Father and Daughter (3)
"Whether it's swordsmanship or magic, you first need to learn how to handle mana to master either one. No matter which path you want to pursue, you have to steadily make mana your own."
"……."
"We'll decide later what to focus on more intensively... For now, the goal should be to become a mana user."
Beatrice listened without even thinking to wipe the sweat streaming down her body.
Kyle circled her slowly as she stood in the middle of the courtyard, gripping the training sword.
"Of course, it's not a bad idea to build a foundation for swordsmanship in the process... I'll have you train in two things at once."
"……Ugh."
"One is creating mana circuits in your body. The other is building basic stamina for wielding a sword."
Beatrice trembled, her face twisting in agony as she thought to herself.
How the hell did I end up enduring this scorching sun to train my body?
I never once said I wanted to learn the sword, but before I knew it, he'd shoved this training blade into my hands.
It was true that she'd felt a spark of interest watching him swing his sword and had watched intently... but that didn't mean she wanted to hold one herself without any preparation, standing stiffly like this.
At least let me change clothes...!
What frustrated her even more was how abruptly this training had started. If he'd at least given her time to change into something more comfortable, but no—Kyle had launched right into it without letting her get a word in.
As a result, Beatrice was drenched in sweat, still in the pajamas she'd slept in.
Kyle circled her leisurely, hands clasped behind his back, continuing his explanation.
"It must be tough, but hang in there. It's just because it's your first time. Once you get used to it, that sword will feel light as a feather in no time."
...What nonsense.
Beatrice pursed her lips, her expression screaming dissatisfaction, but Kyle either didn't notice or pretended not to—he didn't budge an inch. He looked utterly convinced that this brute-force method was the most effective way to build the body.
Though they'd only known each other a few days at most, Beatrice felt like she was starting to understand this man named Kyle. He seemed like a hidden master without a single flaw at first glance, yet in everyday matters, he had this clumsy, rough-around-the-edges side.
Just look at yesterday, when he'd handed her the bear doll with that awkwardly gentle expression, like he was trying so hard to play the father role...
To her eyes, he just didn't have what it took to pull off the "kind father" act.
Not that he was doing anything particularly wrong. He was just ordinarily sloppy at it.
Yeah. Kyle was endearingly sloppy when it came to being human.
Clang!
"I... I can't do anymore...!"
"Giving up already?"
Even when Beatrice's arms finally gave out and she dropped the training sword, Kyle tilted his head as if genuinely asking, Is that really your best?
She felt a surge of indignation inside but swallowed it down, figuring that snapping at him would only hurt her more. If words worked on him, he never would've told a fifteen-year-old girl to hold an iron sword and stand there for dozens of minutes in the first place.
What kind of barbaric training method is this? I doubt it'll even build muscle like this.
I wish he'd at least avoid hurting my body... even if it's not some systematic workout.
"No helping it, then. Come over here."
"?"
That's when Kyle smacked his lips in disappointment and grabbed her wrist. Her already numb wrist stung anew at the touch.
"Sit comfortably and close your eyes. That's right. Focus. Breathe slowly and try to feel the mana."
"……?"
Without giving her a chance to complain, Kyle dragged her to the balcony, sat her down, and suddenly started instructing her in meditation.
Beatrice blinked in confusion but followed his orders, sitting cross-legged and gently closing her eyes.
Before she could grumble about what this was all about, she focused her mind just once.
Whoosh—!
"……!"
A refreshing energy suddenly swept through her body, making her shoulders twitch involuntarily. Her eyelids fluttered, but she didn't open her eyes. For some reason, it felt like the sensation would vanish if she did.
"You're doing well. Keep focusing. Until the mana you feel builds up inside you."
...It was around then that Kyle's whisper flowed into her ear.
Beatrice realized he'd moved behind her back.
"From what I can tell, you already know how to move mana to some extent, but it's purely instinctive. One-dimensional at best."
"……."
"Your talent's proven itself plenty, so now it's time for the proper curriculum. We're carving mana circuits in your body. Like paving a road."
It was an amazing experience.
The moment she felt his large hand touch her back, it was as if her closed vision pierced right through her own body—like becoming an observer.
A bluish, ethereal energy flowed slowly through her veins like pathways.
Is this... a mana circuit?
She'd felt mana before and even used it instinctively to protect herself in back alleys, but this was the first time she'd seen it directly.
