Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

Evan, who had come to the mansion’s front gate to see off the siblings Christian and Aira, watched as their carriage faded into the distance and then quietly moved on his way.

His destination was the study room of the family head, a place within the mansion that was off-limits without explicit permission.

Having arrived, Evan knocked cautiously before entering the room.

“Father, the children have just departed.”

“Indeed. Thank you for your efforts.”

Gael, who said ‘thank you’, still had his eyes fixed on the documents before him. After observing Gael’s demeanor for a moment, Evan posed a careful question.

“Father, are you truly alright with not seeing them? You went through the trouble of negotiating with Marquis Ferdida, and yet you send them back without a meeting….”

“It’s fine. I’ve seen all that I needed to see, and anything more would be a waste of time.”

At the mention of “a waste of time”, Evan couldn’t help but muster a wry smile.

While time appears to be equally distributed to all, the value attributed to it is far from equal.

If asked whose time is more valuable between an ordinary person’s one hour and Viscount Gael Miles’ one second, most would certainly choose Gael Miles’ time.

Such was the immense value of his time that even sparing a short moment of it today was akin to paying a significant cost.

“What did you think of those children?”

Gael had put down his pen and adjusted his glasses, looking at Evan.

He stopped what he was doing to ask the question, and Evan quickly organized his thoughts, knowing well what such questions implied.

“They were astounding.”

“Is that all?”

“I felt they were beyond conventional standards.”

“Hmm, beyond standards….”

Gael seemed intrigued and observed Evan closely.

His gaze was not that of a father looking at his son but rather that of someone evaluating Evan Miles the sub-baron—a product.

Because of this, Evan was determined to enhance his own value as much as possible.

“Yes. At fifteen, it was not just a simple mastery of waves. Aira’s mana already matched any average knight.”

“Speak without ambiguity in your judgment.”

“I apologize. She had the skill of at least a ten-year veteran knight. This is the judgment of Sir McDowell, and most knights had similar reactions.”

“Certainly, if that is the case, she does step somewhat outside the norm.”

Gael nodded, having already heard an overview of the situation through Pascal.

“Of course, it wasn’t just about mana. The proficiency in manipulating waves as well as her mastery of body activation was remarkable. If she continues to grow this way, she will likely meet your expectations.”

“Indeed, if the child grows steadily, she could well be designated as the heir to the Worden County.”

Gael shared the same thought with his son regarding this possibility. However, there was still something that lingered in his mind.

“And what about that Christian boy?”

“He is also extraordinary.”

“You viewed him similarly?”

Undeniably, regardless of who saw them, not only Aira but also Christian could not be regarded as having the capabilities of a typical fifteen-year-old.

In particular, what Christian had showcased warranted acknowledgment as near wave transformation.

While it was considered incomplete, attempting and demonstrating it placed him beyond comparison with his peers.

“Then, couldn’t he also claim the Worden family?”

“He will not.”

“Why not?”

“Because, with equal talent, Aira is more advantageous.”

“Even though they’re equal?”

Evan discarded the ambiguity he had shown thus far and spoke with conviction.

“If they’re equally unmatched, ultimately, external factors rather than personal talent or effort will make the difference. And our Miles family is superior to Ferdida.”

“You seem quite confident.”

Yet it was not without basis. It stemmed from his thorough understanding of the Miles Viscounty and the certainty that its power held superiority over Marquis Ferdida.

Gael, with a faint smile at his son’s determined demeanor, expressed his thoughts.

“Alright. Then going forward, I’m entrusting you to handle matters concerning the Worden County.”

“M-me?!”

Relationship with the Worden County. Politically or financially, or in any regard, it was among the top partnerships for the Miles Viscounty.

Entrusting such a responsibility to him signified the trust of his father, meaning he was now firmly advancing as the heir to succeed his father as the family head.

“I will fully support Aira to ensure she becomes the head of the Worden County!”

Thus, Evan’s face brightened considerably. However, he did not know the cold gaze his father Gael had cast upon him.

*

As soon as the Worden siblings got off the carriage, the coachman promptly returned to the Miles Visounty.

