn't we meet when we pathetically tried to use our magic to save a girl who was almost run over by a carriage? Then, after a soldier saved her, I recognized you and came over to talk to you."

Subaru looked at him in disbelief. "What? I don't remember that, Kaoru. Did you sleep well?" "Did Rem hit you on the head or something?"

Kaoru felt a pang of frustration. How could he not remember?

"What about that time I told you I had to see someone important?" insisted Kaoru, looking for some common ground.

Subaru nodded slowly. "Yes, I remember that."

Kaoru let out a sigh of relief... but only for a moment.

"You said you were going to look for the Sword Saint, I mean, Reinhard, to help us defeat Elsa, basically."

What?! Kaoru was alarmed, his mind going in circles. Not at all. I went to that fucking geezer to ask him questions. I didn't even know who Reinhard was until Raigor mentioned him.

Terror began to settle in his chest.

Maybe I'm not the one who's wrong. Maybe it wasn't me who was brainwashed, but everyone else.

---

Kaoru looked at Subaru, his mind full of theories: Memory manipulation... Manipulation of phenomena... Manipulation of reality? I don't know. But the more I find out, the more terrifying it all becomes.

"What about the notebook?" Kaoru asked, trying to stay calm. "Well, I call it Grimoire Moonlight now; remember I told you I got it from someone?"

Subaru nodded matter-of-factly. "Ah, that strange book. You had it with you when we first met."

Subaru put his hand on Kaoru's shoulder and looked at him seriously. "Hey, Kaoru. If something happens, you can tell me. That's what friends are for. You can tell me about the book and everything that's going on in your head.

You can tell me about the book and everything that's going on in your head.

Kaoru looked at him with a mixture of relief and despair. He opened his mouth and said

"Subaru... I... I think they have manipulated your memories. "You and everyone."

But... nothing came out. Not a word. He tried again, but his voice did not respond. It was as if something was holding him back, forcing him into silence.

"Kaoru... Are you okay?" Subaru asked confused.

Kaoru tried again, but he couldn't talk about what he had just discovered. What the hell... I can't say it, what's happening to me?

Finally, he managed to mumble, "Subaru..."

"You finally speak. You were speechless for a long time after you talked about ordering clothes on demand in the capital or Arlam Village. You made me talk to myself like a fool for a long time. Are you okay?" Subaru sighed.

What? But didn't we just talk about our meeting in the capital? Kaoru thinks. Kaoru felt more tense and nervous; he looked in all directions, searching for any danger or enemy. This was not good. Literally, Subaru had just told him the distorted version of their meeting, and seconds later he seemed to have completely forgotten it, and now the conversation had ended with my mentioning of having clothes made to order.

Reality had just been changed right in front of his damn face.

"I'm fine, just a little groggy. I studied too much with Rem last night, and I don't think my brain is quite awake yet."

Subaru smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Then let's not waste any more time. We have to get stronger because time is limited. And even more so if you're a full-time servant who hates what he does."

Kaoru forced a smile, but his insides were boiling with tension.

I have to find out what's going on, no matter what.

"Anyway, let's start now. "Since we're awake, let's use what's left of the early morning," Kaoru said, hiding his nervousness.

This isn't right... None of this is right.

"I need you to listen to me well, Subaru-kun. "I'll try to use Shamak, and then I'll show you how to do it," Kaoru said, his tone serious as he stood in the middle of the wet grass in the backyard.

Subaru, who already knew what was going to happen, raised a finger in encouragement as he backed away from Kaoru with exaggerated steps. Finally, he stopped about 20 meters away, far enough to feel safe.

"Good luck to you, Kaoru-kun," he said. "I'm with you in spirit!" said Subaru with a smirk.

Kaoru looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and resignation. "This idiot..."

Concentrating, Kaoru closed his eyes and slightly opened his magic gate. He could feel the flow of mana inside his Od, moving slowly as he tried to control it. He visualized the spell in his mind and began to release a moderate amount of mana.

"Shamak" he said in a low voice.

Thick black smoke shot out of his body and quickly spread out in a radius of 12 meters. The cloud surrounded the area, covering the damp grass with a dark haze that distorted the light and atmosphere.

Kaoru watched the effect closely, noticing how the darkened grass seemed to lose some of its vitality under the effect of the spell. Everything within the circumference of the shamak was shrouded in a dense mist, limiting vision and perception.

"Not bad," Kaoru muttered to himself, crossing his arms. "Though I'd like to test it further to see what other uses it might have."

