Rebecca Birdway, the Instructor
"Looks like the shop I gave you has been a big help. Your aura's gotten a lot sharper than before."
"Thanks to you."
"Honestly, back then it was at a level I couldn't even watch with my eyes open."
"...Isn't that a bit too harsh for our first meeting in a while?"
"Beating around the bush isn't good for educating young Hwang Jae-min."
...A woman who looks about my age calls me a kid, and it feels seriously weird.
Who would've thought she was that nanny from back then?
I'm still a bit dazed.
No matter how beautiful she is, don't get any funny ideas about the nanny! 'Sung Hyun-sook' scolds 'our son♡'!
Mom seems to think her one and only son looks like a deviant with abnormal sexual desires, getting crushes on young girls while being called a kid.
As I glared at Mom's message with axe-like eyes, the nanny politely clasped her hands and bowed deeply from the waist.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Rebecca Birdway, the aide who assists 'Battlefield Messiah' by her side. I'd be grateful if you called me 'Rebecca' casually."
So her name was Rebecca. It suits her light pink hair perfectly.
"For the time being, I've been assigned as the instructor to assist with young Hwang Jae-min's family education. I look forward to working with you."
"Instructor...?"
"Since Messiah cannot reveal her true form directly before young Hwang Jae-min."
"So, Mom designs the curriculum, and you handle carrying it out? Is that the right way to understand it?"
"Exactly."
Well, yeah. I'd been wondering how family education could proceed without Mom right there.
Of course, I had plenty of other questions too.
Just as I was about to ask one of them.
"We'll talk details slowly later. We have plenty of time."
Suddenly, Rebecca extended her right arm straight toward the direction of the iron gate.
Soon, vivid mana swirled around her small palm, and with a shweeeeeek!—something from deep in the corridor beyond the iron gate came flying like a missile, roaring with a massive boom.
Crossing the thick darkness of the corridor, it finally revealed itself in the arena: "...A halberd?"
A weapon that was half axe, half spear. Also known as a glaive.
The 1.5-meter-long thing slowed as if it had a will of its own, like a living creature... and clack!—it naturally settled into Rebecca's grasp, as if nestling into her arms.
...What, it's not Mjolnir or anything.
Wait, no—how did she even do that?
She just stretched out her hand once, and the weapon flew to her on its own. Did she learn telekinesis or something?
But that mana just now was different in nature from the 念 mana I knew.
No point racking my brain alone. Better to just ask.
"How did you just do that?"
"If you diligently follow the family education, young Hwang Jae-min will master it splendidly someday too."
"...Can't you just tell me?"
Man, she's got that ironclad face where not a drop of blood would spill if poked.
You can't teach running to a kid who can't even walk yet! 'Sung Hyun-sook' chuckles!
"—That's what Messiah says. Do you understand, young Hwang Jae-min?"
"...You two really make a great duo. By the way, can you see Mom's messages in your eyes too, Rebecca?"
"I am a being bound to her miracles. I can hear Messiah's voice anytime, anywhere."
To be blunt, it's overwhelming! 'Sung Hyun-sook' clicks her tongue!
"Back to the main topic."
Did Mom's aide just ignore Mom? Nah, probably not.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh!—A fierce gust from ahead slammed into my face.
It wasn't anything else—it was just the wind from Rebecca lightly spinning her halberd once.
...Lightly spinning it?
A weapon way bigger than her, with those slender arms?
Thud!
Rebecca slammed the butt of the spear shaft into the ground.
"Before we begin the family education in earnest, let's start with a skill test for young Hwang Jae-min."
"...A test?"
"In the form of a simple spar, that is."
"What do you...?"
"Don't look at me with such a ridiculous expression. I'm merely faithfully executing Messiah's curriculum."
There's a reason for this, so just trust and follow Mom! 'Sung Hyun-sook' thumps her chest!
Mom knows my skills well, so why go through this charade?
Well, refusing would've been a hassle, so I decided to play along.
Hearing "test" fired up my competitive spirit anyway.
"You look awfully relaxed. Think the test will be a breeze?"
"No, no intention of underestimating you, Rebecca."
"Then what?"
"Your outfit right now... Even for a light test, doesn't it hinder movement a bit?"
That baggy Victorian maid dress isn't great for running around, right? As long as she doesn't trip on the skirt, it'll be fine.
But contrary to my point, Rebecca just looked indifferent.
"It's certainly not suited for actual combat."
"Then...?"
"Well, it's not intense enough to bother changing into armor, so it doesn't really matter."
"......"
I pondered her words for a second.
Uh, so in other words...
'I can overwhelm you easily even dressed like this.'
That's what she's saying, right?
