A year had passed since then.
Rest spent the next year pouring himself into his studies for the Academy entrance exams. He pored over his reference books again and again, and when he encountered a concept he couldn't grasp, he didn't stop at asking the sisters; he spent hours researching in the library as well.
Alongside his academics, his days were consumed by sparring sessions with Dieble, the butler. By now, Rest had mastered the vast majority of the magic in Dieble’s repertoire. Viola and Primula occasionally joined their sessions, and even Lady Eilische would jump in from time to time to chase him around, which had become a sort of grueling tradition.
Having gained significant combat experience, Rest had reached a point where he could defeat Dieble in about one out of every two matches. While he still couldn't best the butler in pure hand-to-hand combat, he had already surpassed him in magical finesse. Dieble had even given him his seal of approval, declaring that Rest could hold his own as a Court Mage this very moment.
"With your current skills, Rest-dono, you should have no trouble passing the entrance exam. However... trouble often follows on the heels of good fortune. Please, do not let your guard down precisely when you feel most at ease."
"Never let your guard down, no matter how weak the opponent. Right, Dieble-sensei?"
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
A blood-curdling scream echoed through the clearing, drowning out Rest's words.
In his line of sight, several grotesque humanoids emerged from the treeline and began lurching toward him. They had grayish-brown skin and smooth, hairless heads. Their bodies were bloated like overinflated balloons, yet their skin was reinforced by a thick, leathery armor of muscle. They were far from human—they were monsters known as Ogres.
The Ogres emerged one after another, letting out frenzied roars as they charged toward the waiting boy.
"Alright, let's do this."
Rest was already prepared. The enemy was eager to fight, and he saw no reason to keep them waiting. He channeled his mana and kicked off the ground.
"Physical Boost. Accelerator."
He activated both spells simultaneously, enhancing his physical power and speed. Moving faster than the eye could follow thanks to his parallel casting, he closed the distance to the lead Ogre in an instant.
"Gugya!?"
"Wind Cutter."
A blade of wind released at point-blank range sent the Ogre's head spinning into the air. Seeing its comrade fall, another Ogre swung a heavy club downward.
"Gah!"
"Earth Shield."
Rest remained calm. A wall of earth surged from the ground, catching the heavy impact of the club.
"And now... Earth Thorn."
"Gyan!"
He touched the earthen wall and channeled his next spell. Sharp stakes protruded from the opposite side of the barrier, impaling the attacker through the chest.
"Fire Bolt. Ice Bolt. Thunder Bolt."
He pivoted toward the Ogres further away, unleashing long-range magic. Flashes of red, blue, and yellow streaks punched through the monsters' bodies in rapid succession.
"""GAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"""
Realizing they couldn't win individually, several Ogres leaped at him simultaneously, intending to crush him under their collective weight.
"Smoke Screen."
A cloud of thick, white smoke erupted around Rest, concealing his form.
"""Gah!?"""
Enveloped in the haze, the Ogres cried out in confusion. They swung their clubs recklessly, resulting in a chaotic mess of friendly fire as they bludgeoned one another.
"Hup!"
Rest stayed low, darting through the chaos. Thanks to his Life Search magic, he could perceive every enemy's position perfectly even within the thick smoke. Dodging flailing fists and clubs with ease, he unleashed precise magical strikes to finish them off one by one.
Soon, the majority of the Ogres that had emerged from the forest lay dead.
"I guess that isn't the end of it..."
"GUUGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
A deafening roar shook the forest. An Ogre more than two sizes larger than the others burst through the treeline, splintering trees as it advanced. Its skin was a deep, angry red—a mutation. It was a monster known as an Ogre General.
(A monster higher in rank than even a White Fenrir. If this thing reached a human settlement, an entire village or two would be wiped out in minutes.)
The Rest who had first arrived at the Marquis Rosemary House might have struggled to survive such an encounter. But the current Rest was different. Without a hint of hesitation, he stared down the Ogre General and gathered his mana.
"Physical Boost. Power Boost."
One spell to reinforce his body, another to amplify his raw strength.
"Earth Wear."
He coated his right arm from the elbow down in earth, molding it into a massive, spiked gauntlet.
"Accelerator!"
With a burst of speed, he stepped into the Ogre General's reach and swung his fist. The spiked glove buried itself deep into the monster's thick torso. The sickening sound of shattering bone echoed through the clearing.
"GUUGYAAAAAAAAAH!?"
The Ogre General let out a confused scream. It couldn't comprehend how a human who had been so far away just a second ago was now delivering a crushing blow to its chest.
(You still have enough breath to scream, huh...!)
"Fire Bolt."
He delivered the final blow. A burst of flame erupted from his fist while it was still lodged deep in the monster's chest.
"!!!!!!!!!!~~~~~~~~~~!!"
Flames gouted from the Ogre General's mouth, nostrils, and eye sockets. It let out a silent, agonized scream as its internal organs were incinerated. The massive creature collapsed onto its back, dead before it hit the ground.
"...I won."
To be safe, Rest swept the area with Life Search. Aside from himself, there was only one living presence nearby. Every Ogre had been neutralized.
"Splendid."
The sound of slow clapping came from behind a tree as a figure emerged.
"A truly wonderful display. I have no choice but to grant you a passing grade."
"Thank you, Dieble-sensei."
The man in the butler uniform stepped forward. Dieble had been the one to drive the pack of Ogres toward the clearing to test his pupil. For several months now, Rest had been engaging in these practical combat exercises under Dieble's supervision. They had frequently traveled to deal with powerful monsters based on intelligence the Marquis gathered through his position as the head of the Court Mages.
"You have earned your full mastery. I have nothing left to teach you," Dieble said with a satisfied smile.
"The Academy entrance exam is next week. From here on, you will meet many people, gain new experiences, and forge your own path. I am truly glad that I was the one to teach you."
"That’s my line, Sensei. I’m the one who is lucky to have learned from you..."
Rest sniffled, blinking back the tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. Since arriving at the Rosemary estate, he had been blessed with nothing but wonderful encounters. He vowed then and there to spend the rest of his life repaying the kindness he had been shown.
"Well then, let us head back. The young ladies are waiting."
"Right. Those two should be finishing their exams and coming home about now."
The Royal Academy entrance exams for nobility were held one week prior to the commoner exams. Today was the day of their tests, and they would likely be back at the mansion shortly.
"I’m sure they did fine, but I’m still worried. Let’s get back."
"Indeed. Shall we race to see who reaches the mansion first?"
"You're on!"
Rest and Dieble enhanced their speed with magic and blurred toward the city. Behind them, the clearing was littered with Ogre corpses, left to be cleared away by the Marquis's servants who followed in their wake.