“Now then... with your studies concluded, it is time for a bit of exercise.”
“Yes... I'm in your hands.”
The two of them stood facing each other at the training grounds of the Marquis Rosemary House. Rest's opponent was the elderly butler.
This was for the sake of his training. The butler was to be his combat instructor.
“We are to begin anti-personnel combat training as you requested, Rest-dono... but what is the matter? You look positively drained.”
Rest appeared gaunt, and for some reason, the spark of life had vanished from his eyes.
“If you are feeling unwell, we can postpone the session...?”
“No, please start... honestly, I’d rather move my body and work off some of this tension!”
“……?”
The butler looked puzzled, but he eventually gave a small nod. “Very well then.”
“Ah, before we begin, allow me to introduce myself properly once more. My name is Dieble. I am a former Court Mage, though I currently serve as a butler.”
“I’m Rest. If you were a Court Mage, why are you working as a servant?”
A Court Mage was granted the title of Honorary Viscount for their lifetime. Serving until retirement should have provided a more than comfortable pension.
“I was forced to step down due to an injury. The previous Marquis was kind enough to take me in.”
“An injury...?”
“It is nothing of concern now. If anything, the simple aches of old age are far more troublesome.”
Dieble rotated his shoulders with a mild, composed expression.
“Now, we are about to begin our anti-personnel combat training. First, I would like you to look over there.”
“?”
Dieble pointed off toward the distance.
The moment Rest’s gaze followed the gesture, a heavy impact slammed into his gut.
“Gah...!”
“My apologies. It was my foot I wanted you to look at.”
Dieble’s heel had driven deep into Rest’s abdomen, forcing the boy to drop to his knees.
Rest coughed violently, his stomach churning until he eventually vomited.
“What... are you doing...”
“Complacency is the greatest enemy in combat. You can never know what methods an opponent might employ.”
“……!”
“They might launch a surprise attack, or hide a weapon. They might approach you in the guise of an ally, or even take hostages. You must account for every possibility and be prepared for the worst.”
“……”
Dieble reached out a hand toward him.
Rest started to reach for it, but stopped just before their skin touched.
“A wise choice.”
Dieble opened his hand to reveal a thin needle hidden between his fingers. Had Rest taken his hand, he would have been pricked.
“This is a mere sewing needle, but a lethal enemy would have used poison.”
“……”
“If you were the only one at risk due to your negligence, it wouldn't matter much. You would simply die. However, in actual combat, it is common for those you were meant to protect to lose their lives because you fell.”
“Those I'm... meant to protect?”
Rest started to say he had no such people, but the words died in his throat.
There were people who had gone to great lengths for him. People who had dragged him out of that house and given him the chance to build a real future.
(Viola... Primula...)
The faces of the Rosemary sisters flashed across his mind.
If someone were to ask if he felt romantic love for them, he would have shaken his head. But if asked who he absolutely refused to let come to harm... their faces were the first to appear.
“When you have people to protect, failure is not an option. You must use every means at your disposal—no matter how much dirt you have to eat or how many people call you a coward—you must fight and win to keep them safe. A mage has no need for the sort of 'upright chivalry' that says losing is acceptable as long as it was fair. If you don't win, nothing else matters.”
“...I understand.”
“Good. Now, regarding the rest of the training—”
“Earthball!”
Rest was still crouching on the ground when he activated the spell. He timed it perfectly for the moment Dieble turned away.
The clump of earth flew straight for the back of the butler's head, but Dieble merely tilted his head to the side, letting the surprise attack sail harmlessly past.
“Excellent. That deserves a perfect score.”
Dieble turned around, clapping his hands. The wrinkles deepened on his face, framed by a salt-and-pepper beard, as he smiled in genuine praise of the sneak attack.
“Becoming a beast or a dog for the sake of victory... that is the true path for a mage. You have a great deal of potential.”
“...Thank you.”
Rest scowled despite the praise. The surprise attack had failed. No matter how much the man complimented him, Dieble’s own lesson was that it was meaningless unless he won.
“Heh...”
Dieble’s grin widened at the sight of Rest’s frustration.
“There are two pillars to the training ahead.”
Dieble held up two fingers, folding them down one by one as he spoke.
“First is the mastery of magic. I will teach you spells specifically suited for anti-personnel combat. You must commit them to memory.”
“……Yes.”
“Second, you will engage in endless mock battles with me. We will not only do 'anything goes' combat, but also hand-to-hand fighting without magic, battles restricted to specific spells, and scenarios where your limbs or senses are limited.”
“……”
“Unfortunately, my martial arts are entirely self-taught, so I cannot teach you specific forms or katas. You will have to learn for yourself.”
“...In other words, I have to steal your techniques.”
Rest nodded and stood up. He had expected something like karate or judo—sparring and learning how to fall safely. This was far different, but Dieble’s methods were significantly more practical.
(If I can eventually beat Dieble-san, I’ll definitely be stronger than I am now!)
Not just Cedric—he might even be able to defeat his father, an active Court Mage.
“Now, let us begin with the magic. The first spell I want you to master is Accelerator. I will demonstrate it once, so do not take your eyes off me.”
“Yes... I'm ready, Sensei!”
Rest spoke with conviction, bowing deeply to the man who would be his master.