"Ha."
Didn't peg her for someone who could light a fire under people like that.
I know it's childish provocation, but sometimes you gotta take the bait knowingly.
Instead of taking the bait, I decided to go 100% serious.
No—beyond provocation, I had to take this spar seriously.
Her presence is no joke.
That enigmatic mana I couldn't identify earlier, and spinning the halberd effortlessly with one hand without seeming to put in any force.
Above all, Rebecca is an existence that serves at a constellation's side.
Clearly not someone to take lightly or let my guard down against.
I hardened my expression seriously, but Rebecca grinned instead.
Too malicious for a sneer—it was just a smirk.
"No reckless carelessness. Caution passes. Good job, young Hwang Jae-min."
Our son♡ isn't that stupid! 'Sung Hyun-sook' snorts proudly!
"I was going to give you a stern talking-to if you showed sloppy carelessness... Guess I underestimated Messiah's son."
She seemed to be giving positive evaluations about me, but none of it registered.
Why? Because...
"No way. Why...?"
For some reason, Pandora's Box wasn't reacting at all since earlier.
Normally it'd summon a weapon in 3 seconds flat, but now...
Fwosh! Psssh...
It's like someone about to sneeze, emitting light intermittently then stopping.
No way it's broken. One hypothesis comes to mind...
Seems like it's buffering because it can't find a weapon suited to Rebecca's matchup, 'Sung Hyun-sook' speculates!
"A perfectly natural phenomenon."
Rebecca's expression remained impassive, but beneath it lurked a deliberate nonchalance.
"Searching for a matchup against an enemy with no particular weakness is pointless."
"...You're surprisingly prideful, Rebecca."
"Just stating facts."
"Yeah, yeah."
No choice but to bench Pandora's Box.
First time this happened, cold sweat trickled down my back.
But facing an unknown enemy barehanded felt off too.
What to do? As I pondered...
Shweeeeeek!—Another halberd flew from the corridor beyond the iron gate, landing in Rebecca's empty hand, just like before.
"Perfect timing. Let's spar with the same weapon. It'll be much fairer that way."
Rebecca gently released the halberd she'd just caught.
It floated lightly to me, like a leaf on a breeze.
Still amazing no matter how many times I see it.
"...Thanks."
I grabbed the floating halberd and thrust the spearhead forward, assuming position.
I'm fully geared up, but she's still relaxed.
...Is that how it is?
Throw Eye - Form 2 activates!
Seals 1 skill and 1 trait effect from the opponent for 10 minutes!
Let's see if you stay relaxed after this.
No skills or traits detectable from recognized opponent!
"...What?"
What nonsense is this? I blinked, thinking I misread.
Then Rebecca's sigh-mixed voice reached my ear.
"Don't mistake me for some run-of-the-mill awakener or monster."
"You used mana to control the halberd remotely earlier."
"Mana? That's a completely different principle—a new power altogether."
"...Pardon?"
"Planning to just talk me to death, young Hwang Jae-min?"
Boom!—Rebecca kicked off the ground like she was shoving it away, closing the distance in an instant and swinging her halberd.
"......!"
Startled by the murderous intent, I hastily countered.
Clang!—The moment our blades met, a terrifying shock surged up my arms and spread through my whole body.
What insane power...!
"This is a skill test! What if someone gets seriously hurt?!"
I've set the sanctuary so even severe injuries won't kill you—fight freely without worry! 'Sung Hyun-sook' raises her thumb!
"Only if it's a fight worth relaxing in!"
"Humbly accepting the gap with your opponent is also an important virtue. Excellent, young Hwang Jae-min."
Damn, is she mocking me or genuinely praising? Hard to tell.
No time for idle thoughts—Rebecca, regaining her stance, unleashed a barrage of ferocious strikes.
Once more, our blades clashed repeatedly in the air.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Even with my agility stats I'm proud of, her attacks were too fast and lethal to parry fully.
My mind reeled.
"Crazy...!"
Never before had such intense conviction dominated my body.
The certainty that if we kept going like this, I'd lose.
......
This conviction was spot-on, as expected.
"Hah... hah..."
I lay sprawled on my back, a total wreck, panting.
Beside me stood the demure Rebecca, looking down primly.
Wow, not a drop of sweat on her face? For real?
"Good work, young Hwang Jae-min."
"Hah... how... hah... not even... hah... one hit...?"
Honestly, I thought I'd land at least one... no, even a graze.
But not even that? That's too much.
Even I felt my pride sting.
Her movements were like she could see right through me.
In the spar, I pulled every card I had: Ether, Ascendant's Flight, Stealth, Indomitable... even Strength Enhancement.