And Beatrice intuited it: if she could hold this energy more stably in her body, she could do more than just bite people—she could achieve something incredible.
Swordsmanship or magic. The pinnacle of miracles and mysteries achievable by the human body.
Thump, thump.
Her heart began to beat strangely faster.
Magic... magic. Could she really use magic?
Could she draw aura from a sword like the knights she'd seen at the count's estate?
Beatrice fidgeted with her lips at the ticklish feeling, then wiggled her fingertips briefly.
"……Ah."
That was the final moment her talent allowed mana to enter her body.
Suddenly, her vision cleared, and the refreshing sensation that had filled her dispersed in an instant.
Beatrice half-opened her eyes, her face dissatisfied.
...If that state had lasted just a little longer, she might have grasped something more.
It was a shame. Like a thirst rising.
Maybe if she closed her eyes again, she could get back to it? She squeezed her eyes shut and groaned, trying to recapture the sensation.
"That's enough. Pushing too hard as a beginner won't do you any good."
"!"
Thud!
Kyle, whose presence she'd momentarily forgotten because it felt so natural against her back, grabbed her shoulders and spoke.
Beatrice felt her hard-won focus scatter and let out a small sigh.
"Ah...!"
She'd been so close to something.
She pouted sullenly.
"Hey now."
But Kyle was firm, as if he'd seen countless beginners like her.
"No matter how talented you are, a beginner's body has limits to how much mana it can take in a day. If you greedily force more without considering your condition..."
"……If I do?"
Beatrice shot him a cheeky glance, and Kyle playfully clenched and unclenched his fist, mouthing boom with his lips.
"Your body'll explode. The mana of this world hates those who overreach."
"……."
Beatrice's eyelashes twitched reflexively as she pulled back, then glared at him upon hearing his belated chuckle, realizing he'd been teasing her.
"Y-You're treating me like an idiot...?!"
"Oh? Did it come off that way?"
Kyle shrugged and added,
"I exaggerated a bit, but it's not entirely made up. At the very least, pushing harder right now would hurt your body—that much is true."
"……Ugh."
"Don't be so anxious. You've got plenty of time, and I'll be right here as your teacher. You'll build proficiency in no time."
As she looked down in a huff, Kyle stood and picked up the training sword from the courtyard.
Is he gonna make me do that barbaric stuff again?
Beatrice shrank back nervously, her discomfort plain, but
"Why so guarded? Was it that bad?"
Kyle just chuckled softly and set the sword down right beside her.
He added a few words to dispel any misunderstanding.
"Just so you know, I didn't make you do that for no reason. You feel mana better when your body's sensitized."
"……What?"
"It's a method often used to train apprentice knights. Exhaust the body on purpose with stamina training, then form mana circuits... A bit savage, but the results are excellent."
He didn't look like he was making it up.
Beatrice stared into his eyes for a moment, then muttered grudgingly,
"……So there was a plan. I thought you were just abusing me without a thought."
"What?"
It was an outrageous thing to say from Kyle's perspective. Especially since she said it so matter-of-factly, it felt sincere.
Kyle's eyes widened briefly, then he launched into a half-pitying, half-frustrated defense.
"I told you before—I have no intention of abusing you. Why would you say that? Did I really seem like that kind of person?"
"……."
"You? Why aren't you answering? Hey, Beatrice?"
Beatrice turned her head slightly away from his persistent questioning.
And as she watched his aggrieved reaction...
She let out a small laugh where he couldn't see.
"……Heh."
"Did you just laugh? I didn't mishear that, did I?"
Beatrice stood up, brushing off her clothes. Her sweat-soaked body from the early morning workout felt sticky, and her stomach growled with hunger.
Turning her back to Kyle, she hurried toward the house and said,
"I'm hungry, Daddy. I'll wash up and come down, so make food."
"……Huh."
It was the first time those words had passed her lips—and the first time Kyle had heard that ticklish title.
The words themselves carried a bit of cheekiness, but
Beatrice knew now: for whatever reason, this man named Kyle was sincere about his fatherly role and cared for her.
This much sass would probably pass as affection.
That belief had taken root before she knew it.
Sure enough, Kyle let out a long, exasperated sigh, but the corners of his mouth twitched at the unfamiliar "Daddy"—it clearly wasn't unpleasant.
Beatrice curved her red eyes into crescents, glancing back at him with an uncharacteristically buoyant air as she headed to the bathroom.