In the End, the Body is an Asset
There are people in the world who love to brag. Perhaps everyone harbors such a nature, driven by the desire to stand above others. They simply keep their mouths shut, wary of social face, looming crises, envy, and jealousy turning into calamity.
It was the same here.
"Our Benoman family, you see, can turn negative energy into power."
"You know that feeling? It's exhilarating! But too bad for you. You'll never experience it in your lifetime."
The chatty assassin who had blabbered on back then. Knowing Lawrence had no mana and had been shipped off to the lab like an outcast from the family, he would ramble on endlessly to the boy.
At least he'd kept him company, and it gave occasional chances to breathe fresh air, so Lawrence had quite liked it.
'Who would've thought it'd come full circle like this.'
Lawrence smirked as he gazed at the lump of meat thoroughly laced with poison.
His attentive listening back then, out of feigned sympathy, was now aiding his growth.
Conscious of the artifact within him, he recited the activation word.
Negative Energy
Absorbing poison.
Without a mana road, he couldn't feel the mana moving. But with mana paths visible, he could apply the man's old words.
"Send mana to every corner of your body—from fingertips to toes, all the way to the crown of your head. That's how you build the foundation for physical growth."
"Like this—! Oh, sorry. You don't have a mana road, do you?"
The assassin uncle who moved so fast he left afterimages. Lawrence had never known if the visits were to tease or to boast.
Recalling those times, Lawrence guided the mana.
Stored energy: 500
Current maximum capacity.
To increase storage capacity, a better medium is required.
The poison fully absorbed, the meat, vegetables, and more transformed into prime ingredients.
Lawrence eyed the mana gathered thickly in his heart and pulled out the foodstuffs.
'Gotta collect better materials bit by bit.'
He planned to hand these to Rachel for today's cooking. From now on, he'd handle the ingredients here himself.
Lawrence nodded to himself with a hum and toddled off to the kitchen.
"Rachel, let's eat."
"Yes, young master. Oh, you didn't order these. I could've handled it."
"From now on, use only ingredients I bring. Got it?"
"But..."
Lawrence placed the materials on the table with a stern jut of his chin, laying down the law.
In this world, where people wielded magic, mana, swordsmanship, and auras, poison and curses were still terrifyingly dreaded.
Those who thrived on such things in this very world—how much had they refined and researched them?
"Sigh, what if there's poison in here? Listen to me. Got it?"
"Th-then shouldn't I handle it?"
"Then who'll cook?"
"..."
It was odd logic, but Rachel nodded quietly. She was a maid, and her greatest duty was not to upset her charge.
A bit worrying, but the young master was brimming with spirit and passion now. He'd be fine.
'Madam, the young master seems to be growing well.'
Rachel beamed and rolled up her sleeves. She was confident in steaks, after all!
"Alright. Then I'll make nutrient-packed meals to help you grow big and strong."
"Good. Oh, and request daily necessities again. Probably... guests coming soon."
"Pardon?"
It's human nature to want to check if a scheme is working, if the target is crumbling and wheezing.
Especially for those plotting evil.
Media would be no different, right?
"Trash dump in the yard?"
"Y-yes..."
"That'll do nicely."
Rachel wore a utterly baffled expression, no clue what he was thinking.
??~.
Lawrence even hummed a tune as he vanished somewhere, leaving word to call him when food was ready.
#2
Most mages would close their eyes to sense mana flow, but not Lawrence.
He kept his eyes wide open, watching it spread to every nook and cranny of his body.
Artifacts were truly wondrous. They spread mana everywhere even without a mana road.
Crack.
The human body isn't perfectly symmetrical. Dominant muscles, posture, habits, genetics... various factors twist and unbalance it over time.
"Ugh, feels like a chiropractic adjustment."
Bones and muscles, misaligned over ten years, were shifting back to perfection.
Bones twisting with pops, finding their places. Wherever mana passed, the phenomenon occurred—oddly painful yet refreshing.