Though they had come back to their quarters after just a few hours, Aira, feeling inexplicably tired, stretched out hugely and moved on.

“I’m more exhausted than I thought. I really should have sparred after releasing the gravity array.”

Aira was far more fatigued than usual, a consequence of conducting drills while not at full strength.

It was inevitable since the gravity array continually burdened the body, necessitating the ongoing mana consumption for body activation to counterbalance it.

Consequently, the majority of the mana that could have been used was instead transformed to maintain body activation, barely leaving any available for use.

Had Riley known these facts, he might have fainted with displeasure, but fortunately, he didn’t.

“You just need more training, that’s all.”

“I’m not lacking at all, okay? Can’t you ever give a compliment?!”

“I’d praise if there was anything to praise. Want me to tell you what’s lacking again?”

“Hmph….”

Christian snorted at Aira’s reaction.

At Christian’s blunt words, Aira pouted and turned away with her cheeks puffed in annoyance.

“Alright, let’s go inside. Reflect on today’s drill until dinner, then take a good rest. I’ll correct the mistakes tonight.”

“But we should at least rest when we’re in the royal capital! Especially today should be a rest day!”

“No, you can rest, but you still need to train. You’re still quite lacking, aren’t you?”

“You’re so annoying, you know that?!”

“Yeah, I know. But I won’t change.”

“Urgh!”

Despite Aira’s frustration at her cheeky younger brother, she reluctantly lowered her clenched fist.

“What? Want to start the duel now?”

Christian’s comment made her drop her fist calmly.

‘One day, I will definitely…!’

With teary eyes, Aira stepped into their quarters, prodded by Christian’s half-coercive remark to “Reflect, reflect. I’ll test you in the evening.”

*

“Eh?”

Liber, quietly practicing mana sensitivity, was startled as the door opened and Christian entered.

“I’m back.”

“Christian? Why are you back already….”

“Well, some things happened. More importantly….”

Christian looked around the room with a frown.

“Where did that guy go?”

“Who… Ah, Caedwin?”

“Yes. He’s not off to remove the ring at the Magic Tower, is he?”

Christian frowned, worry evident, as if that was his main concern, causing Liber to chuckle.

“He’s out, but it’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Out? Where to?”

“Well, Sonya’s brother, Lito, is staying here. They went out briefly together as his guardian.”

“Wouldn’t it have been better for you to go as Sonya’s guardian?”

“Well….”

Sonya wished for it too, but Caedwin insisted on going, and the reason was obvious.

“Well, Caedwin is good friends with Lito, unlike me.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Christian looked at Liber with suspicion, making Liber break into a cold sweat.

The truth was, Caedwin went with the hope that “The academy professor might know a way!” but it wasn’t something that could be easily admitted.

Moreover, the academy was currently on vacation, meaning there wouldn’t be any professors, just the housemother for students from local noble families.

“Well, it’s not something that can be easily removed….”

“Why not just let him take it off?”

Liber sighed lightly, but Christian was already in the room, sitting on a chair, listening half-heartedly.

“By the way, I thought you’d come back late. What happened?”

“I thought I would come back late too, but the house owner we were supposed to meet was absent.”

“Hmm? Viscount Miles?”

“Yes. I guess since we arrived earlier than expected, he couldn’t align the time… or something.”

“Ah, indeed, we did arrive a bit early.”

“But something feels off.”

“Eh? Off? Why?”

“Why bother pretending to be busy at home, just watching the sparring.”

Liber was puzzled by Christian’s words, and Christian had no intention of elaborating further.

‘The sparring arrangement, watching from a distance. It all felt like some kind of ploy….’

Those eyes watching them from a vantage point over the training ground. It was merely intuition that alerted him to the presence of a peculiar master observing him keenly.

And wandering around the mansion, he quickly identified the elderly figure as Viscount Miles through the portraits hanging there.

Why he had not made an appearance after witnessing the spar seemed somewhat baffling to Christian.

‘Ah, forget it. It’s not like contemplating it will lead anywhere.’

Since it was unknown, there was no point in mulling over it and wasting mental energy, and with that, he quickly brushed away his thoughts.