Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

The duel between Christian and Nemea concluded, leaving the observers unable to conceal their surprise.

The person most troubled by the outcome was McDowell, who had watched the match closely and was tasked with declaring the winner.

“Um, isn’t it over?” someone questioned.

“Hmm…!”

McDowell hesitated to speak, seeing Christian pointing the practice sword at Nemea, who was bound by a wave.

It was undeniably Christian’s victory, plain for all to see. Declaring him as the winner seemed straightforward.

Yet, McDowell hesitated, contemplating Christian and Lena—Nemea—before finally speaking up.

“Sir Christian Worden.”

“Yes?”

“Disqualified.”

“What?!!”

Christian looked at McDowell in disbelief, startled by the unexpected announcement. The wave binding Nemea unraveled and vanished as Christian’s confusion took over.

Freed from her constraints, Nemea coughed harshly before hastily scrambling away from Christian. Unfazed by this, Christian questioned McDowell.

“Why?”

“You should know better!”

McDowell replied.

“I should know better about what?!”

Christian’s genuine confusion prompted McDowell to sigh softly.

“The technique you used to bind Lady Lena…wasn’t it a Transformation?!”

McDowell inquired.

“Well, that…!”

Christian trailed off, caught off-guard. Denying it entirely wouldn’t be truthful, nor would fully agreeing.

The ‘Wolf Assault’ technique Christian employed was a wave-based secret technique inspired by Transformation skills.

Pushing the limits of shape-shifting, it naturally appeared as a Transformation to those witnessing it for the first time.

To claim, ‘It’s not a Transformation but a wave technique,’ felt weak and unconvincing even to Christian.

‘Awkward,’ Christian thought. Confronting Nemea, who was hiding her identity, was so shocking that his only aim had been to hastily conclude the duel.

Moreover, meeting her had brought him sheer joy, prompting him to demonstrate the wave technique she had taught him with pure intentions.

In hindsight, behaving impulsively was evident.

Particularly, as the duel had rules restricting usage to non-transformative applications, breaching them marked Christian’s actual misconduct.

The question lingered as to why no mention was made about Nemea’s bites and tears. Yet, she had merely altered her appearance.

Perhaps, within a few years, she would master Transformation skills, but for now, she remained within her current capacity.

“Am I wrong?!”

McDowell asked.

“Hmm.”

Christian’s ‘Wolf Assault’ might not fit the typical category of a secret technique, but it did showcase extreme form alteration.

McDowell’s judgment of it being a transformative wave technique wasn’t unfounded.

‘It is plausible for him to misunderstand…’

Yet, McDowell wasn’t attempting a biased ruling. He firmly believed in his assessment, based on the parameters he had set.

“Your wave Transformation is truly splendid. I understand your desire to showcase it, but being incomplete, it was fortunate its force didn’t fully manifest, sparing Lady Lena from severe harm.”

“While it is incomplete, it’s not incomplete in that way…!”

Christian tried to clarify.

“Though I must disqualify you for breaking the duel’s rules, know that I, McDowell, am genuinely impressed with Sir Christian Worden’s accomplishments.”

“…”

McDowell’s face conveyed sincerity. Encountering such sincerity, Christian couldn’t argue, despite feeling wronged. He only nodded with a bitter smile.

“I think I got a bit carried away. I apologize.”

“It’s alright. You’re still young, such things happen. Let’s conclude the duel here.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Christian agreed easily with McDowell’s words. Winning or losing didn’t matter much to him since his focus had been on ending the duel quickly.

Soon after McDowell’s declaration, though surprised, the crowd came to terms with Christian’s disqualification, acknowledging his ‘Wolf Assault’ as a Transformation.

However, murmurs grew louder, for a mere fifteen-year-old mastering wave Transformation was indeed startling.

Ignoring the whispers, Christian relayed a sound transmission to Nemea, who still eyed him suspiciously.

『Let’s meet separately soon. If you try to flee, I’ll announce you as a spy infiltrating the Miles Viscounty while concealing your identity.』

“…?!”

Nemea paled visibly at Christian’s words, her pink hair bristling slightly as they stung her with their implication.

She might not be a real spy, although secretly entering a noble family under false identity and title could spell trouble. Christian added another message to her.

『Though I’m a step-grandchild, I am an in-law. If you flee, I’ll employ the Ferdida Marquisate’s power to pursue you. Even our Worden County will mobilize to catch you.』

“…”

Nemea’s face drained of all color, now as white as a sheet.