Substituted physical ability: 500
With growth and training, substituted energy will gradually decrease.
You can store as much negative energy as you consume.
A kind explanation etched on his retinas.
Train daily, eat well daily, and he'd have the strongest body.
Restock, absorb, grow... Media would happily send more ingredients and cursed goods.
'This is why the annex is great.'
He could dodge watchful eyes to some extent.
And when guests arrived...
"Someone sharp-eyed will come, huh... Hmm."
Well, fooling them would be easy.
Lawrence lay on the bed, body languid like after a full-body massage.
Now was the time to ponder physical growth and tempering.
'Artifacts don't have to be tied to attack magic, right?'
Magic-infused swords, armor, sandbags—all artifacts.
Life had become endlessly fun since his return.
"Young master, come down for dinner."
Rachel's voice called from outside just in time.
Opening the door released a burst of savory meat aroma. Saliva flooded his mouth as he praised her.
"No joke, that's impressive."
"Right?"
Just the two of them, yet more abundant and cozy than living alone.
If his mother were here, it would be perfection...
But dwelling on the dead only brought gloom.
As he savored the perfectly grilled steak, Lawrence thought.
'First, clear out the annoyances. Then adventure or gather info.'
One thing for sure: he'd keep promises from before his return.
Guardians' legacies... like finding a message in a bottle adrift on vast seas.
Think on that later. Focus on growth now.
He had Earth fitness knowledge, but a more efficient method came to mind.
Sometimes, brute-force ways yielded faster results.
"Rachel, we have stationery at home, right?"
"Of course~."
"When do messenger birds arrive?"
"Hmm, probably tomorrow?"
Lawrence nodded.
As a great house, they received reports from managers of villas, estates, facilities.
No issues? Needed supplies? Incidents?
Communicator crystals where available; otherwise, messenger birds.
Same here. Rachel's meticulous reports ensured he received just enough support to survive.
Now, time to request from the main house.
'They'll approve this much.'
He recalled a training method from knight families he'd noted in the past.
Mage houses didn't feud with knight houses.
Even rivals exchanged info.
Among them, one that later shone—he'd heard snippets.
Use that for a tougher, perfect body.
Mages had many weaknesses. Chief among them: frail physiques.
'Really, no time for anything else with magic study.'
Working miracles with a human body required immense effort.
But Lawrence needed no such study. With artifact capacity spare, he cast magic without it.
Belly full, he holed up in the workshop.
"He won't grow tall like that..."
Children needed vigorous activity. Rachel fretted over his small-for-age frame.
#3
Days later.
Crash!
A clamor erupted from behind the annex.
Startled by shattering dishware, Rachel rushed out.
Lawrence was smashing the supplied daily necessities.
"Young master!?"
"Why?"
"A-ah, not hurt?"
"Nah, cracked anyway. Can't use 'em, so tossing."
Rachel repeated not to get hurt and retreated.
The broken goods had curses fully absorbed.
To get fresh cursed supplies fast, smash and request new. Media would send gladly.
Who wouldn't love someone eagerly drinking their poisoned cup?
Lawrence stared at the scattered shards, then headed to the backyard for basic fitness.
Ten years old. Peak time for nutrition and activity.
"Hup—!"
Stretching, cardio, bodyweight exercises—building foundations without overdoing.
After a full day of running and working out, a welcome message appeared.
"Phew... Steady growth is a relief."
Felt like clearing daily quests.
Visible progress breathed new life into his routine—especially after fighting unseen foes.
As he finished the day's workout to head in, Rachel called again.
"Young master! Messenger bird's here!"
"Lemme see."
"Read slowly. Got bath water ready."
Rachel toddled off. Lawrence carefully unfolded the letter tied to the bird.
Response to his letter days ago, stamped with the patriarch's seal.
Supply request confirmed.
Knight family materials to be delivered by envoy.
Visitor arriving soon. Report to them.
—Edward—
"Good."
Everything per plan. A smile tugged at Lawrence's lips.