On top of Ms. Berta’s magic lessons, my general workload increased.
Reading, writing, arithmetic, history, geography, and etiquette—the list of things a noble child must learn is endless. Different tutors began visiting several times a week, and the hours I spent sat at a desk skyrocketed.
To be honest, the reading, writing, and arithmetic were easy.
The script in this world is entirely different from the one in my previous life. The literacy and calculation skills stored in "that person’s" memories weren't directly applicable, but the knack for learning stayed with me. Consequently, my ability to memorize new characters and understand the mechanics of mathematics was likely far beyond that of a normal five-year-old.
I’ll never forget the look on my tutor's face when I blew through a week’s worth of material in just two days.
"…Lord Rein, is this truly your first time studying these subjects?"
"Yes."
It wasn't a lie. It was my first time seeing the characters of this world.
History and geography were genuinely fascinating. It was through these lessons that I first learned our country is named Farden. It was a nation and a history that didn't exist in my previous life. I found myself enthralled by the stories of heroes and great mages that appeared throughout the texts, listening as if they were grand fairy tales. Etiquette involved a lot of memorization and was a bit of a chore, but as the second son of a Count, I didn't have much of a choice. I applied myself diligently.
At dinner one evening, Father spoke up.
"Rein, I think it’s about time you started training with the sword."
"The sword?"
"Yes. Now that you’re at this age, it’s a good time to begin."
To be honest, the suggestion surprised me. I’m the second son; Elder Brother is the one who will inherit the house, and I wasn't planning on becoming a knight. I wondered why I needed to learn swordsmanship at all.
My thoughts must have been written on my face, as Father offered a clarification.
"Swinging spears and greatswords on the battlefield is the duty of knights and soldiers. That isn't why a noble learns the blade."
"Then what is the reason?"
"To protect yourself. As a noble, you are generally in a position where others guard you. However, in the unlikely event of an emergency, being able to use a sword allows you to buy enough time for your guards to arrive."
Father’s expression grew serious.
"A sword can be carried inside a carriage and wielded indoors, unlike a spear or a battle-axe. Because of that, nobles have long made a custom of learning the sword as a necessary accomplishment. It is also why we are permitted to carry a blade everywhere except in the presence of the King."
I see. It was a far more rational reason than I had expected.
"There is a man named Anton. He is a Battalion Commander in the knight order, and he is an excellent teacher. You will begin your training under him tomorrow."
The next morning, a tall young man was waiting for me at the edge of the training grounds.
He had short dark brown hair and calm gray eyes. He was large but lean, and his posture was impeccable even when he was just standing still.
"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Rein. My name is Anton. I look forward to working with you from today onward."
His voice was steady and composed. When he smiled, his eyes narrowed, and he didn't seem intimidating in the slightest.
"I look forward to working with you as well."
"We shall start with the absolute basics. Before we pick up a sword, we must build your body."
"My body?"
"Indeed. The body is the foundation of the sword. If your legs and core aren't solid, you'll simply be dragged around by the blade, regardless of how many forms you memorize. We will begin with running and basic form drills."
It was tedious work. However, I knew from "that person’s" martial arts training and Ms. Berta’s mana control lessons that everything begins with these plain foundations. I already understood the value of steady effort.
"I will also be teaching you Physical Enhancement. I’ve heard you’ve been training your mana, so we shall proceed with this in parallel."
Physical Enhancement—a technique used to boost one’s physical capabilities through mana. According to Ms. Berta, Physical Enhancement is a unique branch of magic that requires no external tools. Since it’s essentially an extension of physical training, it is supposedly easier to grasp intuitively.
"Physical Enhancement also aids in recovery. It is said that those with a high enough aptitude can even eventually learn recovery magic."
"The best way to practice is to use Physical Enhancement while running. You learn the sensation of circulating mana through your body in sync with your movements."
That made sense. Running served as the physical foundation for swordsmanship while simultaneously acting as training for Physical Enhancement.
From that day on, my routine was set: running and form drills with Anton in the morning, academic studies at midday, and Ms. Berta’s magic lessons in the afternoon.
The form drills were a strange experience.
In "that person’s" memories, there was extensive knowledge of Kendo—stances, footwork, and the logic behind every strike. These remained as vivid mental images.
But that was where it ended.
Knowing the theory and being able to execute it were two entirely different things. I had only seen those movements in a long dream; I had never actually gripped a sword with my own hands. Even though my brain knew exactly how I should move, my body couldn't keep up. At five years old, my arms were too short, the wooden sword was too heavy, and my feet wouldn't land where I wanted them to.
Because I understood the logic, I was painfully aware of how far my movements were from the ideal. It was a little frustrating.
"You have a good feel for this, Lord Rein. You understand my instructions immediately."
Anton offered those words of encouragement, but he likely meant my mental comprehension was fast. My actual physical movements were, at best, average for my age.
The running, however, was enjoyable. At first, I would run out of breath almost instantly, but as I ran while utilizing the Physical Enhancement Anton taught me, it gradually became easier. I practiced the sensation of concentrating mana in my legs to strengthen the drive of every step. The mana capacity I had built with the Mana Release Stone bracelet and the control I had honed with my wand finally bore fruit here.
A year passed.
Now six years old, I continued to run every morning without fail.
In all honesty, my skill with the sword remained average. I had memorized the basic forms, but that was about it. Whenever I did striking drills with Anton, he handled me with ease.
However, when it came to running...
"Lord Rein, you’re working hard again today, I see," Anton noted, looking slightly impressed.
The morning run consisted of ten laps around the training grounds. While the ordinary soldiers who couldn't use Physical Enhancement were dropping out one by one, I still had plenty of energy left.
Because of my high mana capacity, I could maintain Physical Enhancement for extended periods. After a year of daily practice, running while enhanced had become second nature to my body.
"I don't think any soldier lacking Physical Enhancement could beat you in a race now. Though, I suspect you still wouldn't be a match for a knight," Anton offered a measured evaluation.
"Being fast on your feet is a virtue. In an emergency, you can always flee," he added with a gentle smile.
"Flee, you say?"
"Yes. Fighting isn't the only way to protect yourself. Moving away from danger is a perfectly valid form of self-defense. With your speed, Lord Rein, you can likely outrun most threats."
I see. If things get dangerous, I should just run away. It was certainly safer to retreat to where my allies were than to try and fight a battle myself.
He who runs away lives to fight another day—or as "that person" would have put it: Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best. That phrase from my distant memories felt particularly fitting.