Fortunately, she seemed to grasp the message, nodding vigorously in acknowledgment while meeting Christian’s gaze.

Satisfied with her response, Christian smiled as he left the training ground.

*

“What—what was that thing?!!”

Aira exclaimed.

“Urgh?!”

Christian felt his brain rattle for a moment as Aira dashed over to seize him by the collar, shaking him violently.

“What are you talking about?”

“That thing with those wild animals running amok!”

“Not dogs, wolves. Doesn’t that sound less odd to you?”

While not entirely inaccurate, the wording was slightly unsettling from Christian’s perspective.

“It’s no big deal. It’s a simple technique using Wave Transformation to disorient the opponent’s vision with erratic movements.”

“Simple, you say?!”

Aira questioned incredulously.

The concept of form transformation was dauntingly tough, leaving Aira baffled by Christian’s casual explanation.

However, the wave technique Christian demonstrated appeared beyond mere form transformation from what Aira had seen.

“Did father secretly teach you the family secret technique?”

“Does that sound like something father would do?”

“No, but…!”

Aira conceded, naturally feeling suspicious.

Aira had little choice but to pout and avert her gaze as Christian looked at her disdainfully.

“I knew you had strange techniques, but this one was new…”

“You know I use Transformation techniques, right? It’s something similar.”

“Hmph…!”

Aira huffed, cheeks puffed in frustration.

While Aira had just begun learning some basic application techniques, Christian had already mastered using Transformation techniques freely.

True, his mana limitations meant infrequent use, but that problem would disappear once mana scarcity was resolved.

Instead of envying Christian’s talent, Aira fueled her ambition.

Casting a glance at Nemea, who was being supported downstairs, Aira asked, “What did you say to her via sound transmission?”

“You noticed?”

“Well, I’m used to feeling the movements of your mana.”

Despite being accustomed to Christian’s mana, detecting such subtle mana changes involved in sound transmission was quite unexpected, even for Christian.

“I don’t think you need to envy me so much. I believe you’ll soon master a few Transformation techniques yourself.”

“Really?! You mean I could learn Lady Melissa’s Extreme Trust?”

“If you’re learning, shouldn’t you be taught Sir Garcia’s Shatter?!”

Christian jested.

“That’s not cool enough for me.”

Was this just youthful vanity…? Yet amidst it, Christian felt a pang of sympathy for Sir Garcia, who had diligently taught Aira swordsmanship.

“Well, I’ll teach you soon.”

“Really?! It’s a promise!”

“Yes, I promise. Just don’t throw up from excitement this time.”

“…”

Eagerly wanting to deny, ‘I won’t throw up!’ but sensing Christian’s intention to rigorously train her, Aira’s face turned pale with dread.

Perhaps she regretted asking him now. Ignoring Aira’s fretful expression, Christian quietly turned his head toward an approaching presence.

Evan stood there, brimming with things to say.

“You both are truly remarkable. Your skills are impressive.”

“Thank you.”

“Th-thank you.!”

Christian responded nonchalantly, while Aira, still a bit dazed, expressed her gratitude with a bow.

“So, how is Miss Lena doing?”

“Hem, hem. Well, she isn’t seriously hurt, so no need to worry. Meanwhile, I heard father’s schedule might drag on a bit longer.”

“Huh? Then…”

“He might not return until late tonight, which means meeting him could be difficult.”

Evan sighed softly. Having called the children there, yet unable to arrange a meeting with the crucial person, the situation was evidently awkward.

Understanding this, Aira cautiously proposed, “Should we come back another time?”

“Perhaps try stopping by on your way home. Permit me to seek Marquis Ferdida’s consent for that.”

“Ah, okay. We’ll do that.”

“Sure. I’ll prepare plenty of gifts for your departure. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

“Oh, there’s no need for—”

“Don’t worry, consider it a favor.”

Though Aira waved her hands dismissively, insisting such gestures weren’t necessary, she turned slightly, noticing someone tugging at her sleeve.

Christian was nodding fervently beside her, eyes bright with conviction.

She understood his unspoken request perfectly, despite the lack of verbal communication. Her expression twisted in displeasure.

‘Ask for expensive, compact, and shiny things! Demand them!’

‘Shut up already!’

Brothers and sisters, even without words, they managed to communicate seamlessly through glances.

TL’s Corner:
Old man Gael is planning something sinister.