After 7 seconds, the shamak began to slowly dissipate, leaving the area as clear as if nothing had happened. Kaoru sighed and stretched as she thought about the spell.

"It's not bad, but it's still very simple. Besides, the duration is quite limited. "Something I should keep in mind for the future," he said as he turned to Subaru, who was now approaching with a smile.

"Even though I've seen it before in this loop, I'm always surprised to see this spell. It's cool," Subaru said, obviously impressed.

Kaoru smiled slightly. "Well, now it's your turn. Let's see how good you are."

Subaru perked up and shook his fists with determination. "All right, all right, let's go!

Before Subaru could start, Kaoru interrupted him with a request. "Oh, and I want you to use it on me. I want to know what it feels like to be inside the shamak from my own experience."

Subaru raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Really? Well, if you ask, don't expect me to be nice to you."

"I don't expect you to be, Subaru," Kaoru replied calmly, crossing his arms.

---

Subaru closed his eyes and began to concentrate. He remembered the instructions Kaoru had given him earlier and tried to visualize the flow of mana inside his body. Carefully, he opened his magic gate and began to release the mana slowly. It took him some time, but he finally felt he was ready.

"Shamak" he said confidently.

Kaoru, who was about 5 meters away from Subaru, watched as thick black smoke began to shoot out of Subaru's body, spreading rapidly towards him. In a matter of seconds, they were both enveloped in a dense cloud that distorted everything around them.

Inside the Shamak, Kaoru's senses were practically useless. He could neither see nor hear anything, and his spatial orientation was completely destabilized. However, he could still feel the ground beneath his feet, and, as he had read in the Moonlight Grimoire, He may also perceive some damage to his body.

"Not bad," Kaoru thought as he analyzed the situation. "Our Shamaks are low grade1, but they already show their usefulness as tools for confusion and control of the environment."

Determined to test the limits of the spell, Kaoru started running in a random direction, trying to get out of the *Shamak's* range. It took him a few seconds, but he finally managed to get out of the black cloud, regaining his senses immediately. However, in his hasty escape, he almost ended up falling into the small lake in the garden.

When he regained his balance, he heard a laugh behind him. Subaru, who had emerged from the Shamak at the same time, was doubled over with laughter at the sight of Kaoru's failed attempt to avoid the lake.

"That was awesome; you looked like a drunk trying to find your way out of a maze!" said Subaru between guffaws.

Kaoru looked at him with a neutral expression, though he couldn't help but let a small smile slip out. "I'm simply evaluating the pros and cons of the skill, Subaru."

Crossing his arms, Kaoru continued. "It's quite good as a smokescreen. It can be used to make surprise attacks, avoid attacks, and even to flee if necessary."

"But it also has its cons," he added.

"That's normal, given that it's the most basic spell we can aim for at the moment. Still, it has interesting potential."

Kaoru pulled out his phone and checked the time. It was 6:30 A.M. There was still about 30 minutes left before they had to start their daily chores at the mansion.

"Well, there's still time left," Kaoru said, putting the phone back in his pocket. "We should keep practicing. It's a very fundamental technique that we need to master."

Subaru, still excited about his first successful attempt, nodded enthusiastically. "Okay, I'm going to perfect it even more this time!"

Kaoru nodded, returning to the center of the garden. "I hope so, Subaru. But don't get too excited. Remember that, even if it's a basic spell, mana control is crucial."

Subaru gave a thumbs up, smiling confidently. "Leave it to me; I won't hold back this time!"

Kaoru watched him with a faint smile as Subaru began to concentrate again. Despite the teasing and stumbling, he couldn't deny that Subaru had determination. They both knew that mastering even a spell as simple as Shamak could be the difference between life and death in this world.

"And what's that technique?" asked Subaru, tilting his head curiously as he crossed his arms. His expression showed genuine interest, though there was a slight hint of laziness in his posture.

Kaoru took a deep breath, preparing to explain. "It's the Flow Method. In fact, it's the simplest way to use mana, unlike conventional magic."

Subaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Easier than casting Shamak? That sounds too good to be true."

Kaoru smiled slightly. "Well, don't get excited. It's still something that takes practice, but it's much more intuitive. Basically, the Flow Method consists of directing your mana through your body to enhance your physical capabilities. You don't need to conjure spells or recite magic words."

"Ah, I get it. It's like activating a 'superhuman' mode. Interesting," Subaru said, nodding slowly, though clearly not fully understanding.

Kaoru held up a hand to stop him. "Before you get any misconceptions, let me explain in detail what the Flow Method is. This is not as simple as it sounds."