What good did it do? She dodged everything like she could see seconds ahead.
It wasn't just quick reflexes.
That was near precognition level.
How? Seriously.
"Curious?"
"...That obvious from my face?"
"If you faithfully follow the curriculum, young Hwang Jae-min can do what I just did too."
"What you did...?"
"Predicting the opponent's attacks a few seconds ahead."
Oh my god. Actual precognition?
Truth is, I had her do the spar under the guise of a skill test to motivate you, 'Sung Hyun-sook' confesses!
I could've been motivated without all this suffering.
...But what I just saw of Rebecca's prowess was astonishing.
Predicting and countering attacks ahead of time.
If I could make that physique my own... ...maybe even Full Moon Canyon is doable.
Though I wonder if it's really learnable...
Well, Mom brought me here because it is.
Alright, motivation surging.
Rebecca sensed it too, flashing that rotten smirk as she extended a hand to me on the ground.
"Confident you can keep up?"
"It's Mom's curriculum. As a filial son, I have to work hard."
Constellation 'Sung Hyun-sook' nods contentedly!
I laughed brightly, grabbing Rebecca's hand and standing.
Mom's curriculum was structured in 5 stages total, apparently.
She didn't reveal the specific training contents, of course.
"I'll give generous shop points as rewards for completing each stage. So please give your all to the family education."
"Oh."
Nice news midway through.
The nanny's shop lets you raise desired stats by 5 points per point.
To conquer Full Moon Canyon smoothly, physical prowess alone isn't enough—stat growth is essential too.
Hearing about shop points fired me up even more.
Then, the questions I'd been holding since earlier flashed through my mind.
"One thing. No one else besides me can enter here, right?"
Basically, only the contracted agent and their summons can enter! 'Sung Hyun-sook' replies!
If the sanctuary owner permits, others can enter too, but stay time is extremely limited! 'Sung Hyun-sook' adds!
Come to think of it.
Last time I visited the saintess's workshop for the Myriad Beasts recipe, I only had 15 minutes.
But agents directly sponsored by the constellation and their summons can stay indefinitely, it seems.
Huh, then?
"Great for a hideout if things get dicey in a fight?"
"That'll probably be difficult."
Rebecca interjected.
"Why?"
"A sanctuary is a sacred place. It can't open smoothly amid chaos."
"Ah..."
Damn, too bad.
I'd planned to use it usefully if possible.
Well, if it worked that way, Mom would've used it when I nearly died fighting the Witch of Eternal Sleep.
Shaking off the regret, I moved to the next question.
I turned to Rebecca.
"Bit out of left field, but what's your deal, Rebecca?"
"My identity... you mean?"
"Yeah. You don't feel like an ordinary human."
Careful not to offend, I continued cautiously.
"If it's too personal, you don't have to answer..."
"It's not offensive, but tricky to answer. Whether a homunculus counts as human... I'm not sure."
"...Homunculus?"
Artificially created human! 'Sung Hyun-sook' supplements!
Aha. Ah... um.
...Did I step on a landmine?
It's like asking an artificial human, "You're not human, right?"
I was just curious about her identity, but now I feel like the bad guy.
"All constellations in the Hall have one aide each. They infuse their own memories and miracles into an empty shell called a dummy."
"......"
"Memories become the soul, miracles the personality. Thus, the dummy gains true life and is born as a homunculus."
"Uh, um... I see..."
Watching Rebecca calmly explain her origins felt oddly poignant.
She accepts being "artificially created" so matter-of-factly—it's kinda heartrending.
To change the mood, I forced a bright voice.
"S-So that's why you're so strong, Rebecca! Made from Mom's memories and miracles!"
"Yes. That's why I can perfectly replicate her behavior, combat style, and techniques. Though I can't match her status-derived attack or defense power."
Think of her as a doppelganger that only looks different from Mom! 'Sung Hyun-sook' summarizes!
No wonder. Not a mortal physique.
Explains why I got wrecked.
But it was info that brought a smile too.
Rebecca, perfectly replicating Mom's physique, as my instructor? Perfect mentor material.
Plus real(?) Mom's system messages for guidance?
Best of the best.
I'd fantasized sometimes: My legendary parents personally training me after awakening as a player.
Well, they passed away, turning it into a pipe dream.
But now that wish is coming true in this unique form—feels great.
"......"
...Anyway.
One crucial question left.
"...I can leave midway if I want, right?"
If not, I'd scream.
I left Gift outside...
"Yes. You can exit."
"Phew, relief..."
No more worrying about my baby starving.
As I sighed in relief and patted my chest—
Crackle!
"......?!"
Suddenly, harsh sparks erupted over my Divine Living Armor.