Subaru sighed and dropped to the floor, sitting cross-legged.

"Okay, Master Kaoru, enlighten me. I promise not to fall asleep."

Kaoru rolled his eyes but continued, adopting a more serious tone. "Listen carefully. The *Flow Method* is activated unconsciously in times of stress or adrenaline, as a natural response of the body to survive. It's something all living things with mana can do, but the real trick is in learning to use it consciously."

Kaoru held up a finger, listing the keys to the Flow Method as he spoke.

1. "The Flow Method can be used both consciously and unconsciously. However, with proper training, you can maintain the flow unconsciously all the time without the need to be fighting for your life, and that is our goal to achieve. When you are stressed, the flow of mana becomes erratic and less efficient, which limits results."

2. "The flow of mana does not work the same for everyone. For example, if you and I had the same level of control, we might excel in different areas. I might have more affinity for speed and reflexes, while you might excel in endurance, strength, or regeneration. It all depends on each person's natural physical affinities."

3. "The potential of the Flow Method depends a lot on your physical talent, which is dictated by your Od. Yes, Subaru, it's a shame, but the talented ones shine more in this as in practically everything. About 70% of your ability with flow depends on your innate talent. The other influencing factors are as follows..."

Kaoru held up another finger, listing again:

- Mana control through your gate. 

- Mana storage capacity in your Od.

- Ability to manage the flow of mana in your body.

- Physical training.

- Fighting spirit.

Kaoru finished his explanation after about 10 minutes, looking intently at Subaru. "Did you understand what I said?"

Subaru scratched his head, visibly overwhelmed. "Yes... although I think it might have taken a manual to process all that. It's a lot of information all at once."

Kaoru let out a sigh but decided not to push him too hard. "It's okay, don't worry. Let's practice now. That's the best way to understand it."

---

Kaoru sat on the floor, closing his eyes as he began to concentrate.

"First, Subaru, I want you to observe what I am going to do. I will release my mana through my gate and try to direct it through my body."

Slowly, Kaoru began to draw a small amount of mana from his magic gate. He could feel how the flow was clumsy and slow, constantly stopping despite his efforts to keep it steady. He gritted his teeth in frustration but kept trying.

The flow of mana Kaoru managed to generate was thin, almost negligible. He knew what that meant. "Looks like my mana storage capacity is mediocre... or my gate control needs a lot more training. Or both," he thought, sighing.

He clenched his fist, feeling a slight increase in his physical capabilities. "If I had to put it into numbers, I'd say my physical capabilities increased by a mere 10%. Even if it was 100% or 120%, it would barely border on the 'superhuman' category."

Subaru, who had been watching closely, decided to give it a try as well. He sat down next to Kaoru, closing his eyes as he tried to concentrate on his mana. However, the effort was much greater for him. After several minutes, he could barely feel a slight flow inside his body.

"This is harder than it looks," Subaru said, sweating as he tried to maintain control. "How am I supposed to flow anything if I don't even know where to start?"

Kaoru looked at him calmly. "It's normal. It's something that takes time to master. What you're feeling now is just the first step. Keep trying."

They spent 30 minutes training together in the garden. Subaru, though with much difficulty, finally managed to generate an almost frozen flow of mana that barely coursed through his body. However, that was enough to make him feel a slight increase in his strength.

"I did it; I'm officially a Flow Method user! Although... you can barely feel it," Subaru said, smiling proudly.

Kaoru nodded, stretching as he stood up. "Not bad for a training routine. We both have a lot of room for improvement, but this is just the beginning."

Subaru mimicked him, getting up as well while rubbing his arms. "Yeah, but I feel like I've run a marathon. This really wears you out."

Kaoru smiled slightly as he adjusted the training weights he wore on his limbs. "It's normal. Your body isn't used to handling the flow of mana yet, and the weights don't help. In time, it will get easier."

Kaoru looked at his phone and checked the time. It was 7:00 A.M. "Well, we have to work now. I'm sure Rem and Ram already started with the chores."

Subaru let out a long sigh, clearly discouraged. "Already? But I was just starting to feel like an action hero!"

Kaoru looked at him with a smirk. "A hero who can barely generate a weak mana flow. Come on, Subaru, the world isn't going to save itself."

"Yes, yes, I know. But I'll master this someday, Kaoru. I'll show you!" said Subaru, raising a fist in the air as they both walked back towards the mansion.

Kaoru gave him a sidelong glance, still smiling. "I hope so, Subaru. I hope so."